I tried to buy my son the most basic phone available. $5-$10, no camera. I wanted it to do phone calls, texts, and that's it.

Turns out it still had a rudimentary browser. And because the phone was only capable of 3G, his basic line had unlimited data. He spent a ridiculous number of hours watching YouTube on that tiny 1.5" screen.

Maybe Motorola needs to bring back their old Razor phones?

Nokia is already at the retro game: https://www.nokia.com/en_int/phones/nokia-3310

Same for mine. I figure if he displays the maturity and initiative to get a job, then he's qualified.

For us, that's part of it.

The main reason is how worried we are about the impact unfettered, always on, modern Internet/technology will have on the developing brains of teenagers, and beyond.

I don't think the impact was great for me, honestly. And that was 15 years ago. The internet is a different place now - maybe not for the better.

If I didn't work for a telco, I would still carry a basic phone.

The thing I really, really love about having a Google Pixel phone is the camera, and its with me all the time. I was riding my bicycle to work on Friday and saw the sunrise...it was quite beautiful: https://www.realms.org/pics/IMG_20180105_072614_1.jpg

Besides that, I have very few apps installed on my phone. I basically use it as a mobile web browser from time to time.

I switched back to a "good old plain, non distracting phone" 2013 (http://www.atterobay.com/public/upload_images/model_images/o...) and have been pretty happy.

That said, I have to admin that the "features" I'm missing are a camera and a map.

URL seems truncated?

I'm with you! I'd love a smartphone that has a great camera, access to map & weather info and nothing more!

I used to have a Nokia 6700 Slide that was pretty much that, but sadly it died. No GPS though, just maps.

That's a pretty picture. I wonder though, the beautiful Voronoi-like patterns between the leaves are an intentional effect, or camera quality issues rendering as something nice by accident?

Phones jam a lot of pixels into tiny sensors so need to apply agressive noise reduction. I think that’s what you are seeing.

There's very little deeply 'intentional' about any picture I take. I tend to take virtually no time for composition, and shoot some large number of pics when something catches my eye.

I'm told by people who do have some actual talent that a small fraction of the pics I take are good.

For this picture, I was actually riding my bicycle, and snapped two dozen shots over 30 seconds.

Hah. I carried a point and shoot in my pocket from 2004-2010, until I got an iPhone.

I used it for telling time, taking photos of maps and other useful notes, etc. Super useful.