technology on Tyler Knows Nothing

Sat, 06 Jun 2026 11:37:16 -0700

Very cool! The most complete and accurate breakdown of the history and genesis of “Lorem Ipsum”, all thanks to Emily Zhang. Very entertaining and enlightening. #design #desktoppublishing #typography #letraset

YouTube Video

Sun, 31 May 2026 12:17:05 -0700

Apple’s Multi Device Management tools for institutions is fantastic, until it’s not disabled before off-leasing the devices, leaving bargain hunters to employ work arounds. But refurbishers won’t bother as it costs too much. This needs to be fixed. #Apple #RightToRepair

YouTube Video

Sat, 30 May 2026 10:44:29 -0700

APPLE!!!! Why is it soooo hard to use swipe navigation in Music!!!???? I have to span almost the entire trackpad for it to reluctantly go back to the previous page!! And it’s so inconsistent where it will even work!! COME ON!!! #apple #macos #badux

Fri, 29 May 2026 08:51:50 -0700

Freedom is in hospice care. #NY shoehorned anti-maker #surveillance legislation into their budget claiming to target ghost guns, but not understanding how much they’re actually breaking in the process. CNC, lathes, laser cutters, 3D printers & more are included. #uspol #tech #rights

YouTube Video

Wed, 27 May 2026 19:41:48 -0700

Oh, of course. Today’s morality forecast: WTF cares. #TFG & Co are giving out get out of jail free cards! #crime #gambling #crapitalism www.theverge.com/tech/9386…

Mon, 18 May 2026 13:16:04 -0700

Elon Musk overpays stupid lawyers. News at 11…: For the most self-proclaimed genius, this guy sure is an idiot. He even hires idiots as lawyers! 🤣🤣🤣 #ElonMusk #SamAltman #ai #techbros

Sun, 17 May 2026 18:10:27 -0700

We don’t have enough time to enact the fixes necessary to mitigate the fallout from Q-day: #QuantumComputing technology improves apace, and at some point, maybe soon, it’ll crack all encryption. As with #ClimateChange, we’ve blown well past the point of safe return. #tech #societalcollapse

Sun, 17 May 2026 14:53:31 -0700

Hire one experienced mid-manager desperate for work, deploy dozens of AI workers:

Why hire entry-level you have to corral when you can fleece more experienced workers who’ve previously been pushed out? #crapitalism #AI #jobs #dystopia #techbros

Sun, 17 May 2026 14:46:19 -0700

Vape weed… earn bitcoin?:

“Puffpaw describes Gudtrip as building a user-powered network that mixes cannabis, Bitcoin, and artificial intelligence.” Boy, oh boy. As the kids say, we’re fuckin' cooked. yay. #weed #crapitalism #shitcoin #crypto #techbros #dystopia

Fri, 15 May 2026 19:43:51 -0700

Netflix Is Staffing Up A ‘GenAI-Native Animation Studio’ Called INKubator:

Just no. Very all-the-NO. NOOO! Support human artists, not slop generators. #StopTheMadness #genAI #aislop

Fri, 15 May 2026 19:09:41 -0700

Anthropic’s $1.5B copyright settlement is getting messy as judge delays approval:

I’m a member of this class action. Personally, I’d rather they not be allowed to settle as this seems to absolve them of their obvious criminality. But hey… golden age and shit, right? #crapitalism #Anthropic #AI

Tue, 12 May 2026 15:49:13 -0700

The newest AI boom pitch: Host a mini data center at your home:

Um, gross. #Crapitalism intensifies. #capitalism #ai #NoDataCenters

Tue, 12 May 2026 12:48:32 -0700

Say hello to your new (actually very old but newly emboldened) American Oligarchy™, now with 5,000% more #Crapitalism!! #capitalism #ai #nodatacenters #youHaveNoRights #youOwnNothing youtu.be/Xou8-yr42…

Thu, 07 May 2026 09:14:58 -0700

Enough with the “-maxxing”:

So, #shitmaxxing… What more should we expect from the testosterone obsessed, #techbro, #crypto chad segment of society which has captured a dangerously growing percentage of the zeitgeist. #internet #mentalhealth

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 10:13:43 -0700

CRITICAL #PSA: #Microslop is training #Copilot #AI on your #Github data… unless you opt out. This is NOT an opt-in program. I’m no coder, but I’m quite sure there are other repository providers who don’t do this, or you can self-host. #programming #git #crapitalism youtu.be/q1I5m6cQN…

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 06:26:07 -0700

Say Hello to The Future: Artificial Intelligence™

From the makers of Theranos, 3D TV, Juicero, Self-Driving Cars, NFTs, Crypto, Boeing, The .COM Bubble, The Housing Bubble, Windows 11, 2008, Xitter, and countless more “beloved” technological advancements. #crapitalism #technology #TaxTheRich

Sun, 26 Apr 2026 14:57:40 -0700

Having trouble connecting to your Bonjour-compatible wireless printer from your Mac sitting next to it on the same network? Try turning off  > System Settings > Network > Wi-Fi > Private Wi-Fi Address. Handy when on public Wi-Fi. Frustration engine at home. Stupid. #apple #howto #tech

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 21:07:34 -0700

Well, this is disappointing. I know that in some cases #AI is helpful, but it’s mostly used to make stupid shit, froth up racists, or get people killed. The future is not bright if #TechBros keep crushing human rights. Toss the whole lot and start over with real regulation. #firefox #mozilla news.slashdot.org/story/26/…

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 08:43:15 -0700

I used to really like #System76’s Pop!_OS. I was really pumped for #Cosmic, their desktop environment. Unfortunately, they decided to supplant #GNOME with a decidedly beta release, making the distro almost unusable. I’ve been using #Fedora since. Solid. #linux #FOSS youtu.be/MwZq2_J_l…

Sat, 11 Apr 2026 19:27:53 -0700

Tips on how to make #YouTube better:

Use Don’t Recommend Channel in 3-dot menu
Ignore Shorts
Subscribe to quality channels
Rebuff AI content
Don’t watch click bait
Switch to Nebula

Eventually, your recs and subs will be much better. Give it time. #mentalhealth #sanity #internet

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 11:38:41 -0700

Testing suggests Google’s AI Overviews tells millions of lies per hour:

Automated systems that tell lies, based on a core lie that #TechBros have told themselves and are forcing on humanity; that their wealth and power means they can do no wrong. We will all suffer for it. #ai #tech #crapitalism

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 15:30:27 -0700

In with a bang, out in silence – the end of the Mac Pro:

This is hardly surprising, considering that there’s very little in the way of compatible cards and the damned thing is eye-wateringly expensive. Still, kind of sad to see it go. #apple #macpro #technology

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 08:44:54 -0700

Apple begins age checks in the UK with latest iOS update: nice way to roll over there, Tim. This is on the shoulders of #socialmedia, not platforms. Great job, #Apple 🤨 #UK #crapitalism

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 08:38:21 -0700

Meta loses trial after arguing child exploitation was “inevitable” on its apps: I’m glad but I have no words, much less sarcasm. Disgusting. #facebook #crapitalism #socialmedia

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 11:09:44 -0700

Well, this is distressing. No, it’s not law yet, but with the corruption running rampant in #USPol and #SCOTUS’s willingness to bend legal definitions beyond the breaking point, I don’t doubt this is on it’s way. Get yourself an #opensource capable router for your home ASAP. #technology #opsec youtu.be/04oL0qVSW…

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 22:03:31 -0700

GEEKOM GeekBook X14 Pro Review: 2.2 pound laptop from a mini PC maker:

For twice the price of an #Apple #MacBookNeo, you can get a very average laptop from an untested maker that comes with Windows 11 Sloppy Edition and 32GBs of RAM, which you’ll need to run Windows. #tech #geekom

Sat, 21 Mar 2026 15:19:05 -0700

If you’d like to get a chip-level explanation of the A18 Pro in the #MacBookNeo I think this video can help, and it’s not too technical. There’s also a comparison to the M4 chip. Really cool stuff, and shows how much further ahead #Apple is. #technology youtu.be/fTBvm4Hj7…

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 08:12:14 -0700

#Crapitalism strikes again. Who would have thought that a Crapitalist would want to monetize the open web 🫢 It stops being outlandish when you discover that Bain Capital’s #Crypto division is the principle investor. I dumped #Bluesky months ago. Now you. #opensocial

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 18:17:36 -0700

Please, dear GOD, upgrade to iOS 26, iOS 18 users. You may truly despise Liquid Glass, but I’m betting you hate getting robbed significantly more. #opsec #iPhone #security #scams #PSA Millions of iPhones can be hacked with a new tool found in the wild

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 21:06:09 -0700

We’ll know that the robot apocalypse will have begun when we see contentious dance-offs springing up worldwide. #technology #robotics #crapitalism Dancing Robot Refuses To Stop Causing Chaos At Family Restaurant:

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 11:52:58 -0700

If you are using GL-iNet, Angeet/Yeeso, Sipeed, or JetKVM IP nano KVMs, make sure to read this. #opsec #techology #networking #sysadmin Researchers disclose vulnerabilities in IP KVMs from four manufacturers:

Stop buying new technology & slow down Crapitalism

Sun, 15 Mar 2026 10:58:14 -0700

Sick of Copilot, Grok AI, or the upcoming Googleization of Siri? Disgusted with the insane prices for RAM and storage? Tired of watching prices rise for video games, the proliferation of subscriptions for everything, and crapitalists monetizing everything and buying stuff just to kill it off? Well, you can’t affect change on your own, but we, as in “We the people…”, can make a real dent in their appetite with one simple modification to our behavior:

Don’t buy any new technology for one year.

That’s right. It’s that simple. If you were going to get a new desktop or laptop or tablet, put it off for a year. If you can’t wait an entire year, buy used or refurbished. Now I’m not suggesting you go full-on old school nor am I suggesting that professionals handicap their production pipelines, but little has changed significantly over the past decade when it comes to the technology that average people use every day.

I’m a writer, so I don’t push my systems very hard. My primary system is an Apple M1 Mac Mini. I have a 2019 Intel Mac Mini I use for Plex and a YACReader server. I have a launch version Steamdeck I use with a dock for gaming. I have a 7th gen iPad I use for reading comics and books. I have an 8th gen Dell 7200 2in1 running Fedora KDE for those rare times I need to compute on the go. Aside from the Steamdeck, all of my systems are more than five years old, and still work great.

I had intended to upgrade a few of them, though, at least until recently. I’ve been eyeing the M4 Mini for some time, but have put off that upgrade because my M1 is still excellent. I was also excited for the Steam Machine, but there’s a strong chance that RAM and storage prices will make it more expensive than I was willing to spend, but more on that in a bit.

If what you have now still works, take a year off before you consider replacing it with something brand new. Even a half million people making that decision will speedily impact the sales of major vendors and, more likely than not, anger their shareholders. The more of us who pile on however, the stronger the effect. Though I haven’t heard this phrase used much in recent years, “Put your money where your mouth is”, it is apropos. In a nutshell, this means you are making your feelings known by how you do or, in response to this AI-fueled RAMpocalypse, do not spend your money.

As something of a post-script, two things have happened recently that illustrate how disillusioned consumers are about the changes in the computer marketplace of 2026. First, after annoucing new hardware late last year, Valve has chosen to delay the launch of the Steam Machine and the Steam Frame VR headset in hopes that RAM and SSD prices will come back down instead of releasing the systems at prices far higher than Valve wants and what they thing consumers are willing to pay. Second, Apple has released their new MacBook Neo at $600 ($500 educational pricing) and the reviews are overwhelmingly positive. From a company never known to play in the entry-level market, this is significant.

