ButteredToast's recent activity
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Comment on EU drops 2035 combustion engine ban as global electric vehicle shift faces reset in ~transport
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Comment on Leave the phone, take a camera in ~tech
ButteredToast LinkI've had a bit of an itch to grab a nice dedicated camera for a while. There's a DSLR in the closet I used back in college, but it's not a particularly good model (to the point that it's...I've had a bit of an itch to grab a nice dedicated camera for a while. There's a DSLR in the closet I used back in college, but it's not a particularly good model (to the point that it's practically given away in the used market), only has the stock kit lens, and isn't worth investing in with how much nicer even compact options are these days.
I'm more inclined towards a nicer model, though. The point in the blog post about photos not being made into posters is salient, but I really just love the look and feel and moods that can be struck with a midrange-to-high-end DSLR body or mirrorless body, which are difficult to replicate with point and shoots (though point and shoots are often better than smartphone cameras in this due to not being nearly as physically restricted). This isn't very wallet friendly though which is why I've held back so far, lol.
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Comment on Proposed amendments to Denmark's laws on copyright and broadcasting would see VPNs limited for common uses under changes to combat access to illegal streaming services in ~tech
ButteredToast Link ParentTo keep it short, some form of totalitarian control will inevitably develop in any place where the infrastructure to allow it has been put in place. It won't look the same on the surface, but the...Where have I stated that I'm for totalitarian states and dictatorships having free reign to manipulate and suppress their populations?
To keep it short, some form of totalitarian control will inevitably develop in any place where the infrastructure to allow it has been put in place. It won't look the same on the surface, but the practical difference is negligible.
All the safeguards in the world won't make a difference, because there's always a way through or around them, always a justification. All it takes is for those with abusive intentions to come into power.
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Comment on Proposed amendments to Denmark's laws on copyright and broadcasting would see VPNs limited for common uses under changes to combat access to illegal streaming services in ~tech
ButteredToast Link ParentI think there’s valid grounds for some level of copyright protection, because it truly is a boon to smaller creators when used correctly. It’s clearly gone overboard, though. And yes, that’s the...I think there’s valid grounds for some level of copyright protection, because it truly is a boon to smaller creators when used correctly. It’s clearly gone overboard, though.
And yes, that’s the funny thing about using VPNs to access foreign streaming services: it’s not piracy in the classical sense, because the viewer is going out of their way to pay to view the media because no licensor in their region has seen it fit to make that media available. They’re trying to do the right thing! Really, it’s in a completely different category from actual piracy like sketchy streaming sites and torrents.
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Comment on The Windows 11 crisis in ~tech
ButteredToast Link ParentThe Steam overlay with TDP limits and all that is extremely cool and would be incredibly useful on gaming laptops and even sometimes on desktops when you e.g. want to run a game without spinning...The Steam overlay with TDP limits and all that is extremely cool and would be incredibly useful on gaming laptops and even sometimes on desktops when you e.g. want to run a game without spinning up your fans. It's kind of crazy that it hasn't been built into Windows for years already with how popular gaming laptops have become.
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Comment on Proposed amendments to Denmark's laws on copyright and broadcasting would see VPNs limited for common uses under changes to combat access to illegal streaming services in ~tech
ButteredToast Link ParentWe'll just have to agree to disagree, then. I see this all as an indictment of how severely our systems are broken and a call to arms to fix those systems. I also just generally find it...We'll just have to agree to disagree, then. I see this all as an indictment of how severely our systems are broken and a call to arms to fix those systems.
I also just generally find it unconscionable that not the government (which would be bad enough) but random private entities can decide what I can and cannot consume and that I'm just supposed to pretend that these shows, movies, music, etc I see people online talking about but aren't licensed locally don't exist. The idea is more absurd than I can properly express.
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Comment on Proposed amendments to Denmark's laws on copyright and broadcasting would see VPNs limited for common uses under changes to combat access to illegal streaming services in ~tech
ButteredToast Link ParentI don't agree with this at all. There's more examples than can be counted, many famous in popular culture, of media companies worldwide leveraging the labyrinthine systems (which they themselves...For these groups of creators behind individual works, IP rights systems are designed not to extract value, but to enable mass groups to create together.
I don't agree with this at all. There's more examples than can be counted, many famous in popular culture, of media companies worldwide leveraging the labyrinthine systems (which they themselves are largely responsible for building) to enable extraction to such extreme degrees that the industry as a whole is frequently seen as predatory.
There is value in companies like studios and publishers organizing massive productions, but licensing is complicated precisely because they made it complicated. It could be much more simple, but they'll never streamline if left to their own devices because a simpler licensing landscape would obviate them in many cases.
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Comment on Proposed amendments to Denmark's laws on copyright and broadcasting would see VPNs limited for common uses under changes to combat access to illegal streaming services in ~tech
ButteredToast Link ParentThe thing is, local licensors have absolutely nothing to do with creators. They're just distributors, and in today's connected world, increasingly legally mandated middlemen. If you ask creators...The thing is, local licensors have absolutely nothing to do with creators. They're just distributors, and in today's connected world, increasingly legally mandated middlemen. If you ask creators what they'd prefer, they'll almost always say they'd like to see their works distributed globally, but that often doesn't happen because the entities in charge are publishers from the creator's home country and local licensors, both of which are corporate and interested solely in what will generate maximum revenue… the creator's wishes are barely a footnote in most cases.
