I just finished reading through one review of the Kompakt written by someone who has historically worked in tech and development. He really knew his stuff, and provided a ton of info on modifications to the MuditaOS and how to sideload properly. It was all really awesome information, and I could see myself using it once my phone arrives.
But it also prompted the question in me: Wasn’t the point of these phones to create more of a separation from us and the need to be constantly, digitally connected?
I was immediately excited to see the guide. Quickly bookmarked it and thought, “I love this! It’s gonna be so useful!” But… it definitely goes against the general ethos that had sold me on Mudita as a company and the Kompakt as a phone. That guide basically turns the Kompakt into a (slightly worse) eInk version of my already dumbed down Pixel 3. Not to say it isn’t useful, and I know many people need those features!
I just wonder at what point we’re all falling back into the same digitally obsessed mindsets. I also know that the point of owning our own tech is being allowed to do whatever we want with it, which is totally valid. It feels like a complex topic with multiple responses that could be fair. Does anyone have any thoughts? I’d love to know how other people are feeling and am open to anyone’s positions!
From what I am reading - I think that what is being communicated by members of the community is that the muditaOS is the issue which is causing many people to turn to side loading. My intention was to not to aideload - but hearing about the music player, alarm clock, and Ereader not being completely fleshed out has me planning on side loading.
While I’m excited about being more mindful about doomscrolling and infinite scrolling and the addiction to the phone in that respect - I’m completely okay and need access to a decent music player (autistic parent of autistic kids, I depend on playlists) and an Ereader (which will help me to be able to just go anywhere and read).
Reading through the forums for the last few days does have me a bit nervous (and, honestly, disappointment) that many - what I view as big (alarms that go off when they need to is huge) - software kinks weren’t worked out fully and has led to the need of sideloading.
I’m sure many people have various needs - I love seeing how people customize the device to fit their needs.
Precisely what I am wondering. It seems challenging to seek out a dumb phone with the objective of making it ‘smart’.
I came across the Kompakt while looking for just phone and text, done really well. It is unclear that I would ever use any of the other features aside from contact info.
I guess it all depends on what one is seeking. I enjoy audiophile stereo, which is defined differently by pretty much anyone that is involved.
I was also previously using a dumbed down Pixel 5, but despite being technically close to feature-parity after installing things such as web browsers, the smaller screen along with the screen being e-ink means I have the ability to look something up online if I really want to but I absolutely don’t want to use it for any longer than it takes to look that one thing up. I have almost every convenience to use the MK as a tool but it is pretty difficult to get distracted by it, which is basically the dream for me, personally. I still get to have unit converters, translations, music streaming, 2FA, weather, navigation, email, and Signal, most of which are things that most dumb phones could never have, no matter how much effort someone put into shoehorning them in, but they’re also not anything that is going to rob hours of my time away from me.
For the times I really want to disconnect, there’s the super convenient switch on the side that shuts everything off, which is easily reversible should I have the need to contact someone. Granted, I don’t think that’s any different than just turning on airplane mode and turning off wifi on any other Android phone, but that’s also something I never used on my Pixel and I think the hardware switch is a subtle, constant reminder that it is an option.
My dad never made the switch to smartphones and I always mention to him how much I like the thought of just using a dumb phone, I’ve tried a few variations over the years but none of them worked for me. The MK (so far) seems to be my Goldilocks phone. I’m not a fan of the term “transition” device as I am not seeking to move to a phone that does less, currently, this (basically) does everything I need (want) without anything I don’t.
I’ve been thinking of sideloading few apps that I might need, such as Signal, but I’m good so far.
Wanted authenticator app but I’m going to get back to a PC version of that thing.
Wanted custom keyboard and app alternatives but since I didn’t start the sideloading/modding efforts yet, I’ll wait to see how Mudita handles undercooked features.
Thought of a car navigation but I far more prefer preparing routes on a piece of paper like I used to when had a dumbphone. I have a bit of comfort because for work reasons I keep a turned off smartphone in my car.
I’ll probably end up having my home alarm app (needs notifications) and maybe custom launcher (text-only or Niagara, that one looks interesting).
Time between battery charging is very important for me what keeps me reluctant from beginning to play with all that.
Fully agreed on making sure our phone doesn’t overpower our brains again but I believe everyone has an individual threshold here.
I have tried the pure Kompakt experience for 2 weeks, then I decided to add KoReader and Gramophone, these two are pretty good at their jobs. So far I feel like I don’t need anything else. We are starting to be friends we the alarm too, in the last few days it rang on time
Completely agree with this. I have so far resisted sideloading anything to keep the Kompakt as minimal as possible, but so far I have not managed to get to a space where I can abandon a smartphone completely. Currently using the MK as a minimal detox device, although fantasising about making it my main device (which would essentially mean returning to the early 00s with functionality; an idea I like but not sure how practical).
I sideloaded a browser (train itineraries etc) and whatsapp and use it as my primary device. No issue whatsoever. I use Whatsapp desktop as well so I can easily send movie tickets etc to my own number so they can be scanned.
I would advise you to try the phone for a while, and your perspective might evolve. I originally wasn’t planning on adding anything other than WhatsApp.
Most people are not side loading to “be constantly connected” - but rather to get around basic bugs in the OS. A few you’ve probably seen:
SMS app doesn’t work with group messaging
Alarm clock doesn’t ring at the correct time
No timer available (not everyone cares about this but it’s useful and not about staying online)
Can’t listen to a specific artist in the Music app
Maps can’t navigate you from A to B or help you find a phone number or opening hours
Etc, etc
Having no idea what the development pace of Mudita will be, I’m very happy that I can bridge these basic gaps on my own in the meantime. If I couldn’t, I would return the phone as it’s otherwise very buggy right now. But thankfully it’s possible.
