http://www.idkfa.com/v3 idkfa: syndicated http://www.idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=7105&msg_id=7123 I'm busy on Tuesday, but free Monday. kaiden@idkfa.com (kaiden) Cognitive Surplus Fri, 04 Sep 2015 12:12:52 -0800 http://idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=7105&msg_id=7123 http://www.idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=7105&msg_id=7122 So for realz this movie is coming to town. Two showings, one on Monday 9/7 at 8pm or Tuesday at 5:30. If there are interested parties let me know. Katy indicated to me just a minute ago that Tuesday would be slightly better but monday night would be fine as well. MrFood@idkfa.com (MrFood) Cognitive Surplus Fri, 04 Sep 2015 02:31:34 -0800 http://idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=7105&msg_id=7122 http://www.idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=7105&msg_id=7108 I think the moral of the story is everything can be solved with more bourbon. kitacek@idkfa.com (kitacek) Cognitive Surplus Wed, 05 Aug 2015 17:10:47 -0800 http://idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=7105&msg_id=7108 http://www.idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=7105&msg_id=7107 Interesting story I was relating to Josh the other night. After getting really excited to see this climbing movie I looked at the website to see where and when it would be playing in Anchorage. Turns out, it wasn't. So with the help of a little bourbon I send an email to the general manager at Bears Tooth expressing my disappointment that of all places in AK let alone the US they were not getting a showing. My reasoning that most of these guys train in the AK range and probably have on several occasions eaten at the Mooses Tooth post climb. So the general manager actually gets back to me asking where I had heard that they weren't getting a showing. And if had been from a staff person then there might be some hell to pay, they just so happened to be negotiating for a run come late August and into early September. At any rate I have Josh with me now... this shit should be pretty intense and hopefully a good watch. MrFood@idkfa.com (MrFood) Cognitive Surplus Wed, 05 Aug 2015 03:14:29 -0800 http://idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=7105&msg_id=7107 http://www.idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=7105&msg_id=7106 Now that I hear you're strong-arming the Bears Tooth general manager to get this played up here, then yes, of course I'd see this with you. kaiden@idkfa.com (kaiden) Cognitive Surplus Tue, 04 Aug 2015 12:07:29 -0800 http://idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=7105&msg_id=7106 http://www.idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=7105&msg_id=7105 Who wants to see this with me when it hits theaters? It's like the greatest love story of our generation, but about rocks and mountains and shit. http://www.merufilm.com/ MrFood@idkfa.com (MrFood) Cognitive Surplus Fri, 31 Jul 2015 01:28:30 -0800 http://idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=7105&msg_id=7105 http://www.idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=7089&msg_id=7089 Slashdot article about how user interfaces affect 'old users'. Kinda hits home for me. kaiden@idkfa.com (kaiden) Cognitive Surplus Mon, 06 Jul 2015 23:21:31 -0800 http://idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=7089&msg_id=7089 http://www.idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=7071&msg_id=7071 I've always had respect for Dave Grohl, man is a music machine but also does love metal (literally brought up Sepultura in an interview one time), but this definitely justifies that respect. Damn son. Scrotor@idkfa.com (Scrotor) Cognitive Surplus Fri, 12 Jun 2015 19:38:34 -0800 http://idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=7071&msg_id=7071 http://www.idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=7061&msg_id=7062 You know, that was also one of my favorite scenes in that movie too. I love the backstory. Well done. Scrotor@idkfa.com (Scrotor) Cognitive Surplus Tue, 09 Jun 2015 17:58:59 -0800 http://idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=7061&msg_id=7062 http://www.idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=7061&msg_id=7061 This Star Wars (very) short graphic novel is fantastic. Green Man@idkfa.com (Green Man) Cognitive Surplus Tue, 09 Jun 2015 17:52:56 -0800 http://idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=7061&msg_id=7061 http://www.idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=7006&msg_id=7012 [...] kaiden@idkfa.com (kaiden) Cognitive Surplus Sun, 24 May 2015 01:33:29 -0800 http://idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=7006&msg_id=7012 http://www.idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=7006&msg_id=7010 Oh my... I'm laughing so that I don't cry. I was raised by STP (and a cup of coffee). Spartan@idkfa.com (Spartan) Cognitive Surplus Sat, 23 May 2015 21:59:15 -0800 http://idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=7006&msg_id=7010 http://www.idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=7006&msg_id=7007 This makes me really, really uncomfortable to watch. kaiden@idkfa.com (kaiden) Cognitive Surplus Mon, 18 May 2015 12:20:18 -0800 http://idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=7006&msg_id=7007 http://www.idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=7006&msg_id=7006 