How to get away from owning a smartphone (lemmy.world)

submitted 2 weeks ago by HurlingDurling@lemmy.world to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world

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Hey everyone, I was entertaining the thought of going away from owning a smart phone.

I already have a modded ipod classic that I use as my main music player.

I also know how to use a paper map.

I also have the Microsoft authentication app for work (I could just use my phone on wifi mode for this)

The last issue I have is WhatsApp where I communicate with friends and family around the world.

Is there a way to use WhatsApp on a non-smart phone? Or should I just buy a pixel and install a secure rom?

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[-] ComradeMiao@lemmy.world 50 points 2 weeks ago

I think with 2fa, qr codes, talking with family, and emergency services it's not reasonable to not have a phone. Instead of purchasing a device why not just turn it off and put it away when you're not using it?

Your maps and ipod have already showed you these are just tools. Continue down that route.

BTW, this post is so close to my own recent questions I thought I had posted it, lol. Share your modded ipod over at c/ipod , trying to start a little community

[-] ironsoap@lemmy.one 16 points 2 weeks ago

Addiction is a tough thing... Hard just to out it down.

[-] user224 6 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

And price.

When I go just walk my dog, I almost never take the smartphone with me. I always did that. Later I just bought a cheap dumb phone for 10 bucks, just in case. I always have that on me now.

So yeah, trying to not break something more expensive. Plus it's far more reliable than any smartphone. It just works, no stuttering, no crashes, buttons rather than touchscreen, the alarm app doesn't get ~~killed~~ optimized... Though it has the same problem as every single modern phone I get: the minimum headphone jack volume is way too loud. I wanted to use it for music, but that's a no-go. There's no equalizer to tune it down.

[-] CatZoomies@lemmy.world 2 points 1 week ago

A cheap solution that might solve your volume problem is to add on an adapter that features a volume rocker dial. You can plug that into your phone and then plug your headphones into that adapter.

Something like the below screenshot. Hopefully it won’t muddy audio quality, so check this out and see if it’s something you can give a go.

[-] JubilantJaguar@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago

Almost all of these things can be done from a computer, siting in comfort at home. And some of them, i.e. communication, are even more pleasant that way. The supposed convenience of the mobile form factor is mainly a function of habit. I speak from experience, having mostly kicked that habit.

The "emergency" argument is particularly tiring BS IMO. Somehow we managed for all of history until basically yesterday without this functionality and got by just fine.

The fact that technology exists is not in itself a reason to adopt it. If only we would learn this lesson at last. Rant over.

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[-] otter@lemmy.ca 1 points 1 week ago

Is the community this one? !ipod@lemmy.ml

2fa, qr codes, talking with family, and emergency services

I might add maps to that list. Paper maps work for larger distances, but tend to be out of date for anything local

[-] ComradeMiao@lemmy.world 2 points 1 week ago

https://lemmy.world/c/ipod

It’s really small! I am the new mod, trying to recreate the nice community that was on Reddit :)

[-] bl4kers@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 weeks ago

Instead of purchasing a device why not just turn it off and put it away when you're not using it?

Easier said than done. We're emotionally connected to these devices and the freedoms they seem to provide

[-] clubb@lemmy.world 26 points 2 weeks ago

There are kaios phones, which are basically very weak smartphones (like 512 mb of ram weak) that run kaios, which is android. They perform poorly enough that you wouldn't want to use for social media, and you can run whatsapp on them

[-] Aatube@kbin.melroy.org 23 points 2 weeks ago

Correction: KaiOS is a Linux distro that only runs web apps. It descends from the botched Firefox OS project and uses Firefox's browser engine.

[-] clubb@lemmy.world 3 points 2 weeks ago

You're probably right, I've only used old nokias with symbian, so I wouldn't know.

[-] ptz@dubvee.org 9 points 2 weeks ago

KaiOS is more like "Firefox OS" than Android, but otherwise, yes.

I did a 30 day dumbphone challenge a few months ago. Was originally going to use a Nokia with KaiOS but wanted to be able to re-purpose it afterward so I went with an Android-powered flip phone.

[-] user224 5 points 2 weeks ago

Android-powered flip phone

That doesn't quite sound as a dumbphone to me.

