IsildursBane's recent activity
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Comment on Core Devices keeps stealing our (Rebble) work in ~tech
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Comment on Pennies are being canceled and the US Mint won't make any more. What does that mean? in ~finance
IsildursBane Link ParentYeah, as a Canadian I was shocked to hear that in 2025 the US is still minting pennies. Up here we got rid of them more than 10 years ago and it was a smooth process. However, the article does...Yeah, as a Canadian I was shocked to hear that in 2025 the US is still minting pennies. Up here we got rid of them more than 10 years ago and it was a smooth process. However, the article does mention some barriers for the US, like some states currently banning rounding to the nearest nickel, which then requires federal legislation needed to make it work.
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Comment on Timasomo 2025: The Showcase in ~creative.timasomo
IsildursBane Link ParentI did have an iPod, so this has been nostalgic for me. I am also realizing for some things, the simplicity of the UI and clicwheel navigation is such a satisfying experience. This has been one of...I did have an iPod, so this has been nostalgic for me. I am also realizing for some things, the simplicity of the UI and clicwheel navigation is such a satisfying experience.
Also, I feel like having a device that only plays music is a good thing in our current “screens are bad for your mental health” reckoning.
This has been one of my favourite features. I do plan at some point to do a longer post on my experience of dedicated devices. For audio, it has been really nice, since with music streaming, I feel like there is a lack of doing dedicated listens to music. Before having this device, I found myself starting to listen to an album on my phone or computer, not having enough stimulation so I browse the internet as well, then I realize I have not paid attention to the last couple of songs. Having such a striped down music player means I just slow down and listen to music, and it has been so nice.
Honestly, if the build is easy and replicable enough, I could see you setting up a shop and selling those
A few flaws with that approach. 1. Loading the software is a very manual and involved process by the end user (requires Spotify login done ahead of time), so it would not be able to be configured by a non-techie end user. 2. There are various bugs still in the code, which makes it harder to ethically sell. 3. The DAC that I use is no longer in production. With those caveats listed out, it would be easy for someone to replicate it themselves, and I do plan on getting my Github repo cleaned up more so that it better lists my hardware I am using, and provide the STL files for the case.
Oh, and I love the color by the way! The green looks so good.
So the green was kind of chosen by happenstance. The UI of the original code I was using used green (to match Spotify's branding) and so I just picked the only green filament my friend had. I would love to redesign the case so that the bottom black portion is walnut, and the top green part is brass, but I do not have the resources to execute that, so that will probably stay as a pipe dream
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Comment on CGA-2025-11 🔴🟡🔵🟢 INSERT CARTRIDGE 🟢 PlayStation WHAT? in ~games
IsildursBane LinkI am hoping to set up an emulator on my computer to play some of these games, but also looks like this month is starting to get busy for me, so unsure if I will get around to it. Probably not the...I am hoping to set up an emulator on my computer to play some of these games, but also looks like this month is starting to get busy for me, so unsure if I will get around to it. Probably not the ideal games to play via keyboard/mouse, but that is what I got
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Comment on Timasomo 2025: The Showcase in ~creative.timasomo
IsildursBane Link ParentThank you. I have been wanting to do more electronics work (did a cable tester a year or so ago which was fun), so this project scratched that itch for me. Most of the electronics was relatively...Thank you. I have been wanting to do more electronics work (did a cable tester a year or so ago which was fun), so this project scratched that itch for me. Most of the electronics was relatively straightforward, as it was just soldering cables between various components. I had to make cables like micro USB on both ends, but otherwise it was relatively straightforward.
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Comment on Timasomo 2025: The Showcase in ~creative.timasomo
IsildursBane Link ParentWhile anyone could easily hypothetically do it, you actually did it!Realistically, most people could do this kind of work with four things: a hot enough fire, something hard to place the metal on, something to hit the metal with, and a bucket of water
While anyone could easily hypothetically do it, you actually did it!
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Comment on Tildes Minecraft: What do you want to see in the next season? in ~games
IsildursBane Link ParentI think that would be a fun implementation. Also, later on it would not provide much of a barrier, since we can just put a portal at spawn, so it adds maybe 1min for new players who do not want to...I think that would be a fun implementation. Also, later on it would not provide much of a barrier, since we can just put a portal at spawn, so it adds maybe 1min for new players who do not want to escape the nether as a challenge
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Comment on Cell phone advice in ~tech
IsildursBane Link ParentI feel like Sony in general is pretty bad with naming schemes(truly horrible naming scheme there Sony great job)
I feel like Sony in general is pretty bad with naming schemes
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Comment on Timasomo 2025: The Showcase in ~creative.timasomo
IsildursBane Link ParentSeems like a really nice configuration for the space. Is there any concerns with dust coming from the woodshop into the other area or does the curtain prevent most of the dust?Seems like a really nice configuration for the space. Is there any concerns with dust coming from the woodshop into the other area or does the curtain prevent most of the dust?