Holy shit. Don't do drugs, kids. Scrotor@idkfa.com (Scrotor) Cognitive Surplus Sun, 17 May 2015 15:39:50 -0800 http://idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=7006&msg_id=7006 http://www.idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=6998&msg_id=6998 Perhaps the most awkward Star Trek interview ever. Scrotor@idkfa.com (Scrotor) Cognitive Surplus Wed, 22 Apr 2015 16:17:45 -0800 http://idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=6998&msg_id=6998 http://www.idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=6994&msg_id=6995 "Hackers" "HACKers" "hackers" "HACKED" ... Love it. Scrotor@idkfa.com (Scrotor) Cognitive Surplus Mon, 13 Apr 2015 03:39:27 -0800 http://idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=6994&msg_id=6995 http://www.idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=6994&msg_id=6994 I feel like this would be a dangerous drinking game. kaiden@idkfa.com (kaiden) Cognitive Surplus Mon, 13 Apr 2015 01:27:58 -0800 http://idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=6994&msg_id=6994 http://www.idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=6973&msg_id=6977 Clearly I'm the spouse. ;) I've had mine since Christmas and I still really like it. Random thoughts after reading your thoughts: Battery life comes in consistently at about 6 days for me. I don't like that it doesn't give you an easier way to check that, but eventually it will show a low battery symbol on the home screen. If it shows that at 8:05am right after I get to work, it will die by 5:25pm, 10 minutes before I get home. A decent amount of warning depending on how many notifications you get. YMMV I really need to deactivate the music controls. I accidentally triggered my music during church. Fortunately it was only Elton John that started playing. Water resistancy is great. I've showered, swum, done dishes, and bathed the baby in it. No issues. If I leave my phone in my office while I"m on the reference desk, the bluetooth is almost in range. So it will continually connect and disconnect which causes lots of vibrating and notifying and probably drains my battery. When I'm walking through Fred Meyer or Costco and pushing the cart, it doesn't count my steps. My old fitbit used to give me almost 2 miles of credit if I did both of those in a row. It makes me irrationally angry not to get that credit. So I do this thing where I try to push the cart one handed. Also I should probably work out more efficient routes through the stores. I love the firework goal achieved and I'm enjoying letting it set goals for me, pushing me more each day. And then I fail many days in a row and it back pedals on the goals. It's fun. I like to imagine its tiny robot brain saying, FINE, you won't walk 7,000 steps, can you please just leave your office today? Also my baby has learned to hit the band until it wakes up which amuses me. lizinthelibrary@idkfa.com (lizinthelibrary) Cognitive Surplus Tue, 17 Mar 2015 23:49:13 -0800 http://idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=6973&msg_id=6977 http://www.idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=6973&msg_id=6975 I like to think I'm just running *super* hard. kaiden@idkfa.com (kaiden) Cognitive Surplus Mon, 16 Mar 2015 12:24:57 -0800 http://idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=6973&msg_id=6975 http://www.idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=6973&msg_id=6974 In my experience with the Misfit stepcounter on my Pebble, and inferring some of what E's done with her Vsmart, it sounds like it's algorithmic and analyzes motion after the fact. I think the stepcounter does what it can to keep up in real time, but at least on the Misfit it will adjust the stepcounter after an active spell. kitacek@idkfa.com (kitacek) Cognitive Surplus Mon, 16 Mar 2015 11:40:27 -0800 http://idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=6973&msg_id=6974 http://www.idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=6973&msg_id=6973 SPDCA: Garmin Vivosmart Smartwatch A few years ago, I had an impulse buy on a watch that looked to be sorta sporty. And by "sorta sporty," I mean it had the ability to take your pulse. Other than that, it was just an electronic wristwatch. I liked it. It wasn't fancy. But it gave me someting to look at, and something to do with my hands when I didn't know what to do with my hands. It got me out of the habit of whipping out my phone ever so often to check the time, and having time on my wrist worked out really well for biking. Then the battery on the thing ran out. And in replacing it, I destroyed its capability to take my pulse (though, I didn't really miss it that much). Then the plastic band started to wear. And then it eventually broke. And now it just sits on the small shelf in my bathroom, reminding me that I have 10 minutes to dress, eat breakfast, and brush my teeth after my shower. This last December, Someone was being bad about the control of sensitive information, and let leak their Christmas gift idea for their spouse. It was the Garmin Vivosmart, which I thought was intriguing. It wasn't the gaudy, wrist-calculator smartwatches I'd seen before, but instead a smart band that didn't have an interface except for when you interacted with it. About a month later, the giftee demoed their band at a party and I was still pretty interested as someone who is a fan of subtlety and obscure