Grumble Thread

[Dave2002]

A long while ago I used to listen to R3 on FM radio in my then car. It was OK - not perfect - but ....

Then DAB came along. Now I have a car which cost orders of magnitude [well at least mulitple powers of 2] more and the sound of R3 on DAB is - quite frankly - abysmal. In between this one and the first ones I had models with tape units, and then CD players, even if the FM radio wasn't always perfect, it was at least possible to play CDs - and the audio quality was bearable - even occasionally enjoyable - which really isn't the case now.

Progress!

[LMcD]

A long while ago I used to listen to R3 on FM radio in my then car. It was OK - not perfect - but ....

Then DAB came along. Now I have a car which cost orders of magnitude [well at least mulitple powers of 2] more and the sound of R3 on DAB is - quite frankly - abysmal. In between this one and the first ones I had models with tape units, and then CD players, even if the FM radio wasn't always perfect, it was at least possible to play CDs - and the audio quality was bearable - even occasionally enjoyable - which really isn't the case now.

Progress!

I listen to Radio 3 on FM radio, through my TV set and on my desktop. To my unsophisticated lugholes, they all sound perfectly fine.

[Jonathan]

I have a Motorola phone. Up until yesterday, it's been fine. However, the latest update includes something called a "Live lock screen" which is basically an excuse to bombard me with unnecessary adverts. It's installed in the part of the memory of the phone I can't access so I can't even delete it. I've tried all the suggestions online and it won't stop. Motorola have now lost a customer. My next phone will be something without this ridiculous, irritating nonsense installed.

[Dave2002]

I listen to Radio 3 on FM radio, through my TV set and on my desktop. To my unsophisticated lugholes, they all sound perfectly fine.

My car radio is FM/DAB. It is supposed to be clever enough to switch between them, depending on the signal strengths. Up here in the wilds FM often drops out - even if selected - which causes it to swtich to DAB. The sound quality of DAB is noticeably poor - with very harsh violin sounds etc. I do listen to a lot of live music, and also recorded music via other equipment, and despite the age of my ears [roughly the same as my own!] I really can tell the difference.

Actually I should quality that - by mentioning that DAB isn't always terrible - but often it is. The Beethoven Creatures of Prometheus this morning sounded OK - what I heard of it.

[pastoralguy]

A grumble.

The number of emails I receive regarding items that are due and have been delivered! I bought a cd on eBay which was fine. I then receive an email to say it’s been posted. Ok, fair enough. And then an email to say it’s due to be delivered in three days. And then an email on the day of delivery. And then an email to say it’s been delivered. And then an email asking how the delivery went with a survey asking about my ‘experience’ With said delivery!

And all for a £2.50 cd which costs as much to post as the disc was worth. Cut down on the emails and reduce the shipping costs!

[oddoneout]

A grumble.

The number of emails I receive regarding items that are due and have been delivered! I bought a cd on eBay which was fine. I then receive an email to say it’s been posted. Ok, fair enough. And then an email to say it’s due to be delivered in three days. And then an email on the day of delivery. And then an email to say it’s been delivered. And then an email asking how the delivery went with a survey asking about my ‘experience’ With said delivery!

And all for a £2.50 cd which costs as much to post as the disc was worth. Cut down on the emails and reduce the shipping costs!

I would regard reducing the out of control data centre consumption of power and water resources as a result of such email profligacy as a greater benefit!

[Dave2002]

I have a Motorola phone. Up until yesterday, it's been fine. However, the latest update includes something called a "Live lock screen" which is basically an excuse to bombard me with unnecessary adverts. It's installed in the part of the memory of the phone I can't access so I can't even delete it. I've tried all the suggestions online and it won't stop. Motorola have now lost a customer. My next phone will be something without this ridiculous, irritating nonsense installed.

I sympathise, though there is little guarantee that other phones will be any better. Maybe eventually you'll get a notification [advert] offering you advert free operation - for a fee. Until the next time!

[Jonathan]

I know Dave! However, I sent a very snotty email to Motorola and they replied with a way to disable it - and I've managed to do so after following their instructions! That made my day yesterday after a busy day at work!!

[Serial_Apologist]

I really do object to service providers ringing up the instant a service such as an inspection or repair has been carried out for your approval or not of the action taken. Whereas an email would at least allow the recipient to formulate an opinion based on some extended period of time to decide if the job actually has worked, the phone call demands an instant response, with the usual infuriating "agree or disagree with 1 representing total dissatisfaction and 10 full satisfaction" to be registered in seconds - all, for sure, designed to obtain best possible satisfaction figures to report to the BOD.

[oddoneout]

I really do object to service providers ringing up the instant a service such as an inspection or repair has been carried out for your approval or not of the action taken. Whereas an email would at least allow the recipient to formulate an opinion based on some extended period of time to decide if the job actually has worked, the phone call demands an instant response, with the usual infuriating "agree or disagree with 1 representing total dissatisfaction and 10 full satisfaction" to be registered in seconds - all, for sure, designed to obtain best possible satisfaction figures to report to the BOD.

In neither case do you have to respond SA. An advantage of such remote approaches is that it is possible to just ignore them. It's not as if an actual human is standing beside you with a clipboard(digital or otherwise) and it becomes much more difficult for many of us to walk away without at least some sort of response, even if only to say - "no, I don't wish to participate, thank you."
TalkTalk shot itself in the foot* in that respect as it sent an email saying that their engineer had resolved the issue(the issue hadn't been and can't be resolved) and then sent a 'please rate us' email which had a name on it which was not the person I spoke to. As there are text boxes supplied for that form I shall make use of them. They won't be read but at least I have not passively accepted their incompetence.

