I want to get rid of my Alexa devices because they try to do advertisements periodically. I was thinking of getting one
of those apple mini speakers.
Is that when you ask it to play music and you get a Tune In ad first? I
am getting that, it barks.
I want to get rid of my Alexa devices because they try to do advertisements periodically. I was thinking of getting one
of those apple mini speakers.
I think the ads depends on what music service you use. I have a paid spotify family account. Probably would never use it by my wife and daughter do so I set it as my default music service, have never heard
any advertisements.
Yep could be, I was on Spotify then moved to Apple music
when I got a 3 month free offer, to be honest I'll prob go
back to Spotify at the end of the free trial I tend to
think it's better than the Apple offering...
Yep could be, I was on Spotify then moved to Apple music when I got a 3 month free offer, to be honest I'll prob go back to Spotify at the end
of the free trial I tend to think it's better than the Apple offering...
I think audiophiles prefer Apple Music but I can't tell a difference. However my sister was laid off at Spotify recently so I have an axe to grind with them and will probably cancel my service. That'll show 'em! hehe
Can you return to Spotify as a "new" user and get their free
offerings a 2nd time? I don't think so. Eventually the moving
back and forth is a maintenance job.
I used Spotify for several months tolerating the occasional ad.
Then they offered 3 mos for 99cents/mo. Took that, thinking I
could cancel and come back after a few mos. By then, I already
had some some nice playlists and favorites and didn't want to
lose them.
Since then, I've learned that there are tools that "migrate"
playlists between services. I know a friend who I introduced to
Spotify (and took advantage of a 3mos for $3 deal) used one
such tool to migrate over to AppleMusic. He seems happy with
the transition as he is taking advantage of a 3-mos free deal
there now.
My mother has got into the habit of keeping her Alexa disconnected
she wants to use it. I cannot remember the exact details, but it was apparently speaking without being spoken to, at times.
My mother has got into the habit of keeping her Alexa disconnectedwas
she wants to use it. I cannot remember the exact details, but it
apparently speaking without being spoken to, at times.
The one here is always unplugged until we want to listen to music.
Blue White wrote to Utopian Galt <=-
My mother has got into the habit of keeping her Alexa disconnected
unless she wants to use it. I cannot remember the exact details, but
it was apparently speaking without being spoken to, at times.
My mother has got into the habit of keeping her Alexadisconnected
unless she wants to use it. I cannot remember the exact details,but
it was apparently speaking without being spoken to, at times.
Someone made a box that sat on top of your alexa, blocking the
microphone. It made sure Alexa wasn't listening in when it wasn't
active.
The only problem was that the device was listening all the time to
pass
through Alexa commands, which just kicked the can down the road and
left
another sketchy company listening to your room 24/7.
I think audiophiles prefer Apple Music but I can't tell a difference.
However my sister was laid off at Spotify recently so I have an axe to
grind with them and will probably cancel my service. That'll show 'em!
hehe
fair enough... and I agree I think the lossless thing is an appeal to some but not for me. I'm an MP3 boy from way back.
I've been listening to MP3s for years as well (since around 1998 when
I first discovered MP3s). I still like to buy music in lossless
format though. Even though it's hard for me to tell the difference, I still like having a lossless version that I can use to convert into whatever format I want (whether it be MP3 or some other format). I
also just still like to buy music on CD, since I'll own a copy and I
know it won't be removed from a streaming service. I've also seen
places that sell music as DRM-free lossless FLAC files, which I like.
Where do you buy lossless music? I've been using 7digital to buy either 16bit or 24bit FLAC files which I then load into Plex.
though I'm not sure if ripping from CD to FLAC is worth it.
I've been listening to MP3s for years as well (since around 1998 when I first discovered MP3s). I still like to buy music in lossless format though. Even though it's hard for me to tell the difference, I still
like having a lossless version that I can use to convert into whatever format I want (whether it be MP3 or some other format). I also just
still like to buy music on CD, since I'll own a copy and I know it won't be removed from a streaming service. I've also seen places that sell music as DRM-free lossless FLAC files, which I like.
I want to get rid of my Alexa devices because they try to do advertisements periodically. I was thinking of getting one
of those apple mini speakers.
