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Another example of how we exist to serve technology...

108.39.196.215
Posted on May 1, 2021 at 07:15:26
ghost of olddude55
Audiophile

Posts: 32516
Joined: July 14, 2017
 The stinking, lousy, fucking USB cable. Does there really have to be 11 different connectors? Couldn't two or three suffice?
To wit--my old, sweet, reliable BlueTooth headset finally started falling apart from being carted around in my pants pocket too often.
So I bought another one, much sturdier, tighter fit in my ear, won't fall out even when I'm on my bike.
But of course, it's USB-C and I can't find the cable that came with it. Even though I've got about 50 fucking USB cables in the house, none of them are USB-C. Of course.
My car has a manual transmission. I need both hands when I drive. If my wife or my kids needs to get me while I'm behind the wheel, I can't even answer the call without the headset.
Technology doesn't make us smarter, doesn't improve our personalities, doesn't make us less greedy or backstabbing or murderous. Doesn't put a steely Dirty Harry glint in our eyes.
It's sold as making life "better." Yeah, bullshit.



The blissful counterstroke-a considerable new message.

 

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RE: Another example of how we exist to serve technology..., posted on May 1, 2021 at 07:51:23
dee eye why
Audiophile

Posts: 1148
Location: so. ohio
Joined: March 20, 2003
 You need to get a job to take your mind off of life's little frustrations ;)
Yust yoking!


.
Freak out...Far out...In out....

 

Did I forget to mention..., posted on May 1, 2021 at 08:11:44
ghost of olddude55
Audiophile

Posts: 32516
Joined: July 14, 2017
 that the "new improved" headset turns Apple Music on all by itself without warning at earschplittenloundenboomer levels? Pressing the button on the headset only turns the music off for about ten seconds?
Did it on the way home from the bike trail Tuesday. Ended up hurling it onto the drinker's side floor, but it was loud enough that I could hear Amy Rigby all the way home. Lotsa distortion.
Yeah, welcome to 20-fuckin'-21.



The blissful counterstroke-a considerable new message.

 

Man vs future? , posted on May 1, 2021 at 08:17:08
tinear
Audiophile

Posts: 65782
Location: Kansas City, KS
Joined: April 9, 2006
 Future wins!

 

Is your new headset bluetooth capable?, posted on May 1, 2021 at 08:39:45
AbeCollins
Audiophile

Posts: 46277
Location: USA
Joined: June 22, 2001
Contributor
  Since: February 2, 2002
 If your new headset is bluetooth capable, why are you stressing over the USB-C cable? Isn't it used mainly to charge the headset? If you lost your USB-C cable these are readily available on Amazon for about $7.50 each, delivered to your door in about 2-days. If you're in a hurry go to any office supply store, Best Buy, Home Depot, or Target and get one today.

USB-A to USB-C:

USB-C to USB-C:



 

You miss the point...which is WHY is it necessary to have 11 different types of USB connection?, posted on May 1, 2021 at 08:48:11
ghost of olddude55
Audiophile

Posts: 32516
Joined: July 14, 2017
 And yes, it's 11. I looked it up.
Getting another cable isn't the issue, it's that I have to buy another cable. After all, there are only about 53 USB cables in my house right now.
It's not the seven bucks I'm shelling out for a cable, either. It's just stupid beyond belief that we can't have 1 little connector for little devices and one big connector for big devices.
And while we're at it, that USB-A also sucks and always has. Only goes in one way and there's 50% chance of fighting with it. Apple's connector is the best and should be universal.



The blissful counterstroke-a considerable new message.

 

Agreed, my ancient flip phone, gods willing, will outlive me..., posted on May 1, 2021 at 09:03:42
Jay Buridan
Audiophile

Posts: 10266
Location: Michigan
Joined: January 21, 2004
 'Cuz I don't intend to add to the world's tech-pollution by upgrading to an i-phone. I call myself a tech-mudgeon.

"Horse sense is the thing a horse has which keeps it from betting on people. "
― W.C. Fields

 

+1 "Apple's connector is the best and should be universal", posted on May 1, 2021 at 09:38:48
AbeCollins
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Posts: 46277
Location: USA
Joined: June 22, 2001
Contributor
  Since: February 2, 2002
 .



