> A proper dumb phone would only have enough firmware and OS to make calls and text, maybe a very rudimentary calculator.
It's that "maybe a very rudimentary calculator" part that would be the problem with trying to sell a dumb phone nowadays, I think. For some people calls, text, and a simple calculator would be perfect. For others though it would be calls, text, and a music player. Others would want calls, text, and a camera.
Back in the dumb phone days I would take some subset of these devices with me when I went out for the day:
• Calculator
• Music player
• Palm Pilot
• Camera
• GPS
I think a "dumb" phone would have to include most or all of those to really be commercially viable, although maybe the maker could make it work if they had several different models each with just a couple of those.
I get what you are saying but the reason I mention calculator is that unless the internet has been completely compromised or enshittified, a calculator will not be tied to some distraction and tracking platform or service.
What I knew as a camera or music player only managed local files and was not internet enabled. Most today know a music player as a streaming client. If the internet went down most of them would not have any music at all. They also expect their camera can instantly share their photos with everyone via some big platform and AI or other algorithms will make suggestions or try to add captions. I still use cameras and music players that do not have network capabilities. I even have a physical calculator.
I think the overall goal is to remove distractions. For me it is also to stop AI and related psychological tools from becoming that embedded in my life. At some point I will just stop using a cell phone all together and I know I am not alone. Maybe alone here on HN but not alone outside of this chamber.
It's that "maybe a very rudimentary calculator" part that would be the problem with trying to sell a dumb phone nowadays, I think. For some people calls, text, and a simple calculator would be perfect. For others though it would be calls, text, and a music player. Others would want calls, text, and a camera.
Back in the dumb phone days I would take some subset of these devices with me when I went out for the day:
• Calculator
• Music player
• Palm Pilot
• Camera
• GPS
I think a "dumb" phone would have to include most or all of those to really be commercially viable, although maybe the maker could make it work if they had several different models each with just a couple of those.