Mobile data and WiFi are working great - just popped in my SIM card and password and they worked
Uploading my contacts from Google was a breeze - I downloaded the Mudita Center app, plugged in my phone, unlocked it, and then clicked the import button
On the aesthetic
I love how simple and clean the device and software are - the aesthetic is great!
The app design is really well optimised for e-ink. It’s so clean and clear, and a really distinctive style.
On the hardware
Screen is really nice - feels very premium
The GPS has been slow to get a location lock indoors. I’ve not yet tested it outdoors
I have the pebble grey colour, which looks quite natural.
Will take some time to see how battery life and the hardware performs, but all looks good so far
On the inbuilt apps
Weather is great - the key information is visible at a glance
I’ve not used a meditation timer before, but this one has a nice chime and I’ll definitely give it a go.
The e-reader I think will be my favourite. Having a book in my pocket is such a big win. The text is very clear. The only minor thing is the page turn is a little slow - I suspect it could be because the first book I loaded onto the e-reader has dark grey (rather than black) fonts, because the inbuilt meditation cards turn pages quickly.
I downloaded my local maps, and they seem accurate. I think the search / directory of different places is a little difficult if there are lots of places named the same.
On sideloading
I sideloaded Beeper and it works well to send/receive messages from Whatsapp, Facebook messenger, Instagram, etc. all in the one app (without all of the stories, reels and AI features). I think beeper uses Google services for notifications, so the Kompakt doesn’t alert when a message comes in, but the rest of the features work great.
If you want, you can hide sideloaded apps! I used this on my last phone to have my doorbell app installed, but just hidden from the app list - so my phone plays a notification sound when the doorbell rings. You might also want this if you sideload an app store, for example. This option is under settings / app layout, where you can choose which apps to hide.
On features I’d like to see
I can’t figure out how to delete the different languages of pre-loaded meditation cards from the e-reader.
I wish I could change the icon for sideloaded apps so they match the Mudita look - the phone has such a great vibe but the black icons look jarring.
Maps would be improved with navigation directions - to see turn-by-turn navigation, or routes to get from here-to-there
I’d like to have a timer app - I would use a count-down timer for cooking eggs, or as an intermittent fasting timer where I can set a count-up timer and come back the next day to see what it’s up to.
I really wish there was a way to display the time/notifications on the lock screen rather than the mudita advertisement
On being a minimalist device
As a minimalist device it’s just perfect. It does more than a flip phone / dumbphone, but in a far more pleasing and calm style.
The offline+ switch makes me think of the device quite differently. This feels like a device where you’re not getting a feed from the internet, but it’s much more a tool that serves you. The offline+ mode feels like a really deliberate way to disconnect temporarily, and the phone can then only do things that help you disconnect - read a book, play chess, meditate, listen to a music album, write a note.
I am a bit confused about the maps app, if it does not give turn by turn directions what information is it giving you? Like if I want directions somewhere from home to a movie theatre for example is it not telling me how to get there? Very confused …
So the maps app allows you to pan and zoom around maps - so you can look around and see what’s nearby or in any particular area. It shows all of the streets, shops, landmarks, etc.
You can also search the maps, to be able to find an address or place, and it will show you that location.
I think the software update they are working on, with directions as well will be a really good feature to add.
I guess there’s a few things to think about with maps. for one… they’re not that minimal, but at the moment it seems (I dont have one yet) to act like a paper map. remember those?
I actually like the idea that it is potentially more of a map app than a navigation app.
the other consideration if they’re planing more nav features is they’re going to have to assess what routing algorithm they pick (there are multiple for OSM, one of the map backends they use), and how that integrates into a eink display that works without being super messy.
If it helps, I’ve just confirmed that the app “Organic Maps” works as a sideloaded app. This did calculate navigation directions across the country, including by car or bicycle. It isn’t optimised for the e-ink screen - but if you urgently need a map with directions, this is an option.
an IF timer is a interesting idea, or perhaps a more generic simple countdown timer that can be set on set times. if I could set a 16h timer and just toggle it and have it ding and reset ready to be triggered again. nothing complicated.
for things under an hour I just recently got a very simple £5 mechanical timer. its perfect, keeps me way from technology.
Id love to know if you get the chance if you’re able to text calling on WiFi calling and if the call stays connected when leaving your house to 4G VoLTE (if your carrier supports it). the phone I understand should support this handover
how are you liking the feel of the phone?
Also id love to know what you’re purpose of it is? have you been using minimal phones already?
Really happy with it so far.
After years of chasing the “best” flagship phones, I realised that they weren’t better at all. When I looked at the things that were important to me, like messaging a friend or talking on the phone, all phones seem to be pretty equal. Instead the “best” phones are just better at distraction, social media, digital consumption, and all of the things I actively wanted to avoid!
So I’m now actively on a quest to find the “least” phone that I can live with. I’ve been swapping between a handful of different minimalist options over the past couple of years, from HMD/Nokia flip phones, an old candybar phone, and stripped-back heavily modified Android and old iOS devices.