[-] ptz@dubvee.org 3 points 2 weeks ago

I disabled pretty much everything and dumbed it down for the 30 days to nothing more than what a modern "dumb" phone would do.

[-] Kolanaki@yiffit.net 9 points 2 weeks ago

You could always ask for their address and use mail.

[-] Theoriginalthon@lemmy.world 6 points 2 weeks ago

What is it about a smart phone that you don't want/like?

[-] HurlingDurling@lemmy.world 12 points 2 weeks ago

I feel like these devices are too annoying. For example, I dissabled notifications for almost all apps, but a couple of updates later, and the notifications are back (even though the setting is still dissabled), and I feel like when these apps are developed, they want to bundle critical notifications with non-critial ones (ie. Do you want a notification when someone breaks into your house AND when our sales team wants to upsell you something? Or neither?). Then there's the data privacy aspect.

[-] nichtburningturtle@feddit.org 6 points 2 weeks ago

A minimalistic custom rom might fix some of those issues for you.

[-] hperrin@lemmy.world 5 points 2 weeks ago

Everyone has an email address. Just saying.

[-] JovialSodium 5 points 2 weeks ago

Matrix has a WhatsApp bridge and an SMS bridge. Perhaps it's possible to combine these for a WhatsApp <> SMS bridge? I don't know if these bridges can work in this way. I'm just aware of their existence. Even if it does work, I imagine it'd be pretty suboptimal. But it's potentially an option.

[-] nimpnin@sopuli.xyz 1 points 1 week ago

Or use matrix on the computer

[-] Etterra@lemmy.world 4 points 1 week ago

You must not have been born in the 70s or 80s. It's really easy. Step 1, replace your smart phone with a flip phone. This concludes all your steps.

[-] viking@infosec.pub 5 points 1 week ago

I'm born in that era, and where I live, I must authorize bank transactions via app, pay parking tickets through an app, use an app for public transport, and need to scan a QR code that's changing every 90 seconds to access my gym.

There is no workaround for the parking app, other than inconveniencing myself and staying at malls exclusively. The gym doesn't have an alternative either. I could surely switch, but that's the only option.

For banking, sure, I could do stuff over the counter like some octogenarian, wasting time getting there and waiting in line. That changes a 20 second procedure into a minimum 1h long one, provided whatever I'm trying to pay happens during service hours of my bank. No thanks.

Public transport would be the easiest, though that only applies for subways and trains where counters and vending machines exist. At bus stops we don't have those, and drivers aren't selling tickets anymore. You must board with a valid ticket, which usually only works through an app, unless you have a monthly ticket that can still be bought as a paper pass.

[-] crystalmerchant@lemmy.world 3 points 1 week ago

Not so easy for someone who was born and raised in a time and place where key services all rely on smartphones (especially the WhatsApp for family communications)

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[-] Hikermick@lemmy.world 3 points 2 weeks ago

Godspeed!

You didn't specify your reasoning for getting away from smartphones. Cost or to escape the trappings? Other? I was thinking you could hang on to your smartphone and just delete the nonessential stuff.

[-] wulrus@lemmy.world 3 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

A 2000s Garmin GPS with OSM is neat and durable like a Nokia. Still use it even though I do keep my smartphone:

https://www.garmin.com/de-DE/p/8703

[-] skeesx@lemm.ee 3 points 1 week ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

I had the exact same Problem.

You need an Android Emulator for your PC, since Whatsapp for desktop always needs to be paired with a phone, then install Whatsapp Business. The Business Version lets you sign up with a landline number. Youll geht a call with the code read to you and youre done.

If you already have a number and are planing to keep it, you can just use that and read the code from your phone.

If you decide to use a desktop app or the web version instead, you will have to open Whatsapp on your phone once every two weeks or it will unpair.

[-] adp1314@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago

Check out the Light Phone. It only has a handful of functions. Talk, text, directions, music, notes, and a camera.

thelightphone.com

[-] HubertManne@moist.catsweat.com 2 points 2 weeks ago

I use a fire tablet for maps. osmand allows you to download whole states at detail and it does not take huge amounts of space. its not great for privacy but I use google voice. That being said I have a smartphone I had to get for work. I picked up the free talk and text thing. I basically keep it shut down until I need it.

