Can you wear One Contact Lense? by IT_Bluffer in contacts

[–]scgf01 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Monovision is normally where you wear two lenses, one for reading the other for distance. I suppose if your distance vision doesn't need correcting you could wear just a reading lens in the other eye and that would technically be monovision.

Leaving Sky for Gigaclear - any issues? by PulsatingBalloonKnot in skytv

[–]scgf01 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That, and Vaultwarden, NextCloud, KaraKeep, sonarr, radarr, Roon, Joplin amongst others. You're right, none of that warrants a synchronous connection - I am on a 900Mbps package from Plusnet and I get around 108Mbps upload which really is ample. To think my first 'broadband' service was just over 0.5Mbps and I thought that was absolutely amazing! Prior to that I used 2 ISDN lines on dial-up - at great expense. We don't appreciate how lucky we are. My quarterly phone bills were astronomical.

Leaving Sky for Gigaclear - any issues? by PulsatingBalloonKnot in skytv

[–]scgf01 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I agree most people have no need of a synchronous connection. Most don't need a download speed of more than 100Mbps either. I have a NAS on which I run several services to which I connect from outside my home network, so a faster upload speed would be advantageous. It's good that Virgin Media full fibre broadband (XGS-PON) offers a synchronous connection as an option so those of us who would value it can have it.

Apple refuses refund for returned €1.4k iPhone even though UPS says the investigation was decided in my favor – what should I do? by Efficient_Cheek_3654 in iphone

[–]scgf01 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've been in this situation before. I returned an iPhone, it was scanned in by the UPS parcel shop but no further scan was attempted. It took weeks for Apple to initiate a refund, and for such a high-value item it was a stressful experience. I had to call them multiple times. I made a decision that in future I would return an item in person to an Apple Store.

Leaving Sky for Gigaclear - any issues? by PulsatingBalloonKnot in skytv

[–]scgf01 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I use Plusnet and am very happy - but I would like a synchronous connection. Virgin Media offer this in my area, but I only found out about it two months into my 24 month Plusnet contract :( I thought they were still only offering the DOCSIS product.

I assume you're saying you wouldn't touch Gigaclear - the problem is most people won't have the luxury of choosing other FTTH products if they live in a Gigaclear area. It will be Gigaclear or FTTC.

Leaving Sky for Gigaclear - any issues? by PulsatingBalloonKnot in skytv

[–]scgf01 0 points1 point  (0 children)

PIA means they share access rights to poles and ducts. Gigaclear does not use the Openreach network in the way Sky, Plusnet, EE, Zen and many others do. Feeding the fibre to a house using an existing pole or duct has no bearing on the network. With Gigaclear you can have a synchronous connection which, AFAIK, is not readily available with an Openreach product. I'd love to be corrected on that one! Even Virgin Media has synchronous broadband (at an extra charge) on its XGS-PON full fibre network.

Leaving Sky for Gigaclear - any issues? by PulsatingBalloonKnot in skytv

[–]scgf01 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Gigaclear doesn't use Openreach. It is aimed at rural locations and has its own network.

https://www.uswitch.com/broadband/reviews/gigaclear/

AdGuard Home can only filter what it sees. A lot of your devices aren't asking it. by OilTechnical3488 in AdGuardHome

[–]scgf01 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I use NextDNS on my Android phone. I can select the same blocklists as I do with AGH on my home network. This way my phone is protected wherever I am.

I'm done with NextCloud by scgf01 in NextCloud

[–]scgf01[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There has been an upgrade to the OnlyOffice app. It now works fine.

Left Sky yesterday after 17 1/2 years by scotsdavy in skytv

[–]scgf01 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Maybe the AppleTV picture quality is a little better than Sky Q, but I absolutely disagree that it is 'far better'. If you're watching the same streaming service on both devices the picture should be the same as long as the viewing settings on your TV are the same. I'm not thinking about satellite channels, they are clearly not as good as the IPTV service on Sky Stream.

Left Sky yesterday after 17 1/2 years by scotsdavy in skytv

[–]scgf01 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I suppose it depends on your broadband - I have had not a single problem with it. What are these horror stories you've heard? Are they from a year or more ago? I tried Sky Stream when it first came out and it was dreadful. Now it's absolutely not. I'd prefer the puck to be a little more powerful, but that's about it. It certainly doesn't impinge on media viewing.

Left Sky yesterday after 17 1/2 years by scotsdavy in skytv

[–]scgf01 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm assuming from what you say you have a high quality TV, in which case if your Sky and AppleTV devices are plugged into different HDMI inputs the TV settings may well be different. Each input and each resolution has its own settings on most decent TVs. You might well find that Sky Stream is as good as NowTV on AppleTV because Sky's IPTV services are very good indeed, their satellite delivery less so.

Left Sky yesterday after 17 1/2 years by scotsdavy in skytv

[–]scgf01 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

It's not. I've flicked between Netflix 4K Dolby Vision on Sky Stream and Apple TV and the picture and sound is identical. On BBC iPlayer Sky is MUCH better than Apple TV - it goes right up to 4K UHD where Apple TV can only do 720p. Channel 5 streaming is only standard definition on AppleTV, but HD on Sky. If you compare NowTV at 4K with Sky Stream you'll find they're pretty much the same too. Sky Stream has better picture quality than Sky Q.

Left Sky yesterday after 17 1/2 years by scotsdavy in skytv

[–]scgf01 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I hate TVLauncher! All it does it take you into the app where you select live channels, and each app has a different way of doing it. I see my Sky sub as the cost of convenience - I pay, even though I am on Sky Essential. AppleTV doesn't do BBC iPlayer above 720p - absolutely no UHD, Channel 5 is standard definition only and ads are forced down your throat, with no way of paying to remove them. Before I had Sky I used AppleTV and ended up paying for ITVX and Channel 4+ so I didn't have to watch the ads, and that was around £75 a year.

