The Apple Ecosystem

[Old User]

Not an option for me, as I said, my phone is a glorified iPod. I'm old school, no streaming services (phone's not even online), I buy all my music and like the convenience of having my full library at hand.

But surely you use streaming services as well and so it doesn't really matter all that much? I mean I know you want some of it offline but all the platform manage storage quite well in that regard and how often are we really truly disconnected these days?

Missed where you said no streaming. Any particular reason why? Considering I know you use streaming for video services it seems odd to draw the line with music, especially now that you can have Hi-Res and Lossless everywhere, not that it matters too much since you started at an iPhone being appropriate enough for the purpose.

I have a 128GB phone by sheer luck of the draw but would have been just fine with a 64GB seeing as I have more than 64GB free at all times.

Old school non-streaming would make sense to me if you were trying to keep it analog only listening to CD's etc.

 

[AdrianH]

So why would you have any of those in an Apple household?

You can answer that

Even in your Apple household you have PS5 controller(s) requiring USB-C charge cable to charge unless you bought a charging dock. Same for the Xbox Elite II controller(s) which I presume you have, the controller and case uses USB-C to charge. For me its all about a single port form. With the wider adaption of USB-C across almost all big name electronics, lets just standardise on that port.

 

[Old User]

You can answer that

Even in your Apple household you have PS5 controller(s) requiring USB-C charge cable to charge unless you bought a charging dock. Same for the Xbox Elite II controller(s) which I presume you have, the controller and case uses USB-C to charge. For me its all about a single port form. With the wider adaption of USB-C across almost all big name electronics, lets just standardise on that port.

You are right the PS5 does have USB-C but it's so far removed from my usual "charging stuff" I didn't even think about it...I do want to get the dock though.

Elite Controller as well as the rest all running on rechargeable batteries.

My Kindle has USB-C...but it also has wireless charging so never use it for that.

I mean I'm not against it, I'm just highlighting that the utopia of one cable to rule them all is bull**** because now I'll literally have three different standards in my kitchen and other areas until such time as every single device is replaced.

Micro-USB
Lightning
USB-C

The car will need to get a second cable for USB-C until such time as my wife's phone is replaced in a couple of years, so that more messy than it was before.

 

[AdrianH]

You are right the PS5 does have USB-C but it's so far removed from my usual "charging stuff" I didn't even think about it...I do want to get the dock though.

Elite Controller as well as the rest all running on rechargeable batteries.

My Kindle has USB-C...but it also has wireless charging so never use it for that.

I mean I'm not against it, I'm just highlighting that the utopia of one cable to rule them all is bull**** because now I'll literally have three different standards in my kitchen and other areas until such time as every single device is replaced.

Micro-USB
Lightning
USB-C

The car will need to get a second cable for USB-C until such time as my wife's phone is replaced in a couple of years, so that more messy than it was before.

You have XB Elite 1? XB Elite 2 is built-in battery with USB-C, and case is USB-C as well.

We have the same 3 connectors here. My wife has iPhone and AirPods that have lightning. There are a couple MicroUSB things, but mainly older devices like my OG Kindle, but I upgraded to a new one recently, and my RPi 3s use MicroUSB, a Ryobi cordless screwdriver. Most other devices use USB-C like RPi 4, my last 3 phones, Surface laptop, HP EliteDesk Mini, new Kindle.

In other news, many vehicle manufacturers of EVs have agreed to adopt Tesla charging port. Again, for me its about what is the absolute best, its about accessibility and convenience by having a standard plug.

Next up, lets kick out DisplayPort or HDMI!

 

[KenMasters]

Missed where you said no streaming. Any particular reason why?

I'd rather pay artists appropriately, allow them to shape their sound as they see fit, develop my own taste according to my own process and be able to listen to what I want to listen to and not have it dictated by what's available on a service.

Considering I know you use streaming for video services it seems odd to draw the line with music....

Music is quite different to film and TV - broadcast and cable have always been a part of the equation. Video streaming has its flaws, but I can at least see things working themselves out - the current strike situation is heartening for example. I also support physical media, so feel good about that side of things as well.