human-computer interfaces. The band is black, and the display is an array of white LEDs that shine through the band's surface. You "double-tap" the band if you want it to wake up, lighting up the LEDs to display one of the display mades it has. By default, it will show you the time, but if you "swipe" the current screen left or right it will cycle through your current step count, how far you are in your step goals for the day, and if you have any notifications on your phone. Other than kaiden@idkfa.com (kaiden) Cognitive Surplus Sat, 14 Mar 2015 20:14:30 -0800 http://idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=6973&msg_id=6973 http://www.idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=6960&msg_id=6964 Indeeeeeeeeeeeeeed. Great marketing! Scrotor@idkfa.com (Scrotor) Cognitive Surplus Tue, 10 Mar 2015 16:47:44 -0800 http://idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=6960&msg_id=6964 http://www.idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=6960&msg_id=6963 Is that an actual product? Very self aware marketing. Green Man@idkfa.com (Green Man) Cognitive Surplus Tue, 10 Mar 2015 15:39:06 -0800 http://idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=6960&msg_id=6963 http://www.idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=6960&msg_id=6961 "Just tell them it's full of protein... they'll pound the sh*t out of it." kaiden@idkfa.com (kaiden) Cognitive Surplus Tue, 10 Mar 2015 12:50:49 -0800 http://idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=6960&msg_id=6961 http://www.idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=6960&msg_id=6960 Save the bros Scrotor@idkfa.com (Scrotor) Cognitive Surplus Tue, 10 Mar 2015 11:24:32 -0800 http://idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=6960&msg_id=6960 http://www.idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=6956&msg_id=6959 GREAT SUCCESS Scrotor@idkfa.com (Scrotor) Cognitive Surplus Tue, 10 Mar 2015 11:23:54 -0800 http://idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=6956&msg_id=6959 http://www.idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=6956&msg_id=6958 To clue anyone in: we managed to get people together to play Counter-striike 1.6. Like it was 2001 again. Will post here if people are interested in if / when we play next. (Also, we haven't only been playing CS, but it is one of the few games that most of our computers can play, and supports greater than 4 players) kaiden@idkfa.com (kaiden) Cognitive Surplus Tue, 10 Mar 2015 03:56:10 -0800 http://idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=6956&msg_id=6958 http://www.idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=6956&msg_id=6957 My neck hurts like hell. But yes. That was fun. kaiden@idkfa.com (kaiden) Cognitive Surplus Tue, 10 Mar 2015 02:58:53 -0800 http://idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=6956&msg_id=6957 http://www.idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=6956&msg_id=6956 That was awesome, cheers all kitacek@idkfa.com (kitacek) Cognitive Surplus Tue, 10 Mar 2015 02:51:23 -0800 http://idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=6956&msg_id=6956 http://www.idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=6953&msg_id=6953 Photoshop idea: a poster of the Oculus VR headset on Gordon Freeman in Black Mesa, with caption: "facehuggers" kitacek@idkfa.com (kitacek) Cognitive Surplus Fri, 06 Mar 2015 18:12:09 -0900 http://idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=6953&msg_id=6953 http://www.idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=6894&msg_id=6895 Will be checking this out. kaiden@idkfa.com (kaiden) Cognitive Surplus Fri, 16 Jan 2015 13:31:12 -0900 http://idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=6894&msg_id=6895 http://www.idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=6894&msg_id=6894 The Man in the High Castle as a series on Amazon? Yes please. Scrotor@idkfa.com (Scrotor) Cognitive Surplus Fri, 16 Jan 2015 02:20:59 -0900 http://idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=6894&msg_id=6894 http://www.idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=6858&msg_id=6884 If you can figure out the 7b situation, the Intel RAID tools allow you to clone a non-RAID disk at the same time you put it into the RAID array. I did that with mine. kaiden@idkfa.com (kaiden) Cognitive Surplus Mon, 05 Jan 2015 13:19:57 -0900 http://idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=6858&msg_id=6884 http://www.idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=6858&msg_id=6883 I did indeed. Although I have sort of an obsession with RAID, using Windows backup should be adequate, considering I still have the NAS to store all my media (with RAID). Scrotor@idkfa.com (Scrotor) Cognitive Surplus Mon, 05 Jan 2015 13:13:47 -0900 http://idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=6858&msg_id=6883 http://www.idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=6858&msg_id=6882 Did you verify the 0x0000007b error on Windows start-up? kaiden@idkfa.com (kaiden) Cognitive Surplus Mon, 05 Jan 2015 12:05:20 -0900 http://idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=6858&msg_id=6882 http://www.idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=6858&msg_id=6881 We are doomed to repeat the errors of our forebears... lest we read their posts. Scrotor@idkfa.com (Scrotor) Cognitive Surplus Sun, 04 Jan 2015 23:39:09 -0900 