Of course the app has to be side loaded and for whatever reason is completely incompatible with my "ancient" 4 year old cell phone. Sorry, I'm not getting a new cell phone to use a camera.
That seems really odd. 4 years is not that old. I have an iPhone so I'm not up on Android phones. But can't your phone be updated to current OS? If you haven't tried you might look into that.
You also mentioned using up minutes. You might look into an unlimited plan. Used to they were way more expensive but usually that is not the case now and they usually come with unlimited data.
It is possible to buy a bluetooth keyboard for a cell phone (if it has bluetooth), to allow one to type on a larger keyboard. for as little as $10.
making the typing easier.
This. In fact my desktop keyboard, Logitech MX Keys, will connect to 3 devices. If I hit the 1 button it connects to my desktop, 2 connects to the phone (I use this for longer texts) and 3 connects to my Macbook Pro.
I also have another smaller keyboard that runs on batteries. It will connect by bluetooth to my phone as well. I use it when I am in the bedroom using my phone and want to write something longer.
Hmm... That would be helpful in our situation. Do you have more info on getting/sending SMS text messages over wifi? Of course, I'm betting my four year old phone is too old for that sort of thing.
I don't know about Android phones but with iPhones you can send iMessages over WiFi. This works with other people who have iPhones.
The problem isn't the advancement in phone technology. It's that it affects things that have nothing to do with cell phones. In other words, I shouldn't need a phone just to adjust the heat in my home, or to use a camera. Using your analogy, it would be like not being able to watch TV or use your refrigerator unless your car was nearby.
The point is don't put all your eggs in one basket.... The car is a car, the phone is a phone. Think of all the stuff you can't use if your phone breaks.
You may find it easier if instead of using the word "phone" you use the word "computer." Smartphones are computers. Full stop. You can talk on the phone with them. I can talk on the phone with my desktop computer also. However I don't call it a "phone". I call it a computer.
In the past cell phones were mostly used as, well, phones. But with smartphones and time that is no longer the case.
I just checked my phone. My total screen time in the last week is 43h and 24 m. My phone usage was 59m of that. Texts were another 56m.
The biggest use was the Kindle app which I use for reading books - 15h 20m.
Twitter was second - 5h13m. Twitter is basically a news source for me. I read and rarely post.
Everything else was various apps. Some were news related. Others were not. The camera was 44m. Evernote was 46m. My reminder App (Alarmed) was 28m.
Anyway, the point is that isn't that you can't do things if your phone breaks. You can't do certain things if the little handheld computer breaks. In fact, in some cases the phone function can actually not work but you can still do other stuff.
There are actually amazing things that you can do with that little computer that is always with you.
Mom's new hearing aids include an app that lets her manage/adjust a number of settings. It's wonderful.
DH got hearing aids lately. He adjusts them with his phone app. Even better, the hearing aids act like airpods for him. He also uses them as his headset for his computer. Really amazing.