Microsoft reboots war on sleep • Hacker News Board

Re: Microsoft reboots war on sleep

#31

Post by Mithaldu » Tue, Nov 22, 2016, 12:24 PM UTC

cyberferret wrote: post #7

Way back nearly two decades ago, I set up an early version of ActiveSync on my Palm Treo device. I noticed there was an option in the Treo email settings to disable real time syncing between certain times (after office hours), but I was SO excited about getting and responding to real time emails on my little phone device that I thought "Who the HECK would want to stop this wonderful flow of emails". Later when I upgr…

There's actually a nice feature regarding that in Google Inbox. It has adopted the approach first featured in Opera 12's mail client:

Have all mail pre-filtered into categories with a bayesian (or similar) filter trained by the user themselves.

What this means in practice is that you have a bunch of categories for emails that are not urgent, like purchase receipts, ads, mailing lists, etc. and you teach inbox which of the mails you receive belong in there, just through the simple act of moving emails in and out.

Emails in those categories don't trigger notifications.

And for the kinds of emails you consider urgent, you move them out of the category they're in, let Inbox know "don't categorize this type of mail".

Only those trigger notifications.

The result of this is that your phone acts like a secretary on your emails. It sorts them into various inboxes for you so you can review them later on, or lets you know if something came in you might want to look at immediately. It's not perfect, sure, it's more akin to a 12 year old playing secretary. However it certainly stems the "tide" without forcing you to cut yourself off entirely, providing a nice medium you can use for normal work time, leaving DND mode for when you actually need exactly that.

Re: Microsoft reboots war on sleep

#32

Post by cyberferret » Tue, Nov 22, 2016, 12:24 PM UTC

adamlett wrote: post #26

cyberferret wrote: post #7

Way back nearly two decades ago, I set up an early version of ActiveSync on my Palm Treo device. I noticed there was an option in the Treo email settings to disable real time syncing between certain times (after office hours), but I was SO excited about getting and responding to real time emails on my little phone device that I thought "Who the HECK would want to stop this wonderful flow of emails". Later when I upgr…

iOS 10 still hasn't got the ability to turn off syncing between certain hours You can set Do Not Disturb between certain hours on iOS.

Coolness - I must have been looking in the wrong area (Mail Account Settings). Is there another spot where I can set that?

Re: Microsoft reboots war on sleep

#33

Post by bicx » Tue, Nov 22, 2016, 12:24 PM UTC

SCdF wrote: post #24

I think the worst thing about this is that it tricks you into thinking that dipping into emails at the park or piddling around in a spreadsheet while you're piddling is actually working. It's not. It's an addiction. It's shovelling snow, it's a quest for feeling accomplishment without effort. It's more fuel for being constantly connected, for constantly thinking you're progressing and accomplishing by hitting that em…

Your dad's a smart man. I have an hour or so to myself every morning, and some days, I'm fairly certain that's the only thing that keeps me sane.

Re: Microsoft reboots war on sleep

#34

Post by gk1 » Tue, Nov 22, 2016, 12:25 PM UTC

SCdF wrote: post #24

I think the worst thing about this is that it tricks you into thinking that dipping into emails at the park or piddling around in a spreadsheet while you're piddling is actually working. It's not. It's an addiction. It's shovelling snow, it's a quest for feeling accomplishment without effort. It's more fuel for being constantly connected, for constantly thinking you're progressing and accomplishing by hitting that em…

Two relevant books I recommend:

Deep Work (an article by the author was recently on HN): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00X47ZVXM/

Essentialism: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00G1J1D28/

Re: Microsoft reboots war on sleep

#35

Post by andrewingram » Tue, Nov 22, 2016, 12:27 PM UTC

Article mashes up a valid grievance with an irrelevant attack on the quality of Marvel films. Anger is a powerful tool, but it can really weaken your argument if not used with precision.

I also think the message of this particular advert doesn't justify the strength of this attack.

Re: Microsoft reboots war on sleep

#36

Post by blahblah12 » Tue, Nov 22, 2016, 12:27 PM UTC

Seems like hyperbole. That's a single line in a single video of an executive at a different company.

DHH on that self-promotion game

Re: Microsoft reboots war on sleep

#37

Post by draugadrotten » Tue, Nov 22, 2016, 12:28 PM UTC

cyberferret wrote: post #32

adamlett wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

iOS 10 still hasn't got the ability to turn off syncing between certain hours You can set Do Not Disturb between certain hours on iOS.

Coolness - I must have been looking in the wrong area (Mail Account Settings). Is there another spot where I can set that?

https://lmgtfy.com/?q=how+to+set+dnd+on+iphone

Re: Microsoft reboots war on sleep

#38

Post by midgetjones » Tue, Nov 22, 2016, 12:30 PM UTC

nikon wrote: post #21

cyberferret wrote: post #7

Way back nearly two decades ago, I set up an early version of ActiveSync on my Palm Treo device. I noticed there was an option in the Treo email settings to disable real time syncing between certain times (after office hours), but I was SO excited about getting and responding to real time emails on my little phone device that I thought "Who the HECK would want to stop this wonderful flow of emails". Later when I upgr…

I have disabled notifications for my mail apps on iOS. The counter will increment but I only check them when I feel like it.

I turned off the counter too. I found that red dot way too stressful.

Re: Microsoft reboots war on sleep

#39

Post by TheAnimus » Tue, Nov 22, 2016, 12:30 PM UTC

ekianjo wrote: post #22

AznHisoka wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

i agree. i also think Microsoft isn't encouraging people to lose sleep and work in soccer games, at bed, etc. People already are doing it and Microsoft is simply putting out an ad that speaks and resonates with those people.

A big company should aspire to make life better, not worse. People don't need to work more than they already do (unless they really want to, which is fine, but most of the time they are expected to be always available).

But this can be better.

I'll have taken about 8 weeks holiday this year. But for about half of it I'll do 30 min or even 2 hours work. Actually it's been less than half.

That's a pretty sweet deal. I've still got that ability to take a good few contiguous days off, completely relaxing so to speak. But I'm more relaxed after spending 5 min checking on progress in my absence, as I know when I come back to work full time, it won't be hell.

Re: Microsoft reboots war on sleep

#40

Post by cam_l » Tue, Nov 22, 2016, 12:31 PM UTC

cyberferret wrote: post #7

Way back nearly two decades ago, I set up an early version of ActiveSync on my Palm Treo device. I noticed there was an option in the Treo email settings to disable real time syncing between certain times (after office hours), but I was SO excited about getting and responding to real time emails on my little phone device that I thought "Who the HECK would want to stop this wonderful flow of emails". Later when I upgr…

One thing I find with google Inbox which makes it indispensable on mobile is the ability to schedule times for notifications for individual addresses, groups and/or folders. Weekly, hourly, never.. whatever.