"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
12/18/2013 at 14:23 Filed to: rant
0
24|
"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
12/18/2013 at 14:23 Filed to: rant | 0
| 24 |
I went out of my way today to go to my local Apple Store to ask some very specific questions about AirPlay, wireless streaming and AppleTV. I ended up talking to a pimple faced kid who, when asked specific questions, answers, "Yeah, I'm pretty sure that's right. Or, "Yeah, I think you can do that." Way to go, Genius. It has been my experience at the Apple Store that the first level of "Genius" you speak with might be able to sell you an iPad or show you how to connect to the Internet, and that's about it. If you have any question that involves even a modicum of tech know-how, you have to access at least the second or third tier of Genius. Ain't nobody got time for that. I should have just stayed home and Googled it.
Leadbull
> ttyymmnn
12/18/2013 at 14:27 |
|
So. What's your question?
Nibby
> ttyymmnn
12/18/2013 at 14:34 |
|
Next time, Ask Oppo.
maximillious
> ttyymmnn
12/18/2013 at 14:34 |
|
liquid_popcorn
> ttyymmnn
12/18/2013 at 14:36 |
|
I may be able to find out; my father in law is a certified apple trainer, and basically travels to businesses and teaches them everything there is to know. He also owns at least one of almost every Apple product since the beginning.
|
ttyymmnn
> Leadbull
12/18/2013 at 14:41 |
|
It's related to the discussion I posted yesterday about getting an AV receiver and streaming iTunes to it. I'm pretty sure I know how it's all going to shake out, but I wanted to see how the Apple side of the equation would need to be set up. It looks like it's as simple as I thought it would be, but I wanted confirmation. So my questions were:
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
How do you stream your iTunes library from Desktop to AV receiver? I don't want to have my phone or any other i device involved.
If I have an AV receiver that has built-in wifi, is it as simple as connecting that wifi to my home network?
The AV receiver I'm looking at says it's Air Play compatible. Does that simply mean that it will display song and track information?
What does AppleTV do for me? Will it simplify streaming to my AV receiver? Will I no longer need wifi on my AV receiver?
I think those are the big questions. And I think I have it all worked out. It's just that for me, it helps to talk things out with a knowledgeable person so I can understand it completely in my own head, in my own way. While I have certain levels of knowledge about some tech stuff, my AV skills are 30 years old.
Fred (FreddsterExprs)
> ttyymmnn
12/18/2013 at 14:42 |
|
Well, connecting to the internet and uploading pics to instagram/tumblr is probably what 90% of customers want to have explained at an apple store.
The Dummy Gummy
> ttyymmnn
12/18/2013 at 14:42 |
|
Just call next time. It'll save you time and frustration. What was the question?
|
ttyymmnn
> liquid_popcorn
12/18/2013 at 14:43 |
|
My questions are 1) HERE and 2) HERE .
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
Thanks.
|
ttyymmnn
> The Dummy Gummy
12/18/2013 at 14:44 |
|
Please see my reply to Leadbull.
http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/so-whats-your-
|
ttyymmnn
> Fred (FreddsterExprs)
12/18/2013 at 14:44 |
|
Sadly, you are correct.
|
liquid_popcorn
> ttyymmnn
12/18/2013 at 14:48 |
|
Cool; I'll see what I can do.
|
Fred (FreddsterExprs)
> ttyymmnn
12/18/2013 at 14:51 |
|
That's why I always wonder how they can sell that high end hardware to customers. Most Macbook Pro Users I know use iTunes, Word, and an Internet Browser. But they still are ready to pay 1.2k plus for a Laptop. Strange world.
On the other hand I must admit that Apples new Mac Pro is an impressive (but absurdly expensive) piece of kit.
|
The Dummy Gummy
> ttyymmnn
12/18/2013 at 14:56 |
|
If it says air play compatible it probably means it is equip. When ever I see ready it means the hardware wasn't included, but compatible means equip. What you could then do is link it iTunes. iTunes should pick it up.
The ATV can get your music from iTunes as which point you can output it via hdmi or optical cable. You won't need your phone for any of this, but where things get really fun is that you can use your phone to 'throw' it to your Apple TV and control is that way.
A fun thing about using iTunes is that you can then use fun app's like dj on itunes and multiple people can connect to your computer with their iphone and set line ups for next play songs.
McMike
> ttyymmnn
12/18/2013 at 15:02 |
|
I'm about to send my Mom to an iOS workshop for the new phone she got.
For some reason my sister talked her into getting one. Mom has never texted. Mom still lives in Outlook 2003 (hated 2007) and calls me for the basic things regarding the Win UI. (She'll zoom -/+ her IE, and won't how to fix it, etc....) I think a smartphone is not the next step. I was thinking cellphone with a qwerty KB so we could introduce her to texting first, then move up to a smartphone if she gets the hang of it.
Does anyone remember the learning curve moving to a smart phone? Contacts now need to be complete. You had phone contacts, and you had email contacts. They were in two different places.... You (at some point during your life) had to merge these into one place (usually .csv or by entering it all in manually)
How many friends of yours email stuff to phone numbers, or text things to your email address? That's another learning curve she'll have to adjust to. Just the other day, she wanted to send my sister a "text" and started entering in "f-l-o-w-e..." (Sis's email address). This might take a while.
So, back to the workshop. While I would love to have someone go over the basics with her, I am terrified what the store will focus on. I want her to learn how to send emails, read emails, forward them, attach photos, crop photos, text, take movies, how to get them off the device an on her PC. I want them to teach her how the damn thing works, but I know that won't happen.
