– English Lyrics

Lyrics & Translation

[English]

- [Matt] Since Alexander Graham Bell

first snagged the patent back in 1876,

the telephone has undergone a radical transformation.

- Today, Apple is going to reinvent the phone.

(audience applause)

(upbeat rock music)

- Today, the phone isn't what it used to be.

We can use it to video chat,

order late night eats and find a date.

But as all of this innovation has been happening

with rapidly evolving tools, advancing technology,

and consumers frothing with each new development,

one tiny company decided to take a huge leap backwards.

This is the dumb phone.

Oh sorry, actually, it's called the Light Phone.

The phone that's been intentionally stripped back

to just a few basic apps.

- FaceTiming grandma, it's like,

yeah, that's amazing, everyone wants that.

But checking your email before you brush your teeth

is like a side effect of having that technology with you.

- [Matt] That's Joe Hollier,

the designer and co-founder of the Light Phone.

As much value as we get from our smartphones,

they obviously cause a lot of headaches.

(phone crashing)

I've documented my own struggles

with my phone addiction over the years

and I've conducted a number of experiments

to try to bring technology into my life

without it making me completely miserable.

I've tried turning my iPhone screen black and white,

hiding tempting apps into folders buried on my phone,

I implemented digital minimalism rules,

quit social media twice,

and even tried a flip phone for a month.

- You should get a smartphone.

They're a game changer.

- I know about smartphones!

I'm trying to be a good person, you dumb bitch!

- But none of these solutions ever worked for me

in the long run.

The rules were broken,

the fasts were forgotten,

And the flip phone,

well, it was just a little bit too dumb for me.

So right now I'm trying to get Google Maps working.

Could not determine your precise location.

I was excited about the potential of a Light Phone.

Do you have any advice for me

as I ditch my iPhone

and I use a Light Phone instead?

- I mean, patience is probably one of the biggest things.

- Will this phone be the solution to my problems?

There's only one way to find out.

I tried using a dumb, sorry, Light Phone for 30 days.

The Light Phone 2 currently retails at $299.

But luckily my friend had one, so I just borrowed it.

I am going to put in my SIM card.

Ooh, this is exciting.

How does it take so long to load?

I clearly have zero patience.

This is not gonna be good.

Greetings, welcome to your Light Phone.

Let's create your Light account.

It kind of feels like a mini Kindle.

We have phone, we have alarm and we have settings.

There are just three apps installed on this phone

from the very beginning, which is amazing.

I mean, that's what you want out of a Light Phone.

All right, now that I've got my phone set up,

let the experiment begin.

So my first impression of the phone

is pretty much in alignment with my expectations,

but if I'm being honest, right from the beginning,

I'm a little bit worried it won't be useful enough for me.

All right, so this obviously makes phone calls.

So, let me give it a test here

by calling none other than the Natalie Pidding.

- [Natalie] What's up?

- Hey, how are you?

- [Natalie] Good, how are you?

- I'm good, why are you being so nice?

- [Natalie] Because you were nice to me!

- It's nice that I can actually

make phone calls with this thing,

but who actually calls people anymore?

Most of us prefer texting, which this phone has,

but when I really start to think about it,

my communication these days is fragmented

into a half a dozen different apps.

I'm frequently having conversations between text,

WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger,

Instagram DMs, and other places.

This phone has just basic texting.

So the texting on this thing is so slow.

I don't think I can handle it.

Nope.

Seen my.. (mumbles)

It took me a whole 43 seconds to type this text.

N-V-M found it.

All right, so I just got an email

from Australia Post saying they have a package for me

and they gave me a QR code

and they said just bring your phone into the store

and then we'll scan the QR code.

Obviously, I can't do that.

So right now what I'm gonna do

is print out my QR code

and then bring that to the post office

and see if I can get my package.

The barcode worked and I got my package.

Also a strange look from the posty behind the counter,

but I have to admit, it was pretty inconvenient

to have to print it out.

What was it that Joe said about patience?

My first couple weeks using this phone,

I absolutely hated it.

It honestly caused so much more friction in my life

than I was expecting,

but I will say that the more that I've used it,

the more that I've come around to this phone

and the more that I've actually started to enjoy it.

Hey everybody, just wanted to let you know real quick

that my habits course, Simple Habits,

is now open for enrollment for the next two weeks.

Why should you care?

I'm so glad you asked.

Simple Habits is the science-backed

step by step plan to choosing, forming

and sticking to your habits for 30 days and beyond.

I'm teaching you everything I've learned

from a lifetime of trial and error,

as well as the latest research on behavior change

to help you finally figure out why you failed in the past,

to break free from the cycle of self-sabotage,

learn the techniques and strategies for long lasting change.

