• Activity
  • Votes
  • Comments
  • New
  • All activity
  • Showing only topics with the tag "ask.recommendations". Back to normal view
    1. [SOLVED] Looking for recommendations on new GPU

      GPU Purchased: RX 6650XT for $330+tax Overview I am currently looking at replacing my GPU, as I believe it is broken. I do not want to spend a high amount as money is a bit tight for me. However,...

      GPU Purchased: RX 6650XT for $330+tax

      Overview

      I am currently looking at replacing my GPU, as I believe it is broken. I do not want to spend a high amount as money is a bit tight for me. However, I am open to spending a bit more than the cheapest option, if it will last me longer.

      Current Hardware

      • CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5500
      • RAM: 32GB DDR4
      • PSU: 550W
      • GPU: NVidia GTX 970
      • Primary Display: 1080p60
      • Secondary Display: 1600x900 60hz

      Workload

      I do not do need that strong of a GPU, since I primarily play games a bit older and I occasionally do video editing. For video editing, my video projects tend to be relatively lightweight, so I do not need a beefy GPU for it.

      A couple game examples:

      • Minecraft
      • Far Cry 5
      • Civ VI

      Other factors

      For budget, I am trying to stay as low as possible. However, I do want to buy new, as I am pretty sure my GPU is the problem, but do not know for sure so want to be able to return it. For OS, I am running Fedora KDE. I had my GTX 970 working with it, but I have heard AMD cards work better for Linux. Is switching to AMD better overall or just easier to setup?

      Current GPU Considerations:

      Edit: After some suggestions, I am currently leaning towards the RX 6650XT for $330

      12 votes
    2. Pinterest alternatives

      Seems to be a common subject online that pinterest sucks. I've found so many threads of people asking for alternatives...but I've yet to find a replacement, or really recommendations. I've been...

      Seems to be a common subject online that pinterest sucks. I've found so many threads of people asking for alternatives...but I've yet to find a replacement, or really recommendations.

      I've been trying out the site cosmos.so, Interesting concept but it is limited by the lack of android and Firefox plugin support

      Any suggestions? What I am looking for is a tool that I can use to save stuff I find online, links, images, screenshots. Preferably open sourced or privacy friendly, but at this point I'll take anything lol.

      I feel like there has to be something out there!! Not sure why I am having such a hard time finding it. Any recommendations would be appreciated

      11 votes
    3. Is there a free LLM frontend that works out of the box?

      I want something like typingmind but for free, and that doesn't require installation. mainly for gemini and mistral (or perhaps groq too) I just want to be able to paste my API key and just use...

      I want something like typingmind but for free, and that doesn't require installation. mainly for gemini and mistral (or perhaps groq too) I just want to be able to paste my API key and just use it. I know about OpenWebUI and msty but OpenWebUI requires installation, and msty doesn't have an android version.

      anyone know something like this ? (would also be nice if it supports LaTeX)

      17 votes
    4. Best new install steps for Windows 11 gaming PC?

      Hi folks--I am very excited about a gaming PC that I just bought for my family (mainly 13yo son into gaming, coding, and digital art). I installed the video card (only piece sent separately), went...

      Hi folks--I am very excited about a gaming PC that I just bought for my family (mainly 13yo son into gaming, coding, and digital art).

      I installed the video card (only piece sent separately), went through Windows setup/updates. Installed peripherals. Updated video card drivers. Installed Steam/GIMP/Krita. Made 13yo an adult in my Steam Family. Installed a few of the games so something is ready to run right away. I even have the small Wacom tablet working in GIMP and Inkscape with a good pressure profile!

      All that said, I used to set up my own Windows PCs (looooong) ago, and I'm wondering if it's really that simple. It was very easy.

      I did small utility things like run Startallback and install PowerToys. I figured MS Visual Code is next?

      Anything else you all can suggest?

      (P.S. is there a way to move all his Minecraft stuff to his new Microsoft account? He's tired of logging in as me, and I'm tired of sending him auth codes.)

      26 votes
    5. Suggestions for a tablet or a light laptop

      Hello, my friend recently lost their laptop (long story) and has kindly asked me to help them out to find a replacement. I've had success asking here before, so I would be very grateful for any...

      Hello, my friend recently lost their laptop (long story) and has kindly asked me to help them out to find a replacement.

      I've had success asking here before, so I would be very grateful for any help or direction.

      Here are the main criteria, based on what we've discussed.

      • Can compile LaTeX.
      • Can run Jupyter notebooks, Python, and the like.
      • Can play non-AAA games like Binding of Isaac, Balatro, Dofus.
      • Can play YouTube videos, and Twitch streams. (Not picky about screen quality.)
      • Maximum 13" screen, can be smaller I think?
      • As light as possible (a tablet + keyboard combo might be worth it).
      • USB port for transferring files (to their institution's ancient printers)
      • Ports to connect a mouse, gamepad, etc.
      • Bluetooth, wifi, webcam
      • Lasts at least four hours on battery (if not gaming)
      • Under 1000 euros preferably (willing to make exceptions if you think it is worth it)

      Here are the nice-to-haves:

      • HDMI slot
      • Long-lasting battery
      • Nice mic and webcam
      • Nice screen quality
      • Repairable

      Don't care about:

      • Stylus
      • SD card reader

      My friend is mostly used to Windows but I think if I could make a strong case for Ubuntu then they might be open to it if that's relevant.