 

RE: Agreed, my ancient flip phone, gods willing, will outlive me..., posted on May 1, 2021 at 09:41:01
AbeCollins
Audiophile

Posts: 46277
Location: USA
Joined: June 22, 2001
Contributor
  Since: February 2, 2002




 

RE: Another example of how we exist to serve technology..., posted on May 1, 2021 at 09:59:30
Sondek
Audiophile

Posts: 9620
Location: Fort Worth
Joined: May 17, 2000
Contributor
  Since: April 5, 2002
 If they don't make shit obsolete by routinely changing connectors, they couldn't possibly sell as much hardware. It's that simple. My sota 23" DVI monitor from a few years ago will be a boat anchor when my employer upgrades my work machine. Monitor has no HDMI, DisplayPort or USB-C. The monitor works fine, but without some jenky DVI to something or other adapter it's going to be useless.

It's planned obsolescence. I been in the computer biz for 40 years, and seen it played out dozens of times. We used to eagerly await every new Microsoft release because we knew how much churn it would lead to, and mo revenue. Funny how Gartner used tell everybody to refresh their PC fleet every threes years. I'm sure it was coincidental to the timing of new Windows releases.

Occasionally, the change is fundamental, but far more often it's some small incremental improvement that in all likelihood we could all live just fine without. All designed to keep selling us the same shit over and over and over. Mo muny, mo muny.

 

Aren't we a consumption economy?, posted on May 1, 2021 at 10:07:10
AbeCollins
Audiophile

Posts: 46277
Location: USA
Joined: June 22, 2001
Contributor
  Since: February 2, 2002
 Keeping 'tech folks' employed is fine by me ;-)


 

My old iMac...., posted on May 1, 2021 at 10:08:18
ghost of olddude55
Audiophile

Posts: 32516
Joined: July 14, 2017
 Can't be updated to either of the most recent versions of OSX.
It's got the resources to run them, Apple simply won't allow it.
For every problem technology solves, it creates a new problem.



The blissful counterstroke-a considerable new message.

 

RE: My old iMac...., posted on May 1, 2021 at 10:15:56
Sondek
Audiophile

Posts: 9620
Location: Fort Worth
Joined: May 17, 2000
Contributor
  Since: April 5, 2002
 " For every problem technology solves, it creates a new problem."

Ain't that the truth?

Almost makes me wanna cut the soles off my shoes, sit in a tree, and learn to play the flute.

More science!

 

Live off the grid., posted on May 1, 2021 at 10:22:36
ghost of olddude55
Audiophile

Posts: 32516
Joined: July 14, 2017
 No phone, no Internet, no TV.



The blissful counterstroke-a considerable new message.

 

That's my kinda hero :), posted on May 1, 2021 at 10:26:16
Jay Buridan
Audiophile

Posts: 10266
Location: Michigan
Joined: January 21, 2004
 Nice clothes, nice phone!

"Horse sense is the thing a horse has which keeps it from betting on people. "
― W.C. Fields

 

RE: Another example of how we exist to serve technology..., posted on May 1, 2021 at 10:34:22
emailtim
Audiophile

Posts: 5373
Joined: July 2, 2017
 I am surprised you survived the era predating pagers and cell phones.

What did people do in the dark ages of the un-tethered ???
.

2022/03/30 Historical Records CENSORED

 

RE: Agreed, my ancient flip phone, gods willing, will outlive me..., posted on May 1, 2021 at 10:36:14
emailtim
Audiophile

Posts: 5373
Joined: July 2, 2017
 At least you can read it without having to zoom in on it.
.

2022/03/30 Historical Records CENSORED

 

Exactly. We are the means, not the end., posted on May 1, 2021 at 10:44:37
free.ranger
Audiophile

Posts: 16951
Location: Santa Fe, NM
Joined: April 8, 2004
Contributor
  Since: January 7, 2005
 Without getting bogged in the frustration and details, the overview is that what grows, evolves, and survives is Information — not us, our geneologies, or tools. We are also tools (some more than others I think). Frustration belongs to the tools and processes, not the product.

We believe our gene pools are the end story, but not so. Information in all its forms moves and accumulates constantly, using any means available — us, our tech, AI, our dogs and goldfish.

All laid out in detail in James Gleick's "The Information".

Consider connector adapters. Much cheaper than a rat's nest of cablery.

 

You mean back in the day when "I think therefore I am" didn't mean..., posted on May 1, 2021 at 10:45:42
ghost of olddude55
Audiophile

Posts: 32516
Joined: July 14, 2017
 "I'm creating content for my Instagram account, otherwise I don't exist?"



