this post was submitted on 15 Feb 2025
146 points (98.0% liked)

Ask Lemmy

28582 readers
2392 users here now

A Fediverse community for open-ended, thought provoking questions


Rules: (interactive)


1) Be nice and; have funDoxxing, trolling, sealioning, racism, and toxicity are not welcomed in AskLemmy. Remember what your mother said: if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all. In addition, the site-wide Lemmy.world terms of service also apply here. Please familiarize yourself with them


2) All posts must end with a '?'This is sort of like Jeopardy. Please phrase all post titles in the form of a proper question ending with ?


3) No spamPlease do not flood the community with nonsense. Actual suspected spammers will be banned on site. No astroturfing.


4) NSFW is okay, within reasonJust remember to tag posts with either a content warning or a [NSFW] tag. Overtly sexual posts are not allowed, please direct them to either !asklemmyafterdark@lemmy.world or !asklemmynsfw@lemmynsfw.com. NSFW comments should be restricted to posts tagged [NSFW].


5) This is not a support community.
It is not a place for 'how do I?', type questions. If you have any questions regarding the site itself or would like to report a community, please direct them to Lemmy.world Support or email info@lemmy.world. For other questions check our partnered communities list, or use the search function.


6) No US Politics.
Please don't post about current US Politics. If you need to do this, try !politicaldiscussion@lemmy.world or !askusa@discuss.online


Reminder: The terms of service apply here too.

Partnered Communities:

Tech Support

No Stupid Questions

You Should Know

Reddit

Jokes

Ask Ouija


Logo design credit goes to: tubbadu


founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
 

I've been very stressed lately and have been doing some window shopping to calm down. I'm interested in gadgets, but a lot of things can just be replaced with apps. I realize a phone won't replace very large appliances like refrigerators or washing machines so I'm trying to scope my question to portable devices. So what are some portable devices or gadgets that their specialization hasn't been replaced by smart phone apps? Extra points if they're super useful and reliable.

top 50 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] fmstrat@lemmy.nowsci.com 1 points 2 days ago

Security cameras. Smart sensors. Basically anything you can make based on a $2 ESP32.

[–] Ardyssian@sh.itjust.works 28 points 6 days ago (4 children)

Electric Toothbrush. Keeping up with Dental Hygiene is important too!

load more comments (4 replies)
[–] Etterra@discuss.online 15 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Paper and pencil: an analog data storage medium immune to power outages, data costs, EMPs, and remote surveillance.

[–] GrumpyDuckling@sh.itjust.works 13 points 6 days ago (1 children)

bro, they can litterally listen to your pencil strokes through the walls man.

[–] Etterra@discuss.online 4 points 5 days ago (4 children)

Most people don't need to worry about the NSA listening to them write down stuff.

Nice try fbi guy

load more comments (3 replies)
[–] mrodri89@lemmy.zip 19 points 6 days ago (3 children)
[–] noughtnaut@lemmy.world 11 points 6 days ago (1 children)

We had Dildroid like 16 minutes after the initial Android release.... 😂🤷

And yet I own more vibrators than I do smartphones

[–] Dasus@lemmy.world 4 points 5 days ago

Nokia 3310 would disagree,

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] MTK@lemmy.world 14 points 6 days ago (4 children)

Honestly most of the non digital functions of a phone are still inferior to it's dedicated counterparts, but I would argue that a phone is good enough for 99% of people.

So get a pocket multitool thingy, I always carry one in my bag and it has helped me quite a few time in my life.

load more comments (4 replies)
[–] LouNeko@lemmy.world 12 points 6 days ago (1 children)
[–] PM_Your_Nudes_Please@lemmy.world 14 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) (2 children)

To be clear: Hospitals use pagers because they use a longer (and much lower bandwidth) wavelength, which is affected less by things like thick fire-resistant walls. Hospitals are built like bunkers so that things like fires don’t require the entire building to be evacuated. Pagers can still reliably get signal even in the basement of a hospital, when behind multiple fire-resistant walls and solid concrete floors. Texting has effectively replaced pagers for 99% of the population. But hospitals still use them because reliability is prioritized in the medical world; No hospital wants to lose a patient because a doctor was in the basement and didn’t get a text.

load more comments (2 replies)
[–] thatradomguy@lemmy.world 16 points 6 days ago (1 children)
[–] EtherWhack@lemmy.world 5 points 6 days ago

The galaxy notes solved that... when thay were around.

[–] sleepmode@lemmy.world 4 points 5 days ago

Vicegrips. Wirestrippers. A light screwdriver with common bits carried on its handle like a Sidewinder. Rake lockpick. SDR. Elevator key. Punch. File. Multimeter. Multitool with good pliers. Crank radio. Survival guide. Poncho. Silver exposure blanket. Fire starters. Multihammer thing. MREs. Good flashlight. Beater laptop like an old x200. Serial console adapter. Flares. Camping stove. Throw it all in a bugout bag after you learn how to use them.

[–] intheirhead@feddit.nl 6 points 6 days ago

Best way to calm down would be to look into minimalism.

[–] crystalmerchant@lemmy.world 9 points 6 days ago (2 children)

Wilderness beacon. Rarely any signal out there. Yes you can an arm and a leg for special service though

load more comments (2 replies)
[–] Treczoks@lemmy.world 2 points 5 days ago

Oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and spectrometers.

[–] dream_weasel@sh.itjust.works 2 points 5 days ago
[–] AA5B@lemmy.world 2 points 5 days ago
  • smartwatch
  • e-reader

But from your description maybe you need a gadget related hobby. How about home automation? It’s not just multiple gadgets but having fun with what they can do together. You can do anything from dip your toes in to going all out

[–] some_guy@lemmy.sdf.org 3 points 5 days ago
load more comments
view more: next ›