      Thanks for reading!

      Edit: Thanks everyone. We ultimately settled for an IdeaPad 2-in-1. Fingers crossed that they’re happy with that.

      27 votes
    6. What kind of app/service am I looking for?

      like anyone, I use a calendar app, (my choice of app is ProtonCalendar as I will install only open-source apps) anyways, I will make a reminder even for myself, let's say 2:00 PM tomorrow, I want...

      like anyone, I use a calendar app, (my choice of app is ProtonCalendar as I will install only open-source apps)

      anyways, I will make a reminder even for myself, let's say 2:00 PM tomorrow, I want to pay a specific bill.

      so 2 pm tomorrow comes around, and I am not at home, so what I will do when I get the notification is to not swipe it away but leave it in the notification section of my Google Pixel and I will only swipe it away once I have actually done it. and if I dont get to it that day, I will go to my computer and schedule that event for another day so I don't lose track of it.

      problem is, more than 1, I have accidentally swiped away a notification without meaning to and sometimes I had like 3-4 different ones and I had to go through the history of what notifications I had swiped to make sure I didnt swipe away anything too urgent. but I'd much rather just not be able to swipe away a to-do I haven't completed yet until I could check a box indicating I had completed it.

      I have considered getting a to-do notes app, but I really like seeing these sorts of reminders on a graphical calendar interface.

      any suggestion for what I should do or do I just need to be really careful to not swipe away notification and there's no other option for me?

      9 votes
    7. Looking for an Android keyboard app

      Hello friends, and thank you in advance for any help on this topic. I am looking for an android keyboard that does not have emoji, stickers or gifs, but also has long press options for special...

      Hello friends, and thank you in advance for any help on this topic.

      I am looking for an android keyboard that does not have emoji, stickers or gifs, but also has long press options for special characters like dashes, slashes and colons etc.

      Searching online for variants of "no emoji keyboard," only floods my results with the opposite and it's beyond frustrating!

      I realize that the answer is likely right under my nose and I'm just missing it for whatever reason.

      I would glady pay money for such an option if only I could find one.

      I'm sorry if this question is silly or posted in the wrong thread, but I'm at my wits end.

      Again, thank you for any help or redirection to my query!

      Cheers!

      28 votes
    8. Looking for board game suggestions for non-gamers

      Hey everyone, Growing up, I loved playing board games with friends and family—it was a big part of my life. Now, I’ve moved away, and my girlfriend and some of her family (who live with us) have...

      Hey everyone,

      Growing up, I loved playing board games with friends and family—it was a big part of my life. Now, I’ve moved away, and my girlfriend and some of her family (who live with us) have zero interest in board games.

      I’ve tried classics like Catan, Ticket to Ride, and Codenames, but they’re not into them at all. I’m really craving some board game time, so I’m thinking about branching out to more approachable games.

      Does anyone have suggestions for games that are fun and easy to ease non-gamers into without scaring them off? Or maybe I’m just not starting with the right type of games? Any advice is appreciated, thanks!

      28 votes
    9. How to pass the time when you have nothing to do at work and just your phone?

      I find myself very bored at work. I have nothing on my plate to do, and I have exhausted everything I can think of doing on my phone. Browsing Tildes, and a little reddit though I hate Reddit now,...

      I find myself very bored at work. I have nothing on my plate to do, and I have exhausted everything I can think of doing on my phone. Browsing Tildes, and a little reddit though I hate Reddit now, making spreadsheets on Google drive for hobbies, catching up on any news, playing a dumb phone game, watching YouTube (though this is much harder and I can only do something audio based when I sneak away to a private corner which I can only do for limited amounts of time), browsing LinkedIn for other jobs/career path.

      I'm at a loss for what else to do. I'm at the point where I have many hours in my day with nothing to do, and boss doesn't care I'm on my phone as long as my shit is done, which it is.

      Obviously can't do much video watching or actual video game playing or anything requiring audio.
      Also phone games have to be vertical so it isn't obvious I'm playing a game if a client walks in. Any suggestions?

      35 votes
    10. What are your favorite special kitchen ingredients?

      I’m looking to explore a bit so i’d love to hear your thoughts. These are the items that make my kitchen special. I mainly cook Asian style food (Chinese, Japanese), so my ingredients trend in...

      I’m looking to explore a bit so i’d love to hear your thoughts. These are the items that make my kitchen special. I mainly cook Asian style food (Chinese, Japanese), so my ingredients trend in that direction. This is a combination of ingredients, condiments, and even snacks that bring joy to me.

      If there’s a particular special brand that you think is extra special, i’d love to hear it too!

