artvandelay's recent activity
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Comment on Behind the scenes at the Blackwing pencil factory in ~creative
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Comment on In search of the hypothetical iPhone Duo buyer in ~tech
artvandelay LinkI'm also considering buying the iPhone Duo, based in the US if that makes a difference. I currently have a phone, tablet, and laptop I can use to do things. I specifically use my tablet and phone...I'm also considering buying the iPhone Duo, based in the US if that makes a difference.
I currently have a phone, tablet, and laptop I can use to do things. I specifically use my tablet and phone daily. For me, the value is in not having to switch devices and just being able to do more in a single device. I previously tried using a folding phone for a few months last year. I bought a used Samsung foldable and then sold it at the end of the summer. I didn't end up using it more than my normal phone, I was using it less actually. I instead became more intentional with my phone use. For the odd reply to message, glance at email, check transit directions, etc, I'd just use it like a normal phone. However, if I wanted to look closer at maps, watch videos, browse websites, and even just multi-task for a brief period, it was immensely useful to be able to quickly bring out a compact tablet and go. This is obviously possible if you purchase a separate tablet, but now you have to ferry around that tablet, keep it charged, updated, make sure it has the data you want/need, etc. I eventually sold the Samsung since I have come to really dislike Samsung's One UI software and the square form factor was awkwardly used by apps but even that brief experience showed me there's some value.
For the foreseeable future, folding phones will be a compromised phone and compromised tablet experience. I don't think anyone will argue against that. There is a growing market for them however, even if it's not readily apparent. @stu2b50 points out foldable's popularity in China but I think it applies to a lot of east Asia, at least from what I witnessed in my travels. I think part of that is people there consume a ton of media on their phone while they're out in the city or down in a subway train. I follow this YouTuber named Ben Sin who travels around east Asia and reviews a lot of phones not available here in the west and he also points out that folding phones are incredibly popular across an incredibly varied demographic. It's not just young tech nerds buying them but suburban moms, salarymen, and other kinds of people too. Given Apple's growing popularity in these regions too, I think Apple will see some decent success. It won't be the best selling iPhone but the original iPhone also wasn't the best selling phone when it first launched.
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Comment on Apple announces iPhone Duo, its first foldable iPhone in ~tech
artvandelay Link ParentThe price is pretty inline with other foldables on the market, I don’t think Apple could’ve really gone much lower here. Even rumors were expecting a price of $2500US/3500 Canadian.The price is pretty inline with other foldables on the market, I don’t think Apple could’ve really gone much lower here. Even rumors were expecting a price of $2500US/3500 Canadian.
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Comment on Apple announces iPhone Duo, its first foldable iPhone in ~tech
artvandelay Link ParentI’ve been testing the new Siri AI through the developer betas and it works really well so far, at least for my simple usecases. They’ve updated their first-party apps to allow Siri to dig into...I’ve been testing the new Siri AI through the developer betas and it works really well so far, at least for my simple usecases. They’ve updated their first-party apps to allow Siri to dig into them for context so I’ve been able to very easily just ask Siri to do essentially what you’ve asked. My friends and I have group chats to plan gifts for each others birthdays so I asked Siri “what were some gift ideas we had for X for their birthday last year” and it managed to go through that conversation and give me a list quite easily.
I think we’ll see more casual AI usage and smaller locally-run models become more mainstream (I hope) now that Apple have pushed that into the hands of the public.
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Comment on Apple announces iPhone Duo, its first foldable iPhone in ~tech
artvandelay Link ParentFor me my main two portable devices are my phone and my tablet. There's always going to be some novelty and value in combining the two into one device so I don't have to manage multiple devices....For me my main two portable devices are my phone and my tablet. There's always going to be some novelty and value in combining the two into one device so I don't have to manage multiple devices. Having previously tried a foldable (albeit a used older model that I only kept for the summer), it's nice having a bigger screen for looking at the map, watching videos, admiring photos, and even the odd multitasking. For when I wanted to plan a trip while I was away from home, it was cool having maps and my notes app side by side, instead of having to constantly switch between apps
Folding phones will remain a compromised phone and compromised tablet experience, but to some the compromises are outweighed by the benefit of having a tablet in your pocket.