So, tell the big corporations how you feel, but not buying the crap they’re trying to force down our throats. They’ll only care when they start to feel some of pain we’ve been feeling.

Sat, 14 Mar 2026 19:16:17 -0700

Hoo boy. #Digg is dead… again. #Crapitalism strikes again. So fun. #capitalism #internet #aislop

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 17:01:34 -0700

Google Fiber will be sold to private equity firm and merge with cable company Whelp, it looks like #Google Fiber’s dead, getting sucked up by one of countless private equity firms, all of which are doing the same thing. Yay for toxic #capitalism, I guess. #crapitalism #internet

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 22:23:24 -0700

#PSA UPDATE YOUR PLEX SERVER. If you use Plex, please go to your Plex control panel and download and install the latest update to patch it. No details, but it sounds urgent enough. #internet #security it.slashdot.org/story/25/…

Fri, 13 Jun 2025 22:54:19 -0700

I don’t think much of #AI or expect our #capitalist overlords to do good with it, but it sure as hell can make some really funny shit 🤣 Check out what would make an amazing, if confusing, action flick. #movies #AIMovieTrailers #funny

Wed, 11 Jun 2025 14:31:27 -0700

PROTIPS FOR #YOUTUBE: Whenever you see a thumbnail that is obviously #AI generated, click the menu and select Don’t Recommend Channel. Do the same for videos you’re tricked into watching. And make sure to support creators by subscribing to them. #internet #howto

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 22:12:12 -0700

Checking out the closed #Surf app beta from #Flipboard, a new “social browser” that supports #ActivityPub, #ATProto, and #RSS. It needs more work, like dark mode and desktop font sizing, but I like what I see so far. Sign up, but I don’t know how long it’ll take. #socialmedia surf.social

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 21:06:35 -0700

You know, I might just go back to #Apple #Notes if this rumor is true. Fortunately we’ll find out soon. I’d love to be able to write up notes and short stories on a whim, then export them as #markdown to drop straight into #Microblog. #apps #writing #WWDC2025 daringfireball.net/linked/20…

Sat, 31 May 2025 16:37:00 -0700

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: BILLIONS of stolen “cookies” are being sold on the dark web and Telegram & can contain names, addresses, passwords, and other personally identifying data and can be used to bypass multi-factor authentication. #PSA #security #internet #news it.slashdot.org/story/25/…

Thu, 29 May 2025 18:45:22 -0700

It seems #Apple is going to be switching software version numbering to an auto industry-style “model” year scheme. This seems smart. Their computers are often referenced by their year. But, peeps will complain, so they do. #WWDC #macOS #tech #news mjtsai.com/blog/2025…

Wed, 28 May 2025 16:57:14 -0700

LOLZ. Yes. Very much. #ElonMusk is not a genius. And “fake it ‘til you make it” isn’t magic. He had money, made more money, and hired the right people. Big whoop. Or, as this article puts it, he’s not Tony Stark but Michael Scott #capitalism #tesla #tech www.thebulwark.com/p/elon-mu…

Tue, 27 May 2025 09:59:34 -0700

A comprehensive list of all of #ElonMusk’s “achievements”. After all, he is the wealthiest human on the planet, so he’s “achieved” a lot of things… right? #tech #oligarchy #uspol #DOGE #scams #vaporware #tesla #spacex #robotics #capitalism www.wired.com/story/the…

Tue, 27 May 2025 08:45:25 -0700

We’re not close to having functional organic computers that can host an #AGI on par with Ultron yet, but there are companies working on it. In our current social climate, this is not a good thing. #ai #tech #science #biotech www.youtube.com/watch

Mon, 26 May 2025 20:05:32 -0700

This is about as bullshit as it gets. Just having this article up in my news reader makes it stink in here. #ai #capitalism #tech #artistsrights #kleptocracy tech.slashdot.org/story/25/…

Mon, 26 May 2025 19:21:11 -0700

Heh. Them clever spooks at the #CIA. Covert ops, indeed. Too bad about the brain drain killing the “I” in their acronym, though. #spycraft #starwars #internet tech.slashdot.org/story/25/…

Mon, 26 May 2025 09:01:56 -0700

The title says it all. #WindowsWasTheProblemAllAlong #tech #videogames #Valve #SteamDeck #Lenovo www.youtube.com/watch

Sun, 25 May 2025 20:35:44 -0700

Oh yeah. Everything’s fine. Nothing to see here in #AI La-La Land. We’re on the road to an amazing future for everyone. #Capitalism promises! Pinkie swears!! They’re all rich and powerful so we should believe them! #tech #BewareTheSingularity #HumanApocalypse slashdot.org/story/25/…

Tue, 20 May 2025 13:25:24 -0700

Oh #Adobe. You’re such a glutton for punishment. #Capitalism hasn’t yet learned the true meaning of #FAFO, but I have a feeling this might finally tip the cow. Pixelmator Pro is $50. Period. No subs. #AdobeCreativeCloud #AI #bullshit slashdot.org/story/25/…

Tue, 13 May 2025 19:56:33 -0700

Fascinating how a lot of solutions for fixing complex resource problems caused by the explosive growth of humanity frequently go back to the cradle of life; the ocean. Deep Sea Reverse Osmosis (DSRO) seems like a great solution for our water problems. Just watch the video, but in short it reduces the power consumption by 60% over land-based RO desalination plants, and avoids a lot of its complications. #science #tech #drought #water www.youtube.com/watch

Thu, 08 May 2025 19:07:27 -0700

We have a strong, clear, empathetic voice in Neil deGrasse Tyson, and we risk losing him if #America continues down the path being carved into our #government by #ElonMusk & #DOGE and supported by #TFG. The cuts being made are saving squat. #science #uspol #NASA www.youtube.com/watch

Are Apple Silicon Macs too good?

Thu, 08 May 2025 16:31:24 -0700

In his latest video Luke Miani asks if #Apple made their new machines too good. Across two polls, having run a second one to verify the results of the first, respondents strongly indicated they had no intention of upgrading their early M-series Macs. I have a feeling Apple fully expected that, however. Watch the video on YouTube. We have three Mini’s, two M1 and one Intel, and have no need to upgrade them anytime soon. I may desire an M4 Mini, but I don’t need one. What is behind this?

To understand this there are, I believe, two different, unrelated factors that need to be taken into consideration:

Apple’s primary drivers of revenue are the #iPhone, the App Store, and services.
There are millions upon millions of #Windows users who might choose to move to Apple rather than be forced upgrade to Windows 11 but cannot since their hardware is incompatible, because #Microsoft has chosen to enshittify their desktop with ads and #AI, or both.

Apple’s personal computer marketshare has long been around 20% with Microsoft dominating for literal decades with 72% of the PC market. But it’s critical to understand that a decade ago Microsoft had well over 80%, and it continues to slowly decay. The iPhone plays a significant role in the fact that Apple has a $2.5T valuation, as consumers tend to upgrade every two years, giving Apple a mostly reliable playing field to project consistent revenues.

NOTE: Microsoft has a similar market capitalization to Apple but the important distinction is that Microsoft engages in a wide range of markets, including corporate software and services, as well as the Xbox and video games publishing, all of which contribute to the company’s bottom line. Apple still competes by offering a mere fraction of the models and verticals of its rivals.

That consistency is crucial. It allows Apple to not only sit back and just let their Mac users be Mac users and upgrade as they please, but also breathing room for some mild experimentation with various services and hardware. The iPhone Mini was available for the iPhone 12 and 13 then cancelled to be replaced by the Plus model, which has been around longer than the Mini. And the next rumored experiment will be the iPhone Air which may appear this October. They’ve also got enough in the bank to allow them to pivot and shift based on unforeseen market fluctuations or, in the case of component availability, weather the less than stellar rollout of the moderately underwhelming M3 processor.

And Apple isn’t blind. I’m quite sure that one major consideration in their calculations is Microsoft and their recent “efforts” to tank their own success. Users are unhappy with Windows 11 and in October of this year Microsoft will be ending support for the far more popular Windows 10. Many users are even downgrading to Windows 10 to escape the oppressive changes in Windows 11. In addition, the upgrade to Windows 11 requires support for TPM 2.0 which will “relegate” millions of unsupported systems to be discarded or sold for cheap, an outcome that is exciting many nerds over the prospect of a torrent of dirt cheap or free computers which can happily and securely run #Linux and other operating systems. Linux is an easy and capable migration path, but being honest with ourselves, most Windows users won’t go this direction.

I think Apple knows this. For one, they’ve maintained a stability in offerings that is appealing when compared to Microsoft’s numerous radical shifts over the years, the frequency of which has started to turn off consumers. Second, Apple has been aggressive in allowing resellers to offer significant sale pricing and even has an exclusive deal with Walmart to sell new M1 Macbook Air base models for $700 and which is on seemingly permanent sale for $650. In most of Apple’s history this is unprecedented, as they have for decades required resellers to match their own pricing and not offer sales. Finally, Apple’s resale value for their Intel models has dropped precipitously and used M1 and M2 machines are a lot more affordable than they used to be, presenting an enticing option for budget buyers.

Apple, for the most part, has played the long game. Pixar focused on getting one particular element perfected for each film so they might add that element to their toolbox for later films like fur in Monsters Inc. and the ocean in Finding Nemo. Apple has done much the same, working on iterations of various elements of their systems, refining them until they meet their internal expectations for excellence. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that Steve Jobs ran both and had, with help from others to manifest his vision, been instrumental in forming the foundations of two entire industries. Ingest that in whatever form you prefer.

The short answer to the question posed by Luke is no. The suggestion that CEO Tim Cook and the entire team at Apple could have miscalculated that the potential longevity of their products could cause Apple, one of the wealthiest corporations on planet Earth, to disintegrate or fall into the doldrums of relevance is in itself a miscalculation of what Apple is and how it operates. Is Apple flawless? Hell no. Most recently, I think they horribly miscalculated both the retail price and consumer interest in Apple Vision. There are other failures dotting Apple’s history, as well.

On the other hand, they basically own the tablet market. Full stop. They swap first and second place with Samsung for mobile phone volume, and Samsung has to make dozens of models to compete with Apple. AirPods are stupid popular. The Apple Watch has a huge chunk of the smart watch market. Apple is doing well, and all whilst offering a fraction of the options of others they compete with.

