Tiraon's recent activity
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Comment on Hackers expose the massive surveillance stack hiding inside your “age verification” check in ~tech
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Comment on Hisense TVs show ads during normal operation in ~tech
Tiraon LinkI just want a high quality panel with inputs and a remote. I am willing to pay what it would cost to make plus a reasonable margin but apparently that is not getting made anymore. Just smart tvs....I just want a high quality panel with inputs and a remote. I am willing to pay what it would cost to make plus a reasonable margin but apparently that is not getting made anymore. Just smart tvs.
Alternatives are rare with various dowsides. Commercial panels are primarily a b2b product with different requirements that is priced appropriately, computer monitors have a different use case and only few dumb tv models are being made.
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Hisense TVs show ads during normal operation
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
Tiraon LinkMidnight Suns - I heard good things about it among the bad so I decided to get it on sale despite not being something I would usually consider. It was both better than I expected and about as...Midnight Suns - I heard good things about it among the bad so I decided to get it on sale despite not being something I would usually consider. It was both better than I expected and about as expected in different aspects.
The actual card game is good. It is varied in heroes, their abilities and synergies. The addition of positioning and enviromental attacks also adds another interesting aspect.
There are two other gameplay aspects of exploring the small open world and interacting with the heroes.
The problems I had with it can be grouped in three categories - technical, structural and gameplay.
Technical
On playstation I did not have all that much bugs but I was apparently lucky and those I did have were major ones. It is also the only game that I had crash on PS. To be fair it was only one time but it is apparently a lot worse on pc.
Years after release there are known problems ranging from annoying to game breaking that you need to be aware of while playing the game. They also introduced major problem in later update and simply never fixed it.Structural
Paid currency for cosmetics. Season pass, though now it is more of dlc bundle as the game is finished.
Denuvo is the reason I got this on playstation. Which I have in part for games I don't want on my pc but still want to play for some reason. I am neither interested in restrictive drm, launchers or third party accounts and keeping that contained to a dedicated box is a compromise. Steam is bad enough but at least it provides added value on top of being drm client lacking basic configurability.Gameplay
While the core gameplay is actually good they decided to go for large respawns and level scaling. Level scaling basically negates any point in leveling characters and it may as well have been left out entirely and create a better game for it. While increasing the challenge with the level is not inherently bad, doing it with numbers go up is possibly the worst and least interesting way.
The missions also only have a few basic templates that repeat which eventually decreases the appeal of the core part of the game. -
Comment on A rant about how devices handle users with language backgrounds other than English in ~tech
Tiraon LinkIt simply seems a small part of effects of profit and data driven development and overall abysmal computer literacy rates. Basically any mainstream sw will assume what the users actually want and...It simply seems a small part of effects of profit and data driven development and overall abysmal computer literacy rates.
Basically any mainstream sw will assume what the users actually want and ignore the input to the contrary while not exposing any settings to change this behaviour.
It is best visible on search engines which do not even pretend to return useful accurate results anymore or on social media serving their content in how they decide, ignoring user preference altogether.
I raised topics advocating for more computer literacy and even on Tildes I get at best mixed reactions.
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EU says TikTok faces large fine over "addictive design"
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Comment on A case for increasing computer literacy (but also a rant) in ~tech
Tiraon Link ParentFirst off I am not advocating for a deep understanding but for enough to be comfortable actually operating the thing. Basically what would have been enough to operate Windows 7. I honestly do not...First off I am not advocating for a deep understanding but for enough to be comfortable actually operating the thing. Basically what would have been enough to operate Windows 7. I honestly do not feel this is a very high bar or needs a lot of commitment.
Personally I also believe anyone would benefit from being able to do basic scripting in a high level language but that is a different issue.
The real immediate benefit is being able to fully utilize and have surface level understanding of the thing most people use daily in many different ways to direct their lives and have their lives directed by.
For the car analogy I don't know. Maybe not being able to use or even knowing what manual transmission is?
It is the exact same principle as surface level financial, medical and civil governance knowledge. It benefits the individual and raises the floor on the related societal functions.
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A case for increasing computer literacy (but also a rant)
Preemtively this is not about Linux but it does serve as a basic example of a low effort, low cost switch that I personally consider ultimately beneficial long term. Not even necessarily for...
Preemtively this is not about Linux but it does serve as a basic example of a low effort, low cost switch that I personally consider ultimately beneficial long term. Not even necessarily for itself but how it captures the pre Windows 10 mindset of sw being the tool for the user.
The old joke of in Russia the television watches you is relevant here. On multiple levels.
