JXM's recent activity
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Comment on I just bought a 64GB iPad, anything I should know/do? in ~tech
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Comment on I don't own a cellphone. Can this privacy-focused network change that? in ~tech
JXM Link ParentHe could also have a virtual phone account or something as well. I’m assuming he didn’t mention it to avoid accidentally dropping any clues on what he uses that bad actors could take advantage of.He could also have a virtual phone account or something as well. I’m assuming he didn’t mention it to avoid accidentally dropping any clues on what he uses that bad actors could take advantage of.
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Comment on I don't own a cellphone. Can this privacy-focused network change that? in ~tech
JXM LinkIt occurs to me that the title might turn people off from reading the article because...well, you have to be kind of a weirdo to not even own a cell phone these days. For those who aren't aware of...It occurs to me that the title might turn people off from reading the article because...well, you have to be kind of a weirdo to not even own a cell phone these days.
For those who aren't aware of the author and didn't read the article, the person who wrote this article is Joseph Cox. He's not just some random person or even your average reporter. He used to work for Vice/Motherboard and has done some reporting on a lot of shady/criminal people/enterprises. He has good reason to want to protect his privacy, as his reporting has literally made him enemies that want to kill him or dox him.
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Comment on Google stops letting sites like Forbes rule search for “Best CBD Gummies“ in ~tech
JXM Link ParentI made liberal use of the blocking feature when I started using Kagi. I blocked a whole bunch of these types of garbage news sites (and all of the awful sites with copy paste articles that you get...I made liberal use of the blocking feature when I started using Kagi. I blocked a whole bunch of these types of garbage news sites (and all of the awful sites with copy paste articles that you get whenever you try and search for any tech support type problem).
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Comment on Google stops letting sites like Forbes rule search for “Best CBD Gummies“ in ~tech
JXM LinkForbes is awful. They should just be banned from search results wholesale. Anyone can pay to have their article published on their site.Forbes is awful. They should just be banned from search results wholesale. Anyone can pay to have their article published on their site.
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Comment on Reddit is hosting a hackathon for indie developers - Nov 20th to Dec 17th in ~games
JXM LinkGiven their past actions, I can’t fathom why any developer would put any effort into working with the Reddit API.Given their past actions, I can’t fathom why any developer would put any effort into working with the Reddit API.
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Comment on What's worse than ads and AI? Ads in your AI, so Google is testing it. in ~tech
JXM LinkI was expecting there to be ads inside the Gemini app or within the conversation. Like, it would say, “while I generate that image, enjoy this ad.” That would have been way worse. This is just...I was expecting there to be ads inside the Gemini app or within the conversation. Like, it would say, “while I generate that image, enjoy this ad.” That would have been way worse. This is just more ads on the search page.
This article is extremely light on detail. All I can say for certain is that they are showing ads in the AI Overview section of the search results now. How are those ads generated? Via AI? I can’t imagine a brand worth anything just saying, “Sure, lets give the AI a shot at writing our search ads!” And if the ad gives false info about a sale or something, who bears responsibility for that? The advertiser or Google?
If they aren’t AI generated, then how are they any different from normal ads, other than appearing under a new heading?
This concept has raised an interesting question though: How will ads impact conversational AI? For example, if I ask for an itinerary for a three day trip to Paris, will I get the “best” information from Gemini or will I get information about a shitty hotel that paid for an ad. There’s all sorts of weird trust issues to work out with ads and these new “AI” features.
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Comment on I am looking for 100% ad-free apps for older adults with dementia. Things like jigsaw puzzles, coloring and the like. Paid is fine. in ~life
JXM Link ParentOne of the requirements for Apple Arcade is that it can’t have ads or in app purchases. So anything in Apple Arcade should meet OPs requirements (beyond requiring that you have an Apple Arcade...One of the requirements for Apple Arcade is that it can’t have ads or in app purchases. So anything in Apple Arcade should meet OPs requirements (beyond requiring that you have an Apple Arcade subscription).
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Comment on The Game Awards nominees 2024: Controversially, DLCs/expansions can now compete for GOTY in ~games
JXM LinkWhy not just have a separate category for best DLC/Re-release? That would solve the problem easily. Then new games don't have to compete with previous winners but those who worked on the...Why not just have a separate category for best DLC/Re-release? That would solve the problem easily. Then new games don't have to compete with previous winners but those who worked on the DLC/remakes (which are sometimes just as much work as the original game) can have a shot at an award too?