The blissful counterstroke-a considerable new message.

 

RE: My old iMac...., posted on May 1, 2021 at 10:51:35
rivervalley817
 'Can't be updated to either of the most recent versions of OSX'

why is that a bad thing? in the windoze camp how many still run XP? scads!

if your machine has the resources to do virtualization you can still run updated applications, only slower; still a choice of time vs. $$ I suppose

designed obsolescence didn't quite pan out in hardware so it's now coded?

I guess

 

There are things it can't do anymore..., posted on May 1, 2021 at 11:15:31
ghost of olddude55
Audiophile

Posts: 32516
Joined: July 14, 2017
 because it can't be updated. Can't run Apple Music, can't even run the version of iTunes Apple thoughtfully kept around for those of us with old non-Internet-capable iPods.
Again, there's nothing wrong with the hardware. If anything, it's got more power than it needs to run OS Catalina and OS Big Sur. Apple just won't allow it.



The blissful counterstroke-a considerable new message.

 

Technology is GREAT for the economy..., posted on May 1, 2021 at 11:16:33
musetap
Audiophile

Posts: 31866
Location: San Francisco
Joined: July 8, 2003
Contributor
  Since: January 28, 2004
 it is a commodity just like everything else, and since so few actually understand
how or why it works, everyone needs the newest form of it to "keep up" and the
tech folk are happy to provide.

There's also the "magic" factor that keeps "tech" (whatever form it takes) in that valuable,
precious, held in high esteem category that keeps (too) many of us accepting how necessary
we have been led to believe it is, so is and making it difficult for us to accept what a total
crock of shit so much of it actually is.

Thusly.... junk drawers. Frequently full of tech we needed for a moment.








"Once this was all Black Plasma and Imagination"-Michael McClure



 

Did you check your pockets olddude?, posted on May 1, 2021 at 12:02:11
Goober58
Audiophile

Posts: 5574
Joined: November 15, 2016
 Maybe you'll find the missing cable in there.

 

Couldn't disagree more, posted on May 1, 2021 at 12:05:41
E-Stat
Audiophile

Posts: 37555
Joined: May 12, 2000
Contributor
  Since: April 5, 2002
 The concept behind the universal serial bus was good but the original implementation created an unnecessary need for it to work in one and only one way. How many times have you wasted time having to flip a USB-A connector over to work because your 50/50 guess was incorrect?

I welcome the replacement of that user hostile approach with one that works no matter from which orientation you plug it in. :)

 

Agree with your disagree...to a point..., posted on May 1, 2021 at 12:17:35
ghost of olddude55
Audiophile

Posts: 32516
Joined: July 14, 2017
 USB-A does suck. Unfortunately, my chargers are all USB-A except for one.
And I'd be 100% happy with USB-C if everybody used USB-C. But they don't.
To wit--just bought a new bike helmet with a rechargeable built-in taillight.
USB-C? Nope. Micro-B. In fact nearly every rechargeable device in the house is either Mini-A, or Mini-AB, or Micro-B. Got a portable hard drive that's Micro-B Super Speed.
The only two devices I've got so far that use USB-C are a rapid charger I use for my phone, and the Blue Tooth headset.
Which doesn't work correctly anyway, but that's another story.



The blissful counterstroke-a considerable new message.

 

RE: Agree with your disagree...to a point..., posted on May 1, 2021 at 12:21:59
E-Stat
Audiophile

Posts: 37555
Joined: May 12, 2000
Contributor
  Since: April 5, 2002
 ...my chargers are all USB-A except for one.

The blocks don't require that the connector at both ends of the cable have to be the same.


 

RE: Agree with your disagree...to a point..., posted on May 1, 2021 at 12:22:35
Sondek
Audiophile

Posts: 9620
Location: Fort Worth
Joined: May 17, 2000
Contributor
  Since: April 5, 2002
 The only thing that's universal about USB is the universe of different goddamn connectors used.

Apple had the right idea on this.

 

I meant that in the sense that..., posted on May 1, 2021 at 12:28:40
ghost of olddude55
Audiophile

Posts: 32516
Joined: July 14, 2017
 I still have to deal with USB-A.
I've ordered a new cable, should be here Monday. No hands free in the car, therefore no answering the phone in the car either.