#tech #technology #opinion

Sat, 03 May 2025 10:18:07 -0700

After a stint with an #iPhone 14 Plus (big mistake) I’ve gone back to my 12 Mini. Even with its reduced capacity battery I get at least a full day, mostly because I’m not glued to it and turn off everything unnecessary. The same should be the case for a 17 Air. #Apple 9to5mac.com/2025/05/0…

Fri, 02 May 2025 13:38:45 -0700

Ok. I didn’t expect this… Some context: I have a group of friends I chat with on #Matrix and I’d shared that I was wanting to replace my #AppleWatch with a #RePebble Core 2 Duo, so one of my pals had #AI generate this song for me. #music #shenanigans #funny suno.com/s/mcvmVRW…

Fri, 02 May 2025 10:28:12 -0700

I’m honestly confused by some of the takes from this reviewer of Macs of “15 years” on what a move from #Windows to #macOS would entail, especially the idea that the Dock can’t show all running apps? WTF??!! #Apple #DitchMicrosoft #tech www.engadget.com/computing…

Fri, 25 Apr 2025 13:37:11 -0700

You don’t say… #microsoft #windows #copilot #ai #tech #stupid www.engadget.com/ai/it-see…

Thu, 24 Apr 2025 16:44:34 -0700

I submit the thesis that everything is effectively pirated. Exhibit A is the “You Wouldn’t Steal a Car” anti-piracy campaign from the naughty aughts. #piracy #internet #tech #capitalism #LOLZ boingboing.net/2025/04/2…

Tue, 22 Apr 2025 20:52:27 -0700

OMFG, are these people serious?! With every new story about #capitalism’s ever-expanding braindead imbecility, I am losing hope that we can claw our way out of this morass of stupid. #AI #journalism #tech #news #idiocracy slashdot.org/story/25/…

Tue, 22 Apr 2025 15:13:35 -0700

I contend that #Apple made a mistake killing the #iPhoneSE and replacing it with the significantly more expensive #iPhone16e. They should have brought back the Mini and made a “Light” version of it for the SE line to have two small phones. #tech #smartphones #DumbTechTricks www.macworld.com/article/2…

Tue, 22 Apr 2025 15:01:21 -0700

Um… a 17 Mini, a perfect #smartphone that #Apple mistakenly cancelled after the 12 MIni and 13 Mini apparently “didn’t sell well enough”. Piffle. I’m still using my 12 Mini. It is the perfect mobile phone for peeps who don’t need a pro camera or a giant slab in their pocket. #tech #opinion

Fri, 11 Apr 2025 20:26:31 -0700

A pal ‘o mine apparently tossed my logo into an #AI machine and it spat this retro classic out. Of note, we have no idea where the brain robot got the “HUSSAN” at the bottom, so that’s hilarious! Also, that’s not really me, but it’s fun. #NotQuiteArt #AritificialHallucination

Fri, 11 Apr 2025 19:32:01 -0700

So, this #techbro wannabe was so far up his own ass that he overpromised and had to fake it. Don’t believe these idiots and their claims over #AI. This is as legit as companies worth billions that don’t make any revenue. #tech #scams #fraud #FAFO #capitalism yro.slashdot.org/story/25/…

Mon, 07 Apr 2025 17:32:11 -0700

While it remains unknown what technology #Nintendo has developed for the new #Switch2 #JoyCons, it is crystal clear that they have done everything in their power to prevent another stick drift debacle. And yet Mario’s Dad won’t confirm what, so we’ll have to wait. #videogames www.theverge.com/news/6444…

Fri, 04 Apr 2025 16:08:10 -0700

Um… yeah. Realign your perspective on #AI. #Capitalism doesn’t intend to leverage AI for the betterment of humanity. Instead, they plan on using it in conjunction with a range of other technologies to eliminate humans from the money-making process. #tech arstechnica.com/tech-poli…

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 12:13:34 -0700

Updates are available across the board for #Apple devices, including the #Mac, #iPhone, #iPad, #AppleWatch, #AppleTV, and more. watchOS 11.4 was pulled yesterday, but has now been released. Mr. Macintosh has details about the updates & OCLP support. #tech #howto www.youtube.com/watch

Mon, 31 Mar 2025 16:23:52 -0700

I’m definitely a fan of #RetroComputing, but my allegiance clearly lies with #Apple rather than #Microsoft. My old PCs run #Linux or #Haiku, but I get what retro #Windows peeps want. So, if you want to install #Windows98 quickly, here you go. #tech #howto #utilities boingboing.net/2025/03/3…

Thu, 27 Mar 2025 16:12:28 -0700

When the #Tesla #Cybertruck is dead and gone it will have achieved an “honor” I don’t believe has ever been been bestowed upon another vehicle; The first to be tanked by the sheer incompetence of its execution and how much people hate the CEO. Discuss. #DOGE #uspol #tech #cars www.autoblog.com/electric/…

Thu, 27 Mar 2025 13:55:55 -0700

I have to say that this is one of the most impressive demonstrations of a “flying car”, for lack of a better term, I have seen. It is smooth, fast, agile, and loud. I wonder if those asymmetrical props would have the same thrust. #tech #aircraft #JetsonONE www.youtube.com/watch

Sat, 22 Mar 2025 18:28:23 -0700

Hmm. This one is interesting. #MacWorld is suggesting that #Apple’s 2010 acquisition of LiquidMetal may be critical for their folding phone. The name refers to the process of making extremely precise components, ICYWW, and might be used for the hinge. #tech #iPhone www.macworld.com/article/2…

Fri, 21 Mar 2025 17:44:29 -0700

Yes. Yes, it has. #apple #tech #security 9to5mac.com/2025/03/2…

Fri, 21 Mar 2025 15:42:00 -0700

Well, I’m an #Apple user and I can easily say that I will never consider a #GM product of any kind if I am disallowed from using my preferred platform. Last I checked, 35% of mobile devices users in the US are using #iOS devices. Solid marketing, dorks. #tech #cars #stupid www.theverge.com/news/6337…

Thu, 20 Mar 2025 20:30:56 -0700

Wow. The new merlin video is truly frightening. In this episode he summarizes Ray Bradbury’s short story, The Veldt. He then proceeds to speculate on the generation of children born in the era of #ChatGPT and other #AI models. In short, it’s not good. #tech #dystopia #scifi www.youtube.com/watch

Wed, 19 Mar 2025 17:33:31 -0700

Good news, everyone! #VideoGames workers now have a #union covering the #US and #Canada called United Videogame Workers, an off-shoot of the Communications Workers of America union. And it’s a Direct-Join union. Support it. #tech #FightCapitalism www.engadget.com/big-tech/…

Wed, 19 Mar 2025 17:00:04 -0700

Not one of #Microsoft’s best choices… out of a long history of making bad decisions. Disenfranchising millions of machines that will no longer be able to run a valid and/supported copy of #Windows is just dumb. Very dumb and great for Linux. #tech #Apple #linux 9to5mac.com/2025/03/1…

Wed, 19 Mar 2025 15:23:33 -0700

Good lord, this is so very #Microsoft now. How the once innovative, at least for a brief time through the #Windows 7 to Windows 10 era (ignoring Windows 8), have fallen. Stupid #capitalism. Stupid #AI. Stupid #advertising. #tech #Switch2Linux #UninstallWindows www.theverge.com/news/6323…

Tue, 18 Mar 2025 20:19:34 -0700

I have a Dell 7200 2in1 which is similar to a Surface running KDE Neon which supports tablet more. Even in desktop mode I don’t find it unusable or tiring & not enough to reject a possible touchscreen MacBook. I never bought that argument. #tech #apple #wwdc #rumors 9to5mac.com/2025/03/1…

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 19:45:06 -0700

See? It is THIS! THIS crap that should give us serious pause about the rampant blood fever gripping #capitalism over #AI. Are we ready for AI-powered #malware? No. We can’t even deal with the human-powered kind! Embrace the open web. Boycott capitalism. #tech #security www.axios.com/2025/03/1…

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 19:26:40 -0700

I think John Gruber is going too far. I’ve read his screed and coverage of said screed. He essentially claims that if #Apple doesn’t get #AI working, then it will fall apart at the seams. Bunk. We’ve been doing just fine without AI. So has Apple. Am I wrong? #tech apple.slashdot.org/story/25/…

Tinyblocks Minimal iPhone Setup Guide... a review

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 15:27:24 -0700

Had I known that I could connect a Bluetooth mouse to my iPhone and use the pointer to reorganize my Homescreen I would have done that a long time ago. Apparently, this has been a feature since iOS 13, and later added to iPadOS 13.4. I know that using a pointer on my iPad is quite useful, but it never occurred to me to think I could do the same on my iPhone. As luck would have it, a fix found me!

<!-more->

When I came across Tinyblock’s Minimal iPhone Setup guide in a toot on Mastodon I was intrigued. It’s always taken so much time to organize, group icons into folders, set up the right widgets, and whatnot. Then you have to swipe around or open folders or, even worse, search to find an app. The Minimal iPhone Setup Guide promised an entirely new way to interact with my iPhone.

IMPORTANT: This guide requires certain features available in iOS 18 not earlier versions, so keep that in mind.

After donating a fiver* to the author I was redirected to the guide. I’d never seen anyone deliver an experience using Notion before, and I was pleased with the experience. It works more like a slide deck app than just some hokey web page, and the formatting is nice and clean. The guide walked me through the steps of how to set up their concept of a Minimal iPhone Homescreen and had it set up in a total of about 15 minutes.

*NOTE: The author lets you set the price you’d like to pay for their work. I chose $5 US, and I felt that was perfectly fair. I ask that you consider a similar donation for their effort.

The result is almost indistinguishable from a standard homescreen setup, but the added functionality is transformative. Using a clever combination of Focus modes, Shortcuts, and various iOS standards like the Dock, Lock Screen, and Control Center, you can configure a wide range of easily customizable dashboards that suit your needs in the moment. And, at least for four of these, at a single touch when placed in the Dock (as shown in the image below).

Left to right are my Dashboard, Blogging, Finances, and Multimedia pages, each accessed by a single tap to the icons in the dock. If you look closely, you’ll note that the icon that appears next to the time roughly corresponds to the icon on the dock the page is associated with. The reason they are slightly different has nothing to do with the guide, but iOS. Focus and Shortcuts do not use the same icon sets. It’s as simple as that. It would be nice if Apple were to fix that…

With this setup, I only have two folders (top left on my Blogging Focus) for things I need access to, but don’t open very often. That means everything I use regularly is no more than two taps away or otherwise inside a folder, and often just the one tap to launch. And I can still Swipe Right to get the Today view and Swipe Left to get the App Library in each of the Focus modes.

For the first few days I found myself swiping like my old setup, but I soon got used to that and now I’m fully on-board with this new approach to accessing apps. I highly recommend it to anyone who’s tired of swiping and searching.

For additional details, head over to the Tinyblocks website.

PS: This is an entirely independent review. Tinyblocks has not asked for this review nor have I offered them to review it before posting.

