I’m making my first post here on Leminal Space because I hear it’s a better alternative to Reddit. One that’s more privacy-oriented, less rage-baity, and less pro-corporate.
About 9 months ago, I made the switch from a smartphone to a flip phone, and boy did it make my life so much better. I’ve become less dependent on technology, and I’ve become more self-sufficent. Printing maps with MapQuest and MyOSMmatic have been quite a lot of fun. And I also feel smarter because “Googling things” have become much more inconvenient.
Carrying a notebook with me has also allowed me to draw more, and I also feel less distracted. Anyone else switched to a flip phone? If so, what are your ways to manage life without a smart phone?
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I think the idea of a dumbphone is precisely for dumb people… or perhaps for addicts with no self-control. If you can’t control your phone use and have to resort to buying another phone, which I’m sure they’ll sell you at an exorbitant price, it’s because there’s something broken in your psyche. Buying another device isn’t going to change your mindset.
Tell that blatant oversimplification to anyone who has ever switched to a dumbphone.
- A: You do NOT have to buy a dumbphone for a high price, or even an average one. There are MULTIPLE options ranging from the hyper-marketed “mental health” phones, the classic and rugged flip phones, or even the previously-popular smartphones like the iPhone 6s that are “dumb” by today’s standards and are SAGNIFICANTLY cheaper than what they used to be. It takes SERIOUS RESEARCH to pick out the ideal dumbphone for you, and if you know where to look and what phone to buy, switching will be cheap, easy, and seamless. Also, rugged flip phones and older smartphones are built to last. Imagine not having to buy a new phone every year. Imagine not dealing with planned obsolecence.
- B: Blame the addicts all you want. But smartphones are literally DESIGNED to be addicting, and society in general is too centralized around the smartphone. Many cities and workplaces REQUIRE you to download a stupid app meant to steal your data and keep you dependent on your phone. It’s possible to get around these restrictions without a smartphone, but that takes serious brainpower (Something you think dumphone users don’t have, but the very existence of dumphone users in today’s smartphone-dependent/anti-dumphone society prove you wrong).
- C: Your comment is speaking from ignorance, and it reeks of it. Wether you can admit it or not, switching to dumbphones doesn’t JUST change your mindset. It LITERALLY changes your life. You are FORCED to think and change your strategy when living your day-to-day life.
Get this, if an addict GETS RID OF THE THING THAT THEY’RE ADDICTED TO in order to stop being addicted, then maybe the sollution is more effective than you think! Who could’ve seen that coming?!
I spend way too much on my smart phone. That’s correctable, but I depend on Uber/Lyft. I think I would need to get a cheap android and just have the discipline to put only essential apps like ride share, maps, encrypted messenging and like nothing else. Not even email, Lemmy, bill pay, grocery delivery, etc
I would NOT reccomend ridesharing apps, and would instead opt for things like your local taxi, walking/biking, or taking public transportation if you’re lucky enough to have it. If you absolutely HAVE to use ridesharing apps, I would use a laptop or something and go to a ridesharing website instead.
As for maps, you will want to get a paper map from your local library or distribution center, or print a paper map from your local government website. Asking for directions can also be fun. If you can’t find a paper map of your area, you can make one instead with MyOSMatic.
If all else fails, you can print directions with MapQuest. Never rely on location tracking or battery life ever again!
Respectfully, I am incapable of driving and need to get to doctors appointments and no longer live in an urban environment where cabs and public transportation is highly accessible.
It is what it is.
If you wait long enough every smartphone becomes a dumb phone 😒
Find me one with an unlimited hotspot plan, and I’ll switch tomorrow. Literally, that is what my smartphone offers. Not the hotspot, but unlimitted data plan and the means to use it to the fullest on the phone itself?
Close enough that this is my bar to meet, even though I would rather switch to a separate e-Ink tablet, dumb-phone-with-hotspot, and steam-deck-or-similar, for EDC-or-close-to; I would probably carry just the tablet and phone most days, maybe just the phone and deck on others.
As long as the phone has the ability to act as a hotspot (many dumphones do), the amount of data is up to the service plan you sign up for, not limited by the phone itself. I use Tello which offers unlimited data plans, but the plan I use only has 1 GB/mo (of which I use almost none). I guess you need to make sure the phone you buy is unlocked so you can shop around for the best service provider.
I use closer to a terrabyte a month, and I am well-aware that it is a plan issue. That doesn’t change the fact that the only any-number-of-mobile-devices/plan pairing that allows me to do what I want where I want is a smartphone. That includes downloading content for offline-viewing with minimal hassle.
When my kids pay for their own phone service, maybe I’ll go all-in on piracy instead, but in the mean-time, I’m exploiting that which I am already paying for, with a device I’ve had paid-off for years.
OK? I was responding to your original statement “Find me one with an unlimited hotspot plan, and I’ll switch tomorrow.” since that made it sound like you didn’t have any other criteria.
this is exactly what I want. A basic phone with hotspot capability that is also not much more expensive than a basic phone. preferably foss hardware and software.
When I was in grad school, I had a Light Phone II as my primary device. It was more than sufficient for texting and calling, and I could even listen to podcasts. It had a GPS, but it was pretty bad. After graduation I moved to a new area and ended up getting an iPhone. I average around 3-5 hours of screen time per day, but that doesn’t include my computer (8 hours a day at work as a computer engineer) or TV. Eventually I would like to return to my Light Phone, or even upgrade to the new third-generation model.
Friend of mine blogged about it:
you may want to croos-post this in the degoogle community.
You can do that here? How do you do that?
See if there’s a cross post button on your post. I’m not sure what leminal space use as a backend. For example piefed has built in cross posting function.