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Comment on Apple announces iPhone Duo, its first foldable iPhone in ~tech
artvandelay LinkSharing sentiments with @stu2b50, definitely cheaper than I thought it'd be too. I like what Apple have done here, the UI changes are definitely very Apple. The animation on the screen as you fold...Sharing sentiments with @stu2b50, definitely cheaper than I thought it'd be too. I like what Apple have done here, the UI changes are definitely very Apple. The animation on the screen as you fold and unfold is a delightful touch. I'm a little iffy on all the UI being on the right side. If you hold the phone in your left hand, you'd have to stretch over to the other side. I imagine it might be adjustable but who knows.
I'm a little torn on if I want to upgrade. I've got a 15 Pro Max that still functions just fine. The battery is a little degraded though, might just end up repairing that in the end. I'm not sure how much I'd need a folding phone, I don't really do much on my phone nowadays. I also have a separate tablet for media consumption. As an American, it is my civic duty to spend money on things I don't really need, our economy relies on it :P
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Comment on LG smart TVs caught logging audio with screen off and snooping on local devices in ~tech
artvandelay LinkUnsurprising to hear this, which is disappointing in its own way. I had my LG TV briefly connected to the internet but I disconnected it a few months ago. The TV kept updating but I never used its...Unsurprising to hear this, which is disappointing in its own way. I had my LG TV briefly connected to the internet but I disconnected it a few months ago. The TV kept updating but I never used its built-in webOS interface, opting to use my Google Chromecast and now a Google TV Streamer box instead. It's now essentially a nice dumb TV that's just connected to a smart TV box.
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Comment on Summer US box office hits all-time $4.76B record: how audiences surrendered to moviegoing in ~movies
artvandelay LinkI went to the movie theater more this year than the last 5 years combined primarily because I'd heard about all the great movies releasing this year and because I got a good deal on AMC A-List....I went to the movie theater more this year than the last 5 years combined primarily because I'd heard about all the great movies releasing this year and because I got a good deal on AMC A-List. The cost of movies has become prohibitively expensive without it.
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Comment on Starting a video game creation club in ~creative
artvandelay LinkI think the game jam idea makes a bit more sense. I used to be the undergrad teaching assistant for a software development lab course at my university where students proposed a project they wanted...I think the game jam idea makes a bit more sense. I used to be the undergrad teaching assistant for a software development lab course at my university where students proposed a project they wanted to work on for the semester and I essentially just checked in on their progress weekly and graded them on the quality of their outputs. Most students progressed more slowly than they’d expected so I think it’s reasonable expect something similar with your students.
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Comment on What's a show you love that's from before your time? in ~tv
artvandelay Link ParentAh man I was unaware of Seinfeld’s stance, that is genuinely terrible and surprising to me.Ah man I was unaware of Seinfeld’s stance, that is genuinely terrible and surprising to me.
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Comment on What's a show you love that's from before your time? in ~tv
artvandelay Link ParentUnfortunately I do not have the business acumen to be a successful leader of a multinational importer/exporterUnfortunately I do not have the business acumen to be a successful leader of a multinational importer/exporter
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Comment on What's a show you love that's from before your time? in ~tv
artvandelay LinkSeinfeld is probably mine and as you could tell by my username, I’m a fan. Seinfeld was big in my household growing up in the 2000s. My parents immigrated to the states in the 90s and my dad...Seinfeld is probably mine and as you could tell by my username, I’m a fan. Seinfeld was big in my household growing up in the 2000s. My parents immigrated to the states in the 90s and my dad attributes the show to teaching him a lot about American culture.