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 12:14:36 -0700

I’ve always adored flying boats and would love to see them make a comeback, not as the sky buses of today, but with pre-war opulence. The Saunders-Roe Queen would have been the pinnacle… had it been built. #aircraft #aviation #engineering #tech #history www.youtube.com/watch

Wed, 12 Mar 2025 21:22:49 -0700

The only, and I MEAN only, reason #capitalism is having conniptions over jamming #AI into everything is to spur development, but not to make life easier. No. Their only goal is to eliminate the one thing they cannot control: humans. #tech #dystopia www.wired.com/story/dee…

Wed, 12 Mar 2025 18:15:35 -0700

Considering current geopolitical conditions, we may need SRL to develop these devices further. When #capitalism’s robots come for the resources of Earth and humans fight them to save our only viable home, we’ll need powerful weapons. #science #tech #electricity www.youtube.com/watch

Wed, 12 Mar 2025 09:48:15 -0700

I’m not sure how I feel about this. Spinning rust hard drives have improved significantly over the years, but they still fail. To have 26TB of #storage on a single drive and lose it to failure would be catastrophic, so make sure to get more than three. #tech appleinsider.com/articles/…

Mon, 10 Mar 2025 18:41:23 -0700

How refreshing! It seems there is a new #OpenSource #Windows-compatible OS project called #Free95 on #GitHub. It is clearly in the very early stages of Alpha testing. The dev is open to contributors and would like to get Doom running. Naturally :) tech.slashdot.org/story/25/…

Mon, 10 Mar 2025 14:19:09 -0700

While #Capitalism touts the amazing benefits that #AI will bring us (don’t concern yourself with when) and jams it into everything it can and forces it into everything it cannot, everyday people are cornered into dealing with the toxic fallout. #tech #bullshit news.slashdot.org/story/25/…

Mon, 10 Mar 2025 13:07:55 -0700

Back in September of 2024 I speculated that #TSMC’s #Apple A16 chip production in the US would end up in the next #iPad. Nice to see I was on the right track. Of course, we weren’t taking the tariff threats seriously at the time. #tech 9to5mac.com/2025/03/0…

Tue, 04 Mar 2025 18:59:33 -0700

You may have heard that #Apple announced the 11th generation base #iPad upgraded to an A16 processor and starting with 128GBs of storage, but is lacking #AppleIntelligence. Good, I say. I’m happy to have it on my Mac Mini, but don’t need it anywhere else. #tech appleinsider.com/articles/…

Tue, 04 Mar 2025 10:31:02 -0700

Anyone who deals in retro gear knows #retrocomputing gets more difficult the further back you go in history. Hugh Jeffreys deals with one of the common issues with his iBook G3s dead batteries. Not a guide, per se, but helpful info for decision making. #tech #Apple www.youtube.com/watch

Sun, 02 Mar 2025 00:35:54 -0700

This makes me sad. Panos was the beating heart of #Microsoft PR when they were being really innovative. Then #Windows 11 with ads, projects dropped off the map, #Copilot, & other #enshittification. Now he’s hawking shit at #Amazon. Booo to all of it. #capitalism

Sat, 01 Mar 2025 18:32:39 -0700

Not surprising. #Microsoft makes tons of money from #advertising and #ManifestV3 helps facilitate that. Extensions like uBlock Origin, Privacy Badger, and other ad and script blockers actively eliminate revenue streams for them. #tech #internet #capitalism tech.slashdot.org/story/25/…

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 08:27:17 -0700

It seems #Skype is about to get shutdown. While this is unofficial, it appears obvious from code in the latest Preview build of the much derided app will, starting in May, ask users to move calls and chat to Teams. It won’t be missed. #microsoft #tech #technews www.xda-developers.com/microsoft…

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 23:41:01 -0700

Interesting. #AYANEO has apparently cancelled the Flip KB and Flip DS. Announced Jan. 2024, AYANEO has shipped some units, but has stopped production. If you ordered one, you can get a refund or select another product and pay or get the difference. #videogames #tech liliputing.com/ayaneo-fl…

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 14:15:11 -0700

Anyone else surprised by the bombastic #hypocrisy of #TFG all hot for freedom and independence and the power of #capitalism, but pissed his pet project to disenfranchise #BIPOC Americans is being ignored by #Apple? It’s like he thinks he’s king or something. #uspol #tech appleinsider.com/articles/…

Wed, 26 Feb 2025 22:55:33 -0700

This upcoming #Steam game looks like a real hoot! It’s called Castle V. Castle where you do just that. At its core it is a turn-based card battler and it leans hard into the monochrome aesthetics of the 70’s & it appears to be loaded with humor. #videogames www.rockpapershotgun.com/castle-v-…

Wed, 26 Feb 2025 18:34:46 -0700

Do you have a notification telling you some app like #Zoom is “Accessing Your Screen” on #Apple’s #macOS #Sequoia? Well, it seems to be a known bug, and #AppleInsider seems to have a fix. I can’t verify this because I keep crapps like Zoom off my machines. #tech #helpdesk appleinsider.com/articles/…

The tea on the Framework 2nd Gen 2025 event

Tue, 25 Feb 2025 13:33:05 -0700

So, the #Framework event just ended and here’s the breakdown:

Updated Framework 13
More work on Framework 16
Introduced Framework Desktop
Showed Desktop 4-board cluster case
Introduced Framework 12 Convertible

For additional deets, click through. #tech #righttorepair youtu.be/dnCGwii7F…

Let’s dig in… First off, the Framework 13" laptop has been updated for 2025 with new translucent bezels (including the crucial Atomic Purple) and AMD Ryzen AI 300 series APUs. Framework is also working on updating the Framework 16" laptop with new large key stabilizers to eliminate noise and a new one-key module (more on that when I can get onto the website). The keyboard is also being updated with a Copilot logo, or without any Microsoft keys if you opt for the DIY models, and they have also shown off that they are working on an orthollinear design for fans of that layout. Pricing for the new Framework 13" starts at $899 for the DIY model and $1,099 for the pre-built.

For the new products they first announced 4.5L desktop system. Still maintaining the Framework Right-to-Repair ethic but leveraging existing desktop PC standards, the new system features AMD’s new Ryzen AI Max processor and comes in 32, 64, and 128GB RAM options. The RAM is soldered for the fastest possible speed, but prices remain reasonable at $1,099, $1,599, and 1,999, respectively. The desktop is available for pre-order now and the first batch will start shipping in Q3 of 2025.

The 32GB model comes with a Ryzen AI Max 385 8-core CPU, 32 graphics cores, two M.2 2280 NVMe storage slots, Wifi 7, a choice of Cooler Master and Noctua 120MM fans, and two slots on the front for Frameworks expansion cards, which are the same as the cards that are used on their laptops. The 64GB and 128GB models come with the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 16-core CPU, 40 graphics cores, and everything else that comes with the 32GB model.

They also showed off a cluster case that can take up to four Desktop boards and work as a desktop cluster for advanced operations. And on the lighter side, the front plate of the standard desktop case can take up to seven customizable or 3D printed tiles in various colors and logos.

Finally, they announced the new Framework 12" Convertible Touchscreen laptop with pen support. Other than stating that it comes Intel’s 13th gen mobile processors, but no other specifications. From the presentation and the sizzle reel on the product page however, I can see that this smaller device will have four expansion card slots like the Framework 13. Unfortunately there are no additional details, specs, pricing, or precise timing, but they are confident it will ship before the end of this year.

I’ve posted a few images from the presentation and the 12" model sizzle reel as well as a link to the AMD version of the live stream already set to start when the presentation does. I will update this post as additional details are available.

Tue, 25 Feb 2025 11:22:17 -0700

Ten minutes until the #Framework 2nd Gen event where they will be announcing new product(s). There have been clues, but it remains a mystery. My guess is it’s a #SteamOS gaming handheld or settop box. They’ve also said that #AMD is involved. #tech #youtube #videogames www.youtube.com/live/-8k7…

Mon, 24 Feb 2025 20:36:51 -0700

You know, @appleinsider@mastodon.social, I’d love to cover your piece about the Steve Jobs Archive celebrating his life on the day he died, but when you don’t include any links to anything outside of your website, I cannot. Not helpful. #tech #apple #journalism

Mon, 24 Feb 2025 20:25:33 -0700

PROTIP For #Apple designer Susan Kare: Ditch the bling and make them affordable to actual human beings, and I bet you sell a lot more. Wouldn’t it be nice to sell many thousands instead of a few dozen? I think so. Nice designs, though. #tech #blockchain #capitalism www.theverge.com/news/6182…

Mon, 24 Feb 2025 16:31:25 -0700

Looks like #AYANEO is teasing a new #RetroGaming handheld they are dubbing the Classic, which appears to be a simplified version of their Pocket Micro, a pricey modern take on the Nintendo Game Boy Micro. No specs, pics, pricing or release date yet, though. #videogames #tech liliputing.com/ayaneo-cl…

Mon, 24 Feb 2025 14:41:04 -0700

I have precisely one #MechanicalKeyboard, a Keychron K5 SE low profile and its likely to stay that way. I recognize a lot of people really like them, though, and these custom keycaps reviewed by #TheGadgeteer look amazing, especially the Mixed set. #tech #mods the-gadgeteer.com/2025/02/2…

Mon, 24 Feb 2025 12:09:29 -0700

One of the more reliable indicators of #Apple preparing to launch a new version of a system is when stocks on older machines start to drop. This appears to be happening now with the M3 #MacBookAir. The current #rumor is for a March release. #tech appleinsider.com/articles/…

UPDATE: The previous version of this post cited the current MBA with an M4, but it was supposed to be the M3. The updated version of the MBA should be getting the M4 soon.

Mon, 24 Feb 2025 11:31:03 -0700

The #Framework (2nd Gen) Event kicks off in exactly 24 hours from now Pacific time. Note that they’re hinting at a gaming “system” in conjunction with #AMD, which will be streaming the event on their AMD Gaming channel. Also mention of more. #tech #news #videogames www.youtube.com/live/-8k7…

Mon, 24 Feb 2025 10:35:12 -0700

Reason #1,432,644 to #UninstallFacebook… you know what, I’ll let John cover this one in the latest episode of Last Week Tonight. #UninstallInstagram #UninstallWhatsapp #UninstallMeta #fuckZuckerberg www.youtube.com/watch

Sun, 23 Feb 2025 19:57:23 -0700

#Censorship isn’t limited to #socialnetworks. Last year there were nearly 300 #internet shutdowns in 54 countries, the worst on record. I wonder how long it will take #TFG & Co to try that here. #politics #uspol #fascism #tech www.axios.com/2025/02/2…

Sun, 23 Feb 2025 18:04:53 -0700

Alec, who runs the popular Technology Connections channel on #YouTube, posted a new video today discussing the very critical problem of #humanity losing our #agency and critical thinking skills to the #algorithm and how to fix it. #tech #internet www.youtube.com/watch

Sun, 23 Feb 2025 14:38:25 -0700

#Musk and #TFG and the #MAGA masses are so accustomed to lying and getting away with it, they just spew meaningless garbage without a care in the world? Something now immediately contradicts something said a week or so ago? Who cares! It’s not like anyone gives a damn, anyway, and if they do there’s nothing they can do to stop it, so again… who cares!

Take #Xitter’s #CommunityNotes as an example. They were great because Musk didn’t need to pay people to keep toxic shit off the Official Social Network of Shitposting® because the “community” would handle that. But now that those same notes are being “gamed” by filthy libs, “he” is going to have to “fix” them, so I guess not the bestest anymore?

