Surviving Modern Life with a Flip Phone (Barely)
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Mama was right: Smartphones are frying our brains. App locks, screentime reminders, digital detoxes: we’ve tried them all. Nothing sticks because hone

I’ve been using a flip phone as my daily driver for a while now. The smartphone is still around, but it mostly sits in a drawer until bureaucracy or banking apps force me to use it.

For me, the benefits are clear: less distraction, more focus, better sleep. But I know for many people it’s not so easy. Essential apps, social pressure, work requirements… these are real blockers.

I’d like to start a discussion (almost like an informal poll):

  • If you thought about switching, what’s the single biggest thing that holds you back?

  • Is it banking? Messaging? Maps? Something else?

I’m genuinely curious because if we can identify the main pain points, maybe it’s possible to work on solutions or even start a small project around it.

So: what would need to change for you to actually give a flip phone a try?

  • Brkdncr@lemmy.worldEnglish
    514·
    19 hours ago

    Who even makes phone calls today? Not me. I need a device that does everything but phone calls more than I need a device that only does voice.

    • rc__buggy@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      6·
      18 hours ago

      Construction workers, for sure. I miss PTT from NEXTEL (Motorola radio built into the phone) that shit was awesome.

      • rudyharrelson@lemmy.radioEnglish
        5·
        17 hours ago

        My parents and all their friends used to use PTT with their Nextel phones. It was a super handy feature. I wonder why it fell out of style. Seemed more convenient and less tedious than a phone call for short communications.

      • dustyData@lemmy.worldEnglish
        4·
        17 hours ago

        There are both open source and commercial apps that do PTT over internet. It turns phones into radio, it even has the capability to have central radio operation rooms for companies and such. It’s all automated.

        • rc__buggy@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
          6·
          16 hours ago

          I can’t get these people to use Signal instead of SMS.

          But nothing internet dependent will turn a phone into a radio. We are in places where even 4G doesn’t reach sometimes and if there was a Motorola repeater onsite it’d be great. I’ve got our company trying it out and the SL300 has been a game changer for our communication on site.

      • Brkdncr@lemmy.worldEnglish
        151·
        19 hours ago

        I still need internet service and the iPod touch was discontinued years ago.

          • Brkdncr@lemmy.worldEnglish
            2·
            15 hours ago

            I know someone that has been trying out all of the mp3 players and has yet to find something that works as well as an iPod classic.

            But then why would I need one? It’s all on my phone.

            • atomicbocks@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
              1·
              15 hours ago

              I’ve seen a few devices go by recently trying to capture that use case. Some have looked promising but I still have a Zune.