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Comment on Timasomo 2025: The Showcase in ~creative.timasomo
IsildursBane Link ParentThe colouration of the poker turned out really well. The mix of the orange with that very dark blue is a great combination. Overall, really nice fireplace set and I am impressed with your forging...The colouration of the poker turned out really well. The mix of the orange with that very dark blue is a great combination. Overall, really nice fireplace set and I am impressed with your forging skills
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Comment on Timasomo 2025: The Showcase in ~creative.timasomo
IsildursBane Link ParentAs others have already mentioned, your art style is really nice. It has a fun laid back cozy vibe, which matches your game wellAs others have already mentioned, your art style is really nice. It has a fun laid back cozy vibe, which matches your game well
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Comment on Timasomo 2025: The Showcase in ~creative.timasomo
IsildursBane Link ParentExcited for seeing the separate post later on. I quite liked the style that the earlier mockups you shared had, so looking forward to seeing the final projectExcited for seeing the separate post later on. I quite liked the style that the earlier mockups you shared had, so looking forward to seeing the final project
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Comment on Timasomo 2025: The Showcase in ~creative.timasomo
IsildursBane Link ParentReally nice patches. I am impressed that in your first attempt you went with heavier fabrics, and they still turned out well. Good work. The partial sharks are quite nice, and the eye on the one...Really nice patches. I am impressed that in your first attempt you went with heavier fabrics, and they still turned out well. Good work. The partial sharks are quite nice, and the eye on the one with the Bayeux stitch is really clean.
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Comment on Timasomo 2025: The Showcase in ~creative.timasomo
IsildursBane Link ParentReally well done. I was expecting the production quality to be lower after hearing you talk about it, but honestly it is pretty solid. I would be interested in hearing a piano version if you get...Really well done. I was expecting the production quality to be lower after hearing you talk about it, but honestly it is pretty solid. I would be interested in hearing a piano version if you get around to recording that.
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Comment on Timasomo 2025: The Showcase in ~creative.timasomo
IsildursBane Link ParentThose recessed shelf supports do truly vanish. It seems like such a small subtle feature when building, but has created such a big impact on the final project. Great jobThose recessed shelf supports do truly vanish. It seems like such a small subtle feature when building, but has created such a big impact on the final project. Great job
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Comment on Timasomo 2025: The Showcase in ~creative.timasomo
IsildursBane Link ParentI remember reading in an update post that you had issues with the surf board cracking. Have you figured out a solution for that yet? Overall, the main sculpture is looking really nice. The...I remember reading in an update post that you had issues with the surf board cracking. Have you figured out a solution for that yet? Overall, the main sculpture is looking really nice. The patchiness of the glaze might be able to just become a stylistic decision if you hand paint the leg, so that the patchiness is uniform.
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Comment on Timasomo 2025: The Showcase in ~creative.timasomo
IsildursBane Link ParentI have no intention of ever gluing a puzzle, but was really interested in your writeup. Really well writtenI have no intention of ever gluing a puzzle, but was really interested in your writeup. Really well written
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Comment on Timasomo 2025: The Showcase in ~creative.timasomo
IsildursBane (edited )LinkSo I have finally finished the finishing touches, so can finally share my project (I had my SD card for my raspberry pi break, which delayed my writeup). Making my Audio Player portable It is...- Exemplary
So I have finally finished the finishing touches, so can finally share my project (I had my SD card for my raspberry pi break, which delayed my writeup).
Making my Audio Player portable
It is worth noting that my project is a continuation of a project I have been working on all year, but during Timasomo I did a push to get all the necessary things done to make it portable, and be able to take it places besides my house.
The overview of my project is I forked a previous existing project that created a Spotify frontend that replicated old iPods, including using a clickwheel for navigation. It uses a Raspberry Pi Zero 2W as the main device. I iterated on this project, by using more off the shelf parts, rather than salvaging used iPod parts. I also wanted it to be easily repairable, so I used heated inserts for assembly rather than glue, and used a standardized replaceable battery (an 18650) so that the battery cell can be replaced once it degrades. This required sourcing my own parts, and adapting the code to use the different hardware that I was using. This was all done before Timasomo, and I had it all working. Here is a picture from the summer, with it working, but not having a case yet. Here is another picture from September of the old case, note the janky power switch on the right that did not fit in the case, plus not pictured is that the case was bulging, which started causing issues.
