Technology, Computers and Smartphones

[ladyboy]

What do you mean- the internet Connection is bad and interferes with your shows? If so, we had something similar in that out WiFi was so crappy it couldn’t deal with streaming. I got a jack that plugged into an outlet and turned it into an Ethernet outlet, and plugged the Roku into that. It pretty much solves the problem. If your issue is WiFi maybe give it a try?

[chonies]

That might solve things —is there a brand you recommend?

[ladyboy]

I think it's a D-Link. It was a surprisingly easy and effective solution. I totally wasn't expecting it to work but it made the Roku functional for me and it wasn't before. I am heading out now but will look for a link to a product to add when I get back!

ETA: I don't see the one I got, but I've had it for over 5 years. It's like this one but they also have others that add an outlet as well, so you don't lose your ability to plug something in.

[mojogirl]

So, I was super-excited about Disney+ launching next week, and have already signed up for the three-year discounted package.

Now I find out that they will not initially be launching an app for Samsung smart TVs so I will have to watch by attaching my PC to the TV with the hdmi cable like they did back in pioneer days!

[cubanitafresca]

What about getting a Roku? That would be a lot less hassle than connecting to your computer all the time. Definitely go through Roku not Amazon fire - they aren't getting a Disney app either.

[mrspickles]

My oldest is THE place where technology goes to die. She has alwasy been hell on cell phones, iPods and even remote controls for tv's. She's ready for her 6th phone this year becuase the darn things just keep breaking (I know it is user error - I know she gets frustrated and throws them, or the kids get hold of them and bang them up or she just loses them) but I'm really not feeling replacing her phone AGAIN. Last time I bought her and her husband brand new phones they had them for 1 month out of the 24 months it took me to pay them off. SO - her dad says 'I have this old phone I'm not using anymore she can have it'.

It is a Galaxy S7 that is still locked to Sprint's network. I've now called 5 times this week to get the thing unolcked from the network. Everyone I've talked to has been really nice. Super, super nice. The first time I wasn't able to submit the request because DXH couldn't remember his password or the street he grew up on. Finally got that info and called back - request submitted, should be done within 24-72 hours. Didn't tell me that I had to have the Sprint SIM card in, so I had the new SIM in. Start over after the 72 hours. Next request "should take about 6 hours, but check back after 48 hours if it hasn't happened'. No luck. Called back. Next gal puts me on hold for a good long while, then comes back and says 'okay, I just unlocked it!' So I hung up and swapped the SIM cards to the TMobile card. Nope. Still locked to Sprint. Called right back. Spent another 45 minutes on the phone and now she says 'I just submitted all three kinds of request - immediate unlock, 6 hours and 24 hours' if nothing has happened in the next 48 hours I guess call back. Oh, and by the way, even if you get it unlocked it may not work on T Mobile's network....

I am SO damn frustrated.

Did I mention that I've been paying for her cell service for the past 8 years, whether she has a phone or not? Also for her husband, even when he was in prison? And they were supposed to pay me back for it? Yeah. So my desire to go out and buy her another phone is exactly ZERO. But she really does have to have one (small kids make it a safety issue for me) and her dad isn't going to spend any actual money, so guess who gets to foot that bill?

Probably should have put this in the Peeves thread, but what I'm wondering at this point is - am I asking for something that can't actually be done, and just using the wrong words? I always used to hear about 'jailbreaking an iPhone' and I thought this was the same thing.

[mojogirl]

Disney+ did drop an app for my smart tv yesterday, so I was able to watch The Mandalorian and High School Musical: The Musical - the Series without my PC, as God intended!

[Deleted]

Lucky. They don't have a Vizio app yet so I was stuck watching The Mandalorian on my iPad.

[kostgard]

I'm just amused/mildly disturbed at how much our devices spy on us. I've been listening to Cuban music lately, and now all the ads on my YouTube and Twitter accounts are in Spanish.

[chonies]

Agreed. I use Safari on my phone and Google Chrome on my work computer and between the two of them, they're still telling me things across platforms.