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What's Some Tech That Was Better Than It Is Now? (lemmy.ml)

submitted 1 month ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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When you connect a new device to a 'smart' tv, you must pay homage to the manufacturer with a ritualistic dance. Plugging and unplugging the device. Turning them on and off in the correct sequence like entering a konami code.

Every time you want to switch devices, the tv must scan for them. And god forbid you lose power, or unplug something. You are granted the delight experience of doing it all over again.

I have fond memories of the days of just plugging something in, and pressing the input button. Instant gratification. It was a simpler time.

What is some other tech that used to be better?

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[–] [email protected] 67 points 1 month ago (9 children)

Instant messaging.

20 years ago, there were half a dozen competing major platforms (AIM, Yahoo, ICQ, MSN, etc), like today.

The difference is that you had your choice of half a dozen clients that could each talk to ALL of the platforms. Adium, Trillian, Kopete, etc.

Today's kids have no idea what we lost to the god of profit.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 month ago (2 children)

Text Messages killed instant message programs. Same "format", but infinitely portable and won't crash out your full screen game when you get a new message.

[–] [email protected] 21 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

This is an American thing. In the rest of the world WhatsApp and the like still reign supreme.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 month ago

WhatsApp is the same as texting in this regard.

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