soks_n_sandals's recent activity
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Comment on I just switched to an iPhone, what should I do to make the most of this change? in ~tech
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Comment on I just switched to an iPhone, what should I do to make the most of this change? in ~tech
soks_n_sandals Link ParentInteresting to hear the measurements were off by that much. They have typically been within 1-2% for me, at least for length. I think the angles are probably less sensitive. Regarding reminders,...Interesting to hear the measurements were off by that much. They have typically been within 1-2% for me, at least for length. I think the angles are probably less sensitive.
Regarding reminders, they can be for something like “remind me when I get to Alice’s house to get her coffee mug from the back seat.” Or, “remind me when I get in the car to grab my meds from my suitcase,” which I used in the case of a very early trip and wasn’t sure I’d remember to grab them from my bag before I started driving. Because the Reminders app also supports subtasks, you could even set up a series of things you needed to check off at a particular location. I have started to use reminders faithfully as a way to make sure I do what I said I’d do and avoid silly mistakes.
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Comment on I just switched to an iPhone, what should I do to make the most of this change? in ~tech
soks_n_sandals Link ParentThe trouble for me with Google Maps is that the instructions are really ambiguous, particularly for complicated interchanges. For traffic and reviews it’s very handy, but it’s slipped as a...The trouble for me with Google Maps is that the instructions are really ambiguous, particularly for complicated interchanges. For traffic and reviews it’s very handy, but it’s slipped as a navigational tool for me. I find Apple’s heads-up directions for lane choice and roadway features make it much easier to use. In CarPlay, the UI is also just easier to follow these days. Their 3D graphics of buildings, greenery, and flyover ramps is remarkable.
Apple also integrates real-time transit information in my city, which is great for tracking buses and whatnot since a lot of “scheduled” buses just don’t come. Much better to use the GPS tracking in Maps.
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Comment on I just switched to an iPhone, what should I do to make the most of this change? in ~tech
soks_n_sandals LinkWhen I first switched, I often denied app permission requests for random things. I’d recommend not doing that. It can severely hamper the usability and as a new user, it’s not always obvious...When I first switched, I often denied app permission requests for random things. I’d recommend not doing that. It can severely hamper the usability and as a new user, it’s not always obvious how/where to re-enable the permission.
If you use a calculator often, I think this app Solves is much better that the stock app, and it works on iPad (the iPad doesn’t have a calculator lmao).
I highly encourage setting up and using Apple Pay/wallet. It works great, simplifies online purchasing, and is so handy for travel and concert tickets.
You can make backups of your phone to your computer if you don’t want to use iCloud. I’m pretty sure the messages about iCloud storage are buggy and annoying on purpose.
The iPhone has a really handy measurement tool that uses the lidar sensors on the back. Excellent in a pinch.
You can press and hold the space bar to move the cursor like a trackpad. Trying to tap is futile.
If you have family members, you can setup family sharing in iCloud to share subscriptions for Apple Apps and some other apps from the App Store.
I held out a really long time on giving in to iCloud and using the stock apps. I eventually accepted my wife was never going to back up her phone to her computer. A couple bucks a month to get space on iCloud will save us the headache of a restoration or transfer of data, which is worth it. Sharing notes between phones is really nice, too.
You can set really granular reminders now, such as when you leave or arrive at a location, or when you are texting someone. Siri is pretty helpful in this regard.
In the US, Apple Maps is comically better at driving directions than google maps. I tried to hold out for a long time as some contrarian, but inevitably gave in (no regrets).
The SwiftKey keyboard is a good replacement if you want a persistent number row back.
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Comment on Linux Distro Recommendations in ~comp
soks_n_sandals LinkComing from Windows, Ubuntu is a pretty easy transition and has a fairly nice interface. Lots of support online if you hit issues. I'm also voting +1 for PopOS because I'm running it on a nearly...Coming from Windows, Ubuntu is a pretty easy transition and has a fairly nice interface. Lots of support online if you hit issues. I'm also voting +1 for PopOS because I'm running it on a nearly defunct laptop that stays on all the time as a media server and it's doing great.
