Due to a tragic accident, my old Google Pixel 3A is now pushing up the daisies. A new phone was not on my plan for this week, but I had the old one for five or so years, and had bought it used, so needing a replacement isn't a huge huge loss.

So yesterday I got on eBay, as is my usual method, and ordered a Pixel 8A, which will be here in a few days. I always try to get the smallest phone possible. The 8A is still too big, but it's what they had.

In the meantime I pulled out my very old iPhone 5C, which will text but not call for some reason. And of course I can't install any apps on it, because it's so old, so I am stuck with the basics. I actually love the tiny size, and it works well, (aside from not making calls).

So I am on an accidental digital detox. I don't have a horrible phone addiction, no social media apps, but still somehow spend too much time on it. Perhaps a few days with a minimal phone will help to reprogram me. And it's worth considering how to set up my phone so I can keep it as minimal as possible.

Fortunately my data was fairly well backed up. I had photo auto upload in place and just added an auto upload for voice memos. My text messages were auto exported to my Gmail account, but not synced with the main google drive, so I probably won't be able to restore the text messages. And I used Signal while conversing with my family, which is notoriously difficult to save data from, so that is all gone as well. I believe it is possible transfer a Signal database from Android to another Android, but since the phone died unexpectedly, I don't have a way to restore that original file.

In a way this is a good thing, because it is making me consider my technology more. Instead of worrying about a Signal backup in future, I think I will make a little "journal," so that when I get a text that I think is worth saving, I copy and paste it into a file in Joplin or the like. Then I can have a sort of running list of highlights from the text messages, and skip all the pointless ones.

I also would like to get into the habit of using my digital camera instead of the phone camera. That is hard, because the phone camera is so good, and very convenient. But I love a single use device, and there is no room for distraction with a camera. At least I have a few days to practice that, because I certainly will not take pictures with the terrible iPhone 5C.

My main uses for a phone are calls, texts, maps, Signal, photos, podcasts, voice memos, library audiobooks, email once in a great while and checking headlines (and feeling guilty about it, because it is depressing and just a distraction, not real study of any issues). I would like to minimize that further, because I don't like carrying my phone around with me, so the iPhone 5C is actually great for podcasts for that reason. Too bad I can't install Libby for audiobooks on that device.