Tech Purchase Thread
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@tim I have a 55” Sony A8X and a 65” A90J. The picture is sensational on both, the newer one is maybe a bit better as you’d expect but not much in it. While they re OLEDS there’s no more reflection than their earlier TVs as they’ve always put very glossy coatings on their Bravias. They use the screen as the speaker so although they are incredibly thin TVs the sound is quite good. Can’t use a soundbar though if you have them table mounted because they sit flush to the table, so a soundbar obscures the bottom couple of inches.
I’d recommend a A90J but not if you intend using a soundbar.
Edit: should add the A90 you can adjust its legs so it stands up a bit higher but they are disappointingly flimsy for a Sony product so no good for me.
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ended up buying this as I got a great deal, and figured I don't need the newest tech out there, I'd never be able to tell the difference
65" QN85A Neo QLED 4K Smart TV
Picture quality in a league of its own with Quantum Matrix Technology Unleash vivid colour with Quantum Dot Picture perfect down to the last detail with Quantum HDR 24x Feel the impact of Object Tracking Sound
Will report back on performance when I get it installed
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@Tim said in Tech Purchase Thread:
It would be great if he can find a setting or Samsung provide an update. For the price it's a great panel and I'd like a couple in my new man's cave.
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@antipodean Sony will have a TV with that panel out soon, but will probably be a little more expensive?
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@Tim yeah, what's the Sony tax, an extra third?
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@antipodean Might only be about $500?
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@voodoo lol, so was this to fix your other tech TV problem? (with the apps) F*ck it buy a new one
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@bayimports said in Tech Purchase Thread:
@voodoo lol, so was this to fix your other tech TV problem? (with the apps) F*ck it buy a new one
respect!Ha, nah. The buggy tv is still our main tv in the lounge, The new one is for the rumpus room we are renovating, that will mean my retirement age has been pushed from 70 to 95
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Landline phone via mobile?
As you probably know, New Zealand's analogue (copper) landline network is being phased out and the only way remaining for landline phones is via internet (VoIP).
In addition to the issue of internet not working when there is a power cut (landlines on the copper network did work in case of a power cut) - that's not what my post is about - this change is not good for - particularly elderly or certain disabled people - who do not have internet and don't have a mobile phone (or aren't able to use it) and are dependent on landlines for their phone calls. My elderly aunt is suffering from mild dementia and uses her landline a lot to talk to family and friends etc. She has no internet and isn't able to use a mobile phone (we tried): they are too thin, she has trouble reading from the screen (glare), struggles with the touch screen (can't dial numbers) etc. She doesn't even remember how to answer a call. We don't think buying an iPad or tablet instead of a mobile phone will solve that problem.
So we have been looking for an affordable solution, particularly a way to connect a normal home phone to a mobile phone.
I have found the following products and I wonder whether any of you have experience with them and whether they indeed offer a good solution in this situation and whether they work in New Zealand. Any other recommendations would be welcome, too!
Retro Handset for iPhone iPad, Mobile Phones etc
(The downside of this one is that it is corded). -
My boy is 9 and I don't want to get him a phone, but want him to be able to contact us as he's leaving the house for sleepovers, walking to school etc. Anyone got any experience with those watches that allow kids to make/receive calls to their parents etc?
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@Stargazer Have you considered a pulse to tone converter so she can keep using her old phone?
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@antipodean No, when searching for solutions, that didn't come up.
A quick google makes me wonder whether that still requires internet? Does it connect home phones with mobile phones (so calling via a mobile network without using data) or is it more a solution for people with really old phones to get those to work on modern VoIP networks? Or does VoIP not require internet? I've no idea.
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@Stargazer said in Tech Purchase Thread:
@antipodean No, when searching for solutions, that didn't come up.
A quick google makes me wonder whether that still requires internet? Does it connect home phones with mobile phones (so with a mobile network) or is it more a solution for people with really old phones to get those to work on modern VoIP networks (via internet)?
Not sure how that would work for someone without internet.
A modem with 4/5G backup would effectively make it a mobile phone. Then your only concern is power going out.
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@Stargazer not an answer to your exact question but when we went through the same thing with my grandmother a few years ago we got something like this
https://www.bigbuttons.co.nz/mobile-phones/big-button-mobile-phone-black-nz.html
so a cell phone but it only does calls, nice big buttons, docking station so no cables to worry about, basically was just like her old cordless landline but but now on a cell plan, worked well enough
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@Kiwiwomble If I can't get the other options to work, that might be a good idea. Thanks!
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@Stargazer said in Tech Purchase Thread:
Landline phone via mobile?
As you probably know, New Zealand's analogue (copper) landline network is being phased out and the only way remaining for landline phones is via internet (VoIP).
In addition to the issue of internet not working when there is a power cut (landlines on the copper network did work in case of a power cut) - that's not what my post is about - this change is not good for - particularly elderly or certain disabled people - who do not have internet and don't have a mobile phone (or aren't able to use it) and are dependent on landlines for their phone calls. My elderly aunt is suffering from mild dementia and uses her landline a lot to talk to family and friends etc. She has no internet and isn't able to use a mobile phone (we tried): they are too thin, she has trouble reading from the screen (glare), struggles with the touch screen (can't dial numbers) etc. She doesn't even remember how to answer a call. We don't think buying an iPad or tablet instead of a mobile phone will solve that problem.
So we have been looking for an affordable solution, particularly a way to connect a normal home phone to a mobile phone.
I have found the following products and I wonder whether any of you have experience with them and whether they indeed offer a good solution in this situation and whether they work in New Zealand. Any other recommendations would be welcome, too!
Retro Handset for iPhone iPad, Mobile Phones etc
(The downside of this one is that it is corded).Quoting my own post so I don't have to repeat myself.
I had a further look at Cell2Jack and XLink. It looks like they are for 120v only (they come with a 120v adaptor), so I guess it's impossible to use here in NZ with our 230/240 volts (50Hz). I'm now trying to find something similar that's made in Europe/China.
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@Kiwiwomble I think that same website offers more or less what we're looking for. The only downside seems to be that the handset is corded (I was hoping to connect a base with at least two cordless handsets to a mobile network), but I guess she's used to that as old landline phones used to be corded.
Big Button Wireless 4G SIM Desk Phone
This easy-to-use phone is designed for seniors with its big buttons and loud volume. It looks like a landline phone but uses a SIM card from any network to make and receive phone calls, no landline or NBN is needed to connect...
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Hey fackers.
I recently bought the Google Pixel 6a - a bargain at $599.
However, going to plug in my headphones this morning I realised it lacks a headphone jack.
The Google Pixel Pro earbuds are $299. Fuck that.
The Google Pixel-A series earbuds don't have ANC. So fuck that.
Recommendations for a set of buds that have ANC and support calls etc appreciated.
