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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Preface this by saying it has been a few years. I used to have a windows phone and when the platform died I used a “dumb” phone for a year until my wife told me to get an Android device.
I was using a Nokia ngage qd. It’s a small phone that has a peculiar form factor, shaped like a controller. It was made as a gaming handheld, so it has a bunch of gaming apps and over the year a lot of Homebrew stuff. It definitely came from a different era. You need to explicitly lock the phone otherwise it would only lock the keys to prevent pocket dialing. Locking the keys does not require a code to unlock, only the manual locking does iirc.
Because it has games, it was still a great time killer in situations. It’s has a small proprietary jack, but I have the original earphones so could listen to music (no mp3, but ogg).
Biggest pet peeve was not being able to sync my calendar. It uses a protocol I couldn’t find a setup for. Device also utilized a WAP browser, which is useless now.
Calling and texting: great. Games: great, sometimes crashy or won’t load. Homebrew: hit and miss, depending.
I have been thinking about it for quite a long time, my dream is a linux e ink minimal smartphone, i think it would be the right mix between convenience, freedom and minimalism
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.
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 didn’t have to switch because I’ve never used a smartphone to begin with. My current dumbphone has a great UI, touchscreen for easy input even though it’s a very small screen, headphone jack, SD card slot, etc. It can act as a hotspot and has maps/voice navigation and current weather + daily forecast. The Tello service plan I have (uses T-Mobile network) is about $9.40/month. That’s with 1 GB data, but you can get unlimited data if for some reason you want that.
There is also a subscription available ($3.50/mo) which gives you live updated maps, voice dictation, and hourly weather+radar but I haven’t needed those things (edit: though I’d like to have the radar). I just use the offline maps (more private anyway–you periodically download the latest map data), and I don’t need the other stuff. (edit: I have a Sunbeam Wireless phone and live in the US).
There are some inconveniences of course, like all the businesses you interact with want you to install their tracking apps, but I wouldn’t put that kind of crap on it even if I did have a smartphone. The main one that causes me issues is the grocery store that has special discounts (“digital coupons”) on some items if you use their app. I already have their damn store card which gives me the sale price on most stuff but now they also have this digital deal crap. I can work around that by going to their website ahead of time and look at what all digital coupons they have that week, and click on the ones I want so they will be on my card, which gives me the discount at checkout without needing their app–but I strongly resent having to do that. If they want to put something on sale, put it on sale for everyone! But no–it’s all about tracking you. Pigs. But I digress. Point is I get by fine without a smartphone, ymmv.
May I ask what phone you’re using? Sounds nice!
It’s a Sunbeam Wireless F1 Pro.
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?
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
Ask your job to buy you a phone. That’s what I did at my last job.
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
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.
Friend of mine blogged about it:
If you wait long enough every smartphone becomes a dumb phone 😒
I used a flip phone and eink device (Sunbeam F1 Pro Maple paired with Boox Palma) for 1.5 years after realizing I was addicted to my smartphone. Last month I switched back to just a smartphone (Pixel 9a w/ graphene OS). I loved using the flip phone, and I attribute that period of my life to big changes in how I see technology in general. However, I realized I didn’t really need that setup anymore, plus I never liked having to carry two devices with me. During that time I found what I need/want in a phone and can comfortably determine what is helpful and unhelpful for my life. Essentially I broke my addiction and these days barely use my phone.
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.
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.
I actually use a tablet for map and other things but I only use if for specific things and don’t have it on me all the time. I do have a smartphone because of previous work needs but I don’t use it for personal things.
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.
Good luck with not logging into your email account. Mine is web mail so it’s always there.