And most importantly, take action.

This isn't just about theory.

Every lesson is layered with exercises,

accountability and action steps

so you can stop excuses in their tracks.

You are 100% capable of making change in your life,

even if you failed hundreds of times before.

And so if you're ready to create that lasting change,

join me inside Simple Habits

by going to slowgrowth.com/simplehabits,

or by clicking the link in the description below this video.

The course will close in two weeks

and then it won't be open again until early next year,

so I hope to see you there.

When you first launched the Light Phone,

I remember the features were even more pulled back

than what you've currently got on it.

Was there feedback there?

Like, do you think that maybe it was almost too simple

and like, there wasn't enough of what people want

out of a newer, modern phone?

- The original Light Phone only had phone calls

and it actually only stored nine speed dials,

but it was never intended to replace someone's smartphone.

And from the early feedback we got,

you know, the users that were really loving going light,

they told us they wanted to go light even more.

They wanted to ditch their smartphone,

but you know, they need to get a text from a bank to,

you know, setting an alarm.

We had to really kind of think like

is having something like directions on the phone

a distraction or is that actually, you know,

a utility, a peace of mind?

- Since the first version of the phone launched in 2015,

they've added new apps, like directions,

hotspot, music, podcasts, and even a calculator.

So I've installed a few new apps on my phone.

They definitely seem like they'll be helpful.

Now to see if they actually work in practice.

Yeah.

All right, so I'm venturing off

and using the GPS for the very first time.

All right, let's go into the menu, directions.

All right, so I got the GPS loaded up here.

Let's give it a go.

Wow, look at that, perfect fit.

I wish I knew the metric system. (laughs)

I should have changed this to the Imperial system.

- [GPS] Now turn right.

- Okay, I missed that turn.

- [GPS] After 350 meters, turn left onto Mitchell Road.

- Okay, it's recalculating now.

I gotta turn around.

The Directions app, well, let's just say

that it has room for improvement.

My first trial was nerve wracking and a bit unpredictable.

This is gonna be absolutely impossible.

(laughs) Do you see this?

I honestly have no idea how to even read this thing.

I tested it out five or six more times after this

and the results were scattered.

Sometimes it worked without issue.

Other times, it would get me totally lost.

To me, like the whole idea of this phone

is to reduce stress in your life

and this navigation system

seems to add a little bit too much stress for me right now.

And so, I think in the long run,

I don't know if it's something that

I could actually get used to.

So, score one for the smartphone.

So, I'm over three weeks into this experiment now

and if this phone had an app

to track my time spent on it,

it'd probably be less than 10 minutes per day.

I honestly barely ever use it.

I've definitely found myself

having far less screen time than I typically do.

I would say I'm more mindful around technology.

Now my time used on my phone is so significantly reduced

that I would have to say that it is

improving my mindfulness

and my wellbeing throughout the day.

So, score one for the Light Phone.

I've tried out all the apps on the phone

and the results were pretty good overall.

You can download your favorite podcasts

and connect your headphones via Bluetooth.

For music you need to manually upload tracks.

Unfortunately, there's no Spotify.

Also only one gigabyte of storage.

For context, the first iPod ever had five gigabytes.

You can record notes via a voice recorder

or take notes manually.

Typing on this thing is really clunky,

so it's often frustrating to write down ideas or notes.

All right, so I'm nearly finished

with this 30 day experiment.

And if I'm being completely honest,

I cannot wait to get back to a smartphone.

I entered this experiment really wanting it to work,

really wanting to find a phone

that would give me all the tools I needed

while removing the headaches my smartphone causes.

But unfortunately, I don't know if I'm ready

to make the switch full time.

Not having a camera, the spotty directions

and the clunky typing are the biggest deal breakers for me.

Now that's not to say that this phone

might not be right for you.

Now, if somebody has a much simpler life than I do,

if you don't live between two countries,

if you generally go to the same places every single day,

then you could probably get by with this phone.

It's an insanely ambitious challenge

to literally invent a phone, custom apps,

and to show the restraint they did when building it.

After all the phone is what it isn't.

I just think it needs to smarten up a little bit

for me to actually make the switch full time.

This is a technology that is intentionally stripped back

and yet I'm almost like waiting for these updates from them

that might actually make it a little bit more usable for me.

If you're thinking about adding

a little more intentionality

with how you use technology,

Joe's got some advice for you.

- Getting a Light Phone is obviously one option,

but I do think if you want to try

going light for an afternoon,

like leave your smartphone at home.

We forget that we used to do these things

all the time with no phones on us.

It's something I'd encourage everyone to try

at least for one Saturday.

- Thanks so much for watching.

Don't forget, Simple Habits closes in two weeks.

