SourceContribute's recent activity
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Comment on I accidentally uncovered a nationwide scam on Airbnb in ~tech
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Comment on <deleted topic> in ~tech
SourceContribute Link ParentExactly. There's no guarantee that free/open source licensed code has to be available on the internet for free. It only needs to be available to those that have the binaries. It's possible to give...there was no restriction of code, only of distribution.
Exactly. There's no guarantee that free/open source licensed code has to be available on the internet for free. It only needs to be available to those that have the binaries. It's possible to give away GPL/Apache/AGPL/MIT code only to paying customers who are paying for your product/service.
how can we best rectify the communistic nature of FLOSS with the corporatist nature of most large software companies
Any sufficiently useful project should offer a monthly and yearly license/support fee. Why? Small businesses that use FOSS can then deduct those as expenses which is a big boost. I'd gladly hand over $15/month to LibreOffice or $5/month to a smaller project if I could deduct it as part of my business expenses.
For big companies, that would turn the code into a budget item and no longer give a free lunch. Big companies right now rely on the fact that the developer salaries are already paid for and with that they can use that one item, salary, to cover the expense of finding $0-cost FOSS libraries or developing alternatives, because the development time is already paid for even if it means the project takes a bit longer. Big companies already had a process for purchasing proprietary licensed software, it's time that FOSS takes advantage of that (through dual-licensing or just charging a fee, no matter how small).
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Comment on <deleted topic> in ~tech
SourceContribute Link ParentMost companies that have done open-core or gone closed-source will leave up the older releases that were under a free/open source license. Or if they don't, a mirror will pop up. In a few other...though it's rarely noticed since releases are seldom deleted.
Most companies that have done open-core or gone closed-source will leave up the older releases that were under a free/open source license. Or if they don't, a mirror will pop up.
In a few other cases, the source code may be under a FOSS license but is only given to paying customers (who have a slight disincentive to just give away the code for $0/free).
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Comment on How podcasts went from unlistenable to unmissable in ~tech
SourceContribute Link ParentThe hard part with a podcast that I found is distribution. It's no longer good enough to host the mp3 files in an RSS feed on your own website/blog. No, now you need to upload and push the content...The hard part with a podcast that I found is distribution. It's no longer good enough to host the mp3 files in an RSS feed on your own website/blog. No, now you need to upload and push the content to Apple, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play Music, and so on. And almost all the tools that push to those channels cost $$$. And of course you need a decent mic because people would rather listen to a great sounding podcast vs a scratchy one.
The barriers to entry have risen and you're right they cater to a sort of middle/upper-middle class view which is the same mass audience as reality TV.
One of my favourite podcasts is Canadaland because it is a unique perspective on Canada's media landscape. The major newspapers won't spend time doing all stories that are out there and they certainly won't criticize each other directly.
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Comment on How podcasts went from unlistenable to unmissable in ~tech
SourceContribute Link ParentExactly, it's turned into regular radio shows, and the same is true of YouTube, it became more like TV with car adverts. I get that we've actually gone forward quite a number of steps because we...Exactly, it's turned into regular radio shows, and the same is true of YouTube, it became more like TV with car adverts. I get that we've actually gone forward quite a number of steps because we have much more choice but it's still sad that the format turns into the previous format even in a new medium.
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Comment on First Librem 5 phone rolled out! in ~tech
SourceContribute LinkHave to say that I'm glad I'm waiting to purchase a new phone because this looks awesome. I was thinking of getting another OnePlus phone since the hardware is decent and it runs Android, but...Have to say that I'm glad I'm waiting to purchase a new phone because this looks awesome. I was thinking of getting another OnePlus phone since the hardware is decent and it runs Android, but Librem 5 is looking great!
Walkthrough video is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gvnt78mK-Ac
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Comment on First Librem 5 phone rolled out! in ~tech
SourceContribute Link ParentSailfishOS is also a Linux-based OS for phones that has been around since 2013: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sailfish_OS And in fact it's based on older MeeGo code which was around before that....You're funding the first Linux privacy oriented phone
SailfishOS is also a Linux-based OS for phones that has been around since 2013: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sailfish_OS
And in fact it's based on older MeeGo code which was around before that.
