Things that are meant to be better but are not better

Aren't they just an alternative.
95% of the time I use a wired mouse. The other 5% I'm travelling with the laptop and the trackpad is useful.

@DazzlingCuckoos

I copy and paste and formula that isn't doing what I want it to do, explain what I want it to do and hit enter. AI gives me back an adjusted formula that I can copy and paste straight into my workbook.

...where's the fun in that?

Track pads on laptops are a backward step from a wired mouse. There's nothing about them that's an improvement.

My relative is not eligible for Bluetooth NHS aid and would have absolutely zero chance of saving 2 k.

Just get usb-c headphones ? Doesn’t take much research to find a solution if you don’t want to modernise

@Gogogo12345, mine are NHS aids. It's all very dependent on your local health authority. I have moved to a different area since I had these aids and my new authority doesn't provide Bluetooth aids yet. I have been told by an audiologist that I need to start saving for private aids if I still want this technology. I am due a new set in the summer, which I really need, as my hearing has deteriorated drastically in the three years since I have had them, especially in the last twelve months. As I am a professional classical musician, poor hearing is more of a liability for me than it is for most. I am far from rich, as you enviously suggest, but, for my livelihood, I will need to find some way of affording the £2,000+ that these aids cost.

Yep. This is why I left 3 and went to EE. I found the lack of coverage ridiculous.

A family friend of mine has these. The hearing aids are so discreet, I didn't even know she wore them, then suddenly she held up her hand to me and started talking about something completely unrelated to our conversation.

Took me ages to realise she was on the phone! 😂

I agree mostly, but it is a godsend in Excel.

I copy and paste and formula that isn't doing what I want it to do, explain what I want it to do and hit enter.

It gives me back an adjusted formula that I can copy and paste straight into my workbook.

I tried googling originally and it was hopeless.

For now my biggest bugbear is the transition between the various different types of adapters to USB-C.

It will be great when absolutely everything is USB-C and I only have to have one cable, but now I have to have two different cables to charge my phone and my airpods. I've had to buy yet another cable that does both as it's a PITA swapping them out all the time.

Another one on the "meant to be better but aren't" topic - touchscreen cars

If it's not safe or legal to touch the touchscreen of your phone, why are you allowed to in your car?? I had a courtesy car the other day that I had to use the touchscreen to change the temperature of the heater on a menu system that I didn't know. What was wrong with a dial?? Plus, all the bloody fingerprints!

DH would say tv sports subscriptions. Opening up football to other providers such as BT and Amazon was supposed to support competition, but all it's achieved is us now having three subscriptions instead of one.

OK so not those who are reliant on NHS aids. Only for the rich

No signal in Central London with 3 mobile. EVER. I was at the theatre last week and had to get the box office to print the tickets as it just wouldn’t load. Me and about 50 other people. Bloke behind counter said there’s no signal there. FFS

As l said in an earlier thread (and was pooh-poohed for), if you have hearing aids with Bluetooth you can connect them to your phone. They are brilliant.

Especially if you have to receive a text to proceed.
I have rubbish phone signal at home and can barely make calls or receive texts. I've lost count of the times I've been timed out of transactions only to finally get the code about 5 hours later.

And can you get earbuds that also fit with hearing aids.?

I'm still using wired "sports" ones that have a bit that goes around your ear to keep the buds in place. Even the smallest buds that come without the plastic ear bit will not stay in my ears.

TV - there's too much so now I watch nothing.

I can’t use my internet if the microwave is on.

Iphone ios upgrades nearly always result in a worse user experience. Latest one being my phone no longer makes any sound when I get a text. The constant moving about of functions so when you google about fixing something it’s no longer in that place, they’ve moved it (go to settings, go to notifications etc, no it’s not there any more, where have you put it!).

Ngl, I actually looked for the Evil Chinese Marketplace.

Which reminds me, even MN and their ad unblocker thing. Every time I go in I have to come out again then go back in and choose an option before I can come on here. I did go through the process it tells you to but still it pops up.

And parking apps. Register your car, upload card details, remember another password, select location… I just want to beep my card on the terminal and be done!

God, yes. why can't parking be like the Tube: you flash your card on entry, and again on exit. No names or pack-drill required?

The Tube is actually a Good Thing, compared to the old system. Remember having to queue to buy tickets?

@GarlicStyle I have two printers that I can never get to work! My sister told me she can’t get hers to either. It’s infuriating and I end up having to go to the local print shop.

Yes!

This. One of the most annoying things in modern life.

I s agree with you OP. I just want to be able to put my ear buds in on a whim, not realise I haven’t charged them (mine seem to take two days charging before they deign to connect 😡).

I actually think most things are worse not better after ‘improvements’ as no one ever changes something because they think the customer wants or likes it, it’s always money motivated.

Fucking car fucking parking fucking apps