Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

oldfarmer50

iluvmysephia1 said:

Buzz Aldrin, to the young girl at the elementary school, who asked Buzz "I wanna know why the astro-nots never went back to the moon."

Buzz Aldrin, with his gin-laced look, who perhaps didn't feel like lying to an 8-year old innocent little girl, simply replies "'Cause we never went there, that's why."

Oh yeah, the rabbit hole runs deep on that one. I'll just let that sit for a bit.

Maybe he was joking.

https://youtu.be/OhUjmRsWbzY

oldfarmer50

driver100 said:

snakeweasel said:

They do make wireless back up cameras that use your smart phone as the monitor.

Would be good, if I had a cell phone with data. My $3 a month plan just allows telephone and texting.

You should check your plan. My TracPhone has internet and data even though I wouldn’t know how to access them if I tried.

oldfarmer50

tjc78 said:

@driver100 said:

Would be good, if I had a cell phone with data. My $3 a month plan just allows telephone and texting.

This is a very serious question. How in 2023 do you survive without a smartphone? I’d be completely lost without it.

There are so many things you can’t do without it.

Amazon return drop offs

Several event tickets are all electronic now

Online ordering for many places

Loyalty programs in stores (scan app)

Scan and go at Walmart

The list goes on and on

</blockquote

I haven’t shopped Amazon in years as I prefer brick n’ mortar. I boycott places that only offer electronic tickets. I use my IPad for online ordering. I don’t shop at stores that sucker you into loyalty programs. How much time does scan an go save you, a minute? Less because that line is packed with people who spent $800 to not carry cash?

As a kid I refused to wear bell bottom pants when everybody else was following the latest fad. I’m no different today.

BTW, Walmart is no longer offering bags for your purchases. I’m glad I decided to defy the NYS ban on plastic bags last year and acquired my own supply. Now when all the trendy followers have chicken juice soaking into their government canvas bags I’ll just throw mine away.

ab348

henryn said:

Unless I've missed something, a surround view setup (at least a good one, the kind I would want) is going to require multiple cameras, and enough processing power to merge the outputs from the multiple cameras into a single, seamless image for the monitor.

Jeebus, don't give Driver any new ideas!!!

oldfarmer50

henryn said:

I was working for Gulf Oil in Houston, TX when we (the US) put a man on the moon. Gulf (and Shell for that matter) were running Sperry Univac mainframe computers, as was NASA. It was a tight knit community, I knew a number of the people who worked at NASA and helped put a man on the moon. Some of our geologists worked with NASA on examining the moon rocks, once again people I personally knew and trusted.

After the NASA cutbacks later on, a number of their computer techs came to work with me at Gulf. They were, to a man, extremely proud of what they had done. Your baseless aspersions are an insult to all of the fine Americans who worked their a____ off to make it happen.

I personally like the conspiracy theory that not only did we go to the moon but continued to go back long after the official program was cancelled.

A YT channel called ‘The Why Files’ just came out with the story of Apollo 20.

ab348

stickguy said:

This is a very serious question. How in 2023 do you survive without a smartphone? I’d be completely lost without it.

There are so many things you can’t do without it.

Amazon return drop offs

Several event tickets are all electronic now

Online ordering for many places

Loyalty programs in stores (scan app)

Scan and go at Walmart

The list goes on and on

Let me preface this by saying that for nearly 20 years I was in IT, everything from desktop to minicomputers to mainframes. Very little of that translates to today's smartphones or their apps. It is a totally different world.

I think people like me have (in at least some cases, or certainly in mine) a different way of thinking from those who picked up a smartphone and started using it without any previous background. I've mentioned before how I have always found nav systems totally inscrutable. Still do. Yet some people who I think could generously be described as clueless seem to use them as if second nature. It baffles me. Same way with most everything to do with smartphones. Part of that in my case is that I started with a Blackberry which had the worst interface imaginable and it turned me off them forever. Then when I moved to Apple it was a bit better but I didn't find much of it very intuitive. I have stayed with the smaller form factor versions (currently a SE2) because I don't want to jam a tablet into my pocket, and I think that has a role. I cannot easily do things on it with that tiny screen. My next one will be a bit bigger. But still, I just do not see the utility in doing everything on a phone. I have Apple Pay set up, but I've never used it. There is one useless loyalty program that does not issue a physical card, but last week I went to use it for only the second time and it wouldn't let me log myself in at cash, so that was out the door. I order things online on the PC or iPad, don't usually go to events, don't travel by air these days, don't play games of any sort, and the only way to return things to Amazon here is to go to the post office. I know it can't be that difficult since I see dumb people all the time who are glued to their phones. I just have no inclination to.

