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Stuff we take for granted that would have been impossible 10 years ago.

  • 30-09-2013 10:29AM
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 23,481 ✭✭✭✭


    Right now I'm listening to a podcast on my smartphone that I've downloaded at home over wifi with a 8mbs internet connection.

    Later on I might watch a video on youtube on my mobile phone that I can stream seamlessly on an 'all you can eat' mobile data plan that costs less than 20 euros a month

    This is a huge part of my life.
    10 years ago I used to listen to the radio, now it's audio books and podcasts, but if I want to listen to music, I can get any song from any band for free on youtube or any number of other legitimate internet sources.

    I used to spend thousands of pounds (old money) on music, now I spend 20 euros a month on a pay as you go mobile phone that gives me all the media content I could ever consume for free.

    What stuff do you all do every day now that would have been impossible 10 years ago?

    Chomsky(2017) on the Republican party

    "Has there ever been an organisation in human history that is dedicated, with such commitment, to the destruction of organised human life on Earth?"



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Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,666 ✭✭✭Corkbah


    Akrasia wrote: »
    Right now I'm listening to a podcast on my smartphone that I've downloaded at home over wifi with a 8mbs internet connection.

    Later on I might watch a video on youtube on my mobile phone that I can stream seamlessly on an 'all you can eat' mobile data plan that costs less than 20 euros a month

    This is a huge part of my life.
    10 years ago I used to listen to the radio, now it's audio books and podcasts, but if I want to listen to music, I can get any song from any band for free on youtube or any number of other legitimate internet sources.

    I used to spend thousands of pounds (old money) on music, now I spend 20 euros a month on a pay as you go mobile phone that gives me all the media content I could ever consume for free.

    What stuff do you all do every day now that would have been impossible 10 years ago?

    be happy !! (I was a miserable old sod 10yrs ago, now I'm happily married)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,264 ✭✭✭✭jester77


    I no longer have to dissect my computer mouse every other week, when my mouse pointer decides to go left instead of down, and remove all the fluff and grime from the wheels and cogs.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,305 ✭✭✭131spanner


    Using the M7 as opposed to the old N7 to get from Limerick to Dublin. Big improvement.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,557 ✭✭✭KeithM89


    Akrasia wrote: »
    What stuff do you all do every day now that would have been impossible 10 years ago?

    Use my 2013 calendar.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21,359 ✭✭✭✭kneemos


    Warp speed.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 23,481 ✭✭✭✭Akrasia


    jester77 wrote: »
    I no longer have to dissect my computer mouse every other week, when my mouse pointer decides to go left instead of down, and remove all the fluff and grime from the wheels and cogs.

    forgot about that :)
    That gunk was something special, Hard and gooey at the same time.

    There's a chemistry PHD in there somewhere

    Chomsky(2017) on the Republican party

    "Has there ever been an organisation in human history that is dedicated, with such commitment, to the destruction of organised human life on Earth?"



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,047 ✭✭✭Wabbit Ears


    yea, going from A-B almost exclusively on motorways for the bulk of the distance has really made a huge difference to my daily life.

    Also digital TV and online videos, Really makes the choices on how we consume media pretty limitless.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,180 ✭✭✭Sunglasses Ron


    I thought the concept of smartphones was flash in the pan hipster bollocks for Apple fanboys that wouldn't catch on in a million years. I mean, who the **** needs to be attached to the internet on demand 24/7 using a phone that costs more than a laptop?

    Last year I was sacked after a vote at the Nokia AGM ;)

    Seriously though, I did think it was nonsense. Particularly after how ****e WAP internet was and never caught on. But much like how I never recognised the nee to have a mobile until Christmas 2000 into 2001 when everyone suddenly had one and I realised what I was missing, Christmas 2011 into 2012 seemed to be the day the average Joe realised he needed one, and I followed on.