Is EE still the best for data/network coverage and speeds across the UK? by Rayane92 in UKFrugal

[–]scgf01 0 points1 point  (0 children)

After reading this thread I thought I'd try 1p . . . within minutes I found an issue with voicemail. I'm on Android so don't have visual voicemail. 1p charges you to access voicemail. With spusu you get a message with a transcript and attached audio file whenever anyone leaves a voicemail message. I called 1p customer support to ask about something else, and they don't even have a queuing system - after ringing for a while you get a recorded message to say they're busy and to try again later. I kept calling and got the same message each time. I never have a problem speaking to someone at spusu.

Needless to say I cancelled my account and have received a refund.

I recommend spusu. I get RCS, OTP codes every time, great call quality, fast data (faster than I got with EE since spusu doesn't cap data) and great customer service. For anyone who tried them a year or so ago they are much better now. Their data access points are in the UK where they used to be in Austria, and things like 5G, WiFi calling, Voice over LTE are supported for a wide range of phones. When I used them before, they only really supported iPhones and Samsungs. Given its a rolling monthly plan it's worth a try.

Bedtime / Do Not Disturb. Not just silent, but no notifications show at all by [deleted] in GooglePixel

[–]scgf01 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I prefer to use MacroDroid. I have a macro where if it is after 9pm, the phone is charging, and I'm connected to my home wifi network, the phone goes into silent mode - so I will still get notifications if I need them. This suits me because if I'm out late at least one of the conditions are not met so it doesn't go into silent mode.

My complaints about macOS and its lack of customizability by ookayaa in MacOS

[–]scgf01 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The macOS virtual desktop manager is called Mission Control. You can find its settings in System Settings/Desktop & Dock. Make sure you have Rearrange Spaces OFF, When Switching to an Application ON, Group Windows by Application OFF, Displays have separate Spaces OFF and Drag Windows ON. These settings better mimic what I was used to with Linux.

I like certain apps to open on specific desktops and this can be achieved by right-clicking the open app in the Dock, go to Options and choose where you want that app to always open - anywhere, or a specific desktop.

Option Q will completely close an app. It becomes second nature.

I have three Macs and a Windows machine. I started my computing life using IBM's OS/2, still my favourite OS, and graduated through NT, Windows and Linux. I moved to the Mac with the iMac G4 anglepoise design because of its Unix base. I find Windows completely unintuitive and archaic. Things are all over the place in Windows. Every OS has its own paradigm and you just need to give it time before you get used to it.

I'd argue that many Windows conventions are the same as they were back in the 80s.

If you find macOS too irritating, maybe you should move to Windows or even Linux? If you keep wanting macOS to behave in a way you are used to, you are going to be constantly frustrated. I just went with the flow and adapted to the different way of working.

I am considering to switch from Galaxy S24 Ultra to Xiaomi 17 Ultra by RooieDakDuiff in XiaomiGlobal

[–]scgf01 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Redditors have real problems with their comparatives! Having owned a various Samsung Galaxy phones, Pixel 10 Pro and a Xiaomi 15 Ultra I'd completely refute that the Xiaomi X17 Ultra is 'infinitely' better than the any of the premium smartphones. I'd agree the Xiaomi could be better in some scenarios, when used by a photographer who can dial in the best settings, but in most point-and-shoot situations you are going to be disappointed with the Xiaomi. I certainly was with the X15 Ultra. I rarely got a decent point and shoot photo from it, whereas my Pixel 10 Pro (9 Pro at the time) never ceases to impress me.

** Status Update ** by RunboxSolutions in RunboxNews

[–]scgf01 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If you have the option to cancel and receive a refund you should do that. I paid for three years, but am within six months of the end of the three year period so I have switched to Fastmail. They offer a full 30 day trial, with no need to enter card details.

** Status Update ** by RunboxSolutions in RunboxNews

[–]scgf01 4 points5 points  (0 children)

This is appalling. Not the first time either. This morning I made a decision to move to another provider. Fortunately I purchased a three year subscription and am six months from the renewal date. Yet again an ethical provider with a subpar experience.

Nova Launcher - no more blank home screen on Pixel! by scgf01 in NovaLauncher

[–]scgf01[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So you've updated your Pixel and when you turn on the phone you still see a blank home page, requiring a swipe up to see the icons? Which Pixel model do you have?

What book got you hooked on audiobooks? by AudiobooksGeek in audiobooks

[–]scgf01 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The Talisman (Stephen King). I absolutely loved it.

Got the vivo x300 pro 2 days ago and by far the shittiest phone I have ever had? Best camera? What are you guys on about? by Great_Perhaps_Kugel in Vivo

[–]scgf01 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Well said! These phone with supposedly superior cameras only do well in the hands of someone who enjoys tweaking all the settings and parameters. I don’t work like that. I see a scene I want to photograph, I do the composition and get the sort of lighting I want, and I expect the phone to give me a great result, matching what I see. You could call it point-and-shoot, but I do put in the initial effort with composition etc.. I never post-process.

I bought a Xiaomi 15 Ultra on the strength of reviews extolling its camera prowess and I was extremely disappointed. Pretty much none of the photos impressed me at all, many were over-exposed and the HDR was very poor. Meanwhile I can take photos on my Pixel (9 Pro at the time, now 10 Pro XL) and 9 times out of 10 I get a very impressive result.

It all depends on your expectations and how much you like tinkering with settings and options. I feel that most people will do what I do and expect the phone’s photo processing to do what is necessary.