      • Mirin (in Toronto there is a small store that makes homemade mirin)
      • Yuzu ponzu sauce (same supplier)
      • Furikake / shichimi
      • Korean seasoned salt
      • Perilla Oil (an amazing nuttier substitute to sesame oil) - great on subtle dishes like zaru soba
      • Szechuan peppercorns - amazing to put into the mortar with other aromatics
      • Chinese cured pork belly - wow how immensely flavorful - I like the five spice one. Small cubes makes fried rice sing
      • Oyster sauce (two ladies LKK not panda LKK)
      • Nem Chua
      • Good butter (Kerrygold or St Brigid)
      • Sambal Oelek
      • Pandan leaves and frozen chopped lemongrass
      • Maldon salt
      • Frozen cheap chocolate squares (Swiss Delice)
      • Lao Gan Ma black bean chili crisp
      • Salted yolk potato chips, Honey Butter chips
      • Korean seaweed sheets for stock along with the little anchovies
      • Frozen unshelled clam meat - just throw a handful into anything like pasta or stir fries. So cheap and so good!
      • Chinese cooking wine
      • Perilla leaves (gganib)
      • when I can find them, Alphonso, Kesar, or Colombian Sugar Mangos
      • Concord or Muscat grapes
      • fatty Biltong (Florence meats is best)
      • wavy soba (for some reason I like the mouth feel)
      • frozen special handmade ramen
      • Calabrian peppers
      • Peperoncinos (I like the ones from Terroni)
      • Peruvian sweety drop peppers
      • Thai kefir leaves (frozen)
      • Thai birdseye peppers
      • Vietnamese veggies (rau ram) and Thai basil mmm
      • fermented tofu bricks - kinda smelly but adds a slickness and sourness when stir frying Chinese veggies
      • Korean coque d’asses (Japanese ones are a bit dry for me). Great frozen as well.
      • mango gummy candy from cocoa land lot 100
      • Chinese snow pear
      • kewpie mayo (creepy baby)
      • kozlik triple crunch mustard
      • Vietnamese fried onions (need to figure out what brand is best)
      • affordable soy sauce (made in Japan ones - yamasa or kikkoman)
      • fermented black pepper (I like the Trader Joe’s ones - I put it into ramen broth)
      • kecap manis (abc brand) for making Indonesian stuff
      • Hungarian Hunters sausages - great snacks that last
      19 votes
    11. Do any of you use Hulu? Looking for shows that entertain adults but a 7 year old can be in the room.

      Cop shows or mysteries, snarky comedies like Golden girls or Mash, Roseanne or Barney Miller, Simpsons yes, South Park no. Drama is fine if it's not visually problematic for a child. All...

      Cop shows or mysteries, snarky comedies like Golden girls or Mash, Roseanne or Barney Miller, Simpsons yes, South Park no.

      Drama is fine if it's not visually problematic for a child.

      All recommendations are appreciated

      12 votes
    12. What’s your “I didn’t know I needed that” item?

      My parents normally give all us adult kids money for Christmas, but this year my mom said she wants to get us actual gifts and asked for wishlists from us. Problem is: I don’t know what to ask...

      My parents normally give all us adult kids money for Christmas, but this year my mom said she wants to get us actual gifts and asked for wishlists from us. Problem is: I don’t know what to ask for!

      So, similar to the Gift Swap topic, I thought we could come up with a list of items that are very good/useful/satifying but also less obvious, for the purposes of making a decent gift idea list.

      Note: I don’t want it to be specific to me and my tastes/interests, since I want the whole community to be able to use it too. Share anything you like and think others might like!

      87 votes
    13. What short standalone book is worth more than its page count?

      This will be the final topic in the series. (Sorry about the confusion!) This one is about short books that have more heft than you would think from their size alone. As before, there are no hard...

      This will be the final topic in the series. (Sorry about the confusion!)

      This one is about short books that have more heft than you would think from their size alone.

      As before, there are no hard requirements on what counts as “short.”

      26 votes
    14. "Open" platform to post lyrics

      I started writing some lyrics and I like the idea of sharing them with whomever wants to use them. Personally, it's an extra motivator to know your writing might be useful for something. So, I'm...

      I started writing some lyrics and I like the idea of sharing them with whomever wants to use them. Personally, it's an extra motivator to know your writing might be useful for something.

      So, I'm looking for a platform where I can dump my ramblings basically xD. I mostly don't want a "free" platform funded by advertisements. Everything else (e.g. built on FOSS, federated) is a plus. Let's not make the perfect the enemy of the good.

      Thanks =)

      5 votes
    15. A few questions about replacing our clothes washing machine

      Yesterday, while doing a regular load of laundry, the glass on the front of our washer completely shattered. My current theory is that it was a temperature thing. The washer is in our unheated...

      Yesterday, while doing a regular load of laundry, the glass on the front of our washer completely shattered. My current theory is that it was a temperature thing. The washer is in our unheated basement, and I wash my clothes on hot (I know, but it helps with my allergies!), so I’m wondering if the repeated heating and cooling stressed the glass over time.

      Anyway, the washer is about 7 years old, and almost certainly in need of replacement (small shards of glass got in the drum and internal mechanisms because it kept turning for a bit before we ran down to our basement and turned it off).

      I have three main questions:

      1. We’re potentially looking at an all-in-one washer + dryer machine, but have read mixed reviews. Anyone have hands on experience with these and can speak to them? We do have a working dryer currently, but it is late in its life.

