91–100 of 267 posts
> Just in my toilet, I’m supposed to have an app for the seat, an app for the flush and one for the ventilation. Is this a joke? Are there really toilets that require a smartphone to flush?
I've still never had a smartphone (technically my flip phone, a Kyocera Dura, is an android device, but it can't install apps so I'll consider it suitably "dumb") Occasionally I need to tote along a tablet because several places (some MLB venues, for one thing) will either require a smartphone, or impose a severe surcharge for the convenience of not using it. Anyway, I really regret that we didn't impose dumbphone pr…
> They are willing to accept all the conditions of your apps, including sending you personal data, registering an account, etc. I've had this exact problem this morning, I wanted to download the ASD-STE100 https://www.asd-ste100.org/STE_downloads.html#article02-2l and they use a request form to get the download. Unfortunately the last question: > Do you consent to us collecting your data? This form has the only purpo…
Don't you obviously consent if you're filling in data to a google form? Unless the form answers go nowhere then it's being collected.
If there was a "No" response available, as the question suggests, it wouldn't be an issue. But it just annoyed me and felt like a dark practice.
> 1. That person owns a smartphone (which is at least a couple hundred dollars). I live in South Africa, and even the poor townships are full of smartphones these days. My gardener has a fairly recent Samsung. They literally borrow money to buy these things. So if they can afford it, so can you. It's not that I don't get your point though - it could easily be seen as unnecessary spending when you have all kinds of ex…
Requiring an app to do things often is more time consuming (and unpleasant) than doing it without the app. Other times, the app is so poorly written that it's not worth using.
Once the novelty of "the new toy" (smartphone) wears off, using a smartphone when it's not needed becomes a burden.
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For example, in the case of restaurants, I do not want to pull out my phone when I am having a conversation with people, therefore, I am greatly insulted when a restaurant requires a QR code to see a menu. I flat out ask for a menu, it's part of the joy of eating out.
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Edit: I can certainly understand the need to tell someone, "get with the program, get a smart phone." Back when they were getting popular in the US, a stranger asked me for directions on a busy street. I told her where to go, but she "clung" to me and wanted me to show her. This was when I point blank told her that it's time to get a smartphone.
> 1. That person owns a smartphone (which is at least a couple hundred dollars). I live in South Africa, and even the poor townships are full of smartphones these days. My gardener has a fairly recent Samsung. They literally borrow money to buy these things. So if they can afford it, so can you. It's not that I don't get your point though - it could easily be seen as unnecessary spending when you have all kinds of ex…
I don't disagree with you main point but thought this was funny: > They literally borrow money to buy these things. So if they can afford it, Borrowing money would indicate they can't afford it. But I think you mean "afford the risk in order to achieve a societal norm".
Now I get the author’s point, but there’s preferring to be off-grid (which I also tend to be), and there’s purposefully handicapping yourself then complaining about it later.
Look, if you run a blog, post your articles on places like HN and actually interact with the World Wide Web on a frequent basis you don’t get to preach about smartphones being evil devices that “society” imposes on you. You can’t have your cake and eat it too.
This is like a biker complaining there’s too many cars on the street. A motorcycle is a smaller vehicle but it’s still very much part of that class of problem they’re so proudly rising against.
It’s theatre. Pure and simple theatre.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
So you'd leave the restaurant if it has a QR menu?
Depending on what type of computer (if not smartphone) you have at hand, you can probably use a search engine to find the same menu. Or ask somebody at your table. Or ask the server. Or point at somebody else's food and say you want what they're having. Or eschew the menu entirely and ask to be surprised. Chef's choice can be fun. Or leave yeah, I think that's valid. TFA is predicated on the notion of pretty-much-lyi…
We could all be a bit more humble about the onerous “tools” we’ve built . I have a lot of sympathy for the elderly, and the ridiculous rituals they go through just to book an appointment, fill a subscription, buy tickets to a concert, order groceries. The McDonalds app is 15+ screens to order a burger. Compare that to walking in a, “hi, how are you, I’d like a Big Mac meal with a Coke, here’s my money, thanks”. Let’s…
Earlier quoted context omitted.
The word "requirements" is doing a lot of work there. I've never met a QR code where scanning it was required of me.
So you'd leave the restaurant if it has a QR menu?
Not having a smartphone is a new status symbol flex. The poorer you are, the more of your life you must waste looking at a screen instead of gazing upon beautiful landscapes and friendly faces. Still it’s a step up as usual. Next stage will be probably those too poor to afford anti aging vs the muti centenarians that can. And yet those that can’t afford multi centenarian lifestyle will live super well compared to tod…
It’s pretty much like those vegans people tend to make fun of: it’s performative. It’s humble-brag-fuelled activism that craves audience approval.