iOS apps vs Android - Why iOS still has more features

Jerry Hildebrand asked why the difference in Android vs iOS apps after all this time. It's not just a single operating system with one set of support; I think it's user expectations.

Originally the base seemed to value free apps over apps with more than minimal functionality. And I mean minimal functionality. There was the constant accusation of "bloat" whenever an OEM included innovative features. Never mind the features were useful and/or later incorporated; they weren't part of Google's version of Android.

Then there's updates. I'm in no rush for an operating system update. Samsung (who I've gone away from then returned) was doing major updates for supported devices after the newest Galaxy S device was available with the newest OS version. Yes it's quite awhile after Google releases but Samsung often has features to be tested and I've had an updated brick my device once in 10 years - between Eclair and Froyo.

Android users have always seemed more negative about their devices than Apple users and very vocal about it. Most Android users will never know what they're missing as they don't access an iPhone to check or they will switch to iPhone. Choice is good.

Sometimes music just takes you back

Blue Rodeo was the cool down song at spin today. Boy does that take me back. It was my theme song when we were leaving Calgary. It was not a happy time for me; I had a research position I really enjoyed, I liked our house, neighbourhood and circle of friends. Yet, our circle was dispersing as post docs moved for permanent positions.

The end of the song ... the same snow is fall into the deep dark wonder of the waves of my heart ... along with the theme of leaving a relationships prompted me really think about what I wanted and where I was going. Change was coming, was I going it alone at least for awhile? Could I live with myself if I didn't?

And here I am over 20 years later. Plugging along, enjoying life with a partner with same core values. I did the right thing:)

Retirement - boy we talk a lot

One thing I've found about retirement is we talk a lot about stuff. All kinds of stuff for as long as we want because we have a much looser schedule and can find out what the other person means. Many times DH comes into a topic a little later than me and he asks my thoughts as he reads about it. Topics range from MAGA hat vs Indigenous Leader (parenting fail), to the new Canada Food Guide (overall good idea), to carbon tax (should be called a user fee).

Today's topics were the dedicated sexual assault court in Quebec and city water fluoridation.

The Court discussion was short and we pretty well agreed (before reading the article) that court workers from judges to lawyers to clerks need more mentoring and specific training to overcome biases. To me my thoughts are more nuanced.  Consent has been law for well over a decade but some judges still ask really dumb questions like - why didn't you close your legs. I would ask, every time you refuse a drink, do you have to hit it out of the hand of the person offering? But in the end, how much does that matter.

The fluoridation discussion was more interesting because we didn't really know the fundamental integrity of teeth. I pointed out our parents had much worse teeth than we did (all of them have at least some false teeth). DH thinks with proper diet there would be less cavities, I thought teeth would naturally wear down (which now that I think about it is irrelevant). We agree keeping teeth in mouths without fillings is important and since we can't rely on food selection and proper brushing, something simple like fluoride supplementation is a public good. I actually agree with the counsel member quoted in the article. This should be a science based public health policy rather than something left up to communities.

I'm glad our talking has sort of settled. For awhile I felt DH talked excessively but now I'm better used to it.

#Retirement, #CurrentEvents

There is no silver bullet when it comes to weight

What have you noticed after losing weight that no one mentions? I am cold unless I am being active or in direct sun at 25C. Even when I was menopausal I wasn't hot all the time (just inconvenient waves).

Finally using Samsung Pay - what took me so long?

1) GPay was working just fine
2) Winter coats + smartwatch payment = Meh
3) Phone to verify card; who has time for that?

Remedial Training for Bennie

We had a bad day with Bennie yesterday; he ate 2 tissues (at different times) and some hair. Problem is he bit at me when I tried to get it. Back to training.

How to keep in touch as we disperse from G+

There are a couple services you can use to let people know where you will be. I'm going to focus on the free services for About.me and the wheretofind.me experience.

Retirement - tech edition

I had said before I was refraining from purchasing at the moment so it's time for more fiddling. I really want to hold off since sales are pretty well over and there could be some really interesting things coming in the next year if CES is to be believed.

Bennie is definitely in adolescence

What a cutie. He's almost full grown as you can tell when he's by Milo. He's also gained a B-U-N-C-H of undesirable traits. From excessive barking to jumping on people (we were getting to sit for pats) and simply not doing anything unless there's a treat involved.

What do I mean about excessive barking? He barks in the middle of the night after he's been put in his kennel. If Milo has dreams, Bennie hears them and barks (sigh). There's also the wind, leaves, people across the road that he can see from the deck and other random things.

Thankfully he loves peanut butter. When Milo went through this stage he didn't like treats and didn't play with toys! Time to get back on the daily training horse. He was doing so well I drifted away from it. Bad me. Now I really have to work on not repeating the command and having yummy treats before I tell him to do anything so we can build back that success.

#BookofBennie

The Difficulty of Cooking

Food we've made

The other day we were wondering what to have for supper and ended up with a spinach, mushroom, tofu stirfry with a coconut curry sauce. Quicker that ordering out...for us.

Leadership is taking responsibility

So many times there is no clear path to responsibility of decisions because of group. Fairly or not, government doesn't work like that. There is a final signer, either royalty or an elected official that begins a new phase. It's especially clear in the US where people specifically vote for the President unlike Canada, New Zealand, Australia, etc


https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/house-democrats-reform-package-1.4967263

#ns #smh