    Probably the main difference is that apart when I am out of battery I haven't bought a newspaper or magazine since getting smartphoned. I hate commuting without something to read, always have, and I have about nine news and sports news apps to keep me going.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 23,481 ✭✭✭✭Akrasia


    131spanner wrote: »
    Using the M7 as opposed to the old N7 to get from Limerick to Dublin. Big improvement.

    Same with the ennis bypass and the new M18. I can get from my house in Ennis to work at Shannon in 20 minutes. 10 years ago that would have been 40 minutes plus

    Chomsky(2017) on the Republican party

    "Has there ever been an organisation in human history that is dedicated, with such commitment, to the destruction of organised human life on Earth?"



  • Closed Accounts Posts: 51 ✭✭Sgt. Al Powell


    I'm telling Three you're tethering.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,893 ✭✭✭Davidius


    I thought smart phones were still only for rich people.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 23,481 ✭✭✭✭Akrasia


    I'm telling Three you're tethering.
    Shhhhh

    Chomsky(2017) on the Republican party

    "Has there ever been an organisation in human history that is dedicated, with such commitment, to the destruction of organised human life on Earth?"



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 23,481 ✭✭✭✭Akrasia


    Davidius wrote: »
    I thought smart phones were still only for rich people.

    You can get a smart phone on PAYG for 40 quid now. So unless you have a really low bar for what counts as rich people...

    Chomsky(2017) on the Republican party

    "Has there ever been an organisation in human history that is dedicated, with such commitment, to the destruction of organised human life on Earth?"



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,078 ✭✭✭sok2005


    I miss Polyphonic ring tones!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,576 ✭✭✭Paddy Cow


    With the internet you could pretty much do everything from home and not have to leave the house (unless for medical reasons). Banking, work, food, clothes, music, movies, tv, education all available. Must make the lives of agoraphobics a lot more manageable.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,883 ✭✭✭Tzardine


    Google Maps. Makes my life an awful lot easier.

    Also WIFI. Its only 10 years old believe it or not.

    And I would like to add in something that I believe will not be around in 10 more years.

    3D TV.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,180 ✭✭✭Sunglasses Ron


    sok2005 wrote: »
    I miss Polyphonic ring tones!

    LOL :pac: God remember back in the day when i you didn't have a personalised ringtone of your favourite tune bought for 3 odd euro people gave you a funny look. Now you can have one for free and nobody bothers with them!

    Carrying a case full of CD's for a road trip or a flight is another thing I don't miss. Or scratched CD's skipping!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 23,481 ✭✭✭✭Akrasia


    I used to bring a backpack with me everywhere just to carry my CD collection just in case I felt the urge to listen to one song. I haven't carried a backpack in years.

    When I was coming home from college some arsehole stole my rucksack with all my CDs in it. Thousands of euros gone in an instant and they probably dumped them over a hedge (doubt the scumbags would have been big fans of Mogwai or the screaming trees)
    I used to make a bit of cash as a DJ in the students union, the only qualification you needed then was a big CD collection. Now everyone who can be bothered has tens of thousands of MP3s most of which they've probably never listened to

    Chomsky(2017) on the Republican party

    "Has there ever been an organisation in human history that is dedicated, with such commitment, to the destruction of organised human life on Earth?"



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,883 ✭✭✭Tzardine


    Oh I have one more.

    Visa Debit Cards. Something which we were always lacking in Ireland. Laser cards were sh1t when it came to ordering stuff online as they would not be accepted anywhere outside of Ireland. They were also useless when you were on holidays.

    Its great being able to go into a shop anywhere in the world and use your debit card to pay for stuff.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 23,481 ✭✭✭✭Akrasia


    Strituck wrote: »
    Oh I have one more.

    Visa Debit Cards. Something which we were always lacking in Ireland. Laser cards were sh1t when it came to ordering stuff online as they would not be accepted anywhere outside of Ireland. They were also useless when you were on holidays.

    Its great being able to go into a shop anywhere in the world and use your debit card to pay for stuff.