*In fact it has done so several times over this problem to the point where it doesn't have a leg to stand on let alone a foot...

[HighlandDougie]

I have a Motorola phone. Up until yesterday, it's been fine. However, the latest update includes something called a "Live lock screen" which is basically an excuse to bombard me with unnecessary adverts. It's installed in the part of the memory of the phone I can't access so I can't even delete it. I've tried all the suggestions online and it won't stop. Motorola have now lost a customer. My next phone will be something without this ridiculous, irritating nonsense installed.

I assume that you've tried this

https://www.google.com/search?q=motorola+phone+live+lock+screen+disable&o q=motorola+phone+live+lock+screen+disable&gs_lcrp= EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIICAEQABgWGB4yCAgCEAAYFhgeMg 0IAxAAGIYDGIAEGIoFMg0IBBAAGIYDGIAEGIoFMgoIBRAAGIAE GKIEMgoIBhAAGKIEGIkFMgcIBxAAGO8FMgoICBAAGIAEGKIEMg oICRAAGIAEGKIE0gEKMjU0NDdqMGoxNagCDLACAfEFg7bhTKgZ mVU&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:87f8ea34,vid:FVUh0B7eXP0,st: 15

Good luck!

I've recently bought a new car here in France and the EU obligation on car-makers to have a warning sound if one exceeds the speed limit is very irritating as one has to find the right screen on the "Infotainment" system and untick a box every time one starts the car to get rid of it. Ditto with lane control.

[vinteuil]

I've recently bought a new car here in France and the EU obligation on car-makers to have a warning sound if one exceeds the speed limit is very irritating as one has to find the right screen on the "Infotainment" system and untick a box every time one starts the car to get rid of it. Ditto with lane control.

... in 2024 we experienced this - arriving after a tiring day on a late evening flight at Toulouse to pick up an unfamiliar hire car (a small Toyota) for a two-hour drive - unspeakable beeps, not just if you swerved lane or exceeded a limit - but even to warn you when you were entering a speed limit zone - and even when you were leaving a speed limit zone. It's amazing we didn't have an accident, tempers were rising so fast in the cabin...

On subsequent days we learnt to turn the system off (a faff in itself) - but as you say, each time you start the car

[Dave2002]

I assume that you've tried this

https://www.google.com/search?q=motorola+phone+live+lock+screen+disable&o q=motorola+phone+live+lock+screen+disable&gs_lcrp= EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIICAEQABgWGB4yCAgCEAAYFhgeMg 0IAxAAGIYDGIAEGIoFMg0IBBAAGIYDGIAEGIoFMgoIBRAAGIAE GKIEMgoIBhAAGKIEGIkFMgcIBxAAGO8FMgoICBAAGIAEGKIEMg oICRAAGIAEGKIE0gEKMjU0NDdqMGoxNagCDLACAfEFg7bhTKgZ mVU&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:87f8ea34,vid:FVUh0B7eXP0,st: 15

Good luck!

I've recently bought a new car here in France and the EU obligation on car-makers to have a warning sound if one exceeds the speed limit is very irritating as one has to find the right screen on the "Infotainment" system and untick a box every time one starts the car to get rid of it. Ditto with lane control.

Does the car also nudge the steering if it finds you not following what it "thinks" is the white line in the centre or side of the road? I really dislike that feature - and round here there is often a marked centre white section near a junction so the road "appears" to become narrower for the computer based system. Of course I ignore it, but it doesn't feel good. If they ever give the car mandatory control over the steering I'd take significant steps to disable that - or get rid of the car.

[HighlandDougie]

Does the car also nudge the steering if it finds you not following what it "thinks" is the white line in the centre or side of the road? I really dislike that feature - and round here there is often a marked centre white section near a junction so the road "appears" to become narrower for the computer based system. Of course I ignore it, but it doesn't feel good. If they ever give the car mandatory control over the steering I'd take significant steps to disable that - or get rid of the car.

Yes, alas, the steering does indeed get "nudged" (exactly the apposite word). A feature also with the VW ID3 EV in Scotland which I've been driving for the past 5 years (now on the second one). I have sort of programmed myself to switch the feature off as soon as I press the button to start the car. It may be great on the M4 but not on narrowish or single track roads in the Scottish Highlands. The Skoda here alas shares the feature so it has become: (i) unclick the speed limit warning signal; and (ii) disable what I think of as the steering interferer.

[Dave2002]

Yes, alas, the steering does indeed get "nudged" (exactly the apposite word). A feature also with the VW ID3 EV in Scotland which I've been driving for the past 5 years (now on the second one). I have sort of programmed myself to switch the feature off as soon as I press the button to start the car. It may be great on the M4 but not on narrowish or single track roads in the Scottish Highlands. The Skoda here alas shares the feature so it has become: (i) unclick the speed limit warning signal; and (ii) disable what I think of as the steering interferer.

I think I first encountered that feature on a trip to Suffolk, in a hire car - petrol not an EV. Some of the roads there had bends and fairly narrow "lanes", with marks to indicate the bend, I really did not like the feature, and I'm not sure if I discovered how to turn it off, since it wasn't my car and couldn't in any case find the instructions to override it.

Possibly the feature is helpful in some situations, and for some drivers, but for many of us it's just an added nuisance. It's a pain even if one learns to ignore it.

Slightly less "safety" conscious is the feature in our smaller car. The radio always defaults to coming on. That's with a Renault Zoe. Whoever thought that was a good idea?
There is no defence that it's a safety feature, and indeed probably exactly the opposite.

In the days of knobs and buttons radios stayed off once turned off IIRC - but that's not how we "have" to live in the modern world.