DynamoSunshirt's recent activity
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Comment on Air to bread in ~science
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Air to bread
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Comment on An AI agent published a hit piece on me in ~tech
DynamoSunshirt Link ParentWhat if the author did it themselves?What if the author did it themselves?
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Comment on Update on developer access and platform security | Spotify for Developers in ~tech
DynamoSunshirt LinkSpotify's lack of third-party clients is really what killed the service for me. Their client is just so user-hostile, shoving offers and podcasts and audiobooks and recommended payola songs in my...Spotify's lack of third-party clients is really what killed the service for me. Their client is just so user-hostile, shoving offers and podcasts and audiobooks and recommended payola songs in my face, I couldn't stand to keep using it. Apple Music sets a better precedent for third-party clients.
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Comment on Something big is happening in ~tech
DynamoSunshirt Link ParentI wish we'd put one quarter the amount of money and time we've invested in LLMs and LLM data centers and GPUs into fusion. With that kind of investment, we might actually figure out how to provide...I wish we'd put one quarter the amount of money and time we've invested in LLMs and LLM data centers and GPUs into fusion. With that kind of investment, we might actually figure out how to provide humanity with unlimited clean energy! Imagine eliminating everyone's power bill, eliminating your gas bill if you got an electric car, nearly eliminating carbon emissions from cars and fossil fuel electric generation...
but no, instead we live in the darkest timeline where we're all supposed to celebrate billionaires pumping unlimited funds into... a scheme to fire the rest of us from our jobs.
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Comment on Something big is happening in ~tech
DynamoSunshirt Link ParentI write professionally. As someone with decent editorial experience, I have yet to see LLM text output that doesn't chronically equivocate, lie, pad space with bullshit, or make serious structural...I write professionally. As someone with decent editorial experience, I have yet to see LLM text output that doesn't chronically equivocate, lie, pad space with bullshit, or make serious structural errors. A company I used to work for replaced my whole department with LLM output (driven by one psychotic C-level whose comp is probably even higher than all of ours combined). And the output is pure garbage that will bite them eventually when users realize it's mostly nonsense.
It really depresses me to see just how many people keep getting bamboozled by the hype train of agents replacing entire engineering departments. Sure, LLMs can accomplish cool things. But the insatiable desire to replace humans is kind of a bad look.
What scares me is that most of us can get laid off tomorrow by the suckers who buy into the hype. In today's job market, it might take months or years to find a new job. It'll take months or years for the LLM output of tech debt and slop to catch up with our former employers... but "I told you so" is cold comfort on the breadline.
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Comment on Something big is happening in ~tech
DynamoSunshirt Link ParentMost tech, from operating systems, to search engines, to phone keyboards, to browsers, to text editors, to games, and much much more has all gotten worse over the last 5-10 years due to...Most tech, from operating systems, to search engines, to phone keyboards, to browsers, to text editors, to games, and much much more has all gotten worse over the last 5-10 years due to enshittification. I'll never be able to convince the AI boosters that this can happen to LLMs, too. But especially given the wildly unprofitable companies operating in this space (and the enshittication-prone giants like Google and Apple who make up the rest of the competition), I wouldn't bet on LLMs taking a different path. Software does NOT strictly get better over time!
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Comment on E-ink tablet recommendations for note taking in ~tech
DynamoSunshirt Link ParentI've replaced the nibs once or twice per device in years of ownership. Unless you write with a very heavy hand, I'd expect to get at least a year per nib. Based on your use case description, I...I've replaced the nibs once or twice per device in years of ownership. Unless you write with a very heavy hand, I'd expect to get at least a year per nib.
Based on your use case description, I wouldn't worry about a frontlight at all, then! But I would strongly suggest 10" screens for desk use.
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Comment on E-ink tablet recommendations for note taking in ~tech
DynamoSunshirt LinkLots of good experiences here already, but I figured I'd share anyway in case you have any questions I can answer: I've been using an Onyx Boox Nova 3 for about 5 years now for reading and...Lots of good experiences here already, but I figured I'd share anyway in case you have any questions I can answer: I've been using an Onyx Boox Nova 3 for about 5 years now for reading and journaling/notetaking. I absolutely love it, except for the fact that Boox only ever made one shitty case for it and third-party cases are basically nonexistent. I've been using a hacked-up iPad Mini case for most of that time, which works fine, but it's getting tattered at this point and I honestly don't know what I'll do next.
IMO the 7.8" screen is perfect for reading since it's very close to the size of a hardcover novel page. It's a bit small for notetaking, but if you have small handwriting, it's very pleasant for journaling and light notes. Just not spacious enough for most drawing.
Be aware that Boox is pretty awful at software. Lots of small bugs and broken English. I use a custom launcher (Lawnchair) with KOReader and Firefox, so the only Boox software I regularly touch is their Notes app, which is fine. Their ereader app, Neoreader, isn't bad, and it supports annotations on-page with the pen, but I don't find myself needing anything more than highlights.