      2. To avoid the same problem we had with this one, we’re looking at top-loaders instead of front-loaders, but I’ve heard they have balancing issues. Anyone have experience with these?

      3. Regardless of configuration, does anyone have specific model recommendations/avoids?

      22 votes
    16. What long standalone book is worth its page count?

      We just looked at long and short series -- now it's time to do the same for individual books! What's a long book that's worth its long page count? Like before, I'm leaving length entirely open to...

      We just looked at long and short series -- now it's time to do the same for individual books!

      What's a long book that's worth its long page count?

      Like before, I'm leaving length entirely open to interpretation.

      32 votes
    17. What is the best modern-ish OS to install on older computers? (Parameters within)

      By "modern-ish" I mean support for wifi, USB, etc. Maybe modern is the wrong word, but "not prehistoric" fits better? I primarily want to use these machines for some old school mudding. Bonus...

      By "modern-ish" I mean support for wifi, USB, etc. Maybe modern is the wrong word, but "not prehistoric" fits better? I primarily want to use these machines for some old school mudding. Bonus points for a browser that works with encryption to make web browsing somewhat usable.

      Computer #1: "Ole trusty"

      This one came with the OG Windows NT. I've toyed with FreeBSD installs from version 4 to 7 or so. Right now I believe it has Windows 95 or 98.

      • Compaq / Pentium
      • 3.25" disk drive
      • Broken CD-ROM and I haven't found a plug-and-play replacement yet, even though I've tried 3 or 4. I can get it to work by forcing the tray open and closed, but I'm certain the tray is going to snap soon.
      • I've replaced the hard drive with a compact flash
      • Right now it has a PCI LAN adapter, but I have the option to replace this with a wifi adapter (Linksys I believe)

      Computer #2: "MTV was still cool"

      This one's running Windows 3.1 at the moment. It's going to be much tougher to get a network connection going. Is it possible to do some sort of modem-to-wifi bridge?

      • Compaq / 386
      • 5 1/2" and 3.25" disk drives, no CD ROM
      • Compact flash HD
      • It has a modem, I'm not sure how fast. I'm also not sure how many expansion slots are left.
      18 votes
    18. 180bpm+ music recommendations?

      Hey, y’all. I’ve been listening to basically the same song on repeat while I do my emails job, and have found that listening to something with a good tempo of 180bpm or higher really helps keep my...

      Hey, y’all. I’ve been listening to basically the same song on repeat while I do my emails job, and have found that listening to something with a good tempo of 180bpm or higher really helps keep my energy high. Unfortunately finding music solely by bpm isn’t easy.

      Any recommendations? I’m open to pretty much anything (though I’m not really a fan of “screamy” metal). My usual playlist is basically just EDM and remixes. 😅

      14 votes
    19. Great shows with interesting premises?

      I was just thinking how many of the TV shows I've been loving recently have a really cool premise about the world (or, at least, the characters world). From - People that enter this town are...

      I was just thinking how many of the TV shows I've been loving recently have a really cool premise about the world (or, at least, the characters world).

      From - People that enter this town are unable to leave (all roads lead back to town), get hunted by monster-people at night

      Silo - 10,000 people live in a silo. Their history has been erased, they know nothing of the outside world.

      Severance - People can disconnect their 'work-self' from their 'non-work' self via a mysterious company.

      The Leftovers - Two percent of the worlds population vanish instantly.

      The Devils Hour - It's hard to not give anything away in this one but the premise at the very start is a woman wakes up at 3:33AM every single day. Has a timelooping premise later on

      What are some of your favorite shows in the same vein (interesting premise)?

      63 votes
    20. What short book series is worth more than its page count?

      Sibling topic: What long book series is worth its page count? What short series does such a good job that it feels long and substantial? What short series punches above its page count? Just like...

      Sibling topic: What long book series is worth its page count?


      What short series does such a good job that it feels long and substantial? What short series punches above its page count?

      Just like last time, I won’t put a qualifier on “short” and leave that open to interpretation.

      33 votes
    21. Podcast app recs

      Title is pretty straightforward I think. Trying to get my Podcast listening off of Spotify because I just hate their player and UX lately. Also, no ability to add feeds by RSS link. My daily...

      Title is pretty straightforward I think.

      Trying to get my Podcast listening off of Spotify because I just hate their player and UX lately. Also, no ability to add feeds by RSS link.

      My daily drivers I spend most of my time on are my iPhone and Macbook Pro. After that, maybe I would listen on my iPad, or my PC that is running both Linux and Windows.

      6 votes
    22. What do you use for 2fa?

      This Lifehacker article recommending Ente Auth reminded me that I am looking to migrate off Authy to something else. I thought I would see what Tilderinos are using: What do you use, and do you...

      This Lifehacker article recommending Ente Auth reminded me that I am looking to migrate off Authy to something else.

      I thought I would see what Tilderinos are using:

      • What do you use, and do you like it?
      • How do you deal with syncing?
      • Do you only generate codes on your phone, or do you use a desktop app too?
      • What questions should I be asking that I didn't ask?
      18 votes
    23. What long book series is worth its page count?

      I'm interested to know what are some series you think are worth reading all the way through -- especially if someone is less likely to start them because of how long they are in the first place....

