Phone Curious

[peristaltor]

Okay, I'm looking for advice from you folks who have experience: I need a new cell phone.

Here's the thing: I really, really can't stand to have advertising on it. If I search for something, if I download something, it can't come with any ads. Because of this, I have not used my "smart" phone (Galaxy Core Prime) for "surfing" or, really, much at all, simply because I could not figure out how to do so without adverts.

So: are there any ad-free options out there? Anything?

TIA,

—Perry

Comments

[garote]

Depends on what you need to do with it!

Ideas: https://garote.dreamwidth.org/276376.html

[peristaltor]

While your link is impressive, my needs are simple:

Do the first few things on your list (which surprisingly does not include "access webpages"; weird) but also block close to 100% of ads when I do get on the web.

Really, it's that simple. Thoughts?

[garote]

I don't think you'll ever get to 100% browsing the internet, unless you stick to a narrow slice of what's out there.
But there are tools that can assist you. This would be my current recommendation:

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/firefox-focus-privacy-browser/id1055677337

[peristaltor]

*Sigh* so the more expensive phone seems always to be the only good option.

Years ago, with my grab-and-go jobs, I vowed never to take to work any device that would cost more than $50 to replace. I suppose I'm going to have to adjust for inflation… but quintupling? Yikes.

And, again, sigh.

[garote]

Apple is pretty impressive about supporting older models. You can buy a used iPhone 8 (the 2017 model) for under 200 bucks and it runs the latest software and apps, fancy games aside.

[autopope]

In general Apple prioritizes customer privacy compared to Android (which, remember, is a product of Google, aka DoubleClick, the world's largest advertising company). They're not perfect but you get fine-grained control over tracking and monitoring by apps and can switch them off. Having said that, if you let Facebook (and their other products such as Instagram), Twitter, or Google anywhere near your phone the battle against ads is lost. There are also ad-blocker apps in the iOS app store: it's rather harder to find them in the Google Play store for some reason ...

If you're willing to go outside the Android/iOS duopoly, there is weird stuff in the Linux smartphone sector, for example Pinephone. This may be a bit too security-through-obscurity though.

[peristaltor]

Thanks, Man. I think I'm too n00bish to consider a Linux option just yet.

Completely off-topic:

• Loved using the Orion-lifted ship to sterilize nuke the World with Titanium Handrails;
• Laughed out loud at using a Concorde to outrun Every Airforce Jet Evar; and
• Found your Murderous Watch-Fairy Tink lovable still.

Also, having the fairy-phang use Scorpion Stare via wetware; that just blew my brain. As did the currency appreciation in a universe without space travel that got at least close to C. Had to read that section a few times, at least, and I'm sure I'm missing out on the key details.

Thanks for all the good Words.