> Instead of unrestricted app stores, we provide a curated selection of essential, distraction-free applications that align with our mission.
That's quite a big undertaking and a lot of control handed over to the manufacturer/maintainer. Phone is still a communication device, so it would be nice to see Signal, Conversations, Element (all of which are FOSS and could be easily rebranded), but then half of the world needs WhatsApp. Or is it distracting because you can contact businesses on it? (Like the Uber example on their page) Many people want banking apps too, do they plan to vet every single banking app?
1. My phones are always data offline, except when I use the internet browser to read news or retrieve information. If someone wants to contact me they can send SMS or call.
2. There is no email client configured on my phone.
3. GPS is always off (not so much for pausing reasons, but to maintain orienteering skills and resist surveillance capitalism
I used SymbianOS 2000 - 2014. MeeGo 2007 - 2014. SailfishOS 2014 - now, Android without Google account 2024 - now.
You can get a punkt phone, which does the same thing for a cheaper price, with custom hardware and a cool eink screen.
1. Something is wrong at work and needs my attention (life of an ops guy) 2. Something is wrong with one of the living beings close to my heart.
So I end up having a phone with me at all times. I did manage to get rid of mainstream social media apps on it, but I do end up on hackernews a lot.
I do agree HN is a bit hard to let go, but it is possible. :)
al_borland•3w ago
> Future Plans: We aim to expand the allowlist over time, but decisions will be made internally to ensure it remains aligned with our vision of distraction-free usability.
This alone sounds like a it should be a deal breaker for everyone.
gt0•3w ago
No app store means I can't do any 2FA not approved by the supplier of my phone... I mean come on.
xorvoid•3w ago
drekipus•3w ago
the issue I have is that I want to have some apps that will need to be approved somehow. banking for starters, but some other things as well.
I just got the bigme hibreak pro, which is an e-ink android phone, and while I loved it in all cases, I realised it was a total dealbreaker that the Android Auto navigation was broken (something to do with their display chip couldn't report the right display size, I also want to be able to take and look at colour pictures. so e-ink didn't quite work for me there.)
Otherwise, I love the idea of this!
I think I would like a bit of an escape hatch: maybe have the normal web-browser that's accessible under like 4 or 5 clicks.
The big issue isn't just that these phones are set up to be addictive, but they are also too legitimately useful in other situations as well. I use facebook to scroll AND check marketplace. I use instagram to scroll AND talk to friends.
so some friction is necessary, but some friction is a total dealbreaker. if I can't bank or navigate, then the change of phone had affected me too much for me to not counteract my whole life needs to change in some way.
I've been thinking about this often, because i wanted the hibreak to work.. I actually think there needs to be some sort of "Life OS" where we can get told how to live in this new world where we can't check our phones as often. Do we include "look at a physical map" as part of our routine or do we just allow android auto to work and accept that it might be an avenue of leaking through some content? (not a great example)