I have a 128GB phone by sheer luck of the draw but would have been just fine with a 64GB seeing as I have more than 64GB free at all times.

My music library currently sits at about 150GB, so that wouldn't work for me.

Old school non-streaming would make sense to me if you were trying to keep it analog only listening to CD's etc.

Essentially the same, just more convenient.

 

[Old User]

Next up, lets kick out DisplayPort or HDMI!

But we have already, USB-C does that too.

 

[Old User]

I'd rather pay artists appropriately, allow them to shape their sound as they see fit, develop my own taste according to my own process and be able to listen to what I want to listen to and not have it dictated by what's available on a service.

Don't you think there is potential for them to be paid more through continued listening over a once off? And exposure to wider audiences who wouldn’t risk it otherwise?

I feel streaming more than ever allows artists to control their own music instead of being dictated to by recording contracts and publishers like the old days. Just look at the whole Taylor Swift thing for instance.

I get where you are coming from with regard to taste, but you don’t have to partake in that part of it, I know I certainly don’t most of the time. I do like to let the algorithm loose once in a while and have found some gems.

And of course you aren’t limited by what the services offer, most of them allow you to upload your own stuff. I have plenty of library content now available on Apple Music.

You could literally use Apple Music as an online version of your current library and ignore the rest if you wanted and then have it available everywhere all the time.

 

[biometrics]

After 10 years on Android I started switching my personal gear over to Apple from early 2021 until late last year. I like how it all works together. I now have (I’m ok buying a generation back to save):

iPhone 13
Watch 7
Airpod Pro gen 1
Macbook Air M1
iPad Mini 6
Pencil 2
Apple TV HD
Airtags

Also got a 3 in 1 Belkin wireless & magnetic charger for my bedside table and a TT Audio headunit for my car for wireless Apple Carplay (does Android too). Oh and a 12 port multi port dock for the Mac and an external Thunderbolt SSD.

For work I still use Windows, Linux and Android. Honestly I can’t see myself switching to MacOS for dev work, I find the windows manager clumsy compared to Windows.

 

[KenMasters]

Don't you think there is potential for them to be paid more through continued listening over a once off? And exposure to wider audiences who wouldn’t risk it otherwise?

I feel streaming more than ever allows artists to control their own music instead of being dictated to by recording contracts and publishers like the old days. Just look at the whole Taylor Swift thing for instance.

I get where you are coming from with regard to taste, but you don’t have to partake in that part of it, I know I certainly don’t most of the time. I do like to let the algorithm loose once in a while and have found some gems.

And of course you aren’t limited by what the services offer, most of them allow you to upload your own stuff. I have plenty of library content now available on Apple Music.

You could literally use Apple Music as an online version of your current library and ignore the rest if you wanted and then have it available everywhere all the time.

It's not up for debate as far as I'm concerned. I'm opposed to it, what it's done to artists, the music and the way people consume music. So long as there remains a means for me to support artists directly, I will continue to do so. At least until something changes.

 

[biometrics]

USB-C is actually more annoying to me than anything else as I wireless charge anyway and now I would need to keep two different cables in the car until such time as they are all phased out which is probably 4-5 years from now.

I have a three headed USB cable in my car for emergencies with micro USB, USB C and Lightning. Got it from Incredible iirc.

E.g. from Takealot:

 

[Old User]

For work I still use Windows, Linux and Android. Honestly I can’t see myself switching to MacOS for dev work, I find the windows manager clumsy compared to Windows.

Because you don’t know the shortcuts or because you have genuine issue with the way it works?

You can also drastically change pretty much everything or go about it a hundred different ways.

Between myself and my colleagues we all use MacOS drastically differently, with Windows there is pretty much only one way to go about it.

Also universal control is a game changer. Yesterday I was working on two MacBooks and two iPads all at once using a single keyboard and trackpad and it just works without even needing to configure anything.

 

[Old User]

I have a three headed USB cable in my car for emergencies with micro USB, USB C and Lightning. Got it from Incredible iirc.

