Things that are meant to be better but are not better

[CrocsNotDocs]

Look, I’m not a Luddite- I usually love technology.

But why oh why have headphones jacks been removed from phones and tablets? I don’t want Bluetooth headphones or earbuds that I have to worry about charging before I go anywhere and that cost a zillion dollars. I want cheap old fashioned headphones that don’t go flat that can be plugged into your device and just work. I don’t want to use the charging port for headphones- I like to charge my device while using it. I want headphone jacks back.

YABU- Everything new is always better
YANBU- some things were not broken and should have been left alone

Apps for car parking. Thankfully most of our car parks locally still take cash but why, oh why can't you just buy X amount of hours' parking by using contactless?

We were nearly late for a concert as my daughter couldn't get the app to install on her phone in the underground car park, then once she finally did, it wouldn't work.

Utter shite

You don't HAVE to change meters.
Legally they have no right to they just make out its compulsory as they have their target to meet.
Just ignore a communication about it.
My supplier phones every now and then and I just say no thank you and ring off.
Just say no!!

But they infuriate me becuase, for a start, they are MORE expensive often. Why? To park at school, it's 20p if you use the machine, and 80p if you use the app. Why? It should be CHEAPER?

Convenience fee don't ya know - or service charge. What a load of tosh.
I think physical machines must take more servicing than an electronic app.

I agree. I got the new version of Apple ear buds and I really don’t like them. On the older series you could double tap the ear bud and it would skip a song. Now you have to press a button and it’s awkward to find. To me, it’s a complete downgrade.

Oh, and it's a complete lie if they say your Meyer is obsolute/ too old/ dangerous.
Again, they say this to get their figures up.
Ignore them

I've had numerous emails and phone calls from OVO telling me I MUST change to a smart meter. I won't and all their calls will be ignored and their emails shredded.

I have these.
www.amazon.co.uk/ZUMUSEN-Headphones-Bluetooth-Adjustable-Meditation-Yellow/dp/B0CX8KPTM5/ref=asc_df_B0CX8KPTM5?mcid=8717c0a309ab30c9bafa3e10a4baf902&hvocijid=7850951828174281079-B0CX8KPTM5-&hvexpln=74&tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=696285193871&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7850951828174281079&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9209160&hvtargid=pla-2281435176938&gad_source=1&th=1

They seem to have a good battery life, and I have very thick hair but they're not too tight.

I sleep on my side and eventually the little sound buttons inside get irritating, but I don't sleep in them all night. Lying on your back you don't feel them.

Siri.
“Hey Siri. Text Pat I’m on my way running 5 minutes late”
”Texting Pam. I’m on a wave 50 Minotaurs”
Er. Ok.

I have an Alexa built into my TV. Never used it and have no intention of doing so.
I've existed successfully on this earth for 62 years without it and it won't enhance my life in any way, yet some people can't live without theirs.

Though it is a great excuse for lateness, to be fair.

RTS meters are the ones that switch between peak and lower rate electricity. People whose homes are heated by storage heaters usually rely on them. RTS is being switched off in June.

It's not that @ERthree is being conned or anything. If she doesn't get new smart meters, her electricity supply will stop switching rates at night.

The obligation isn't on the customer to change meters, her provider MUST change them before RTS is discontinued. It's a legal obligation. There are a lot of customers in this position at present, my Mum included. The providers have to come up with something to make it work, even if it means paying for them to have broadband or installing a mobile relay at their own cost.

https://www.myabri.co.uk/news-and-events/news/switching-to-smart-meters

Definitely App ordering in restaurants. Happy to have it as an option for those who prefer but I don't want an app for every place I might eat. I have a field based role and am away overnight for work frequently - I don't want to download an app every time I stop for food. Popped in Nandos recently for the first time in a couple of years and the waiter actually said my only option was to download the app. What a pain, by the time we'd had the conversation about it he could have just taken my order! (Don't worry I know he doesn't make the rules so I was polite)
Also, screen ordering in Tesco cafe. Fine for me but let's be honest, the demographic of a supermarket cafe is somewhat elderly and it's horrible seeing people struggling.

Needing an account for everything - with 2FA 🙈

Yes it was on the receipt. Basically the staff did everything other than bring over the card reader. Good to know though, I did not realise that!

Yep, me too which prompted me to look up if I was under any obligation to change and I'm not.
Rags me off that they make out its compulsory

They're starting to have card readers on car park ticket machines now thank fuck, which signals the end of several years of parking a mile away and walking in for me, because I was a total app refusenik.

For me, I'd say supermarket loyalty schemes and manipulative pricing. "ONLY £5.00! (or £6.50 if you're not a Tesco Clubcard member)". Piss off to Lidl I shall then, which has no truck with this nonsense and has a far superior selection of wine anyway- and as an added bonus, my local branch has no self checkouts.

Oh, and can I add- bloody autocorrect!! No phone, I WANTED to say "refusenik", NOT "refusing"!

My mistake. I assumed she meant normal old meters.
So why are these rts being turned off if lots of people use them?

I can't use the hard plastic ones either, but some like JLab or Anker still come with the rubber bits in different sizes.

OP, they don't have to cost zillions either. Anker is about £15, JLab is about £17.50 if you shop around or wait for them to be on offer at Amazon again.

...that said, shopping around for the best price when retailers change their prices every second is bloody annoying. Even CamelCamelCamel is not as accurate as it once was 😭

A few months ago I decided I fancied a Burger King while on a rare foray into town. Walked in to be confronted by computerised screen / app / QR code thingy approximately 6 feet away from the counter where I could see real people but I wasn't allowed to approach them until I'd done the digital thing. I wilted and walked out. I suppose the silver lining is that it will be better for my waistline, but honestly, I really fancied something flame grilled and some onion rings. Bastards.

I solved it by not watching TV nor owning one.

The need to use apps has to be one of the most irritating things about life today. DH and I were looking at cars a while back and dropped into a car showroom to browse what was around. There was no information about any of the cars to read in the windscreens etc. The salesman came out and asked us what we were looking for and we pointed out that there was no information available to read about any of the vehicles. He started on about downloading the app and how easy it was and so on - I said I've left my phone at home and I'm not downloading info on my DH's phone for every single car just to find out if it's even in our budget! If this app was so good - he could walk around with us and tell the price of every car in the showroom. He refused and we walked out and he lost a potential sale.

This Was much cheaper and easier to buy a new battery and just replace it without dismantling phone

Or as is more likely - something light and barely registering a weight - telling you to place said item in the holding area like a birthday card. I'd sooner keep someone in a job!!

Google Maps reads everything phonetically. Welsh place names are not always phonetically plausible to readers of English, so it comes up with some VERY interesting pronunciations.

As I'm still learning Welsh, I end up spelling out the names of places that I've been to, or going, "Google says it like this..." and then my Welsh-speaking colleagues stop, think, and then go, "Oh, you mean such-a-place!" The actual pronunciation is nothing like Google Maps says. This might be partly why it is taking me so long to learn Welsh 😁

Oh I looove app based ordering!! Just pay as you go and walk out whenever you please, no getting the attention of a waiter etc. As long as they bring the food and drinks promptly with a smile and do check backs and clear up quickly then I’m more than happy to pay the auto tip. The places I go regularly have great apps that allow customisation.

Thank you! Of course.