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Why can't they make technology that just works?

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Why can't they make technology that just works?

As someone who works in tech, in general, there are typically three reasons:

  1. People won't pay for technology that works. The longer the development process for a product, the more we have to charge for it to compensate for that development cost that was spent up front. For many decades, there has been a constant effort to shorten time-to-market and lower costs for consumers to undercut competitors, because it has been shown time and time again that people will buy the crappier product instead of the refined one, if it costs 50% less. So the companies that spend a long time in development and testing to create something that is super reliable either die and go out of business, or they exclusively operate in the business-to-business world where other businesses are willing to spend big bucks for something reliable.
  2. Technology moves too fast in a lot of areas to make it worth spending a ton of effort on one specific iteration to make it better. Again, because companies need to keep iterating and moving to the latest and greatest thing. Why? Because that's what most buyers vote for with their wallets.
  3. Technology has become exponentially more complex over the decades. Such that everyday products like Bluetooth headphones requires expertise in design and manufacturing from people around the world just to make one. DSP chips have to be sourced from a company with that expertise, who has them manufactured by an IC manufacturer with that expertise, and then programmed by embedded developers with their expertise. Then the same for wireless chips, USB chips, etc. Literally no one company in the world could make a whole product themselves from scratch. And with that comes with disconnect between companies; none of these components are purpose-built to build the specific end-user product, and with that can come bugs, inconsistencies, etc. Issues that may not arise if the same company made purpose-built parts designed for the exact product being built.

To be sure, I lament this approach and wish we did things differently, but I understand how it is hard for a company to exist by pushing alternative thinking that most mainstream customers are not interested in.

Maybe I should go try Apple products instead. So far, I haven't had the greatest experience with my stuff.

 

  • I still struggle with Bluetooth, whether it's a device that just won't pair, or does so intermittently, or just limited battery life and pocket bulk of Bluetooth earphones and earphone cases, or working for a company that puts me in a different vehicle every day meaning I got to try to unpair someone and then pair me in order to have audio connectivity (and talk on the phone legally while driving).
  • But I also struggle with USB-C to 3.5mm adapters that either don't let me charge at the same time, or clip the first part of the audio after every pause (making listening to audio books practically impossible), or that only work with certain apps for some weird unknown reason.
  • I'm tired of companies axing products that I like and use. I liked and used Google Play Music, Google Podcasts, Skype, and Windows Subsystem for Android. Just the other day yet another feature I use, Microsoft Authenticator's password auto-fill, is also getting the ax. Even Visual Voice Mail has stopped working, and I'm unsure why. 
  • I can't find a USB charger that works with all my devices. I have a tablet, a phone and a couple other devices that are all USB-C, but I haven't found a charger that will work with all of them, as there is always one device that either needs, say, a 5V only charger, and another that won't work with a 5V only charger.
  • Some hardware and accessories are a bit of a pain too. For an example: I went for years with the same screen protector. But I had the battery fixed on my phone, so needed another one. I got the same brand, but it cracked within the first week. So I've changed it now 3 times, and my current screen protector is covered in cracks. I haven't dropped my phone, I'm not doing anything different. I also hate the pen tips for my Surface Go 2. The OEM ones last a long time, but to get them I got to pay $32 (including tax and free shipping) to get a set of three different ones, just to throw two away and keep the one I want.  But the packs on Amazon and eBay don't last.
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13 minutes ago, Issac Zachary said:
  • I can't find a USB charger that works with all my devices. I have a tablet, a phone and a couple other devices that are all USB-C, but I haven't found a charger that will work with all of them, as there is always one device that either needs, say, a 5V only charger, and another that won't work with a 5V only charger.

Most wall warts will do a range of Voltages so finding a charger for multiple devices should be easy. What devices do you have exactly?

 

14 minutes ago, Issac Zachary said:
  • Some hardware and accessories are a bit of a pain too. For an example: I went for years with the same screen protector. But I had the battery fixed on my phone, so needed another one. I got the same brand, but it cracked within the first week. So I've changed it now 3 times, and my current screen protector is covered in cracks. I haven't dropped my phone, I'm not doing anything different.

How are you cracking a screen protector without dropping it?

I might be experienced, but I'm human and I do make mistakes. Trust but Verify! I edit my messages after sending them alot, please refresh before posting your reply. Please try to be clear and specific, you'll get a better answer. Please remember to mark solutions once you have the information you need. Expand this signature for common PC building advice, a short bio and a list of my components.

