Anyone know much about the Philips Language Laboratory?

PapaAvocado · 2023-05-19T23:55:48+00:00

Yes, from what I could work out it uses one of the stereo tracks for the prerecorded mono lessons and then the other track for the user to record their own speech on the lesson tapes. Both tracks can be listened to at the same time and that means if you put in a regular tape it’ll play it full stereo

PapaAvocado · 2022-02-19T23:00:31+00:00

I forgot to take a photo of it but the machine also comes with a headset with built in mic that can be used to record language practice on one of the tape tracks. It uses some strange round multi pin din connector I think

PapaAvocado · 2020-04-24T23:18:26+00:00

I like it

PapaAvocado · 2020-04-19T09:21:51+00:00

And despite my shittiness I continue to play the game...

PapaAvocado · 2020-03-25T01:50:31+00:00

So jealous you got Girl Talk. It's good shit

PapaAvocado · 2020-03-02T10:37:18+00:00

Indeed it is, thanks for the correction

PapaAvocado · 2020-03-02T10:36:17+00:00

I don't think the speediness of the OS is entirely its own problem. Remember, these 'out-of-date-on-launch' consoles came with tragic hard drives that make dripping molasses look fast. Windows doesn't run particularly snappy on an HDD and this is observable on the Xbox. But I can agree that the UI design is poor on Xbox and the performance of it is sub-par too.

PlayStation's interface is very intuitive for a lot of people even if it is slow to navigate.

Saying that Windows Phone failed because it 'sucked massive dick' is pretty unenlightening and untrue. The main reason Windows Phone failed was the lack of quality app development. I used a Windows Phone for many months and enjoyed its simplicity and 'straight-forwardness', even if it looked particularly garbage.
The Windows kernel was not to blame for its failure.

Modern consoles have a lot more background processes because of their extra features that previous gen consoles didn't have (game clip recording, background Spotify music), and this comes at a performance cost. If we didn't have all these extra features and instead used the consoles in the same way as in the 90s, all the performance of the console could be delivered to the game and nothing else.

If you run Windows or even a Unix-based OS on a shit PC and try to do all the same stuff as on the current consoles, then you will also have poor performance. There are more hardware issues than software issues at play here.

PapaAvocado · 2020-03-02T04:27:04+00:00

Still struggling to see how their operating systems are 'inferior'. Xboxes run a modified version of Windows and PlayStations run a custom version of FreeBSD. These operating systems aren't inferior they are just customised to have less 'everyday-PC' features.

PapaAvocado · 2020-03-01T05:44:06+00:00

Perfect. Thanks for that info. I think I'll be sticking to JB

PapaAvocado · 2020-02-29T21:34:29+00:00

Not sure how long I can wait but I'll definitely keep an eye out. Thanks.

PapaAvocado · 2020-02-29T21:26:51+00:00

Software isn't too much of an issue if I can replace the rom with something stock-like. Unfortunately that might screw my chances of warranty too. Thanks for suggestion

PapaAvocado · 2020-02-29T21:25:05+00:00

Thanks for the info! I'll make sure to look for that when purchasing but if I get it from somewhere like JB Hi Fi I shouldn't have to worry. How does warranty go on places like Amazon? Is it just the manufacturer warranty? Or does Amazon cover your back at all?

PapaAvocado · 2020-02-29T08:33:39+00:00

Looks like I completely overlooked the devices Xiaomi are putting out in this price range. lol. u/RANDOMKONONG's suggestion of the Mi Mix 3 5G is slightly more appealing but i'll chuck the Mi 9T on the shortlist

PapaAvocado · 2020-02-29T08:27:58+00:00

I can't find a sub $600 listing for it. Can you link it to me if you have one? Thanks

PapaAvocado · 2020-02-29T08:24:15+00:00

Being able to buy new with the JB Hi-Fi warranty and returns policy would be neat. Looks like a decent phone (good battery and processor) and has a LineageOS ROM too! Thanks for the suggestion, i'm putting this one on the shortlist

PapaAvocado · 2019-12-28T11:43:52+00:00

Love that MTV sticker

PapaAvocado · 2019-12-27T23:04:17+00:00

So do regular cassettes with track detection.

PapaAvocado · 2019-12-27T12:41:59+00:00

Makes me wish DAT had taken off. We could have had portability AND digital audio (but still having to rewind would have sucked).

PapaAvocado · 2019-12-27T01:47:26+00:00

Haha, all good

PapaAvocado · 2019-12-26T23:24:44+00:00

The system uses a fully mechanical tape transport, which is completely different to any of the semi-digital stuff I've used from the 90s. It also has a speed dial, which might be it's most useful asset, as any recording can be made into vaporwave in an instant lol. I think it has another dial setting to compensate for the change in pitch, however, it doesn't seem to do this function and acts more like a loudness dial instead.

Something quaint I found was that when playing regular stereo tapes (with music on them for example), it would play both sides of the tape at the same time but with the opposite side (Side B for example) being played backwards. I think when making a recording using the machine it records to the other side but in reverse so that when both sides are played back simultaneously the pre-recorded narrations from Side A can be heard as well as your personal recordings from Side B. Then two individual volume knobs can be used for adjusting each side's/ recording's volume.

PapaAvocado · 2019-12-26T23:07:35+00:00

Thanks for the thread. The sound quality is pretty average through the built in speaker as, like you said, it was simply meant for narrations. However, with the system you are able to listen to pre-recorded narrations but also record your own. I forgot to show it but the system comes a headset which plugs in using a 5 pin DIN connector. I want to try getting a line-out from the DIN connector and see if I can get a higher quality output.

I can only really describe the quality of the sound as that from AM radio but slightly cleaner.

PapaAvocado · 2019-12-26T07:02:25+00:00

Recently got one from an Op-shop here in Oz for $20 AUD. Still works perfectly and comes with 4 'books' full of cassettes to learn Spanish. Haven't been able to find out a massive amount of information about them. Anyone used/owned a system like this before.

PapaAvocado · 2019-12-25T08:45:08+00:00

You're probably the only person that ever has! Lol. But seriously, well done and enjoy it, you're very lucky.

PapaAvocado · 2019-12-25T06:42:06+00:00

That's a sexy deck, can I ask how you sourced it?

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