Thread

1. ocd · 1789759659 · focus · HN ↗

   I just want BlackBerry back.

   Every single time one of these new "minimal", "dumb", "lightweight" phones comes up today it's just marketing wrapped around a kneecapped Android device. I am in the market for something simpler that does nothing more or little else than play local media/audio, read common document/text formats, ordinary SMS, current standard of telephony, and a different OS than Android. I have not seen anything like this yet.

   1. Moldoteck · 1789761065 · focus · HN ↗

      probably because in these days it's hard to get by without some apps like maps, common messengers, delivery, bank transactions and so on

      1. TomGarden · 1789762931 · focus · HN ↗

         Agreed. Banking is the killer app imo

         1. XorNot · 1789770213 · focus · HN ↗

            In Australia it's pretty great: my driver's license can be provided by an app on my phone and legally must be accepted if it is. So between that and NFC payment support, a phone is the only thing I need to remember to operate outside the house.

            1. jolmg · 1789775251 · focus · HN ↗

               It's pretty great as long as it doesn't evolve into them no longer printing the cards and requiring use of their app, consequently on one of their approved OSes.

               1. XorNot · 1789781651 · focus · HN ↗

                  I mean yes but that is a case of the slippery slope fallacy: the existence of a future possible decision does not affect whether a current decision is a good one.

                  If they try to move in that direction, we can protest it then. Denying ourselves a useful capability now doesn't stop it from happening anyway, nor make it more likely.

                  1. dotancohen · 1789812535 · focus · HN ↗

                     When a pattern is repeated many times, it is not a fallacy to recognize that pattern at the begining.

                     If I see a tiger crotched in the bushes, is it a fallacy to gather my children and head back to the cave?

                     Pattern recognition is not a fallacy.

                     1. XorNot · 1789813113 · focus · HN ↗

                        When has this happened before? Presumably you have several examples near to hand since it's "a pattern".

                        1. dotancohen · 1789814351 · focus · HN ↗

                           I personally live in a country with a large religious population that rejects the smartphone, so thankfully I personally have not encountered a situation where needing a smartphone is vital. However we've seen many people right here on HN mention how some specific vital service - often government or banking - does require a smartphone.

                           1. XorNot · 1789861208 · focus · HN ↗

                              So you can't even remember or point to any specific example of the problem you claim exists, existing.

                              1. dotancohen · 1789864060 · focus · HN ↗

                                 In my HN Threads feed, the very next item is another HN user mentioning how they have difficulty paying for parking spaces without a smart phone, from this very page. Search "and sadly accept the cost of our principles" on this page to find it.

                                 But I have no interest in winning internet arguments. You win, the cookie isn't worth it to me.

                                 1. [deleted] · 1789935365 · focus · HN ↗

                                    [deleted]

            2. rplnt · 1789803327 · focus · HN ↗

               Or you could just take cash, as long as you don't need to drive.
         2. mmooss · 1789771823 · focus · HN ↗

            For what purpose? If you have a debit card, cash app, etc., what urgent need is there for a banking application?

            1. [deleted] · 1789774827 · focus · HN ↗

               [deleted]

            2. rezonant · 1789775464 · focus · HN ↗

               Uh... Cash App is a banking application.

               1. TomGarden · 1789776560 · focus · HN ↗

                  Yeah. People get confused because they're not a bank, but they offer banking services (as a middleman)
            3. abc123abc123 · 1789813795 · focus · HN ↗

               Pay monthly bills?
         3. mapontosevenths · 1789779663 · focus · HN ↗

            Switch to a bank that has a website.

            If they can't do online banking in 2026 your bank might actually just be some guy in a monopoly man Halloween costume.

            1. [deleted] · 1789785441 · focus · HN ↗

               [deleted]

            2. Moldoteck · 1790002906 · focus · HN ↗

               I don't like website interfaces. Good to have them, but apps are more convenient
      2. [deleted] · 1789785306 · focus · HN ↗

         [deleted]

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