Some of her grandkids used to like to ask it funny questions they knew
would solicit funny answers. When it is just her, I think music is
she uses it for, too. ;)
I want to get rid of my Alexa devices because they try to do advertisements periodically. I was thinking of getting one
of those apple mini speakers.
been kind of thinking the same thing to replace all my google spy
devices. :>
Some of her grandkids used to like to ask it funny questions theyknew
would solicit funny answers. When it is just her, I think music is
she uses it for, too. ;)
My grandson tries to do that. He doesn't get it won't answer to okay
google though so we don't get very far. LOL
esc wrote to Nightfox <=-
IIRC the iTunes store has an option for you to get all your music DRM
free for a slightly higher charge.
IIRC the iTunes store has an option for you to get all your music DRM free for a slightly higher charge. For me, this is a relatively small premium that I'll gladly pay to have DRM free content, particularly because I predict Apple will eventually do away with content ownership and will transition to a 100% subscription based model. Which...is lame.
I've been listening to MP3s for years as well (since around 1998 when I first discovered MP3s). I still like to buy music in lossless format though. Even though it's hard for me to tell the difference, I still
like having a lossless version that I can use to convert into whatever format I want (whether it be MP3 or some other format). I also just
still like to buy music on CD, since I'll own a copy and I know it won't be removed from a streaming service. I've also seen places that sell music as DRM-free lossless FLAC files, which I like.
Yes these days I tend to try and by the CD so I own a copy of the media then rip it as either WAV or MP3 320Kbps.. I guess HDD space is so much better these days so smaller MP3 files can be a thing of the past.
I've been listening to MP3s for years as well (since around 1998 when I first discovered MP3s). I still like to buy music in lossless format
I want to get rid of my Alexa devices because they try to do
been kind of thinking the same thing to replace all my google spy devices.
Yes these days I tend to try and by the CD so I own a copy of the media then rip it as either WAV or MP3 320Kbps.. I guess HDD space is so much
been kind of thinking the same thing to replace all my google spy devices. :>
Wouldn't you just be replacing google spies with apple spies? I would rather opt not to have either.
Yes these days I tend to try and by the CD so I own a copy of the media
then rip it as either WAV or MP3 320Kbps.. I guess HDD space is so much better these days so smaller MP3 files can be a thing of the past.
I think we started finding mp3s a little earlier... after messing around with windoze players which were pretty ordinary at the time, I ended up using some CGI scripts and... I forget what linux player, and had them all on the file server :)
Those were the days..
I haven't bought a CD in years, not even sure where you could here now, unless you're buying secondhand ones at a flea market. The last of our "music" stores closed a couple of years back citing lack of sales.
I haven't bought a CD in years, not even sure where you could here now, unless you're buying secondhand ones at a flea market. The last of our "music" stores closed a couple of years back citing lack of sales.
I haven't bought a CD in years, not even sure where you could here now, unless you're buying secondhand ones at a flea market. The last of our "music" stores closed a couple of years back citing lack of sales.
The CD's I have, and anything I acquire these days, I still tend to use 256Kbps more or less as a standard amongst my own files more than
anything else, I probably have a raft that are so old, they'd be
128-160s.
I use Apple Music for casual listening and some music discovery (but for that, we actually have two independent AAA radio stations that seem to play new stuff that I like, so that seems to be the main source of my
new music discoveries). Apple Music is used almost exclusively for when I'm walking, running, biking, or in the car.
I also have about 650 CDs sitting on some shelves about 6 feet from my desk, and a CD player hooked up to the speakers on the desk. I've got a
4 TB external drive that I rip all of the CDs to FLAC on, but honestly,
I never use it.
While I'm working, I alternate between the radio (I have a usb SDR with
a FM yagi pointed at Denver.) and listening to discs. The only time I really stream anything is when I specifically want to listen to an album
I don't have on disc. That 'listen' is sometimes followed with a trip
to eBay to see how cheap I can get the actual disc for. lol
Most of the music stores in my area have closed down too, but there are still a couple in the area. And there's a chain (I think it's a local chain) that specializes in buying and selling used albums.
At this point, I've figured that music stores mostly sold vinyl, and
have had increasing sales in the last few years.
Switching gears from the original thread a bit, I like collecting vinyl. This started about 20ish years ago when I got some hand-me-downs from a deceased relative, and I had some fun with it. I don't have a monumental collection or anything, and I'm personally skeptical of the claims audiophiles make about sound quality, but I just find the technology to be neat and love the album artwork and everything. It's just a fun hobby.
Switching gears from the original thread a bit, I like collecting vinyl. This started about 20ish years ago when I got some hand-me-downs from a deceased relative, and I had some fun with it. I don't have a monumental collection or anything, and I'm personally skeptical of the claims audiophiles make about sound quality, but I just find the technology to
be neat and love the album artwork and everything. It's just a fun hobby.