My older brother ran IT for the entire provincial govt here for over a dozen years before retiring in the late '90s. He still uses a flip phone.

snakeweasel

@iluvmysephia1 said:

The first moon "landing" was fake like all the rest of them. Stanley Kubrick directed it.

And it was very expensive as Kubrick as a perfectionist demanded that it be filmed on location.

kyfdx

I’m done with the conspiracy theory posts..

Which means the rest of you are done, as well. That may seem unfair, but please know that I am truly not sorry.

stickguy

thank you!

explorerx4

+1 on that!

driver100

ab348 said:

henryn said:

Unless I've missed something, a surround view setup (at least a good one, the kind I would want) is going to require multiple cameras, and enough processing power to merge the outputs from the multiple cameras into a single, seamless image for the monitor.

Jeebus, don't give Driver any new ideas!!!

But can it be done wireless.....and by wireless I mean with NO wires showing?

driver100

oldfarmer50 said:

driver100 said:

snakeweasel said:

They do make wireless back up cameras that use your smart phone as the monitor.

Would be good, if I had a cell phone with data. My $3 a month plan just allows telephone and texting.

You should check your plan. My TracPhone has internet and data even though I wouldn’t know how to access them if I tried.

I could if I am in a free wi-fi area. I probably make about 3 or 4, 2 minute calls a month to say whether I'll be home for lunch or if I am going for coffee with the guys after tennis.

driver100

ab348 said:

stickguy said:

This is a very serious question. How in 2023 do you survive without a smartphone? I’d be completely lost without it.

There are so many things you can’t do without it.

Amazon return drop offs

Several event tickets are all electronic now

Online ordering for many places

Loyalty programs in stores (scan app)

Scan and go at Walmart

The list goes on and on

I know it can't be that difficult since I see dumb people all the time who are glued to their phones. I just have no inclination to.

My older brother ran IT for the entire provincial govt here for over a dozen years before retiring in the late '90s. He still uses a flip phone.

Agree 100%. Sometimes the guys go for coffee after tennis and there are a few guys who have to check their phone every 30 seconds. The other thing that gets me is when I see a young couple out for dinner....they don't say a word to each other but they are scrolling and texting the whole time, on their own phones.
I was on the phone enough when I was working...the phone is not pleasurable for me. Same with an SUV, it was a utilitarian vehicle....not a fun vehicle.
My phone stays in the car 96% of the time....and there are only 1 or 2 people who have my number.

ab348

I always liked pro golfer and noted introvert Fred Couples’ rationale when someone visiting asked him why he wasn’t answering his ringing phone: “Because someone might be on the other end.” 😄

henryn

ab348 said:

stickguy said:

This is a very serious question. How in 2023 do you survive without a smartphone? I’d be completely lost without it.

There are so many things you can’t do without it.

Amazon return drop offs

Several event tickets are all electronic now

Online ordering for many places

Loyalty programs in stores (scan app)

Scan and go at Walmart

The list goes on and on

Let me preface this by saying that for nearly 20 years I was in IT, everything from desktop to minicomputers to mainframes. Very little of that translates to today's smartphones or their apps. It is a totally different world.

I think people like me have (in at least some cases, or certainly in mine) a different way of thinking from those who picked up a smartphone and started using it without any previous background. I've mentioned before how I have always found nav systems totally inscrutable. Still do.

Can you read and work with maps? My ex-wife could not do maps. Period. She could not translate a map into the physical world. There are other people with the same shortcomings, and I came to treat it as a disability to be worked around but not disrespected, much as my 50% color blindness.

