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Comment by santoshalper | Hacker News Reader

I am always torn when I read posts like this. On one hand, I have very mixed feelings about smartphones. It alarms me that we have become so intensely dependent on a device that is so new. I have vivid memories of navigating the world without Google Maps and not feeling constantly tethered to a device.

On the other hand, these posts often feel incredibly precious, like the author has an unbelievable amount of free time to waste. It's similar to the feeling I get when I meet someone with an old-timey handlebar mustache. It's hard not to roll my eyes.

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Where exactly are you accounting for wasted time? On navigation? On posting about not having a smartphone? The amount of time saved not having a smartphone (interacting with the internet using a computer [keyboards, adblockers, multiple screens, user vs owner dynamics]) outweighs any extra costs in my opinion. Navigating around town becomes second nature once you stop receiving turn by turn directions from Google-et-al. The only argument I've ever heard of that rings true is not having access to ride shares (ironicly named to boot).

You can have adblockers on your phone, too. On both Android and iOS. (I haven't investigated eg Windows phones.)

> Navigating around town becomes second nature once you stop receiving turn by turn directions from Google-et-al.

Depends on how big your town is and how frequently you go around in it.

I typically don't receive turn-by-turn instructions where I live; I guess they only really make sense for someone who uses a car? That's not very common here.

> I have vivid memories of navigating the world without Google Maps and not feeling constantly tethered to a device.

I'd still advise people to navigate without relying on Google or Apple Maps, not for nostalgia or "live in the moment", but because navigation softs are just not optimal[0] most of the time, especially for walking/biking.

Looking at the map and deciding your path yourself, checking only from time to time if you're on the path you chose or to check the landmarks is to me a way better experience.

I wonder if there's OSM apps that let the user draw a route and only notify when they substancialy deviate or at checkpoints they set.

[0] Outside of finding the actual shortest path, you probably have preferences on walking larger or narrower streets, less or more car traffic, better lighting at night, have nearby options to enter a cafe when you need to etc.

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