Show HN: LessPhone – A minimal Android launcher to reduce phone use
lessphone.app
lessphone.app
1. Let's you hide apps.
This is important to me since I usually firewall apps that I can't disable but have no use for, esp the ones that are pre-installed. Also, I don't want to see them or accidentally launch them.
2. Remove Google search bar and Google feed.
3. Dark mode that's gorgeous on AMOLED screens.
Lawnchair doesn't track usage nor does it, to my knowledge, phone home to any server.
LessPhone, NoPhone, Siempo [1] et al do have their places, but feel a bit forced and unnatural to use, esp for someone like my mom or my dad, who are used to traditional Android launchers with icons.
A feedback: Not meant as a slight on LessPhone or the others, but I guess, the key to building something for the 2 billion strong Android ecosystem is to abide by the existing UX standards and not surprise the users.
Open source too. Assuming you audit the source and either a) manage to produce a reproducible build that matches the existing binary and they don't later add any tracking or b) use your own build, you should be good.
There are are a number of features that are present in higher-end phones which are not available on lower-end ones (though some have started disappearing from high-end models or have become standard, more are always being invented): IR blaster, NFC, wireless charging, AR/VR capability, camera quality, fast charging, battery life, fast wifi, USB-C, OLED display, voice detection coproessor for OK Google / Siri, creating a WiFi hotspot to share WiFi (wireless card can get internet from a network and make its own network - this saved me from a big headache once). And also a fast processor which makes everything faster and improves the user experience.
Blocking usage of certain applications or services from your phone does not reduce the helpfulness those features and does not cripple the device.
Or, to put it another way: most phones these days contain software that exploits weaknesses in your brain to make you do things which do not serve your best interests. This launcher is intended to limit that. Doing so does not cripple your phone; it makes it more useful.
> buying a 500 dollar smartwatch in order to avoid taking out your 1000 dollar smartphone out of your pocket as much
Here you're assuming again that people buy hardware in order to use it. But that's not true; we buy computers because of their capabilities. A good device should add maximum value to the user with minimum time and money investment possible. An ideal device would give you those benefits without you ever having to waste time 'using' it. Smartwatches let you see notifications without having to use your phone, that's the entire point (aside from health/fitness tracking). That makes it an effective device for those who want that, but that doesn't mean it makes the phone any less useful. You may still want an excellent phone for when you do need to do a phone.
Your argument is like saying we buy tablets to not use laptop/desktop computer. Their uses may intersect, but each has areas that it is specialized for.
>Preventing your computer from using popular internet services isn't crippling it,
Right, but that's different from people who are trying to escape from using their $1000 phone as much as possible due to a fear about social media addiction and such things. I don't think these people are the power users like you describe. Power users would figure out how to work around things without crippling their user experience.
>Your argument is like saying we buy tablets to not use laptop/desktop computer
Not at all. Tablets can be a comfy hand-held experience while laptops/desktops are totally a different form factor. They have different contexts. And what I'm complaining about in essence is about people blowing so much money on their fancy phone, and then they end up buying a watch so they can avoid looking at their phone as much because it's oh so tiresome to take out their phone. I'm not saying the devices are useless for the record.
Installing a launcher, like LessPhone, would be a way for me to get a phone closer to what I want. I don't think I would buy a $1000 phone as the starting point, but ideally nor would I purchase an Android phone. The current phone marked is trapped in a duopoly where a large number of people aren't being serviced by neither of the OS suppliers. The ability to customise the product of at least one of suppliers help a little.
They have all the information and images they need available on the play store, so why are they not presenting it on their own site?
(grumble, grumble)
Words are more minimal and efficient than voice (think of the passage from oral civilization to writing civilization).
After the introduction "So the thing I have been thinking about a bit recently" with the classical youtuber voice tone I just stopped the video (didn't want to check out if you - or the other guy, I don't know, don't care - were going to show me the product or spend 7 minutes on storytelling) and went to the play store to see what it actually does (since a quick glance to the page didn't show any screenshots or explanation).
Now I am installing the thing :).
While text is certainly more efficient than voice, I think the (very large!) differences between oral civilization and writing civilization are more down to the fact that text is more permanent than voice.
Another interesting thing that I do: I use uBlock Origin to gimp websites and hide recommendations to limit my browsing, without limiting my use of the actual website.
I want all my actions to be purposeful, no aimless browsing, no recommendations.
The browser sucks. The camera is a joke. There are almost no other apps. And I can't circumvent the limitations.
It's perfect.
[0] https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.focusme.an...
[1] FocusMe version direct from developers that has uninstall protection: https://focusme.com/android/
There are a couple of apps that supposedly do that, but they all fail more or less miserably (one of them is easily defeated just by pressing Android's back button for instance).
It supports what you're looking for: you can block both specific applications and URLs in all applications. It's worked well for me. They also supply a version on their website that includes uninstall protection: https://focusme.com/android/
If there was a way to change the Dialer link in the bottom left to open Google Voice, that would make it a lot easier of a sell.
maps, ride share, audio player, call, sms.
and messaging. but here the problem starts. i am counting 5! messaging apps, and they all contain work contacts. because everyone is on a different app. so that's 10!
and, unfortunately, the distractions are also in those apps. if there were an app that is a distraction only, then i could just remove it from the phone.
notice i didn't list the browser. that's there, but it's rarely really needed, mostly for entertainment. but most of the messaging apps have builtin browsers and/or the ability to open a browser from within.
so nope, i am afraid i can't cut out the distractions. they are forced upon me against my will.
This looks much more refined with extra features.
Thank you!
What is so hard about self control?
I almost feel guilty that my job gives me the most expensive phone every year and I'm basically only use it to listen to podcasts on the train while commuting, otherwise it's mostly both at work and at home just laying on the qi charging station the rest of the day.