http://idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=6858&msg_id=6881 http://www.idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=4950&msg_id=6877 SPDCA: Legend of Korra SPOILERS FOR AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER Looking at my email records, I found something interesting. Apparently, I started watching Legend of Korra before I started watching A:TLA. I wouldn't have thought that was the case, but the record disagrees with me. It usually does. But if that's the case, then I watched a couple of episodes of LoK, and then decided to watch the original A:TLA series in its entirety before continuing. As evident by my weirdly emotional response to the original series, I enjoyed it, and was pretty affected by it. And to the same degree and fashion, I was affected by LoK as well. I guess I'm a sucker for coming of age tales. Comes with gettin' old. For those that haven't heard or seen, the LoK series starts 70 years after A:TLA, where most of the main characters from the previous series are gone, and those that remain are well into their 70's and 80's. However, none are forgotten, as the events in A:TLA, and the rest of the characters' lives deeply influence the world to come. Avatar Aang marries Katara, has a family, and tries to restart the Air Nation. He also founds Republic City, a metropolis jointly-owned by all of the Nations in the interest of keeping peace between them. As Avatar Aang passes away, the Avatar cycle continues, bringing Korra as the next Avatar in the cycle. Thus begins an intriguing, stylish new tale in the Avatar universe. And this afternoon, over my lunch hour, I watched its final episode. Which was sad. And intense. And happy. And weird. It buttoned up a lot of important things, and opened up a couple more (DO NOT CLICK ON THAT UNLESS YOU WANT IT SPOILED LIKE IT WAS SPOILED FOR ME). As a show, it did a good job of distancing itself from the original without pandering too much or too little. While a lot of my initial complaints about the show (in terms of worldbuilding, scale, and focus) never really resolved, they warmed up to me quite a bit more with kaiden@idkfa.com (kaiden) Cognitive Surplus Tue, 23 Dec 2014 19:05:43 -0900 http://idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=4950&msg_id=6877 http://www.idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=6875&msg_id=6875 BEARD Scrotor@idkfa.com (Scrotor) Cognitive Surplus Mon, 22 Dec 2014 15:56:48 -0900 http://idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=6875&msg_id=6875 http://www.idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=6858&msg_id=6871 [...] kaiden@idkfa.com (kaiden) Cognitive Surplus Thu, 18 Dec 2014 12:03:32 -0900 http://idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=6858&msg_id=6871 http://www.idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=6858&msg_id=6870 I only mention it because I spent a few hours last night tracking it all down and removing the offending patch. conrad@idkfa.com (conrad) Cognitive Surplus Thu, 18 Dec 2014 02:28:46 -0900 http://idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=6858&msg_id=6870 http://www.idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=6858&msg_id=6869 You didn't happen to install windows updates on or around 9-10 DEC, did you? Because microsoft fucked up HARD on a patch around that time that hit Win7 SP1 that borked the Windows Update functionality. Some folks are also reporting issues with the Windows Genuine error from that same pooch-screwing Windows patch. conrad@idkfa.com (conrad) Cognitive Surplus Thu, 18 Dec 2014 02:28:04 -0900 http://idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=6858&msg_id=6869 http://www.idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=6858&msg_id=6866 Thanks for the write up. I love seeing how the sausage is made. Green Man@idkfa.com (Green Man) Cognitive Surplus Tue, 16 Dec 2014 00:34:53 -0900 http://idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=6858&msg_id=6866 http://www.idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=6858&msg_id=6864 As of this morning: 77% rebuilt. Also, Windows Genuine reared its ugly head again, claiming I hadn't purchased a legitimate copy. Going to have to unfuck that between Christmas decorating. kaiden@idkfa.com (kaiden) Cognitive Surplus Mon, 15 Dec 2014 12:28:05 -0900 http://idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=6858&msg_id=6864 http://www.idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=6858&msg_id=6858 Anyhow. As is always the case with building a PC, there are always things. I say things, and anybody who has had to slap a computer together from component parts will have an idea what I'm talking about. No matter how well worn the path is that you are following, how popular or standardized your methods, there will always be something that causes you to sink an incredible amount of time. It's the nature of the game, and in some cases, the journey is more rewarding than the destination, but more often than not, your things will be annoying as shit. Anyhow. One of my things was getting a RAID mirror set up on my computer. I have an SSD for my boot drive, and two HDDs I wanted to serve in a 2-disk drive mirror for performance and having some redundancy in the event one disk goes before the other (I have backups aside from this, but in this instance, my redundancy is about reducing down-time). In a software RAID