The correct adjective is "Marcian".
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The correct adjective is "Marcian".
And of course that family, they've had one or two things going on, including the dodgy bloke formerly known as Prince.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lawrence001
Can't stand AI, it's yet another new technology that will lead to the ruination of mankind! :trust:Quote:
Originally Posted by Lawrence001
New technology is great, until it gets misused...
Marco.
Can't stand them either, especially, paedo-boy, Andy Pandy. The only ones I have any time for are Diana's two and Princess Anne.Quote:
Originally Posted by Pigmy Pony
Marco.
Great idea baseball cap but no USA flag rather an England, Wales, Scotland and NI flags perhaps
Welcome back, Marco.
S.
Cheers, mate:)
Marco.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Marco
Hi Marco, so glad to see you back and hope you're coping okay these days (nobody told me you'd returned and two of them are friends of mine) - grr! In my all-but-retirement from subjective based audio (I now have quite severe hearing issues which totally prevent me 'trusting my lugs' in any way now and hearing aids don't effin' work when listening via speakers :( ), I've backed off forums now apart from one, which is measurement based but maybe a bit blind to how said measurements should be *interpreted,' especially where speakers are concerned (and amps can't simply be judged on their sinad figures either, but I digress).
Hope you're still able to enjoy it all and in the meantime, I'll return to my addiction to Angine de Poitrine (thank gawd for YouTube), this bonkers pair of brilliant musicians just about keeping me sane these days... Take care
Hi Dave,
Really good to hear from you again, and sorry to hear about your hearing. I'm coping fine. I've found that posting here again is good for my head space:)
Take care, old chap, and look after yourself.
Marco.
I'll tell ya summat guv'nor, I've brought my 12" singles down and with the help of herself and son, have sorted them in alphabetical order, catalogued them all (there's way more than the 200 I thought I had, more like double from the 80s and 90s) and am ready to wind up the Rega3 in the second system to play them - the original EBLT helps get the speed right - at long bloody last! (headphones and iems [just some inexpensive 7Hz Zero 2s] tend to beat the hearing issues a bit and as herself dislikes the stuff I play in any case - cough...). LPs coming in from the cold as well (what's got into her? :D ) and space to be made with Kallax units in the understairs cupboard for them.Quote:
Originally Posted by Marco
Whatever the crap I've come out with in the past as regards 12" vinyl, my eyes really do now appreciate the sleeve artwork and with a half decent pickup (nothing fancy), I enjoy playing them now the 'hobby side' of all this has been put to one side and surface noise isn't really an issue now.
Whatever discussions and arguments we've had over the last eighteen years and counting (I think it is), the MUSIC is what counts and whatever it's played on, it has saved me in recent times.
Best regards, I'll look in from time to time if that's okay, D
I have a visceral hatred of AI Marco and won't use it - Barry seemed to think you can't avoid it, but I'm having a bloody good go!Quote:
Originally Posted by Marco
I ditched Microsoft over 4 years ago, stopped using Google over a year ago and I don't use WhatsApp or any other 'tech bro' social media apps. I still don't have a TV and have zero smart devices in my home. If something needs an app to use it, I won't buy it. I'm happy to be an AI Luddite :D
Did I say that? Clearly you can avoid AI as you have, but 'apps' on smartphones can be useful. We use several: from WhatsApp to talk to my partner's family in Cameroon, to looking at the timetable for local buses, or posting on this august Forum.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tim
I agree Barry, some apps on phones are very useful, I use Signal instead of WhatsApp which is exactly the same functionally, the only difference being Signal don't collect any user data like Meta do. The core code is the same as it was developed by the same guy, Brian Acton.
I know I sit outside the norm when it comes to using tech, I just dig a bit deeper before I click accept. I try to keep my phone as a phone and rather than use an app, I use my computer instead which I have total control over - that's becoming outside the norm these days too as a lot of people use their phone for everything. It's not as convenient using a PC but I prefer it that way and yes, I do know that's odd . . . but I am odd :)
Disagree with that - I don't find using the PC at all inconvenient, or odd - much easier to navigate, quicker, and I find the content easier to control. I have no plans to move any of my PC tasks over to my mobile phone, including posting on here :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Tim
Sent from my HP PC using two fingers.
Hmm, I'm not sure my PC would fit in my pocket so I could use it down the beach to do something, that's more like what I meant Steve . . . but yeah I much prefer to use a PC.
My friends and family think that's odd :D
EDIT:
I should perhaps add my dislike for AI isn't so much AI, which if used correctly could be of great benefit to humanity, but unfortunately it's not in the hands of people who see it that way. So I'm not against AI at all, it's the dick waving tech companies who are vying to be at the top. I'm hopeful we may see some sense and put proper guardrails in place, instead of the no rules race that's going on right now.
Likewise. Often don't even bother to take my phone with me if I go out. I notice when I'm on the train I'm usually the only one not staring intently at their phone. I mean, what's wrong with looking out the window?Quote:
Originally Posted by Pigmy Pony
I got the train from Liverpool to Crewe a while back and it was very busy, had to stand in the area by the doors. This did give me a chance to see what some of the people were so engrossed in. One youth was watching the cricket. Another was scrolling through designer sportswear for sale.
