ButteredToast's recent activity
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Comment on Youtube channel recommendations 2026 in ~tech
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Comment on NexPhone - Smartphone PC that can boot into Windows, Android or Debian in ~tech
ButteredToast Link ParentPerhaps rather than Windows, a better candidate for the third OS slot would've been a "lofi" calls-and-texting only OS akin to mid-00s Symbian that could run with the phone's hardware clocked down...Perhaps rather than Windows, a better candidate for the third OS slot would've been a "lofi" calls-and-texting only OS akin to mid-00s Symbian that could run with the phone's hardware clocked down to minimums (and even turned off in some cases, like 5G connectivity), both putting a massive multiplier on battery life and filling the growing "modern dumb phone" niche in one shot.
This would give you a nice spread of options. Symbian-like for basic communication, Android for "smart" usage (maps, bank apps, etc), and Linux for pocket desktop usage.
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Comment on GameSir Pocket Taco Kickstarter has been launched in ~games
ButteredToast Link ParentFair point, I've been going caseless for so long that the thought didn't occur to me. Cases could still if they had passthrough contacts though, perhaps themselves magnetic to ensure a secure...Fair point, I've been going caseless for so long that the thought didn't occur to me. Cases could still if they had passthrough contacts though, perhaps themselves magnetic to ensure a secure connection.
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Comment on Sony’s TV business is being taken over by TCL in ~tech
ButteredToast Link ParentHave you tried factory resetting the TVs? I’m using an upper-midrange Bravia from 2018 and it performs better now than it did brand new thanks to a firmware update. I’ve kept it offline the whole...Have you tried factory resetting the TVs?
I’m using an upper-midrange Bravia from 2018 and it performs better now than it did brand new thanks to a firmware update. I’ve kept it offline the whole time and outsourced “smarts” to an Apple TV 4K, though (firmware updated with a USB thumb drive).
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Comment on GameSir Pocket Taco Kickstarter has been launched in ~games
ButteredToast Link ParentWhat we really need is standardized pogo pin pads somewhere on the back of the phone, ala the Smart Connector found on iPads. In addition to offering magnetic data connectivity, this could also...What we really need is standardized pogo pin pads somewhere on the back of the phone, ala the Smart Connector found on iPads.
In addition to offering magnetic data connectivity, this could also allow an enhanced version of MagSafe/Qi 2 that is more efficient since it doesn’t rely on magnetic fields. Then, things like snap on controllers and keyboards can also double as power banks.
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Comment on Sony’s TV business is being taken over by TCL in ~tech
ButteredToast Link ParentI believe the top end Bravia's currently use QD-OLED panels, which are manufactured by Samsung. So like most companies manufacturing displays, they use both Samsung and LG panels. Not sure if they...I believe the top end Bravia's currently use QD-OLED panels, which are manufactured by Samsung. So like most companies manufacturing displays, they use both Samsung and LG panels. Not sure if they use panels from BOE (Chinese company), which is the other big display panel player (which the two big Korean companies have been wrestling with, including IP lawsuits).
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Comment on Sony’s TV business is being taken over by TCL in ~tech
ButteredToast Link ParentIt’s really too bad that the minidisc format didn’t continue to evolve or at least get a spiritual successor. They fill a niche that nothing based on flash memory can as a result of being more...It’s really too bad that the minidisc format didn’t continue to evolve or at least get a spiritual successor. They fill a niche that nothing based on flash memory can as a result of being more tolerant of abuse and long-lasting — I can buy MDs recorded 20 years ago that have been floating around without a case the whole time that still sound perfect where an SD or CF card would’ve bitrot and a CD/DVD-R would’ve physically degraded and/or gotten all scratched up.
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Comment on Sony’s TV business is being taken over by TCL in ~tech
ButteredToast (edited )Link ParentWe’ll see. If Sony is willing to keep paying their TV software team, it’s possible that TCL will continue to use the Sony software, but otherwise it’s simpler from a supply chain, operational, and...We’ll see. If Sony is willing to keep paying their TV software team, it’s possible that TCL will continue to use the Sony software, but otherwise it’s simpler from a supply chain, operational, and support standpoint to shift “Sony” TVs to the standard TCL stack except for Sony’s special sauce image processing chip.
TCL also likely gets a kickback from Roku on spyware/analytics revenue which could shift the balance in that direction too.