      I'm interested to know what are some series you think are worth reading all the way through -- especially if someone is less likely to start them because of how long they are in the first place.

      I'm going to leave series length completely up to interpretation and not set a specific minimum number of books/pages/words. If you think it's long but worth a read all the way through, then it's worth sharing here!

      59 votes
    24. iPhone music players with good CarPlay experience?

      I’m about to take a road trip and I want to be able to easily play my music and it would be a huge pain to do this with iTunes. I’ve got VLC but the UI leaves much to be desired. I can’t even view...

      I’m about to take a road trip and I want to be able to easily play my music and it would be a huge pain to do this with iTunes. I’ve got VLC but the UI leaves much to be desired. I can’t even view my music by album in CarPlay, which is how I’m going to be accessing my music. There are tons of music playing apps out there but they are all varying degrees of sketchy. Does anyone have any recommendations?

      11 votes
    25. Favorite quick play tabletop game recommendations

      With Christmas around the corner I'm wondering if anyone has tabletop/card games they enjoy that are quick to play (in my mind less than 30 minutes). I enjoy longer games like Betrayal at House on...

      With Christmas around the corner I'm wondering if anyone has tabletop/card games they enjoy that are quick to play (in my mind less than 30 minutes). I enjoy longer games like Betrayal at House on the Hill immensely, but I'd like to add some games to my collection that are fun and light hearted, easy to learn, and idealy travel easy. I often play games with family over the holidays and want some that aren't as intimidating for my parents and older relatives to pick up and try. I often played with at least 2 other people, but I've been looking for fun 2 player games as well.

      Can you please share what the gameplay is like and what you enjoy about playing it? Thanks all!

      29 votes
    26. New gaming PCs - price sanity check and recommendations?

      Hey Tildes, I'm super super out of the loop for gaming PCs. If I wanted to play AAA games like Stalker 2 on higher (!) settings, what kind of specs am I looking at, ballpark prices, makes that are...

      Hey Tildes, I'm super super out of the loop for gaming PCs. If I wanted to play AAA games like Stalker 2 on higher (!) settings, what kind of specs am I looking at, ballpark prices, makes that are good vs red flag don't buy? Everything seems way too expensive now I guess due to demands for AI and crypto stuff. Does it maybe make more sense to wait half a year or won't get any better?

      Thoughts on GeForce rtx 4070? Need some kind of solid state hard drive, and it'll be a windows box it looks like for games. Or has Linux OS for gaming a good contender now esp when paired with steam ?

      I should have done my homework well before cybermonday etc, but figure even weeks of work still isn't as good as copying you guy's homework. :) thanks in advance


      Edit: Thank you everyone :D I've been leaning on the community for two big things this week (this, and learning to type software) and you guys really came through like eagles at Mt Doom.

      Person I am asking for read all your comments, checked out a ton of sites you guys suggested, and
      ended up finding a BlackFriday/Cyber Monday deal for a laptop with (reads sheet)

      GeForce RTX 4080 Ryzen 9 7945HX 32GB 1TB SSD 240Hz 16" laptop

      price was $2500 CAD ($ 1785 USD) + taxes. (non affiliated product link here)

      many thanks again~

      36 votes
    27. Recommendations about which Android texting app to use?

      Could someone please recommend a text messaging app for Android that is reasonably secure? Verizon is discontinuing their native texting (SMS) app. They recommend switching to Google Messages, but...

      Could someone please recommend a text messaging app for Android that is reasonably secure?

      Verizon is discontinuing their native texting (SMS) app. They recommend switching to Google Messages, but I would not like Google to have access to my entire text messaging history. I tried Signal, but my old messages don't transfer over (minor problem), and almost none of my family are willing to switch to Signal (big problem). When I search for advice, I get a bunch of AI slop articles and advertisements. So I figured I might have better luck asking here: Is there any text messaging app for Android that works well and isn't going to hoover up all my data?

      16 votes
    28. Elevator pitch your favourite book!

      I'm looking for something new to read, so I'm just selfishly posting this in the hopes that it works. Doesn't have to be your all-time favourite I guess, if you can't decide. Feel free to do...

      I'm looking for something new to read, so I'm just selfishly posting this in the hopes that it works.

      Doesn't have to be your all-time favourite I guess, if you can't decide. Feel free to do multiple books too, or maybe just whichever is on your mind a lot recently.

      42 votes
    29. Great shows with a truly satisfying ending?

      Warning: this post may contain spoilers

      There was a thread about shows with a great beginning and a comment in the thread made me want to ask, what about the opposite? Shows with a really satisfying ending that feels like they wrapping things up in a satisfying way?

      48 votes
    30. Advice for a day in London

      A pretty quick work trip has been planned. I will fly into Heathrow Saturday morning. I'll have until Sunday evening to get to Warwick. I'll be in Warwick for 5 days before flying back out the...

      A pretty quick work trip has been planned. I will fly into Heathrow Saturday morning. I'll have until Sunday evening to get to Warwick. I'll be in Warwick for 5 days before flying back out the next Saturday.

