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littlekiwi

littlekiwi

I charge by the hour for anything before noon
Joined
Jan 21, 2012
Messages
10,794
Since Bart is planning his hour of tech upgrades tonight, I thought I'd ask about some of your technology habits

What is your go-to tech device for staying connected throughout the day?

Which apps do you use the most frequently?

Do you have any strategies for managing digital distractions?

Before I go, as a final reminder:
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Upgrades are happening on Saturday, February 22, 2025 @ 10 PM EST with an estimated downtime of 1 Hour. For more info click here
 
What is your go-to tech device for staying connected throughout the day?
My mobile phone - Oppo A17

Which apps do you use the most frequently?
All of these most days but I'd say the first seven would be multiple times a day
  • Gmail
  • Facebook
  • Google Chrome
  • Instagram
  • Seek (job search engine)
  • Trade Me (equivalent to probably Ebay)
  • Google Maps
  • AT Mobile (public transport planning app for where I live)
  • Globug (Power company app)
Do you have any strategies for managing digital distractions?
Honestly no. I need to be better at setting limits & sticking to them. Occasionally I have set a timer but it never really sticks as a long term habit for me.
 
All my connections are via my computer. I manage digital distractions by having it turned off when I'm not actively using it.
 
What is your go-to tech device for staying connected throughout the day?
Probably my phone, but this time of year I am on the computer a lot...both here and at work.

Which apps do you use the most frequently?
Instagram
TikTok
Waze (for navigation & traffic)
Amazon Music (I listen to podcasts while driving)
SnapChat (that's how my kids communicate lol)
Camera
TimeHop (I check once every day)
Weather, especially this time of year

Do you have any strategies for managing digital distractions?
Nope :giggle I'm the worst for getting sucked in to stuff.
 
I use my laptop for browsing and scrapping. I check out the BBC news site, facebook and a couple scrapbooking sites and browse Reddit. There's a few daily games I play - Connections, Rainbow, Quordle, Wordle and Tightrope.

I'm not great with my phone (which is an older Samsung) I'm poor at texting and have shakey hands so struggle with taking photos. I mainly use my phone for mobile banking and the employee discount app (shopping vouchers). I've very occasionally used Google wallet when I've gone shopping and forgot my purse.
 
What is your go-to tech device for staying connected throughout the day? I use a Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra for all my phone/camera/calendar/email/social media/budget/texting/music/checkbook/health tracker/wallet/TV Guide/traffic manager/reader/dictionary/earthquake alerts/binge-watching/trivia research/banking/investing/shopping NEEDS...and only for NEEDS, right!?!

Which apps do you use the most frequently? Gmail, Messages, Camera, Google Drive, Township, Checkbook, Bible, YouTube, Instagram, Telegram, Facebook, now Substack because of Lynn and Rachel's cool community, Google Photos, Samsung's Gallery, my bank app, Teams for work.

Do you have any strategies for managing digital distractions? My phone is ALWAYS, and I mean ALWAYS, on silent. No vibration, no constant alerts. So, don't use me as your emergency contact. I might not figure out you're in the hospital for hours. At work, I have my phone on my desk, but it's off to the side behind my monitor a bit, and I usually have my keys on top of it, so I don't really notice it.
 
Definitely love my iPhone for all kinds of keeping in touch. I love texting with my friends (WAY better than talking on the phone!) :giggle I also use FB, but I set a time limit (within the screen time portion of my iPhone) so that when I'm endlessly scrolling, it reminds how much time I've been wasting and that I should just get off! I really love Instagram best because it's all art and creative people that i follow, so none of the doom and gloom stuff.
 
What is your go-to tech device for staying connected throughout the day?
I only have 2: iPhone 14 and a Mac. I use the Mac when I want to type more easily and for TLP and the iPhone everywhere where my Mac isn't located.

Which apps do you use the most frequently? Do you mean just for communicating? Then, I use the Apple Messenger app and Discord mainly. Also Gmail. I participate a little at Facebook and Bluesky too. Besides communication apps, the ones I use on a daily basis are Day One Journal, Word Wow, Apple Reminders, Apple Calendar, the camera, Storygraph (like Goodreads but independent), Zen Color (a coloring app), the weather app (currently trying to find a more accurate one than Apple Weather, trialing Carrot, anyone have any suggestions?), and Overcast (podcasts).
I also love Paprika for meal planning and recipes, I use Goals-Fitness for my walk/hike tracker, my local library app (because it's so easy to request books), and the Great Clips app (because I can virtually get in line far away when there's a 55 minute wait and then show up just before my turn).

