Bargain hunters beware

[kurogane]

Rumour has it that Windows 10 is designed so that it operates like a PC desktop operating system. Those guys are partying like it's 1999.

[Isle of View]

Rumour has it that Windows 10 is designed so that it operates like a PC desktop operating system. Those guys are partying like it's 1999.

On desktops.

Having to locate "Desktop" on the "Start" Apps page and than click on it to get to the MS desktop was apparently a traumatic experience to some.

[kurogane]

I am still feeling a touch verklempt about it all and I have had this for a year now



Still, kinda weird they would make an ass of everybody by assuming those of us with laptops wanted our machines to work like smartphones, which I don't have one of and so don't know how to work anyways. That swipe and sweep crap drives me batty. BTW, anybody got a timeline on how many more years I can hold back the tide and keep my old skool flip cell phone? Just curious

[BigInJapan]

I am still feeling a touch verklempt about it all and I have had this for a year now
Still, kinda weird they would make an ass of everybody by assuming those of us with laptops wanted our machines to work like smartphones, which I don't have one of and so don't know how to work anyways.

I recently installed Classic Shell on my Win 8.1 laptop, effectively changing it back to an XP-like UI. It turns off that Metro tile UI, so you're left with the traditional Windows Start button and menu.

That swipe and sweep crap drives me batty. BTW, anybody got a timeline on how many more years I can hold back the tide and keep my old skool flip cell phone? Just curious

I'm actually thinking about going back to a clamshell myself, after having smartphones for the last six years. The iPhone 3GS was a good size (not much bigger than a large clamshell), then they just kept getting bigger and bigger.
I don't know what the offerings are like back in the great white north, but if you're living in Japan now, there are still a few flip phones on the market, with signs of them making a comeback.
JT article from May: Japan’s ‘Galapagos phones’ making a comeback
IT Media (J) article from February: 「ガラケー」が復活する？　出荷数7年ぶり増の「理由」
Weekly ASCII (J) article from May: ドコモとauから計3機種登場のガラケー型Android端末

[Samurai_Jerk]

I've been hearing more and more about people going back to flip phones. I think smartphone fatigue is starting to set in. I've definitely been making more of an effort to keep mine out of sight when I'm hanging out with my friends. Like leaving it in my bag when I'm at dinner or whatever so I'm not tempted to check it. And I'm not particularly bad. I've got some friends who it's almost impossible to carry on a conversation with these days because they're glued to their phones.

[kurogane]

I recently installed Classic Shell on my Win 8.1 laptop.........

That sounds F'in brilliant. I'll look into that. Thanks!

I'm actually thinking about going back to a clamshell myself, after having smartphones for the last six years. The iPhone 3GS was a good size (not much bigger than a large clamshell), then they just kept getting bigger and bigger.

I was at Costco buying Mass Quantities earlier and looked at an iPhone 6 or 7 (i.e. The Latest!!). It's huge. Not even close to being comfortably pocket sized. My basic flip phone (Cdn) fits easily in my pocket, I can get basic internet as needed, and all I usually do is call or send and receive simple texts anyways ("OK CU L8R"), and it costs $25-ish a month. I have simply never needed one for work and don't seem to want one for anything else, and no acolyte has ever been able to persuade me I should. The Smartphone Fatigue SJ mentioned isn't really part of my motivation to not get one, but it is a serious motivation to start a new meme: the Smartphone Slap, perfect for those eye-locked idjits SJ was talking about. It's actually quite creepy to watch perfectly normal and intelligent people mesmerised by the Shiny Shiny.

[Samurai_Jerk]

I recently installed Classic Shell on my Win 8.1 laptop.........

That sounds F'in brilliant. I'll look into that. Thanks!

I'm actually thinking about going back to a clamshell myself, after having smartphones for the last six years. The iPhone 3GS was a good size (not much bigger than a large clamshell), then they just kept getting bigger and bigger.

I was at Costco buying Mass Quantities earlier and looked at an iPhone 6 or 7 (i.e. The Latest!!). It's huge. Not even close to being comfortably pocket sized. My basic flip phone (Cdn) fits easily in my pocket, I can get basic internet as needed, and all I usually do is call or send and receive simple texts anyways ("OK CU L8R"), and it costs $25-ish a month. I have simply never needed one for work and don't seem to want one for anything else, and no acolyte has ever been able to persuade me I should. The Smartphone Fatigue SJ mentioned isn't really part of my motivation to not get one, but it is a serious motivation to start a new meme: the Smartphone Slap, perfect for those eye-locked idjits SJ was talking about. It's actually quite creepy to watch perfectly normal and intelligent people mesmerised by the Shiny Shiny.

Not having a smartphone would definitely hinder communication with a lot of people I know. Hardy anybody calls or texts anymore. Everyone uses apps to chat. I had zero interest in that till I realized that was the main way to communicate with young attractive women.

[Russell]

I am still feeling a touch verklempt about it all and I have had this for a year now
Still, kinda weird they would make an ass of everybody by assuming those of us with laptops wanted our machines to work like smartphones, which I don't have one of and so don't know how to work anyways.