We see this repeatedly when creators use the power of the internet to cut out the middlemen and take distribution into their own hands. There are rarely if ever geographical restrictions on who can buy their music or comics or whatever. Nearly always, barring countries with draconian culture control, media not being available in particular regions boils down to needlessly convoluted distribution systems that are designed first and foremost for extracting value from the work of others failing creators and consumers alike.
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Comment on Your grocery store is a bewildering sea of overly processed food. Here’s why and what to do. in ~health
ButteredToast Link ParentI kind of get it. In my house we try to eat healthy, but man it's so much time and energy, at least if you want a decent variety of flavorful foods and to not get stuck with endless remixes of the...I kind of get it. In my house we try to eat healthy, but man it's so much time and energy, at least if you want a decent variety of flavorful foods and to not get stuck with endless remixes of the same raw ingredients (which gets old fast). Meal prep + freezing helps, but you're still stuck in the kitchen for hours and are left with a pile of dishes (which a dishwasher helps tremendously with, but still).
If I suddenly had a big pile of cash fall in my lap, one of the first things it'd get spent on is a personal chef. I don't dislike cooking but when it's something you're always needing to think about it gets to be a drag.
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Comment on Proposed amendments to Denmark's laws on copyright and broadcasting would see VPNs limited for common uses under changes to combat access to illegal streaming services in ~tech
ButteredToast Link ParentAs someone who frequently consumes foreign media and has many times had to grapple with licensing issues, it's difficult to see this as anything but far too heavy-handed. With such draconion...As someone who frequently consumes foreign media and has many times had to grapple with licensing issues, it's difficult to see this as anything but far too heavy-handed. With such draconion regulation, there's so much media that will simply forever be inaccessible because it'll never get licensed because the powers that be have decided that it's too niche or won't be profitable or sometimes even something as stupid and trivial as the licensor having an axe to grind with a particular genre or studio.
And that doesn't even get into things like overbearing localizers eliminating the choice to watch the original audio with subtitles, giving no option except the localized dubbed version.
There needs to be serious reform around all of this before banning VPNs for streaming access can become even a shadow of a consideration.
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Comment on The Windows 11 crisis in ~tech
ButteredToast Link ParentI think Chromebooks are kind of their own worst enemy due to the majority being the same sort of painfully cheap $350 laptops you'd see lined up at Best Buy (barely) running Windows, but are...I think Chromebooks are kind of their own worst enemy due to the majority being the same sort of painfully cheap $350 laptops you'd see lined up at Best Buy (barely) running Windows, but are sometimes even worse with storage being dog slow eMMC instead of a proper SSD or even an spinning HDD.
You have to go up the price bracket a few hundred bucks to find something that's not miserable to use, but at that point you're competing with fare like the $500 Walmart M1 MacBook Airs and old used business laptops, both of which are dramatically better hardware for the money and fully capable "proper" computers.
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Comment on The Windows 11 crisis in ~tech
ButteredToast Link ParentI wonder where that lands Windows 10 installs that have a valid license key, but cracked updates (because having to pay $30 for updates is ridiculous). Not too long ago I replaced the TV gaming...I wonder where that lands Windows 10 installs that have a valid license key, but cracked updates (because having to pay $30 for updates is ridiculous).
Not too long ago I replaced the TV gaming box's Windows 11 install, which had become subject to the "Windows creep" that requires a periodic reinstall to keep it running smoothly (which has become much less severe than it was back in the XP days, but still exists). Instead of reinstalling 11, I put on 10 out of frustration with the constant nagging that 11 is infamous for and its general trend of it getting bogged down as slower and each component receives a "modernization" pass.
To my surprise 10 activated itself perfectly, because apparently I'd bought a license for it or the 11 key also works for 10 or something, I can't remember. Whatever the case, I didn't need to feign activation like I was expecting, but extended updates still needed activation of course so that's what I did.
The difference in overall… "crispness" is incredible. That machine is now much much more responsive than it was under 11. Some of that is just the typical speedup that comes with a clean install but a lot of it was 11's fault too, I'm sure.
Can't move it to Linux unfortunately due to a couple games that technically run under Proton/WINE/etc but are not officially supported and come with a slim chance of a ban. If push comes to shove I guess I'll just have to pay for updates.
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Comment on Sick of smart TVs? Here are your best options. in ~tech
ButteredToast Link ParentIt may not be a perfect rule, but generally the midrange to higher end Android based TVs don’t have offline ads and often even include a “basic TV” mode that disables a lot of the “smart”...It may not be a perfect rule, but generally the midrange to higher end Android based TVs don’t have offline ads and often even include a “basic TV” mode that disables a lot of the “smart” functions. You can also plug them into a computer and treat them like gigantic Android phones/tablets, including using the same utilities (adb) to remove any unwanted preinstalled packages.