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Comment on Looking for an app with calendar, timetables, reminders, timers etc in ~tech
soks_n_sandals LinkTo manage ADHD and keep my brain on track, I have come to really prefer managing tasks and to-do lists with a Kanban-type board. At work/home, I’ve tried several task tracking systems and...To manage ADHD and keep my brain on track, I have come to really prefer managing tasks and to-do lists with a Kanban-type board. At work/home, I’ve tried several task tracking systems and ultimately think Microsoft Planner has been the cleanest and simplest to fire up. I’ve tried Asana, reminder apps, to-do lists, calendar notifications, planners, wall calendars, daily work journals, etc., and Planner is what has been the best for me. It’s super easy to create a group of tasks, make and tag an item, it supports sub-tasks, and due-date notifications as well. It’s just really easy to use? I feel like it’s just more elegant and simple than Asana has been. Like it just gets out of the way.
Granted, Planner is a tiny part of Office 365’s yearly $60 subscription. So probably NOT worth paying for just the one app. If you want a TB of cloud storage, then maybe it’s a draw.
For iPhone/iPad users, the recent iOS Reminders app update now supports column view (aka a Kanban board), but it isn’t visible on the Web version yet. I would definitely prefer to just use that for free since it’s “good enough” as a built-in app with cloud syncing, but it really needs web support.
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Comment on What watch do you wear daily? in ~hobbies
soks_n_sandals LinkI’ve worn a Bertucci A2-S field watch daily for nearly six years. It has been virtually the only item of my every-day-carry that hasn’t changed. I’ve worn it in tons of conditions and environments...I’ve worn a Bertucci A2-S field watch daily for nearly six years. It has been virtually the only item of my every-day-carry that hasn’t changed. I’ve worn it in tons of conditions and environments and it’s still ticking fine. New battery every two years on the dot and I continue to beat the heck out of it.
However, I am seriously eyeing the series 9 Apple Watches for the potential of not having my phone on me while still having access to reminders, timers, and time-sensitive notifications (plus health and sleep tracking).
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Comment on He spent his life building a $1 million stereo. The real cost was unfathomable. in ~music
soks_n_sandals Link ParentJoin us yongsters on the new wave of streaming uncompressed CD-quality-or-better and running DSP filters :)Join us yongsters on the new wave of streaming uncompressed CD-quality-or-better and running DSP filters :)
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Comment on He spent his life building a $1 million stereo. The real cost was unfathomable. in ~music
soks_n_sandals LinkGeoff Edgers has written a numerous articles about the audiophile community's deep fascinations (read: obsessions) and its rifts. Here, Edgers profiles a man with a million dollar home hi-fi...Geoff Edgers has written a numerous articles about the audiophile community's deep fascinations (read: obsessions) and its rifts. Here, Edgers profiles a man with a million dollar home hi-fi unable to cede control in his old age and the wedges he drove into his family life.
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He spent his life building a $1 million stereo. The real cost was unfathomable.
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Comment on <deleted topic> in ~tech
soks_n_sandals LinkThe Contacts app has been my long-standing gripe since switching from Android a few years ago. But to speculatively answer your question, I think two things are in play. One, it looks like the...The Contacts app has been my long-standing gripe since switching from Android a few years ago. But to speculatively answer your question, I think two things are in play. One, it looks like the Contacts app is just matching whatever you type. When I enter a single letter, indeed the results are spread out. Entering the first two letters gets me a lot closer to what I want. To me, this design is completely neutral. It's not making a decision about whether you want to call up a recent contact, new contact, first name, last name, etc. It's just a basic match, for better or worse.
But this brings me to my second point. The Contacts app is bad on iOS, and I've never seen my friends or family use it directly. But why? To me, this becomes a question of "how do most people use their phone?" And the answer I see is almost always through text-based communication. The iMessage search is much better - typing "C" brings up my emergency contacts first, plus an active group chat. The random contacts are way lower down. I have pinned messages for iMessage, so it's a lot easier to just call from there than go to the Phone app and use my "Favorites" tab or search a name.
So, which issue comes first? Do iOS users avoid the Contacts app because it's bad, or because there's another more commonly accessed app that does the same thing?
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Comment on Entry level IEM earbuds recommendations? in ~music
soks_n_sandals LinkThere really are sooo many recommendations. I did a lot of research for myself and bought the Sennheiser IE200 on sale for ~$120. I have really enjoyed them over the last few months. They're much...There really are sooo many recommendations. I did a lot of research for myself and bought the Sennheiser IE200 on sale for ~$120. I have really enjoyed them over the last few months. They're much smaller and lighter than many IEMs I've seen. The profile is fairly "neutral" and I've had good luck EQing them. They're low impedance and are very easy to drive with a phone, though I mostly use my iPad as a media player and get great results there too.