      I'm looking for any general advice but also if there is anything specific to the following:

      • I'm going to book my own hotel in London the Saturday night I fly in. Saturday and Sunday are essentially my "tourist" days. Where is good to stay? Not too concerned with price.
      • I'm taking a train to Warwick and mostly have that figured out but is there an app or pass that I should add to my Apple wallet for transit around London?
      • I like museums of all types. Are there any in particular I should check out?
      • Any classic pubs or restaurants I should try to get to?
      • Once the week starts I don't think I'll have much time to do touristy stuff and I won't have a car. Any recommendations on things around Warwick/Birmingham that I can get to some evenings via train or bus?
      10 votes
    31. I am looking for 100% ad-free apps for older adults with dementia. Things like jigsaw puzzles, coloring and the like. Paid is fine.

      I work in IT, and was the caregiver for both my parents as they aged. You'd think I would be the one that people turn to to ask this question, and yet I have been utterly frustrated by my attempts...

      I work in IT, and was the caregiver for both my parents as they aged. You'd think I would be the one that people turn to to ask this question, and yet I have been utterly frustrated by my attempts to find such.

      I have a few folks who are extended family and friends that are now in the early/mid stages of different forms of dementia, and a real pain point is that they no longer have the capacity to recognize ads, and will unfailingly click and install scam apps via the Apple store. Think things like 'cleaner' apps that have a $50/week subscription fee, and other abusive tactics. The #1 subject I get called about is some ad popping up after they've finished a puzzle, and now they think they're out of space, and in a panic.

      This is not a small problem. The coloring and puzzles they can still do bring them happiness and stability through their day; removal of the ipads entirely causes them a lot of stress. (TV is nothing but ragebait, and a non-starter. They do have books on tape, but get tired of listening rather quickly.)

      I have been completely unable to locate ad-free, paid versions of these types of apps. I'm not looking for free. I don't care about the cost. I just need apps that only do what they say they do, and don't have unexpected pop-ups, ads, or anything else, and I thought perhaps the folks here might know of some.

      Any ideas?

      [edit] Only five hours in, and I've already gotten more insightful, helpful responses than anywhere else I've asked. You all are the best.

      56 votes
    32. Christmas present swap ideas

      In lieu of individual presents this year, my family is doing a present swap/steal. What are things you may want to get in the $50-$75 range? Flying so all my typical ideas would be difficult....

      In lieu of individual presents this year, my family is doing a present swap/steal. What are things you may want to get in the $50-$75 range?

      Flying so all my typical ideas would be difficult. Looking for inspiration. Also a chance that it comes back home with me...

      • Chefs knife
      • Bottle of booze
      • High quality version of something common
        • Flashlight
        • Scissors/kitchen shears
        • Blanket
      • Simple tools
      • Pocket Knife
      19 votes
    33. Touch typing learning software

      Hey Tildes, I learned to touch type with ye olde Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing CD-ROM that came with my first home computer (I'm not quite THAT old -- what was what we could afford). Can you...

      Hey Tildes, I learned to touch type with ye olde Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing CD-ROM that came with my first home computer (I'm not quite THAT old -- what was what we could afford).

      Can you recommend a better / newer / snazzier / rizzier typing program for a teen / child?

      Online or offline are fine, paid is fine. What do you like about it and what didn't you like about it?


      Edit: Side note: how did y'all learn to type? Anyone here doesn't touch type (eg, not using your eyes) and use some other kind of keyboard configure or other tech? For Cantonese Chinese language, more young people are starting to use alternative methods even beyond the numpad Q9 and go straight to "speech to text" using their phone software. Curious about your languages and input.

      32 votes
    34. Had an amazing trip to New Mexico. Has anyone else been? What would you suggest for a return trip?

      We stayed in Albuquerque and Taos. I was surprised and pleased to learn that petroglyphs national monument has free admission. The Pueblo cultural center in Albuquerque is a great resource. If you...

      We stayed in Albuquerque and Taos.

      I was surprised and pleased to learn that petroglyphs national monument has free admission. The Pueblo cultural center in Albuquerque is a great resource. If you plan to visit, definitely check their website to see what is scheduled.

      We visited and toured Taos Pueblo. Each Pueblo has different craft and art traditional styles. The museums and art galleries in Taos were cool.

      New Mexico is beautiful and has a unique cultural identity within the US. It's a poor state but with a high percentage of scientists, artists, old Spanish American families and native Americans.

      I liked it well enough to plan for a return trip.

      15 votes
    35. Requesting recommendations for a smart doorbell

      My mom was interested in a smart doorbell to let her know what’s going on at the house when she’s not there, if a package gets dropped off or if someone tries to in. She does have a number of...

      My mom was interested in a smart doorbell to let her know what’s going on at the house when she’s not there, if a package gets dropped off or if someone tries to in. She does have a number of Google Pucks and an Android phone with some smart plugs set up with Google Home, but also has Roku TVs if that ecosystem is a major value add. I’m not super interested in yet another subscription service, but if it’s a “monthly fee to make the problem go away,” I can be convinced. Are there any must have recommendations or considerations I should keep in mind?

      Edit: As far as I can tell, there’s no wire leads on or around the doorframe. The old setup had a chime wired to the wall of the foyer, but that was uninstalled and the wall was repaired, so I don’t think there’s a lead if that changes recommendations.