These 20G 90º turns at speed are quite jarring. #socialmedia #tech #capitalism #fascism arstechnica.com/tech-poli…

Sat, 22 Feb 2025 07:59:53 -0700

If you have operated under the illusion that #TFG & Co are trying to save #America’s #economy by cutting waste and fraud, then you should know that installing these and then removing them costs millions of dollars. Also very petty. #uspol #tech gizmodo.com/u-s-gover…

Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:07:18 -0700

As an avid #retrocomputing collector I have amassed an absurd number of cables and almost every single one of them is a mess. I look at the various storage containers and despair. Tito posted a short video explaining his process to straighten them! #tech #howto #gadgets www.youtube.com/watch

Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:37:15 -0700

I’ve long been a small gadget geek, and I bought an #Atari Lynx II, #Sega #GameGear and #Nomad before I ever got my first #Nintendo GameBoy (a Pocket, btw). This video shows the history of today’s ARM with the first home computers. #retrocomputing #videogames www.youtube.com/watch

Thu, 20 Feb 2025 21:44:57 -0700

If you’re confused about why some people don’t seem to “understand” how revolutionary #ArtificialIntelligence is for humanity, let me explain: If jobs are replaced by #AI, how will people earn money to buy capitalist shit? #tech #capitalism www.youtube.com/watch

Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:28:41 -0700

This took a while. #Amazon has announced that they will be shuttering their #Android #AppStore on August 20th of this year. They clearly thought they’d eat #Google’s lunch with their Kindle Fire tablets, but that never happened. #Apple ate that market. #capitalism #tech slashdot.org/story/25/…

Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:02:46 -0700

Well, this is rather fascinating! Some mad genius hacked a Nokia Lumia 1020 to run #Apple’s #iOS for #iPhone. The trick? Inside the Lumia is an iPhone SE 3!! Still pretty damned cool, if I do say so myself. #retrocomputing #hardwarehacks #tech www.macworld.com/article/2…

Fri, 14 Feb 2025 11:56:49 -0700

And another thing about this Gulf of Mexico thing… I was under the impression that #TFG’s America was about the Freedom™ of #Capitalism? But #Google just caves to Dear Leader’s petulant colonialist demand like it was State Run? How pathetic. #tech #capitalism #fascism gizmodo.com/google-ma…

Fri, 14 Feb 2025 11:46:21 -0700

Can someone please make a browser extension that puts a label over “Gulf of America” that reads “Gulf of Mexico” in Google Maps? I can’t code to save my life, but I don’t think it would be that complicated… right? #tech #google #TFG #internet #programming jalopnik.com/google-is…

Fri, 14 Feb 2025 11:38:35 -0700

I’m not familiar with the MSX system. Not many Westerners are as it was primarily a Japanese home computer standard that started in 1983 and ended ten years later. This, like the Book 8088 and Pocket 386 before it, does look cool, though. #tech #retrocomputing liliputing.com/msxbook-i…

Thu, 13 Feb 2025 13:31:57 -0700

It could be the #iPhone SE4, but I’d like to note that Mr. Cook asks us to “Get ready to meet the newest member of the family.” I think it could be the return of the AirPort. Look at the graphic for the announcement and the AirPort A1034 attached. Just sayin'. #tech #Apple 9to5mac.com/2025/02/1…

Tue, 11 Feb 2025 18:47:14 -0700

No wonder the #oligarchy is hell bent on protecting #AI. After slowly murdering #education, they can then use #AI to replace it with #agitprop and #revisionistHistory to save their precious #Capitalism from the clutches of meaningful #regulation. #tech #uspol gizmodo.com/chatgpts-…

Tue, 11 Feb 2025 18:15:20 -0700

Laptop maker #Framework is announcing a new product on 2/25 at 10:30AM PST using some pictograms to suggest words. My translation: “Oh [hi]! We’ve been working on something [colorfully][flexible], something [powerful], and something worthy of [gamers]. #tech www.theverge.com/news/6103…

Tue, 11 Feb 2025 17:56:14 -0700

It seems that #Apple has completed its acquisition of #Pixelmator, the makers of Pixelmator Pro which competes with #Adobe’s #Photoshop and #Photomator Pro which competes with Adobe’s #Lightroom. #iPadOS, #iOS, and #macOS are getting updates now or soon. #tech 9to5mac.com/2025/02/1…

Tue, 11 Feb 2025 17:08:12 -0700

A story from #9to5Mac reporting on a report from #Samsung confirms earlier rumors that #Apple likely won’t be shipping #OLED #MacBookPro machines this year, but in 2026. And the #MacBookAir might not see the upgrade until 2029. #tech #news #supplychain 9to5mac.com/2025/02/1…

Mon, 10 Feb 2025 20:31:56 -0700

I find this infuriating, and for one simple reason: #Microsoft won’t stop forcing #AI down the throats of its customers for any reason, much less some study they commissioned. #tech #CarnegieMellon #education #criticalthinking #capitalism #fascism gizmodo.com/microsoft…

Fri, 07 Feb 2025 18:09:54 -0700

Ok. This is officially my favorite new application of programming to solve a real problem. It’s called #WikiTok and it feeds users random #Wikipedia articles using the same user interface as #TikTok. All learning. No slop. Very nice! #socialmedia #addiction #mentalhealth arstechnica.com/gadgets/2…

Thu, 06 Feb 2025 15:01:09 -0700

Unfettered, uncontrolled, unregulated #Capitalism is essentially crime since they do what they want, say what they want, harm whomever they please, break any laws they choose, and are never held accountable. Those who help them are criminals, as well. #ai #piracy #books arstechnica.com/tech-poli…

Thu, 06 Feb 2025 14:06:55 -0700

A tweet on #Xitter from user Mario64 essentially confirms mouse mode for the #Nintendo #Switch2 as illustrated in patent filings from 2023. Another illustration indicates a dual-#Joycon mouse mode, as well. For details, we’ll have to wait until April 2nd 2025. #videogames kotaku.com/switch-2-…

Wed, 05 Feb 2025 16:26:52 -0700

Per usual, trying to ‘fix’ the symptom instead of working on the cause, isn’t working, not that peeps ever seem to learn that (or any other) lesson. We need fundamental change for social networking, not in-school phone bans. Better for all of us. #tech #mentalhealth mobile.slashdot.org/story/25/…

Wed, 05 Feb 2025 09:20:06 -0700

If you’ve been looking for a #cyberdeck, then you’ve got one more day to get in on the #Pilet #Kickstarter. They’ve already raised CA$1 million of their CA$20k goal… yeah. Popular is an understatement. #tech #raspberrypi #hardware www.kickstarter.com/projects/…

Tue, 04 Feb 2025 17:24:10 -0700

If you’re old like me, you might remember the transflective displays on old Palm and Blackberry devices. Perfectly viewable in well lit spaces. A Taiwanese company now offers a $900 24" 1080p 75Hz desktop monitor using the technology. #tech #hardware kotaku.com/indiana-j…

Tue, 04 Feb 2025 16:52:27 -0700

MacWorld is reporting that #MalwareBytes has released their 2025 edition of the State of #Malware, and agentic #AI will be playing an outsized role in new #ransomware and like attacks. Read & prepare yourself. Verify everything. #tech #security www.macworld.com/article/2…

Tue, 04 Feb 2025 15:11:08 -0700

Reason #WTF Cares to uninstall #Microsoft #Windows and migrate to #Linux or #Mac: Microsoft has now made it harder to install Windows 11 on unsupported but entirely capable hardware so, you know, screw you. Can’t afford new? Oh well. Sucks to be you! #tech #capitalism tech.slashdot.org/story/25/…

Mon, 03 Feb 2025 13:36:46 -0700

I can’t code myself out of a paper bag, but I know the value of the skill of #programming and of #opensource, so good on #Apple for open sourcing #Swift Build. Now can you open source Mac OS Classic? Tim?… TIM?! #tech #news 9to5mac.com/2025/02/0…

Sun, 02 Feb 2025 23:55:53 -0700

If you don’t like the power coming on when you open the lid on your #MacBookPro #Apple has explained how to disable it. It takes a bit of work in the Terminal.app, but anyone should be able to do it if they follow the instructions. #tech #howto www.macworld.com/article/2…

Sat, 01 Feb 2025 16:41:35 -0700

Yet another reason to abandon #Microsoft… The lunatics in Redmond are adding a $400 premium to Intel-powered #Surface devices that have the exact same specs are their #ARM-powered counterparts. Silly #Capitalism. #SwitchToLinux or get a #Mac. it.slashdot.org/story/25/…

Fri, 31 Jan 2025 18:16:51 -0700

So, I’ve essentially stopped using #Windows. I have one Windows 10 machine I use to play #MarvelRivals, but that will soon change. I use #Mac and #Linux for everything else. Rather than explain why, I’ll let @EposVox@glitch.lgbt take the lead. #tech www.youtube.com/watch

Thu, 30 Jan 2025 18:05:13 -0700

Wow! Yet another in the stupendously accurate predictions #ElonMusk is legendary for! I’m sure it couldn’t have anything to do with the precipitous drop in #Tesla’s stock value. No, that would be silly, silly head. #tech #capitalism #toesInTheWater www.theverge.com/news/6027…

Tue, 28 Jan 2025 15:38:08 -0700

The one thing that repeated #security breaches clearly indicates is that none of these corporations really know WTF they’re doing. Either that or they don’t care. I’m 50/50 on which. I can’t be the only one getting really sick of this crap. #tech #capitalism #cars yro.slashdot.org/story/25/…

Tue, 28 Jan 2025 15:06:20 -0700

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: If #Slack asks if you want to “…include the entire chat history?” CLICK NO. There apparently is a glitch in the system, and the result could be catastrophic, as #Wired’s #AndrewCouts found out, as he says, the hard way. #tech #PSA #software www.wired.com/story/sla…

Tue, 28 Jan 2025 14:58:55 -0700

Well, I’m not sure how much of a procedure this actually is. I generally prefer more conclusive steps, like… oh, I don’t know, having an Update Firmware button in the settings? #Apple #airpods #tech #howto 9to5mac.com/2025/01/2…

Tue, 28 Jan 2025 10:54:29 -0700

In the continuing saga of All The Reasons I Hate #Meta #US and #Canadian #Facebook and #Instagram users #Fuckerberg’s #AI Chatbot will take your user data and there’s nothing you can do to stop it… unless you #UninstallMeta. What’re you waiting for? #socialnetworking #capitalism tech.slashdot.org/story/25/…

Sun, 26 Jan 2025 18:41:25 -0700

I’m so up for this. #Apple DOES need to update their paid storage tiers, but not for the suggested tiers of the column. We have Apple One Family for up to 5 with a meager 200GBs for $26 a month. The storage should be bumped up to 500 or 750GB. #icloudplus #internet 9to5mac.com/2025/01/2…

Sat, 25 Jan 2025 20:45:22 -0700

I’ve said it for decades now. Rich people aren’t smarter than those of us not blessed with a lack of morality. In fact, they’re often far less intelligent. They simply have the financial wherewithal to avoid the repercussions of stupidity. #tech #capitalism #walgreens slashdot.org/story/25/…

Sat, 25 Jan 2025 20:33:58 -0700

If everything else #Meta wasn’t bad enough already… now this. I’m so glad I no longer use any Meta (cr)apps. I dropped it in 2018, went back in 2023 for some friends, & dropped it again in later 2024. If you’re still there, just get out. NOW. #tech #internet #DumpMeta www.theverge.com/2025/1/24…

Sat, 25 Jan 2025 14:40:09 -0700

I just happened across this fascinating little #ESP32 based air quality monitoring device and am excited. It’s all open source and based on low cost, high availability components. While the campaign hasn’t started yet, I’d be surprised if it wasn’t affordable. #tech #climatechange #health www.crowdsupply.com/networked…

Wed, 22 Jan 2025 15:27:16 -0700

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: If you use #Homebrew on #macOS don’t trust any ads promoting it. There’s a good chance that it’s actually #malware. I use it all the time, but since I block all ads, I’ve never seen this, but be careful! #apple #tech #infosec #scams appleinsider.com/articles/…

Wed, 22 Jan 2025 14:38:10 -0700

If you’ve got an #M4MacMini and your curious about some interesting use cases, you might find Wesley Hilliard’s review on Apple Insider a source of ideas. #apple #mac #projects #homelab #tech appleinsider.com/articles/…