Other and an even easier thing to do would be to switch from Chrome to Firefox as an unideal alternative still but with less default problems and better options to possibly switch to later.
These are only examples and are not important by themselves. What is important, is how these attitudes enable ever less effort and attention to be placed on the end user in mainstream sw.
A lot of the time whenever there is any mention of switching to Linux there is a lot of talk about how you cannot expect normal people to want to follow even the basic steps and possible but unlikely troubleshooting needed to get it to work. Where society is concerned opinion is reality. The sw and hw are magic black boxes that cannot be understood so the consensus is to avoid trying to understand even the superficial basics that would be considered trivial even a decade before.
Neither it is likely to change closer to the ideal of just working than it already is without further adoption. It is not a problem of Linux but of insufficient support by third parties creating edge cases.
I admit that it is unlikely this changes. There is no societal acceptance for it and arguably more important for the individual topics of financial literacy, basic involvement in governance or medical awareness have abysmally low knowledge levels generally.
Voting is the most basic, least effort way to have some effect and yet two thirds turn out is usually considered large.
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Comment on The AI industry doesn’t take “no” for an answer in ~tech
Tiraon Link ParentTeams also does that. So far it is simply short rote phrases but it exists.Teams also does that. So far it is simply short rote phrases but it exists.
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Comment on Advice on avoiding the hedonic treadmill of endless content? in ~life
Tiraon LinkFor myself it is about adding friction and building habits. A lot of it means only using smartphone for things I cannot do on computer as sw on smartphone is significantly worse on average and the...For myself it is about adding friction and building habits. A lot of it means only using smartphone for things I cannot do on computer as sw on smartphone is significantly worse on average and the form factor makes it too easy to randomly start using it at any time.
It is also helpful to have at least a very basic knowledge about psychology, marketing, probability and programming. Knowing at least in a very broad outline right away what the product likely means to achieve, how and why makes it easier to instinctively want to avoid it. As with marketing effectively no one is immune so it is best to be both aware and skeptical.
I made the comment here a while back about hidden costs of marketing for the end user and got a reply that of course it is the increased costs of goods you buy, I am not particularly convinced most people make that jump both when watching ads for money free services and when buying products. Then there are all the other costs in how mostly the internet but also physical spaces operate, mental overhead, likely poorer decisions making purchases on average, general availability of different goods and likely so much more. Sorry about not replying and then referencing it in a random topic
Doom scrolling is similar and consciously attempting to figure out the costs means being less likely to do it.
I think building the habit of consuming content consciously, having plenty of other options be it social interactions, hobbies or more active or slower media and having alternatives is essential. It is also worth avoiding smartphone as much as possible and using computer instead as it is less convenient alternative with more friction that requires more conscious decision to use.
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Comment on How Wall Street ruined the Roomba and then blamed Lina Khan in ~tech
Tiraon LinkThis is bit of sideways to the article. I really do have to wonder what goes through the mind of someone willingly buying an internet required device they don't urgently need. It really goes to...This is bit of sideways to the article.
There are about 20 million active Roomba vacuum cleaners in operation, and unless Trump regulators or antitrust enforcers act, now all the data harvested from our homes will go to China.
I really do have to wonder what goes through the mind of someone willingly buying an internet required device they don't urgently need. It really goes to show the absolute unwillingness to consider the broader impact. Not to say average person should have to do that but that is the world we live in.
It also highlights the glorification of computer illiteracy.Amazon Sidewalk
A corporate mesh network for hire in a variety of products.
Another excellent argument against just don't connect it to the internet stance on smart things. It really is only a question of cost effectivity, public perception and legislation if forced connections are added to more classes of products(for now I am only aware of cars). -
Reality check: EU Council chat control vote is not a retreat, but a green light for indiscriminate mass surveillance and the end of right to communicate anonymously
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Comment on Google backpedals on new Android developer registration rules in ~tech
Tiraon Link ParentI view it less as the burden for the developer and more as someone inserting themselves into the usage of my device. Yes they already do it but this is the next step that would have real...I view it less as the burden for the developer and more as someone inserting themselves into the usage of my device.
Yes they already do it but this is the next step that would have real implications of how an Android phone can be used at all. It is also further normalization of some random third party unilaterally dictating how the end user is allowed to use their property.
In the original plan the user would have zero options to install something not Google approved on the phone's original os using only the phone.
