The two HPR hosts based in Edinburgh got together over Mumble on the evening of Sunday 23rd August 2020 to have a chat during the COVID-19 pandemic.

MrX

Dave Morriss

This is the second half of the conversation. For the first part see HPR show 3167.

Notes

Some of the topics we discussed:

Listening to podcasts

MrX’s recent show Keeping track of where I am

Using phone-based apps like Antennapod

Rockbox (free music player firmware) on Sansa Fuze, Sansa Clip, Clip+, Clip Zip, etc

Mobile phones and tablets

MrX likes his Nokia 5310

Dave is interested in the PinePhone

MrX has a Samsung Galaxy tablet (and did an HPR episode about it: hpr3030 :: My new Samsung tablet)

Smart devices want to make you a victim!

Digital data versus pieces of paper

Dave is using a Google spreadsheet shopping list which he can share with his kids who are shopping for him

There’s still a desire to keep things on paper though

The tendency to hoard bits of paper

Using Windows

Multiple (virtual) desktops on Windows 10, a counter-intuitive design

Outlook as a mail client (with Exchange) is very poor compared to open source options

3D printing

OpenSCAD: The Programmers Solid 3D CAD Modeller

A Slicer: software for converting a 3D model into instructions for a 3D printer in the form of G-code.

The current pandemic

Lockdown controls exposure to the virus and limits cases

Fewer cases means the health service can cope better

Sheltering keeps vulnerable people safe until a vaccine is available

Herd Immunity is when the majority of people are immune to the virus and don’t transmit it to vulnerable people

Long-term effects of COVID-19

Asymptomatic carriers of the virus

HPR listening and contributing in the time of COVID

Current times tend to make it harder to keep up to date with shows

It’s also harder to make time to make contributions at the moment

Issues with motivation

Miscellaneous

MrX’s car needing attention due to rust

Dave’s anecdote of his neighbour losing power late one night