Which really has not much at all to do with smartphones, but I digress...

snakeweasel

@ab348 said:
I always liked pro golfer and noted introvert Fred Couples’ rationale when someone visiting asked him why he wasn’t answering his ringing phone: “Because someone might be on the other end.” 😄

Hey God created voicemail for a reason.
my philosophy is that just because the phonecrings doesn't mean I have to answer it.

jmonroe1

@snakeweasel said:
You can believe what you wish, it's just the all the evidence against the moon landings is rather thin and the evidence for it is pretty strong. We shared moon rocks and soil with scientists around the world and not one said anything about them not being from the moon. Plus there have been lunar probes that have photographed the landing sites and you can see the trails that the astronauts left there. Plus the Soviet Union would have loved to prove it's a fake but couldn't. So the evidence if you really look at it says we were there.

Anyway, it's my birthday too and I am heading down to the AL post to celebrate it.

————————————————
Let us know if you get mooned.

jmonroe

snakeweasel

jmonroe1 said:

@snakeweasel said:

You can believe what you wish, it's just the all the evidence against the moon landings is rather thin and the evidence for it is pretty strong. We shared moon rocks and soil with scientists around the world and not one said anything about them not being from the moon. Plus there have been lunar probes that have photographed the landing sites and you can see the trails that the astronauts left there. Plus the Soviet Union would have loved to prove it's a fake but couldn't. So the evidence if you really look at it says we were there.

Anyway, it's my birthday too and I am heading down to the AL post to celebrate it.

————————————————

Let us know if you get mooned.

jmonroe

All the time baby, all the time.

mjfloyd1

kyfdx said:

I’m done with the conspiracy theory posts..

Which means the rest of you are done, as well. That may seem unfair, but please know that I am truly not sorry.

Thank you.

Some have gone from dumb to dumber 😂

jmonroe1

@driver100 said:
I'm not even the one who started all of that!

————————————————
Of course you started it but with your poster buddies trying to help you the proliferation of posts continued.

As for a battery operated monitor that can be done relatively easily. Just connect 8 D cell batteries in series to provide 12 volts. You could use smaller batteries but then you’d start complaining that you have to replace the batteries after a dozen back ups. Or use smaller rechargeable ni-cad or lithium ion batteries. Like I said before, it can be done but you have to pick your poison.

jmonroe

ab348

henryn said:

Can you read and work with maps?

Never had any problem at all with paper maps. When I was a kid and went on summer vacation with my parents I used to navigate for Dad in fact. With nav systems the interface just seems to fight me all the way.

jmonroe1

@oldfarmer50, don’t knock scan and go. I don’t have it but I saw it in action when we went to Myrtle Beach this past Summer with Son#1 and his family except for his oldest son who went to the Outer Banks with about a dozen of his friends. Anyway there were were 6 of us.

As usual the day we get there, always a Saturday, since we stay in a fully equipped condo on the beach we have to do some shopping mostly for breakfast and lunch stuff (we always go out for dinner). So Sam’s Club is where we usually go. When we walked in there was a HUGE line of people checking out. I mentioned to my Som that we should leave and come back later or go to a Kroger that is very close to the place we stay at. His reply is wherever you go at this time it’s almost this bad. OK, we finish our shopping (it took about an hour) and as we’re heading to checkout I commented about it being even worse than when got there. He said, “don’t worry about it, she (meaning his wife) has an app”. I had no idea what he was talking about. Just about then we’re heading out the door to the checker you have to go to after you have gone through the checkout line. My DIL showed the checker her phone and we’re headed out the door without having to wait in the long checkout line. As we’re outside the door about to head to the car, 2 women who were behind us going though the checker line said something like, “excuse me but how did you do that”? My DIL told them she had a Sam’s app for that. Their eyes got as big as saucers and they said they’d have to get that app.

My DIL works in one of those tech jobs and has to answer customers questions by phone. So, showing them how to do it was no big deal to her. She asked the women if they had their phone with them and both said they did. She shows them how to pull up the app and proceeds to give them a 5 minute tutorial right there in the Sam’s parking lot about how to use their phone to scan items. They thanked my DIL and walked away bewildered just shaking their heads.

Like I said I don’t have that app but I’m thinking about it.

jmonroe

stickguy

driver100 said:

ab348 said:

henryn said:

Unless I've missed something, a surround view setup (at least a good one, the kind I would want) is going to require multiple cameras, and enough processing power to merge the outputs from the multiple cameras into a single, seamless image for the monitor.