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Comment on Google backpedals on new Android developer registration rules in ~tech
Tiraon LinkSeems to be the standard of slightly lessening the impact of the changes to reintroduce them later and there aren't much details about the advanced flow or the looser requirements account type. In...Seems to be the standard of slightly lessening the impact of the changes to reintroduce them later and there aren't much details about the advanced flow or the looser requirements account type.
In short a new barrier to installing Google unapproved sw will be added but the ability to decide to install the sw should remain. I guess the impact will depend on the exact flow they will implement.
There will also be an additional account type for low distribution counts with looser requirements.
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Google backpedals on new Android developer registration rules
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Comment on Microsoft is adding AI facial recognition to OneDrive and users can only turn it off three times a year in ~tech
Tiraon LinkThe video itself is actually warning against the dangers of hosting your data in the cloud, not having backups and depending on personal account with for profit provider for important data. It...The video itself is actually warning against the dangers of hosting your data in the cloud, not having backups and depending on personal account with for profit provider for important data. It illustrates that mainly by an incident on github.
The single policy for setting ai facial recognition is almost reasonable. Like the author says there are legitimate engineering concerns in letting users change this setting as they want. If it was only possible to turn it on three times a year and the default was off I don't think there would be any story here.
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Comment on The day my smart vacuum turned against me in ~tech
Tiraon LinkSeems pretty standard for an IoT device, what more is there to say? The process of diagnosing and fixing the issue is pretty impressive but also something almost no one will go into. Coincidently...Seems pretty standard for an IoT device, what more is there to say? The process of diagnosing and fixing the issue is pretty impressive but also something almost no one will go into.
Coincidently I recently looked into getting a smart vacuum and the choices are these ones, ultra budget local only ones that don't seem to work that well, trying to find one that can still work fully without internet and Valetudo.
Looking into Valetudo most models require lengthy jailbreaking process usually involving soldering and dissassembly. Like they say on the website it is basically a hobby. It is more than I want to get into simply to get an automated vacuum.
If I happen to find an offer for Roborock S5 as one of the easy models I will probably get it but the main thing I took from that research is that I don't need robot vacuum.
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Comment on Windows 11 videos demonstrating account and hardware requirements bypass purged from YouTube creator's channel in ~tech
Tiraon LinkI didn't see the actual video referenced but it doesn't seem all that likely it was misrepresented by the reporting. If not then there are few things to see here really(and even if yes then these...I didn't see the actual video referenced but it doesn't seem all that likely it was misrepresented by the reporting. If not then there are few things to see here really(and even if yes then these things are still there since it is a long term pattern).
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A normalization of online accounts needed to operate local functionality on owned devices.
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Opaque and arbitrary moderation decisions based on who knows what, meriting zero actual explanation from the platform.
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The likely reliance on "artificial intelligence"(marketing buzzword edition) to make impactful decisions while it is doubtful any human had any direct impact on it.
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Inability to get hold of any customer service representatives at all.
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Stated reason being generic and misrepresentative.
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Defacto monopoly on certain kind of content effectively enabling this kind of thing.
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Complete and utter longterm unwillingness of majority of people to consider alternative platforms and take a temporary hit to convenience now, leading ultimately to this.
As with these kinds of lists I have a feeling I may have forgotten something to add.
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Windows 11 videos demonstrating account and hardware requirements bypass purged from YouTube creator's channel
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Comment on What we talk about when we talk about sideloading in ~tech
Tiraon Link ParentThere is not many options outside Android/ios. It is also complicated by the combination of everyone wanting the user to use app instead of website and sometimes adding sw integrity checks into...There is not many options outside Android/ios. It is also complicated by the combination of everyone wanting the user to use app instead of website and sometimes adding sw integrity checks into them specifically expecting Apple/Google approved device.
Additionally a lot of people seems to want to use mobile for general use which I simply don't understand as the experience ranges from horrible to terrible.
Linux phone(I used PinePhone and I think postmarketOS for about a year) was almost enough for using it daily about three years ago. There were hovewer various sw irritants and the hw was not very good, especially the battery life.
I didn't look into Linux phones lately even though I still have the Pinephone but loaded onto a phone with better hw it would probably be perfectly fine. With the large caveat of Android/ios app lock in with insufficient alternatives.
Right now I am thinking that I might alternatively go to Apple if they maintain their current level of how they treat the user.
If we are talking about protecting children and making sure they are not exposed to harmful content my naive approach to that would be expanded social security net, increasing funding for education and reforming the education system as the start.
Less overworked and hopeless parents are better able to engage with their kids. Someone in the habit of critical thought is better able to decide for themselves if something would be harmful to them. I am not a politician though.