The Technology Vent and Rant Thread

[MegDreamsofBooks]

Originally Posted by Graham44

Being as this is the Technology Vent and Rant Thread - why the *%@& would you want an app? a remote and spare batteries is more than sufficient. Seriously not everything (in fact almost nothing in my eyes) needs an app, there's almost always a simpler more elegant solution than some stupid app. If I go to buy something now like a tv, fridge, washing machine etc and they say there's an app for it I don't buy it, I look for a model without it.

Tangent - we went to look at a new washing machine a few months ago and the sales girl was going all gooey eyed over a model that had an app so you could control the machine while out *gasp* how wonderful - I couldn't help being a little sarky (not about her but the machine) and commented how useful that would be if you forgot to put the washing on and you realised when you were at work, all you would have to do is drive home, load the machine, plug it in, drive back to work, open up your app and set the machine going. I know, I know, I didn't have to say anything, but these apps are getting silly, they are inventing problems just to make apps to solve them (the sales girl took it in good humor)

My washing machine (came with the rental house) has an app to control it, and as someone who is a big fan of app-enabled "smart" home devices. . . I absolutely HATE having an app-enabled washer and dryer. The whole thing is overly complex when I just want to toss in a load of clothes or linens, dump some soap, and run a "quick" wash cycle. Or a basic, extra-low-heat, timed dry cycle.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by ratinox

Know what I kind of miss? Clickers. As in TV remote controls that used audible clicks to control TV sets. Purely mechanical, no batteries required.

My first remote controlled TV was interesting. The TV had dials. One you UHF and one for VHF. The remote caused the dials to turn to change the channel. So you did get the sound of the dials turning.

[nana77]

Originally Posted by MegDreamsofBooks

My washing machine (came with the rental house) has an app to control it, and as someone who is a big fan of app-enabled "smart" home devices. . . I absolutely HATE having an app-enabled washer and dryer. The whole thing is overly complex when I just want to toss in a load of clothes or linens, dump some soap, and run a "quick" wash cycle. Or a basic, extra-low-heat, timed dry cycle.

The car I'd bought had the stereo (also recent) from the previous proprietary installed, it requires an app otherwise many controls are not accessible, other than that the official app doesn't get much support and I saw a lot of users complaining about.
I did just found another stereo.
By the way, behind me at the mechanic workshop there was a person asking for a sticker to put near the oil change, complaining about that he also can't open the hood on his brand new car LOL.

Originally Posted by John F

When there is no down loadable (or even paper) User Guide.

And TVs should discreet input selection and power on/off codes. I recently purchased a new TV for my mom, and was concerned about her being able to operate it. Her old setup used Alexa, so everything was semi "automatic"; she only needed one remote. I even asked in the store to show me what happens when the TV is power cycled to make sure it stays on the same input; it did. But once we got it setup at home, there is a "timeout" on staying on the same input.

I think I have a work around, but it is a kludge.

Also, it doesn't have any buttons on the TV itself, so if the remote stops working, then what? This is the first TV/disaplay I've purchased without any buttons.

I purchased the TV because it had good reviews for its price. This will be my last TCL product.

Can you use a power strip (with a button)?

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by MegDreamsofBooks

My washing machine (came with the rental house) has an app to control it, and as someone who is a big fan of app-enabled "smart" home devices. . . I absolutely HATE having an app-enabled washer and dryer. The whole thing is overly complex when I just want to toss in a load of clothes or linens, dump some soap, and run a "quick" wash cycle. Or a basic, extra-low-heat, timed dry cycle.

totally evil

[ownedbycats]

Why does my medication reminder app need an AI?

[ratinox]

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

Why does my medication reminder app need an AI?

I'll bite: why does your medication reminder app need an AI?
<badump-TISH!>

[ratinox]

Originally Posted by MegDreamsofBooks

My washing machine (came with the rental house) has an app to control it, and as someone who is a big fan of app-enabled "smart" home devices. . . I absolutely HATE having an app-enabled washer and dryer. The whole thing is overly complex when I just want to toss in a load of clothes or linens, dump some soap, and run a "quick" wash cycle. Or a basic, extra-low-heat, timed dry cycle.

