tim's recent activity

  1. Comment on Why Mazda is purging touchscreens from its vehicles in ~tech

    tim
    Link Parent
    I bought a Mazda because I loved how I could control 100% of the infotainment system without ever reaching for a touchscreen. And that's including Android Auto. I tested several other cars, and...

    I bought a Mazda because I loved how I could control 100% of the infotainment system without ever reaching for a touchscreen. And that's including Android Auto.

    I tested several other cars, and have driven rentals and friends' cars... the touchscreen systems are universally awful. I can't stand them.

    2 votes

  2. Comment on How do I learn and understand what kinds of books I like? in ~books

  3. Comment on How do I learn and understand what kinds of books I like? in ~books

    tim
    Link Parent
    looks good, thanks! I've got all my books in there and i'll check out its recommendations

    looks good, thanks! I've got all my books in there and i'll check out its recommendations

    1 vote

  4. Comment on How do I learn and understand what kinds of books I like? in ~books

    tim
    Link Parent
    Unfortunately it's not for me. The process of changing universes and starting a new book is... almost a chore, really. I know that I'll enjoy the book once I'm in it, but I dread starting a new...

    Good news is, it’s a ton of fun!

    Unfortunately it's not for me. The process of changing universes and starting a new book is... almost a chore, really. I know that I'll enjoy the book once I'm in it, but I dread starting a new one - which is why I try to find books that are in series. But of course when you get into the really big series, the ongoing ones with 10+ books, you also tend to find some really awful books that can turn you off of the whole series...

    It doesn’t hurt to start with the classics in whatever genre you’re looking for; they’re called classic because people liked them.

    My dislike of the "classics" is actually why I'm here. Trying to read the top all-time books and not enjoying most of them is what has gotten me frustrated.

    3 votes

  5. Comment on How do I learn and understand what kinds of books I like? in ~books

    tim
    Link Parent
    So say, for example, I loved Wool by Hugh Howey and The Martian by Andy Weir and do not like Foundation by Asimov, or the Space Trilogy by C.S. Lewis. Hugh Howey and Andy Weir have almost no other...

    So say, for example, I loved Wool by Hugh Howey and The Martian by Andy Weir and do not like Foundation by Asimov, or the Space Trilogy by C.S. Lewis. Hugh Howey and Andy Weir have almost no other works between them (Beacon 23 was good too though). Everything that comes well-recommended in the Sci-Fi genre tends toward the styles of the latter two authors, from what I can tell. Is there a good website with tags for novels that I can use to drill down on?

    3 votes

  6. How do I learn and understand what kinds of books I like?

    ~books Ask (recommendations)
    I'm an audio engineer, and I spend many hours a day consuming music. I could talk your ear off about genres, sub-genres, vocal styles, rhythms, and exactly what combinations of those I really...

    I'm an audio engineer, and I spend many hours a day consuming music. I could talk your ear off about genres, sub-genres, vocal styles, rhythms, and exactly what combinations of those I really enjoy. Technology, recommendations, and websites like everynoise.com have really enhanced how accurate my recommendations are, and I'm constantly consuming music that I absolutely love.

    But when it comes to books... I'm so lost. Literature genres are like the equivalent of listing what instruments play on an album. Okay, this book is "sci-fi," so I know it's probably got futuristic technology, may be set in space, and could have some aliens. But that doesn't tell me anything about the writing style.

    I know enough to know that I can't go just by good reviews on sites like amazon. How do I learn to quantify what I enjoy and curate my recommendations more effectively?

    14 votes

  7. Comment on Daily Tildes discussion - should we allow groups to have customized appearances? in ~tildes.official

  8. Comment on Daily Tildes discussion - should we allow groups to have customized appearances? in ~tildes.official

    tim
    Link
    Absolutely not. One thing I hate about reddit is how the UI is so inconsistent across subs. But as long as you have a global off switch, I'm happy. It appears that I'm in the minority anyway.

    Absolutely not. One thing I hate about reddit is how the UI is so inconsistent across subs.

    But as long as you have a global off switch, I'm happy. It appears that I'm in the minority anyway.

    18 votes

  9. Comment on Spotify is asking its users if they'd subscribe to a $30/month data-only plan with Spotify Premium included in ~tech

    tim
    Link
    I'm not sure if I understand the proposition. There are massive areas of the US that are spotty 3G at best. So when I drive through east bumfuck, ohio, and my data drops out... I can't even call...

    I'm not sure if I understand the proposition. There are massive areas of the US that are spotty 3G at best. So when I drive through east bumfuck, ohio, and my data drops out... I can't even call or text? Is there something I'm missing here?

  10. Comment on Two bugs: "Keep Me Logged In" doesn't work, and Read Replies still show as "New" in ~tildes

    tim
    Link
    Thanks; I was coming here to post this same login bug. I have it on chrome 66

    Thanks; I was coming here to post this same login bug. I have it on chrome 66

    1 vote

  11. Comment on Daily Tildes discussion - our first ban in ~tildes.official

    tim
    Link Parent
    In my experience as an internet mod, when being a jerk has consequences, the jerks just make new accounts and keep on being jerks. And then they go on other subs and complain about how mods are...

    If being a jerk has actual consequences, fewer people will act like one.

    In my experience as an internet mod, when being a jerk has consequences, the jerks just make new accounts and keep on being jerks. And then they go on other subs and complain about how mods are nazis because being a jerk had consequences.

    (because let's face it; being banned isn't much of a consequence)

    5 votes

  12. Comment on Amazon's explanation for why Alexa recorded a couple's private conversation and sent it to an acquaintance in ~tech

    tim
    Link Parent
    Alexa does exactly the same thing. It's mostly just a threshold setting - and when you want your device to be able to pick up the voice of someone 20 feet away, around the corner, talking the...

    if it doesn't understand you or isn't completely certain it'll reply with something along the lines of "I don't know how to help with that" or "I'm not able to do that yet" or simply "I'm sorry I didn't catch that."

    Alexa does exactly the same thing. It's mostly just a threshold setting - and when you want your device to be able to pick up the voice of someone 20 feet away, around the corner, talking the other direction in a normal voice (which it can do), then you push up the risk of accidental confirmations.

    I think that this is a freak occurrence being blown a bit out of proportion with use of words like "eavesdropping." There's enough incorrect information passed around about Alexa recording all audio and sending it to the cloud (it doesn't, and physically can't).

    4 votes