 

Common build advice:

1) Buy the cheapest (well reviewed) motherboard that has the features you need. Paying more typically only gets you features you won’t use. 2) only get as much RAM as you need, getting more won’t (typically) make your PC faster. 3) While I recommend getting an NVMe drive, you don’t need to splurge for an expensive drive with DRam cache, DRamless drives are fine for gamers. 4) paying for looks is fine, just don’t break the bank. 5) Tower coolers are usually good enough, unless you go top tier Intel or plan on OCing. 6) OCing is a dead meme, you probably shouldn’t bother. 7) "Bottlenecks" rarely matter and "Future-proofing" is a myth. 8) AIOs don't noticably improve performance past 240mm.

 

Useful Websites:

https://www.productchart.com - helps compare monitors, https://uk.pcpartpicker.com - makes designing a PC easier.

 

Bio:

He/Him - I'm a PhD student working in the fields of reinforcement learning and traffic control. PCs are one of my hobbies and I've built many PCs and performed upgrades on a few laptops (for myself, friends and family). My personal computers include 4 windows (10/11) machines and a TrueNAS server (and I'm looking to move to dual booting Linux Mint on my main machine in future). Aside from computers, I also dabble in modding/homebrew retro consoles, support Southampton FC, and enjoy Scuba Diving and Skiing.

Fun Facts

1) When I was 3 years old my favourite toy was a scientific calculator. 2) My father is a British Champion ploughman in the Vintage Hydraulic Class. 3) On Speedrun.com, I'm the world record holder for the Dream Bobsleigh event on Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games 2010.

 

My Favourite Games: World of Tanks, Runescape, Subnautica, Metroid (Fusion and Dread), Spyro: Year of the Dragon (Original and Reignited Trilogy), Crash Bash, Mario Kart Wii, Balatro

 

My Computers: Primary: My main gaming rig - https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/user/will0hlep/saved/NByp3C Second: Hosts Discord bots as well as a Minecraft and Ark server, and also serves as a reinforcement learning sand box - https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/user/will0hlep/saved/cc9K7P NAS: TrueNAS Scale NAS hosting SMB shares, DDNS updater, pi-hole, and a Jellyfin server - https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/user/will0hlep/saved/m37w3C Foldatron: My folding@home and BOINC rig (partially donated to me by Folding Team Leader GOTSpectrum) - Mobile: Mini-ITX gaming rig for when I'm away from home -

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13 minutes ago, Issac Zachary said:

I still struggle with Bluetooth

everyone does. nobody struggled with cables , you just bought into the marketing hype assuming wireless was the future

14 minutes ago, Issac Zachary said:

But I also struggle with USB-C to 3.5mm adapters

again , nobody had a problem when the ports were seperate. just recently bought a new laptop and the ports are seperate , have zero issues.

15 minutes ago, Issac Zachary said:

I'm tired of companies axing products that I like and use

stop buying cloud dependent products

15 minutes ago, Issac Zachary said:

I can't find a USB charger that works with all my devices

makes sense considering every device on earth wasn't invented by one singular guy and doesn't do one singular task

17 minutes ago, Issac Zachary said:

Some hardware and accessories are a bit of a pain too. 

when you buy crap then yeah it tends to be crap

Most of your problems appear to be with your choices in products and your lack of willing to use more reliable or robust systems that promote longevity over anything else.

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4 minutes ago, emosun said:

everyone does. nobody struggled with cables.

I actually don't have issues with bluetooth and typically find it works perfectly for me. Also while cables are reliable, I hate using them in cars as I've often found the vibrations can cause them to disconnect alot.

I might be experienced, but I'm human and I do make mistakes. Trust but Verify! I edit my messages after sending them alot, please refresh before posting your reply. Please try to be clear and specific, you'll get a better answer. Please remember to mark solutions once you have the information you need. Expand this signature for common PC building advice, a short bio and a list of my components.

 

Common build advice:

1) Buy the cheapest (well reviewed) motherboard that has the features you need. Paying more typically only gets you features you won’t use. 2) only get as much RAM as you need, getting more won’t (typically) make your PC faster. 3) While I recommend getting an NVMe drive, you don’t need to splurge for an expensive drive with DRam cache, DRamless drives are fine for gamers. 4) paying for looks is fine, just don’t break the bank. 5) Tower coolers are usually good enough, unless you go top tier Intel or plan on OCing. 6) OCing is a dead meme, you probably shouldn’t bother. 7) "Bottlenecks" rarely matter and "Future-proofing" is a myth. 8) AIOs don't noticably improve performance past 240mm.

 

Useful Websites:

https://www.productchart.com - helps compare monitors, https://uk.pcpartpicker.com - makes designing a PC easier.

