We always had a postal delivery on Christmas Day. The milkman used to come at around 2/3am so he could finish and be home to see his children open their presents.
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.
I always used to be "on call" either Christmas Day or New Year's Day, each winter. Sometimes both. Now I've stopped working, I'm "on call" every Christmas and New Year!!
We're trying to switch online bank accounts. I've just had to read through about 200 pages of 'bumph' in very small type. Thought I'd then have to tick or press button to say I've read all this and I accept - Nope, threw me back to the main page again! No way am I going to scroll through that lot again.
I think I've curmudged (I curmudge, you curmudge, we all curmudge together) about this before, but I've now got another device that is perfectly fine hardware wise, but is suffering in functionality because of software/firmware/technical changes. Aaaaargh. Why is software/firmare treated as though it's something that isn't part of the product bought and can be removed at a whim? Would it be acceptable to remove the air con from my car? Or the light from my fridge? Or... Is it justifiable simply because they can do it remotely?
So far, in the past few years I've had:
1) Smart TV - the OS (an operating system in a TV?! Obviously knitted) was made obsolete and is no longer supported, losing functionality.
2) Smart Speaker - ability to stream and preset radio stations lost.
3) 2 Smart Radios - lost the ability to stream BBC streams (all I listen to on the radio) - making the devices largely redundant.
4) NAS (Network Attached Storage) - lost the ability to share files and directories with remote users.
ALL the devices are in perfect working order APART from software/firmware/technical changes. Aaaaaargh.
Given that more devices are being deemed 'smart', how is this ever acceptable? You buy the thing because of the functionality defined by the software/firmware/technical side - how can they just remove/stop supporting/curtail it?
Edited to add: Good job my Smart Hoe still works...
Even Smarties don't come in a proper tube anymore. I think they were Nestled. Nestlé: (verb) to buy up a confectionery company and bggggr up the recipes.
@steveTu I totally agree about software/firmware on supposedly 'Smart' devices. Neither BT Sport or Discovery+ now work on my smart TV and they are the only apps I use on it. I know I can buy a Firestick for a few quid to get round the problem but that shouldn't be necessary. I've just hit a similar problem with the satnav on my car. It's only updated annually by means of an encrypted SD card, and the manufacturers have said they are not providing any further updates. The information on the final SD card is from 2021 so of very limited use. Even using something like a Garmin standalone unit clipped to the dash or windscreen isn't straightforward as the only power outlet is built into the cubbyhole under the central armrest. Routing the power supply will be a nightmare.
I totally agree. I can get round my TV issue - and I can plug my phone into my radios and use the phone's link to the BBC and I can do the same via bluetooth with my speaker and ....
But why the bl***y hell should I? I bought those things because of their features, not to be told the equivalent of 'oh, we've taken away your car's air conditioning, we suggest you leave the windows open or get a 12v fan...'.
I have 2 Panasonic TVs which were made in an 18 month window and they're now showing More 4 , or ITV on catch up. They USED to, then there was a sign saying " this service will stop being available on this platform as of ....... "
The trouble is, televisions don't break down like they used to. What's a multinational to do to make a profit? Rip off your existing customers. Same with insurance companies. Sitting ducks have been known to lay the odd golden egg - but not forever.
Posts
They USED to, then there was a sign saying " this service will stop being available on this platform as of ....... "