Disqus - Latest Comments for tsella

Re: Portable TV and Music

tsella — Sun, 31 Mar 2019 15:03:45 -0000

Yeah I was going to say - but there are devices small enough and cheap enough.. Chromecast and Chromecast Audio.
I carry them with me.

Re: Pixel 3 XL

tsella — Mon, 05 Nov 2018 09:00:07 -0000

Indeed.

Security & Location > Smart Lock > Trusted Face

I can't say it isn't any good.. I'm so conditioned to use finger unlock that it does not not even register.

Re: Pixelbook Reactions

tsella — Thu, 20 Sep 2018 13:56:13 -0000

I have not tried it, but I believe you could also use app passwords to use a simpler password specifically for this device. I've used app passwords for different purposes, but I don't see why it would not work for this use case, unless google blocks it.

https://support.google.com/...

Re: Pixelbook Reactions

tsella — Thu, 20 Sep 2018 08:07:43 -0000

Are you on Pixel 2? I found the bt on that phone to become funky.
Try doing the process immidiately after a phone reboot. If it works I'd suggest a phone wipe.. at least for me it de-funked bt.

Re: Pixelbook Reactions

tsella — Thu, 20 Sep 2018 07:59:58 -0000

If you're currently on Android phone, you can use your phone biometrics to log in.

https://support.google.com/...

Re: A Comment About Comment Spam

tsella — Mon, 04 Aug 2014 09:55:35 -0000

Perhaps one of the parents should suggest the children play nicely together, and maybe share their Legos. I haven't been in WP world for 7 years now, but Akismet kicked ass back then. I did operate a free MU based platform and could not afford licensing Akismet for it - ended up writing my own solution - but I think Disqus could work out a licensing and data sharing deal. Akismet could become better when provided the Disqus data, assuming Disqus drives more comment engagement, and user collaboration in marking spam.

Re: What Are People Doing On All Those Cheap Tablets?

tsella — Fri, 01 Nov 2013 18:56:42 -0000

Facts you say. Interesting.

So Samsung (whom name you put on the table, and also happens to be my employer) sells 8" tablets that retail at $20 less than Apple.

Samsung, who is not the vendor of cheap tablets Fred brought up, but rather very comparable tablets, in feature and price, has had a YoY growth of 123%, vs Apple's 0.6%. Apple dipped below 30% market share in tablets this past quarter. Samsung passed 20% for the first time.

Samsung's best selling phone, the S4, is not a cheap phone. It is slightly cheaper than the iPhone. It is a premium feature wise, if not more. It also beat Apple in shipments this past quarter. Till the release of the 5S, it has beat Apple at every carrier except AT&T in the US.

Samsung's profit margin is not as low as you paint it and in fact, their operating margin just beat or is vary close to Apple's.

In a market Apple basically owned, with these numbers, I would suggest it fast learn some new tricks, which you seem to think it can. It cannot.

Oh, and by the way, Samsung also happens to make the memory and SoCs across the board for Apple mobile equipment, and soon also reportedly will supply glass for the new iPad Mini with Retina.

You think Apple can under-price Samsung and remain profitable? Facts? You have been zapped by the reality distortion field a time too many perhaps.

Re: What Are People Doing On All Those Cheap Tablets?

tsella — Thu, 24 Oct 2013 09:57:06 -0000

I have both the first and second gen N7. The latter is *so* much better it is surprising. You should try in some store.
Personally I don't really use either much. An HTC One screen size meets most of my needs, including reading and video consumption.

Re: What Are People Doing On All Those Cheap Tablets?

tsella — Thu, 24 Oct 2013 09:43:21 -0000

If anything, you're oversimplifying when saying with certainty "they can". As a company: culture, shareholder perspective, consumer perspective, R&D spender, and many more aspects THEY CANNOT. They may be able to spin some aspects of it, as they do in other respects with media and customers, but I don't believe they can seriously "drop prices and keep it going".

Like it or not, by-volume wins and more-so where one of the parties is in a "my way or the highway" modus operandi. Google is earning plenty from Android, even not in direct $$. Don't forget its a company dealing with/in data. One needs to use Google Now to realize how well they understand (and in turn monetize) you.

For developers I'm sure it will resolve eventually - even if because of sheer volume.

I have a lot of thoughts on how App market will change very soon, and the interaction with the device home page (Launcher in Android lingo) has a lot to do with that. Apple does not support that interaction. Android does. Developers will profit significantly from that.

On that last part of Android not being open - happy you read that arstechnica article. It is very, very true.

Re: What Are People Doing On All Those Cheap Tablets?

tsella — Thu, 24 Oct 2013 08:55:00 -0000

Facts are post-mortem. Beliefs are forward looking. I prefer to be a believer. :)

You are just restating what I said, in an obnoxious way. Apple does not know how to deal with this market. It (you say "does not want to") cannot sell or compete at those margins. The graph in this post shows huge growth of a market they won't compete in. Look at a same graph for phones. Android entered both when Apple was a practically only wunderchild.

Re: What Are People Doing On All Those Cheap Tablets?

tsella — Thu, 24 Oct 2013 08:05:43 -0000

That is the common wisdom. I dispute it. Apple *does not know* how to deal with this segment, and it is the fastest growing one. Android is killing it in the phone market. Android is killing it in the tablet market. ChromeOS+Drive is doing well in the laptop market.
Apple is struggling with the concept and is repeatedly doing "follower" moves. This one is no exception.