Jeebus, don't give Driver any new ideas!!!

But can it be done wireless.....and by wireless I mean with NO wires showing?

yes. the headunit I believe was rechargeable. so occasionally needs to plug in to a 12v or USB outlet.

there is no free lunch.

stickguy

maps are fun, and fine for bigger distances. But pretty useful for navigating at a local level when you are driving. even if my wife is with me, that would just lead to a shouting match when she messed it up! The biggest issue with a map is, what if you don't know where you are? makes it hard to find on the map!

so if you are on local streets and need a lot of quick turns, google maps or Waze is a huge help.

ab348

jmonroe1 said:

My DIL showed the checker her phone and we’re headed out the door without having to wait in the long checkout line. As we’re outside the door about to head to the car, 2 women who were behind us going though the checker line said something like, “excuse me but how did you do that”? My DIL told them she had a Sam’s app for that. Their eyes got as big as saucers and they said they’d have to get that app.

So, how does it work? Was she scanning items as she took them off the shelf and put them in the shopping cart?

28firefighter

Man this place has taken some bizarre left turns today.

jmonroe1

@mjfloyd1 said:
Thank you.

Some have gone from dumb to dumber 😂

————————————————
I was going to comment on that but as someone’s mother once said, “if you can’t say something nice it’s better….”.

jmonroe

jmonroe1

@ab348 said:
So, how does it work? Was she scanning items as she took them off the shelf and put them in the shopping cart?

————————————————
I’m pretty sure that’s what she was doing and the person doing the checking scanned a few items in addition to verifying her account. At least that’s what it looked like to me. But whatever it was it saved a ton of time.

jmonroe

stickguy

ab348 said:

jmonroe1 said:

My DIL showed the checker her phone and we’re headed out the door without having to wait in the long checkout line. As we’re outside the door about to head to the car, 2 women who were behind us going though the checker line said something like, “excuse me but how did you do that”? My DIL told them she had a Sam’s app for that. Their eyes got as big as saucers and they said they’d have to get that app.

So, how does it work? Was she scanning items as she took them off the shelf and put them in the shopping cart?

effectively, yes. instead of carting them and scanning at the end, you scan as you collect them in the cart and skip doing it at the registers.

there is also a system where items are tagged and a sensor at the door figures out what is in your cart, but I don't know if anyplace in the US uses that.

driver100

jmonroe1 said:

@driver100 said:

I'm not even the one who started all of that!

————————————————

Of course you started it but with your poster buddies trying to help you the proliferation of posts continued.

As for a battery operated monitor that can be done relatively easily. Just connect 8 D cell batteries in series to provide 12 volts. You could use smaller batteries but then you’d start complaining that you have to replace the batteries after a dozen back ups. Or use smaller rechargeable ni-cad or lithium ion batteries. Like I said before, it can be done but you have to pick your poison.

jmonroe

I would gladly do that. I would turn it on only when backing up....about 20 seconds a day total. Find me the unit and I am on it. Not sure is a unit with 8 batteries can go on the windshield but I'll set it up on the dash. Hope it isn't 12 inches high!

roadburner

snakeweasel said:

roadburner said:

fintail said:

roadburner said:

tjc78 said:

Well to be fair the side mirrors are pretty far out of range for the backup cam!

I much prefer surround view over a backup camera.
BMW:


M-B:

Lower image looks like a W213 E-class similar to mine. I suspect it is the same system in your car - 4 cameras (front, rear, mirrors) - a nice feature when so many modern cars have high beltlines and generally poor visibility. I call it a "profit center" option, as it is/was optional, but I believe anyone picking options would choose it.

As I am sure you experienced in older cars and even the 318, a camera never feels needed . The fintail has so much glass area and good sightlines that it is easy to park.

Exactly! My 2002 was similar to your fintail- almost unlimited visibility.

Try a motorcycle, nothing to block your view a full 360 degree field of view. Plus it's smaller so much easier to back into spaces.

I have one.

jmonroe1

@stickguy said:
effectively, yes. instead of carting them and scanning at the end, you scan as you collect them in the cart and skip doing it at the registers.

there is also a system where items are tagged and a sensor at the door figures out what is in your cart, but I don't know if anyplace in the US uses that.

