Taking a Bite Out of the Apple

The internet truly is a mixed bag. I've gone to the google many times to figure out what a computer error message means, how to salvage a keyboard exposed to coffee or when it's okay to substitute bread flour for all-purpose flour.

LOC public domain photo

But sometimes the internet fails, and I have to rely on my own trial-and-error method of handling things.

Case in point...this week I signed up for Apple TV so Mr. Ginley and I could watch Ted Lasso. Mr. discovered TL after watching snippets of it on YouTube. He got me hooked on it, too. So when I was pondering what to get for Christmas, I thought Apple TV would be a good gift. We could subscribe for a month or so, watch all the episodes and turn it off. 

After signing up, I went to my "smart" TV to set it up. I downloaded the app, put in my account information and was ready to roll.

Unfortunately, when I tried to watch Ted Lasso, the picture was pixelated. I unplugged the TV and plugged it back in. I deleted the app and reinstalled it. I waited until the next day and tried again. No dice.

Off I went to the google and the Apple Support site. The upshot was, my smart TV wasn't smart enough to support Ted. If I wanted to watch him, I had to get a new TV. 

Well, that wasn't going to happen.

"What about the TV upstairs?" Mr. Ginley suggested.

"Well, that one's not a smart TV – and it's a lot older," I replied. But then I shrugged, figured what the heck, and pulled out the Fire Stick that Mr. Trusken so kindly gave me during the family celebration at my sister's house.

I plugged in the Fire Stick and signed onto the Apple TV app and clicked on Ted. Lo and behold, it worked.

"Let me get this straight," Mr. Ginley observed. "The app won't play on our smart TV, but it will do just fine on our dumb TV?"

Yep.

Well, whatever works, I guess. Just another chapter in my experience of bridging old and new technologies. As most of you know, my side gig is converting old-format video tape to DVDs and USBs. Axel has taught me a lot about that. I never would have known there were so many old formats. 

But I digress.

In this case, the internet was not helpful in finding a solution to my Apple TV problem, although it has been in the past. 

So, here's what have we learned from this:

• It's nice to use the internet as a tool, but there's still plenty of room for good old common sense and human brainpower. 
• Artificial intelligence is only as good as the intelligence it's given. 
• I'll never be able to fold a fitted sheet neatly no matter how many times I watch the YouTube video.

Happy New Year! Be joyful and safe, and I'll see you in 2023.