Do you have any strategies for managing digital distractions?
I don't have a lot of free time so social media doesn't get much of it, my phone ringer is always off, I don't even have my phone nearby when I'm at work, and I only allow a few selected notifications.
 
scrapchyck said:
My phone is ALWAYS, and I mean ALWAYS, on silent. No vibration, no constant alerts. So, don't use me as your emergency contact
Click to expand...
Sounds like my uncle....I will text him with the idea that he may get back to me, he may not but at least I've messaged him/kept up with my end of the bargain if I've been asked to message him

scrapchyck said:
shopping NEEDS...and only for NEEDS, right!?!
Click to expand...
If you say so.....so does that mean that since my phone screen came undone overnight....I NEED a new phone??? currently debating that decision at the moment as to buy new vs repair
 
littlekiwi said:
Sounds like my uncle....I will text him with the idea that he may get back to me, he may not but at least I've messaged him/kept up with my end of the bargain if I've been asked to message him


If you say so.....so does that mean that since my phone screen came undone overnight....I NEED a new phone??? currently debating that decision at the moment as to buy new vs repair
Click to expand...

Don't come to me, because I would totally enable you to buy a new phone.
 
i've had 3 or maybe 4 oppo's now (like over the last 15yrs) and never had a problem with them (i bought this one in boxing day sales last year, it's a reno series that supposedly had v good battery life (like 4 days when my older one started dropping off and needing daily more than top-up charging ) but i don't think it's battery is as good as they reckon, it might even be worse than my old A90something one from sometime during covid (or maybe i have more vampire apps draining it faster now, not sure).

to manage my screen time, i use it's 'focus mode' function that i used with my older phone as well so it disables apps like pinterest, FB and IG (or whatever you select) during a set time period (for me, mid morning to early afternoon). I also have time limits i think it's 45mins on FB and IG for each day and sometimes it'll shut off on me midway through a reading a post or liking something so i don't know if half the stuff i 'like' ever registers! i think i use Chrome and the email app most - there's a tablet in the kitchen i use for youtube and spotify, i should probably limit them actually to be more productive!
 
What is your go-to tech device for staying connected throughout the day? Cell phone

Which apps do you use the most frequently? Camera, Instagram, Facebook, You-tube and my game, Township

Do you have any strategies for managing digital distractions? Not really. I have good self control.
 
What is your go-to tech device for staying connected throughout the day?
Phone then laptop

Which apps do you use the most frequently?
Messages, Chrome, bank app, Maps, Hevy (workout app), Gmail, Gospel Library, Project Life, Duolingo, Instagram, Fitness, Photos, Calendar, Libby, Walmart, Keep, GroupMe, Snapchat, Out of Milk (grocery list), Snapchat (communicate with my sisters), YouTube (backup my phone videos), DonorHub (plasma donation), Amazon. Thank you Screen Time for this comprehensive list lol

Do you have any strategies for managing digital distractions?
Put my phone and laptop away. Silence notifications.
 
What is your go-to tech device for staying connected throughout the day? Computer. Cell phone is on my desk as well.

Which apps do you use the most frequently? Edge browser, MS Excel. I am on the computer the most. I check my email, FB and several forums several times during the day. As for Excel, it is open at all times. I'm a spreadsheet junkie. Already today, I've updated my financial spreadsheets for end of month items and checked my March budget. I also do all my scrapping on the computer either with PSP or (learning) Affinity. As for the cell phone, it is used only for phone calls and texting. I have one other app that I use to record gas mileage every time I fill up my car but that is it. The other apps I do have on it are mostly in deep sleeping since they are used very rarely.

Do you have any strategies for managing digital distractions? My dog handles that for me. She wants attention a lot so I end up being pulled away from the computer to cuddle with her. I also make it a point to not be on it constantly to help keep the chronic dry eye under control. I take many breaks (even not related to the dog) just for the eyes.
 
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