 

Bio:

He/Him - I'm a PhD student working in the fields of reinforcement learning and traffic control. PCs are one of my hobbies and I've built many PCs and performed upgrades on a few laptops (for myself, friends and family). My personal computers include 4 windows (10/11) machines and a TrueNAS server (and I'm looking to move to dual booting Linux Mint on my main machine in future). Aside from computers, I also dabble in modding/homebrew retro consoles, support Southampton FC, and enjoy Scuba Diving and Skiing.

Fun Facts

1) When I was 3 years old my favourite toy was a scientific calculator. 2) My father is a British Champion ploughman in the Vintage Hydraulic Class. 3) On Speedrun.com, I'm the world record holder for the Dream Bobsleigh event on Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games 2010.

 

My Favourite Games: World of Tanks, Runescape, Subnautica, Metroid (Fusion and Dread), Spyro: Year of the Dragon (Original and Reignited Trilogy), Crash Bash, Mario Kart Wii, Balatro

 

My Computers: Primary: My main gaming rig - https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/user/will0hlep/saved/NByp3C Second: Hosts Discord bots as well as a Minecraft and Ark server, and also serves as a reinforcement learning sand box - https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/user/will0hlep/saved/cc9K7P NAS: TrueNAS Scale NAS hosting SMB shares, DDNS updater, pi-hole, and a Jellyfin server - https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/user/will0hlep/saved/m37w3C Foldatron: My folding@home and BOINC rig (partially donated to me by Folding Team Leader GOTSpectrum) - Mobile: Mini-ITX gaming rig for when I'm away from home -

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2 minutes ago, will0hlep said:

I actually don't have issues with bluetooth and typically find it works perfectly for me.

i only have like a 5% failure rate with bluetooth as well but people less technically inclined experience a lot of issues with bluetooh that i gotta lump in there

4 minutes ago, will0hlep said:

Also while cables are reliable, I hate using them in cars as I've often found the vibrations can cause them to disconnect alot.

i've never had a cable vibrate itself out of a socket in a vehicle unless the cable or socket was damaged. or unless the car was driving through a potato field at 70mph

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1 hour ago, Issac Zachary said:

Maybe I should go try Apple products instead. So far, I haven't had the greatest experience with my stuff.

 

  • I'm tired of companies axing products that I like and use. I liked and used Google Play Music, Google Podcasts, Skype, and Windows Subsystem for Android. Just the other day yet another feature I use, Microsoft Authenticator's password auto-fill, is also getting the ax. Even Visual Voice Mail has stopped working, and I'm unsure why. 

With softwares one common cause they axe it is to make more money. That is make a "new and improved" version of the software which they have put behind a paywall/subscription or free but with ads.

 

Some time ago there was this email app, Windows Mail & Calendar, included in Win 10 and 11. It was simple to use and had a simple UI. My parents liked it.

Then Microsoft decided to scrap it and put a free Outlook app, which included ads disguised as email. When you clicked on those fake email it would blob the whole screen with the advertisement. If you wanted to get rid of the fake email ads you had to pay for that nice version of Outlook.

 

I switched to Thunderbird after that.

 

I usually edit my posts.

Refresh the page before answering to my post.

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1 hour ago, Issac Zachary said:

I can't find a USB charger that works with all my devices.

Have you tried different cables? Any decent charger, like this one, should be able to power any common device.

"The GB8/12 Liberation Front"

There is approximately a 99% chance I edited my post

Refresh before you reply

 

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1 hour ago, will0hlep said:

Most wall warts will do a range of Voltages so finding a charger for multiple devices should be easy. What devices do you have exactly?

1 minute ago, Timme said:

Have you tried different cables? Any decent charger, like this one, should be able to power any common device.

My main problem device is a couple of BTECH GMRS Pro handy talkies I got with USB-C charging. They say right on the box not to use a PD capable (above 5V) charger. And the box seems to be right, as they won't charge even if the wall PD wart is capable of 5V.

 

My Surface Go 2 won't charge off of 5V. I believe it can do as low as 9V IIRC, and normally I use a 30 or 60W charger. Oddly, the 30W charger seems to work better as the 60W, which quite often doesn't just start charging but rather seems to try to handshake with the tablet several times and then give up after a while.

 

I've tried several different cables. I've tried different chargers. The BTECH radios don't like anything that tries to see if it can do more than 5V and the Surface Go 2 doesn't like anything that is just 5V.

 

1 hour ago, emosun said:

everyone does. nobody struggled with cables , you just bought into the marketing hype assuming wireless was the future...

