• Re: OT: An old person's rant about AirPods/wireless headphones

    From Dimensional Traveler@21:1/5 to Spalls Hurgenson on Fri Aug 15 17:32:12 2025
    On 8/15/2025 3:23 PM, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:

    <Thus ends this week's off-topic rant. I hope you didn't read it all,
    but if you did, don't feel obligated to respond. We've wasted enough
    of people's time already.>

    I read all of it and agree with all of it.

    --
    I've done good in this world. Now I'm tired and just want to be a cranky
    dirty old man.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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  • From Dimensional Traveler@21:1/5 to Spalls Hurgenson on Sat Aug 16 09:12:12 2025
    On 8/16/2025 7:11 AM, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:
    On Fri, 15 Aug 2025 17:32:12 -0700, Dimensional Traveler
    <[email protected]> wrote:



    I read all of it and agree with all of it.

    Welcome to old-person club.

    I've been in this club for a long time already.

    Now get off my lawn! ;-)

    A patch of dead grass and bare dirt is not a "lawn".

    --
    I've done good in this world. Now I'm tired and just want to be a cranky
    dirty old man.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Werner P.@21:1/5 to All on Sat Aug 16 19:39:45 2025
    Am 16.08.25 um 00:23 schrieb Spalls Hurgenson:
    Now, I've used wireless headphones before, but never really
    cared for them. They offered no real advantages that I could
    see, and plenty of disadvantages. I never stuck with them for
    very long. But maybe, I told myself, I'd just never given the
    devices a chance. Maybe I was just being curmudgeonly. Anyway,
    I didn't have a choice, so off I went to purchase a pair (or
    two, as it turned out).
    The advantage is, it fills Apples pocket, that alone should be worth it *Sarkasm off*

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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  • From Dimensional Traveler@21:1/5 to Spalls Hurgenson on Sun Aug 17 08:52:12 2025
    On 8/17/2025 7:50 AM, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:
    On Sat, 16 Aug 2025 19:39:45 +0200, "Werner P." <[email protected]> wrote:

    Am 16.08.25 um 00:23 schrieb Spalls Hurgenson:
    Now, I've used wireless headphones before, but never really
    cared for them. They offered no real advantages that I could
    see, and plenty of disadvantages. I never stuck with them for
    very long. But maybe, I told myself, I'd just never given the
    devices a chance. Maybe I was just being curmudgeonly. Anyway,
    I didn't have a choice, so off I went to purchase a pair (or
    two, as it turned out).
    The advantage is, it fills Apples pocket, that alone should be worth it
    *Sarkasm off*

    <rant mode re-engaged>
    The sad fact is that is true. The death of the 3.5"mm jack was
    entirely because Apple was in it's "flatness is everything!" phase
    (and because it saved the company a few cents in adding a jack and
    some gaskets). But like too many things Apple does, their focus of
    form over function gives people less useful devices. Sure, they LOOK
    neat but they just aren't as good to use.

    Which is unfortunate, because while I'm no Apple fan-boy, they
    undeniably have engineering skills. Whether its their desktops or
    their mobile devices, they tend to be well-put together machines. No,
    they're not top-end and its not like others haven't matched (or
    bettered) them at times... but Apple has definite competence. It's
    just a shame it's so focused on the LOOKS of their devices rather than
    the actual utility. Worse, they've a reputation that makes people
    blindly accept their decisions even when it's to their own detriment.

    Which is why almost no mobile devices have 3.5mm jacks anymore.
    Because if it's good for Apple, then it must be good for everyone
    else.

    </rant disengaged>


    .
    .
    .


    And it is too a proper lawn! I didn't do six years in Lawnology School
    to stand guard over a dirt patch!

    ;-)

    :P

    --
    I've done good in this world. Now I'm tired and just want to be a cranky
    dirty old man.