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Comment on Sony’s TV business is being taken over by TCL in ~tech
ButteredToast LinkTerrible news. Sony TVs are for now some of the lowest-BS options on the market and come with a minimally modified build of Android TV that can easily have the creepy content matching stuff...Terrible news. Sony TVs are for now some of the lowest-BS options on the market and come with a minimally modified build of Android TV that can easily have the creepy content matching stuff removed and are generally amicable to entirely offline use. I would expect rebadged-TCL-Sony models to be significantly more junked up and to use less capable compute.
Will have to see how finances work out but it might be time to move up the TV upgrade schedule.
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Comment on Why should anyone care about low-level programming? in ~comp
ButteredToast Link ParentYep, but if you look at where Apple has been focusing their energy in WebKit (Safari engine), it’s been more aligned with the “make web fundamentals more capable” angle. They’ve been doing a lot...Yep, but if you look at where Apple has been focusing their energy in WebKit (Safari engine), it’s been more aligned with the “make web fundamentals more capable” angle. They’ve been doing a lot of CSS work in recent years for example.
So despite the engine restriction on iOS, if Google and/Mozilla were to make a push to build a more complete set of standard UI widgets for the web, Apple would probably follow. This has yet to happen however as Google continues to chase features that are somewhat esoteric in comparison.
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Comment on Why should anyone care about low-level programming? in ~comp
ButteredToast Link ParentThere’s a few native APIs like that, but continuing with the virtualized list widget example, there aren’t actually blockers. It comes down to browser vendors electing to not add such a thing for...There’s a few native APIs like that, but continuing with the virtualized list widget example, there aren’t actually blockers. It comes down to browser vendors electing to not add such a thing for web devs to use.
Nearly all of the most valuable bits of native UI frameworks could made a stock part of the browser environment, but Google etc have decided that frills like GPU and USB access are what should be prioritized, despite only being used for a tiny fraction of web apps.
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Comment on Why should anyone care about low-level programming? in ~comp
ButteredToast Link ParentThe big thing that mobile platforms offer over the web, both back then and today, is a vastly more deep and complete toolchest to work with. Point in case, it's a considerable effort to set up a...The big thing that mobile platforms offer over the web, both back then and today, is a vastly more deep and complete toolchest to work with. Point in case, it's a considerable effort to set up a virtualized list view (where the only rows allocated to memory are those which are visible and get recycled as the user scrolls) on the web, but that's a been one of the baseline widgets in UIKit since 2007 (and existed in a different shape in its desktop ancestor AppKit since the 1980s) — no third party libraries or bespoke code required. That alone can make the difference between an app feeling smooth and buttery or being a laggy mess when displaying a substantial amount of data (especially on lower power devices, like low end Android phones).
I don't see web overtaking native entirely until that's changed and "bring your own everything" is no longer the dominating web development mindset.
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Comment on Canada agrees to cut tariff on Chinese electric vehicles in return for lower tariffs on Canadian farm products in ~transport
ButteredToast Link ParentIn my part of the PNW, power is considerably cheaper than gas. Registration fees for EVs are higher which somewhat offsets that, but with an EV ongoing costs are almost nothing (basically just...In my part of the PNW, power is considerably cheaper than gas. Registration fees for EVs are higher which somewhat offsets that, but with an EV ongoing costs are almost nothing (basically just wiper fluid and tires, maybe a new cabin air filter and brakes after a very long time) so it’s not too difficult to come out ahead.
There’s also the convenience factor. It’s nice to not ever have to think about oil and transmission fluid changes and to always leave the house with a full tank, which probably has some monetary value.
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Comment on Canada agrees to cut tariff on Chinese electric vehicles in return for lower tariffs on Canadian farm products in ~transport
ButteredToast Link ParentThe Ariya was not discontinued, just put on pause in the US for the 2026 model year due to tariff issues. In other markets (including Canada) the freshly facelifted 2026 model is still being sold....The Ariya was not discontinued, just put on pause in the US for the 2026 model year due to tariff issues. In other markets (including Canada) the freshly facelifted 2026 model is still being sold. The 2026 Leaf (which is sold in the US) is also built on the Ariya’s platform. Part availability isn’t likely to be an issue.
It’s a good car. I drive one and it’s had no problems, and as far as I can tell nearly all major issues the model has had were software bugs that have been patched or are related to faulty OEM 12v lead acid batteries (which is common to many hybrids/EVs and is easy to fix). A lot of reviewers panned it for its laid back, more ICE like acceleration curve (no Tesla style “launches”) but it still does 0-60 in 6 or 7 seconds (depending on powertrain) which is plenty. I like that it tends more towards “just a car, but electric” than many other EVs which try to the iPad on wheels thing. It’s true that its price tag new was too high, though.
