I’ve been trying to get rid of my cellphone for awhile now. I switched to JMP.chat, I have Pidgin set up to make calls/texts, etc.
I use Trisquel GNU/Linux on my Libreboot laptop, my boss is fine with it.
My strategy looks something like this:
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Use earpiece that’s connected via Bluetooth, have narrator software read out notifications (notifications from Microsoft Teams, Thunderbird, etc.)
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Put laptop into sleep mode, maybe use a script to put it into a special sleep mode to make sure I’m connected to WiFi while walking around warehouse so I can receive calls/texts timely.
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Forward all notifications from Teams to my email, so that I’m not relying on the web-based version to be open.
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For travel on the road, I have a USB modem that’s connected to my LibreCMC router. I also have my laptop set up in my car on a stand.
Any suggestions?
TIA!
I was just about to say: “Yeah, I don’t need a desktop” and then I read what you said. I can see myself going to a “dumbphone” aka a phone-only phone, but this is a bit too much for me tbh.
Unfortunately, I can’t go that route. I use many different phone numbers through Pidgin, so I don’t think the flip phone would do.
How do I use a laptop for navigation when walking around the city?
A map, like a printed map that most touristic office give away for free? Same for public transport?
kde marble and a wwan card
If you’re trying a less “smart” phone experience, just buy a dumb phone. They still exist. Phones are needed for emergencies.
Unfortunately, the flip phone route for doing daily calls/texts won’t work because I use multiple phone numbers, and those phones have proprietary operating systems/firmware. Though, I still keep one in a Faraday bag if needed for emergencies.
I know a guy who doesn’t have a phone. Trying to get in touch with him is a PITA.
Does he not have email?
You can get in touch with him eventually, but not for anything urgent. For example, I had to rescue his mom when she lost her car key because she couldn’t get in touch with him to help her.
How did you get pigeon to make calls/texts?
I signed into my JMP.chat account via XMPP on Pidgin. I can make calls and texts just fine.
Edit: Pidgin (installed from Trisquel repos) can be used for texting, but as of right now, calling seems to be bugged. I’m currently using Dino (installed from Trisquel repos), both calling/texting work fine on there.
nice!
What will you do if that domain goes down, blocks you, or simply disappears?
Not sure. Do you have any suggestions? I have my own domain name and VPS, I could possibly self-host. (Currently, I’m using snikket.chat)
No, not at all. They both are made for different purposes.
O wise teacher, are you able to get OTPs for services that require phone numbers with this solution?
I have a phone but no SIM, and I can’t use a lot of the Internet because soooo many services require a phone number. How much do you pay for this per year?
Yes. I have multiple accounts attached to my phone number and I’m able to receive OTPs from all of them (banking, shopping, etc.)
I use my carrier (e.g. Verizon) for service, and pay jmp.chat $5/month for my phone number.
I don’t understand why you pay Verizon. Would it work over WiFi?
I meant Verizon for service on my phone and then have JMP.chat number for making calls/text. I don’t use the phone number that’s given from Verizon, I use the JMP.chat number instead. <---- This is my setup for my phone, not my laptop. JMP.chat works just fine over WiFi. Sorry for the misunderstanding.
For getting service on my laptop though, I use a USB modem that’s connected to my LibreCMC router. I travel around with the router/modem in my backpack. The LibreCMC router doesn’t need an outlet, it can be turned on by connecting it via USB to my laptop.
Huh, their front page says their service doesn’t support SMS?
It says this on their front-page:
“Note: While JMP does provide phone numbers and voice/SMS features, it does not provide 911, 112, 999 or other emergency services over voice or SMS.”
I don’t have any suggestions, but this is incredibly impressive. I haven’t heard of jmp.chat before, but it sounds like you can create multiple identities using different phone numbers - is that correct?
If so, that sounds amazing. I really hate how the modern world is trying to force people into a singular identity online, and the way that they’re using phone numbers to do it. This sounds like it could be a pretty decent method to avoid that.
Yes, you can create multiple accounts and get all text/call notifications in one app. I recommend you use the Cheogram app for phone or Dino-IM for PC.
No, not suitable at all. I would be more interested in using my phone with GrapheneOS as only device.
But:
- mail filters work fine with my provider, not in K-9mail (fair-email gives me anxiety)
- office stuff just sucks, Collabora is as big as Libreoffice but no GUI options
- MPV is very barebones and VLC very far behind on updates
- missing GIMP
- missing PDF editing
- missing video or audio editing
- missing code editing
- missing commandline stuff
- no qbittorrent, Aria2 works but only for leeching, BiglyBT works but has a weird UI and restricted features
- no browser with tab groups, containers, security, etc.
But for a ton of other stuff a phone works very well
- obvious one: small form factor
- uses very little battery, awesome standby battery consumption
- camera, audio, video recording
- media consumption
- offline (MPV, Gallery apps (why is this not a thing on desktops?), music players, antennapod)
- online: grayjay, soundbound, antennapod, rimusic, …
- messaging (simplex, signal, element, briar, …)
- slight image editing (snapseed)
- image compression (signal, save before sending, exit)
- video cutting (signal, save before sending)
- writing markdown (markor, acode)
- weather
- webapps
- social media (jerboah, fedilab, …)
- navigating (there is no OSMAnd alternative on Linux)
In many areas there are way more apps for android, in many others way less.
I have a friend who’s never gotten a cell phone. Computer science PhD candidate. At this point I think he’s avoided it as we seem to be coming out the other side. He rocks a MacBook pro and uses Google voice. It’s possible…
I have “mained” a Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Extreme running Pop!_OS for over two years now. I run a company and interact with clients all the time, so I’m not just browsing PornHub all day. My Thinkpad has not let me down yet.
I have a Mac for my music production and graphic design hobbies, but only because I own software for it that only supports Mac or Windows. That said, I rarely use it since Bitwig and Renoise run on Linux. I’ll only boot the Mac if I need some plug-in or Abelton. All that’s happened is that I have slowly started to gravitate towards DAW-less production.
How does DAW-less production work? No editing?
Old school. You do all your work on hardware sequencers, trackers, drum machines, synths, etc.