Mon, 20 Jan 2025 18:01:31 -0700

Oh snap! A company called Arcooda is making 29.3" 4:3 1-to-1 arcade cabinet LCD display replacements!!?? WOW!!! It’s a short video, but it’s all the info you need in just over a minute. #videogames #retrogaming #retrocomputing #arcades www.youtube.com/watch

Mon, 20 Jan 2025 12:25:09 -0700

Oh wow! Remember this crazy Sony thing during the UMPC era? Someone is working on a drop-in replacement motherboard that will upgrade it to a modern CPU so it can be used to fix broken devices or, in their words, “drag this classic handheld into the modern era.” #retrocomputing www.reddit.com/r/umpc/co…

Things you can do instead of watching America being peacefully handed over to a criminal - Inauguration Special 2025

Mon, 20 Jan 2025 11:59:15 -0700

Don’t watch the news today since all they’ll be talking about is how great and normal it is to just hand an entire country over to a criminal in the name of a democracy that’s been utterly broken and shreaded. If that leaves you unsure of what to do instead, here are some suggestions:

Listen to some music. I’ve been sharing my album plays, and here’s a list of them that I refresh a few times a week. tavexocor.shop/nothing-m…
Go for a walk
Spend time with friends
Play a game like a board game, video games, or get into table-top role-playing games (TTRPG), or even just a few dozen rounds of poker
Read a book like Isaac Asimov’s Robot series, many of which are murder mysteries. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robo…
Nap in a patch of sunlight or next to a warming fire with your kids and/or pets
Bake something like biscuits or pie or some nice, big potatoes and stuff them with cheese, bacon, sour cream, and chives, or whatever you like
Help out at your local homeless shelter or donate some old clothes to families in need
If you can afford it, slap a few hundred bucks on a gift card, go to that store, and pay for everyone until it runs out
Stop and smell some roses
Watch a movie or three like The Wild Robot (2024 on Apple TV, Google Play, Amazon Prime and more)
Write something nice on a pad of paper about nice and/or hopeful for yourself or someone you like
Get out an old computer and install Linux Mint and engage in some joyful technological discovery. linuxmint.com
Go out on a thrift shop crawl in your local area and buy some old things to give them a new home

And if you must watch TV, then allow me to suggest one of the single most joyful and affirming shows ever made;l Netflix’s Somebody Feed Phil. You will not regret it. Well, you’ll regret having trouble eating the food Phil eats, unless you live in one of the cities he’s covered.

Feel free to submit your own lists of things to do other than watch the news today. #animation #comics #manga #film #movies #linux #music #retrocomputing #humanrights #civilrights #scifi #tech #videogames #writing

Sat, 18 Jan 2025 12:16:34 -0700

I don’t really care that there have been #Nintendo #Switch2 leaks. I mean, what’s really been revealed? Not much at all. Most of it remains a mystery. But this take from Bayonetta director Hideki Kamiya is comically hilarious. #tech #videogames kotaku.com/bayonetta…

Sat, 18 Jan 2025 12:09:08 -0700

Wow #Canon. This is lame. Apparently, if you want to use your camera as a webcam, you have to pay them $5 a month. Now, that gets you “PRO” features like 60FPS, watermarks, and setting hotkeys, so… you know. #tech #capitalism #wtaf romanzipp.com/blog/no-y…

Fri, 17 Jan 2025 21:08:36 -0700

This is just dumb, #Ferrari. Silly. If you’re going to make an #EV do it without the petty nod to your petrol-based past. Forge a new path forward. And while you’re at it do something about that lozenge you call a design. #cars #tech www.autoblog.com/news/ferr…

Wed, 15 Jan 2025 20:01:47 -0700

This is just silly, #Gizmodo. Despite the leaks, we know almost nothing about #Nintendo’s #Switch2. Everything we think we know is speculation. The only thing we seem to know is what it looks like. Even reliable leakers are fallible. #tech #videogames gizmodo.com/walmart-t…

Wed, 15 Jan 2025 18:58:15 -0700

Boy, oh boy. #Microsoft is on a roll. In another desperate effort to force people to move to the generally despised #Windows10 they have announced they are cutting off support for #Office365 on October 14th, what I’m not going to call The Day Windows Died. #tech www.theverge.com/2025/1/15…

Wed, 15 Jan 2025 18:47:46 -0700

I was once hyped on #Microsoft. #Windows 7 and 10 were great, they had new ideas like the Surface Duo and a renewed focus on gaming. That Microsoft’s now gone and they’re now on the #AI hype train. Ugh. Come SteamOS, I’m finally done. For good. #tech arstechnica.com/gadgets/2…

Tue, 14 Jan 2025 14:21:49 -0700

In a move designed to protect #Mastodon, founder Eugen Rochko is ceding control to be wholly owned by a non-profit organization to establish that “…the intent that Mastodon should not be owned or controlled by a single individual.” #tech #capitalism arstechnica.com/tech-poli…

Sun, 12 Jan 2025 13:17:44 -0700

Ugh. More #Microsoft bullshit to deal with. This is a few days old as I’m catching up on my news feeds but is important to know if you’re one of the unlucky ones using #MicrosoftEdge on #Windows 10 or 11 (or just 11 in general). Switch to #Linux or #Apple already! mjtsai.com/blog/2025…

Wed, 08 Jan 2025 23:15:53 -0700

It’s a toaster… for your iPhone 14/15/16… and it only costs $570, but only if you buy the bundle of the “toaster” and one case. Though it doesn’t charge your phone, it just swaps in a fresh battery. Baby steps on the way to robot domination. Whee… #WeirdCES #CES2025 #tech www.macworld.com/article/2…

Wed, 08 Jan 2025 22:55:46 -0700

Yes, this is weird… but also compelling. We’re a cat family and our Russian Blue generates a LOT of detritus. We love him, but it would be nice if we could reduce it. I’m just worried this thing costs more than a few hundred. #WeirdCES #CES2025 #tech #cats www.theverge.com/2025/1/7/…

Wed, 08 Jan 2025 19:38:11 -0700

I don’t know if this is a legitimate technology or what someone might use this for, but it looks unquestionably weird. A pal described it as the inside of Dr. Doom’s mask, and I won’t argue. Also, he’s a comic book villain. #WeirdCES #CES2025 #tech #healthcare www.theverge.com/2025/1/7/…

Wed, 08 Jan 2025 18:30:00 -0700

It is no longer a rumor. The #Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 is real, will cost $3500, and I hate it. I also hate the fact that it has been proven true that Lenovo has dropped the legendary #TrackPoint input device. Maybe hate is too strong a word. Let’s go with “I’m done with Lenovo”. #WeirdCES #CES2025 #Tech www.theverge.com/2025/1/7/…

Tue, 07 Jan 2025 17:30:43 -0700

Likely in response to the very popular #IntelARC #B580 video cards being priced at $250, #Nvidia has announced the first four #RTX5000 cards, including the #RTX5070 priced at $550. Nvidia even claims that it’s as powerful as the previous #RTX4090. Highly unlikely. #CES2025 #tech www.theverge.com/2025/1/6/…

Tue, 07 Jan 2025 17:01:16 -0700

I don’t really care if #Honda is involved. I don’t want a #Sony #Playstation on wheels. Especially not for $90k for a “base” model. #WeirdCES #CES2025 #tech #cars www.theverge.com/2025/1/6/…

Mon, 06 Jan 2025 16:50:20 -0700

The so-called #CyberDeck, inspired by cyberpunk culture, has become quite popular in recent years, facilitated by all manner of DIY computer components available for cheap. The upcoming Mecha Comet is one such device, and I think I’m in love! #tech #hardware #linux #opensource liliputing.com/mecha-com…

Mon, 06 Jan 2025 16:42:10 -0700

#Dell has announced that they are dropping the #XPS, #Latitude, #Inspiron, and Precision product names and will be simplifying to Dell, Dell Pro, and Dell Pro Max for the consumer, professional, and workstation markets, respectively. #tech #marketing #news arstechnica.com/gadgets/2…

Mon, 06 Jan 2025 16:20:19 -0700

Things have been a tad muted so far, so let’s take a look at something absurd: The Acer Nitro Blaze 11, an 11" gaming handheld starting at $1100 🧐 I wonder how long it will take for them to go on fire sale? #WeirdCES #CES2025 #tech #videogames www.theverge.com/2025/1/6/…

Mon, 06 Jan 2025 14:28:29 -0700

Well, this is good news. I believe my next graphics card will be an Intel ARC B-series. The B580 seems perfect for me, especially at $250… and that’s not a sale price. #tech #intel #videogames #hardware www.theverge.com/2025/1/6/…

Mon, 06 Jan 2025 13:34:09 -0700

We don’t yet have #StarTrek style automatic doors for humans yet, but your dogs get them… AND RGB… starting at $500. Since it uses a Bluetooth dog tag, do you need to recharge your dog? #WeirdCES #CES2025 #tech #pets www.theverge.com/2025/1/6/…

Mon, 06 Jan 2025 13:28:10 -0700

IT’S A DOOR HANDLE FOR $700!! I don’t care what it can do!! #WeirdCES #CES2025 #tech #capitalism www.theverge.com/2025/1/6/…

Mon, 06 Jan 2025 12:55:05 -0700

Continuing the trend of #Capitalism bilking every vulnerable segment of society, Elvie’s new $800 automatic baby bassinet and baby bouncer is only supposed to last six months. Wow. #WeirdCES #CES2025 #tech www.theverge.com/2025/1/6/…

Mon, 06 Jan 2025 11:19:48 -0700

It’s #CES time and that means one thing: bring on the weird. A company named “Aiper” has announced their $400 “IrriSense Smart Irrigation Sprinker” and I don’t care how smart it is as I will not spend $400 to water the lawn I don’t have. #WeirdCES #CES2025 #Xeriscape www.theverge.com/2025/1/5/…

Potential actual Switch 2 joycon images leaked?

Sun, 05 Jan 2025 21:52:39 -0700

First, watch the linked video to get the scope of the leaks so far, if you haven’t been tracking them already: www.youtube.com/watch #videogames #nintendo #switch2 #leaks

If that is a PLUS button on the tablet side, that “button” looking thing on the top of the S2 Joycon could just be a lever to actuate it when the Joycon is connected. There may be added functionality for using the tablet without the Joycons which the PLUS and MINUS buttons could facilitate.

The ovoid next to the right shoulder button could just be a cover for an access screw. Another leaker mentioned that the shoulder buttons were the actual magnets? If so, then the slot/tab arrangement is likely a physical connector.

As for the source of the leaks, it could be Nintendo themselves who have authorized or sanctioned or even provided the leaks to the “leakers”, considering it’s been getting loads of press coverage leading up to CES next week.

They could be taking the tack that since everyone already knows about it, why not leak the hardware in bits and pieces, let peeps speculate as much as they like, and drive the 24/7 news cycle. It would certainly be an interesting marketing scheme that has, so far, cost them nothing.

Whatever happens, whenever that is, it’s going to be interesting on a number of levels. There are plenty of specifics remaining for Nintendo to clarify. I personally don’t think that this coverage or these leaks have hurt them. They’ve only helped them. The transition to a new console is typically a minefield for console makers. Just ask Microsoft about their botched Xbox One roll out.