————————————————
I heard about those and have been told it’s coming to a market near you.

I’m thinking that manufactures must have a gizmo on their packaging that operates something like an EZ Pass transponder. Plus the retailer must only do business with manufacturers who package their products like that. Small type mom and pop outfits might have a problem with this but I’m sure they’ll figure it out.

jmonroe

jmonroe1

@driver100 said:
I would gladly do that. I would turn it on only when backing up....about 20 seconds a day total. Find me the unit and I am on it. Not sure is a unit with 8 batteries can go on the windshield but I'll set it up on the dash. Hope it isn't 12 inches high!

————————————————
I’m sure someone makes a 12 volt rechargeable battery pack with a connector to fit a monitor. If the connector doesn’t fit, changing it is very simple. Ask your neighbor about it. Next you going to want to know how/where to mount it. Your questions will never end.

I think the only thing that will save us about this subject is when one of our friendly mods puts a ban on this subject.

jmonroe

roadburner

snakeweasel said:

Actually he didn't say that, he said he also wanted to know why we went back and he said we didn't meaning that they didn't go back and he said it was because of funds. You can see his answer on Youtube.

It's sad that we didn't have the vision to move the space program forward in the 70's; when John Glenn flew in the space shuttle in 1998, he did nothing but orbit the earth again as he did in 1962- albeit in a much larger and reusable ship.

roadburner

I'm usually not an early adopter, but likewise I have refused to mirror the attitude of the befuddled old geezers who used to eat breakfast at the restaurant my dad and I used to frequent. They complained about virtually anything new and actually took pride in their boundless ignorance.

henryn

roadburner said:

I'm usually not an early adopter, but likewise I have refused to mirror the attitude of the befuddled old geezers who used to eat breakfast at the restaurant my dad and I used to frequent. They complained about virtually anything new and actually took pride in their boundless ignorance.

I have to give you a +1 for that.

stickguy

driver100 said:

jmonroe1 said:

@driver100 said:

I'm not even the one who started all of that!

————————————————

Of course you started it but with your poster buddies trying to help you the proliferation of posts continued.

As for a battery operated monitor that can be done relatively easily. Just connect 8 D cell batteries in series to provide 12 volts. You could use smaller batteries but then you’d start complaining that you have to replace the batteries after a dozen back ups. Or use smaller rechargeable ni-cad or lithium ion batteries. Like I said before, it can be done but you have to pick your poison.

jmonroe

I would gladly do that. I would turn it on only when backing up....about 20 seconds a day total. Find me the unit and I am on it. Not sure is a unit with 8 batteries can go on the windshield but I'll set it up on the dash. Hope it isn't 12 inches high!

you might regret it. a built in battery is going to be a lot bulkier. the solar one has one short wire that just plugs into the 12v plug. If that is too much for you to handle just pass on the whole idea because it doesn't exist.

tjc78

Great answers on the smartphone topic. I guess I’ve been using one for so long I conveniently forgot the old ways still exist.

As for scan and go. You open up the app your phone and as you grab items you scan them. I place them directly into my reusable bags (since Jersey doesn’t allow plastic anymore….don’t get me started) and then as you are leaving you walk to the self checkout line and scan the code in your phone. Then you are on your way.

Saves you from taking all the items out of your cart, placing them on the belt and then bagging them. I guess you could wait a few minutes if the self check line is mobbed but you’ll still be faster every time. I wish more stores had it.

kyfdx

I'm not getting any App, that I have to spend 5 minutes explaining in the parking lot!

tjc78

@kyfdx said:
I'm not getting any App, that I have to spend 5 minutes explaining in the parking lot!

It takes less time to just use it than to explain it.

ab348

tjc78 said:

As for scan and go. You open up the app your phone and as you grab items you scan them. I place them directly into my reusable bags (since Jersey doesn’t allow plastic anymore….don’t get me started) and then as you are leaving you walk to the self checkout line and scan the code in your phone. Then you are on your way.

Saves you from taking all the items out of your cart, placing them on the belt and then bagging them. I guess you could wait a few minutes if the self check line is mobbed but you’ll still be faster every time. I wish more stores had it.