I recently installed Classic Shell on my Win 8.1 laptop, effectively changing it back to an XP-like UI. It turns off that Metro tile UI, so you're left with the traditional Windows Start button and menu.

That swipe and sweep crap drives me batty. BTW, anybody got a timeline on how many more years I can hold back the tide and keep my old skool flip cell phone? Just curious

I'm actually thinking about going back to a clamshell myself, after having smartphones for the last six years. The iPhone 3GS was a good size (not much bigger than a large clamshell), then they just kept getting bigger and bigger.
I don't know what the offerings are like back in the great white north, but if you're living in Japan now, there are still a few flip phones on the market, with signs of them making a comeback.
JT article from May: Japan’s ‘Galapagos phones’ making a comeback
IT Media (J) article from February: 「ガラケー」が復活する？　出荷数7年ぶり増の「理由」
Weekly ASCII (J) article from May: ドコモとauから計3機種登場のガラケー型Android端末

Yep, they're making a comeback.

They are cheaper, smaller, and easier to operate. I still have mine, but it is time to replace it.

If I want to go online, I use my laptop. Much easier and faster to type.

[matsuki]

I interpreted this trend the other way...many people not seeing the need to buy a PC, notebook, home internet when their smartphone can do everything they need, on the go.

On the other hand:

I've got some friends who it's almost impossible to carry on a conversation with these days because they're glued to their phones.

I really hate this...I try to keep my phone put away when with friends or meeting people as there is nothing worse than some asshole you're talking to giving you the "uh huh...uh-huh" and nodding while they are totally focused on their phone.

[kurogane]

Not having a smartphone would definitely hinder communication with a lot of people I know. Hardy anybody calls or texts anymore. Everyone uses apps to chat. I had zero interest in that till I realized that was the main way to communicate with young attractive women.

And you have raised the only possible motivation I could imagine. HUBBA HUBBA I noticed last summer everybody who is anybody was obsessed with Rainu, but I never quite figured it out. So, a question: say I meet a young attractive woman somewhere. I ask if she wishes to go for dinner, movie, etc. .... aka A Date sometime soon in the future. Do I then need these here Apps to arrange said date? Do these apps replace what we used to call a phone call, or a text? And if so, why? I mean that Why? in the existential sense...........

[wagyl]

I will say that I have noticed that dating and dating related activities do revolve around these applications. As to why in the existential sense ... look at it as a concentrated market, you go where the swarm is. Younger people are regarding making a telephone call itself too mendokusai compared to any potential value they get from their date. But they are happy to have a long volley of chat messages. It doesn't make a lot of sense, except it perhaps makes it easier to two-time someone.

In a world where there are times that you can't open a bank account without a mobile phone to SMS a one time access code to, it is getting harder to avoid progress.

[Samurai_Jerk]

I can only think of practical reasons. Sorry.

[kurogane]

Younger people are regarding making a telephone call itself too mendokusai compared to any potential value they get from their date. But they are happy to have a long volley of chat messages. .

OOOOKKKKKKKKKKKKKkkkkkk. So it is chat (WTF "chat" actually is)!!!???? I was hoping against hope these newfangled appy things were just ways of making phone calls or texts. I remember looking at a friend's Line feed on his phone: it looked like twitter messages from the lesser abled Special Olympians. Rarely have I seen such vapid inanity. I did notice last summer how much stupider everybody seemed, even the people I knew but hadn't seen for 2 years. I just went ahead and assumed it was just me.

[wagyl]

Well, chat is a conversation of texts back an forth. And then with Line, I understand that you can have a voice conversation as well, may well be able to do video feeds as well for all I know. And you can pay money to send ultra cute so cute you have to just scream!!! illustrations.

From what I have seen of the user base, it is the young and those looking for casual hookups. Tell me I am wrong, matsuki!

[Samurai_Jerk]

You can make phone calls with these apps and the calls are cheaper since you're not using the cellular network. The text messaging function on smartphones looks pretty much like a chat on LINE or whatever but apps tend to be faster and if you're on wifi it's not costing you anything. They're also a lot better for sharing photos, links, etc. It's also easier to follow group conversations.

[Coligny]

I've been hearing more and more about people going back to flip phones. I think smartphone fatigue is starting to set in. I've definitely been making more of an effort to keep mine out of sight when I'm hanging out with my friends. Like leaving it in my bag when I'm at dinner or whatever so I'm not tempted to check it. And I'm not particularly bad. I've got some friends who it's almost impossible to carry on a conversation with these days because they're glued to their phones.

That's cute, in a hipster kind of way.
But,
no real web for price/specs checking while shopping
No acces to gmail/contacts
No google maps/earth (not discontined yet and client updated BTW)
Inferior cameras, wicked file format, mind boggling import/export setups

Basically, still paying data fees for a pretend internet access... How aboot... Nope...

Issues is not smartphones... But putting an almost fully features personnal computer in the hands of a Kabajo was not going to make her any smarter... Just more confused ... Apple was awesome in making people buy something they didn't need... But the step of actually making them use it beyond angry birds is another challenge.