    Meh, I still prefer travellers cheques

    (not really)

    Chomsky(2017) on the Republican party

    "Has there ever been an organisation in human history that is dedicated, with such commitment, to the destruction of organised human life on Earth?"



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 21,513 ✭✭✭✭Alun


    Akrasia wrote: »
    This is a huge part of my life.
    You need to get out more.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,810 ✭✭✭✭sbsquarepants


    :)
    I thought the concept of smartphones was flash in the pan hipster bollocks for Apple fanboys that wouldn't catch on in a million years. I mean, who the **** needs to be attached to the internet on demand 24/7 using a phone that costs more than a laptop?

    I remember when cameras appeared on phones for the first time - I was convinced it was ridiculous. Who the fúck wants a camera on their phone - after all no one ever needed a phone on their camera did they?. Eh, i'm starting to think I may have been wide of the mark with that one.:)

    At the weekend my son asked me did I have Jay Zs new album, I didn't but literally 2 minutes later I had downloaded it, synched the ipod and had it playing away on my sexy wireless speakers - bloody sorcery I tells ye.
    Now when I go on holidays, I can bring a thousand albums with me in my pocket - couldn't do that a decade ago! Maybe 3 or 4 cds stuffed in somewhere but that was about it.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 23,481 ✭✭✭✭Akrasia


    Alun wrote: »
    You need to get out more.
    I do get out, the point is that you can listen to podcasts and audiobooks while you're also doing other stuff

    Never again do I have to endure the monotonous chirping of wild birds (though I have yet to find a solution to the oderous stench of those wild flowers)

    Chomsky(2017) on the Republican party

    "Has there ever been an organisation in human history that is dedicated, with such commitment, to the destruction of organised human life on Earth?"



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 34,788 ✭✭✭✭krudler


    streaming 1080p episodes of a tv show the day after it airs in the states, legally. Gotta love netflix.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,378 ✭✭✭✭kippy


    As others have said, the motorway network has probably been the biggest game changer, for me anyway.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,200 ✭✭✭muppetkiller


    Touch screen interfaces. I always find it funny when you see kids trying to get laptops to work by pawing the screen :D


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,372 ✭✭✭Saab Ed


    Lose money selling a house


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,180 ✭✭✭Sunglasses Ron


    :)

    I remember when cameras appeared on phones for the first time - I was convinced it was ridiculous. Who the fúck wants a camera on their phone - after all no one ever needed a phone on their camera did they?. Eh, i'm starting to think I may have been wide of the mark with that one.:)

    .

    Even on high end phones it took quite a few years for phone cameras to actually be decent quality. They have been around 10 odd years but the quality on even expensive ones was atrocious. I was never one for the latest phone, all I wanted was make calls and decent sized text memory, but I did spend about 150 euro on a Nokia around 2008 which, for its time, had a cutting edge camera and video.

    By today's standards it was ****e. And even at that Apple camera quality (particularly iPad) is rubbish compared to the one on my half the price Samsung Galaxy. Sharper than my old digital camera this baby is!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 34,788 ✭✭✭✭krudler


    Even on high end phones it took quite a few years for phone cameras to actually be decent quality. They have been around 10 odd years but the quality on even expensive ones was atrocious. I was never one for the latest phone, all I wanted was make calls and decent sized text memory, but I did spend about 150 euro on a Nokia around 2008 which, for its time, had a cutting edge camera and video.

    By today's standards it was ****e. And even at that Apple camera quality (particularly iPad) is rubbish compared to the one on my half the price Samsung Galaxy. Sharper than my old digital camera this baby is!

    one of the new Nokia phones has a 41MP camera or something close, ridiculous, sure there's full lenght movies shot on phones these days


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  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,180 ✭✭✭Sunglasses Ron


    krudler wrote: »
    one of the new Nokia phones has a 41MP camera or something close, ridiculous, sure there's full lenght movies shot on phones these days

    I remember a few years back Kellogs had a collect tokens for a digital camera promotion.

    **** me I should have known better, I reckon they must have scored some 80's test models they were so poor.


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