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Comment on What's your line? in ~life
artvandelay LinkI don't really have an explanation of my ethics here, just an arbitrary line in the sand I've drawn to make myself feel better just because I was chasing a paycheck. The company I currently work...I don't really have an explanation of my ethics here, just an arbitrary line in the sand I've drawn to make myself feel better just because I was chasing a paycheck. The company I currently work for has definitely caused some harm in the world but since I work in a completely different organization that worked to connect people and make their lives "better", I feel better about myself working there. My previous company was a bit better since it was a purely enterprise-focused software company but my current company is a consumer-focused company that just so happens to make tools for businesses to reach consumers.
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Comment on What programming/technical projects have you been working on? in ~comp
artvandelay Link ParentGood point, since I've got a lot of time before I can even head back to the hackerspace I'll definitely figure out the enclosure first.Good point, since I've got a lot of time before I can even head back to the hackerspace I'll definitely figure out the enclosure first.
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Comment on What programming/technical projects have you been working on? in ~comp
artvandelay LinkContinuing on my convoluted journey of changing the layout of my smart TV remote. I went to my local hackrrspace and found the correct pads on the back that correspond to the buttons I want to...Continuing on my convoluted journey of changing the layout of my smart TV remote. I went to my local hackrrspace and found the correct pads on the back that correspond to the buttons I want to change. I now need to work on soldering wires to these pads so I can then connect buttons to them. Unfortunately I don't have time for that this week as I'm traveling. In the meantime, I got some measurements for the existing buttons and case and now I just need to learn some basic 3D modeling to get a remote shell ready.
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Comment on What workplace absurdity are you forced to live with? in ~life
artvandelay Link ParentNot at the moment since they just did a pretty massive layoff :)Not at the moment since they just did a pretty massive layoff :)
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Comment on What workplace absurdity are you forced to live with? in ~life
artvandelay Link ParentYeah this has happened to me one too many times, the pain is unique.Yeah this has happened to me one too many times, the pain is unique.
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Comment on What workplace absurdity are you forced to live with? in ~life
artvandelay Link ParentYeah I learned my lesson with front row seats. On a flight to Japan I had a front row seat that was between the economy and premium economy sections and next to one of the doors. Infinite legroom...Yeah I learned my lesson with front row seats. On a flight to Japan I had a front row seat that was between the economy and premium economy sections and next to one of the doors. Infinite legroom but no seatback pocket!
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Comment on What workplace absurdity are you forced to live with? in ~life
artvandelay Link ParentIt drives all of us insane as well, the only solace is we have a big group chat and we all send memes to each other. Our work involves a series of pipelines that get triggered when we push code...It drives all of us insane as well, the only solace is we have a big group chat and we all send memes to each other. Our work involves a series of pipelines that get triggered when we push code internally. Most of the time, these pipelines are broken because the team tries to fix one issue and introduce another without realizing, bringing down the pipeline for 4-6 hours at a time. Usually it's only one of these pipelines that's broken but there have been times where multiple have been broken simultaneously so we're just SOL for a few days. Our work also involves a boutique internal platform for holding our work which is also extremely flakey. There have been days where this platform has been down the entire day so I just log off after lunch and roam around.
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Comment on What workplace absurdity are you forced to live with? in ~life
artvandelay Link ParentI fly economy but I think for my longer haul flights I might just start paying for premium economy or more. I'm tall but with quite long legs so I just don't fit nicely in airplane seats. My "poor...I fly economy but I think for my longer haul flights I might just start paying for premium economy or more. I'm tall but with quite long legs so I just don't fit nicely in airplane seats. My "poor mans" premium economy has been to just take an aisle seat and mildly man-spread into the aisle. However, for my longer international flights, this only works for so long.
Watched a similar video not too long ago and am just amazed at what goes into these pencils, its absolutely amazing. When I first learned about these pencils ages ago they seemed expensive but I think they're decent value for what you get. I can't complain about the price since I use Graph Gear 1000s. I got lucky buying a whole box of them for like 20 bucks.