Technology catch-all thread

[Y2HH]

I play music in my car a lot and my phone picks up the "Google Now" hotword just fine as long as it's not ear-screeching loud.

 

This has NEVER been my experience with voice commands, be they via iOS or Google Now. They're both decent, but they're still both wrong 70-80% of the time, and a single word written incorrectly in a message can change the context or meaning of the entire message.

[chw42]

That's a bit of an overstatement. Google's voice recognition is good, but only when you're in decent conditions. The issue with voice commands is that they're largely invasive. I don't need to be listening to you rambling into your wrist on an elevator, or at a restaurant, etc.

 

So, yea, while you can respond, you can only do so in a limited and often annoying fashion.

 

You know what else you could do? Pull out your phone and respond since you have to have it with you anyway, and if your watch is working because you're in a place where you can use voice, you're phone won't be an inconvenience either...which also can be used hands free with voice.

 

These are redundant applications. Everyone I know with a Pebble uses it to tell time now...when they first got it they were using it for basically everything it could do. Now they realize their phone is just easier.

 

That's because the Pebble kind of sucks. Like I said before, Android Wear is the first real OS developed specifically for a smart-watch.

[chw42]

This has NEVER been my experience with voice commands, be they via iOS or Google Now. They're both decent, but they're still both wrong 70-80% of the time, and a single word written incorrectly in a message can change the context or meaning of the entire message.

 

I have friends who do nothing but send massive walls of text in text messages with using Google's voice recognition.

 

It works fine most of of the time. The only complaint I have is that Google Now is kind of broken (it won't really listen for your commands for some reason) when you have your phone hooked up to a bluetooth sound system.

[Y2HH]

I have friends who do nothing but send massive walls of text in text messages with using Google's voice recognition.

 

It works fine most of of the time. The only complaint I have is that Google Now is kind of broken (it won't really listen for your commands for some reason) when you have your phone hooked up to a bluetooth sound system.

 

I wrote they're wrong 70-80% of the time, that should have read they're RIGHT 70-80% of the time, but that means 20-30% of your message will often have incorrect words in it.

 

I can ALWAYS tell when someone sends me a text via voice. I know what they were trying to say, but you can tell a computer wrote it.

[chw42]

I wrote they're wrong 70-80% of the time, that should have read they're RIGHT 70-80% of the time, but that means 20-30% of your message will often have incorrect words in it.

 

I can ALWAYS tell when someone sends me a text via voice. I know what they were trying to say, but you can tell a computer wrote it.

 

That happens with typing on your phone as well. Auto-correct will get in your way at least 10% of the time. It happens to everyone.

[iamshack]

I wrote they're wrong 70-80% of the time, that should have read they're RIGHT 70-80% of the time, but that means 20-30% of your message will often have incorrect words in it.

 

I can ALWAYS tell when someone sends me a text via voice. I know what they were trying to say, but you can tell a computer wrote it.

Did you make that post via voice?

[RockRaines]

I have friends who do nothing but send massive walls of text in text messages with using Google's voice recognition.

 

It works fine most of of the time. The only complaint I have is that Google Now is kind of broken (it won't really listen for your commands for some reason) when you have your phone hooked up to a bluetooth sound system.

And they do this in public? Yikes.

[chw42]

And they do this in public? Yikes.

 

I have seen them do it in public. Although I've only seen them do this for non-personal texts.

[iamshack]

I just realized my sat radio subscription comes with internet listening...score

 

 

[RockRaines]

I just realized my sat radio subscription comes with internet listening...score

Oh yeah, thats how I get my Howard fix in the morning.

[Brian]

Oh yeah, thats how I get my Howard fix in the morning.

 

Ditto. I download and listen on dog walks what I don't hear in the car.

[RockRaines]

Who knows Slingbox? I am thinking of using it instead of paying for cable at my cabin. What version should I have?

[StrangeSox]

I don't know the details, but my coworker has that. He streams to his phone/laptop when he's on the road. We got one of the World Cup matches up on a monitor in our booth at a trade show last year with it, too.

[Y2HH]

Who knows Slingbox? I am thinking of using it instead of paying for cable at my cabin. What version should I have?

 

Uses a ton of data, so you either need an unlimited package and good signal or a really solid wifi connection (also with good speeds).

[RockRaines]

Uses a ton of data, so you either need an unlimited package and good signal or a really solid wifi connection (also with good speeds).

I have wifi.

[BigHurt3515]

Anybody know a lot of Directv?