Thats really interesting, ive recently been looking at the same, though so far mainly this has been locking down my current iPhone. removing social media, blocking apps etc. ive started a slow shift to using -for lack of a better phrase- single use tech. though this Is mainly in the form of my kindle for ebooks, DAP for music (just recently brought out of retirement ) etc. even the small changes has made a clear impression the smart phone is an addictive technology, and with everything in one hand there’s zero ‘purpose’ in the actions you take with it.
not sure how I will adjust to this, but I plan to take some time with it.
there’s definitely something to the view that smart phones are just better distractions
In his post @damian1 mentioned Beeper working across various services. I wonder, has anyone sideloaded it and tested iMessages? I’m really interested in this. I’ll be going from an iPhone to MK. It would be nice to receive notifications when messages come in. Otherwise, it’s all too easy to fall into the habit of frequently checking, which defeats the purpose.
So, if you’ve tried it or are able to try it, please report back.
Some great points here! I’ve been keeping a list of feedback / ideas since I got the phone as well. First - to echo a few of your points:
100% agree that I’d rather see the time on the lock screen than the logo. I don’t understand why the lock screen changes to a logo when using fingerprint reader.
Please add a timer!
Weather app is perfect
Device indeed feels very premium - I’m happy with it
Speed and responsiveness is much faster than I expected given e-ink screen
Some additional feedback:
Calendar: please add repeating events
Autocorrect: as far as I can tell there is no spell check/autocorrect. Only suggested words (which disappear if you get 1 letter wrong, which is the situation where it’s most useful (correcting words that are 80%+ accurate)
Suggested words: When you click a word to auto complete, there should be a space added at the end automatically. Also, when you click a suggested word in the notes app, it automatically takes you to the next line, which must be a bug
Fingerprint unlock: I accidentally trigger this CONSTANTLY. It’s very sensitive. Basically any time I touch the device or put it in our out of my pocket, it tries to read my fingerprint. It’s actually very accurate which is nice, but that also means I accidentally unlock my phone all of the time. I’ve already accidetnally called people, opened apps, etc. Perhaps the fingerprint reader should only activate if you physically click the button, rather than just graze it with a finger.
Keyboard: I can’t find a way to close the keyboard in the messages app, which means I can’t easily see the past messages
Messges app:When opening the keyboard, it hides the most. recent messages instead of pushing them up. So you see old messages rather than the one you’re probably replying to
Maps: doesn’t seem very useful until navigation is added (I understand this is on the roadmap)
Notes: Very simple markdown functionality would be really helpful and make it multi purpose. I.e. checklists, bulleted lists, adding bold/italics/headings
eSIM: Ability to change eSIM password would be nice, as mine has a random password that I can’t remember
Podcasts: I’ve sideloaded a podcast app but would be great to have one included natively
Nice product overall - I hope the feedback is useful!
So the logo on the lock screen is i believe the minimalistic idea so the phone doesnt scream anything at you, even the clock. If you want to check the time you can tap the unlock button, also if the time would be there it means refreshing every minute even during the night which would definitely exhaust battery in no time.
To close keyboard in sms app just tap left capacite button on the bottom of the screen once. Works in messenger aswell which i need as most of my friends and family uses this.
I am backing up the idea of fingerprint reading only at the push as i constantly get this unlocked or just vibrating and changing to type pin screen…
Im also wondering how to delete those meditation cards and music thats preloaded, havent found a way to do it yet.
Thanks so much for the tip on closing the keyboard. Completely forgot to try the buttons off of the screen
Agree on deleting the existing files as I’d like to use the additional space for other things. I have to assume that will be possible eventually.
Good point on the lock screen draining battery. I didn’t think about that, and would actually prefer the longer battery life if it really makes a difference. If keeping the logo, it might be nice to get rid of the little icon which detracts from the aesthetic a bit.
I hope that there will be possibility to add personal things on this lockscreen instead of the logo, which is great but in time i would like to change it to some flowers or mountains in minimalistic black & white style
And im asking about deleting files simply because if i add a book then i might need to scroll through those to find the book which is not ideal in my world where i try to make my things as easy to use for me as possible.
One point I forgot to mention - so far I have not been able to get paired bluetooth headphones to reconnect. I have to re-pair them every time I use them. I’m using Airpods but will test with Sony headphones as well this week.
I’ve seen another post on reddit with other users having the same issue (Pixel Buds were mentioned)
@brendxn Apple products may be the issue. Sometimes Apple products don’t play well with others. It’s in Apple’s interest to keep you in the Apple ecosystem.
I just checked with my Marshall Minor IV, works flawlessly, just disabled bluetooth, music from spotify also stopped, enabled it and it connected within a second, had to start the music manually in spotify app but thats not a big deal.
Actually, having understood how Beeper works, I think I’d rather go without. I knew that it was acting as a relay server, but I didn’t know how. It essentially involves you enabling Beeper’s Mac Mini servers to spoof an Apple device as registered to your iCloud account. Those messages are then relayed to your Beeper client. How secure those Mac Mini servers is anybody’s guess. For all I know, there could be people in Beeper viewing that message traffic. It’s a no-go for me.
Yeah calendar not having a repeating events that is pretty annoying, I don’t want to have to keep putting in the same event, hopefully this calendar sync update happens more sooner than later
I’ve passed your suggestions on to our team.
icon which detracts from the aesthetic a bit.