Things that are meant to be better but are not better

I also am driven to distraction by trying to phone companies or institutions. If you can find an actual number, there's the whole "press 1 for" debacle, but that's after several minutes of trying to persuade you that you should ring somewhere else or go to a website. Luddite I may be, but trust me, if I've resorted to a phone call, you can bet your sweet bippy I've scoured Google for the answer already, and it ain't there. 45 minutes of Greensleeves played on pan pipes does nothing for one's equilibrium when you do get through to some poor operative.

> But why oh why have headphones jacks been removed from phones and tablets
Because you buy Crapple products
They can charge more for accessories that only fit their devices
Dump Crapple, never look back

Multi factor authentication. Damn it to hell.

Going back, the demise of the typing pool. Instead of a team of 5 people trained in typing, in layout, in understanding what is meant, everyone types up their own stuff on a computer/laptop/tablet. Productivity - in the actual job that you are being paid to do - has gone down, because you spent 25 minutes trying to indent a list of bullet points in a report for the boss. But they see the headline "we are saving 5 people's employment costs"

Oh, and my washing machine doesn't need 26 visible, easily selectable functions (40C, 40minutes, high spin would do me) but a self clean option that requires me looking up which 3 buttons to press for 7 seconds... (every time)

I have eczema and Reynaud's Syndrome

Touch screens often don't know I'm there

Cash machines, household appliances, tablets in shops etc

They either don't know I'm there or if I'm successful in getting them to recognise me, they hit the wrong button

Close app? Do I want to do that? OK, I'll stay open

My WIFI enabled washing machine infuriates me

The touchscreen doesn't see me and to have all the rinses and extra spin speeds, I had to download an app

Whilst standing next to my loaded machine, I have to switch the machine to remote control, open the phone, open the app on my phone, select washing machine (because the app can control other 'smart' appliances, including a wine cooler if I had one) and then try to select the appropriate program from a myriad of options

Try doing that when your phone doesn't want to 'see' your fingerprint

And don't get me started on that day when the servers went down and the app was useless - I barely got any washing done that day

Oh yes to Brioche burger buns- burgers are dinner not pudding or breakfast!!
sourdough is great though

Agree a million times. They don’t even work

With you on this one. Hate both.

But don't use your phone while driving; THAT would be dangerous 😂

When I moved to Wales, I had fun with this, too! The only problem was that it made it very difficult to tell anyone where I'd been at the weekend!

Erm... self-checkouts at The Co-Op (with a camera which just serves to remind me that my hair has lost the plot and I look like Medusa). Apparently, I need assistance EVERY time. Last time, I might have exploded and gone, "Do I LOOK like a shoplifter?" It's probably best that I don't shop there very often 😁

Brioche burger buns. Every bloody where. And sourdough.

Oh I hate that armed/disarmed thing. It’s an alarm not a bomb for god’s sake.

Airfryers

Parking apps are so shit. And all different. And not always good network coverage

And god forbid you change your car! I spent half an hour on the phone with the customer service department of a parking app after I got a different car last year, while trying to buy a train ticket and get on the train and all the time worried I was going to get a massive fine for parking without paying. I never minded buying a ticket from a machine!!

Our burglar alarm!

Recently compulsorily updated because of digital phone line.

So instead of a simple, very clear panel where you just entered 4 digits to turn on/off, we now have a much smaller one where it’s a lot harder to see the numbers, plus a big screen which helpfully tells us that today is Monday 24th, 13 deg and cloudy, plus a bloody annoying loud American woman’s voice telling us the system is now ARMED/DISARMED!
If that’s progress you can stuff it up your arse!

I never understand why ‘improvements’ seem to mean more effing complicated. At some point I shall have to replace my now rarely used old tumble drier - just 2 settings, hot and less hot, absolutely fine. But any replacement will almost certainly have 11 settings that I’ll never need.

@garlicstyle
/My washer isn't 'smart' but it still needs three different button presses in the correct order to get going - and has secret functions that you access with secret button sequences, which you have to go online to find out about/

I'm sorry, your washing machine has a cheat code?!!!

🤣🤣🤣

I miss CDs in cars

Cordless appliances that have a battery life of about 15 minutes and utterly shite motors, like hoovers. Struggling to find a cheapish lawnmower at the minute that still has a corded power supply.

Thought if another: subscription purchasing.

Amazon, Holland & Barrett and Pets at Home do this. You can buy an item for a one-off purchase for say, £20, or if I subscribe it will be sent to me monthly for £18, plus they've got my data.

Fudge, Off!

Oh yes the App based ordering. Totally shit.

My induction hob has a magnetic dial you put on a special area to switch on and control the rings. I get a childish pleasure from twirling it as it makes a farting noise. However the hob has a complete meltdown should the tiniest drop of water get on it. Shuts down and sulks for five minutes..

Wide leg trousers promoted as so much more flattering for women. Nope. Look shit on everyone including the models advertising them.

We bought a Tesla last year (before the whole Musk/Trump lunacy) and it’s a brilliant car but it came with no indicator stem or buttons for temp control etc. instead it’s all done via screen or steering wheel. We gave it a good try. We really did, thinking we’d get used to it eventually, but we’ve finally caved and bought the gadgets from a company that makes them. Driving is so much more relaxing now that the mild panic of navigating a roundabout has gone.

@VickyEadieofThigh someone may have already suggested this but you can get buds that sit on your earlobe and don't go into the ear holes.
I use
these.
I like them because they are very easy to switch off when someone talks to you . One simple press on the bud, no tapping and faffing .
I think you can search bone conduction ear buds.