As others have noted, support is a complete gamble. I don't think Boox would stand behind their product at all even if it burned my house down, because there's little legal enforcement for Chinese companies operating in the USA. If warrantees or repairs seem like something you want from a multi-hundred-dollar tablet, be warned!
I've recently started using a Boox Note Air 2 at my desk for notetaking in meetings on its larger 10" display since my partner upgraded to a kobo. The experience is much the same: quite nice (but not well supported) hardware, passable software. The screen on the Note Air 2 is honestly the most paperlike writing experience I've had on a tablet (much better than an iPad or my Nova 3) thanks to the somewhat rough texture of the screen protector. It hasn't worn much in 3-4 years of use from my partner as a knitting pattern display and ereader, so durability doesn't seem to be a problem.
I looked a lot at competitors like the Remarkable back when I bought my Nova 3, but I opted for Boox at the time for the following reasons:
- screen size: 7.8" is so much better than the old 6" screen on my decade-old Kindle, I love a long line of text and you really need at least this size to use a pen comfortably
- screen light: my partner always got annoyed when I used an external light to read in bed, but the built-in light is so dim it doesn't bother them; unfortunately it's also so dim and warm it's much easier to fall asleep reading than it used to be!
- Android: between Libby and downloading Linux ISOs and sharing files between devices and even sometimes browsing forums like tildes, it's damn nice to have access to the entire ecosystem of Android apps, even if you have to jump through a few customizability hoops to get everything working quite right
- passive WACOM pen doesn't need charging, because I want no more chargers in my life
If you're highly particular and looking to put in the effort to customize everything the way you want it, a Boox is worth it, if you're willing to accept the mediocre software and hardware support issues. Personally I think a frontlight is an indispensable feature and I wouldn't buy an ereader without it, but I understand that it compromises the writing experience a bit. Hopefully this helps!
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Comment on 50mm bike tire recommendations in ~hobbies
DynamoSunshirt Link ParentThanks for the summon! Honestly, once wattage comes up in the conversation it's optimized beyond my knowledge... but I do happen to currently absolutely love the 53mm Vittoria Mezcals on my...Thanks for the summon! Honestly, once wattage comes up in the conversation it's optimized beyond my knowledge... but I do happen to currently absolutely love the 53mm Vittoria Mezcals on my touring/commuter bike. They've held up for years and thousands of miles, almost all of which was at least partially loaded (I have a habit of bringing bocce balls to parks in a pannier, and I often grocery shop and bring our compost to a nearby farm as I pick up our CSA to give you an idea).
Schwalbe has a great rep in the touring community, thanks to the Marathon Plus and somewhat the Marathon Mondials lately. But I know some folks think their quality has slipped as of late. The Schwalbe Big Bens that my bike's previous owner installed treated me well for several years as well, but those are pretty big. But don't be fooled; rolling resistance and tire size are not strongly correlated. I always suggest going bigger because the air basically works as suspension!
Be skeptical if anyone claims to have comprehensive knowledge of lots of different tires. At some level, that's impossible, because it takes YEARS of even heavy use to wear through any decent bike tire. Of course, if someone gets a lot of flats from a certain tire that's a useful data point. But most people can really only experience the longevity of any given tire a handful of times per decade!
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Comment on Need a replacement for my old macbook pro, should I just get another one? in ~comp
DynamoSunshirt Link ParentDepends on the user, I think folks who mostly live in the browser would be OK for 5 on 16. But it's definitely getting tighter. 24 would be my minimal 10 year recommendation, 32 if you can swing...Depends on the user, I think folks who mostly live in the browser would be OK for 5 on 16. But it's definitely getting tighter. 24 would be my minimal 10 year recommendation, 32 if you can swing it. Just a bit painful with Apple's pricing and with all of the AI-related price hikes lately :(
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Comment on Spotify will soon sell hardcover and paperback books through its app, in partnership with Bookshop.org in ~books
DynamoSunshirt Link ParentAs someone with a limited data plan, I cannot stand the video creep in the mobile app. For goodness sake at least provide a "low power" or "metered data" mode if I don't want that stuff using my...As someone with a limited data plan, I cannot stand the video creep in the mobile app. For goodness sake at least provide a "low power" or "metered data" mode if I don't want that stuff using my energy and data.
Or y'know just make a damn music app. Fortunately I absolutely love FinAmp.
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Comment on Need a replacement for my old macbook pro, should I just get another one? in ~comp
DynamoSunshirt LinkApple's Mac hardware has been best in class ever since they switched to their own Apple Silicon chips. My advice? If you liked your 2020 Macbook experience, pick up a Macbook Air. M4 is in a good...Apple's Mac hardware has been best in class ever since they switched to their own Apple Silicon chips. My advice? If you liked your 2020 Macbook experience, pick up a Macbook Air. M4 is in a good price sweet spot right now. 16GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, and you're set for the next 5-10 years, IMO. They're probably dropping a new, cheaper Macbook in the next week or two, though... so if 599 sounds good to you, it'll probably be worth waiting to see if that looks appealing. Should be pretty similar hardware to the current Airs, but with an iPhone (A-series) chip instead. The CPUs are all so good now it hardly matters even if you do light gaming.
iPhones are also pretty great hardware. I'd look into a 16e, a 16, a 17, or even a 15 Pro if I were you. Whichever's cheapest will do. Or you can wait for the 17e to drop next week, which should make 16e prices even lower.