So if you wanna get your habits in the shape,

go to slowgrowth.com/simplehabits.

There's a link down in the description below this video.

Hope to see you there.

See you next time.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
radical /ˈrædɪkəl/ B2	adjective - very new and different from the usual
transformation /ˌtrænsfərˈmeɪʃən/ B2	noun - a complete change in the appearance or character of something or someone
reinvent /ˌriːɪnˈvent/ C1	verb - to create something new again
evolving /ɪˈvɒlvɪŋ/ B2	adjective - gradually changing and developing
tiny /ˈtaɪni/ A1	adjective - very small
leap /liːp/ B1	noun - a long jump
basic /ˈbeɪsɪk/ A2	adjective - forming or relating to the base or foundation of something
amazing /əˈmeɪzɪŋ/ B1	adjective - causing great surprise or wonder; astonishing.
struggles /ˈstrʌɡəlz/ B1	noun - a forceful or violent effort to get free of restraint or get the better of someone or something
addiction /əˈdɪkʃən/ B2	noun - the fact of being addicted to a particular substance, thing, or activity.
tempting /ˈtemptɪŋ/ B1	adjective - attractive and making you want to have something
implemented /ˈɪmplɪmentɪd/ B2	verb - to make something that has been officially decided start to happen or be used
digital /ˈdɪdʒɪtəl/ B1	adjective - using or characterized by computer technology.
solutions /səˈluːʃənz/ B1	noun - a way of solving a problem or dealing with a difficult situation.
broken /ˈbrəʊkən/ A2	adjective - damaged or in pieces.
forgotten /fəˈɡɒtn/ A2	adjective - unable to remember something; overlooked.
precise /prɪˈsaɪs/ B2	adjective - marked by exactness and accuracy of expression or detail.
potential /pəˈtenʃəl/ B1	noun - having or showing the capacity to become or develop into something in the future. adjective - having the capacity to develop into something in the future.
patience /ˈpeɪʃəns/ B1	noun - the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset.
solution /səˈluːʃən/ B1	noun - a means of solving a problem or dealing with a difficult situation.
installed /ɪnˈstɔːld/ B1	verb - place or fix (equipment or machinery) in position ready for use.
expectations /ˌekspekˈteɪʃənz/ B1	noun - a strong belief that something will happen or be the case in the future.
honest /ˈɒnɪst/ A2	adjective - free of deceit and untruthfulness; sincere.
useful /ˈjuːsfəl/ A2	adjective - able to be used for a practical purpose or in several ways.
fragmented /ˈfræɡməntɪd/ C1	adjective - broken into pieces or isolated.
conversations /ˌkɒnvəˈseɪʃənz/ A2	noun - a talk, especially an informal one, between two or more people, in which news and ideas are exchanged.
handle /ˈhændl/ A2	verb - control or manage (a situation or person).
inconvenient /ˌɪnkənˈviːniənt/ B2	adjective - causing trouble, difficulties, or discomfort.
friction /ˈfrɪkʃən/ B2	noun - the resistance that one surface or object encounters when moving over another.
expecting /ɪkˈspektɪŋ/ B1	verb - regard (something) as likely to happen.
habits /ˈhæbɪts/ A2	noun - a settled or regular tendency or practice, especially one that is hard to give up.
science /ˈsaɪəns/ B1	noun - the intellectual and practical activity encompassing the systematic study of the structure and behaviour of the physical and natural world through observation and experiment.
research /rɪˈsɜːrtʃ/ B1	noun - the systematic investigation into and study of materials and sources in order to establish facts and reach new conclusions. verb - investigate systematically.
strategies /ˈstrætədʒiz/ B2	noun - a plan of action designed to achieve a long-term or overall aim.
action /ˈækʃən/ A2	noun - the fact or process of doing something, typically to achieve an aim.
exercises /ˈeksəsaɪz/ A2	noun - an activity requiring physical effort, carried out to sustain or improve health and fitness.
capable /ˈkeɪpəbəl/ B1	adjective - having the ability, power, or qualities to do something.
challenges /ˈtʃælɪndʒɪz/ B1	noun - a call to someone to participate in a competitive situation or contest.
restraint /rɪˈstreɪnt/ C1	noun - the action of controlling oneself or another person.
updates /ʌpˈdeɪts/ B1	noun - a more recent version of something.
intentionality /ɪnˌtenʃəˈnæləti/ C2	noun - the fact of doing something deliberately.
advice /ədˈvaɪs/ A2	noun - guidance or recommendations offered with regard to prudent future action.
afternoon /ˌɑːftəˈnuːn/ A1	noun - the time from the end of the morning to the evening.
Saturday /ˈsætərdeɪ/ A1	noun - the day of the week between Friday and Sunday.