If you’re on mobile and using an app, see if that app has a cross post function as well.
Otherwise most common way I see done is to make a new post on degoogle with a link to your OP here.
Welcome:)
I did. I have an s22 flip. Not fully “dumb”, it runs android mobile. But so lacking on resources it is basically a dumb phone, with Spotify and maps. Fits my use case fine and much less distractions and constant gamifiyijng. I Miss NFC payments the most and my banking app won’t even run on it, but it does the job of being a communications device just fine.
I’ve though about one of these but the videos I’ve seen make it look very annoying to use.
They are, and that’s the idea. Rejecting convenience allows you to think and be more independent.
I am Einstein and the most independent person alive right about now then. I’ll flat out go to 5 failed invidious links that take forever to not load just so I don’t have to use YouTube. What an absolutely disgusting platform! I can’t believe people still use it. I’d rather just make my own goddamn videos and entertain myself for all the bullshit they do.
Flip phones from my understanding typically use a Google based OS as well as plain SMS and calls are not encrypted. If I were you I’d use the Punkt MP02 phone because it’s very basic but uses Signal still for communication encryption. Otherwise I’m happy for you that you went through with it and are enjoying it
Isn’t the Punkt phone overpriced (In the case where you pay lots of money for a phone that does less. My Sonim XP3-Plus)? How well does it work with T-Mobile? Is it better to ditch T-Mobile entirely? (Gonna be difficult, my family likes the deal bundle too much.) And how hard is it to De-Google a Sonim XP3-Plus?
- Also, I have to take a Kyocera Digno 902kc with me to work. My Sonim XP3-Plus doesn’t let me install APKs, meaning I can’t use the Aegis Authenticator app to log into work. And I can’t use my Japanese 902kc to make calls or texts, so I have to take my Sonim XP3-Plus with me to work, too.
Obviously, the Punkt phone can’t install apps, and I am REQUIRED to have an authenticator app to log into work. What would be the best way to go about this?
It is expensive for what it is but it’s really the only option I’m aware of that keeps things simple and has Signal (or anything other than normal SMS and calling). Not sure what cell provider it works with. I also know nothing about the Sonim.
As far as a smart phone goes for your authenticator you could put Lineage on a Hisense A9 phone. It’s an eink smartphone
Ask your job to buy you a phone. That’s what I did at my last job.
I am REQUIRED to have an authenticator app to log into work
Do they pay you an allowance to install their app on your private phone? I was using a Nokia 2720 and my employer gave me a hardware token.
No. They want me to install the Microsoft Authenticator app. I use Aegis, >:3
That’s what I call my work phone. The “dumb phone”
Less rage baity. Hahaha good one!. Engaged and enraged, that’s the Lemmy way, just like reddit.
I would have to surrender too much privacy and pay far more per month to use a dumbphone. No E2EE messaging and tracked by cell towers all the time (I use VoIP over wifi). When I’m out the phone is in my pocket 90% of the time. I take it out to check my shopping list or look at the store flyer.
How are you handling random 2-Factor challenges to email? (CGP Grey has a story of the DMVs sending codes to his email while physically at the location.)
How many people have a story of needing email while out in the physical world? (Email adoption is still not 100% in the USA, 92.4% in Nov 2023.)
My workplace requires me to login with an authenticator app, but they also “required” me to use the Microsoft Authenticator App (jokes on them, I use Aegis Authenticator).
How I manage to get around this is by carrying not one, but TWO dumbphones on me. (Depending on your dumbphone, only one would be required.) My main dumphone (Sonim XP3 Plus) is perfectly compatible with my carrier (T-Mobile), but it can’t install apps/APKs. My secondary dumbphone (Kyocera Digno 902kc) isn’t compatible with my carrier, but it ABSOLUTELY CAN install APKs.
Depending on your dumbphone, you might not need two like me. You probably only need one. You might not even need a Japanese Flip Phone as your secondary. As long as it connects to WiFi and can install APKs, you’re good.
I wouldn’t call a phone that can install APKs a dumb phone.
Then by that logic, dumbphones in America practically don’t exist. If you live in the US, you NEED a 4G VoLTE phone if you intend to call and text people. If you have anything lower, you CAN use a third party calling and messaging app, but you will need WiFi at ALL TIMES.
That being said, just because it installs APKs doesn’t make it a smartphone. Not all APKs are compatible with dumbphones. Even if they are, a lot of them are inconvenient if not impossible to use. Good luck being able to use Facebook on a dumbphone.
The whole idea of the “ideal dumbphone” is to have a phone that has everything you need and ONLY that, but you’re not going to be using it a lot or feel dependent on it.
Idk how general it is, but for my uni acc 2fa you can simply get a USB stick with tokens on it. Friend does the same for their e-id to avoid linking it to their phone number.
No, because you can no longer send private encrypted messages and everything will have to go over government owned telecom like SMS or cell towers, which are not encrypted.
I wonder if a smartphone with e-ink display would be a good solution.
Good enough for secure messaging & calling apps, usable with their existing touch-UIs, yet devoid of the addictive potential enabled by vibrant colour, smooth-scroll, and video.
Can even still use the camera – just need to wait until you ‘develop’ them by transferring to another device/medium with full colour or a video-capable display.
Janky phones like the pinephone exist for those who want to fully go over internet. Also currently GrapheneOS looks like the best option for both privacy and security.
I tried an Alcatel candy bar phone but I don’t recommend it. The parts are cheap. The keypad can feel inconsistent. Eventually the static on the line got so bad that I had to abandon it after about 1 year. Not worth it!
How unfortunate. Just trial and error, I suppose. What dumbphone do you use, now?
