Soldato
Most pointless domestic appliance phone apps?
- Thread starter newuser
- Start date
Soldato
Given virtually all new appliances have some form of smart connectivity i'm not sure that works!
Soldato
I’m a big tech fanatic, but I’ve not yet come across a single smart function I’ve personally had any use for. I’ve read through some of the features on here, but they don’t really interest me.
E.g.
Pre heat oven: I’ll just get up and do it, but I seldom use the oven anyway (2-3 times a month)
Do washing from afar: I just use timers
Lights: Just get up and turn them on
Turning on heating for when I get home: I just turn it on when I get in, or use timers if running a regular schedule
Just don’t have any use for anything smart.
Even speakers - I can’t set multiple timers when cooking, nor can I cancel one and immediately set another in the same sentence. That’s the only use I have for them
E.g.
Pre heat oven: I’ll just get up and do it, but I seldom use the oven anyway (2-3 times a month)
Do washing from afar: I just use timers
Lights: Just get up and turn them on
Turning on heating for when I get home: I just turn it on when I get in, or use timers if running a regular schedule
Just don’t have any use for anything smart.
Even speakers - I can’t set multiple timers when cooking, nor can I cancel one and immediately set another in the same sentence. That’s the only use I have for them
Commissario
We still have them but they're always switched on. Lights come on either by motion sensors or by saying the magic words. For example, "Lumos" and "Nox" turn the lights in our front room on and off respectively.
Multiple timers are supported but you can't cancel one and set another in just one sentence, it would be two separate commands.Even speakers - I can’t set multiple timers when cooking, nor can I cancel one and immediately set another in the same sentence. That’s the only use I have for them
Soldato
- Joined
- 21 Jan 2010
- Posts
- 3,529
Heh, go for "FIAT LUX" to get that godlike feeling.
Soldato
Completely agree. Also the thing about putting the heating on before you get home is it's complete against the drive for a reduction in carbon production.I’m a big tech fanatic, but I’ve not yet come across a single smart function I’ve personally had any use for. I’ve read through some of the features on here, but they don’t really interest me.
E.g.
Pre heat oven: I’ll just get up and do it, but I seldom use the oven anyway (2-3 times a month)
Do washing from afar: I just use timers
Lights: Just get up and turn them on
Turning on heating for when I get home: I just turn it on when I get in, or use timers if running a regular schedule
Just don’t have any use for anything smart.
Even speakers - I can’t set multiple timers when cooking, nor can I cancel one and immediately set another in the same sentence. That’s the only use I have for them
People: We must reduce personal carbon use
Also people: I want an app to put my heating on while I'm not even in the house
Soldato
Hmm, I can’t seem to on Google Home, but I haven’t tried in a while.
Siri is, well, Siri.
Soldato
Yup, feels like we’re pushing towards a lazier and lazier society. My mum loves Alexa, uses it to turn lights on.
Don’t get me wrong - it’s been helpful for her while recovering from illness and a prolapsed disc, but otherwise just lazy
Commissario
Yeah, multiple timers work on HomePods using Siri.
Soldato
Is that a new thing? I don’t have HomePods so the only interaction I have with Siri is with my watch or phone. I typically find it easier to just open my phone or do it on the watch.
Commissario
It's been there for a long time on HomePods but it's just been recently added on the watch so you can set multiple timers if you're using watchOS 8. iOS still doesn't support more than one countdown timer though.
Soldato
It's been there for a long time on HomePods but it's just been recently added on the watch so you can set multiple timers if you're using watchOS 8. iOS still doesn't support more than one countdown timer though.
Ah okay, makes sense - I’m still on WatchOS 7 and iOS 14
Your definition of lazy is very odd.Yup, feels like we’re pushing towards a lazier and lazier society. My mum loves Alexa, uses it to turn lights on.
Don’t get me wrong - it’s been helpful for her while recovering from illness and a prolapsed disc, but otherwise just lazy
Are modern cars lazy because they have starter motors rather than a hand crank?
Soldato
Your definition of lazy is very odd.
Are modern cars lazy because they have starter motors rather than a hand crank?
No, but you’re comparing apples and oranges.
The example you’ve given uses a motor to aid in the starting of a larger motor, rather than doing it by hand. You still need to physically start a car.
I’m talking about moving from putting in work to change something, such as the state of a light, to doing it from the sofa.
Hence, encouraging people to not move.
Soldato
Lazy for me is to get Deliveroo or whoever to deliver a loaf of bread from the Co-opYup, feels like we’re pushing towards a lazier and lazier society. My mum loves Alexa, uses it to turn lights on.
Don’t get me wrong - it’s been helpful for her while recovering from illness and a prolapsed disc, but otherwise just lazy
I don’t have an app controlled heating control. Got a weekly timer so heating comes on when I finish work and it’s toasty when I get in. Just override timer if at home.
Last edited by a moderator:
Some of them do seem pretty pointless. Some of them I can see would be useful.
A lot of it is driven by unabashed and rampant consumerism though.
I've managed to sort of ween myself off a lot of it now. I used to love having the latest smartphone every year or two, but I've realised that they haven't really changed in years now. They just get a bit faster and the camera improves a bit.
Like with most new tech, I get excited about it for a few days and then realise it's just inherently the same and all i have done is contributed to making a billionaire a bit richer.
A lot of it is driven by unabashed and rampant consumerism though.
I've managed to sort of ween myself off a lot of it now. I used to love having the latest smartphone every year or two, but I've realised that they haven't really changed in years now. They just get a bit faster and the camera improves a bit.
Like with most new tech, I get excited about it for a few days and then realise it's just inherently the same and all i have done is contributed to making a billionaire a bit richer.
Soldato
My washing machine’s eco cycle is 4 hours 12 mins! There’s some days where I use the washer straight after a wash - such as bedding. Can’t be waiting that time!
Soldato
- Joined
- 11 Sep 2013
- Posts
- 12,310
Nah, those are all commonplace.
How about an app-controlled vape?
Yes they exist, yes I know somebody who bought one... because moving your thumb 2" downward to press a button is so inconvenient compared to reaching in a pocket, pulling your phone out, swiping or drawing patterns to unlock, swiping across, opening an app, and then pressing a button.... and yes, the ******* thing also has RGB, too.
How about an app-controlled vape?
Yes they exist, yes I know somebody who bought one... because moving your thumb 2" downward to press a button is so inconvenient compared to reaching in a pocket, pulling your phone out, swiping or drawing patterns to unlock, swiping across, opening an app, and then pressing a button.... and yes, the ******* thing also has RGB, too.
Most of them are what I would consider disability aids... A few might be useful for the few occasions when I have an infant asleep on me and getting up would be far worse than the minimal carbon impact of using an app for whatever it is... but then, I was raised in a time when not every household even owned a fridge, so I'm sure my little ones will grow up alright.