They'll show her iTunes. They'll show her how to buy music, how to buy apps, how to use the cloud, and all the other skills/services that have sales built into them.
I'm a Macintosh Integration Engineer for a federal.gov, and have been to enough seminars, conferences, presentations, and training sessions at Apple to know it's heavy on the sales, and light on the basics.
Would you rather have someone know the difference between a text and an email, or how to purchase music? Would you rather teach someone how to edit their contacts, or how to use iTunes match? Would you rather teach someone the difference between using wifi or your wireless plan or download the newest neato app the instructor has a hard-on for?
See what I'm getting at?
This wasn't' my idea, but yet I'm asking all the hard questions. We don't even have iOS devices at home. My sister did a drive-by tech deployment, and didn't think of what happens next. Grrrrrr.
Where are your contacts, in Outlook, or in your webmail host? You might want a new email address, since your existing host doesn't support IMAP. etc... etc..
Fuck it, I'll probably end up training her myself, or enroll in the class with her so I can tell her what to ignore, or so I can at least reenforce the method they taught her.
duurtlang
> Fred (FreddsterExprs)
12/18/2013 at 15:03 |
|
It's quite easy really. A large percentage of Apple users are what we'd call badge snobs when it comes to cars.
|
Leadbull
> ttyymmnn
12/18/2013 at 15:04 |
|
I don't know much about AV recievers. Well, not enough to be called a 'genius.'
However, I do have an AppleTV, and it's great. It hooks up to wifi and can access your iTunes library, among other things like your photos, Youtube and Netflix. And if you have a Mac, you can stream just about anything you get on there. For example, I can access Top Gear episodes on Streetfire from my computer, then stream them to the TV.
|
Fred (FreddsterExprs)
> duurtlang
12/18/2013 at 15:16 |
|
But where does badge snobing ("Let's pay just a bit more for the sleek design and cool vibe") end and stupidity (I need a Laptop for very basic applications, so an i5 Macbook for 1400$ is just perfect) start?
I am also ready to pay more for a certain brand, but only to a "reasonable" point.
|
ttyymmnn
> McMike
12/18/2013 at 15:23 |
|
My dad has been a Mac user all his life, and he still calls me every time he gets home from a trip to ask me how to get his pictures into iPhoto, so I feel your pain. Have you thought about one of those "For Dummies" books? That might be the way to go. I wish you luck.
|
McMike
> ttyymmnn
12/18/2013 at 15:31 |
|
Unlike a proper OS, I can not screenshare with the phone when she needs a little assistance.
Fortunately, there are millions and millions of iOS users out there that would be able to lend her a hand if she gets stuck (family, friends, etc) UNfortunately, everyone thinks they are a goddamn expert with the things, and "their way is best."
Nothing annoys me more than that. If someone asks you for help, and they can kind of remember how to do it, do NOT show them an entirely new way of doing it. Go with what they know and show them the steps they are missing.
For crying out loud, my mom still opens up Word.docs by launching Word, and then: File > Open > browse. Showing her that she can open the file itself blows her mind. Creature of habit, she is.
I should make my sister do it, then chime in when they get in trouble. That'll teach her.
|
ttyymmnn
> McMike
12/18/2013 at 15:42 |
|
I googled "ios screen sharing" and found this discussion on the Apple forum. I don't know if it will work for you or not, but there are other solutions as well.
https://discussions.apple.com/message/226002
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/vsee-fo
Dusty Ventures
> ttyymmnn
12/18/2013 at 15:57 |
|
Whenever I need assistance that involved I skip the Apple store and go to a store 20 miles further away called "Yes! Computers." They've been selling and servicing Apple products exclusively since the Mac Plus back in the 80s (back when there was no such thing as an "Apple store"). Best of all as an independent they don't have to tow the Apple/Best Buy/other big company line. If a third party, non-Apple accessory is better than Apple's they'll say so. I've yet to find anyone at an Apple store who even comes close to their knowledge.
|
McMike
> ttyymmnn
12/18/2013 at 17:52 |
|
I'm sure they exist, but there is no way I'm doing that over wireless.
Besides, my remote login software on her PC is on the desktop and it's called "let mike in" Learning curve is too high on a new device.
I will probably end up showing her myself. Damn you, sister! :)
In other news, I always buy the same generation of laptop for Mom as Mrs McMike has. (albeit a lower model) just so when Mom can't get her optical drive open, or figure something about, she can help her too.
I'm doing the best to control my environment without people figuring it out.
wabbastang
> Fred (FreddsterExprs)
12/19/2013 at 11:34 |
|
Exactly. I recently watched my parents go from asking me to find them a couple of newer laptops to replace their pentium-D era Dells (to surf the web, that's *it*), and found I could get them a PAIR of decent i5 1TB machines for about $900. Then I hear them went home with $3k in two Macbooks, and were thrilled. They weren't on a kick to pay for the badge, but the marketing got them. That's how they sell that high end hardware.
They still can't get anything to work and spend half their time with "Kevin" and "Tom" but Apple made their money. And I don't ever have to hear about their computer issues again, even if it is just them erasing their own wireless settings.
|
Fred (FreddsterExprs)
> wabbastang
12/19/2013 at 11:48 |
|
My mum recently was cought by the apple marketing as well. She came home asking me whether a Mac Book Pro would be a wise choice for her as a new business machine. I spontaniously had to laugh because she didn't quite figure out Windows 7 or even iOS yet, and the idea of her using a completley different OS on a High End Laptop was just too funny. In the end I got her a nice thin Asus Ultrabook for about 900 with an SSD and everything she needs - including a bright, matt Full HD Display. It was about 400 cheaper than a compareable Apple product and saved us both money and nerves.