What’s on your mind?

[kazmac]

Yeah, it's for development, as well as all sorts of general computing, personal use, on any given day I've got 25-30 apps open, a number of Containers/VMs, it just runs and runs, rarely makes much noise, never needs restarting.

I'm about 98% sure I'm going to order a new M1 MBA as well, looking for a machine for the little G, and something I can use as well for the few times I need something portable, and the software needs are pretty basic, so expect most things to be ASI-native or easily handled by Rosetta 2 (until the native version is available).

Wow.

Please ask me any questions you may have about the M1 MBA.

I needed a laptop, and chose the MBA over the low end MBP, knowing that more powerful & better specc’d machines are on the horizon (One of which will replace my 2013 iMac). I cannot wait to jump in, learn new software and write again.

 

[Stephen.R]

It might be a vocal minority, but then there is only a minority of people who even need to be plugging things other than their phone or an external drive into a machine to begin with.

So, we're in agreement then - the people that plug in external peripherals and complain noisily about the inconvenience of a different plug on one end of the cable is a minority of a minority, screaming about "dongles" through a virtual bullhorn every chance they get.

 

[Jessica Lares]

Sure, but it still matters because their issue is one thing on a list of issues other groups of people in the minority have with Apple as of late. And that list keeps growing with every new announcement, changes to the App Store rules, updates to iOS/macOS, etc. The talk of Big Sur phoning home when you open an app doesn't make it any better.

 

[MacBH928]

I don't get the appeal of HDR? is it supposed to look good? The image looks like someone put the saturation to "100%". Its un-natural. I feel like this is a new thing marketers are pushing to sell new hardware and displays and people are drinking the kool aid like 3D TV used to be.

 

[Apple fanboy]

I don't get the appeal of HDR? is it supposed to look good? The image looks like someone put the saturation to "100%". Its un-natural. I feel like this is a new thing marketers are pushing to sell new hardware and displays and people are drinking the kool aid like 3D TV used to be.

Exactly. TV companies are constantly pushing new developments in the vain hope we will rush out to buy new kit. I recall a few years ago my mum asked for advice on a 4K tv. I asked where she would be getting her content. There is very little 4K content in the U.K. and none in the way she watches it. People don’t even realise it half the time!

 

[Apple fanboy]

November 15th and I’m already sick to death of Christmas adverts.
Especially as they advertisers have forgotten that there is a pandemic on. People won’t be gathering around each other’s houses, visiting shops and family.

Roll on December 26th when it’s all over for another year.

 

[AVBeatMan]

November 15th and I’m already sick to death of Christmas adverts.
Especially as they advertisers have forgotten that there is a pandemic on. People won’t be gathering around each other’s houses, visiting shops and family.

Roll on December 26th when it’s all over for another year.

Get your tree up.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Get your tree up.

Not a chance in hell. I haven’t celebrated Christmas in years. Hate it with a passion.

 

[Clix Pix]

One advantage of not watching much television is that I don't see all those holly-jolly "happy families, happy friends" type of adverts, with the accompanying annoyingly loud music and overly-enthusiastic praise of whatever the item is that is being advertised. That's really weird that they're ignoring the reality of the pandemic and showing those types of scenes when this year, most sensible families are NOT going to be gathering in large groups, NOT going to be traveling by air, train or car to visit the grandparents and others...... This is going to be an unusual holiday season for so many people. For others of us, it won't be all that much different since we've already had the experience of quiet holidays spent on one's own or with maybe just one or two friends.... Phone calls, FaceTime, texts and emails will have to suffice on Thanksgiving and Christmas this year.

 

[D.T.]

I don't get the appeal of HDR? is it supposed to look good? The image looks like someone put the saturation to "100%". Its un-natural. I feel like this is a new thing marketers are pushing to sell new hardware and displays and people are drinking the kool aid like 3D TV used to be.

HDR is pretty spectacular, it's not a "gimmick", it significantly increases the range of both contrast and color. High quality HDR implementation (device and content) does not look like simply amped up color saturation. Apple has been constantly extending the color gamut on computer displays, mobile devices, etc., for a reason, it's better, it's a more accurate representation.

Get your tree up.

Putting up our main artificial next week We'll still do a big ol' real tree the last couple of weeks of December

 

[Clix Pix]

I don't get the appeal of HDR? is it supposed to look good? The image looks like someone put the saturation to "100%". Its un-natural. I feel like this is a new thing marketers are pushing to sell new hardware and displays and people are drinking the kool aid like 3D TV used to be.