See also: "smart" light bulbs. I still don't see how "digging out my phone and unlocking it, finding the app, finding the desired bulb, turning it on or off" is superior to "flip a switch". I tried a batch of these so-called smart bulbs for a bit. I went back to manual switches within 2 days.

[Comfy.n]

How about a Screen Protector optimised for AI?☺

https://www.reddit.com/r/LinusTechTi...timize_for_ai/

[MegDreamsofBooks]

Originally Posted by ratinox

See also: "smart" light bulbs. I still don't see how "digging out my phone and unlocking it, finding the app, finding the desired bulb, turning it on or off" is superior to "flip a switch". I tried a batch of these so-called smart bulbs for a bit. I went back to manual switches within 2 days.

This I can answer: automations and voice control are the winners here. I almost never actually use an app on my phone to control a light. I spent some time putting together "scenes" for my common uses, and setting up time-based automations based on my daily routines, and hardly ever touch anything to control a light.

I'll not include my rant about Alexa and Amazon's privacy issues here, not to mention voice assistants in general, but overall it's much more convenient to be snuggled in my recliner with a book while the cat sleeps on my lap and be able to tell Siri via HomePod to dim the lights in the room. And having the lights slowly brighten my room in the mornings a few minutes before the alarm goes off helps me wake up more easily.

[Solitaire1]

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

Why does my medication reminder app need an AI?

I had a similar issue when I recently purchased a microwave oven. All I wanted was something simple: A timer knob (rotate it and it turns on the oven and counts down), a power setting (high and low), an internal carousel to rotate the food, and a door-open button. Yet every microwave has highly complicated controls with many buttons (more than 15), and it takes a bunch of steps to do the simplest things. I even checked for a used microwave oven and it was the same thing. Why can't someone make a simple microwave oven?

It's almost as bad as with many digital watches, where it takes a large number of steps to set things. Why?

[Graham44]

Originally Posted by ratinox

See also: "smart" light bulbs. I still don't see how "digging out my phone and unlocking it, finding the app, finding the desired bulb, turning it on or off" is superior to "flip a switch". I tried a batch of these so-called smart bulbs for a bit. I went back to manual switches within 2 days.

The simple answer is it isn't! What the companies do is create a 'problem' - why go from room to room switching on or off lights - to then create a 'solution' - well now you don't need to - you can use our app and smart bulbs (with built in spyware for added convenience - ours of course!) - when in reality there was no problem to start with - just switch the light on or off as you enter or leave. And if you want it for security when your not home a lamp on a timer switch!

I still can't quite figure out what the end game is for all of this AI s**e, do they just want to turn everyone into mindless automatons that can only interact with the environment around them through an app or is it more about control? (controlling how people use things, controlling what information they have access to etc)

[ownedbycats]

Originally Posted by Graham44

I still can't quite figure out what the end game is for all of this AI s**e, do they just want to turn everyone into mindless automatons that can only interact with the environment around them through an app or is it more about control? (controlling how people use things, controlling what information they have access to etc)

Ever heard of this? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_Internet_theory

[ratinox]

Originally Posted by Solitaire1

Why can't someone make a simple microwave oven?

Because they're almost all manufactured by Sharp, with Panasonic and LG picking up the slack. Any brand you buy, the actual guts are made by one of these three companies. So there's no reason to buy a premium brand when the el-cheapo Magic Chef you can get at Walmart or whatever is the same thing in a different shell.

[ratinox]

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

Ever heard of this? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_Internet_theory

It's not a conspiracy when they publish their plans to do exactly this:
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/...l-connections/

[j.p.s]

Originally Posted by ratinox

Because they're almost all manufactured by Sharp, with Panasonic and LG picking up the slack. Any brand you buy, the actual guts are made by one of these three companies. So there's no reason to buy a premium brand when the el-cheapo Magic Chef you can get at Walmart or whatever is the same thing in a different shell.

What other brands use Panasonic "inverter" microwave technology?

(I know that e.g. Consumer Reports say it doesn't make a difference, but it does for me boiling pasta, which is my preferred method.)

If there are any, do any of them have a better UI?
Panasonic saves 1 button push if you are using full power, but power level selection method is absurd for low power. Also Panasonic doesn't have 1 button push for 30 seconds or 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 5 minutes.