      17 votes
    36. Just bought a Sous Vide. Those who own one, what are your favorite things to use it for? Any recommended accessories?

      Have a friend who has raved about using these for cooking meet during the work day and pan searing it for a quick easy and delicious meal. Plan on doing that with steaks/chicken, but wanted to see...

      Have a friend who has raved about using these for cooking meet during the work day and pan searing it for a quick easy and delicious meal. Plan on doing that with steaks/chicken, but wanted to see if anyone else on Tildes owns one and has any tips or favorite use cases to share.

      25 votes
    37. Played Taboo with my friends

      Like the title says, I played Taboo with my friends yesterday. It's decently fun, but every time I play it, the thing that sticks with me is how shocked I am that some players don't know what...

      Like the title says, I played Taboo with my friends yesterday. It's decently fun, but every time I play it, the thing that sticks with me is how shocked I am that some players don't know what certain things are or how bad they are at thinking on their feet. On the plus side, it's also a chance for people who you'd unfairly judged to make a good impression.

      What are some other games that have consequences like these that you haven't heard people discuss before?

      17 votes
    38. Book recommendation request: Fantasy book about university similar to The Name of the Wind?

      I’m looking for a book recommendation. I loved the name of the wind by Patrick Rothfuss, but I have accepted he is unlikely to ever write the third book. My favourite part of the story is the...

      I’m looking for a book recommendation. I loved the name of the wind by Patrick Rothfuss, but I have accepted he is unlikely to ever write the third book. My favourite part of the story is the university bits. I also enjoyed Harry Potter and the Arcane Ascension series for similar reasons.
      Does anyone have any suggestions for something similar? Thanks!

      24 votes
    39. Is there a tool/method to find games you have in common with someone else?

      My nephew and I like to play games together, and we're always looking for games that we can play together. I was manually looking through my Steam library today and wondering how to go about...

      My nephew and I like to play games together, and we're always looking for games that we can play together. I was manually looking through my Steam library today and wondering how to go about finding stuff that we may already own that we could play together. Is there a tool for that? Or maybe something that could suggest a game for purchase that we would both enjoy based on our history?

      Also feel free to drop any general game library organization tips here. I found this tildes thread from a couple of years ago and I've already seen some cool ideas and tools.

      13 votes
    40. Meta Quest 2 - For someone in a wheelchair

      Ok, so my partner has gotten the recommendation from one of his spinal cord injury groups that a Meta Quest 2 would potentially be really good for him as way to feel less "closed in" this winter...

      Ok, so my partner has gotten the recommendation from one of his spinal cord injury groups that a Meta Quest 2 would potentially be really good for him as way to feel less "closed in" this winter and that many of the games can be played stationary (he has essentially no control of his legs and uses a power wheelchair).

      I don't know anything about any VR games, so I'd love thoughts on the system, what to look for if we buy secondhand, if a different system would be better (money is a barrier, so I don't want to spend it all on a new system and not be able to afford games), and what games would meet his needs?

      Thanks y'all

      13 votes
    41. AirPods or not?

      Hi, here is me asking for some advice. I currently have the Sennheiser CX True Wireless but I feel like they are too heavy, big, and uncomfortable for my ears to the point that I feel my earholes...

      Hi, here is me asking for some advice.

      I currently have the Sennheiser CX True Wireless but I feel like they are too heavy, big, and uncomfortable for my ears to the point that I feel my earholes are being stretched.

      I am looking at AirPods right now despite not being committed to the whole Apple eco-system. They seem to be light enough and good quality enough, but I fear getting them is too expensive for what I'm getting given that I would want to use them with my Ubuntu desktop and my Android phone.

      What alternatives could you suggest? Or is AirPods the best bang-for-your-buck even if you are not really into the Apple eco-system?

      25 votes
    42. Looking for DRM-free book recommendations

      I recently switched over my reading platform from Kobo to BookFusion. BookFusion lets you upload your own ebook files and sync them between devices, so I spent a lot of time de-DRMing my Kobo...

      I recently switched over my reading platform from Kobo to BookFusion. BookFusion lets you upload your own ebook files and sync them between devices, so I spent a lot of time de-DRMing my Kobo library and porting it over, as well as adding in some old de-DRMed books from my old Kindle.

      For "traditional" titles I plan on still buying them on Kobo and then just stripping the DRM and transferring them over, but I also know there's an entire internet out there full of non-traditional publishing:

      I'm interested in adding some of these to my library, given that it feels like the "spirit" of BookFusion is to bring your own organic grassfed files, rather than glom them off of a DRMed service like I have been doing.

      The hard part is that discoverability for stuff like this is really tough, since they're sort of just scattered across the internet. Furthermore, when I do tend to find stuff, I tend to find entire catalogs rather than individual titles. It's hard to know what's worth diving into from entire collections. That's why I'm hoping people can help me out by pointing me in the direction of specific stuff that they've loved!

      With regards to recommendations, I want to leave the topic open to anything and everything. I don't want to limit this topic to just my tastes, in case other people find it useful.

