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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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.
My thing is, a dumb phone has the features I would like to do without on my smart phone. Telephone and SMS ARE THE GODDAMN PROBLEM. If people who were not explicitly whitelisted by me out of band had no method of contacting me, that’d be great.
I’ve been thinking about it for a while. Back when I started getting more serious about internet privacy I had the idea of switching to a de-Googled phone but when I found out that’d be expensive as hell I had a second idea to get a flip phone and spread out what I use it for across devices. My laptop for services like YouTube and streaming, MP3 player for music, a digital camera for my camera, etc. Also expensive but the individual devices are cheaper so I can more easily slowly chip away at it, first thing I’m getting is an MP3 player because I got my Dad to buy me one for Christmas.
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.
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.
No I use to much self hosted services. My phone is mostly an audiobook/podcast playing device. And audiobook shelf is to good to give up.
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.
If you wait long enough every smartphone becomes a dumb phone 😒
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?!
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 bought a ZTE last year as my first “cell phone”. I hardly ever use a phone and when I do use a phone I don’t like it. For what I use it for the monthly fee is way too high. I’d probably spend less than 10 dollars a month if it was like an old timey public “payphone”. I no longer want to do ph’d level research just to discover what to purchase or find the cheapest alternative. The world has become too complicated or maybe I have become too stupid/lazy in my elder years.
For quite some time I used an indestructible, iconic Nokia just for telephony, and a tablet with MiFi router for everything else.
Now I’m using GrapheneOS on the phone and tablet, which is tethered. The tablet is Google-free.
I can’t use a Nokia, RIP. The old Nokias are incompatible with 4G VoLTE, and the new Nokias aren’t very good, at least not as good as the old Nokias.
Buy a (refurbished) Pixel, install GrapheneOS without Google Play. Use only libre software.
I tried the 2017 Nokia 3310 and a Samsung dumbphone but I think that my Google Pixel is waay better than those two.
