51–60 of 160 posts
Sounds like the audio amp is too powerful for the speakers if it permanently damages it. I'm betting the amp is integrated into a multi function chip or codec where it was selected because of integrated features rather then matched to the required speaker power.
Huh. So "we'll fix it in software" is the consumer device equivalent of the entertainment industry's, "we'll fix it in post"?
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Anecdotally, among my (20 something year old) friends, the iPhone used to be a must-have for many reasons; now, it's only a must-have for imessage. If android phones could send "blue texts" than I'm sure many would switch over.
Isn't WhatsApp widespread enough in your circles, as a IM replacement? I thought it was quite universal. Or is it a particular feature of iMessage that WhatsApp is missing?
The feature called "Built into the ROM of every iPhone".
I think I am starting to get worried about the future of Apple. 2016 was a bad year. New iPhone has been the worst selling one in relative numbers since the iPhone. New MacBooks has several issues and controversial choices, while not bringing anything substantial to the table. New Watch changes are so small, nobody noticed an update.
>> "New iPhone has been the worst selling one in relative numbers since the iPhone. 1. What do you mean relative numbers? 2. Any stats to back this up, as I've seen conflicting data? Regardless, of course it's not going to be a big seller. It's the 10th(?) generation of a device everybody already owns. It's also the third year running the design hasn't changed at all (presumably as they want to make a big splash on n…
Earlier quoted context omitted.
The volume button placement opposite of the power button...
I've ranted about this to friends but they didn't get it. Glad to know I'm not alone on this! Also the audio jack on the bottom: can no longer use headphones and prop the phone up on a desk when using FaceTime (which is surely a common use-case)
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Has there been as contentious a Mac release as there has been with the new MBPs? I've been using Macs since the mid 80s, and I'm trying to think of some, but am drawing a blank. The only possibilities I can think of are the two processor switches (680x0 -> PPC followed by PPC -> Intel) or maybe the first release of OSX (but that's not necesarily hardware related).
There have been quite a few, actually, especially during the '90s. Low End Mac has a nice list: http://lowendmac.com/2007/the-10-worst-macs-ever/ The first item on the list contains this gem: > Anyhow, Apple put a 32-bit CPU on a 16-bit bus and created a monstrosity that worked okay as long as you didn’t use the modem or a network connection. And the PowerBook 5300 was on the honorable mentions list. I remember that…
Consider, for example, the original Power Mac G4 release. There were three levels available: 400MHz, 450MHz, and 500MHz. Turns out Apple had overreached with the 500MHz speed, so they had to roll it back to 350/400/450. Quite an embarrassment at a time when Apple was struggling to convince people that their PowerPC chips outperformed Intel and were therefore worth a bunch of extra money.
The new MacBook Pro is a pretty decent machine. It has some typical first-generation hardware problems, and the design certainly doesn't make everybody happy, but it's not bad. And Apple has released outright bad machines in the past.
The amount of hardware issues with the new MBP are kinda staggering.... USB-C issues, GPU issues, image corruption, now this.
I know there is a perfect misalignement of stars between Apple release plan and Intel roadmap. But that is still scary for the future of the Mac line. It looks like half-assed effort to give a last kick in the laptop area before slowing things down like with the Mac Pro.
2016 is really not living up to its expectations.
Sounds like the audio amp is too powerful for the speakers if it permanently damages it. I'm betting the amp is integrated into a multi function chip or codec where it was selected because of integrated features rather then matched to the required speaker power.
Huh. So "we'll fix it in software" is the consumer device equivalent of the entertainment industry's, "we'll fix it in post"?
For the record, if the speaker is truly blown (ruined) this is a problem with the hardware - not the software. If you can't design a speaker and amplifier combination with a limiter that won't let itself self-destruct, you are an audio design failure.
It's a slippery slope of optimization that only works when you control the OS (or drivers at least) and the hardware together, but one slip-up can be catastrophic.
I remember Dell laptops also had speakers permanently damaged, they blamed VLC software for that. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7205759
But Macbook Pro is an premium laptop. It should not be happening.