But I do understand that the standard for a new phone is even higher than back in 2013 when it was acceptable to see some choppiness in an alternative like Firefox OS or webOS.
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Comment on French court says Valve must allow Steam users to resell games in ~games
SourceContribute Link ParentThis is why subscriptions are a big thing; because you're paying for continued access rather than for a finite product. It's strange to see a game like WoW come out with a classic mode because...This is why subscriptions are a big thing; because you're paying for continued access rather than for a finite product. It's strange to see a game like WoW come out with a classic mode because people who own the original game would be out of luck if the servers ever went down. MMOs are in a strange place, but for other games, it makes sense to allow resale.
It could actually benefit Valve because they could double-dip just like Ticketmaster does when they resell tickets: Ticketmaster gets a cut when you buy the original ticket, and they get another cut when you resell the ticket. So going with that example if you paid $100 for a ticket and Ticketmaster got $15 out of that, then you resell the ticket for $50 or $85 (face value) they could add another few bucks on top of that. Not sure if that's how they're still operating but basically, they can re-insert themselves into the transaction indefinitely because why buy from some sketchy reseller when you can buy from the official marketplace?
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Comment on We need an alternative to Medium, and it’s not Wordpress in ~tech
SourceContribute LinkWhat's wrong with Wordpress? The new editor is using React I think, and it's free/open source, along with a lot of what Automattic puts out like WooCommerce, SimpleNotes, and so on. I mean, it's...What's wrong with Wordpress? The new editor is using React I think, and it's free/open source, along with a lot of what Automattic puts out like WooCommerce, SimpleNotes, and so on. I mean, it's not fun to code PHP but at least it works without too much fuss?
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Comment on Remove Richard Stallman in ~tech
SourceContribute Link ParentHow so? I was agreeing with an opinion and pointing out a small portion of the OP's article?How so? I was agreeing with an opinion and pointing out a small portion of the OP's article?
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Comment on Tinyproxy - if you need a tiny URL blocker/rewriter in ~comp
SourceContribute LinkI started using this as a quick way to block all websites that are distracting (looking at you reddit): https://github.com/tinyproxy/tinyproxy/blob/master/docs/filter-howto.txt It's a plain simple...I started using this as a quick way to block all websites that are distracting (looking at you reddit): https://github.com/tinyproxy/tinyproxy/blob/master/docs/filter-howto.txt
It's a plain simple proxy, very useful.
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Tinyproxy - if you need a tiny URL blocker/rewriter
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Comment on Water found in habitable super-Earth's atmosphere for first time in ~space
SourceContribute Link ParentEarth2 awaits.Earth2 awaits.
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Comment on Remove Richard Stallman in ~tech
SourceContribute Link ParentWasn't even on the email thread, not involved in the original conversation and is writing an article about it and trying to report this moral outrage to reporters? Definitely sounds like it. I'm...trying to get the full email thread (I wasn’t on the mailing list). I even started emailing reporters — local and national, news sites, newspapers, radio stations.
Wasn't even on the email thread, not involved in the original conversation and is writing an article about it and trying to report this moral outrage to reporters?
Apparently the author was in search of something to be mad at
Definitely sounds like it.
I'm reminded of this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Horsemen_of_the_Infocalypse
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Comment on Discord is removing the "Nitro Games" game library subscription aspect of their Nitro premium service in ~games
SourceContribute Link ParentYep we're basically getting a good free service courtesy of VC subsidies. Hundreds of millions of dollars are being pumped into companies of dubious value. At times I really think it would be...Yep we're basically getting a good free service courtesy of VC subsidies. Hundreds of millions of dollars are being pumped into companies of dubious value. At times I really think it would be better if they just were taxed higher and had that money pumped into hospitals, schools, and roads.
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Comment on Analysis of PC game sales on Steam in 2019, by Mike Rose (founder of publisher No More Robots) in ~games
SourceContribute Link ParentPeople have paid more for shittier lower effort products, developers in general would do well to price their products at a higher price point. Yeah that's the thing, there's a low point of...Most games that get released at a low price point are very low effort games
People have paid more for shittier lower effort products, developers in general would do well to price their products at a higher price point.