 

I currently have a cable company and I have DirecTV coming tomorrow to see in they can install. In the past I had them come only to say they can't install for various reasons (I live in an apartment so there are a lot of rules). The last one that came about 5 months ago said they couldn't install because of "line of sight" the guy said he couldn't find 2 of the 5 points in the sky to receive HD. He told me I probably could get SD though but he still wouldn't install. So I figured we wouldn't be able to get it. I was curious so I called them today and told a guy what happened and he pretty much laughed at me and said it was probably a subcontractor that didn't want to do the work for whatever reason. And he pretty much said they can install the satellite I will get whatever I can get (either SD or HD) and told me they don't have SD receivers anymore. So I have a couple questions for anyone who might know or have an idea.

 

1) Will they be able to install even if I have cable right now? I don't want to cancel my cable service just for them to come tomorrow and say they can't or won't install.

 

2) If they install the HD satellite and receiver and the satellite can't get a signal for the HD channels, will all the SD channels work if I have the signal?

 

People down the street have DirecTv and they have a lot more trees in the way then the one big tree that we are facing so it just doesn't make sense to me why they wouldn't install

[Jenksismyhero]

Anybody know a lot of Directv?

 

I currently have a cable company and I have DirecTV coming tomorrow to see in they can install. In the past I had them come only to say they can't install for various reasons (I live in an apartment so there are a lot of rules). The last one that came about 5 months ago said they couldn't install because of "line of sight" the guy said he couldn't find 2 of the 5 points in the sky to receive HD. He told me I probably could get SD though but he still wouldn't install. So I figured we wouldn't be able to get it. I was curious so I called them today and told a guy what happened and he pretty much laughed at me and said it was probably a subcontractor that didn't want to do the work for whatever reason. And he pretty much said they can install the satellite I will get whatever I can get (either SD or HD) and told me they don't have SD receivers anymore. So I have a couple questions for anyone who might know or have an idea.

 

1) Will they be able to install even if I have cable right now? I don't want to cancel my cable service just for them to come tomorrow and say they can't or won't install.

 

2) If they install the HD satellite and receiver and the satellite can't get a signal for the HD channels, will all the SD channels work if I have the signal?

 

People down the street have DirecTv and they have a lot more trees in the way then the one big tree that we are facing so it just doesn't make sense to me why they wouldn't install

 

1) yes. One has nothing to do with the other. They'll disconnect your cable coming in from the street and instead connect it to the dish. All internal wiring will remain the same unless you need some more installed.

 

2) I don't believe so. If you can't get a signal from the satellite, you can't get a signal. Plus, if you can't get HD, what's the point?

[BigHurt3515]

1) yes. One has nothing to do with the other. They'll disconnect your cable coming in from the street and instead connect it to the dish. All internal wiring will remain the same unless you need some more installed.

 

2) I don't believe so. If you can't get a signal from the satellite, you can't get a signal. Plus, if you can't get HD, what's the point?

 

Because the cable company I have now is horrible and I feel like I would still be able to get HD and they were just blowing smoke up my ass. I requested a supervisor or technician be here tomorrow so I don't have another problem..

[RockRaines]

1) yes. One has nothing to do with the other. They'll disconnect your cable coming in from the street and instead connect it to the dish. All internal wiring will remain the same unless you need some more installed.

 

2) I don't believe so. If you can't get a signal from the satellite, you can't get a signal. Plus, if you can't get HD, what's the point?

With the new whole home DVR and stuff all the wiring will need to be replaced most likely.

 

Trees do not effect the signal as much as people think

[Jenksismyhero]

With the new whole home DVR and stuff all the wiring will need to be replaced most likely.

 

Trees do not effect the signal as much as people think

 

They should be able to use the same coaxial cable his old cable service used for the main box. And if he gets the new genie system, the remaining TV units will be wireless genie boxes. No cables needed.

[HuskyCaucasian]

TiVo Releases A $49.99 Over-The-Air DVR

 

TiVo today is announcing the release of its TiVo Roamio OTA DVR, a $49.99 device that will give customers who don’t have cable or satellite service. Instead, they will be able to connect the DVR up to an antenna to record shows broadcast on channels available through over-the-air digital signals.

 

The Roamio OTA has 500 GB of storage capacity, which holds up to 75 hours of HD programming. It also has four tuners to allow customers to record multiple programs at once, while also being able to tune in live to one channel. The device is also compatible with the company’s TiVo Stream device for streaming live and pre-recorded videos on other devices.