 

again , nobody had a problem when the ports were seperate. just recently bought a new laptop and the ports are seperate , have zero issues.

TBH I've never owned a phone, tablet or laptop without both ports. I can't say the same for my family, especially my wife. I tried getting her a phone she'd like, a Google Pixel 8 Pro. But so far the audio issue has been a real problem as she loves her music.

 

The Beats wireless earphones were a gift to me. Nobody in the family seems to want to use them because of their terrible battery life.

1 hour ago, emosun said:

when you buy crap then yeah it tends to be crap

Most of your problems appear to be with your choices in products and your lack of willing to use more reliable or robust systems that promote longevity over anything else.

Please, could you give me an example of a stylus that works with a Surface Go 2 tablet that is more robust than Microsoft's Pen? Hopefully it also attaches magnetically, although maybe that's why this one keeps getting damaged on the tip.

 

What about a better screen protector, as my screen is fine, just the protector keeps getting cracked and I can't figure out why (Pixel 4a, 4G version)?

 

Any other suggestion?

54 minutes ago, Mumintroll said:

Some time ago there was this email app, Windows Mail & Calendar, included in Win 10 and 11. It was simple to use and had a simple UI. My parents liked it.

Then Microsoft decided to scrap it and put a free Outlook app, which included ads disguised as email. When you clicked on those fake email it would blob the whole screen with the advertisement. If you wanted to get rid of the fake email ads you had to pay for that nice version of Outlook.

 

I switched to Thunderbird after that.

I remember when Windows 10 and Windows Mail & Calander came out. (I'm old enough to remember when Windows 3.1 came out and even used MS DOS before then).

 

I also loved the Windows Mail app. When it was axed by Microsoft I tried the new Outlook but also didn't like it. Especially since I have a job related EAS account that won't work with Outlook. It also won't work with Thunderbird (I've tried several times and several different ways). So now I do like I did in the 1990's and I just go online to view my emails. It's kind of a pain when I don't have internet and I want to read that one email, but it's better than the new Outlook.

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2 minutes ago, Issac Zachary said:

BTECH radios

Well, that's almost proprietary technology, so it's no surprise that it has iffy charging.
 

8 minutes ago, Issac Zachary said:

Oddly, the 30W charger seems to work better as the 60W, which quite often doesn't just start charging but rather seems to try to handshake with the tablet several times and then give up after a while.

The Ugreen chargers and cables are great and inexpensive. Recommendation, if you will.

 

 

"The GB8/12 Liberation Front"

There is approximately a 99% chance I edited my post

Refresh before you reply

 

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2 hours ago, Issac Zachary said:

Bluetooth

The bluetooth implementation in PC is still archaic so I'd rather just remove the memory card from my phone and insert it in the card reader, proprietary USB cable disintegrated years ago and I can't get a replacement anymore, not that I transfer files on a daily basis.

Bluetooth headphones or peripherals never managed to get my attention, they're worse compared to wired so it's not something I'd use, I don't need my headphones to work 20m away from the computer so wired is enough. Also batteries deplete and eventually die.

 

The rest can be attributed to average current year ewaste products, if you want a phone to do everything that comes at the cost of being a prisoner of the 'ecosystem' and forced to accept the fact it'll become obsolete in about 2 years, forcing you to buy a new one to do exactly the same.

 

And that kids, is why I still use a dumb phone and an mp3 player that takes AAA batteries. I can do everything else on the computer. I just don't like portable devices, can't really find the need for them other than the phone to make a call/text or the pocket mp3 player to listen to some music.

 

 

Don't get me wrong I like technology, just not the trendy 'smart' disposable e-waste, if I can repair something old I do and it might last for some more decades.

 

I have a theory, that modern things are made to be as annoying and possible, they can't "just work" because they're not designed to do so, they're designed to be time and money eaters, think about it, you spend hours looking for a solution to your problem and since there's often none you give up and go purchase something else, or pay for pro, premium, plus or whatever access in order to unlock certain paywalled functions or capabilities.

Caroline doesn't need to hear all this, she's a highly trained professional.

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If they made tech that just worked, then they couldn't sell you the next new thing that makes your computer take .0008 seconds to do then its current speed of .00079 seconds that it does now and charge $500 for that privilege. Or for the hard core gamer even more flashing lights to impress your online friends with.

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Charger problems? I've been using the same charger for my Motorola phone Uisomuph mouse, a rechargable lamp, an old tablet, and my earphones. The only thing that I need to do is replace the end by plugging in an adapter. I got it at a gas station because I forgot to bring a cable and it was cheap enough that I had nothing to lose.