E.g. from Takealot:

Yeah I was looking at exactly this kind of thing if I do upgrade to a 15.

 

[AdrianH]

But we have already, USB-C does that too.

Best we start protesting then, hopefully the EU sees us and tells everyone to stop using HDMI and DP in favour of USB-C

 

[biometrics]

Because you don’t know the shortcuts or because you have genuine issue with the way it works?

You can also drastically change pretty much everything or go about it a hundred different ways.

Between myself and my colleagues we all use MacOS drastically differently, with Windows there is pretty much only one way to go about it.

Also universal control is a game changer. Yesterday I was working on two MacBooks and two iPads all at once using a single keyboard and trackpad and it just works without even needing to configure anything.

You know, I’m just too ****ing old to learn it all anew. My Windows muscle memory are decades old, I’m fast and productive and get **** done. ****, some of the shortcuts are from frikkin Wordstar on DOS, Ctrl-Y ftw!

It’s like when I got a Playstation, I just can’t get used to a controller. It ended up unused and sold eventually.

Each to his own.

 

[AdrianH]

You know, I’m just too ****ing old to learn it all anew. My Windows muscle memory are decades old, I’m fast and productive and get **** done. ****, some of the shortcuts are from frikkin Wordstar on DOS, Ctrl-Y ftw!

It’s like when I got a Playstation, I just can’t get used to a controller. It ended up unused and sold eventually.

Each to his own.

WordStar LOL

I remember using that for a school project.

 

[JoE]

I’m in favour of a single standard for the cable solution. Also carry around adapters so that we’re not missing anything.

On the storage front my music sleeps on mp3s on a cheapie feature phone that I use when I run. It has airtime and WhatsApp and works with Bluetooth (so my wireless buds work) plus I don’t have to worry about replacing it because South Africa.

Other than that I stream and download the playlists I want on my iPhone as and when I want from the services I’m subbed to.

I’m not completely in the ecosystem as I have a hybrid mix of google services but I do appreciate the “it just works” approach that I get when I buy apple products which is difficult to explain to people that haven’t given their products a chance.

 

[Old User]

I’m in favour of a single standard for the cable solution. Also carry around adapters so that we’re not missing anything.

On the storage front my music sleeps on mp3s on a cheapie feature phone that I use when I run. It has airtime and WhatsApp and works with Bluetooth (so my wireless buds work) plus I don’t have to worry about replacing it because South Africa.

Other than that I stream and download the playlists I want on my iPhone as and when I want from the services I’m subbed to.

I’m not completely in the ecosystem as I have a hybrid mix of google services but I do appreciate the “it just works” approach that I get when I buy apple products which is difficult to explain to people that haven’t given their products a chance.

Not that I run, but if I mow the lawn or work in the garden then music plays from my Watch via AirPods.

Would have just done that if I did run.

 

[JoE]

Not that I run, but if I mow the lawn or work in the garden then music plays from my Watch via AirPods.

Would have just done that if I did run.

Yeah obvs in and around the house will rock the sound via the iPhone / iPad or smart speakers. I’m into podcasts as well so will play that or yt in the background as well depending on the task.

 

[JoE]

Anybody updated to iOS 17 yet?

I’ve tried the personalised voice feature and it’s scary when it get things right. It’s nowhere near a finished product but I can easily see this tech adapt over time to function as your assistant with ai screening calls and making arrangements for you.

Haven’t noticed a dip in battery performance as well which is good since my phone is a few years old now.

 

[Old User]

Anybody updated to iOS 17 yet?

I’ve tried the personalised voice feature and it’s scary when it get things right. It’s nowhere near a finished product but I can easily see this tech adapt over time to function as your assistant with ai screening calls and making arrangements for you.

Haven’t noticed a dip in battery performance as well which is good since my phone is a few years old now.

Been running it since July...I forget everyone else is only catching up now.

Oddly haven't tried this feature though.

Battery performance dip right after an update is a more a symptom of the update itself happening (re-indexing) than the update itself doing things differently.

****

Aah I remember now Personal Voice isn't available on the 11 that's why I don't have it.