Smart technology a go go or a no no

[cliffed]

With all this Smart Technology around who uses what

 

[Simon47]

As for controlling with apps on phone, I'm just not a fan at all.

It's not something I like either - I get "a tad irritated" at the number of businesses I deal with who all expect me to install their app in order to deal with them. I guess a lot of people just do it, never read the small print (always read the small print !), and never even think about what information the app might be syphoning off their phone - for example, AIUI Whatsapp won't work unless it can read all your stored contact details and syphon them off to Facebook (I don't use any of that stuff).

I don't even like dimmers, so many failures and hassles over the years. i replaced all mine with the push-on-off modules that just work...all the time. Add LEDs (I love 'em!) into a dimmer mix and as you know there are so many threads on here about dimmers and LEDs not behaving, so why would you?

I've been impressed with Varilight dimmers - they've worked very well in our living room with LED lights.

I can still get off my seat and switch the lights on or off!

SWMBO now complains about that. When I "did up" our living room, I fitted a grid switch so everything can be switched from the doorway. Previously, some of the standard/table lamps were using plug-in radio controls as they weren't accessible for to switch on/off, and she's not happy about losing them. Med/long term plan is to combine the grid switches with remote control and some DALI ...

But back to subject in hand, I've been careful to stay away from the IoT trend - having been in IT for decades, the risks are obvious and I really don't want a load of "Internet of Tat"on my network or in the house. I did lose the argument when one of our daughters gave SWMBO an Alexa device one Christmas, and the other daughter produced a Firestick primarily so her kids can watch the same stuff here that they get at home.
I do have plans - but only with open protocols and not reliant on an internet computer and some remote server - ask anyone who bought into the "Revolv" ecosystem what they think of proprietary systems that rely on the cloud (a.k.a. "someone else's computer") to work.

 

[Rockingit]

Former house I fitted some Lightwave RF sockets and a dimmer to the lounge - one button 'TV on, lights down' was frankly a bit of a gimmick although the fact you could just press a button as a 'last man out' and actually turn off everything as opposed to standby was good.

Now, I've a Quinetic switch as a manual overide for a flood light over the yard and that's about it. Well..... if you discount a Nest Thermostat, three hubs and about 10 cameras, that is.... The definition of 'smart' isn't what it used to be!!

 

[brianmoooore]

The definition of 'smart' isn't what it used to be!!

I suppose I should really have included the Ring doorbell and a couple of smart tvs.

 

[Simon47]

We have a "smart" TV - I've deliberately not connected it to the network.
There's a long history of security problems with them - e.g. one model was found to scan your local network (I guess all DLNA servers) and send a list of all media files found to "somewhere" ! Generally, you've no idea what it might be doing behind your back.
Also, there's a long history of features that stop working. E.g. BBC updated the iPlayer interface, and quite a few TVs stopped being able to access it. At least with a plug in device like the Firestick (as noted above, it wasn't my choice to admit it to the house), if it gets out of date it's not expensive to bin and replace.
And lastly, it's just so much harder than a "dumb" TV to work the common features - like switching between the HDMI inputs and the tuner.
This TV was given to us, but while looking for a replacement after our previous one packed in, I was finding it frustrating to be paying for stuck I not only didn't want - but actually want to not have. Grrrr.

 

[pirate]

Long story short, I had trouble printing to an older HP deskjet, so I tried to find a driver...no luck. Only way to get it working apparently is to install the HP app on my phone...did that, printer still didn't work and my guardian angel app on PC and phone blocked over 100 attempts to access my info.
Now, I don't believe that HP are trying to do me any harm, but honestly...it's a printer ffs!
I did find a work-around that worked ok, and also allowed me to use my Epson scanner which hates Windows 10 and has no drivers...but why do we have to suffer these hassles?
I'm a complete amateur with IT, but I didn't want to dump the printer (cheap) or the scanner (expensive) jusr because I had my PC updated to Windows 10.
Now both work fine, and I have found a reason to keep my laptop running 8.1 and my netbook running xp!
Smart?
NOT!
Lights work with a switch, I like that!

 

[DPG]

Long story short, I had trouble printing to an older HP deskjet, so I tried to find a driver...no luck. Only way to get it working apparently is to install the HP app on my phone...did that, printer still didn't work and my guardian angel app on PC and phone blocked over 100 attempts to access my info.
Now, I don't believe that HP are trying to do me any harm, but honestly...it's a printer ffs!
I did find a work-around that worked ok, and also allowed me to use my Epson scanner which hates Windows 10 and has no drivers...but why do we have to suffer these hassles?
I'm a complete amateur with IT, but I didn't want to dump the printer (cheap) or the scanner (expensive) jusr because I had my PC updated to Windows 10.
Now both work fine, and I have found a reason to keep my laptop running 8.1 and my netbook running xp!
Smart?
NOT!
Lights work with a switch, I like that!

You will find a lot of this sort of detection software gives loads of false positives.

 

[littlespark]

My HP printer just throws a wobbly for no reason

Works fine for days... prints from any laptop, any device.... Its wifi, so no cables between....
I want to do a quote that must be, has to be sent tonight... and the damn thing goes "no..... not responding"
In the huff.

It takes a reboot of windows, and a power cycle of the printer... all while im standing on one leg... its the only thing that seems to work

 

[DPG]

My HP printer just throws a wobbly for no reason

Works fine for days... prints from any laptop, any device.... Its wifi, so no cables between....
I want to do a quote that must be, has to be sent tonight... and the damn thing goes "no..... not responding"
In the huff.

It takes a reboot of windows, and a power cycle of the printer... all while im standing on one leg... its the only thing that seems to work

When you select print, leave it for 30 seconds or so on the print dialogue box before hitting the button to actually start the print. Some printers don't like it if you start the print before they've had chance to wake up and communicate with the PC.

 

[Simon47]

HP have jumped on the "never mind the quality, how can we screw over the users" bandwagon. It's a common opinion that their current printers are no better than from the cheap tat manufacturers, and they've done stuff like rejecting third party cartridges with a misleading error message.
As for drivers, they've gone away from making drivers compact, clean, and easy to install - instead lumping them in with a pile of other cr...rubbish you didn't want to install.
I wouldn't buy another HP printer.

 

[ipf]

I'm not into HP, either.
On HP laptop now. Absolute load of cr*p.
Touchpad ridiculously bad and isn't even listed in 'settings' to try to sort out.
Using a separate mouse at present which, at least, prevents the cursor from jumping around like Mick Jagger.
Need to change it.
Epson printer OK.