"Many of you told us you wanted a more accessible entry point"

Announced a short time ago, the Callback 8020 is seen as a means of combating the addictive lure of the modern-day smartphone. While it supports Android apps via its SailfishOS, it disables features like web browsing and social media by default.

However, despite the noble quest for a ‘digital detox’, the phone met with a somewhat frosty reception online (no pun intended), with many comparing it to an elderly relative’s flip phone. In our poll, 70 percent of you said you wouldn’t be buying one.

  • TrackinDaKraken@lemmy.worldEnglish
    111·
    6 hours ago

    How about a phone for people who aren’t addicted to them, but want the basics without being spied on?

    Things I want in a phone:

    • GPS with maps and directions.
    • A browser for the rare occasions I want to look something up when I’m away from home. The last time I used it was to find which aisle something was on at Lowe’s.
    • Texting.
    • Phone calls.
    • Notes.
    • A decent camera.
    • No bigger than an iPhone 12 mini, which is what I have now, and it’s plenty big enough.

    I don’t do anything else. Mostly my phone sits on my desk, ignored unless it makes a noise at me. I take it with me sometimes when I leave the house, but sometimes I don’t bother--not addicted.

    • gedaliyah@lemmy.worldEnglish
      11·
      5 hours ago

      This can easily be achieved with most any Android phone.

      • Switch to a degoogled OS like GrapheneOS or LineageOS
      • Install a minimalist launcher (there are dozens)
      • install CoMaps for private gps and navigation
      • use whatever chromium browser comes on the phone or install a privacy browser like Firefox (again, there are dozens)
      • add a notes app (there are dozens)
    • HaraldvonBlauzahn@feddit.orgEnglish
      1·
      3 hours ago

      A phone with SailfishOS is fine for that. It can get tricky with messengers and banking apps (but I think phones are Not A Good Idea for banking authentication).

      • zod000@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
        4·
        5 hours ago

        Except for the “A browser on rare occasions”, which sadly is likely the only thing stopping me from buying this at the new far more palatable price. I don’t need to be treated like a baby, but apparently this is considered a core feature of the phone and they won’t back down from it.

        • Crozekiel@piefed.zipEnglish
          3·
          5 hours ago

          I 100% agree with this. This is SO CLOSE to getting it and offering a phone I actually want. But I want to own my devices and decide what I do on them. The thing hard locking me out of a browser (and discord) is unfortunately a deal breaker. I don’t want the hardware mfr to have a say in how I use the device and treat me like a literal child in the process. It’s disappointing.

    • Hawke@lemmy.worldEnglish
      11·
      5 hours ago

      Yup.

      Although I’d expand texting to “messenger apps” specifically Signal for me.

      Fuck SMS.