Dutch drinks company Heineken has entered the app market with a new app called ‘The Boring Mode’ that allows users to try out the Danphong experience without purchasing a new device.
This app blocks notifications, apps such as social media, and the camera for a certain period of time with the aim of allowing users to enjoy real-life events.
Heineken, which is available for free on the App Store and Google Play Store, launched the app during a DJ performance by Scottish music producer Barry Can’t Swim at the opening party of the Amsterdam Dance Event, and installed an infrared display behind the decks. A message asking you to locate the photographer was displayed. to encourage app installation.
Heineken says, “We want to encourage people around the world, wherever they are, to stay present and live their social lives to the fullest,” and The Boring Mode is designed to further this philosophy.
The app is a spiritual successor to the hardware the company previously collaborated with fashion brand Bodega and phone maker HMD on The Boring Phone, a limited edition foldable phone with just the features you need .
Can you really simulate a Danphon?
In recent years, mobile phone manufacturers have placed a renewed emphasis on digital balance, the process of finding the right medium between the connectivity offered by smart devices and being overwhelmed by on-screen activity.
iPhones and Android smartphones come with a suite of software tools like app timers, reminders, and profile modes, but it’s clear there’s a demand for something a little more permanent.
HMD offers a wide range of feature and dumb phones, but has recently been rebranded to focus on digital balance for younger users rather than its traditional portfolio of devices for older users (Barbie Phone ).
Hardware dumbphones often don’t allow you to access social media or record high-quality video, which naturally leads users to the real world. I’ll make it. need Sometimes you can’t connect, which is what apps like The Boring Mode are trying to solve.
However, while reminders to return to the real world may be nice, software tools and options to turn off apps like Boredom Mode shift the problem back to the user. Social media measures. Boredom mode also asks for a lot of permissions, which may put off people who prefer less intrusive apps.
That said, software tools are still a good first step for those who are daunted by the prospect of not having a highly connected device on hand. For the latest digital balance developments, be sure to check our mobile phone compatibility.