Great to hear you're still consuming FM radio :) The former broadcaster
in me wants to say 'thanks!' :)
what I've found is that as I get older I miss hearing the version of
the song I grew up with on the radio or had on vinyl all those years
back. Many of the streaming platforms have re-recorded or similar the
I use Apple Music for casual listening and some music discovery (but for that, we actually have two independent AAA radio stations that seem to play new stuff that I like, so that seems to be the main source of my
new music discoveries). Apple Music is used almost exclusively for when I'm walking, running, biking, or in the car.
I also have about 650 CDs sitting on some shelves about 6 feet from my desk, and a CD player hooked up to the speakers on the desk. I've got a
4 TB external drive that I rip all of the CDs to FLAC on, but honestly,
I never use it.
While I'm working, I alternate between the radio (I have a usb SDR with
a FM yagi pointed at Denver.) and listening to discs. The only time I really stream anything is when I specifically want to listen to an album
I don't have on disc. That 'listen' is sometimes followed with a trip
to eBay to see how cheap I can get the actual disc for. lol
---
Switching gears from the original thread a bit, I like collecting
vinyl. This started about 20ish years ago when I got some
hand-me-downs from a deceased relative, and I had some fun with it. I
don't have a monumental collection or anything, and I'm personally
skeptical of the claims audiophiles make about sound quality, but I
just find the technology to be neat and love the album artwork and everything. It's just a fun hobby.
I also have a small vinyl collection. I had a few albums from back
when
I was younger. In more recent times, I would sometimes drop by a
local
"flea market store" or the Goodwill to see what they had. I have
found a
lot of old Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass records that way, as well
as
some from Jimmy Dorsey, Tommy Dorsey, and a few rock classics, too.
I do side work on computers for folks. I remember a few years ago a
lady came to me after her husband died. He had a massive music
collection they built together and because it was his account they
wouldn't give it to her after he died. She was pretty devastated. I
Wouldn't you just be replacing google spies with apple spies? I would rather opt not to have either.
We have a store here in my hometown called Rasputin that's been around since the 1970's, and it has a massive collection of new and used
records. I've mostly been focusing on an eclectic mix of 80's-90's
synth, metal and punk rock, especially the rare and import varieties.
It's small, but I really enjoy breaking them out for a listen.
We have a store here in my hometown called Rasputin that's been around since the 1970's, and it has a massive collection of new and used records. I've mostly been focusing on an eclectic mix of 80's-90's synth, metal and punk rock, especially the rare and import varieties. It's small, but I really enjoy breaking them out for a listen.
Are you in San Jose?
I have a pretty eclectic little collection as well. Everything from Sinatra to Wu-Tang. :P
Nightfox wrote to Spectre <=-
I think it was when I found WinAmp (for Windows) that I started looking for MP3s. WinAmp actually seemed like a fairly uniqye player,
definitely not ordinary.
I worked at Eidos Interactive in the late '90s. Our QA manager was a master trader -- we'd trade copies of Tomb Raider for Office licenses, Winamp, WinZIP, you name it...
The Winamp guys loved us - it was payware back then, and they sent us a ton of licenses and swag for TR copies.
I like the crooners as well. Don't really have any rap/hip hop, but should... WuTang on vinyl would be great. I have some funk & jazz/funk - Parliament, Miles Davis and Curtis Mayfield.
Yeah, that sucks. I don't think that'd happen today, since Apple has removed the DRM from the purchased music files. Having said that, I
don't buy music from Apple. I stream from Apple when I'm on the road and what not, but 90% of my music purchases are on CD, and about 10% is on vinyl. We have a very nice turntable, but the vinyl purcases are mostly more of a 'collecting' purchase than a 'listening' purchase. Less than
1% of stuff than I can't find on disc I've managed to find FLAC
purchases for from various places around the internet.
---
* Origin: Telnet: bbs.WalledCTTY.com:1989 - Fort Collins, CO USA (21:2/145)
True, but then there is conspiracy theroies around our phones listening to us too...
Wouldn't you just be replacing google spies with apple spies? I
would rather opt not to have either.
True, but then there is conspiracy theroies around our phones listening
to us too...
Where do we draw the line?
Yes these days I tend to try and by the CD so I own a copy of the media then rip it as either WAV or MP3 320Kbps.. I guess HDD space is so much better these days so smaller MP3 files can be a thing of the past.
audiophiles make about sound quality, but I just find the technology to
be neat and love the album artwork and everything. It's just a fun hobby.
records. I've mostly been focusing on an eclectic mix of 80's-90's
synth, metal and punk rock, especially the rare and import varieties.
