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?
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.