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Comment on Google's new app will help warn you about nude images in Messages in ~tech
JXM Link ParentEven if it's processed on device, the results could still be sent to Google (or anyone else). In 2022, the New York Times ran an article about someone who was investigated by law enforcement...Even if it's processed on device, the results could still be sent to Google (or anyone else).
In 2022, the New York Times ran an article about someone who was investigated by law enforcement because of Google's scanning.
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Comment on Graduating college, starting work, and being lonely in ~talk
JXM Link ParentThat first one is very important. When you’re in school (be it primary or college) you are forced to be with people of your own age or very close to it. Once you get into the post college years,...That first one is very important. When you’re in school (be it primary or college) you are forced to be with people of your own age or very close to it. Once you get into the post college years, you realize that age doesn’t really matter. If someone has the same interests as you and you get along, who cares if you’re different ages.
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Comment on New York Times Tech Guild ends strike in ~tech
JXM Link ParentI think the idea is that they can now go to the bargaining table and say, “see what happened when we stopped working?” and be in a stronger bargaining position.I think the idea is that they can now go to the bargaining table and say, “see what happened when we stopped working?” and be in a stronger bargaining position.
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Comment on 2024 United States election megathread in ~society
JXM Link ParentIn general, people are extremely self centered and unwilling to think of how things might be bad for them, but they're way worse in different ways for different people. They vote for Trump because...In general, people are extremely self centered and unwilling to think of how things might be bad for them, but they're way worse in different ways for different people.
They vote for Trump because they don't like Biden's policies and think he'll "fix" things. But in the process, they put someone in power who won't make their lives any better but will make lives worse for millions of others.
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Comment on US Election Distractions Thread in ~talk
JXM (edited )LinkMy friends and I plan to get together tonight and ignore the results by watching some punchy/kicky action movies to distract us. The results will be there in the morning. Anyone have some good...My friends and I plan to get together tonight and ignore the results by watching some punchy/kicky action movies to distract us. The results will be there in the morning.
Anyone have some good suggestions for recent action films?
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Comment on Perplexity CEO offers AI company's services to replace striking New York Times staff in ~tech
JXM Link ParentIt doesn’t matter if it’s a sincere offer or not. It’s a misreading of the public’s feeling about AI and unions. They’re aligning themselves on the side of the big business, mainstream media and...It doesn’t matter if it’s a sincere offer or not. It’s a misreading of the public’s feeling about AI and unions.
They’re aligning themselves on the side of the big business, mainstream media and against a union. Basically the trifecta of hot topics right now.
It might put them in the public consciousness, but not in a good light.
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Comment on Perplexity CEO offers AI company's services to replace striking New York Times staff in ~tech
JXM LinkWow, talk about completely misreading the room. “Let’s break worker solidarity with a product that people already have extremely negative feelings about!”Wow, talk about completely misreading the room.
“Let’s break worker solidarity with a product that people already have extremely negative feelings about!”
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Comment on Touchscreens are out, and tactile controls are back. Rachel Plotnick's "re-buttonization" expertise is in demand. in ~design
JXM Link ParentI was always partial to the slide out keyboards. But Unizhertz makes some Android phones like that.I was always partial to the slide out keyboards. But Unizhertz makes some Android phones like that.
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Comment on Touchscreens are out, and tactile controls are back. Rachel Plotnick's "re-buttonization" expertise is in demand. in ~design
JXM Link ParentYou could make your phone even more unwieldy with something like this: Clicks.You could make your phone even more unwieldy with something like this: Clicks.
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Comment on Seeking an Android podcast app without subscription. Impossible? in ~tech
JXM Link ParentPocketcasts hasn’t been developed by Shifty Jelly in quite a while. It got bought by NPR in 2019. It is currently owned/developed by Automattic, the (unpopular) company that runs Wordpress.Pocketcasts hasn’t been developed by Shifty Jelly in quite a while. It got bought by NPR in 2019. It is currently owned/developed by Automattic, the (unpopular) company that runs Wordpress.
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Comment on Washington Post cancellations hit 250,000 – 10% of subscribers in ~society
JXM Link ParentThere’s a difference between what you describe and people canceling because the rich guy owner of the paper is meddling with the editorial direction of the paper.There’s a difference between what you describe and people canceling because the rich guy owner of the paper is meddling with the editorial direction of the paper.
Those formats are not Apple formats. They each created by industry groups that included a bunch of companies. They’re the ones charging licensing fees.
Also worth noting that Apple may be starting to move away from those formats since they added support for JPEG-XL to all their OSes last year. JPEG-XL is royalty free.
Most Android phones record video in HEVC now and have supported HEIC since Android 10. Windows just leaves them out to save a few bucks and shifts the cost to PC owners.