The pricing on the RAV4 is also kind of crazy though, even if its starting price is lower. With its starting price you should at least get a hybrid powertrain (instead of costing $4k+ extra), and 2015 models still go for $15k+, which is way too much for any decade old vehicle. It’s a great car but I can’t square its price premium no matter how good it may be. I’d rather figure out ways to make less popular and more reasonably priced (but not necessarily a lot less reliable) models work instead.
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Comment on Canada agrees to cut tariff on Chinese electric vehicles in return for lower tariffs on Canadian farm products in ~transport
ButteredToast Link ParentYeah, unless one's needs explicitly call for an ICE vehicle, I don't think there's anything remotely close in terms of sheer value stateside right now. For something directly comparable to the...Yeah, unless one's needs explicitly call for an ICE vehicle, I don't think there's anything remotely close in terms of sheer value stateside right now. For something directly comparable to the Ariya and Mach-E, brand new baseline FWD RAV4s (which are quite stripped down) start where top trim AWD Ariyas top out and 5 year old RAV4s with ~80k miles on them are priced comparably to a baseline 1-3 year old FWD Ariya with a fourth as many miles on it.
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Comment on Canada agrees to cut tariff on Chinese electric vehicles in return for lower tariffs on Canadian farm products in ~transport
ButteredToast Link ParentIf in the US, the used market may be worth looking at. Prices are low across the board and there are a few that are pretty nice, like Ford's Mach-E and Nissan's Ariya which can both be found...If in the US, the used market may be worth looking at. Prices are low across the board and there are a few that are pretty nice, like Ford's Mach-E and Nissan's Ariya which can both be found lightly used in the $18-30k range depending on trim. For the Ariya in particular I've seen loaded, top of the line dual motor 380 HP AWD models still under factory warranty for $25-28k.
From what I've gathered Canada's used market isn't as great.
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Comment on Is it possible to live without WhatsApp? in ~tech
ButteredToast Link ParentIn the US here and group chat use has been quite rare, and when it does happen tends to be short lived and centered around an event or something. Nearly all messaging is 1-to-1.In the US here and group chat use has been quite rare, and when it does happen tends to be short lived and centered around an event or something. Nearly all messaging is 1-to-1.
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Comment on Is it possible to live without WhatsApp? in ~tech
ButteredToast Link ParentIn the US (and maybe Canada, not sure) WhatsApp has a relatively weak presence. People are split up between iMessage, FB Messenger, Instagram, Telegram, WhatsApp, plain RCS/SMS, and Signal. Which...In the US (and maybe Canada, not sure) WhatsApp has a relatively weak presence. People are split up between iMessage, FB Messenger, Instagram, Telegram, WhatsApp, plain RCS/SMS, and Signal. Which of those one uses largely depends on their social circles.
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Comment on Apple to partner with Google for Gemini access on iPhones, Apple Intelligence to power on device assistant in ~tech
ButteredToast Link ParentEven if all they did was make Siri capable of asking clarifying questions when there's ambiguity (instead of hard failing) that would improve its usability dramatically.Even if all they did was make Siri capable of asking clarifying questions when there's ambiguity (instead of hard failing) that would improve its usability dramatically.
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Comment on AI friends too cheap to meter in ~tech
ButteredToast Link ParentIf they had the skills in the first place. At least in the US parents generally have done little to foster that sort of development, so learning how to navigate that world came down to the teen or...The use of a piece of software to replace a romantic partner feels like masturbating to your own erotic fiction and calling it a sex life.
People are bypassing parts/functions of their brains and letting those natural skills atrophy.
If they had the skills in the first place. At least in the US parents generally have done little to foster that sort of development, so learning how to navigate that world came down to the teen or young adult fumbling around and bumping into things through the required interactions of daily life until they figured it out. Today, much of that interaction is no longer required (or even actively avoided) and the chances of people making it well into adulthood not having a clue about romance, initiating, etc is much greater, and at that age, societal forgiveness for the awkwardness of learning is greatly reduced. For somebody in that situation, a chatbot might feel like the only realistic outlet.
This Does Not Compute restores and talks about old tech and the history behind them with chill vibes and great production values. His mini-doc on the MiniDisc format is a great point of entry.