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5 hours ago, Issac Zachary said:

My main problem device is a couple of BTECH GMRS Pro handy talkies I got with USB-C charging. They say right on the box not to use a PD capable (above 5V) charger. And the box seems to be right, as they won't charge even if the wall PD wart is capable of 5V.

On USB-C chargers, they need a resistor in order for the to provide 5V, while USB-A chargers just provide 5V. Did you try any fast charging capable USB-A chargers, or only USB-C to USB-C chargers? 

:)

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40 minutes ago, seon123 said:

On USB-C chargers, they need a resistor in order for the to provide 5V, while USB-A chargers just provide 5V. Did you try any fast charging capable USB-A chargers, or only USB-C to USB-C chargers? 

USB-A to USB-C work (because they're 5V). And USB-C to USB-C doesn't. So I see what you're saying.

 

On the Surface it's the other way around.

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4 hours ago, Issac Zachary said:

USB-A to USB-C work (because they're 5V). And USB-C to USB-C doesn't. So I see what you're saying.

 

On the Surface it's the other way around.

The surface require more than just 5v is logical. That is true with most larger devices.

 

It's the radio you have there that is trash designed.

 

But there is some chargers out there that have both usb c and usb A outputs, tried those?

 

I haven't had much Bluetooth issues on my phone.

 

I don't think any, or very few of your issues would be affected by having apple devices? So I am not sure why you mention it?

 

“Remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Try to make sense of what you see and wonder about what makes the universe exist. Be curious. And however difficult life may seem, there is always something you can do and succeed at. 
It matters that you don't just give up.”

-Stephen Hawking

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3 hours ago, Mihle said:

But there is some chargers out there that have both usb c and usb A outputs, tried those?

Yes, but those require different cables. It's not the end of the world, I know. But it's just a bit of a pain.

 

3 hours ago, Mihle said:

The surface require more than just 5v is logical. That is true with most larger devices.

I had a Surface Go (1) that charged off of 5V. But it had a problem with the keyboard connector. Even though I had told Microsoft several times about it and sent it in several times during the warranty period, they dragged it out until after the warranty period, charged me $200 for the repair, and sent me back a Surface Go 2. The Go 2 is a bit faster, and is Windows 11 compatible. But I still didn't like how Microsoft handled it, and now a lot of chargers won't work with it.

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Quote

Why can't they make technology that just works?

As someone who works in tech, in general, there are typically three reasons:

  1. People won't pay for technology that works. The longer the development process for a product, the more we have to charge for it to compensate for that development cost that was spent up front. For many decades, there has been a constant effort to shorten time-to-market and lower costs for consumers to undercut competitors, because it has been shown time and time again that people will buy the crappier product instead of the refined one, if it costs 50% less. So the companies that spend a long time in development and testing to create something that is super reliable either die and go out of business, or they exclusively operate in the business-to-business world where other businesses are willing to spend big bucks for something reliable.
  2. Technology moves too fast in a lot of areas to make it worth spending a ton of effort on one specific iteration to make it better. Again, because companies need to keep iterating and moving to the latest and greatest thing. Why? Because that's what most buyers vote for with their wallets.
  3. Technology has become exponentially more complex over the decades. Such that everyday products like Bluetooth headphones requires expertise in design and manufacturing from people around the world just to make one. DSP chips have to be sourced from a company with that expertise, who has them manufactured by an IC manufacturer with that expertise, and then programmed by embedded developers with their expertise. Then the same for wireless chips, USB chips, etc. Literally no one company in the world could make a whole product themselves from scratch. And with that comes with disconnect between companies; none of these components are purpose-built to build the specific end-user product, and with that can come bugs, inconsistencies, etc. Issues that may not arise if the same company made purpose-built parts designed for the exact product being built.

To be sure, I lament this approach and wish we did things differently, but I understand how it is hard for a company to exist by pushing alternative thinking that most mainstream customers are not interested in.

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On 6/23/2025 at 3:55 AM, Issac Zachary said:

I can't find a USB charger that works with all my devices. I have a tablet, a phone and a couple other devices that are all USB-C, but I haven't found a charger that will work with all of them, as there is always one device that either needs, say, a 5V only charger, and another that won't work with a 5V only charger.

Buy one from Anker/Ugreen. Their GaN chargers are really good. They're smart enough that they will automatically correct the output to the device connected. I've charged every device I own with a UGreen 65W charger with no problem, even devices that complain about if they're plugged into charger that didn't come with them (ahem like some dell laptops).

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