friedmud

About

Username
friedmud
Joined
Visits
37
Last Active
Roles
member
Points
331
Badges
1
Posts
165

Reactions

124Like25Informative

  • Netflix drops AirPlay support citing unnamed 'technical limitations'

    friedmudfriedmud

    Netflix is introducing "mobile only" plans in some markets at a steep discount.  They don't want those people to be able to "get around" the mobile only restriction by being able to use AirPlay.  I assume that they have more control over the chromecast stuff - so they can effectively shut that down for mobile-only users.

    Personally - I've never used AirPlay for Netflix... as Dave points out I just use my AppleTVs connected to each one of my TVs (which also have their own Netflix app).  Hell - even my 4k Bluray player has a Netflix app... and so does my Nintendo Switch.  Airplay just isn't necessary...

    gatorguyelijahgNY1822doozydozenmatrix077n2itivguyentropysracerhomie3chasmstevenoz

  • No, Apple's new Mac Pro isn't overpriced

    friedmudfriedmud
    I'll throw my 2 cents in here.

    I work in massively-parallel (think: 100,000 core+ supercomputing), scientific computing.  We've purchased ~100 maxed out (~$7k) Mac Pro cylinders over the past few years for our workstation needs.

    When the new Mac Pro was announced - we knew that the configuration we would want (28 core, ~128GB of RAM) would be more expensive than the $7k we've been paying.  We estimated anywhere from $15k to $20k.  It turns out that $15k is the number.

    In the interim, we looked into switching over to Linux workstations with 32-core threadrippers.  We bought 10 machines like that for about $6k and gave them to our developers who felt like they wanted to switch to Linux.  It hasn't been pretty.  2 of the boxes have had hardware problems... and all have had significant downtime because of "Linux issues" (and these people are Linux experts... but, to this day, software upgrades on Linux STILL have a decent chance of breaking your system).

    Now the new threadrippers are coming out... and the 64-core ones will be out soon enough.  Those look _super_ enticing... but we're not going to do it.  It's simply not worth the cost in lost productivity.  It only takes losing 50 (yes, really) hours to make up the $8k difference between these machines.  That's for machines that we know we will use for at least 5 years... so, anything more than 10 hours a year of downtime would make the Linux boxes more expensive (we almost never have problems with our cylinders and I expect it to be the same for these new Mac Pros).

    Therefore: we just put in our upgrade request... we're going to (in phases over a couple of years) buy ~40 of these new boxes at $15k.  Yes, they are expensive... but for what we do they are simply the best option.

    EDIT: And... all new hires will be receiving the $15k machines as well...
    philboogiewelshdogpscooter63macplusplusStrangeDayshucom2000fastasleepjdb8167maxit

  • Actually, there is something new about Apple's upcoming iPhone 7

    friedmudfriedmud
    Enjoyed the whole article... but I especially thought the commentary on the headphone jack was spot on.

    That part should be taken out and printed as its own article.  It feels like the world has gone crazy over this whole headphone jack business... when it's really just the same incremental improvement that's always been happening in computing...
    xmhillxpscooter63ration alTurboPGTcapasicumDanielEranhypoluxamagman1979waltgmejsric

  • Video: Apple HomePod vs. Sonos One

    friedmudfriedmud
    genovelle said:
    So, what commands are you using on these other devices that makes them more useful. I’m really curious here. I’ve seen lots of claims but no proof. In fact when Siri has been compared I feel it is more useful in real use situations. 
    A few examples that Google Home gets right and all other smart devices (including Alexa) fail:

    Me: Hey Google play my Morning Tunes playlist
    Google Home: Plays _my_ Spotify Morning Tunes playlist

    Me: (while Spotify is playing) Hey Google add this song to my library
    Google Home: Ok, I added that song to your Spotify music library

    My Girlfriend: Hey Google play my Morning Tunes playlist
    Google Home: Plays _her_ Spotify Morning Tunes playlist

    Me: Hey Google what's on my calendar today?
    Google Home: What's on _my_ personal calendar

    My Girlfriend: Hey Google what's on my calendar today?
    Google Home: What's on _her_ personal calendar


    I could keep going... but I don't need to.  Apple completely forgot that many people in this world are not single people living by themselves.  They also completely forgot that _Millions_ of people like Spotify...
    [Deleted User]muthuk_vanalingamGeorgeBMac[Deleted User]

  • Apple's iOS 12 prevents accidental screenshots on iPhone X

    friedmudfriedmud
    claire1 said:
    There has to be better button placement.

     I agree!  Just don't have the volume buttons directly across from the power button.  I don't know how this has gone on for so long.

    I would still love to have to power button on top...
    claire1mwhiteravnorodomaylkMplsPAlex1Njony0

  • Apple's iPhone 'Do Not Disturb While Driving' feature helping to reduce dangerous habits

    friedmudfriedmud
    pulseimages said:
    Plus even if you have CarPlay you’re still taking your eyes off the road to read the message. The LCD screen isn’t located in the windshield! 

    CarPlay does not ever "show" a text message on the screen.  It will "speak" it to you... but that's it.
    cornchipwatto_cobra

  • Apple breaks with digital music competitors, will not appeal songwriter royalty increase

    friedmudfriedmud
    These things are rarely as simple as "Apple support songwriters!  Yay!"...

    One cynical view of this is that Apple doesn't really care if it loses money (or even more money) on Apple Music right now... it can afford it while its competitors (especially Spotify!) can't.

    Spotify just _barely_ started making a profit... if the royalties go up... the Spotify will have to raise prices.  Apple, however, doesn't need to raise prices because it can afford to take a loss on Music and make money on everything else (iPhones, etc.).

    If Spotify has to raise prices and Apple Music doesn't... we could see a huge shift in people leaving Spotify for Apple Music... which will further damage Spotify.

    Imagine for a moment that Spotify doesn't exist (which could eventually happen): Apple will be pretty much free to set their price...

    Yes, yes... Google and Amazon still exist at that point (they can afford it too)... but with much inferior products and a much smaller userbase they hardly matter.

    Anyway: my point is... Don't always ascribe altruism to a company's actions.  There are _many_ reasons why a company does what it does... and most of the time it has to do with profit (either now or in the future).
    macxpressentropysmobiusCarnagejony0

  • Compared: iPhone XS Max video quality trounces iPhone X

    friedmudfriedmud
    Well done!

    I am pretty serious about my photography.  I use a Nikon DSLR normally - but have been using my iPhone more and more as the camera has improved (I currently have the X)/

    These improvements are pretty huge and are now making me want to upgrade.  I was on the fence about it before... but now I'll take the plunge!

    Thanks for the great video!
    bradchatelliermagman1979redgeminipawatto_cobra

  • Hyper 245W GaN Desktop Charger review: All the bells and whistles

    friedmudfriedmud
    Will not buy from Hyper again.  Spent $150 on their 100W stackable charger… the ports on it just slowly died.  Replaced it with an Anker and it’s been rock solid.
    caladanianwatto_cobraforgot username

  • Will the Vision Pro headset disrupt the high-end TV market?

    friedmudfriedmud
    Two things:

    1.  Why take a dumb swipe at the battery life on a plane?  Every plane seat has electrical plugs underneath it.  I can’t wait to use mine on a plane - in so many ways.

    2.  This won’t do anything to disrupt my TVs and home theater systems - but I bet it will for some.  The 20-30 year old crowd often lives in small apartments and alone… I could see this working well for them.  They are already not buying many TVs as they get by using their phones/iPads/computers to stream shows.
    StrangeDayswatto_cobra