[Takechanpoo]

i too a garakei lover. never ever have had a sumaho. its enough to use calling, mailing and watch weather forecast.

[Coligny]

i too a garakei lover. never ever have had a sumaho. its enough to use calling, mailing and watch weather forecast.

You actually have people to call ? humans I mean...

[Doctor Stop]

You actually have people to call ? humans I mean...

You mean besides his mother?

[Coligny]

YOU STOLE MY COMEBACK !!!!

(But I luv youze anywayz)

[matsuki]

From what I have seen of the user base, it is the young and those looking for casual hookups. Tell me I am wrong, matsuki!

[kurogane]

OOooohhhhhhhhhhhh, YUK!

Anyhoo, thanks for the info and education guys. I can see the charm of those apps used judiciously, but I have already seen the Dark Side of their induced vacuous inanity, so it sounds like I might have to up my age range to avoid this Chat issue. I do like that 30 something skin, though...............

[matsuki]

Like SJ said, it's pretty practical. No charges for voice/video calling between users (international as well), chat lets you send pics, vids, location, etc. etc. All my customers have me on LINE and honestly, it's the fastest way to communicate with them since they tend to sent pics. (hand drawn and shit...like a fax LOL)

Also, supaasupaakawaii "stamps"

[wagyl]

Basically it is a Skype but you need to have a smartphone to open an account. It is an amazing phoenix to arise from the ashes of the earthquake/tsunami, but that smartphone limitation is the killer for me.

[Samurai_Jerk]

OOooohhhhhhhhhhhh, YUK!

Anyhoo, thanks for the info and education guys. I can see the charm of those apps used judiciously, but I have already seen the Dark Side of their induced vacuous inanity, so it sounds like I might have to up my age range to avoid this Chat issue. I do like that 30 something skin, though...............

You might have to stick with 50+. Most of my friends in their 40s are using LINE too.

[matsuki]

OOooohhhhhhhhhhhh, YUK!

Anyhoo, thanks for the info and education guys. I can see the charm of those apps used judiciously, but I have already seen the Dark Side of their induced vacuous inanity, so it sounds like I might have to up my age range to avoid this Chat issue. I do like that 30 something skin, though...............

You might have to stick with 50+. Most of my friends in their 40s are using LINE too.

resistance is futile...

[BigInJapan]

Basically it is a Skype but you need to have a smartphone to open an account. It is an amazing phoenix to arise from the ashes of the earthquake/tsunami, but that smartphone limitation is the killer for me.

Actually, if you want to go into serious otaku mode, you can install and use Line on a PC without a phone number.
I knew there was a Windows app, but apparently you can get around the phone number registration.
It involves using a Google or Facebook account, and installing an Android OS simulator on your PC.
For more info, check out this blog - Setting up LINE Chat app without a smartphone
*Disclaimer - I don't use Line at all, but my kids do on their phones, so I won't be able to provide any more info.

[wagyl]

Basically it is a Skype but you need to have a smartphone to open an account. It is an amazing phoenix to arise from the ashes of the earthquake/tsunami, but that smartphone limitation is the killer for me.

Actually, if you want to go into serious otaku mode, you can install and use Line on a PC without a phone number.
I knew there was a Windows app, but apparently you can get around the phone number registration.
It involves using a Google or Facebook account, and installing an Android OS simulator on your PC.
For more info, check out this blog - Setting up LINE Chat app without a smartphone
*Disclaimer - I don't use Line at all, but my kids do on their phones, so I won't be able to provide any more info.

Thanks for that. I prefer my casual hookup methods to not link to Google accounts or Faecesbook.

[Russell]

Windows 10: man updates PC, wakes up to find porn slideshow on repeat

One new user of Windows 10 found an especially unwelcome surprise after upgrading to Microsoft’s new operating system — a slideshow on his desktop that was showing pornographic images that he’d saved to his computer, on repeat.

“Loaded up WIN 10 last night and left it on to do its thing,” wrote user FalloutBoS on Reddit. “Woke up to wife asking why I set it to rotate all my porn images right on the desk top view. I have no idea how to shut that feature off and that computer is staying shut down until I do.”

The user appears to have saved the images to one of the default folders on his computer, which then pulled them through for use in what developers presumably meant to be a nice, nostalgic slideshow.

Windows 10 — which was released this week — brings with it the same live tiles that were seen in Windows 8, and on Windows Phone. One of those is called Photos, and has a corresponding app, both of which pull through images from the My Pictures folder and show them on a loop.

It seems to be that feature that caught out the Reddit user. As many pointed out on the Reddit thread, it’s a problem that’s unlikely to hit many upgraders — “I guess it assumes you will not save porn into the pictures folder”, as one said — but could just as easily throw up any other images that you wouldn’t like people to see.

More

Probably not the smartest of users, but still it is not a smart move of Microsoft either.

[wagyl]

That is apparently not the only questionable default setting.

By now, there are probably two distinctly polarised camps: those who want it first cab off the rank, and those not even prodding it with a pole.