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

submitted 4 months ago by wuphysics87@lemmy.ml to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

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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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[–] sparr@lemmy.world 67 points 4 months 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.

[–] ouRKaoS@lemmy.today 6 points 4 months 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.

[–] Threeme2189@lemmy.world 21 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (1 children)

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

[–] B0rax@feddit.de 5 points 4 months ago

WhatsApp is the same as texting in this regard.

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