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  • From Ant@21:1/5 to Dimensional Traveler on Sun Aug 17 23:16:46 2025
    Dimensional Traveler <[email protected]> wrote:
    On 8/16/2025 7:11 AM, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:
    On Fri, 15 Aug 2025 17:32:12 -0700, Dimensional Traveler <[email protected]> wrote:



    I read all of it and agree with all of it.

    Welcome to old-person club.

    I've been in this club for a long time already.

    Now get off my lawn! ;-)

    A patch of dead grass and bare dirt is not a "lawn".

    I have been in this club too long. I still use 3.5mm audio with my
    analog speakers! Bluetooth audio isn't reliable to me.

    --
    "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit ? fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name." --John 15:16. Not a quiet Sat.
    Note: A fixed width font (Courier, Monospace, etc.) is required to see this signature correctly.
    /\___/\ Ant(Dude) @ http://aqfl.net & http://antfarm.home.dhs.org.
    / /\ /\ \ Please nuke ANT if replying by e-mail.
    | |o o| |
    \ _ /
    ( )

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  • From Ant@21:1/5 to Spalls Hurgenson on Mon Aug 18 23:31:28 2025
    Spalls Hurgenson <[email protected]> wrote:
    ...
    (And now I've said the word "jack" so often that it's starting to
    sound weird. Jack jack jack jack jack).

    Remember Contract J.A.C.K. game spun off No One Lives Forever? :P

    --
    "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us." --Romans 8:18. Glory now please. Quiet Sun.
    Note: A fixed width font (Courier, Monospace, etc.) is required to see this signature correctly.
    /\___/\ Ant(Dude) @ http://aqfl.net & http://antfarm.home.dhs.org.
    / /\ /\ \ Please nuke ANT if replying by e-mail.
    | |o o| |
    \ _ /
    ( )

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  • From candycanearter07@21:1/5 to Ant on Tue Aug 19 23:50:04 2025
    Ant <[email protected]> wrote at 23:16 this Sunday (GMT):
    Dimensional Traveler <[email protected]> wrote:
    On 8/16/2025 7:11 AM, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:
    On Fri, 15 Aug 2025 17:32:12 -0700, Dimensional Traveler
    <[email protected]> wrote:



    I read all of it and agree with all of it.

    Welcome to old-person club.

    I've been in this club for a long time already.

    Now get off my lawn! ;-)

    A patch of dead grass and bare dirt is not a "lawn".

    I have been in this club too long. I still use 3.5mm audio with my
    analog speakers! Bluetooth audio isn't reliable to me.


    I use 3.5mm with my laptop, and absolutely would with my phone if it
    supported it.
    --
    user <candycane> is generated from /dev/urandom

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From candycanearter07@21:1/5 to Spalls Hurgenson on Tue Aug 19 23:50:06 2025
    Spalls Hurgenson <[email protected]> wrote at 14:50 this Sunday (GMT):
    On Sat, 16 Aug 2025 19:39:45 +0200, "Werner P." <[email protected]> wrote:

    Am 16.08.25 um 00:23 schrieb Spalls Hurgenson:
    Now, I've used wireless headphones before, but never really
    cared for them. They offered no real advantages that I could
    see, and plenty of disadvantages. I never stuck with them for
    very long. But maybe, I told myself, I'd just never given the
    devices a chance. Maybe I was just being curmudgeonly. Anyway,
    I didn't have a choice, so off I went to purchase a pair (or
    two, as it turned out).
    The advantage is, it fills Apples pocket, that alone should be worth it >>*Sarkasm off*

    <rant mode re-engaged>
    The sad fact is that is true. The death of the 3.5"mm jack was
    entirely because Apple was in it's "flatness is everything!" phase
    (and because it saved the company a few cents in adding a jack and
    some gaskets). But like too many things Apple does, their focus of
    form over function gives people less useful devices. Sure, they LOOK
    neat but they just aren't as good to use.