Sony TVs fall into this category and are my personal preference but there are others too.
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Comment on What's your favorite RSS reader? in ~comp
ButteredToast Link ParentSeconding NetNewsWire. Probably the best available for Apple platforms in terms of overall quality and efficiency, and it's free and open source to boot. Really just excellent.Seconding NetNewsWire. Probably the best available for Apple platforms in terms of overall quality and efficiency, and it's free and open source to boot. Really just excellent.
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Comment on Sick of smart TVs? Here are your best options. in ~tech
ButteredToast Link ParentThere's Linux distros that boot straight into Kodi like LibreELEC, but that's not quite what you're asking for. The closest might actually be something like Bazzite, which is kind of like a...There's Linux distros that boot straight into Kodi like LibreELEC, but that's not quite what you're asking for. The closest might actually be something like Bazzite, which is kind of like a general-PC community maintained version of SteamOS, which boots into Steam Big Picture by default just like a Steam Deck. That could act as a controller/remote friendly launcher since you can add non-Steam apps to it.
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Comment on Sick of smart TVs? Here are your best options. in ~tech
ButteredToast Link ParentSamsung seems by far the worst/most aggressive about this kind of thing. They make great OLED panels but I'd rather buy those panels housed in a device made by a company with a better reputation...Samsung seems by far the worst/most aggressive about this kind of thing. They make great OLED panels but I'd rather buy those panels housed in a device made by a company with a better reputation (like Sony), even if that ends up costing more… It's not as if I'm buying TVs constantly (my current TV was purchased coming up on a decade ago) so it doesn't make a lot of sense to be pinching pennies on.
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Comment on After 42 years, Gainax officially closes in ~anime
ButteredToast (edited )Link ParentKhara has partnered with other studios for things outside of Eva, most recently with Production I.G. for Kaiju #8 (which funnily enough, many find draws strong parallels to Eva) and with Sunrise...Khara has partnered with other studios for things outside of Eva, most recently with Production I.G. for Kaiju #8 (which funnily enough, many find draws strong parallels to Eva) and with Sunrise for Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX. There's also apparently an upcoming Space Battleship Yamato movie they're working on, as per their Wikipedia page. So it seems like they're starting to expand, albeit somewhat conservatively.
I think I'm more of a Trigger/Imaishi person, but it's difficult to confidently say that given the difference in the number of productions the two studios have worked on.
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Comment on After 42 years, Gainax officially closes in ~anime
ButteredToast (edited )LinkI know that the rights for GAINAX works went to the original creators, but I wonder where the DAICON IV short ended up landing. The chances are low given its age and copyright-nightmare nature,...I know that the rights for GAINAX works went to the original creators, but I wonder where the DAICON IV short ended up landing. The chances are low given its age and copyright-nightmare nature, but I hope that the original cels and/or film are still safely tucked away in a warehouse somewhere and eventually find their way into a modern remaster and properly archived, as is deserving of a piece that kicked off a legendary studio.
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Comment on Does anyone use Ground News? in ~talk
ButteredToast LinkIt's interesting to me primarily as a way to make headlines less clickbaity and hyperbolized, which I'm finding unfortunately necessary with almost no regard to sources in the modern...It's interesting to me primarily as a way to make headlines less clickbaity and hyperbolized, which I'm finding unfortunately necessary with almost no regard to sources in the modern engagement-driven media landscape. While I appreciate it when news articles provide potential implications and long-tail effects of an event, that needs to follow a brief, non-editorialized opening about what happened and have minimal impact on the headline.
It sometimes does a poor job of summarizing, however, and I find the quality of the app lackluster. I'll be evaluating News Minimalist and Kagi News as alternatives.
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Comment on A new Jolla phone has reached the required pre-order crowd-funding amount in ~tech
ButteredToast Link ParentNever had a Lumia though I do see the resemblance. I use my phone without a case most of the time (only exception is during travel) so I see the color/design of the phone pretty often. Agreed on...Never had a Lumia though I do see the resemblance.
I use my phone without a case most of the time (only exception is during travel) so I see the color/design of the phone pretty often.
Agreed on color. Similarly I really like the recently released bright orange iPhones Pro. If I hadn’t already upgraded last gen I would’ve ordered one immediately.
All the legacy automakers (save for maybe Nissan) have been patterning themselves after Tesla with their full EV models, which is why they’re all doing the “luxury” iPad-on-wheels thing.
The problem is that they’ve been doing it rather poorly. Instead of realizing that the software is just as much of a core component of this kind of EV as the powertrain is and adjusting their processes accordingly (keeping a robust in-house team full of skilled seniors to develop this software), they’ve been trying their damnedest to make it business as usual and continue to contract those bits out to the lowest bidder.
This gets you a results like VW/Audi infotainment which is an awful, buggy mess and not luxury at all.
They’d be better off building solid low-tech EVs since they refuse to get good at the “tech” part, but you can’t reasonably mark up such a vehicle so they don’t do that.