"Smart" Phones

[BlueSky]

Survey.

[Guest]

I have to say .... yes!

 

I never had one until March this year when, on the same day, both my PC and mobile died.

 

I concerned myself with building a new PC and after a few days a mate came round saying

"I have been trying to call you, why is your phone off?"

 

So I explained and he popped back home .... came back and gave me the phone I have now.

It was an old phone his son didn't use any more .... so I have that.

 

I stopped it from doing near everything (I mean why does a camera need access to a mobile network ffs) and it NEVER leaves the house.

I take it NO WHERE.

 

I have most of the old mobiles I have had (couldn't put the sim from the phone which died into them, tried but they are locked onto Orange most of them) ....

 

 

The 3210e isn't the first .... that was a Motorolla (forget which) ....

and then 8310e .... Sony Ericsson K550i .... Sony Ericsson W995 .... Blackberry 9810 .... and the one which died VkWorld IP68 (absolute brick .... charge lasted a month?)

 

Included the 'home phone' as I think I shall be going back to that quite soon (currently not used as I was getting mass spam calls and couldn't stop them)

 

 

[BlueSky]

2 hours ago, ink said:

I have to say .... yes!

 

I never had one until March this year when, on the same day, both my PC and mobile died.

 

I concerned myself with building a new PC and after a few days a mate came round saying

"I have been trying to call you, why is your phone off?"

 

So I explained and he popped back home .... came back and gave me the phone I have now.

It was an old phone his son didn't use any more .... so I have that.

 

I stopped it from doing near everything (I mean why does a camera need access to a mobile network ffs) and it NEVER leaves the house.

I take it NO WHERE.

 

I have most of the old mobiles I have had (couldn't put the sim from the phone which died into them, tried but they are locked onto Orange most of them) ....

 

 

The 3210e isn't the first .... that was a Motorolla (forget which) ....

and then 8310e .... Sony Ericsson K550i .... Sony Ericsson W995 .... Blackberry 9810 .... and the one which died VkWorld IP68 (absolute brick .... charge lasted a month?)

 

Included the 'home phone' as I think I shall be going back to that quite soon (currently not used as I was getting mass spam calls and couldn't stop them)

 

 

Seeing as you've posted your collection here's mine Probably a good idea connecting your landline again. Although that was the same reason I got rid of mine! I did have a smart phone but shortly after I bought it, it got water damaged. That probably did me a favour.

[hayed joe]

Always on pay as you go. Do have a Tablet which I'm making this post on. But mainly, I don't like the idea of being online all the time. I like the memories of songs that play in my head when waiting for a bus or walking. I like the views from Windows on the top deck. 

[BlueSky]

8 hours ago, hayed joe said:

Always on pay as you go. Do have a Tablet which I'm making this post on. But mainly, I don't like the idea of being online all the time. I like the memories of songs that play in my head when waiting for a bus or walking. I like the views from Windows on the top deck. 

That's a nice thought. I know what you mean.

[BlueSky]

Speaking of pay as you go, I have this too. When I make a text the phone makes a sound and shows me what credit is left. Now, even if I have the phone on mute this sound can still be heard. So it overrides my settings. I was on another forum and someone mentioned, that their country has an alert system that can be sent to your phone (not sure what country, may be the Netherlands) that again overrides the settings so the sound can be heard. What else is being overridden?!

[Sentient Being]

I'm considering one of these:

 

https://www.wish.com/product/vintage-retro-brick-phone-gsm-9001900-dual-sim-mobile-phone-with-ultra-long-standby-large-font-large-volume-low-radiation-function-outdoor-activities-phone-5cecce6edb0cf75b5fe5efda?hide_login_modal=true&share=web

 

F*ck knows how I'll fit it in my trouser pocket  I'd be walking around lob-sided.

 

 

Edited August 18, 2020 by Sentient Being

[BlueSky]

Bump.

[teatime]

I switched to a flip-phone last year and I will never go back! I do not miss the barrage of constant notifications and being hooked up to digital dopamine drip at my every waking moment. I have become more productive than ever and much happier and healthier. I am also much more present and in the moment during social events. I recommend ditching the smartphone to everyone I can.