[-] johannesvanderwhales@lemmy.world 2 points 1 week ago

What is your goal in not owning a smartphone?

[-] goodshowsir@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Still using a laptop? Isn’t there a WhatsApp download for a desktop app?

Edit - although you would still need some sort of smartish phone to set that up I am sure.

Haven’t checked the same might be true for the Authenticator app. If you are just dealing with one time number codes there are Firefox plug ins you can use.

[-] Sergio@slrpnk.net 6 points 2 weeks ago

Isn’t there a WhatsApp download for a desktop app?

all I know about it is the following:

While the messaging platform already offers cross-platform support, users were able to add a new contact only via the primary Android phone or iOS handset—by adding a phone number or scanning a QR code. ... In a press release, WhatsApp notes that users will soon be able to add and manage contacts through WhatsApp Web and also through Windows platforms or their preferred device, like Android tablets.

https://www.androidcentral.com/apps-software/whatsapp-likely-to-have-userames-soon

unclear if/how soon you'll be able to use it without a phone number at all.

[-] MrsDoyle@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 weeks ago

I use WhatsApp on my computer, in a web browser, but you do have to activate it from your phone via a q code.

[-] LordCrom@lemmy.world 3 points 1 week ago

You didn't think meta would give away Whatsapp without harvesting your phone number did you? Remember you and your data are the product

[-] butter@midwest.social 2 points 1 week ago

You have to ask yourself: what can you actually get away with.

If you're techy, get a Linux phone. I assume there's a WhatsApp client, but if not you could bridge to Matrix.

Then you'll have the option to use a phone, without the addictive qualities of Android/iOS.

Your next best will be GrapheneOS. By default, no Google, so no notifications at all. But that can be turned on and enabled if needed.

[-] helpImTrappedOnline@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

What are you looking to get out of your dumb phone experience?

It sounds like you want/need the smart phone part, but not the doom scroll and spyware part.

For that I offer the following advice;

Step 1 is to delete all unnecessary apps. Keep 1 or 2 time killers, preferably puzzle games or something not related to endless scrolling, that you can start/stop anytime.

If you have one, make an old phone your "entertainment" device. This is for things like Lemmy and whatever else you do fun/pass time. Leave it the bathroom or at your spot to relax. This way you can get your internet fix, but it doesn't follow you throughout the day.

Step 2 is to make sure you set your notifications right, only communication from actual people (text/call) and important stuff like work/bank emails should make noise. Everything else can shove off.

On the spyware front, Pixel+Graphine OS is a good option, it does works with MS authenticator.

[-] NineMileTower@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago

These Nokia phone have WhatsApp.

https://www.amazon.com/Nokia-Unlocked-Whatsapp-Hotspot-Assistant/dp/B08ZHV24FC/ref=sr_1_1?crid=18QE65JA1SOOH&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.c5kRvsfDWss8SjzhmxNIefFGO_TTDoztso_jd_VSs-tMdx1BUghh2HdDz5Rbxz2-kF9FR512BKsJHgW0sZ4ZhkG6iIvO0oO_jbjxd792zt6qjkJ1XPwF6zQVH_qApvsNkp4qmINGczEFMMxZyvtchq5esxGht_eizLs7CXYtpnSElxK6W18Wd5OblGs47dcJqfXCmZYBsK0ACtD5Esn5vjwa20mojAB2_Clu_QJ_cMQ.ardr7W9aVZsg8lBiwAqyCoRMUKfff59ptSM-QJi1e24&dib_tag=se&keywords=nokia+phone+whatsapp&qid=1731956333&sprefix=nokia+phone+whatsap%2Caps%2C173&sr=8-1

[-] HurlingDurling@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago

Ive seen this phone before, but the reviews show that the WhatsApp is no longer found on the phone.

[-] Furbag@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago

Is there a way to use WhatsApp on a non-smart phone?

WhatsApp has a browser app you can use, turning it into something more like an instant messenger akin to Skype while you're on a computer. Not sure if you need a phone to manage the account or not, but you could keep a cheapo burner phone for situations like that and then just toss it in a drawer and ignore it until you need to make changes again.

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this post was submitted on 18 Nov 2024

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