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Comment on I didn’t go to my dream school. Now I’m living debt-free. in ~life
soks_n_sandals LinkMy wife and I both graduated from a big southern state school a few years ago. It's known more for football than academics. Aside from the financial aspect of picking an "inexpensive" state...My wife and I both graduated from a big southern state school a few years ago. It's known more for football than academics.
Aside from the financial aspect of picking an "inexpensive" state option, we were afforded an opportunity to excel academically that may have been lacking in a more prestigious university. Most students wanted to get in and out. There wasn't the same competition I'd expect at more prestigious universities. We always liked being in school and took advantage of several cool project opportunities that set us up for future success. My wife got paid to do a degree and has the same job as Ivy League graduates. My Master's degree was also fully paid and I landed my dream job before I even graduated.
My point here isn't to brag, but to address that I went to a school that was viewed as a "last resort" for most of my peers (who were all academically driven). I severely undervalued my choice until a few years ago.
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Comment on What do you like about your job? in ~talk
soks_n_sandals LinkMy background is engineering, but I work in software QA for engineering software and I love having one foot in the engineering world, a foot in the applied math world, and walking in the computer...My background is engineering, but I work in software QA for engineering software and I love having one foot in the engineering world, a foot in the applied math world, and walking in the computer science world.
Running performance tests feels scientific and I adore the pursuit of seeing software performance enhancements. I suppose I don't have any hand in implementing the changes that make these speedups possible, but I take pride in creating models that can exploit the speedups and demonstrate the progress that's been made.
In the QA realm, I cherish the art of creating fast, targeted, stable inputs that test something physically realistic because it allows me to be inventive and expressive. Reviewing results from regressions allows me to provide a "gut-feeling" assessment to devs, and I'm pretty good at sniffing out issues. Minor differences don't sit right with me and turn out to be critical bugs for specific configurations. It would have been easier to let that difference slide, but I value my intuition and experience.
At the end of the day, I revel in the pursuit of accuracy and performance. I always loved learning how things work, and switching between testing roles as both a basic user and a burgeoning expert is immensely satisfying because it provides an outlet for creativity and insight.
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Comment on How do you keep track of your subscriptions? in ~tech
soks_n_sandals LinkI use the tools my bank provides. For credit cards, the first tool is emails and push notifications anytime an online or phone purchase is made at any amount of money. The second tool is my bank...I use the tools my bank provides.
For credit cards, the first tool is emails and push notifications anytime an online or phone purchase is made at any amount of money.
The second tool is my bank shows which websites or businesses have my card information stored. Honestly not sure how they do it, but I can see repeating (subscription) payments on each card.
A similar tool I use is push/email notifications anytime one of my accounts sends a direct deposit. This is useful for things like insurance or energy bills. Not really a subscription, but I know when it's paid each month.
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Comment on Opinion by Brian Merchant: I’ve always loved tech. Now, I’m a Luddite. You should be one, too. in ~tech
soks_n_sandals Link ParentI think your comment misses the heart of the author's argument. The author is getting at the notion that the Luddites protested the attempt to systematically devalue their labor and skill through...I think your comment misses the heart of the author's argument.
The author is getting at the notion that the Luddites protested the attempt to systematically devalue their labor and skill through the introduction of factories and new technology. The point is that we're in a modern parallel (which I've seen some call the Second Gilded Age). There is still value in the labor of rig hands and miners. If any industry would have automated away its labor, it would be the energy industry.
The gig economy represents a turning point in tech company messaging (see: What Tech Calls Thinking by Adrian Daub) where they claim to be something new, but are actually something that already exists (Uber to taxis, tesla tunnels to subways). Mentioning the gig tech companies only highlights the recent shift labor violations throigh flashy messaging. Now, we are seeing another inflection point where AI represents a potential opportunity for employers to continue devaluing skilled (mostly intellectual or creative) labor. Pointing to the SAG AFTRA strike for digital likenesses is a perfect example of this. Industry has repeatedly demonstrated that advancements in labor efficiency do not result in less work.
To me, an analogous method of smashing factory hardware is poisoning an AI model. We can also take a stand as consumers. Don't buy AI art, don't take Uber, support indepenent repair, source local and seasonal food, eat at restaurants paying a living wage, quit using AI for everything at work, don't buy on Amazon (especially next-day shipping), and so on.