In both cases, if you don't know you want some specific fancy feature or hardware, you don't need it. It's all good enough. You could get by just fine with a Pixel or Samsung phone too, these days. But if you're familiar with the iPhone it's easiest to stick with that.
One small caveat: American businesses have been enshittifying their hardware and software at an exponential rate over the last few years. Apple's software quality has really taken a nosedive with the 26 OSes released last year, and they're even experimenting with freemium features in their Office suite competitor. So be aware that some Apple software stuff will be increasingly buggy and annoying over the coming years. BUT pretty much all American software is going in the same direction (or has even more baked-in surveillance state nonsense) so you can hardly avoid it. If you really hate that idea, a Framework laptop running Linux and a Fairphone might treat you well. But they have enough rough edged that I won't recommend that as the best path.
Oh, and if anyone tells you to consider Windows? Run. They're clueless or malevolent.
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Comment on What are your food aversions? in ~food
DynamoSunshirt LinkDeep fried stuff. Working at McDonald's had one positive impact on me, apparently. I have a very very very mild PTSD that comes to mind whenever I even smell it.Deep fried stuff. Working at McDonald's had one positive impact on me, apparently. I have a very very very mild PTSD that comes to mind whenever I even smell it.
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Comment on Any software engineers considering a career switch due to AI? in ~comp
DynamoSunshirt Link ParentThe gradually declining quality of Google search might hint at the future of other software that relies on similar tech.The gradually declining quality of Google search might hint at the future of other software that relies on similar tech.
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Comment on Revisiting Instagram, and promptly leaving it again in ~tech
DynamoSunshirt Link ParentThis makes me really want an RSS adapter for Facebook and Instagram. Plug in an account, get only posts from people you follow. Filter out all reposts and shares. Only trouble is, I suspect that...This makes me really want an RSS adapter for Facebook and Instagram. Plug in an account, get only posts from people you follow. Filter out all reposts and shares.
Only trouble is, I suspect that most normal people post very little these days. And just by interacting and having an account you're helping ensnare people in the Meta honeypot.
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Comment on The assistant axis: situating and stabilizing the character of large language models in ~tech
DynamoSunshirt Link ParentWell said. It's a thorny subject but I very much like the argument that we should discuss and dissect content like this instead of just ignoring it. I'm glad Tildes is a place where we can talk...Well said. It's a thorny subject but I very much like the argument that we should discuss and dissect content like this instead of just ignoring it. I'm glad Tildes is a place where we can talk about this sort of thing respectfully.
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Comment on The assistant axis: situating and stabilizing the character of large language models in ~tech
DynamoSunshirt Link ParentI did read this article, and honestly it is better than Anthropic's average blog output. But I am mostly commenting on the throughline of Anthropic's blog posts in general, not just this post. It...I did read this article, and honestly it is better than Anthropic's average blog output.
But I am mostly commenting on the throughline of Anthropic's blog posts in general, not just this post. It seems like the community is pretty split on the utility of these posts, though. IMO if we don't have consensus that we want to ostracize Anthropic content, it's better to keep it. But those of you who enjoy Anthropic's content should keep in mind that a lot of smart folks on Tildes think you should consume it with a massive grain of salt!
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Comment on What are your favorite home remedies or comforts when you're sick? in ~health
DynamoSunshirt LinkNot mine, but a friend of a friend keeps a bottle of Jaegermaester in his fridge. Whenever he has a sore throat, he pours himself a little sip of it throughout the day. Alcoholism or brilliant?...Not mine, but a friend of a friend keeps a bottle of Jaegermaester in his fridge. Whenever he has a sore throat, he pours himself a little sip of it throughout the day.
Alcoholism or brilliant? Maybe both?
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Comment on Does anyone else find CBS News particularly stressful? in ~tv
DynamoSunshirt Link ParentGood to know that I should expect no better from CBS than I expect from Fox these days. I wonder if that purchase explains why more of my previously liberal-leaning CBS-watching relatives have...Good to know that I should expect no better from CBS than I expect from Fox these days. I wonder if that purchase explains why more of my previously liberal-leaning CBS-watching relatives have veered far right in the last few years? I previously assumed it was just a part of getting old (I know how ageist that sounds, but surely as dementia and brain cobwebs creep in you become an easier target for brainwashing?), but now I wonder if it's something more insidious.
Warning: final paragraph plot-twists this historical tale into a lesson about AI. But the tale is interesting nonetheless!