Hacker News Reader

Comment by vinay427 | Hacker News Reader

Sort of off-topic, but for digital detox I've found that a phone that doesn't at least support WhatsApp, Signal, and a few other Android apps would be useless as a phone for me. I can't remember the last time I've used my phone for something that doesn't involve data, so I would rather detox temporarily with no phone at all.

In case anyone has any suggestions: For a more sustainable long-term detox to avoid extensive screen time, I'm trying to find a very minimal Android device that can preferably be de-Googled (with Lineage or related Roms) but definitely at least supports a few basic Android applications but isn't very comfortable to use for just browsing. It's surprisingly difficult to find a small-display Android device these days...

View on HN

Agreed. Calls and SMS[0] are the least used features for me personally. Messaging apps would be required, unless you're going completely off the grid.

I think the best/simplest digital detox method is turning off most notifications - nowadays there are quite granular controls. If you want to go completely off the grid while keeping a phone for emergencies, any dumbphone would do.

[0] If you don't count receiving 2FA, delivery confirmations etc.

Try rattlesnake OS I think it is security focused and flashable on latest pixel devices including the 4a.

https://github.com/dan-v/rattlesnakeos-stack

I tried it with an S3 mini, u could get a reasonably up to date version of android on it for current versions of whatsapp and co, but most of them had significant problems, especially with the hardware support.

There was the Nokia 1, don't know how well available that still is.

otherwise the kaios devices, I think they do have WhatsApp, but can't remember about the others.

Therefore for everyday I just setup my phone to not annoy me and when I want to shut off completely, I switch to the F3, which gets thrown deep into the bag, just as an emergency thingy next to the basic first aid kit and I don't see it again until I got to go to work.

I would be perfectly happy with this mind of phone if it did support whatsapp and Line. Those are the only applications I use to message anyway. Even better if all the protocols are connected into a single application that just does ‘messaging’.

Maybe check out some of the older devices that are available with the /e/ OS? (de-googled android) https://esolutions.shop/

Reply on news.ycombinator.com