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Comment on Eight in ten women married to men still take husband’s last name, survey finds in ~life.women
soks_n_sandals Link ParentWhy not? My wife did not take my last name when we got married. We don't have kids, but are considering it in the future. In all of our discussions, kids are the sole reason she would be...Why not? My wife did not take my last name when we got married. We don't have kids, but are considering it in the future. In all of our discussions, kids are the sole reason she would be interested in taking my name. In someplace like the US, lots of assumptions are tied to surnames and it's not unreasonable to consider whose name children would take.
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Comment on Why you should divide your life into semesters, even when you’re not in school in ~life
soks_n_sandals LinkI have been doing a version of a while and think it's a great approach to goal setting. The pandemic really blurred time for me over the couple of years it persisted. As a response, I started to...I have been doing a version of a while and think it's a great approach to goal setting. The pandemic really blurred time for me over the couple of years it persisted. As a response, I started to chunk out my time by seasons. (While I like the ideas of semesters, until college my semesters were nearly 19 weeks with just 11-12 weeks for summer and 2 weeks for winter. I cannot shake that mental length of semester. College always felt like an exception at 14 weeks.)
The article suggests specifying a hard date for your semesters, and I think the seasons (while a bit shorter than a semester) provide a natural, memorable date, though are a shorter time window. I think it's easy to follow time according to weather, a la the meteorological seasons:
Meteorological spring in the Northern Hemisphere includes March, April, and May; meteorological summer includes June, July, and August; meteorological fall includes September, October, and November; and meteorological winter includes December, January, and February.
These are hard dates that are easy to remember. And, I find my motivations in September will still align with my motivations In November. But, by mid December, it's cold and dark early and my day looks nothing like September. My wintertime goals shift to other activities.
All of this tracks with the paraphrased idea that people overestimate what they can do in a year and underestimate what they can do in three months. I have anecdotally set targets in hobbies and sport than span 3 months and it has made them far more achievable. The progress feels real and steady, as opposed to chipping away at a year-long goal and saying "how will I ever finish this? I'm only 25% through!" after the same 90 day interval.
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Comment on With growing demand for Nvidia's GPU chips there might not be enough to go around in ~tech
soks_n_sandals Link ParentAh, I see. I totally misunderstood and thought you were being quoted to buy the cards outright, which is why the price seemed high. If they're coming in servers with latest-Gen Xeon chips,...Ah, I see. I totally misunderstood and thought you were being quoted to buy the cards outright, which is why the price seemed high. If they're coming in servers with latest-Gen Xeon chips, Infiniband, and terabytes of RAM, then I can see that pricing structure making sense.
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Comment on With growing demand for Nvidia's GPU chips there might not be enough to go around in ~tech
soks_n_sandals (edited )Link ParentYou might be able to get them from Dell. My company got a quote a few months back for a server with 2xH100s, plenty of RAM, and 3rd Gen Xeons. Edit to add: with a $3M+ contract, they're pricing...You might be able to get them from Dell. My company got a quote a few months back for a server with 2xH100s, plenty of RAM, and 3rd Gen Xeons.
Edit to add: with a $3M+ contract, they're pricing something like $47k per card (assuming 64 cards). I thought the list was closer to $35k? The quote you got seems totally out to lunch.
If you’re seriously considering an Apple Watch, I’d also highly encourage you to look at the Garmin Venu 3. It’s their newer smartwatch-oriented offering. I just did a lot of researching smartwatches from both camps, and ultimately prioritized the health/fitness tracking over notifications and integration. The Garmin does get notifications, (on android you can actually text back, on iPhone it's just the notification), and has a button for siri, and integrates directly into Apple Health. But, the battery life is like 6-9 days. I realized I'd lose my mind charging a watch every day. It's been useful enough to keep me from checking my phone for a notification then getting shucked in, since I just check my watch (but the phone needs to be roughly nearby). Using siri works fairly well, and I can just set timers on the watch instead of my phone. And, there's a lot of overlap between the feature sets. I think Apple has an uneven heartbeat detection algorithm that Garmin doesn't, but garmin has pulse ox, temperature/cycle tracking, sleep tracking, and an ECG app. I'm also a big fan of Garmin's little "morning report" on how I slept and the weather. Really great to get that summary without needing to check my phone.