No chance.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tim
I prefer to use my laptop when posting here, as I can open several pages at a time and 'cut and paste' between them; something I cannot do with my smartphone. However my version of Word on the laptop does not have an automatic correcting spell checker, nor can I readily type accented characters, or those from, say, Cyrillic or Greek. :(
Being a wireless laptop, I might have difficulty using it on the beach. :lol:
I can see how that would be a huge limitation :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Barry
Yeah, I think you're right Martin.Quote:
Originally Posted by Macca
I was trying to be positive as I get told off all the time about my negative views on AI, but as one of the lead developers of OpenAI said, after he left when they released ChatGPT for the general public (can't remember his name), "We've fucked up big time" I really do think we have.
I leave my phone at home all the time - I love it. I'm very tempted to get a basic Nokia and never take the smartphone out of the house, as long car journeys could be tricky without some kind of way to summon help. But going out locally, I never take my phone.
:D What is it with yours, Tims, and Chris Rea's obsession with the beach? Got to be the worst place to be taking any kind of tech, too sandy and too many opportunist thieves about.Quote:
Originally Posted by Barry
I don't like taking my mobile with me anywhere, and if it weren't for the sat nav I probably wouldn't bother.
Oh it's not so bad, can be tricky when the tide comes in though :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Pigmy Pony
https://i.postimg.cc/jSLcw3vm/beach.jpg
When I went with Steve to collect his speakers we were using the sat nav on his phone, but being a red hot day after a few hours it was giving out an overheating warning so we switched to the sat nav on my phone. During the course of the journey we were talking about cats. Next day I boot up my PC, what's in my news feed? Loads of articles about cats. Coincidence?Quote:
Originally Posted by Tim
Nope, no coincidence whatsoever Martin, I have tested this out with my nephew who disbelieved me when I told him. What is funny and might make Barry laugh, is that our 'test subject' was Tom Waits, which was my idea. He was really shocked when he got Tom Waits across his feeds, as he was in the dark about Tom beforehand.Quote:
Originally Posted by Macca
You can bypass this by not using a Google Andoid O/S but that's technically challenging for a novice - most people don't really care though.
:eek: That is really unsettling. Are you saying that they are listening to private conversations via our mobile phones?
Yes. Not when it's just sat in your pocket but if you have an app on the go, like satnav.Quote:
Originally Posted by Pigmy Pony
Obviously it isn't humans who are listening so listening is the wrong word, but it will monitor and profile you from what it detects.
I can't say as I care but it is unsettling.
There have been times when certain words I have used here on AoS have cropped up on subsequent news feeds. It was after having mentioned Rolex watches on Roy's watch thread, that I started to get adverts from jewelers selling said watches, as well as from the official Rolex website.
And of course encouragement to bid on an item mentioned on the "Bargains on eBay" thread.
I often type in the names of music artists mentioned on "Spinning Today ", simply to find an image of the cover; usually from either Amazon or eBay, but there is never any reminder afterwards, or encouragement to buy.
I don't use any of the social media sites, so I'm probably safe from Big Brother and the risk of falling down the AI rabbit hole. That aspect of AI is the most worrying.
(And no, I don't use my laptop away from the house. It's a wireless device and I wouldn't know how to connect it to another network: regardless if it is on the bus, in a cafe or pub, let alone a beach!)
As Martin says Steve, it's not really a 'they', it's an algorithm collecting profile data - it's nothing new, been happening for years. Ever wondered how Shazam gets results so quickly? Google now asks you about listening for music and so many apps get installed where the user happily clicks accept without actually knowing what they are saying yes to and giving the app consent for. So we are actually saying it's OK, without really thinking it through.Quote:
Originally Posted by Pigmy Pony
My issue is normally a point of principle, in that it's hard to say no and we are not really given a choice anyway, it's all done by stealth. It should be very clear what you are agreeing to and you shouldn't be penalised for saying no.
A lot of these apps are 'free' but of course they're not really giving it you for nothing.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tim
Like adverts on Youtube, you can pay not to have them. I won't pay so I have to put up with them. That seems fair enough to me. I don't expect to get a service for nothing.
Me neither Martin, I'd happily click a pay button rather than get something free and have my data harvested as the payment. Unfortunately that's not usually an option.Quote:
Originally Posted by Macca
I have wondered about Shazam before, but came to my own conclusion about how it worked. I decided it must be a recording device that converts analogue to digital and by referring to a database can identify a particular song. I thought this after hearing a live band one time doing a cover of Hotel California. I Shazam'd it, but it had no idea what the song was, despite it being a pretty faithful version.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tim
Of course you or Martin will tell me what is really going on, and I would welcome that :)
Yes they make more money with the data I suppose.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tim
I don't really care. They're not going to sell me anything because I have no money to spend and I'm not doing anything dodgy, so they can harvest away.
I can tell you but only because I looked it up :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Pigmy Pony
Yes, it samples the waveform and compares to a database.
And you wonder why I don't use Smartphones?:doh:
They'll get fook all to 'harvest' from me!
Marco (happily leads a Smartphone-free life).