For a while when HDR was new, it was pretty awful and I saw some really garish examples when people didn't know exactly how to fine-tune it and take advantage of its strengths (the dynamic range aspect). At least among photographers, things have settled down and most have figured out the balance between presenting a too-bland image and an overcooked one, but many people who only use a cell phone and don't do anything to adjust their settings either at the time of shooting or afterward do seem to show off their way-too-saturated images that don't look at all natural!

Thankfully it looks as though things are getting better on the cell phone front, too, and I agree with D.T. that Apple has been doing a pretty good job with managing their dynamic range and color gamut on their computers and devices, although sometimes I still need to dial things down a little on some images I've shot with my iPhone 11 Pro.

 

[Apple fanboy]

One advantage of not watching much television is that I don't see all those holly-jolly "happy families, happy friends" type of adverts, with the accompanying annoyingly loud music and overly-enthusiastic praise of whatever the item is that is being advertised. That's really weird that they're ignoring the reality of the pandemic and showing those types of scenes when this year, most sensible families are NOT going to be gathering in large groups, NOT going to be traveling by air, train or car to visit the grandparents and others...... This is going to be an unusual holiday season for so many people. For others of us, it won't be all that much different since we've already had the experience of quiet holidays spent on one's own or with maybe just one or two friends.... Phone calls, FaceTime, texts and emails will have to suffice on Thanksgiving and Christmas this year.

Absolutely. Why don’t the adverts tell it like it is. Visit your family and your grandparents might die.

Not that there’s any danger of me doing that.

 

[Jessica Lares]

Forgot all about it until I saw that the neighbors have started putting up their decorations this afternoon. A lot around here are still going to try and do the holidays as normal as possible most likely.

 

[Conutz]

If nothing else, Christmas reminds me to stop, smile and live a little. Life’s too short not to.

 

[Apple fanboy]

If nothing else, Christmas reminds me to stop, smile and live a little. Life’s too short not to.

I couldn't disagree more. Christmas just reminds me that this life is grim. At least mine will be no different from the norm because of covid. I just hate the fact that you can't opt out of Christmas, try as you might. Its still rammed down your throat at every opportunity someone gets.

 

[Conutz]

I couldn't disagree more. Christmas just reminds me that this life is grim. At least mine will be no different from the norm because of covid. I just hate the fact that you can't opt out of Christmas, try as you might. Its still rammed down your throat at every opportunity someone gets.

Agreed, lots of things are just rammed down our throats today, like them or not! Life can wear a person down, going through a particularly difficult patch myself (they seem to come around every 10 years or so). I think we still have to try and find joy in it though - difficult as it may be. At the least, trying to be positive provides some hope and something to build upon.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Agreed, lots of things are just rammed down our throats today, like them or not! Life can wear a person down, going through a particularly difficult patch myself (they seem to come around every 10 years or so). I think we still have to try and find joy in it though - difficult as it may be. At the least, trying to be positive provides some hope and something to build upon.

Trust me I do. But I draw the line at Christmas. I hate it. Can't wait for it to be over. I struggle at this time of year every year. Its just the sooner we can get to January the better for me.

 

[MacBH928]

Exactly. TV companies are constantly pushing new developments in the vain hope we will rush out to buy new kit. I recall a few years ago my mum asked for advice on a 4K tv. I asked where she would be getting her content. There is very little 4K content in the U.K. and none in the way she watches it. People don’t even realise it half the time!

To be honest, new tech is cool and all but...I am perfectly happy with the quality of tv shows from the 80s like sitcoms. Even a good VHS tape looks good and I won't complain about it. I don't remember people watching VHS tapes and going "This quality sucks I wish it could look better".

HDR is pretty spectacular, it's not a "gimmick", it significantly increases the range of both contrast and color. High quality HDR implementation (device and content) does not look like simply amped up color saturation. Apple has been constantly extending the color gamut on computer displays, mobile devices, etc., for a reason, it's better, it's a more accurate representation.

So you think that HDR should be the standard look for all tv shows, films, news, and video blogs?