So, to get my project truly portable, there were a few main tasks I wanted to achieve this month. The first was to code a way to add new WiFi networks, using a clickwheel as an input. I was able to achieve that, and in the process also created a few more pages with utility functions to help development. Here is a picture of the WiFi input screen (in the new case). The second main task I had to achieve was to redesign the case, to fix issues with V2 (as mentioned and pictured above). This was relatively a simple revision, where I just had to tweak various mounting points. I also did a few little tweaks from what I learned using the old case for a few months, like putting a slight recess in for the switches. My friend who has been printing the case for me also upgraded from a Crealty Ender V3 to a Bambu printer, and his print quality has gone drastically up, so that was a nice added bonus. The new case has come out really nice. Also, I intentionally laid out my parts in the top and bottom, so that it can easily separate via micro USB ports (anyone who has repaired a laptop with that annoying ribbon cable connecting the parts would understand the benefit of this). Internal picture for you nerds (red PCB is my DAC, blue PCB with the kapton tape is the screen, black PCB that is hard to see is the battery charging controller). Picture showing the main screen. Picture showing the now playing screen.
A side project for this month was to finish knitting the pair of socks I gifted my friend for printing my case for me. I was finished the first sock, but only part way done the ankle of the second sock. I managed to finish them almost by the end of the month (finished Nov 2nd). They turned out nicely.
I will probably do a longer dedicated writeup on this project on tildes in the coming weeks. It has been a fantastic project, and I have greatly enjoyed having a dedicated music player.
Edit: I forgot to mention, one of the benefits of this device is due to my USB DAC/amp, it can comfortably drive higher impedance headphones. This means my AKGs that I found doesn't sound good with a phone, I can use comfortably in a portable setup. However, due to noisy USB power on RPis, low impedance headphones like my IEMs detect that noise.
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Comment on Removing obfuscation in Minecraft Java Edition in ~games
IsildursBane LinkI am initially surprised by this move. Especially since I have seen posts about how they have redesigned a few of the UIs on Bedrock to push more in game purchases (Realms and subscriptions)....I am initially surprised by this move. Especially since I have seen posts about how they have redesigned a few of the UIs on Bedrock to push more in game purchases (Realms and subscriptions). Also, with Microsoft wanting 30% margins on their gaming division, was not expecting this.
My personal theory is that Mojang is starting to structure the two versions to meet different audiences:
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Java: for the core fanbase. This group was always unlikely to pay Mojang directly for things, as the features were previously free (maps, mods, and such) or were already used to going with third party or self hosted options for multiplayer servers. This group will also never switch to Bedrock due to parity issues, especially with technical builds. This group also provides a lot of value to Minecraft, due to tutorials and content creators.
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Bedrock: for the casual players. This group lends towards being less technical, and more willing to just pay for a solution. They are not going to go into %AppData% to install new mods or maps, and just want a simple solution. Or they are on consoles so they cannot easily access the folder structure to install them.
It sucks that it seems that Bedrock is getting increasingly monetized. However, it is nice that Mojang seems to understand the demographic playing Java and are working towards having that be a better experience, rather than try and monetize it.
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Comment on Timasomo 2025: Final Updates in ~creative.timasomo
IsildursBane (edited )LinkSo this week was quite a productive week on my audio player. I finished coding the ability to add new wifi networks and sent off the next iteration of my case design off to be 3D printed. So I...So this week was quite a productive week on my audio player. I finished coding the ability to add new wifi networks and sent off the next iteration of my case design off to be 3D printed. So I thought now would be a good time to list my goals for the month, to see how well I did in achieving them:
Redesign the case to fix the issues with the current one
Completed
Code the capability to connect to new WiFi networks, enabling it to fully portable
Completed
Finish knitting the pair of socks I started that are a thank you gift to my friend 3D printing the case
I am getting quite close, and may be able to finish by the end of the month
Fix the bug that is leading to Openbox not launching my program 100% of the time
I have not touched this one yet, as it seems to be less of an issue now.
Authenticate Raspotify, which will hopefully solve the issue of having to start playback from a second device
I have not done this one yet. Also, unfortunately my case kind of broke when taking it apart this past week to redesign the case, so I am unable to work on it as is. However, this should be an easy step once I get around to it, as I already have an oauth file on my audio player from authenticating the front end.
Overall, I am happy with how much I have been able to get done the past few weeks. This last week I will probably not get anything done on the player, due to the case breaking. But hopefully I get the new case back next week, which will be in time for the showcase.
Edit: I forgot to add that another thing I achieved this past week is I added a lot of convenience features to help speed up development. Things like being able to do a git pull from the app rather than having to SSH into the raspberry pi, and similar things like that. I still have a list of low priority bugs and nice to have features to implement, but they should be easier to implement now.
After reading both blog posts, I feel like this is kind of a mess caused from both sides. I think Rebble seems to be aggressive in claiming ownership of their library that they preserved, when it was 3rd party contributions. I think Eric at Core Devices also did some missteps by disclosing personal conversations publicly and out of context. There is also tensions between the slow moving, community focused non-profit of Rebble vs. the quickly iterating, understaffed tech startup of Core Devices.