JuhisAug 11, 2024

When the company calls their home appliances "smart", what I hear is:

- they spent money on features I don't care about
- those features will be worse than standalone devices but will drive them out of market (looking at you TVs)
- the appliance is more likely to break
- my data is likely being sold to advertisers
- when the company loses interest in it and cut support, I will need to buy a new device

So no, I don't want "smart" home appliances.

Show threadJuhisAug 11, 2024

If I buy a TV, I want a TV that shows channels and to which I can plug other devices to watch the other stuff.

If I buy speakers, I want to connect whatever I have to them and not risk remote bricking of devices by manufacturer.

Show threadTim Ward ⭐🇪🇺🔶 #FBPEAug 11, 2024
@hamatti Other people have other use cases. I *don't* want a TV that "shows channels" as that would be no use to me as I don't have a TV licence. I want a TV that plays DVDs (and yes, I accept that that's via another device) and shows stuff from the internet (and I don't see why that should need another device, it's only software and the telly already has a computer in it).
Show threadRoderick
@TimWardCam @hamatti non UK readers might not understand the concept of a "TV licence". In Britain, you can't watch TV until you've taken the Television Aptitude Test, or TAT, which gauges your understanding of BBC4 arts programmes, your ability to follow long running soaps in a regional dialect, and whether or not you laugh at Ant and Dec.
Aug 11, 2024 at 7:55pmMastodon for Android
Show threadTim Ward ⭐🇪🇺🔶 #FBPEAug 11, 2024
@rvkennedy @hamatti Well, I wouldn't qualify. Never heard of BBC4, never heard of Ant and Dec. But I do know the "long running soap in a regional dialect"- that's The Archers, for which no TV licence is required seeing as how it's on the radio not the telly.
Show threadSarah WAug 13, 2024
@TimWardCam @rvkennedy @hamatti
Almost everything on BBC Sounds is available to me in France without a licence and no fee. I can pick up LW in Normandy as well which is ok until cricket season.
I'd be happy to pay a licence fee in the UK if I could pick up television as well.
Show threadJuhisAug 11, 2024
@rvkennedy @TimWardCam Does Dirk Gently count as BBC4 arts program? If it does, I might qualify 😂
Show threadRoderickAug 11, 2024
@hamatti @TimWardCam the Stephen Mangan original? I believe so! Might be time to book that test!
Show threadTim Ward ⭐🇪🇺🔶 #FBPEAug 11, 2024
@hamatti @rvkennedy Dirk Gently is on Netflix, no licence required.
Show threadJuhisAug 12, 2024

@TimWardCam @rvkennedy Yeah, that's the new one with Samuel Barnett. Which was also good.

The original one from BBC4 was made a bit earlier and stars Stephen Mangan https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2303367/

Dirk Gently books are so great.

Dirk Gently (TV Series 2010–2012) ⭐ 7.6 | Comedy, Crime, Mystery

58m

IMDb
Show threadKyleAug 11, 2024
@rvkennedy @TimWardCam @hamatti As a USian, am genuinely unsure whether you are joking.
Show threadiam-py-test Aug 11, 2024
@Kyleric @rvkennedy @TimWardCam @hamatti They are joking; TV licenses are just a required fee: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television_licensing_in_the_United_Kingdom
Television licensing in the United Kingdom - Wikipedia

Show threadSite Reliability Enby🏳️‍⚧️🏁🔦📈🐺👗😷Aug 12, 2024

@iampytest1 @Kyleric @rvkennedy @TimWardCam @hamatti In other words a tax.

Literally funding bigotry, because that money goes to the BBC.

Show threadEric LawtonAug 12, 2024

@rvkennedy

By "regional dialect", I assume you mean "from around London".

@TimWardCam @hamatti

Show threadTim HergertAug 12, 2024
@rvkennedy @TimWardCam @hamatti I understand that you can have your license suspended if you laugh at shows such as "The Brass Eye"