Nowadays most tech seems to be made to distract you.
I'd like to be able to make tech what it's really supposed to be, for me.
Which is useful AND purposeful.
For starters, the computational device that seems to have become part of the modern person,
For a more focused used of the smartphone, I believe it should adapt to the users needs. Well, what I need is:
If you really think about what the smartphone is, you'll see it's just a mobile computer. And that is it's function. Doing what a computer can do but in a easier and (here comes the dangerous word...) convenient form factor. Unfortunately, the companies that we end up depending on to use those devices and services, and goverment agencies, make it so that the smartphone is MORE necessary than a computer (dependency on sms for verification, and services only available in apps).
Examples of those are banking apps and government apps.
But other than that, social media (if you use that sort of thing), email, research, gaming, entertainment, ALL of those things, you should do on a computer. (Doesn't include movies, you should watch those on a proper television set, or at a theater).
My opinion is: If it's something you can do on your computer, and you're at home, why do you have that smartphone screen up to your face?
However, the bigger issue about the extended use of the smartphone other than your eyesight's health, is that the reason the use is extended, is the constant distraction it provides!
Social media, mobile games, betting apps, all of those things messing up your chemical reward system, messing up your connectedness with the real world, messing up your relationship with people and taking from you all that precious time you could have used to MAKE something.
THAT SHOULD MAKE YOU MAD!
Anyway...
So, if I only need those things mentioned before, what can I do about all of the BLOAT of my device?
Simply put,
You debloat it.
I've used adb (and other tools that use adb) to debloat my android device, and the effect is actually quite satisfactory. Problem is, after doing that a bunch of times, I sometimes "break" parts of my system doing it, nothing that makes it unusable, but it can get ugly, so I've reformatted it a few times.
I'll have to take a cleaner, more radical action.
I had to use a custom rom.
In order to do that I had to unlock my device, which was a nightmare in itself since I have a Xiaomi device. What the custom rom did for me is rid me from the big tech companies holding me hostage to the device (Xiaomi and Google). When debloating, if I removed some of their packages from the stock HyperOS rom, it could brick my device.
I recommend against using anything by Google. (Android is an open source project and so is Chromium, so using the AOSP and degoogled Chromium is fine)
The thing about convenience is that you fall victim to it, in a way...
Convenience makes things easier for us, but with an expense, to our data, to our willingness to work for things, and to our integrity. Although to be productive you want to automatize things, you have to work for that! And not buy the convenient way, or else you won't DO things. You shouldn't just buy the magic spell for your sollutions DAMN IT! You gotta work hard and feel good about what you've accomplished.
I find that that is part of being alive. I like to quote this from Steven Universe: "For the satisfaction of bringing it into completion".
You know? Like music!
That was kinda corny...
Back to smartphones...
I would prefer to get GrapheneOS. It is the ideal system when it comes to freedom and privacy. But it is only supported on Google Pixels and that is just not an option for me, in Brazil. Import fees are terrible.
So I got myself a custom rom that supports my device, which is CrDroid.
With a custom rom, you can become "rooted" which means you'll truly be in control of your device. And you should have control of everything you own, or else, is it really yours? On that note, let's talk about the corner stone of tech, the...
This piece of tech should be fully controlled by you, it's owner.
Microsoft wants you to buy a license to an Operating System that isn't yours, where they serve you ads, spy on you, and generally just do a bad job at being reliable.
Linux, on the other hand, is free (as in beer and as in freedom), doesn't spy on you (usually...), doesn't serve you ads, and obeys you like it should. I suggest switching to Linux whoever you may be.
Here is a video on which distro you should get.
To the cases when someone might not want to, because they can't do some things in Linux:
Don't let the promise of convenience take away your autonomy.
When life gives you lemons, develop a combustible lemon.
In taking control of what you own, you can fairly decide: "I don't want to watch ads".
And you are absolutely right. And in knowing how to do so, you don't need to watch any ads whatsoever. Ads are distracting!
Don't you find invasive how your own PERSONAL computer and your smartphone show you ads you never asked for?