Maybe the "listening to us" part is a bit far fetched (but then again, maybe not).. or maybe the wrong terminology, but they definitely collect data on just about everything you do.You are correct. Actively listening to users would require an insane amount of bandwidth and processing power. What app developers do instead is they include a third-party library into their code base. Once loaded, the library collects information and relays it to the ads server. It's very similar to how Google Analytics works on web pages.
I collect records too. What I like about listening to vinyl records is the fact that 'skipping' to the next song is not something that you usually do; you usually listen to the entire side.
I do not want to risk a scratch if I take the needle off the record wrong. --- Platinum Xpress/Win/WINServer v7.0audiophiles make about sound quality, but I just find the technology to be neat and love the album artwork and everything. It's just a fun hobby.
I collect records too. What I like about listening to vinyl records is the fact
that 'skipping' to the next song is not something that you usually do; you usually listen to the entire side.
What I really meant to say was that music never got any better than being a 13I was 14 when I had my first collection of Rush albums. I had like 3-4 albums a year
year-old kid listening to Rush's "Moving Pictures" through a pair of KOSS headphones in my bedroom with the lights turned down, reading the liner in the
dim light.
You can't tell me you've never been using Google Maps or the iPhone Maps app to go somewhere. Then shortly thereafter you scroll facebook (or some other popular social media app with ads) and see ads for places you've passed on your trip?
Do a quick web search for a nearby car dealership (or anything else for that matter). Scroll through their online inventory. Then close out of that and open up facebook, and you get to see advertisements for the same dealership - and others even.
I do not want to risk a scratch if I take the needle off the record wrong.
I rarely use my phone's map navigation when I'm driving. I tend to use
my car's GPS. And I tend to leave my phone's location turned off unless
I really need it.
I rarely use my phone's map navigation when I'm driving. I tend to use my
car's GPS. And I tend to leave my phone's location turned off unless I
really need it.
I definitely use my phone. Vehicles GPSs constantly need to be upgraded, which dealerships usually charge (quite a bit) for. The ones I have used don't ever seem to be updated enough for any real-time information, or have even taken me to the wrong location, etc. Heck, some cars (our newest vehicle) don't even have their own GPS any more, but instead comes with Android Auto and Apple Carplay so you can just hook up your phone and use those features off your phone.
Just the other day, coming home from work, Siri told me there was an accident like 15 miles ahead and gave me an alternate route that saved me 20 minutes of sitting in bumper to bumper freeway traffic. I can definitely appreciate that. ;)
On 12/23/2023 5:47 PM, Poindexter Fortran wrote to Unixl0rd:
What I really meant to say was that music never got any better than bei 13I was 14 when I had my first collection of Rush albums. I had like 3-4 albums a year
year-old kid listening to Rush's "Moving Pictures" through a pair of KO headphones in my bedroom with the lights turned down, reading the liner the
dim light.
bought.
You don't have to go to the dealership to upgrade them. It seems it's typically just a flash memory card with recent maps that they need. I bought a new car recently which has GPS, and I bought a SD card for its navigation from eBay for $40, and it works just fine.
Also, I find it more convenient than getting my phone out and plugging
it in, etc.. But also, I currently don't have a cell phone holder for
my car. My car does have Android Auto, but still, I have to get my
phone out and plug it in. The Android Auto isn't wireless - but I have
seen some USB Bluetooth adapters that let you use Android Auto wirelessly.
I just haven't gotten in the habit of plugging my phone in to my car.
That is nice. It seems a car GPS can detect heavy traffic, too - I had
a GPS in my last car too, and I had a route that I used to drive fairly regularly, and sometimes it would route me differently, and I think it's because it was able to get traffic data from somewhere and route me
around bad traffic.
What I really meant to say was that music never got any better than beiI was 14 when I had my first collection of Rush albums. I had like 3-4 albums a year
13
year-old kid listening to Rush's "Moving Pictures" through a pair of KO
headphones in my bedroom with the lights turned down, reading the liner
the
dim light.
bought.
We must be close to the same age and wow that just brought back a lot of good
memories...
You don't have to go to the dealership to upgrade them. It seems it's
typically just a flash memory card with recent maps that they need. I
bought a new car recently which has GPS, and I bought a SD card for its
navigation from eBay for $40, and it works just fine.
While I have seen this feature recently with newer vehicles. GPS was around in vehicles before USB was. During that time, I'm fairly certain you either needed to take it to the dealership for an upgrade, or buy a CD that was upwards of $300 in order to update.
