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:

  • Use earpiece that’s connected via Bluetooth, have narrator software read out notifications (notifications from Microsoft Teams, Thunderbird, etc.)

  • 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.

  • Forward all notifications from Teams to my email, so that I’m not relying on the web-based version to be open.

  • 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!

  • boredsquirrel@slrpnk.net
    5·
    3 months ago

    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.

    • arglebargle@lemm.eeEnglish
      2·
      3 months ago

      No osm and on Linux?

      Its just open street map data. Use the routing tool on their web page.

      Or make your own if you want to using gis.

      Or use the beta organic maps flatpak.

      Or KDE Marble has OSM routing as well.

        • arglebargle@lemm.eeEnglish
          2·
          3 months ago

          Why didn’t you take the laptop out while you were still inside the pub? And typically wouldn’t you use directions to get to the pub, and getting back is just going the way you came?

        • utopiah
          21·
          3 months ago

          Ask the barman the direction to the closest landmark? Grab a cab? Get a map from the hotel itself?

          I understand that walking around with a laptop isn’t for most but trying to think like OP here, I want to suggest that for their goal, habits can change. They are plenty of good solution beside a mobile phone to be able to get around.

          • boredsquirrel@slrpnk.net
            2·
            3 months ago

            Just pay a taxi driver LOL are you rich or something ? XD

            Back to paper maps with arbitrary POIs?

            With OSMand I can easily contribute to OSM too, add and edit POIs mainly.

      • boredsquirrel@slrpnk.net
        1·
        3 months ago

        damn a lot of nice things! Organic maps I tried, it is not at all comparable.

        OSMAnd does way more than routing, but I will have a look at their website, couldnt find it in the past.

        Didnt know that Marble has routing!