    Which is unfortunate, because while I'm no Apple fan-boy, they
    undeniably have engineering skills. Whether its their desktops or
    their mobile devices, they tend to be well-put together machines. No,
    they're not top-end and its not like others haven't matched (or
    bettered) them at times... but Apple has definite competence. It's
    just a shame it's so focused on the LOOKS of their devices rather than
    the actual utility. Worse, they've a reputation that makes people
    blindly accept their decisions even when it's to their own detriment.

    Which is why almost no mobile devices have 3.5mm jacks anymore.
    Because if it's good for Apple, then it must be good for everyone
    else.

    </rant disengaged>


    .
    .
    .


    And it is too a proper lawn! I didn't do six years in Lawnology School
    to stand guard over a dirt patch!

    ;-)


    I absolutely would take having a better battery life over my phone being slightly thinner.
    --
    user <candycane> is generated from /dev/urandom

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Lane the Caustic@21:1/5 to All on Tue Aug 19 19:32:34 2025
    candycanearter07 wrote:
    Ant <[email protected]> wrote at 23:16 this Sunday (GMT):
    Dimensional Traveler <[email protected]> wrote:
    On 8/16/2025 7:11 AM, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:
    On Fri, 15 Aug 2025 17:32:12 -0700, Dimensional Traveler
    <[email protected]> wrote:



    I read all of it and agree with all of it.

    Welcome to old-person club.

    I've been in this club for a long time already.

    Now get off my lawn! ;-)

    A patch of dead grass and bare dirt is not a "lawn".

    I have been in this club too long. I still use 3.5mm audio with my
    analog speakers! Bluetooth audio isn't reliable to me.

    Before I was familiar with Bluetooth, I was in a war over one of my
    resources. Strange black rhythm & blues would come out of the speakers
    instead of my industrial thrash. It doesn't seem to be an ongoing
    problem because the components that spread Bluetooth have taken
    possession of the resources now.

    I think Bluetooth is a learned skill that you can't just pick up from
    scratch.

    --
    n

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  • From Justisaur@21:1/5 to Spalls Hurgenson on Wed Aug 20 09:37:24 2025
    On 8/15/2025 3:23 PM, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:

    Just one problem: like too many devices this day, it lacks a
    3.5mm headphone jack. If I wanted to listen to music, I'd
    either have to do it through the terrible built-in speakers,
    or go wireless.

    Nope.

    https://www.amazon.com/Apple-EarPods-Headphones-Built-Control/dp/B0DCH8VDXF/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1QK239E19XGFT&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ViNGJLZXgWrXgwiUSPMf6cWZdx_LHWiOPsG6dl8yuyhFDwbNd23ChUmReRC0UTvHPH-zJmaI2CEIf_PFK4tuFhg7J-
    zgUXUrM3dGm1xNJJ203SnPvJWqijlvJjKqnrfj8lgscLg6gUmOCYOTkoP3qySw5fywGwCzkPpBthk8VnNFdx99AGCucM-_KvdRAYXTiuUqSX7vfqFil-g1XwhYr9DXRk63jlrbx3y46cBvyM4.FYL260djfpzUSEL-C-7NBqdUio4SQC1E0Y0kYw14RAU&dib_tag=se&keywords=usb-c%2Bwired%2Bheadphones&qid=1755707485&
    sprefix=usb-c%2Bwired%2Bheadphone%2Caps%2C187&sr=8-3&th=1

    Or

    https://www.amazon.com/Digital-Headphone-Adapter-Converter-Samsung/dp/B07KJ87HYJ/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=2SHX9OO9MGZP4&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.JpnWeyRl9GM5rM9z3DpzEwE9WNGOolzk-gEbaSzlZ3kMzJ7uHK0TyvPaW1WTtE24Sg_XUrMHCvdmgu-
    Ox0zswDTmocSvMpG8IAXcfjwYMjjzp1AhRHpQH5XPWCM59KYzrIXtUoDu5ePMcwUUYw0kKM1dzXRdLKsNdQWVt3yn2kbUu2YrMbLghH-VAUc_E30emp5nEUx8aCIvkQOqsPwc5JVZP3B0K5mb9lJl53mmEoI.EsHffkBManBfJya61l2b5Cs0C0zfRQrBwCTDP_29y90&dib_tag=se&keywords=usb-c%2Bto%2B3.5mm%2Badapter&qid=
    1755707646&sprefix=usb-c%2Bto%2B3.%2Caps%2C193&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&th=1

    There's versions of both for whatever your connector might be.


