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Beeep beeep beeep beeep beeep

7 points by rrradical ↗ HN
Lead Engineer: So I think we're all set on the microwave design, but, for the beep feature—how many times do you want it to beep?

Product Manager: What do you mean?

Lead Engineer: You said you wanted it to beep when the food was done. How many times should it beep?

Product Manager: Oh. I didn't know we could do multiple. Um. 2? 3?

Lead Engineer: Sure, yea, we can do that.

Product Manager: Should we do more?

Lead Engineer: If you want? I don't care. I don't even own a microwave.

Product Manager: Let's do 3. We gotta make sure they hear it.

Lead Engineer: Ok sure, 3. Got it.

Product Manager: Actually we're already behind schedule. If this gets flagged in user testing we're fucked. Make it 4.

Lead Engineer: Um, okay. You sure? 4 beeps?

Product Manager: Yea that's great, thanks. Okay, we good? Anybody got any fun plans this weekend?

Lead Engineer: Yea, we're going to take the family down the beach. Weather's looking pretty good.

Product Manager: Actually, can we do 5 beeps.

9 comments

[ 5.0 ms ] story [ 27.2 ms ] thread
naeeqn
Yeah, seriously. Mine beeps 5 times, just why.
doggodaddo78
The project manager said so, in case you missed the first 4.
ggm
Microwave, fridge, dishwasher and washing machine all sing to us. But, different songs. LG's dishwasher is the happiest by far.
doggodaddo78
Happier than a Samsung washing machine from 2010? Dang, that's impressive.

I think there should be a website of appliance hacks per model to disable songs or overwrite flash (I hope it's not PROM or an ASIC) with a custom "ringtone."

ggm
https://youtu.be/eRtpmtIivco
doggodaddo78
Haha. The older Samsungs are waay more cheerful and higher BPM. They sing like they're so proud of clean clothes. Oh and then if you turn if off, it does a song too.
ChrisGranger
My mother's microwave beeps four times, even if you open the door on the first beep. Obviously, you know the food is done, as you heard the beep and opened the door, but you get three more beeps. It drives me crazy. I've never seen another microwave that does this.
doggodaddo78
I always pull the door at 1 second.

And, if it needs 1:30, I just round it to :99 and wait until 9 instead.

Microwaves need a vibrate-only mode.

arthurcolle
Just make sure it keeps beeping every 7 seconds until someone goes back to the microwave. Obviously they want to be reminded they put something in there.