Re: What Are People Doing On All Those Cheap Tablets?

tsella — Thu, 24 Oct 2013 07:36:38 -0000

I would further argue that people prefer the full keyboard and cheaper price. MS could have done well if it had priced Surface Pro properly.

I am also happy that all naysayers who originally argued Apple will indefinitely lead this market as "there are no distribution models for Android tablets" are proven wrong. Android is good enough (dare I say better), and being accessible to different vendors allows for a much necessary competition and accessible pricing MAKES the distribution.

Re: What Are People Doing On All Those Cheap Tablets?

tsella — Thu, 24 Oct 2013 07:29:29 -0000

To your point about saving a lot of money to the school - I posted this earlier today on FB:

So everybody is so "how Apple has handed Microsoft a huge blow by innovating with a free OS and productivity tools model".. How about "how Apple spinned it to obfuscate yet another 'follow' move to combat a bigger enemy"?

Re: T-Mobile Rocks

tsella — Sun, 13 Oct 2013 12:11:25 -0000

I have not done it, but Google says yes.

https://support.google.com/...

Re: T-Mobile Rocks

tsella — Sun, 13 Oct 2013 08:02:46 -0000

I use Tmo when traveling to the State. I was on feature phone with Tracfone for a few years buying those funky "double minutes" "extend expiration" etc deals as it was the only sensible way at the time to have a local US phone.
But no data - I did not mind it THAT much, as I was also a Blackberry customer, I was getting my emails for free, had some minimal included roaming data enough to power Google Maps and it was all OK. Not great, but OK. Usable.

Then two things happened... Tmo came along with sensibly priced prepaid including data and my Blackberry died.
Moved to Tmo, moved to a smart phone. Never looked back. Even got my kid a Tmo phone when he spent some time with me at the States.

I can't say too much regarding customer service - I never had to talk to a live person to manage my account and refills. I guess that's a plus. When it works.

The second part of this equation is Google Voice. I've had a constant number for years now, and not due to number portability (of which I heard some funky stories), but rather because Google Voice works that well and moving between physical phones and carriers is such a breeze.

So.. If you are in my situation - look no further: Tmo + Google Voice.

Re: Video Of The Week: How Large Are The Planets And The Stars?

tsella — Sun, 15 Sep 2013 13:13:12 -0000

We are the Borg. Your biological and technological distinctiveness will be added to our own. Resistance is futile.

Re: Video Of The Week: How Large Are The Planets And The Stars?

tsella — Sun, 15 Sep 2013 10:04:23 -0000

I like this little gem spanning both directions, http://www.youtube.com/watc... . Narrated by Morgan Freeman.

Re: Fun Friday: Your Favorite Feature

tsella — Fri, 13 Sep 2013 12:14:01 -0000

FAKE FAKE GRIMLOCK: YOU ALL BE LYING. BE HERE BECAUSE WAITING FOR HEART IN CANDY CRUSH

Re: Task Management

tsella — Sun, 08 Sep 2013 11:26:40 -0000

Yep. No mobile IIRC. I just checked again. It just became a useless minimized window for me after a while.

Re: Task Management

tsella — Sun, 08 Sep 2013 11:09:08 -0000

:) for checklist shopping try Google Keep (Android and Chrome for now). It's only drawback is that it does not support secured entries, for which I use Color Note.

Re: Task Management

tsella — Sun, 08 Sep 2013 10:54:32 -0000

Same here. (Google) Calendar is the only workable solution, and my "sharing" is adding people as guests. That said, do checkout Any.DO, maybe it will work out for you (it has some very cool features - I loved how it integrates with Android), and at least you get to checkout a very uniquely (and beautifully) designed app.

Re: Jobs: Coming or Going?

tsella — Mon, 02 Sep 2013 08:39:21 -0000

Alas, I would have to disagree with the statement of (software) engineers, designers, writers etc. being in strong demand for the foreseable future. Not in the USA anyhow. If anything, I forsee less demand in those areas, mainly due to erosion of such jobs to East Asia where the best of the best will be offered the chance of working with the brightest peers under the best terms.

No longer will the USA will be granting student Visas to Chinese, Korean and Indian. USA youths will seek enrollment in Sungkyunkwan University and Tatung University. International business language will fast become Korean or Chinese.

But with that, Made in America may well become commonplace again. Probably not for anything manufacturable by machines (or requiring machines - don't expect humans to solder much longer..), but maybe for other manufacturing/skills.

I see myself as an optimistic realist. You may find yourself in a more pessimistic outlook - see http://ieet.org/index.php/I.... Disregard, if you will, the Transhumanism angle, and consider the numbers and criteria presented.

Re: Video of the Week: My Slovenian TV Interview

tsella — Sat, 17 Aug 2013 15:15:42 -0000

Explanation on Pastebin: http://pastebin.com/Kn0hVkWL

Re: Video of the Week: My Slovenian TV Interview

tsella — Sat, 17 Aug 2013 15:10:34 -0000

Nope. I grabbed the whole thing. But my comment is in moderation queue (I guess because of the multiple URLs in the explanation).

Re: Video of the Week: My Slovenian TV Interview

tsella — Sat, 17 Aug 2013 15:01:23 -0000

Oh -- I already grabbed it. Info above.