blah64

About

Username
blah64
Joined
Visits
58
Last Active
Roles
member
Points
248
Badges
0
Posts
993

Reactions

163Like17Informative

  • Apple's Touch ID is probably never coming back to iPhone

    blah64blah64
    tundraboy said:
    With face masks going out of style, the impetus to revive Touch ID has diminished.

    Mask use will come and go as waves of dangerous infectious disease will never go away.  I already see changes in usage in my city at the grocery stores and getting to-go food as the levels of infection go up and down.  If (when) the next variant of our current mess brings notably worse outcomes again then we'll see a big bump back up in usage. 

    FaceID can never work as well with masks as it does without masks.  Having zero practical options for some people to open their phones without entering a password is a huge step backward.  I'm a huge fan of being able to subtly unlock my device under a table momentarily, and have zero interest in ever using FaceID.  I understand that's not the same opinion as some other people, but removing TouchID from *every* new device would be a highly contentious change for many people.
    FileMakerFellerscstrrfblurpbleepbloopcurtis hannah

  • Apple launches iPhone 13 with A15, smaller notch & more

    blah64blah64
    elijahg said:
    Seems pretty cool, especially cinematic mode, macro and extra battery life. However, IMO the wide angle lens has very little utility vs telephoto. I can't remember the last time I wanted a wider angle view but I regularly zoom in. You can usually step back, but you frequently can't get nearer to something. Anecdotally I regularly see people zooming in, and they just step back if they can't fit everything in the frame.
    You can't just step back to get wider scenery shots (pano is cool, but definitely not the same), and it sounds like you've never taken group photos indoors, like at home.  It's kind of strange that you say this, because I've personally witnessed the struggle to squeeze people together literally hundreds of times over the years.  I suspect most people have experienced this.  The wide angle lens also allows you to get more spur of the moment shots where you don't have time to compose and get people to pose, it's just situational.  You can crop later, but you can't add viewing angle later.

    Telephoto obviously has great utility as well, but the farther you zoom the more you need to worry about things like stability and light with a tiny camera.  The wide angle just simply works, and also adds great utility.
    applguywilliamlondonGraeme000fastasleepbestkeptsecretWgkruegerwatto_cobra

  • Apple unveils new iPad mini with updated design, 5G

    blah64blah64
    StrangeDays said:
    elijahg said:
    At $499 vs $329 for the bigger iPad, I don't really see what the point of this is, aside from some barely noticeable CPU speed bumps vs the bigger one. Since you probably own an iPhone anyway, you could just get an iPhone 12/13 Plus for $200 more when you next upgrade, saving ~$200 (or $350 if you need cellular), have just one device rather than two, and you're not that far off iPad mini display size. The only major disadvantage is no pencil on iPhone.
    Here's the thing -- it's not about you. Some people prefer a smaller tablet. Not a phone, but a tablet. I enjoyed a mini for many years and preferred it over larger sizes.
    Absolutely.  100%.  

    I have my own use cases, and I prefer an iPad mini for a lot of things, but it's not about my own use cases either.  It's nice to have options.
    williamlondonDetnatorwatto_cobrajony0

  • Apple debuts ninth-generation iPad with A13 processor for $329

    blah64blah64
    Seriously? "The old-fashioned Touch ID"?

     Why use such loaded language? It's not old-fashioned, it's just different. Works better with masks, allows use under a table without being a distraction to others, and various other advantages. Sure, faceID also has advantages, but those 2 words are just oddly biased and completely unnecessary.

    Read the sentence with other options, like "traditional", i.e.
        The traditional Touch ID sensor is still in use below the display.

     Or better yet, and more professional, no biased words at all, i.e.
    The Touch ID sensor is still in use below the display.


    muthuk_vanalingammacplusplustoddzrxrob53spock1234Dogpersonwilliamlondon

  • Spotify aims to recommend songs based on users' moods

    blah64blah64
    What a terrible, terrible idea.

    First, the idea that a large corporation can sense your mood in the first place should be troubling to everyone.  Of course there are quite a few companies doing this now, maybe this move will highlight how scary that is.  One can only hope shit like this gets legislated out of existence; unfortunately, it's the only way to stop it.  And I say this as someone who generally likes free market economies.

    But that aside, if you're feeling down and depressed, do you really need a (greedy) company to start playing music adjusted to your depressed state?  That borders on abuse, no matter what kind of music they choose.  Does spotify have a mental healthcare license?  Who makes the decisions of how to adjust music to one's mental state?  Will they be held accountable when bad things happen?  Of course not.  And even if you're happy, do you really need a company sensing your mood to start playing "happy music"? 

    This is all just wrong, in so many ways.
    watto_cobrabyronl