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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Times technology has made life harder...

99 replies

Sparklfairy · 30/07/2019 11:20

I recently got a new phone with fingerprint recognition. I've never had one before and I liked the novelty sad I know

A few weeks later I burned the finger and the skin came off... fingerprint recognition no longer worked to unlock my phone. It had prompted me while setting it up to set a 'back up' pin but as I never used it I promptly forgot it. Had to wait until the fingerprint grew back enough to unlock the phone again. Luckily it was only a day or two (albeit multiple attempts at a funny angle!)

Has anyone else got any weird technology gripes to make me feel less of a moron? I will be guarding the finger with my life in future!

OP posts:
verticality · 30/07/2019 11:21

I actually think email is a bit of a curse. Yes, it makes communicating a lot easier - but it also reduces the amount of unnecessary/ silly/ unhelpful interactions a lot too. And it eats so much time.

Original poster
Sparklfairy · 30/07/2019 11:29

So true about email. I force myself to only check mine twice a day, otherwise I'd be constantly reacting and get nothing productive done. If it's that urgent then call me! As long as the finger is working of course so I can answer Grin

OP posts:
Jemima232 · 30/07/2019 11:34

Next time, OP, add more fingerprints.

And do not then burn all the relevant fingers.

Original poster
Sparklfairy · 30/07/2019 11:40

Can you do that Jemima232?? Amazing, I'll have to have a look. And yes, I think I should just stay away from all hot objects from now on Blush

OP posts:
thecatsthecats · 30/07/2019 11:42

I've got three of my own fingerprints, one of DH, and the cat (don't ask me which cat or which paw my husband used).

I could not be arsed holding my phone so that the same finger could be used each time!

Original poster
Sparklfairy · 30/07/2019 11:45

The cat!! Grin wonder if mine will oblige...

This is why I love Mumsnet. It never occurred to me to add more that one fingerprint. In my defence the odds of me burning that one finger badly enough to lose the print were so low that eventuality didn't occur to me either.

Off to add fingers and toes and cats to my phone

OP posts:
Jemima232 · 30/07/2019 11:47

DD says you can have about four fingerprints - it depends on the model.

@thecatsthecats

How did your DH persuade the cat to install its pawprint?

PianoPiano · 30/07/2019 11:48

Having to check in yourself online when you fly Ryanair is annoying.

Jemima232 · 30/07/2019 11:49

DD has more useful advice.

Some phones have iris scanners (allegedly) so unless you think you're likely to burn your eye you could give that a go.

Mind you ( as DD has pointed out) if you burned your eye you wouldn't be able to use the phone anyway.

CheshireChat · 30/07/2019 11:50

Hah, mine made you pick a password as well from the beginning and you have to it every couple of days.

I actually really love technology, particularly as I managed to pick a little robot vacuum cleaner yesterday!

Jemima232 · 30/07/2019 11:51

@pianopiano

Get your cat to do it.

Original poster
Sparklfairy · 30/07/2019 11:52

Jemima232 that made me laugh way too much Grin I am clumsy as hell and have had some strange injuries but I have yet to burn my eyeball. Although I do have a second for a back up I suppose...

OP posts:
picklemepopcorn · 30/07/2019 12:01

I like having both thumbs registered- it doesn't matter which way up I have it, then.

Anything involving speaking to a real person and verifying your identity- requiring passwords, favourite films (depends when you asked) the third letter and fifth number etc etc...

ainsliec · 30/07/2019 12:15

My touch screen hob is shite. It just needs regular knobs please

Original poster
Sparklfairy · 30/07/2019 13:13

ainsliec didn't even know they were a thing! With someone like me they're an accident waiting to happen! Shock

OP posts:
Shoxfordian · 30/07/2019 13:30

I can't do fingerprint recognition on mine because I have a huge glittery phone case that weighs more than the phone. My dh says its ridiculous but he's wrong, it's beautiful

Original poster
Sparklfairy · 30/07/2019 13:34

Shoxfordian that sounds amazing! I haven't sorted a case for mine yet... and I really need one. I dropped the last one down the toilet, the one before that I dropped and smashed on concrete and it never turned on again, the one before that I had on my lap in the car (passenger), forgot, stepped out of the car, phone fell on the ground (was fine) and I promptly stood on it (was not fine).

Like I said. Clumsy.

OP posts:
Usernumbers1234 · 30/07/2019 13:39

Keyless cars. Keys always going down gaps in the seats, never being quite sure If the car is properly switched off or just in stop-start mode when I park it.

Turns out that little hole under the steering wheel was a bloody good place to keep your keys

thecatsthecats · 30/07/2019 13:43

@Jemima232

I'm afraid he did not obtain the cat's consent to take his biometric data.

They're soft old buggers, they'll let us do anything provided they're being held (literally cradled like babies).

CalamityJune · 30/07/2019 13:54

I am clinging fiercely to my corded headphones even though I can see theyre being phased out. Already, I can no longer charge my phone and listen to earphones at the same time which is annoying, as I like to listen to audiobooks when I can't sleep, so i've got some bluetooth Sleepphones.

There is nothing more annoying than wanting to go for a long walk or to the gym and realising that your headphones are out of charge.

alittleprivacy · 30/07/2019 13:56

A lot of the electronics in cars. I dropped my key recently and the car immobiliser chip broke. Car wouldn't start anymore. New key with working chip cost a fortune. It's a cheap car, so the new key cost a quarter of what I paid for the car!

Keyless entry is also a pain. A loose wire meant my boot wouldn't open and keyless entry is the only way to open it from the outside. I had to empty my pretty full boot, via the back seats. Then get in the boot, slowly, slowly, slowly pry the back panel off, because all the screws of which can only be accesses if the boot is open, and I was terrified I'd damage one of the multitude of electrical wires under it. I got that pulled back enough to squeeze my hand in and access the manual override. Then had to work out exactly what the electrical fault was and fix it and get the bloody back panel back on without disturbing the absolute plethora of wires I'd discovered under it. I fixed it and have a functional boot again but it would have been so very much simpler on my older car. I dread the day the electrical windows malfunction!!!!!

ohcanada · 30/07/2019 14:03

It had prompted me while setting it up to set a 'back up' pin but as I never used it I promptly forgot it

If you aren't smart enough to use technology properly, then probably best not to use it. You can't really complain that it wasn't working when it was actually you failing to set it up properly.

Original poster
Sparklfairy · 30/07/2019 14:08

ohcanada I'm not complaining. I've fully admitted to my stupidity and laugh at myself accordingly. There's no shame in being occasionally outwitted by technology, there is however shame in being a bitch Smile

OP posts:
MyHeadIsBursting · 30/07/2019 14:13

Voice recognition, especially over the phone. NEVER works with a Glaswegian accent 🙈

Elphame · 30/07/2019 14:15

Text messages are my pet hate. I wish they still made phones that just made calls.