Just change your plan to have no data (hint the cheapest pay and go) turn off mobile data and wifi and voila a dumb phone works with my old sony.
Re:Ask HN: What is the best “dumb” phone?
by HNLurker2 on Tuesday March 19, 2019 @01:41AM
(#19428364)
Or just use third party app to block and let only a few:
-https://offtime.es
I should try something like that. Honestly just having the device in eyesight triggers some kind of latent mental FOMO. Removing the option entirely has worked well for me so far.
I still keep an old iPhone for when I know I'll need an Uber or something, but the smartphone isn't a part of my daily life anymore.
Re:Ask HN: What is the best “dumb” phone?
by crazynick4 on Monday March 18, 2019 @06:25PM
(#19425979)
If I could go with a flip phone I gladly would, but I do need to have Slack around for when I'm on call for work. I suppose I could switch to a flip phone for when I'm off call. You're giving me ideas here.
Re:Ask HN: What is the best “dumb” phone?
by leesalminen on Monday March 18, 2019 @06:36PM
(#19426068)
You could also use Slack’s API + Twilio to trigger a SMS to send when a post to #app-outage happens. I’ve been playing with this myself.
I try that but then I wind up needing Chrome for some legitimate purpose or another.
Re:Ask HN: What is the best “dumb” phone?
by paulcarroty on Tuesday March 19, 2019 @04:29AM
(#19429018)
> Did you remove the browsers and app store as well?
It's possible with adb or root, but buy a $500-$800 device for removing basic apps? Failed logic IMHO.
> Not sure about Apple.
You can't.
Re:Ask HN: What is the best “dumb” phone?
by Double_a_92 on Tuesday March 19, 2019 @06:41AM
(#19429603)
You can get a decent smartphone for under 200$.
Re:Ask HN: What is the best “dumb” phone?
by sincarne on Tuesday March 19, 2019 @06:28PM
(#19436720)
No, but you can use the Restrictions control pane to block Safari.
Re:Ask HN: What is the best “dumb” phone?
by mikelward on Monday March 18, 2019 @06:52PM
(#19426167)
Great idea! I guess that way you don't get app updates tho?
Re:Ask HN: What is the best “dumb” phone?
by crazynick4 on Monday March 18, 2019 @07:00PM
(#19426225)
The apps you'd have to uninstall/reinstall manually for updated versions but I did still get a few official Samsung updates come through recently so I guess those aren't tied to the Play Store. I think at least one of those reinstalled some of the apps I had removed but other than that it went ok.
Did you remove the browsers and app store as well? I got rid of everything except for phone/texting, Slack (for work), and non-bingy convenience apps like Maps/Yelp/etc. On Android, it can be done with the adb shell without rooting, even the 'uninstallable' apps like Google search and the Samsung browser. Not sure about Apple.
I tried this before without getting rid of the Play Store and found that I would just cheat and download FF Focus when I felt like binging and then deleting it again when I was done. Now if I think I need a new app, I actually have to go on my laptop, download the apk, and move it to my phone to install it. It's not foolproof but it's enough extra steps to where I don't act on it on impulse.
It's worked really well and I don't binge like I used to . I still have some compulsive phone-checking habits but it's way less time consuming than compulsive-random-article-reading/scrolling. And I also get to keep the nicer benefits like the good camera and the large screen for when I need a GPS.