configuration, the operating system controls the disks according to its own rules, sort of "manually" maintaining the RAID array by reading/writing to both disks of its own accord (and not relying on a lower-level function to do it for the operating system). However, magic happened. Much like you are guaranteed that things will happen during PC building, something magic happens. This is when, despite all of your efforts at troubleshooting, something magically starts working, and you have no idea why. For someone who operates on the assumption of a knowable universe, this kind ofmagic is infuriating. And also worrying, for the reason that eventually, all magic eventually ends. And tonight, the magic ended. I was playing Borderlands, and Windows reared its ugly head, minimizing everything I was shooting at. Windows claimed "You no longer have a genuine copy of Windows! Please buy a genuine copy of Windows!" To that I also said Fuck that, given that I can see my legitimate registration key sitting on shelf. I investigated. kaiden@idkfa.com (kaiden) Cognitive Surplus Mon, 15 Dec 2014 04:14:37 -0900 http://idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=6858&msg_id=6858 http://www.idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=6824&msg_id=6847 It's the only way to experience the genre correctly. kaiden@idkfa.com (kaiden) Cognitive Surplus Mon, 01 Dec 2014 19:47:43 -0900 http://idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=6824&msg_id=6847 http://www.idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=6824&msg_id=6846 I only listen to birdcore on wax cylinders. Green Man@idkfa.com (Green Man) Cognitive Surplus Mon, 01 Dec 2014 19:45:03 -0900 http://idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=6824&msg_id=6846 http://www.idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=6824&msg_id=6844 I had started a post, but it looks like it didn't save (THANKS OBAMA... I mean JOSH). In any case, this article puts it much better than I could. That is why I really listen to vinyl. And I have bought a tracking force gauge, alignment protractor, a spin clean, and a better phono preamp (along with a good cartridge). So in theory, depending on the master, I should certainly be able to get better sound than a CD. However, as I've stated before, this is music worship. You can't listen to vinyl casually, since it requires so much effort. It helps you focus on the music, which I love. ...I also have many discs with bluray audio, which is probably the best sound I can get (better than vinyl). But few albums have been released this way. Scrotor@idkfa.com (Scrotor) Cognitive Surplus Mon, 01 Dec 2014 14:19:17 -0900 http://idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=6824&msg_id=6844 http://www.idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=6839&msg_id=6845 Some updates: Full phone encryption is pretty seamless. The phone boots into its encrypted partition, and none of the user-facing applications have any idea. Plugging the phone into a computer requires you to enter your password in order to expose the unencrypted drives to the computer (which is nice). The only place I can see a performance hit is taking pictures and videos, and even so, it's not terrible. I just turned my settings down from 16 megapixels. Nobody deserves that many pixels. Swype is... getting easier, but still awkward as hell. Even if I don't end up using Swype input (you can just tap the letters, like any software keyboard), the configurability of the Swype keyboard is better than the the stock Android keyboard. Notably: I can remove the "talk to type" button. Because... Voice recognition on the phone isn't particularly useful. Or usable. The two options I have for voice are Samsung S-Voice and Google's Now/Voice search. Samsung S-Voice doesn't expose itself correctly at the lock screen, and the voice recognition either doesn't work or is pretty poor. To use it effectively, I would need to unlock my phone, which I can't really do when I'm driving. Google Now/Voice exposes itself at the lock screen reasonably, but does not plug in to the few features I would want (reading text messages, notifications, etc.). To do so, I would need to plug in to Google Now, which I don't need or want. I was surprised that Google had its own SMS/MMS handler, aside from its Google Hangouts integration. I kind of like it. It does one thing, and it does it well, a philosophy I wish more phone apps would adopt. It also gives me the ability to "archive" SMS/MMS threads, so that they don't appear in the main list, but I can still revisit them if I need to. A few days after having my phone, a few weird apps wormed their way to the forefront and started bothering me about signing kaiden@idkfa.com (kaiden) Cognitive Surplus Mon, 01 Dec 2014 11:26:00 -0900 http://idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=6839&msg_id=6845 http://www.idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=6839&msg_id=6841 Very insightful content. I expect nothing less with your 2020 upgrade. Green Man@idkfa.com (Green Man) Cognitive Surplus Tue, 25 Nov 2014 19:30:14 -0900 http://idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=6839&msg_id=6841 http://www.idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=6839&msg_id=6840 I CARE, JOSH! kitacek@idkfa.com (kitacek) Cognitive Surplus Tue, 25 Nov 2014 17:04:31 -0900 http://idkfa.com/v3/v_thread.php?thread_id=6839&msg_id=6840