I didn’t even realize Qualcomm removed the built in FM radio from their chips. Huh.

    • aard@kyu.de
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      1 year ago

      Is this the latest “sneaky” way to insist all phones need headphone jacks?

      My current phone has an FM radio, and no headphone jack. It uses the headphones as antenna via the USB-C adapter.

      Never used it, though - and rarely used radio in any phone which had that feature before that.

    • torvusbogpod@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Actually many modern electric cars are trying to get rid of FM radios because the electric motors can cause all sorts of interference (or so they say)

      • TheFerrango@lemmy.basedcount.com
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        1 year ago

        IIRC that’s just an issue with AM radios. And it happens with petrol cars too. A friend of mine’s car has this weird quirk where, while running below 50km/h, (I assume) the alternator generates RF interference in the AM band.

        We have nothing broadcasting there though, so no biggie.

        • tal@lemmy.today
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          1 year ago

          right next to the electric flares/beacons

          In the US, you can get magnesium road flares. IIRC, some places in Europe don’t permit them due to fire risk, but in the States, I can get them even in California (which is probably about the most fire-conscious state out there).

            • tal@lemmy.today
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              1 year ago

              You’re entitled to use electric flares if you want, but I will use the chemical ones.

              First, I would point out that my comment is in response to your comment pointing out that electric flares may-or-may-not have a charged battery.

              Second, magnesium flares have much-better visibility.

              As for life, you can get longer ones, and use as many as you want; I carry three extended-size ones.

              I also have a flasher on something like a 400 Wh, large lithium battery that I keep in the car, but I’m not going to rely on that to have someone not slam into me in the fog.

                • tal@lemmy.today
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                  1 year ago

                  As for “improved visibility”: The goal of a flare is not to make everyone see you and to let you see what you are doing. The goal is to say “Hey, something is over here. Be careful”.

                  Right. For which visibility is important.

                  You do realize that your tail lights/brake lights are more or less the exact same LEDs, right?

                  Yup. Which people proceed to slam into in those many-car pileups in the fog when they can’t see far-enough away that something is wrong despite people having their hazard blinkers on, and nicely illustrates why you would want to have magnesium flares.

    • laylawashere44@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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      1 year ago

      Right now the iPhone can straight up connect to the Iridium Satellite network, which IMO is far more useful that FM radio in any emergency. At least that system can send and receive messages, including most importantly GPS Co-ordinates.