The games will still be trash.
Yeah that's the thing, there's a low point of quality. If there's some kind of gem of an idea within the game, players can wait a few patches till the quality improves. But if it's just shovelware as you say, well the reviews will be bad anyway, might as well make a few extra bucks right? :'(
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Comment on Free-to-Play games: Three key trade-offs in ~games
SourceContribute Link ParentThis is what I like about Destiny 2. I've never felt like I need 3+ hours to play, I'm content with just 40min at a time (though for some people even that's too long). You're still able to...This is what I like about Destiny 2. I've never felt like I need 3+ hours to play, I'm content with just 40min at a time (though for some people even that's too long). You're still able to experience most game modes within a 30 to 40min time block, including the new ones like Gambit and Gambit Prime, and whatever new quests and strikes there are.
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Comment on Former nail biters --- how did you quit? in ~talk
SourceContribute Link ParentIt's still an anti-social habit. The problem for me is that it's stress and nervousness and of course nail-biting = outward sign of that stress which is even more stressful when I'm aware of it....It's still an anti-social habit. The problem for me is that it's stress and nervousness and of course nail-biting = outward sign of that stress which is even more stressful when I'm aware of it.
Lower stress seems to be the real trick to get rid of the nail-biting habit.
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Comment on Starbound developer Chucklefish allegedly did not pay around a dozen of its workers in ~games
SourceContribute LinkIf the developers were "donating" their time, there's no issue but I assume they were under certain deadlines and worked together as if they were employees. If a department (or ministry?) of labor...If the developers were "donating" their time, there's no issue but I assume they were under certain deadlines and worked together as if they were employees. If a department (or ministry?) of labor finds that people worked as if they were employees, they are entitled to the same protections as employees. I've been in that situation in Canada where I was on a 1 year contract but treated exactly like an employee (vacation time/pay, health benefits, and so on). So there was no difference between me and the full time employees. The ministry of labor said that made me an employee no matter how an employer tries to spin it.
This may be the same case here. If those developers count as employees, then they're entitled to at least minimum wage.
This is why I always advocate for people to keep timesheets even if you're working on an sweat-equity basis. You need documentation of the work you did. Commit logs for developers can help because they show you worked on particular days at least, but a timesheet shows more granularity.
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Comment on <deleted topic> in ~comp
SourceContribute LinkAnd this is why OpenAI should have remained a non-profit and gone full opensource on everything and try to get others to do the same at least with respect to AI/ML software. Proprietary software...Having these conversations is difficult, as it involves talking candidly about proprietary systems and it’s unclear who to reach out to in specific organizations to discuss such models and what the appropriate processes are for inter-org discussion about unreleased research
And this is why OpenAI should have remained a non-profit and gone full opensource on everything and try to get others to do the same at least with respect to AI/ML software. Proprietary software and "trade secrets" belong in the realm of business, not in the realm of AI research.
The University of Oregon is developing a series of “bias probes” to analyze bias within GPT-2.
The University of Texas at Austin is studying the statistical detectability of GPT-2 outputs after fine-tuning the model on domain-specific datasets, as well as the extent of detection transfer across different language models.
At least two universities are working on some kind of defense against misinformation and bias generated from GPT-2. That's nice.
Judging from their release of MuseNet and this latest update on GPT-2, we're rapidly approaching a world where creative people such as composers, musicians, and writers are paid far worse than they are now ("why should I pay you $100 for an article when I can prompt GPT-2 to write it for $0?", "why do I need to pay you royalties of $1000s for the music we use in our movie when we can pay MuseNet $0?") due to competition with these AI systems, or they're paid far better like fine works of art. I am hoping these systems become complements and are used by creatives to augment their skills, rather than the sad image of turning music and writing into uber-commodities.
Haha, it looks like the scammers are A/B testing their fake listings? Re-using the same name and photos to see which one will get a hit, this is incredible. I wonder if AirBnB will just fold a service like that into their own service to do the more legal version of this, which would be price discrimination (I remember a story where airlines (I think) would charge more if you accessed their site from a Macbook than from a PC).