We looked into that where I used to work, many years ago. I think at the time the tech was not ready for prime time. Our loss prevention people were apoplectic about the risks too. But I can see how a person buying just a few items might find it useful for a quick in-and-out visit. A cartful of items presents different challenges.

stickguy

it does not seem like it would save that much time if you have to wait at the self check anyway. Putting stuff in your cart and walking out the door should.

We are members at BJs, not Sams, and I can't see scan and go being fully effective because I have never gone through the self check and not needed an employee to come over a couple of times to sort out some problem with the scanning. So at best I could see having a pile of extra stuff in the cart that the employee needs to take care of!

snakeweasel

stickguy said:

maps are fun, and fine for bigger distances. But pretty useful for navigating at a local level when you are driving. even if my wife is with me, that would just lead to a shouting match when she messed it up! The biggest issue with a map is, what if you don't know where you are? makes it hard to find on the map!

so if you are on local streets and need a lot of quick turns, google maps or Waze is a huge help.

If you know your approximate location there are ways to determine where you are using a map as long as you can identify landmarks which should be easy.

snakeweasel

roadburner said:

snakeweasel said:

Actually he didn't say that, he said he also wanted to know why we went back and he said we didn't meaning that they didn't go back and he said it was because of funds. You can see his answer on Youtube.

It's sad that we didn't have the vision to move the space program forward in the 70's; when John Glenn flew in the space shuttle in 1998, he did nothing but orbit the earth again as he did in 1962- albeit in a much larger and reusable ship.

I think that the only reason we went to the moon was because of the Cold War and the Space Race. Sending people into orbit is very dangerous and sending them beyond orbit is even more so. We did move the space program forward in the 70's and beyond but we sent probes not people. Much safer and cheaper to send a probe than a human.

snakeweasel

stickguy said:

it does not seem like it would save that much time if you have to wait at the self check anyway. Putting stuff in your cart and walking out the door should.

We are members at BJs, not Sams, and I can't see scan and go being fully effective because I have never gone through the self check and not needed an employee to come over a couple of times to sort out some problem with the scanning. So at best I could see having a pile of extra stuff in the cart that the employee needs to take care of!

Well if it would eliminate all those people that sit at the self checkout searching for the bar code and then have difficulty scanning it then it would speed up the process of self checkout.

tjc78

@stickguy said:
it does not seem like it would save that much time if you have to wait at the self check anyway. Putting stuff in your cart and walking out the door should.

We are members at BJs, not Sams, and I can't see scan and go being fully effective because I have never gone through the self check and not needed an employee to come over a couple of times to sort out some problem with the scanning. So at best I could see having a pile of extra stuff in the cart that the employee needs to take care of!

It saves the entire process of taking all the items out of the cart, scanning and placing them in the bags, then paying. You do it all in one operation. They may have a way of the final scan without waiting in the line. I’ve never had to wait because I go early.

imidazol97

Kroger in this zone tried having folks bag their own items as they shopped into their carts. They picked up a scan device like the checkout workers have. Scan each item. Put it into bag (I think they had special bags.) Then go to one of the 12 self checkout machines and either give scanner to the worker handling the 6 self checkouts or the people put the bags from their carts onto the weighing device where people doing ordinary self checkouts put their bags.

I assumed the store tried to match the weight of the items in the bags to what was being paid for by the person doing the self scan. A few people tried it. I think it lasted about 9 months and the racks of scanners devices were gone. Meanwhile Kroger had gone to the pickup service, where you order online and pick up items at service doors, staying in your car as people loaded your grocery choices.

imidazol97

re flip phones. @oldfarmer50

I was working on a client's computer and noticed a box from T-Mobile of
a flip phone. They are replacing the husband's old phone. Store told them
they were lucky a flip phone was there. They sell out as quickly as they come
in, according to the salesperson.

imidazol97

https://jalopnik.com/gm-is-investing-almost-1-billion-in-new-v8-engines-1850013640

28firefighter

@imidazol97 said:
re flip phones. @oldfarmer50

I was working on a client's computer and noticed a box from T-Mobile of
a flip phone. They are replacing the husband's old phone. Store told them
they were lucky a flip phone was there. They sell out as quickly as they come
in, according to the salesperson.

Probably only get one in every 6 months.