For a while when HDR was new, it was pretty awful and I saw some really garish examples when people didn't know exactly how to fine-tune it and take advantage of its strengths (the dynamic range aspect). At least among photographers, things have settled down and most have figured out the balance between presenting a too-bland image and an overcooked one, but many people who only use a cell phone and don't do anything to adjust their settings either at the time of shooting or afterward do seem to show off their way-too-saturated images that don't look at all natural!

Thankfully it looks as though things are getting better on the cell phone front, too, and I agree with D.T. that Apple has been doing a pretty good job with managing their dynamic range and color gamut on their computers and devices, although sometimes I still need to dial things down a little on some images I've shot with my iPhone 11 Pro.

I care for things to be closer to the real thing unless its intentional by the director. They say HDR makes things in the shadows clearer but what I see is overburned colours

 

[AVBeatMan]

I guess we’re all different. For me Christmas is my favourite time of year. I love it. But, each to their own.

 

[Apple fanboy]

I guess we’re all different. For me Christmas is my favourite time of year. I love it. But, each to their own.

I guess it depends on your situation. If you lost your only child at Christmas you'd probably hate all those commercials showing the perfect family all getting together and having a perfect time as well. I will actively seek to have as little to do with Christmas as possible, but unfortunately you can't avoid it as much as you try. People will still try to wish you a merry Christmas when all you want to do is to forget what day of the year it is!

 

[Apple fanboy]

To be honest, new tech is cool and all but...I am perfectly happy with the quality of tv shows from the 80s like sitcoms. Even a good VHS tape looks good and I won't complain about it. I don't remember people watching VHS tapes and going "This quality sucks I wish it could look better".

So you think that HDR should be the standard look for all tv shows, films, news, and video blogs?

I care for things to be closer to the real thing unless its intentional by the director. They say HDR makes things in the shadows clearer but what I see is overburned colours

I remember buying CD's to replace my tapes. I remember buying DVD's to replace my VHS tapes. But I didn't bother buying Blueray's to replace the DVD's or HDR Blueray's to replace those. How many did though and now just stream their content at 1080p and don't even realise? Plenty!

 

[AVBeatMan]

I guess it depends on your situation. If you lost your only child at Christmas you'd probably hate all those commercials showing the perfect family all getting together and having a perfect time as well. I will actively seek to have as little to do with Christmas as possible, but unfortunately you can't avoid it as much as you try. People will still try to wish you a merry Christmas when all you want to do is to forget what day of the year it is!

I’m sorry to hear that and now understand how you feel. I hate September as it’s the month I lost my wife. My mood lightens after the month has passed and is probably a factor in me looking forward to Christmas.

Again, I’m sorry. Hope I didn’t offend.

 

[Apple fanboy]

I’m sorry to hear that and now understand how you feel. I hate September as it’s the month I lost my wife. My mood lightens after the month has passed and is probably a factor in me looking forward to Christmas.

Again, I’m sorry. Hope I didn’t offend.

No offence. Sorry to hear about your wife.

My year goes like this.
End of November daughters Birthday (gets bad leading up to it)
End December Christmas
January 4th (the day we lost her).

Then its not too bad with the exception of Easter, Mothers day and Fathers Day. Our Birthdays we just don't celebrate so that's easy enough to forget. It will be 5 years this January.

And yes the mood does lighten after then. But right now I'm on the decent.

 

[AVBeatMan]

No offence. Sorry to hear about your wife.

My year goes like this.
End of November daughters Birthday (gets bad leading up to it)
End December Christmas
January 4th (the day we lost her).

Then its not too bad with the exception of Easter, Mothers day and Fathers Day. Our Birthdays we just don't celebrate so that's easy enough to forget. It will be 5 years this January.

And yes the mood does lighten after then. But right now I'm on the decent.

Life can be **** sometimes. My (our) oldest sons birthday is on the 8th of September, my younger sons on the 17th September. My wife died in between on the 14th. She managed to be there for my eldest sons birthday.

Also, as you’ll know, people telling you it’ll get better doesn’t help. It just gets different. My wife died 15 years ago. I can’t say it’s better, it’s just different. Let’s hope it’s a quick Christmas for you and a long one for me....

 

[Clix Pix]

For me, November brings my late husband's birthday, December brings a reminder of the day we learned he had cancer, and February is the month that three different people close to me passed away -- not in the same year, though: my husband, my mother-in-law, and my father. As the years pass, the memories remain but they are softer, gentler, less stinging and raw now.