I don’t plan to sideload any social media, or anything with infinite scroll capabilities, or that will encourage me to waste time.
To your point about the Mudita being a worse, e-ink version of your old smart phone - this is exactly true - and surprisingly that has been a great “feature”. You have the option to put a few extra tools or features on the phone, and it doesn’t suck you in - because it’s not that fast or smooth or pleasant to use them. But they’re still available as tools.
For example I finally sideloaded a browser, which I didn’t plan to do. But I’ve only used it for things like Google Translate, or pulling up specific information when I really need it (like public transit info). Otherwise it’s hidden and I don’t touch it. This also keeps me from carrying around an iPhone as a backup, which further reduces my screen time.
This is all personal of course, but I don’t think this phone is ready for most people to use as their only phone, unless you plug a few gaps with side loading.
I think different people are attracted to the Kompakt for different reasons and want it to be a device that fits their personal lives and use cases. The fact that (putting aside some rough post-launch edges) many are quite satisfied with the phone despite the wide range of expectations seems to be a big win for the company. And enabling sideloading clearly plays a big role here. as everyone can fill the gaps and customise Kompakt to their needs.
There are users who refuse to sideload anything, and there are users who use the device as an e-ink smartphone, with the majority of us somewhere in between. And I think this flexibility is great.
I personally would get a much cheaper dumbphone if I could get away with just Phone/SMS in my daily life. But then browser is something I will not sideload ever no matter the convenience it offers (because intentionality over convenience is the reason I was seeking a smartphone alternative in the first place). But there is no right or wrong here – everyone can decide for themselves what do they need or want, and where to draw a line. (However the fact of having to decide is the biggest feature of the Kompakt in my opinion!)
I feel you bro, I’d go with a dumbphone if I stumbled upon a quality one, with good materials, good audio, good battery, good texting mechanics and no OS bugs. Didn’t happen so far. Maybe Sidephone will be the case but I already have MK that I want to keep as long as possible to not waste the money I spent. If Sunbeam was operable in the EU, I wouldn’t look for anything else and perhaps I wouldn’t discover such an interesting idea of e-ink phones.
I think it comes down to personal preference, I don’t want to sideload anything onto this, Mudita has a ethos and they believe in it, but I think it is a smart business decision to give people the option to sideload, if someone wants to do that, that is their choice, There are people that can control their addiction and those like me that cannot and need a device like Kompakt. To each there own, there is no right or wrong
I’m not side loading any apps right now. I’m also coming from the LP2 which had more bugs than the Kompakt and a more limited use case. I find Kompakt is a huge upgrade from the LP2 but I understand how it can be a downgrade for people coming from smartphones and aren’t use to limited features.
Few things that I have done with the LP2 was rely on the GPS in my car, podcasts for entertainment, WhatsApp on my MacBook, radio in the car and kobo for reading. I like living more offline and I feel that my social media addiction has improved largely. It’s in continual work but I feel the Kompakt has so much potential and it’s exciting to watch it grow.
I get that some people got the phone to be minimalist and therefore want to keep it that way and I have no issue with that, you do you. I did not need a minimalist phone and that’s not what brought me to the KS campaign. I’m not attached to my phone and don’t need help separating from it. I got it because I wanted an eink display, an OS that respects my privacy, and a smaller than average form factor (my previous phone was a Unihertz Atom and I really hate how obnoxiously large modern phones have gotten).
However, wanting privacy means I need functions that are not included in the phone so I am definitely going to need to sideload apps. I need a VPN. I need Signal Messenger (and no, using the texting app on the phone is NOT the same thing). Also, I need navigation and I don’t want to carry a second phone just for that purpose.
At the end of the day, we all have our own individual needs. What I like is that the phone offers us choices that most smartphones don’t.
@cleans I totally agree with your comment. I find also unconvenient i.e. browse the web on MK and I never do it just to “pass time”. But it is a huge relief that I can do if I have to check something.
Same here came from LP2, got my kompakt and I love it, will always have a special place in my heart for the light phone 2! Definitely helped rewire my smartphone addicted brain, I am LOVING the kompakt so far, it was a seamless transition
I have mine set up exactly how I need it - sideloaded beeper and a podcasts app, and that is all I need!
Incidentally, you can use beeper to send yourself a URL and access the built in browser - I have sent myself a link to my inbox so I can check it if needed
I have sideloaded µLauncher and disabled the built in launcher. As a side effect there is a web browser (WebView) and FM Radio (yeah!) in my app list (among others like MTK Non-framework LBS, search, NXP device test application).
I know there has been a lot of criticism of the OS, which having gotten it in my hands now I can understand, I’m still quite happy with it. For me, the appeal of the Kompakt was in the fact that that I could have a phone with limited capabilities, but still able to run programs I need for work and school (what’s app, our scheduling and payroll app, an authenticator to log into my school accounts, Spotify, ect.). For me digital minimalism isn’t just about restricting myself from addictive apps, it’s taking control back into my hands and using my technology intentionally for the purposes I need it for. While the suit of apps given on the phone is certainly in need of improvements, the base line is there and with the ability to fix some of the issues I have myself is the exact type of agency I am looking for within technology and a part of life I fear is getting lost in our consumerist culture. I think the team accomplished much of what they set out to do, and laid the groundwork for the community behind it to tweak and change the device to cater to each individual’s need which is something I have a lot of respect for.
