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?

  • @thesohoriots@lemmy.worldEnglish
    83•4 months ago

    I know this is a cop-out because of the vast number of other improvements to devices and infrastructure, but I really liked having a seemingly indestructible phone with a removable 10-day battery and an absolute death grip on that 2g/3g network.

    • Programmer BelchEnglish
      33•4 months ago

      I really hope swappable batteries make a comeback to ditch the portable batteries and just swap a fresh one.

      • @rubicon@lemmy.ca
        8•4 months ago

        I kept using my LG G5 for years after I might have upgraded just for the swappable batteries.

      • @Ziggurat@sh.itjust.works
        4•4 months ago

        Have you tried the fairphone?every component, including the batteries are easy to swap. Only issue is that it’s a midperformance phone costing the price of a high end Huawei/Sony (Samsung and Apple prices are just straight robbery)

        • Programmer BelchEnglish
          4•4 months ago

          I’m eyeing a fairphone or a pixel (graphene) when Europe makes swappable batteries the standard. Until then, I hope my phone keeps on working, I don’t change phone unless my last one dies.

    • @coffinwood@discuss.tchncs.de
      2•4 months ago

      Why swap a 10 day battery anyway? What’s the use case here? I mean in the last decade I had not a single phone die on me with an empty battery. That’s one day battery life or more, so why 10 days and have it (hot) swappable? I understand that on a hike or while camping outlets and wall chargers are off limit. But there are so good alternatives to having an immensely dense battery in the phone that you don’t also have to carry all the time.

      • @Bongles@lemm.ee
        7•4 months ago

        Being able to swap a battery to keep a phone working well for a few more years makes sense.

        • @coffinwood@discuss.tchncs.de
          2•4 months ago

          Oh you mean replace. Swap means (for me) to switch from one battery to another on the go. Of course, replacing batteries in any appliance should be easy and cheap. Maybe not necessarily being performed by the customer.