Also, I find it more convenient than getting my phone out and plugging it
in, etc.. But also, I currently don't have a cell phone holder for my
To be honest, if I'm using my phone, I don't bother plugging it into the vehicle and just use the phone's GPS by itself. Seems to be more up to date, and the voice assistant is much better - as far as letting you know there's a speed check ahead, or an accident with possible alternate routes, etc.
Either way, all Android Auto and Apple Carplay really does is basically mock what's already on your phone anyways. That and it uses your vehicle's speakers. While I wouldn't mind using the hands free calling through those apps, the GPS doesn't really gain anything between those apps and just using your phone by itself, IMO.
That is nice. It seems a car GPS can detect heavy traffic, too - I had a
GPS in my last car too, and I had a route that I used to drive fairly
regularly, and sometimes it would route me differently, and I think it's
because it was able to get traffic data from somewhere and route me around
bad traffic.
You think? It didn't tell you there was something going on up ahead and that it found a faster route for you? If not, I think the GPS just gets wierd at times and routes you the fastest way it thinks you should go.
home. From my house, there's basically two ways I can take to the freeway, with not much difference in time, really. Turn on my GPS on my phone in the driveway, and I'd bet 50% of the time it would tell me to go one of the ways, and the other times the other way. Almost like it's confusing itself at times. ;)
I might do that more often, if I had a phone holder in my car, but I don't.. I did have one for a while that clipped onto the rear view
mirror in the middle, which I thought would be more out of the away than one that sits on the dashboard or something, but I found it to be a bit klunky.. I feel like a lot of the cell phone holders for a car could be klunky in some way, as they often clip to one of the vents or sit on the dashboard with suction cups, etc..
I don't use a phone holder or anything like that. Usually when I use my phone for GPS it's right away in the morning when there's a 100% charge on it. So I don't really need to plug it in, which allows me to just stand it up in a cup holder. ;)
collection or anything, and I'm personally skeptical of the claims audiophiles make about sound quality, but I just find the technology to
be neat and love the album artwork and everything. It's just a fun hobby.
Matthew Munson wrote to Unixl0rd <=-
I do not want to risk a scratch if I take the needle off the record
wrong.
* Origin: Inland Utopia BBS * Ontario, California (21:4/108)
Nightfox wrote to Accession <=-
I wouldn't always need to plug mine in either. I could stand it up in
a cup holder, though I sometimes worry about looking down that far at
my phone when needed. :) I feel safer glancing over at a screen if I don't need to take my eyes off the road too far.
my phone in a cup holder, and I kinda like it that way. I can send destinations from Google Maps on my phone to the car and see them there,
You are correct. Actively listening to users would require an insane amount of bandwidth and processing power. What app developers do instead is they include a third-party library into their code base. Once loaded, the library collects information and relays it to the ads server. It's
Yes these days I tend to try and by the CD so I own a copy of the med then rip it as either WAV or MP3 320Kbps.. I guess HDD space is so mu better these days so smaller MP3 files can be a thing of the past.
This is the way. Storage is dirt cheap nowadays (especially HDDs).
Nightfox wrote to poindexter FORTRAN <=-
Interesting.. I don't think I can do that with my car, but if I could, I'd probably use that feature.
I think audiophiles prefer Apple Music but I can't tell a difference. However my sister was laid off at Spotify recently so I have an axe to grind with them and will probably cancel my service. That'll show 'em! hehe
Spotify tried to monetize podcasts. I think that was a billion (or two) dollar mistake.
Spotify tried to monetize podcasts. I think that was a billion (or two)
dollar mistake.
The fact that they paid Joe Rogan as much as they did while they pay musicians shockingly little is also something I think is shitty.
The fact that they paid Joe Rogan as much as they did while they pay musicians shockingly little is also something I think is shitty.Rogan is a different "product". I doubt that they could apply
the same royalty-based system per episode or per avg 4-min
segment that a song is based on.
Rogan is a different "product". I doubt that they could apply
the same royalty-based system per episode or per avg 4-min
segment that a song is based on.
Consider this: Joe Rogan gets something like 200 million downloads per month. Taylor Swift gets someething around 105 million listens per
month. He also helps draw a customer that Taylor Swift definitely
doesn't (simply because millions of people do not consume music, or
are interested in it at all.. strange, i know)
I'm friends with the singer of a very well known metal band and at this
I'm friends with the singer of a very well known metal band and at this
No hints? :-)
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