    --
    -Justisaur

    ø-ø
    (\_/)\
    `-'\ `--.___,
    ¶¬'\( ,_.-'
    \\
    ^'

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  • From Ross Ridge@21:1/5 to [email protected] on Sat Aug 23 04:30:25 2025
    Spalls Hurgenson <[email protected]> wrote:
    Just one problem: like too many devices this day, it lacks a
    3.5mm headphone jack. If I wanted to listen to music, I'd
    either have to do it through the terrible built-in speakers,
    or go wireless.

    You can get cheap USB-C to 3.5mm headphone adapters. The USB-C spec
    actually supports a headphone mode which allows passive versions of
    these adapters to work, but most adapters these days are USB devices
    with built-in DACs.

    --
    l/ // Ross Ridge -- The Great HTMU
    [oo][oo] [email protected]
    -()-/()/ http://www.csclub.uwaterloo.ca:11068/
    db //

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  • From candycanearter07@21:1/5 to [email protected] on Sat Aug 23 06:30:07 2025
    H1M3M <[email protected]> wrote at 10:18 this Thursday (GMT):
    Spalls Hurgenson wrote:
    On Wed, 20 Aug 2025 15:13:41 +0200, H1M3M <[email protected]> wrote:

    Spalls Hurgenson wrote:



    It's amazing that with all this technology we can't invent some sort
    of standardized long-term electrical capicitor storage device that
    can be removed/replaced from our electronics after their charge
    drains or they wear out. I can imagine we'd want different sizes for
    different applications; of course, we'd need some sort of labelling
    system to differentiate them. Perhaps we could use letters to
    designate the sizes.

    Well, maybe one day the boffins will invent this miraculous device.
    Until then, we'll just have to toss the whole device because there's
    just no other option due to our primitive tech.


    The stupid thing is that my headphones are the Bose QC35. One of the
    previous models, the QC25 used a AAA battery The QC 35 has a lithium
    battery that has the exact size and shape as an AAA battery.Since they converted the headphones from dispossable batteries to lithium but they structurally they are identical. it shouls be easy to replace the
    battery, but...

    They went the Apple route all the way. Glue on the bettery lid so hard
    to remove that you can destroy the internals while melting them, and
    they soldered the battery to the circuit board.
    Genuine planned obsolescence and asshole design, but back then I did not
    have a choice of models and I needed good ANC for my own mental sanity.


    And yes, I get the irony. ot the capacitor storage device... There was something called the "gumstick battery" in japan. A more or less
    standardized rechargeable battery that was used in minidisc players,
    digital media players... it was like a flat rechargeable battery.
    Although it was associated with Sony, other brands also used it. Of
    course, no one would buy new gadgets if you could keep repairing them forever...


    Oh yeah, I've seen gumstick batteries, they're pretty cool!
    Non-removable batteries kinda sucks...
    --
    user <candycane> is generated from /dev/urandom

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  • From JAB@21:1/5 to All on Sat Aug 23 10:54:58 2025
    On 21/08/2025 11:18, H1M3M wrote:
    And yes, I get the irony. ot the capacitor storage device... There was something called the "gumstick battery" in japan. A more or less
    standardized rechargeable battery that was used in minidisc players,
    digital media players... it was like a flat rechargeable battery.
    Although it was associated with Sony, other brands also used it. Of
    course, no one would buy new gadgets if you could keep repairing them forever...

    That's what my Minidisc player had and as a backup there was a 2xAAA
    battery pack that you could screw on the bottom.

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