[Chisoxfn]

This is a pretty nifty little device. Makes it easier to cut the cord, as long as you can get ESPN 3 through your cable to give you the bulk of your live sports fill. Of course if you want their channel guide and stuff, you are talking about 15 bucks as month, which seems pretty steep.

[Jake]

I thought about getting TiVo so as not to pay rental fees to Time Warner, but found that it was actually a far worse deal to get TiVo given the subscription fee. Disappointing.

[Jake]

Also, got myself a Macbook Air today 13" base model today. I thought hard about some other machines, most notably the following:

 

-Surface Pro 3

-Lenovo Yoga 2 Pro

-Lenovo Thinkpad Yoga

 

In the end, the main reason I went with the Mac was...price. Yep, you heard that right. I was/am in love with the Surface Pro, especially because I see a lot of value in active stylus input, but to fork over that amount (recall that the keyboard cover is separate and $130) for the same specs just wasn't working for me. This is particularly true because in my experience the same specs tend to run better with OS X than Windows.

 

The Yoga 2 Pro had a better specs-to-price ratio, but I couldn't find a configuration that I wanted and I've heard bad things about the battery life. The 12 hour battery life of MB Air vs. 6 of Yoga 2 Pro is meaningful to me. Some of them use god-awful single-band N wireless cards as well, which is something meaningful to me after I invested in a top-end router.

 

The Thinkpad Yoga is a really interesting device, but not exactly in the mainstream. It was difficult not being able to see one in person to go for it. I had the opportunity to get it refurbished for $700, but I didn't have a good way of knowing whether it had a well-documented (among owners) monitor ghosting issue that was fixed in later production runs.

 

So I have a MB Air and at least 14 days to vet it and make sure it works for me. I'm not a specialist but I am a heavy multi-tasker who runs some statistics software and isn't eager to lug a charger to work with me every day. I'm considering doing Boot Camp w/ W8 since I can get a license for only about $10 via my employer. Anyone here use Parallels? Any tips for someone who is a bit of a Microsoft fan who is moving over to Mac?

[Y2HH]

Also, got myself a Macbook Air today 13" base model today. I thought hard about some other machines, most notably the following:

 

-Surface Pro 3

-Lenovo Yoga 2 Pro

-Lenovo Thinkpad Yoga

 

In the end, the main reason I went with the Mac was...price. Yep, you heard that right. I was/am in love with the Surface Pro, especially because I see a lot of value in active stylus input, but to fork over that amount (recall that the keyboard cover is separate and $130) for the same specs just wasn't working for me. This is particularly true because in my experience the same specs tend to run better with OS X than Windows.

 

The Yoga 2 Pro had a better specs-to-price ratio, but I couldn't find a configuration that I wanted and I've heard bad things about the battery life. The 12 hour battery life of MB Air vs. 6 of Yoga 2 Pro is meaningful to me. Some of them use god-awful single-band N wireless cards as well, which is something meaningful to me after I invested in a top-end router.

 

The Thinkpad Yoga is a really interesting device, but not exactly in the mainstream. It was difficult not being able to see one in person to go for it. I had the opportunity to get it refurbished for $700, but I didn't have a good way of knowing whether it had a well-documented (among owners) monitor ghosting issue that was fixed in later production runs.

 

So I have a MB Air and at least 14 days to vet it and make sure it works for me. I'm not a specialist but I am a heavy multi-tasker who runs some statistics software and isn't eager to lug a charger to work with me every day. I'm considering doing Boot Camp w/ W8 since I can get a license for only about $10 via my employer. Anyone here use Parallels? Any tips for someone who is a bit of a Microsoft fan who is moving over to Mac?

 

I've run Parallels, but I prefer VMWare Fusion over it. You shouldn't have any ghosting problems and if you did, I'm sure it's fixable under warranty anyway.

 

You won't be a Windows fan much longer if you actually give OSX a real chance, especially Windows 8, which is a total suckfest OS on non-touch based systems. Just run a Google search for Windows users switching to OSX or Mac, there are probably 5000 websites dedicated to it. There are a few daunting changes, but after you get used to Apple's way vs Microsoft's way, you won't really notice it anymore. And for power users, OSX simply blows Windows away, as it's full UNIX.

 

I once made this same jump from Windows to OSX myself, and at first there were things I couldn't figure out how to do, etc...but anything you can do on Windows, there is a way to do it on OSX, and after you learn it all, I doubt you'll look back. I HATE having to boot into Windows at this point, and thankfully the way the world has moved on, there isn't a lot of need to do it anymore aside from the few games that REQUIRE directX.

Edited August 27, 2014 by Y2HH