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Comment by oniony | Hacker News Reader

I'm still on a Nokia 8 I bought five years ago. It works fine, though I have to knock the camera a few times before the focusing starts working.

Unfortunately I've just found out this week that Slack are discontinuing support for my version of Android. As my workplace uses Slack and I need to support the applications I work on, this means I'll need to either get a new phone or install a custom ROM so that I can get a more modern Android version. As it's my primary and only phone, the custom ROM route is a little worrying as it means I could potentially be without a phone if I don't have time to work through any issues that come up. Also, last time I ran a custom ROM, Google Wallet refused to work on my device.

So I'm effectively forced to buy a new device, despite being reasonably happy with the one I've got.

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I had a really old phone that I liked, but which slack discontinued support for. The effect was that the slack app would still start and you could even see the channels etc behind the big "not supported" badge that immediately popped up. However, notifications still worked, and that was (and is) my main use case anyway, so I didn't mind. I found it a pretty weird way of "discontinuing" support though.

Unfortunately I had to switch to a newer phone later when my bank app started complaining.

It makes me really sad that some modern apps don't work on older Android versions. For the apps I'm currently working on, I'm making a big deal out of them being responsive and usable on 8 yr old phones.

Congratulation for the 5 years lifespan, you already beat the world average by two!

> I’m effectively forced to buy a new phone.

forced seems a bit strong:

- Wallet: everyone used to carry a 10g credit card in their pocket for the last decades and it worked pretty well and conveniently. There’s some consumers avantages but the biggest winner with phone wallets are Google and Apple.

- Slack: there’s a web based version, even if not very convenient with phone. Don’t know your role and position but most employees can get away with desktop slack. Not having slack on your personal phone is also seen as a benefit for many.

- support the application I work on: stand instead for supporting you own phone with the application you work on. If your phone can handle it, flagships will. As an app worker you can have a real impact on phones durability by allowing others users to continue using your service with their own 5yo phones.

I've had the same email from Slack. My phone is 5½ years old.

It works fine, so I don't want to replace it, but even more than that it's small — 148x73mm. There are no other decent Android phones of a similar size! (I have signed up at https://smallandroidphone.com/).

But back to the point, in Denmark the national identity system relies on either a smartphone app or a key fob for authentication — it's needed for online banking login, online credit/debit card purchases, viewing my medical records, etc. The app supposedly might work, or might be made to work on a custom OS, but from reading around Reddit it looks like a continual hassle to keep it working. I also don't much fancy adding a large fob to my keychain, especially as unlike in the app the number on the fob isn't protected by a fingerprint or PIN.

(I'm on call sometimes, and we use Slack to coordinate, so I may end up with no choice. Whether work pay for the new phone or myself is irrelevant, it's the environmental footprint and size I care about.)

Worth looking at a Samsung Z Flip folding phone. My wife has one as its the smallest phone she could find, at least when its folded.

I've seen it, but I'm worried I won't get 5 years' use from it, if the screen cracks along the join.

The phone allows me to make purchases over 40 GBP without entering a PIN. If I went back to the card it would be less convenient, because it means I have to carry my cards (risk of loss or theft), would have to get them out and physically insert them and enter PIN for every purchase over 40 GBP. So, yes, it would be possible, just like using cash would be possible, but a loss less convenient.

Slack: I didn't realise there was a web based version. Not sure if I could SSO sign into it, but I'll give it a try. I'll have to investigate whether it supports push notifications. This could solve my problem if it does.

Hmm, just tried web slack and it doesn't seem to exist on the phone, even in desktop mode. Just shows me settings and doesn't show the channels or contacts.

Actually I've battled my way in. Really not the easiest thing to get to run on a mobile but it's possible. You have to set desktop mode in the phone, go to settings and then open the sidebar and select Go Back to Slack.

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