[CyprusAvenue]

Voted in your survey @BlueSky

 

Using a PAYG smartphone which has never been used online and it really bugs me that the stupid Covid app has taken up residence without my permission.  Credit has nearly run out and now mulling over buying a cheapo non-smart phone with a new sim for anonymity. 

 

Any idea as to whether these basic phones will be around for a while?  Will replacement batteries go the way of the dodo?  Pretty handy living somewhere with poor reception, that's my excuse for not giving out my number.

[BlueSky]

4 hours ago, CyprusAvenue said:

Voted in your survey @BlueSky

 

Using a PAYG smartphone which has never been used online and it really bugs me that the stupid Covid app has taken up residence without my permission.  Credit has nearly run out and now mulling over buying a cheapo non-smart phone with a new sim for anonymity. 

 

Any idea as to whether these basic phones will be around for a while?  Will replacement batteries go the way of the dodo?  Pretty handy living somewhere with poor reception, that's my excuse for not giving out my number.

@CyprusAvenue I'm not sure how long the basic phones will be around. I've still got two old mobile phones that work atm. I'm having a landline plug put back in too. I think if it's a choice between a smart phone or no mobile phone, It'll be the latter. I've never had to buy a phone battery for these phones I've had. Poor reception sounds handy  

[CyprusAvenue]

Thanks @BlueSky and in some ways cos there's less to go wrong meaning they should last.  Surprised you've never had to replace a battery but could be worth buying a spare whilst you can.  Couldn't manage without a landline although wish that I hadn't bought digital phones, would definitely use the type in ink's pic if buying again and they're still available.

[BlueSky]

@CyprusAvenue What happened with the Covid app, did it just install itself? Won't let you uninstall either I suppose. My PAYGO sim tells me the balance whenever I text, which is fine, but an annoying sound accompanies it which can't be turned off! I can mute my phone to other sounds but not that. Overrides the mute.

[Grumpy Owl]

This is a common misconception about 'Covid apps installing themselves'.

 

I don't know about Apple phones, but on Android phones, all that happened was some kind of 'framework' was added to the Android operating system by Google, which would allow certain apps to collect and share information via Bluetooth and give you notifications. But you would still need to install some kind of 'contact tracing app' yourself, and if you did so, you'd have to tell the app that you were 'infected'.

 

It is true that if I go into my own phone's Google settings, that there is some kind of option for 'Covid notifications', but as I don't have any suitable app installed (and neither do I have Bluetooth turned on) there is nothing actually happening.

[CyprusAvenue]

@BlueSky @Grumpy Owl for Android an API was installed, this apparently can help Covid tracking apps function.  More here:

 

https://fullfact.org/health/covid-19-track-and-trace-app-has-not-been-automatically-downloaded-peoples-phones/

 

I don't know where mine has disappeared to, hopefully deleted.  Really objected to this intrusion hence my interest in a non-smart phone.

 

That's odd about your phone making that sound, has it always done that?

 

Oh and guess who today received a letter from Imperial College/NHS regarding Covid testing research study.  Not happy about GP practice passing on my details especially as I've opted out of record sharing etc.

[BlueSky]

@CyprusAvenue So I suppose the "exposure notification API" was automatically added in one of their "updates". Yeah, the sooner the better changing over to basic phone. Also annoying that your GP has shared your details. I did the opt out thing too. But then found out the other day that the Covid 2020 act just overrides our choice anyway.

 

Yes, since I changed over to Tesco sim it makes that sound. I had a Virgin one before. Virgin messaged to say they were having sim "upgrades". My phone became unusable with their new sim. Sent for another one, same problem. Phone was constantly switching on and off, impossible to make a call. That's when I decide to change company/sim. Nothing wrong with phone, sim issue. Also after I joined Tesco they sent me a message to say "we have easy smart phones available". All the time hounding for smart. I'm still holding off for electric/gas smart meter. Eon have sent me a message "we are now ready to install your new smart meter" (even though I've now "changed" suppliers). I'm already paying a bit more because of having a normal meter.