One more reason for taking control. Companies like Google constantly spy on you when you use their services, to make a profile on you and figure out how to best serve you ads so THEY can make MONEY.
All I ever paid for, willingly, was the device.
And I say, that's all I want to have.
I never asked Google to collect my data, but it tricks you so when you setup your device, or even just use any of it's services, it makes you agree to their Terms of Services. Do you remember doing that? Because, if you have a Google Account, YOU DID.
When you are using a service that you don't pay for, it means
YOU are the product.
I honestly feel, at times, like wanting to get away from the Internet altogether. Having no smartphone or computer, like an old man.
But then I think about all of the Internet's wonders.
I look around and see people stagnated. People not looking for, or making anything. Not taking advantage of all of the Internet's Magic. People who conformed to only being served slop, instead of working to accomplish or feel anything real.
Something real doesn't mean "outside of the digital world", it means something impactful, something that matters.
On my homepage I said Ernopolis is the land of spiculation, but never elaborated on that.
To spiculate, on my internal vocabulary, means to go after things. Like a form of research, where you ask around trying to find more information to achieve an objective. But in a more poetic form, it's the shine you get in your eyes on an adventure or a mystery, the uncovering of something after a doubt arises.
Picture Indiana Jones in The Last Crusade, when he is in the library in Venice, when he finds the 3 roman numerals.
Spiculating, to me, is part of what makes life worth living. It is to learn, to experience, to work on something. All of those things in one verb!
You might have noticed I haven't mentioned anything by Apple. Well that is because I don't even consider it. both the iPhone and the Mac are so closed down that I just think it's a waste of money. The only thing I could find understandable is if you use Linux on a Mac. Those new M chips based on ARM really are good. But it's still so expensive... The Apple math just doesn't work for me.
I recommend against using Apple devices.
In using cloud storage you are trusting the company's servers with your data WILLINGLY, and PAYING for it. It's convenient? Sure...
I have the intention of setting up my own personal home server to use as storage and to host my own email domain.
I shouldn't even need to say it, but I strongly recommend against using Google Drive or iCloud or any other Cloud Storage service.
This is taking control. It's "inconvenient" but it's the sane thing to do if you want to protect your liberties and privacy.
To inform yourself better about privacy and Open Source Alternatives to services you may use, see:
I suppose a vehicle could categorize as tech in the sense I'm talking about.
What do people usually need from a vehicle?
I could add much more but I think this is the basics.
With all of those things, you could say a computer could help with all of those. Which I can agree on. But in the case of a vehicle, I stand on keeping it analog.
For comfort, you don't really need anything fancy. As long as you keep your vehicle clean and have a good Air conditioning system, you won't need a computer. Air conditioners on cars have been around since the 50s and they didn't need computers for it then. Gotta love those tactile buttons.
The radio system? It doesn't need to be full computer. You can always use those regular old sound systems, one of those that bundles a cd player, a usb stick reader, AUX and bluetooth. As long as the speakers are good, those will suffice.
You could argue the navigation system needs to be a computer, and you are right. But my idea is to keep you from using those stock proprietary computer systems by the car's manufacturer.
There are standalone nav systems you can install to your car, although I haven't found a good Free and Open Source one. But you can use your smartphone as well! There are a few FOSS apps for navigation on F-Droid. Don't use Google Maps!
AND to really let convenience go, you could try using a REAL MAP. You know, those you buy and READ on PAPER. Relax, it was just as a last option, to give you some perspective on how we are dependent on tech generally. You could still do it though. Spiculate!
I wish I knew of a good Eletric Vehicle to suggest, but in todays market, it's really hard to find a good EV that the only computer is the one that makes the car go. I've heard interesting things about the Nissan Leaf. But as we stand, petrol is the way to go... for now.
Which actually sucks, because I stand for green and sustainable values.
Well, you can always use a bicycle or public transport...
I think I might end this here. I've written plenty (more than I intended to).
So just to end this.
Don't buy smart fridges,
Don't use smart TVs,
Be aware of your rights and what companies make you agree to.
Be curious,
and spiculate!
Thank you for reading.
Gratefully,
Ernopolis