The Switch is the 3rd best selling video game console of all time, so far, with 146 million units at last reporting. In 2nd place is their own DS portable with 154 million. In first place is Sony with the Playstation 2, meaning Nintendo is essentially first among modern consoles, as Sony’s Playstation 4 still wasn’t able to beat the 4th place finisher, Nintendo’s Game Boy and Game Boy Color handhelds. (SOURCE: Wikipedia)

We’ll just have to wait and see, won’t we.

Sat, 04 Jan 2025 14:37:38 -0700

I’ve never seen a video as compelling as this one, and I’m not even an #Adobe user, at least not any more. But it’s a lot more than about ditching Adobe, but leaving #Windows and rediscovering our technological #agency through #Linux and #opensource. #tech www.youtube.com/watch

Fri, 03 Jan 2025 12:02:13 -0700

For a time I was mad at #Microsoft for breaking their promise that #Windows10 would be the last #Windows, but then #Windows11 turned into a wet dream of #capitalism, bristling with ads, bloat, and AI features nobody wants while tracking users every move. Now ten months remain before MSFT pulls the plug on Windows 10 support, but 62.7% of all Windows users still use it. In fact, a number have ditched 11 to go back to 10. I’m bustin' a gut over this. Just buy an #Apple #Mac. #tech #news tech.slashdot.org/story/25/…

Substack charging for "setting up" custom domain names you own is extortion

Wed, 01 Jan 2025 17:19:38 -0700

That sour, disappointed look flooded onto my wife’s face. She was upset. I asked her what was wrong, and she explained to me that her Wordpress stats weren’t working like they used to. I poked around and couldn’t find anything obviously amiss in the Jetpack plugin settings, so I told her it was likely a glitch and would clear up. About a week later I got the email.

Wordpress had determined that my wife’s social justice and political analysis blog (https://rimaregas.com) was now deemed a commercial website and that she’d need to pay up in order to continue getting the vital stats she needs to run her site. It is important to note here that we don’t use Wordpress hosting, but Name.com website hosting, so her Wordpress installation is effectively self-hosted, and self-hosted sites have, for many years, been free of the capitalism of the official Wordpress hosting platform run by Automattic.

And how, you might ask, did they determine that the blog was now considered “commercial”? By asking for donations…

Automattic has been shifting the goal posts and clearly want to start milking the self-hosting crowd after spending more than a decade making Jetpack a vital component in almost any Wordpress installation, especially for small bloggers. We didn’t need any of the paid upgrades and the free services offered were more than sufficient. Rima preferred to remain on the blogging platform she’d become accustomed to, but this thing with the stats was the final straw. So, she decided to migrate away from Wordpress and selected Substack, the popular newsletter self-publishing tool that has grown into a blogging platform of its own, as her new platform.

I looked over everything. I combed through the settings and documentation to understand how everything worked and to verify a wide range of items like compatibility with Wordpress post imports and migrating her list of subscribers. One feature I even checked was if Substack had the ability to assign her domain name to her blog, and I was pleased to discover that indeed it did. I worked through the various tasks of getting everything configured for her and to essentially become a mirror of her Wordpress website which, after setting up the aforementioned custom domain with our DNS registrar, would be shut down.

In retrospect I’d made one critical mistake, however… I’d never clicked the link to setup the custom domain.

In all the years I’ve been blogging and working with Wordpress and setting up websites and whatnot I have never once come across what I saw in the image at the top of this post. I’ve seen far lower prices (around $5-10) and even annual fees, but these have always been for commercial systems designed for corporations, and you always expect that kind of chicanery in the enterprise realm, but not on the consumer internet. I’m not a networking guru or anything like that, but I do know that setting DNS (Domain Name Services) to point one address at another address is, in short, a zero cost proposition.

The anger that welled up in me at the thought of having to pay $50 for an automated process that requires no technician involvement and what amounts to a tiny change in a text file on my registrars DNS server which is then propagated to other DNS servers (99.9% of which are not run by Substack) across the entire internet was profound. In fact, I am the one who does all the work, so I’m paying Substack $50 and then doing the work myself? The concept is literally insane. There is no reality in which Substack’s DNS servers are overburdened by custom domain name configurations. Period.

But Rima had already committed and we weren’t going to turn back, so we haven’t, but we also haven’t dropped half a C-note for the privilege of getting to use the domain name we own on her blog. $50 is precious to us, but we will find a time at which we can do it. It just rankles that Substack has chosen to make free revenue from a service that isn’t even their own and costs them nothing to implement.

Caveat emptor, I guess.

PS: Go check out rimaregasblog42.substack.com for some quality writing and to see what Rima’s tracking.

#capitalism #technology #editorial #substack #dns #enshittification

Tue, 31 Dec 2024 20:11:05 -0700

I cannot BELIEVE that #Substack has the gall to charge $50 to use a custom domain!! Hey #networking #nerds, how much does it cost Substack to “host” a domain name #tech #internet #capitalism

Sat, 28 Dec 2024 18:55:56 -0700

I’m not sure this is the most complementary of headlines for the #Flexbar. #Apple’s Touch Bar was almost as unloved as the disastrous Butterfly keyboard, and now both have long been excised from the MacBook lineup. #tech appleinsider.com/articles/…

Thu, 26 Dec 2024 17:11:30 -0700

NO! BAD #LENOVO!! You’ve been leaching away too much of the #ThinkPad’s DNA for far too long!!! Now you’re possibly going to take the TrackPoint and it’s associated buttons away from your loyal users?! Not a smart move. Let’s hope that this is truly just a rumor and not real. #tech #laptops liliputing.com/lenovo-th…

Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:51:01 -0700

Wow! #Ayaneo, the premium handheld game console maker, has just unveiled their Ayaneo 3 #Windows gaming device and while it doesn’t appear that unique, it does have a neat gimmick. The controls are magnetically swappable. Just watch. #videogames #hardware www.youtube.com/watch

Tue, 24 Dec 2024 21:10:18 -0700

Wow. Good job making your customers think their computers were infected with a virus, ASUS. #stupid #capitalism #tech tech.slashdot.org/story/24/…

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 20:27:00 -0700

Interesting take on the mini gaming laptop, for sure, but it’s clear #GPD already own the premium marketplace for such devices with their superior controller layout. Just be sure to have plenty of disposable cash if you’re entertaining getting one. #videogames #laptops #tech liliputing.com/onexplaye…

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 20:01:49 -0700

Well, well, well… It seems that #Lenovo themselves have now cheekily “confirmed” that they will be announcing their first #SteamOS-based gaming handheld at #CES2025. Recent rumors and leaks have shown a Lenovo Legion Go S, a smaller device lacking detachable controllers. #videogames #tech www.theverge.com/2024/12/1…

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 13:59:55 -0700

This clever snap-on game controller for #MobilePhones blew up on #YouTube earlier this year, and it looked like it was going to happen, then things got a little quiet. It seems, however, that the #MCON team has managed to break through the wall they were stuck behind and, with help from #OhSnap, are going to be showing their latest version at #CES2025. I have to say, it’s looking fantastic! #videogames #tech www.youtube.com/watch

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 12:24:11 -0700

Well, this is a clever case for iPhone models 12 through 15. Using a Lightning or USB-C connection concealed in the bottom of the case, you can add up to 1TB of storage to your iPhone with the card slot conveniently hidden near the camera bump. #apple #tech the-gadgeteer.com/2024/12/1…

Thu, 19 Dec 2024 15:01:32 -0700

A little expensive, but it does make a statement and has the side benefit of making the #M4MacMini’s power button accessible (if you need that sort of thing). ZEERA’s MacForge aluminum case evokes the appearance of a tiny Mac Pro and just looks really cool. Sadly, there’s no option for wheels. #Apple #tech liliputing.com/zeera-mac…

Wed, 18 Dec 2024 10:54:25 -0700

Um… no. Ignore #TikTok boneheads are claiming that anyone can steal your data using #iPhone’s #AirDrop feature. Fabulists are suggesting you turn off non-existent options or that AirDrop can be used to walk past people and just grab all their credit cards. Don’t listen to these idiots. #apple #fakescams #conspiracytheories #bullshit appleinsider.com/articles/…

Tue, 17 Dec 2024 15:20:37 -0700

Oh god, what a disaster. It was bad enough that #ElonMiusk’s #SpaceX was shooting thousands of satellites into orbit, but now others are doing it. There are countless factors to blame for this, not the least of which are #Capitalism and toxic power fantasies. arstechnica.com/space/202…

Thu, 12 Dec 2024 21:19:17 -0700

Micro$oft up to its typical bullshit… After migrating #Copilot from a progressive web app (PWA) to a native application, they’ve also decided to co-opt the commonly used ALT-SPACE keyboard shortcut that has long been used by #PowerToys and #Windows itself. I’m glad I’m done with them. #AI #shenanigans it.slashdot.org/story/24/…

Thu, 12 Dec 2024 15:53:59 -0700

The Game Awards starts streaming in a touch less than one hour. #videogames #breakingnews #technology #entertainment #youtube #TGA2024 www.youtube.com/thegameaw…

Sat, 07 Dec 2024 18:54:52 -0700

Heh. Fast Company interviewed #Apple executive Kate Bergeron and asked her about the modular storage in the new #M4 #MacMini. Here’s how she responded:

“The Mac Mini “is packed so tightly that actually, in the larger storage configurations, there’s not enough room on the main logic board to put the storage right onto the board.”

LOLZ. She must not have heard about the coming after-market SSD upgrades for the Mac Studio. #tech https://www.macworld.com/article/2546773/the-first-mac-studio-ssd-upgrade-is-here-for-way-less-than-apples-prices.html

Thu, 05 Dec 2024 10:54:11 -0700

I was a fan of #Ubuntu for a very long time and essentially started using it with Hardy Heron in the mid-2000’s. They then introduced Snaps and ejected DEBs so ditched them for a range of distros until settling on Linux Mint, Fedora, and KDE Neon. Ubuntu has fallen far from their early highs by bringing focus and ease-of-use to #Linux, and Nick runs that down nicely. #YouTube #tech www.youtube.com/watch

Wed, 04 Dec 2024 12:33:02 -0700

So, in case you were under any illusions that #Microsoft might not force countless millions of people to buy new PCs and move to #Windows 11, they blogged that this is non-negotiable. Windows 10 will lose support October 2025, unless you pay $30 for an extra year, then it will be the end. Period. Prepare to move to #Linux. And if you must buy, you might as well get an #Apple #Mac. #tech #capitalism www.theverge.com/2024/12/4…

Tue, 03 Dec 2024 09:48:57 -0700

I’m not sure I understand the purpose of this… device? #Apple’s Touch Bar which replaced the F-keys during the globally reviled “Butterfly Keyboard” era was half-baked and left to wither in a ditch and we already have a slew of #mactopads like the Streamdeck that do the same thing, but better because the keys are sized for human fingers and not to fit into a slim strip on a laptop. Then it retails at nearly $200. Hard pass. #kickstarter #hardware 9to5mac.com/2024/12/0…

Tue, 26 Nov 2024 23:37:44 -0700

Sadly it seems that #Apple is going to be delaying the rollout of their redesign of the already fantastic Apple Mail. While the redesign is in the current beta of #iOS 18.2, it’s not in the #macOS or #iPadOS betas. The updates bring a more Messages-like layout, contact photos, automatic inbox organization, AI enhancements for supported systems, mail training, and a digest view. Looks like they’re taking the time to refine things before release in the next point release. 9to5mac.com/2024/11/2…