The blissful counterstroke-a considerable new message.

 

RE: There are things it can't do anymore..., posted on May 1, 2021 at 13:07:59
rivervalley817
 not even in / with Parallels?

or ... check this workaround for a manual installation

 

"Apple had the right idea on this"..., posted on May 1, 2021 at 13:10:35
Steve O
Audiophile

Posts: 12358
Location: SE MI
Joined: September 6, 2001
 ...They did/do: no external connectors at all! wireless phone, Bluetooth, wireless charging, no 3.5mm headphone jack, etc.

 

"Can't run Apple Music", posted on May 1, 2021 at 13:28:58
E-Stat
Audiophile

Posts: 37555
Joined: May 12, 2000
Contributor
  Since: April 5, 2002
 seems like a great feature to me. :)

 

RE: Another example of how we exist to serve technology..., posted on May 1, 2021 at 13:41:26
tweaker456
Audiophile

Posts: 7707
Location: SF Bay Area
Joined: June 20, 2020
 Go to the hospital with a pulmonary embolism or a shattered leg like Tiger has and then rant about technology. Most tape hiss and clicks and pops have been put in the rear view mirror for me a long time ago. A good thing as I prefer neither.








So let us stop talkin' falsely now, the hour's getting late --
Robert Allen Zimmerman

 

Apple is the KING of non-standard connectors, posted on May 1, 2021 at 14:27:38
Dave_K
 I'm sympathetic with ghost's complaint about the plethora of "small" USB connectors. But historically, Apple has been the worst offender. They have a habit of designing their connectors to be unnecessarily different. Examples I can think of are DIN-8 carrying standard RS-422 serial, HDI-30 for SCSI, ADB, HDI-45 video, ADC, Firewire, 30-pin iPod and iPhone, mini DisplayPort. They fought USB at first, and only gave in after 3rd party peripheral vendors wouldn't touch Firewire any longer.

At least they got on the USB-C bandwagon with their laptops, but their iPhones and iPads still use that stupid Lightning connector. I think it's part of a strategy to keep people within their ecosystem. And they love to sell overpriced Apple branded dongles.

 

Didn't really matter to me one way or the other., posted on May 1, 2021 at 15:38:49
ghost of olddude55
Audiophile

Posts: 32516
Joined: July 14, 2017
 But I had some good stuff in the iTunes library and couldn't access it without updating the OS.
The build was 2011, but it had plenty of RAM and processing power. More than the Mac Mini I'm using now, but the Mini is a 2014 build and can (and has been) updated to OS Catalina.
The better machine couldn't be updated only because it was old and Apple wanted me to buy a new machine. That's it.



The blissful counterstroke-a considerable new message.

 

RE: Didn't really matter to me one way or the other., posted on May 1, 2021 at 16:45:46
E-Stat
Audiophile

Posts: 37555
Joined: May 12, 2000
Contributor
  Since: April 5, 2002
 But I had some good stuff in the iTunes library and couldn't access it without updating the OS.

One of the many compelling reasons to use industry standards like flac for music storage.

My digital library has always been available to a range of players in both the audio and video environments.

 

RE: I meant that in the sense that..., posted on May 1, 2021 at 16:51:43
E-Stat
Audiophile

Posts: 37555
Joined: May 12, 2000
Contributor
  Since: April 5, 2002
 I still have to deal with USB-A.

I prefer to keep that side connected and use the "anywhere" orientation of a USB-C for plugging into different devices.

 

If USB-C becomes the standard..., posted on May 2, 2021 at 08:51:51
ghost of olddude55
Audiophile

Posts: 32516
Joined: July 14, 2017
 that would be fine by me.



The blissful counterstroke-a considerable new message.

 

Right on target. nt. , posted on May 3, 2021 at 15:21:48
MWE
Audiophile

Posts: 2202
Location: Burlington, NC
Joined: June 8, 2000
 Nt.
Mark in NC
"The thought that life could be better is woven indelibly into our hearts and our brains" -Paul Simon

 

RE: Aren't we a consumption economy?, posted on May 3, 2021 at 15:52:35
rivervalley817
 The Machine Demands A Sacrifice !!

 

RE: Another example of how we exist to serve technology..., posted on May 3, 2021 at 17:45:51
ornery
Audiophile

Posts: 915
Location: your mom's basement
Joined: February 7, 2013
 leg-driving is older than USB.

 

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