      If people do want to tailor some recommendations to me though, I tend to love sci-fi, nonfiction, LGBTQ stuff, videogame-related books, and comics/graphic novels (but only if the series are completed).


      Important note: I am NOT looking for pirated books. I'm happy to pay for books I'm interested in, especially if they're supporting independent authors/publishers or online hobbyists.

      29 votes
    43. Looking for a simple ebook or notetaking app where I can visually organize my bookmarks/tabs. Example attached.

      Very similar to how the recipe book in the game "Potion Craft" is organized. I essentially want to be able to mark pages and assign an icon, letter, symbol, or whatever to the tab. Clicking the...

      Very similar to how the recipe book in the game "Potion Craft" is organized. I essentially want to be able to mark pages and assign an icon, letter, symbol, or whatever to the tab. Clicking the tab brings you to that page. I also want the freedom to arrange these tabs around the perimeter of the book.

      I'm not even sure what search terms to use to find a software like this. I'm not looking for anything robust, just a simple reader app with minimal page marking with intuitive visual organization.

      Does anything like this exist?

      23 votes
    44. What are some good YouTube channels/shows/series related to travel?

      Recently I just came across this channel Ilya Varlamov , great quality video content related to travel. Thought I should share this channel. I also watch Not Just Bikes , it's more related to...

      Recently I just came across this channel Ilya Varlamov , great quality video content related to travel. Thought I should share this channel.
      I also watch Not Just Bikes , it's more related to Urban planning, but you get to explore a lot about the countries.
      Then is series called Scam City , It gives great info about native people trying to scam tourist's.
      Series called Deadliest Roads , Shows the tough life of the native people with bad Road networks.

      What all Youtube channels/Series you watch related to travel?

      12 votes
    45. Looking for eclectic and little-known websites that bring joy

      Given the current state of things, I have been trying to avoid internet sites that could trigger anxiety. This is harder to do that I thought it would be. So I'm reaching out to the fine and...

      Given the current state of things, I have been trying to avoid internet sites that could trigger anxiety. This is harder to do that I thought it would be. So I'm reaching out to the fine and resourceful Tildes collective for links to sites that are less known, and may provide, if not joy, at least interest, uniqueness maybe, fun, or education? Stuff that may be comforting, engrossing, or diverting to give some respite to those of us who are feeling pretty crushed.

      Here are two sites I can offer, but I don't want to limit anyone's idea of what might be a good suggestion.

      Futility Closet "is a collection of entertaining curiosities in history, literature, language, art, philosophy, and mathematics, designed to help you waste time as enjoyably as possible." (description from their about page)

      Strange Company bills itself as "a Walk of the Weird Side of History"

      (edited to add links)

      60 votes
    46. What are your favorite “chore” games?

      A loose definition of a “chore” game would be: A game in which you repeatedly do relatively unexciting tasks to work towards a larger goal. The fun often comes from: A sense of progress/completion...

      A loose definition of a “chore” game would be:

      A game in which you repeatedly do relatively unexciting tasks to work towards a larger goal. The fun often comes from:

      • A sense of progress/completion that builds over time
      • Fighting entropy/restoring order
      • Converting effort into currency
      • Unlocking quality of life features over time that make the tasks easier/more engaging

      A perfect example would be PowerWash Simulator. In fact, these games are often called “simulator” games or have the word in their title (though not always, and not all “simulator” games are specifically “chore” games).

      Which ones are your favorites? What do you enjoy about them?

      28 votes
    47. Suggestions on finding YouTubers who want to collaborate?

      hi tildes, i’m an audio/video editor and want to work with youtubers (for free, probably). does anyone have any suggestions on where i can find people who either already have a channel and need...

      hi tildes,

      i’m an audio/video editor and want to work with youtubers (for free, probably). does anyone have any suggestions on where i can find people who either already have a channel and need help or folks who want to start a channel?

      i found a subreddit for new youtubers (and their discord server) but it seems to be largely populated with folks who just want to do gaming-related things. to be clear, i’m not 100% against that or anything — i’ve watched some fun gaming stuff before — but i’m more interested in long-form content or even experimental/arthouse stuff.

      one suggestion i’ve read was to search youtube itself for this but i struggled finding anything recent and in the realm of things i would be interested in doing.

      has anyone noticed anywhere around the web people asking for editors/collaborators for non-gaming content? or does anyone here want help? i think i recall at least one tildes user posting one of their long-form history-related videos.

      9 votes
    48. What moderate countries are left to emigrate to?

      I think I'm not the only one asking themselves, whether it's time to pack up and leave. But where to? So for the sake of brainstorming I need your help. As for myself I'm willing to go basically...

      I think I'm not the only one asking themselves, whether it's time to pack up and leave. But where to?
      So for the sake of brainstorming I need your help. As for myself I'm willing to go basically anywhere as long as I can imagine a future there.

      Edit: Since you all are getting caught up in telling me how naive/wrong/misguided I am, I'm boiling it down to one question:

      What countries are not on the verge of descending into fascism and are accepting in some form or another of westerners moving there?

      All I want is countries I can look into myself and give people in my spot something to look into, please for the love of all that is holy if you don't have anything positive to say, save it.

      41 votes