Tue, 26 Nov 2024 22:42:50 -0700

Now, THIS is very cool! I’ve been quite excited about the rise of so-called cyberdecks in the last few years, and this looks like one of the coolest ones I’ve ever seen. Powered by the nicely capable Raspberry Pi 5, the Pilet 5 (5" with integrated controls) and Pilet 7 (7" with a unique modular design) are full-on #handheld computers with a lovely #retro esthetic. The #Kickstarter campaign starts soon, as well. #tech #raspberrypi #rpi5 #cyberdeck liliputing.com/raspberry…

Mon, 25 Nov 2024 10:06:34 -0700

#GPD is about to roll out their new Pocket 4 micro laptop and it’s gotten a significant upgrade. It now features an #AMD #Ryzen AI 9 HX370 CPU with a #Radeon 890M iGPU and an 8.8" 2560x1600 144Hz display. It has 40Gbps Thunderbolt 4 and a swappable port module on the back, as well. It’s more for admins than for gaming but it’s rather versatile and can even run #linux. Very slick little devices! #tech youtu.be/FWo4xElfK…

Sat, 23 Nov 2024 16:21:57 -0700

Well, I kind of expect dumb from Redmond’s very own Factory of Dull, #Microsoft, but this is on another level. I still have no idea why anyone tolerates #Windows11, what with all the shady crap being slotted into the successor to the “Last Windows”, #Windows10. They’ve paused 24H2 because some of Ubisoft’s #VideoGames crash after the update is applied. Wow. Just run Windows 10, peeps. #tech www.theverge.com/2024/11/2…

Sat, 23 Nov 2024 12:42:32 -0700

Dave’s Garage on #YouTube does a nice breakdown of performance benchmarks comparing the new M4 Pro Mini to the M2 Ultra Mac Pro and, for shits & giggles, a Threadripper 7995WX. My takeaway: If you’re an everyday, average user, get the M4 Mini base model and an external Samsung T7 2TB SSD. #tech #apple #M4MacMini #benchmarking www.youtube.com/watch

CORRECTION: I originally stated the comparison included the M2 Ultra Mini, a system that does not exist, and have corrected it to M4 Ultra Mac Pro.

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 12:48:10 -0700

Tyler Fisher (no relation) has announced Sill, an open source web-based Nuzzle-like tool that aggregates popular links from your social media sources, currently Mastodon and Bluesky. I can’t say I know anything about Nuzzle, though I recall hearing it was popular at some point :) It seems to have some neat features. #4nerds #socialmedia #internet #utilities sixcolors.com/link/2024…

Thu, 21 Nov 2024 19:25:07 -0700

Satechi dropped some details on their upcoming new hub stand for the redesigned M4 Mac Mini, sans a price, though the model designed for the older models sold for $100. From what we can tell, it has three USB-A ports and an SD card slot on the front and it can take up to a 2280 4TB NVMe SSD drive, but is limited to 10Gb/s speeds, so it’s probably best for wireless peripherals and TimeMachine backups. #tech #Apple #hardware satechi.net/landing/n…

Thu, 21 Nov 2024 18:48:05 -0700

I would have loved having one of these back in my D&D, GURPS, Aftermath #TTRPG days, but it won’t come cheap. Starting at $100 for the plastic model and going up from there, the Timestop D-20 will roll up to 12 D4 through D20 and has graphics for crits, and can even roll up to a D100. Oh yeah, it even tells time! #gaming #nerdculture #gadgets #tech #lofi #watches gizmodo.com/this-d-20…

Mon, 18 Nov 2024 14:39:01 -0700

Oh my! I am soooooo in love with this at first look!! Japanese #PC case maker #SilverStone is rolling out a new 80’s-inspired desktop case design that was supposed to be an April Fool’s joke earlier this year. Apparently enough people demanded the NEC PC-9800 clone be made real they actually followed through!! It will be going on sale in Japan next year for $130 (US), but nowhere else… for now. #tech arstechnica.com/gadgets/2…

Mon, 18 Nov 2024 14:11:45 -0700

When it comes to #tech press, one thing bothers me above all else; high-end reportage that ignores the bulk of users. The vast majority of people getting a #Mac probably don’t even know what a virtual machine is, much less need one. Despite this, nerd journos almost exclusively focus on the much smaller professional slice of the market. #Apple #Journalism www.macworld.com/article/2…

In short, if you want to buy a new computer and use it like an average person, go ahead and get an M4 Mac Mini base model. Grab yourself a Samsung T7 external SSD in 1 or 2TB capacity, and rest easy that your $700+ will last you for years to come. The M4 is a little terror that sips power. Your email, messaging, social media, and streaming sessions will be just fine.

Thu, 14 Nov 2024 17:48:18 -0700

Miffed by the power button of the new #Apple #M4 #MacMini? You’re likely a disgruntled PC user who is accustomed to having to reboot your machine frequently and are being enticed by the micro machine’s diminutive allure. Primarily, anyone who’s used a Mac for any time knows they almost never need to touch the damned thing. Sleep mode consumes an almost non-existent 1.6W of power. I reboot mine about once every 3-4 weeks. #tech #ButtonGate boingboing.net/2024/11/1…

Sun, 10 Nov 2024 22:36:54 -0700

#Apple has an issue with positioning itself for decades in the premium market, and while they do make excellent systems, they’re starting to pay the price. It shows in the fact that Apple has apparently loosened strictures on aggressive sale pricing from retailers (e.g., #Walmart’s $650 M1 MacBook Air, #Amazon’s regular steep price drops). Now they’ve stopped making new Vision Pro VR devices but are not exiting the space. #Technology glassalmanac.com/tim-cook-…

Can we please end the stupid "Natural" vs. "Reverse" scrolling debacle?

Fri, 03 Jun 2022 12:00:00 -0700

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I am quite well versed in the extensive history of the operating system wars. Apple effectively created the home computer industry, and Microsoft has been doggedly chasing after ever since. This is not a new story in the slightest.

Historical documents tell us that Steve Jobs managed to arrange a tour at Xerox’s Palo Alto Research Center, frequently called Xerox PARC, which had been tasked by their parent company with developing a wide range of modern computing technologies for the future. The PARC teams were responsible for laster printers, Ethernet, the desktop paradigm for graphical user interfaces, e-paper, Very Large-Scale Integration or VLSI, the process which made all of the computer chips we use today even possible, and the Alto, among other things.

A Xerox Alto II on display… somewhere. Unfortunately, the contributor didn’t note where they had taken the picture, so it’s anyone’s guess, though likely a computer museum… again, somewhere.

The Alto II was an amalgam of all of the technologies developed at PARC and was effectively a “desktop” computer. The idea might seem insane when you look at the literal behemoth above, but this where we were back then. The Alto II was never released as a product for the general public and only 2,000 were built, mostly deployed inside PARC with some distributed to universities. Many believe that the Mac team’s exposure to the work on the GUI at PARC helped them break through some of their final stumbling blocks before the release of the Macintosh in 1984. I’m pretty sure we’ve all seen the Super Bowl commercial…

The truth about Steve Jobs and Xerox PARC
or are there many "truths"? One of the foundation myths of Apple was that Steve Jobs and a team of developers working…latimesblogs.latimes.com

There was, however, one more piece of radically new hardware that had been invented a decade earlier by a bloke named Douglas Englebart at the Stanford Research Center which brought it all together, a device that would become known worldwide as…

…The Computer Mouse.

The inventor of the computer mouse, Douglas Englebart, never profited from his invention. During an interview, he said “SRI patented the mouse, but they really had no idea of its value. Some years later it was learned that they had licensed it to Apple Computer for something like $40,000.” Not a great deal, peeps…

Avoiding the rabbit hole…

So as to avoid a long(er) narrative about the history of the mouse, let’s leave it there and move to this piece’s raison d’être; the mind bogglingly silly problem of computer mouse scroll wheel scrolling directions.

You try to use fewer words to describe it whilst insuring all readers know what you’re talking about! I’m open to suggestions.

I’m quite sure most casual users who have always used a Mac or a Windows machine likely haven’t given a single thought to which direction the document in the display scrolls when you roll the scroll wheel up or down or drag two fingers across a trackpad. It’s kind of a thing that most people get. Kids learn all this stuff before they can string words together, for crying out loud!

But for users like myself who use both macOS and Windows operating systems, it’s a pain. (For the record, I’m also a Linux power user. Mint, Pop, and Fedora, in that order.) Here’s why:

Take a look at Kunal Rathore’s excellent article on the Mac’s natural scrolling versus Windows’ established reverse scrolling implementation, including a lovely animated illustration to, uh… illustrate the difference for those who have withstood the awesome attraction of “the other side”.

As you can plainly see, they just do the opposite. It’s not like you can iterate on a linear motion control. It goes up. It goes down. There’s not a lot of room for creativity. If you take a look at the Mouse settings in macOS and Windows you’ll start to see where the problem lies. Let’s look at macOS 12.4 “Monterey” and how it handles scrolling options:

WHAT? The Mac makes this an OPTION???!!! I sense the Windows user inside me starting to get nervous…

Well, how does Windows handle this, then? Let’s take a look at my HP EliteBook running Windows 10 and it’s scroll wheel options:

I like Dark Mode. Sue me.

As you can see, the only options for controlling the scroll wheel in Windows are to tweak how quickly and how far it scrolls when you twiddle the control, but not direction.

Grrr.

Yes. All this is the fault of Microsoft…

So, I think we can all agree that this is rather silly, has no place as an issue on computers made since 2010 (so, we’re 12 years late), and is just dirt easy to fix. And no, I don’t want any registry hacks or 3rd party utilities. It’s built into everything else, so yeah. Clearly, everyone else seems to have cracked the code, as it were.

I’m not a coder on any level, but if programmers can make mistake that lose people hundreds of millions of dollars and fix that epic screwup, I’m quite sure Microsoft can add a scrolling direction option toggle to a Windows update coming sometime this year, and that’s being generous.

I’d be willing to wager a farthing and a nice six-pack of gluten-free beer that a couple of their superstar hackers could whip up a fix in an afternoon. Tell “Up” and “Down” to do the opposite.

Ooooooooooo! Rocket Science!!!

I’d be interested in hearing how or why this would not be a feasible endeavor. Both pragmatic and loony answers are welcome. I only have two rules; have fun. be nice.

The Conclusion…

It’s time. Get it done, Microsoft.

PS: The violence in America is intensifying. There are reports of mass shootings coming in daily now. The Laguna Woods shooting was just a few miles from our home. There are very clear signs that America is heading towards some kind of event or series of events that will likely change life in this country forever. I’d much rather it be a march on the Capitol for a protest of epic proportions than another mass shooting.

PPS: One way we can look at this is via representation, one of the core tenets of the foundations of American society. Most Americans are represented, at least the ones who aren’t homeless, an illegal immigrant, or Black. Those should be easy red flags. Then divide them into Democratic, Independent, and Republican silos. There’s more red flags. They’re everywhere you look. We keep divvying ourselves up into little groups of people who should get more than everyone else. And we know very well that the big group with the most rabid desire is the white supremacy movement. Another is the National Rifle Association. I get it. It’s easy to get them mixed up.

PPPS: When reflecting on the tragedy of these terrible times when some of our “representatives” choose to dissemble in the face of the slaughter of nineteen 9–11 year olds in the name of their god, the gun, remember that the NRA membership is less than 2 million… in a country of 330 million.

PPPPS: How’s that for representation!