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What's Some Tech That Was Better Than It Is Now? (lemmy.ml)

submitted 5 months ago by wuphysics87@lemmy.ml to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

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When you connect a new device to a 'smart' tv, you must pay homage to the manufacturer with a ritualistic dance. Plugging and unplugging the device. Turning them on and off in the correct sequence like entering a konami code.

Every time you want to switch devices, the tv must scan for them. And god forbid you lose power, or unplug something. You are granted the delight experience of doing it all over again.

I have fond memories of the days of just plugging something in, and pressing the input button. Instant gratification. It was a simpler time.

What is some other tech that used to be better?

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[–] prole@sh.itjust.works 10 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (3 children)

I have fond memories of the days of just plugging something in, and pressing the input button. Instant gratification. It was a simpler time.

Dunno what kind of TVs you're using, but my Sony OLED pretty much behaves exactly like this. The Smart TV features are laggy and shit as usual, but those are still features that didn't exist in the old days so it's not a 1 to 1 comparison.

But with regards to just plugging in a blu ray or PS5 and hitting the input button, that's exactly how my modern TV works.

In fact, I don't even need to turn it on or hit the input button... Since they're both Sony, all I need to do is press the button on my PS5 controller and it turns on my TV and PS5 and switches to the correct input, without having to touch the remote. And vice versa (can turn on/off and control PS5 menus with the TV remote).

[–] WolfLink@sh.itjust.works 6 points 5 months ago (3 children)

My smart TV does some weird AI frame interpolation. It can be hard to tell in live action content, but it absolutely butchers things like anime. I had to dig through the settings to turn it off but it sometimes decides to turn it back on.

[–] Raiderkev@lemmy.world 5 points 5 months ago

My mom's TV had that. Absolutely infuriating. I want my TV to play the signal it gets, not try to "fix" it.

[–] ASeriesOfPoorChoices@lemmy.world 4 points 5 months ago

that's the wrong kind of Weird Al :(

I prefer Frank's 2000" TV.

[–] prole@sh.itjust.works 2 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

I hate when manufacturers put those settings on by default. I'm already someone who, when they get a new TV, will go through every settings menu it has to tune it to how I like it before I even start watching anything, so I catch those weird settings before they affect me.

I guess I do this with all hardware (and even software, including video games), that is, fiddle with every possible setting until it's exactly how I want it (or as close as the thing will let me get).

Which is why I don't own anything Apple.

[–] vithigar@lemmy.ca 5 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

Since they're both Sony

This would very likely work with most modern TVs that support HDMI CEC. Manufacturers like to put their own name on it, but Sony Bravia Link, Samsung Anynet+, LG SimpLink, Roku 1-Touch, and several more, are all just different names for the same control protocol.

[–] Persen@lemmy.world 2 points 5 months ago (1 children)

My grandma's Phillips CRT TV input switching works the same way with all hardware.

[–] prole@sh.itjust.works 1 points 5 months ago

Some of us remember the days of RF-adapters and old school A/B switches that definitely were not as straightforward as turning it on and switching the input.

I guess that's what I think of when I think of those days.