Hi Tim,
Yes, but ultimately it's humans who are using the collected data, for whatever questionable reasons. I refuse to be controlled in that way.Quote:
As Martin says Steve, it's not really a 'they', it's an algorithm collecting profile data...
Indeed. Are you addicted to your Smartphone? If not, bung it in a drawer for a week and see how much your life improves.Quote:
My issue is normally a point of principle, in that it's hard to say no and we are not really given a choice anyway, it's all done by stealth. It should be very clear what you are agreeing to and you shouldn't be penalised for saying no.
Marco.
I could do that, easily. It's my laptop I'd struggle without.Quote:
Originally Posted by Marco
Absolutely not Marco, that's why I put very few apps on it, I use it like a phone as I don't have a landline. The only app I would regard as essential would be Signal for keeping contact with friends overseas. Other than that all it's got are two apps (JRemote and Qobuz) for remote controlling my music, a weather app and OSM as I don't use Google. I keep getting very near to ditching it completely for a flip phone, but Signal is the only real friction point. I use GrapheneOS as well - I work hard to do my best at protecting my privacy, but I don't want to live in a cave. As mentioned I leave it at home most of the time. I take a book with me not a phone.Quote:
Originally Posted by Marco
I couldn't live without my computer though, I still use a desktop computer which not only controls my life, doing all the things others do on their phones, but it's entertainment too - I enjoy messing about with them, building them etc., I'm also a casual gamer.
I think hi-fi forums, not just this one, are nothing like as good as they used to be.
The bake off scene is largely dead across a lot of them.
I am not sure why that is. But I loved it and held a few myself.
I was semi-contemplating developing something very 2026 with AI agents and various other features hitherto unseen.
The truth is I don't think it is financially viable/worth the effort.
I just think the whole online forum thing is a shadow of its former self.
Pink Fish/Audio Abattoir/Maverick or what used to be the Wam etc just don't feel as cool as they used to.
Maybe familiarity just breeds contempt?
Sounds cool in concept.Quote:
Originally Posted by Marco
Impractical in 2026.
How much are we talking here Justin?Quote:
Originally Posted by User211
Might be possible to have the best of both worlds soon, a private smartphone that doesn't track you, so you don't have to lock it in a drawer. GrapheneOS have partnered with Motorola and as I understand it you will be able to buy a non Google Android phone without having to install the OS yourself. Hasn't happened yet but it's supposed to be on the way. You can buy a Fairphone right now with Murena OS on it, it's not as secure as Graphene, but it's not a Google Android.Quote:
Originally Posted by User211
It's not a hugely difficult task to do it yourself, but you need a Google Pixel phone as that's all Graphene works on currently, so that's a hurdle by itself. Then you effectively replace the firmware and install the new OS. But it is probably a step too much for most people. But if you can buy a Motorola with Graphene out of the box, you have a phone that's not constantly sending data back to mother. But obviously you have to be mindful of what apps you use. If the first thing you do is install the Google play store and all your favourite apps, you've totally balls it up. You can however create a separate user profile which is sandboxed and go that route for installing normal apps, but I'm probably talking gobbldy goop now for most!
I like my laptop, too... However, you know how long I've been away from here (best part of 5 years), and in all that time I never once used a computer (yes I see Smartphones as computers), and although ill, I still managed to function as normal.Quote:
Originally Posted by Pigmy Pony
Marco.
Lol, we still have our landline, and it gets used to keep in touch with friends, etc. I keep an old 'burner'-style phone in the car in case something happens, and that does me:)Quote:
Originally Posted by Tim
Fair enough, mate. Just don't allow yourself to be brainwashed by technology.Quote:
I couldn't live without my computer though, I still use a desktop computer which not only controls my life, doing all the things others do on their phones, but it's entertainment too - I enjoy messing about with them, building them etc., I'm also a casual gamer.
Marco.
Not really, dude. It depends on your lifestyle. I simply don't need a Smartphone; it wouldn't enrich my life in any way:)Quote:
Originally Posted by User211
Marco.
I use the camera on mine, it's pretty good, and have used the sat nav a handful of times. Prefer a map but people don't tend to keep a map book in the car anymore.
My father had a very fancy leather bound AA map book. It predated the motorways but he would still use it rather than buy an up to date one. Got lost a few times as a result.
I don't think you've really understood what I'm saying or mean, or I'm not explaining myself well if you think I would allow technology to brainwash me.Quote:
Originally Posted by Marco
But I'll leave it there ;)
I do . . . would never be without one and I plan a route beforehand as well :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Macca
My AA road atlas is 26 years out of date. I have two sat navs: one is built into the car, the second is a Gamin (which needs an update) but is good enough for me. A road atlas is of no help for the 'last mile': finding a particular road in a town or city, whereas you can't get lost with a sat nav.
I have a large-size AA map book in the house, sometimes I look at it just because I like looking at maps :) Macca, next road trip we do (prob NEBO) I'll bring it and we can find our way there old school, with you navigating. Ofc if we get lost it'll be your fault :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Macca
Done that so many times I know the way there now anyway!Quote:
Originally Posted by Pigmy Pony