As the title says, I wish it wasn’t possible to sideload apps on Mudita Kompakt.
I can sit and think about which apps I really need on my phone. I sideload two, three, four and all of a sudden I have 6 to 8 extra apps on my phone. The next day, the screen time on my phone increases and I feel more distracted. But the idea of mk was less apps and less distraction. I start from scratch, I factory reset the phone.
Day three I think but only that app can be necessary to have in the phone, all of a sudden I have 6 extra apps in the phone again.
Is there anyone else who feels like me?
I like my mk very much, bright because it has an e-ink screen and is the perfect size.
So would rather not get rid of my mk, but what would you advise me to do in my situation?
I suggest you to uninstall F-Droid and Aurora Store (and your web browser) on your Mudita Kompakt. I only have the obtainium app for keeping my apps up to date. I use internet and check my emails on my tablet at the end of the day. If I need to install a new app, I use my tablet but it is pretty rare. This is the way.
I feel you, I still struggle with the idea of installing some tools, or living like it was a dumbphone. But most of the time, I don’t have time to think about that. I focus on my tasks, not the phone, so it’s kinda ok.
I am also going nuts with sideloading since getting it a few days ago, but I’m chalking it up to it being new and fun to customize as a new device.
I think once I normalize it as my new daily carry, and start using the Offline+ switch to force me off of browsing and other online wandering, that it’ll be worth it with just the apps I managed to get. I’m just avoiding social media installs and logins!
I’m going to chime in here with my two cents
I have this feeling that there are some people who switched over to Mudita Kompakt trying to recreate the smartphone experience, sideloading apps that they claim they need to function. However, the truth is, those apps were a convenience that could definitely be lived without. In the end, these ‘must-haves’ when not properly controlled, can be a slippery slope, where you just sideload apps that you used to have on your smartphone expecting that to change your screen habits just because you’re on an e-ink phone.
I’m thankful that I can sideload apps. For me, without WhatsApp, the Kompakt wouldn’t be in my pocket every day and I’d have switched to another phone.
At first, I did experiment with side loading a few apps in the first couple of days of owning the Kompakt. I quickly figured out which were helpful to me and which weren’t, and uninstalled all of them except for a couple. I definitely think that NOT having any stores (i.e. no F-Droid, no Aurora Store) is the way to go - without an app store, it’s a very slow deliberate process to get a new app installed.
I just never looked into how to side load apps so I don’t bother with it at all. No temptation but I am also coming from LP2 without a proper social media phone for a few years and that has probably helped. Is this your first dumb phone?
Spotify for podcasts and music
Perplexity for question/answer
KOReader for ebooks
Gboard
Waze
File Manager
Timer
Once the updates roll out and modify reader and gps functions, and keyboard slowness, Ko, Gboard and Waze are gone.
I got it to stay off facebook and instagram…and youtube. So far, great success!
You can still update your apps with Obtainium (app available on F-Droid). You just need to set all your apps on Obtainium with the apps links from apkpure, f-droid, github, etc. and after that you uninstall your app stores and your web browser on your phone. I open obtainium on my phone to update manually my sideloaded apps from time to time. The only app that I don’t use obtainium is my banking app that I prefer to update with Aurora Store, so I will update this specific app only few times during the year.
Everyone has their own preferences and reasons for getting the MK.
Personally, I would not have purchased the phone if sideloading wasn’t possible. For one, the Mudita apps are inferior to existing counterparts out there. Second, it would be a huge hit to my digital privacy. Why would I bother getting a de-googled phone just to be stuck with no encrypted messaging ability and no VPN? And I can’t find my way to places I need to get to without navigation unless I’m going to go back to the days of printing out Mapquest directions every time I go to someplace new.
But I didn’t buy the MK to break a phone addiction. I’m not on my phone all the time anyway, even when I have a normal smartphone. I wanted it for the lack of Google services tracking me, the e-ink screen so I could have a pocket e-reader, and the offline+ mode. So my use case is very different than yours. I think I have more apps sideloaded than most people do because I want the functionality when I need it, but I feel no compulsion to use it otherwise.
For you, I would say don’t keep an app store installed. If you have to sideload every time you want a new app, that’s a lot harder to do. Also, make a list of the core capabilities you really need in a phone. Like you might decide you really need a navigation app, encrypted messaging like Whatsapp or Signal, and an authentication app. You sideload those three things, and then stop.
My view also same. Do not want Google always tracking what we are doing. And the eInk screen for no eye strain.
I have just whatsapp, organic maps, and one corporate company cafeteria app. Whatsapp still send some ads (no idea based on what data it reads from phone). I wish whatsapp should give options to use a free version with ads and paid version without ads.
I find that sideloading is what actually makes this phone usable. Had a lot of trouble with bluetooth, maps, video camera, music player, even the launcher that was fixed with sideloading. I have made my nearly ideal minimalist phone with sideloading. The only thing I am really missing is contactless payments but it isn’t a massive deal.
I try to avoid Whatsapp as much as I can. I keep it on a separate device where I keep any social media apps since I don’t use it all the time. I prefer Signal since it isn’t collecting any data and doesn’t send me ads.
Thanks for everyone’s good advice, here in the thread
After much consideration back and forth, I have chosen to sideload only the following necessary apps/tools.
None of the apps/tools are distracting and the phone is still minimalistic
