home theater, cord cutting, video streaming, a/v tech, and more!

Postby **DigitalGypsy66** » Sat Sep 19, 2020 3:34 pm

I am feeling particularly ornery today for some reason, but I had a good chuckle about an Amazon Alexa hardware event. Basically celebrating new ways to gather data on their customers to sell to third parties, and for bad actors and governments to spy on you. And we PAY for the privilege.

Postby **NTP66** » Sat Sep 19, 2020 3:40 pm

Yeah, I just don’t care too much about that. I’d rather Amazon have that data as opposed to Google.

Postby **MrKennethTKangaroo** » Mon Oct 05, 2020 9:51 am

Basic Fios question:

Basic service is $39.99 a month. Is that just a first year into rate? Or will that be the indefinite price?

Postby **DigitalGypsy66** » Mon Oct 05, 2020 9:55 am

Speaking of FIOS, they dropped ATT Sportsnet Pittsburgh due to a contract dispute. May not make any waves now because the Pens and Pirates aren't in season right now. Do they air high school football? Is that going on in PA?

Postby **MrKennethTKangaroo** » Mon Oct 05, 2020 10:17 am

yes they air some high school fb and yes it is going on in PA

Postby **skullman80** » Mon Oct 05, 2020 10:19 am

Speaking of FIOS, they dropped ATT Sportsnet Pittsburgh due to a contract dispute. May not make any waves now because the Pens and Pirates aren't in season right now. Do they air high school football? Is that going on in PA?

I didn't even notice AT&T sports net got dropped. That must have been recent, though I don't think I really ever turn to that station other than Pens games and the occasional pirate game. I'm sure they will work it out right before things start up again for hockey or what not. Plus the Pens may stink anyways this coming season so it may not matter ha.

Postby **skullman80** » Mon Oct 05, 2020 10:20 am

Ah so it did just happen on Sept 30th. Hopefully it gets worked out before hockey, but if not there are other ways to watch. Fios is superior to comcast in every way so no way would I switch just because of that.

Postby **NTP66** » Mon Oct 05, 2020 10:23 am

Source of the post Fios is superior to comcast in every way so no way would I switch just because of that.

Postby **Beveridge** » Mon Oct 05, 2020 10:24 am

I wish Fios was in my area but being in podunk PA, might be a while

Postby **dodint** » Mon Oct 05, 2020 12:54 pm

FIOS was awesome. One of the few downsides of moving.

Though our XFinity has been good enough.

Postby **MrKennethTKangaroo** » Mon Oct 05, 2020 1:46 pm

So does the price stay the same after a year or not

Postby **nocera** » Mon Oct 05, 2020 1:47 pm

I had a 2 year contract and the bill jumped huge following that. I've been meaning to call and negotiate a lower rate but I'm too lazy.

Postby **skullman80** » Mon Oct 05, 2020 1:48 pm

Fios has always been good about giving/keeping discounts after my contract would come up if I chatted them up via their online chat. I think any provider goes up once you hit your contract end point, then it's on you to work out another deal with them.

Postby **Viva la Ben** » Mon Oct 05, 2020 1:51 pm

I’ve been internet only with Fios for 4 years now....it’s great.

Postby **NTP66** » Mon Oct 05, 2020 1:52 pm

Fios has always been good about giving/keeping discounts after my contract would come up if I chatted them up via their online chat. I think any provider goes up once you hit your contract end point, then it's on you to work out another deal with them.

This year would have been my 4th renewal with Verizon, but the offers were really bad. Instead, the CSR told me to just let it lapse and my discounts would remain on my account. That was two months ago, and I'm still paying the same rate that I have since 2018.

Postby **nocera** » Mon Oct 05, 2020 1:52 pm

Fios has always been good about giving/keeping discounts after my contract would come up if I chatted them up via their online chat. I think any provider goes up once you hit your contract end point, then it's on you to work out another deal with them.

Yeah I figured. I'm waiting to finally get the go ahead from the fiance to cancel DirecTV and then negotiate a bundle with Fios.

Postby **MrKennethTKangaroo** » Mon Oct 05, 2020 1:58 pm

Thank you all for your collective service

Postby **NAN** » Mon Oct 05, 2020 2:00 pm

I like the NHL.tv and MLB.tv route with Yonder TV

Don't have to worry about the sportnets and their fights, plus for like an extra $10 a year you can get the entire league games

Postby **nocera** » Tue Oct 13, 2020 2:09 pm

Anybody watch the Apple event? They announced the iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Mini, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max. That's a confusing lineup. Oh also, they do not come with a power brick or headphones in the box. Oh and the power brick needs to be USB-C. And the cable is USB-C to Lightning. So it's not like most Apple people already own the brick.

I realized that I've reached the point where I just don't care to have the latest phone technology. I've had my iPhone 8 Plus for 3 years now and it's fine. I notice some slowdown at points and eventually will upgrade but I used to get super excited about the new iPhones. I don't know if it's my age or that innovations have slowed down, but I was underwhelmed today.

Postby **dodint** » Tue Oct 13, 2020 2:14 pm

I bought a Samsung tablet, the one I recommended to mikey, back in January 2016 and it's still going strong. Battery life has diminished but other than that I still use it every day.

Postby **NTP66** » Tue Oct 13, 2020 2:17 pm

I'm very much okay with them using USB-C for the power block, but they're still using Lightning on the actual phone? That's so **** stupid when USB-C can handle anything they can throw at it. My wife needs a new phone, so I've been waiting to see any good deals on iPhones. Doubt I'll look at the 12 myself, but if I can snag an X or XS for her, that would work.

Postby **nocera** » Tue Oct 13, 2020 2:21 pm

I should be clear: USB-C is the way to go. But they should've included the brick. They claim it's to be more environmentally friendly. That's nonsense.

Postby **nocera** » Tue Oct 13, 2020 2:22 pm

The new lineup.

Postby **NTP66** » Tue Oct 13, 2020 2:25 pm

Environmentally friendly... for them, since the packaging can shrink, and somebody else will be producing the blocks. And still with the god damn notch at the top, lol.

Postby **NTP66** » Tue Oct 13, 2020 2:31 pm

I'm laughing, but I've also purchased enough of those phones that the joke's sorta on me.