roundaboutnow

www.www.www.com said:

RCS is now the standard for all Android phones, so it's wrong to say that Android users can't share high-res images by default.

Sure, RCS isn't perfect and is still mid-adoption, but you say it's not the solution to fixing cross-platform messaging without offering any other options. What would you rather see happen to improve how iOS and Android communicate? It's easy to criticize, but you don't seem to have a better solution to offer.

One thing in the article could be made more clear. FTA:
Google says RCS enables higher-resolution images, video, and more things like emoji reactions. However, other messaging services like Signal, WeChat, Facebook Messenger, and even iMessage already have these improvements. It is Google's problem that Android users don't have the same benefit by default.

I don't want to speak for the author, but from the above, it appears that the author did not mean to say Android users can't share high-res images by default at all, but rather it is the combination of multiple features that represents the "same benefit" that other platforms have that Android users don't have.

Also, it's not the author's responsibility to offer a better solution. Reporting the facts are, which I believe has been done in this article.

Near as I can figure from Apple website, it is sudden changes of various parameters that are used to detect a crash. I would think that typically, after a real crash, the sudden changes cease almost immediately, whereas if you're skiing or on a roller coaster, the sudden changes would usually keep happening over a longer duration.

From these reports, it seems the crash detection system does not consider continuing sudden changes within a short duration of time of the initial detection in order to assess whether it is in fact a real crash.

Perhaps a simple adjustment to the detection algorithm is all that would be required, but I suppose it is better to be safe than sorry and the system should stay as is, as long as emergency responders like the Summit County folks are OK with getting these false alarms and they don't start ignoring them as if the system is "crying wolf."

I like the idea of re-thinking the top level interface that loads when the ATV is first turned on. I'm not familiar with the PS5, and maybe there's some concepts that are shown in the article example that might be worth borrowing, but I don't see that the current top level ATV UI is all that bad.

I have a Roku Soundbar and Subwoofer* and a couple of Roku smart TVs. Their "Home Screen" is OK, somewhat similar to ATV, with whatever "apps" you want there. On the Roku smart TVs, you can also place an app-like icon to represent a specific input of the TV on the Home Screen, but what I really like is the "Live TV" app/icon. "Live TV" integrates all the cable (or OTA channels) with all the free Pluto TV channels available online onto the same program guide. No STB, no switching inputs required (unless of course you want to go to one of the streaming subscriptions). The downside is that the remote does not have a number keypad, so with a gazillion of those free Pluto TV internet channels, it's hard to jump around (the Roku iPhone app has a "remote" feature that does have a keyboard option, so there is a way to enter a specific channel number).

Spectrum cable has an option to use an ATV with their app instead of one of their STBs. I occaisonally use the app on my iPhone or iPad at home, but I don't have an ATV at the moment. While this would seem to complicate the ATV experience, the reason I mention it here is that Spectrum offers their own ATV remote. I think you get it if you buy the ATV from them, but I also think you can buy it separately. Still no number keypad, but there is a channel up/down button and a program guide button that the standard ATV remote does not have, which should help navigating the Spectrum TV lineup. Something to consider.

Another concept to borrow would be something like what the Reelgood app or others like it do. In Reelgood, you indicate what services you subscribe to and then you can search or browse across all subscribed platforms, including Netflix. If you select a particular show to watch, the appropriate app can be launched and away you go (but only on the device running the app). From what I can tell, the current ATV gets pretty close to doing this, except for Netflix. An argument could be made that the AppleTV app should be relegated to just AppleTV+ content, since any other content "channels" are accessed from a higher level menu.

*Too bad Apple does not have a soundbar/sub with integrated AppleTV. The Roku soundbar is fairly cheap, so was able to add the sub without breaking the bank. Having the sub really helps. Together, the audio quality is not bad, especially considering the price of both combined. I'm sure an ATV soundbar would cost more, but it would do more and probably have much better sound.

blastdoor said:

if the status quo is maintained. 

Which status quo is that? The pre-war status quo is gone. The new status quo is changing every week. 

And why assume chips bought from AZ must go in iPhones? Maybe the AZ chips end up in “Macs” we never see, because they are just AWS (or iCloud) instances. 

...or maybe Macs we do see--perhaps a new Mac Pro made in the Texas facility.

shamino said:

roundaboutnow said:

I've sent or received files via AirDrop to people that aren't in my contacts on a few occasions.

...

I have a suggestion ...: When choosing the one-time AirDrop option, whoever the sender is would have a QR code come up on their screen to show the intended recipient. This forces a direct face-to-face contact so the request is known not to be from some unseen stranger. The recipient would then take their phone and scan the QR code to accept the transfer. (I admit that I don't know if there is something under the hood that might prevent this idea from working).

If the sender is standing right there, he could just ask you to temporarily set your phone to "Everyone".  Then he can send to you.  Then you can turn it off again.  Just as effective and not as awkward as having to exchange QR codes.  Sure, someone else could slip in a porno pic during that short time, but it would be pretty unlikely.

The proposed Apple change actually facilitates this, because it will revert after 10 minutes, so you don't need to remember to manually reset it.

Or he could just send it as an e-mail or an iMessage.

It doesn't seem like you understood everything I wrote...

Temporarily setting to "everyone" is what I do now, as I wrote above. It's not horrible, but I think my suggestion would be easier.

What's so awkward about the QR method? My suggestion is that the QR would be generated as an option that pops up when you choose AirDrop. No fumbling with settings required.

I also addressed the notion that the 10 minute time out could help if phone is set to "everyone."

Of course sending an email or iMessage is an option too, but keep in mind that these methods do require divulging personal contact information that you may not want to share.