joshwaller (baboba)

Many people are looking to simplify their dependence, and addiction to smartphones (from Google and iOS), or perhaps you're looking for a simpler phone for use by someone small (like a child), or you want a smaller phone in your pocket, with better battery life. You might also want to avoid Google tracking your every move. You might want to use certain modern apps, such as Whatsapp, or Sat-nav, if possible. So in order to find out what could be done with an old smartphone, I thought I'd look at what it's like to use an old Symbian Nokia E72 smartphone in 2018. Many modern smartphones have large screens, and on-screen touch keyboards. "Back in the day" when phones didn't always have a large touch-screen, they'd sometimes feature a real keyboard. This is why I went for a Nokia E72, with a keyboard, rather than simply a numeric keypad, as I still wanted to be able to type or write text messages (and potentially emails). Lets dive straight in and s...

Nokia 105, Nokia E75, Nokia Lumia 520 (roughly to scale) Avoiding Google and other companies tracking your every move has become more and more difficult, as smartphones have become an integral part of life. We accept Google knowing everywhere we go because we find Google Maps extremely useful for getting us from point A to point B, for free. We accept tracking of distance and speed travelled, as it informs Google of traffic issues, and can then let other people (and yourself) know that there might be a quicker way to get to where you're going. Sure you can switch off tracking , but other apps may still be tracking you. For example, Google Play services also likes to know where you are, as does Chrome (for "helpful" location based search results). (Google's mail system GMail also likes to read your emails). Use Facebook messenger, and Facebook read (or scan) all your messages , or flag up your message to moderators to read. So if these are functions and...

OS: Symbian ^3 (v011.012) Typing *#0000# gives me the following nerd numbers: Release: PR1.0 Software version: 011.012 Software version date: 2010-09-18 Custom version: 011.012.250.02 Custom version date: 2010-09-21 Language set: 011.012.01.01 Product code: 059C951 (Tesco Direct / Pay as you go phone?) Model: N8-00 Type: RM-596 Latest Update: Not updated Browser Version: 7.2 Flash Version: 4.0 Java Version: 2.1 Switch on time: N8 25secs N97 Mini 49secs Built in apps: Default OVI Maps pre-installed: v3.04 10wk34 b03 - Can be updated to v3.06 in betalabs (10wk36 b06) which is a dramatically improved version. Music player - very loud!  Must have apps: (download them from ovi store / beta labs) OVI / Own Voice - lets you record your own voice for use with OVI maps. Swype - clever quick input and BETA version adds a portrait keyboard to touchscreen phones (Not available for the N8 yet...) Mobbler (for last.fm) or Spotify - online streaming / tracking musi...