Tiraon's recent activity
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Comment on Microsoft is plugging more holes that let you use Windows 11 without an online account in ~tech
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Comment on Microsoft is plugging more holes that let you use Windows 11 without an online account in ~tech
Tiraon LinkThat is what they are going with? Okay. It is certainly another step towards locked down desktop which could possibly be really bad. Though to be honest I am not sure how much impact this specific...While these mechanisms were often used to bypass Microsoft account setup, they also inadvertently skip critical setup screens, potentially causing users to exit OOBE with a device that is not fully configured for use.
That is what they are going with? Okay.
It is certainly another step towards locked down desktop which could possibly be really bad. Though to be honest I am not sure how much impact this specific step will actually have. How large is the overlap between someone technical or privacy conscious enough to skip that step and someone not willing to install an os?
But it will certainly make things more annoying. For me I recently had to replace my previous notebook after only half a year. I could just wipe the disk and reinstall but I usually just shrink the Windows partition in case I need it for something and install another one. If it was not possible to skip account creation from the OOBE I would likely just wipe it. I wonder what would happen if I wanted refund for the Windows license? I imagine no retailer gets all that much of these requests.
Also the plugging holes phrasing really makes it seem like something sketchy instead of using your property without mandatory check in with a random third party.
The best time to install Linux was after Windows 10 released. The next best time was after Windows 11 released and after that the best time is now. I understand people who took a look and decided that their current workload is not compatible but specific workloads are incompatible and dual boot is always an option. I use Windows 11 daily and I must say using it more is not something I would be enthusiastic about. Currently I use Fedora and while I have my problems with it, it really seems like what Windows could have been if it was forced to care about the actual end user.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
Tiraon LinkI picked up Avernum Ruined World from Spiderweb and overall I am really of mixed opinion on the game. It is a generally competent old school party based RPG. Story and lore is very passable and...I picked up Avernum Ruined World from Spiderweb and overall I am really of mixed opinion on the game.
It is a generally competent old school party based RPG. Story and lore is very passable and the combat is fine.
Playtime is somewhat freeform in what order the player does things in but areas are effectively level gated even if is not explicit.
Despite being a third entry in a trilogy it is perfectly playable on its own.
Then there are far too many various QoL issues. Especially considering this is seasoned developer reusing the engine for multiple games the various problems simply don't have any place here as far as I am concerned.
Overworld map chunks are too small and honestly not loading more as you pan around the map is an odd decision.
It is far too easy to misclick in combat.
Inventory is a mess. No sorting and five separate inventories is not very nice. Especially considering the amount of junk around, even discounting the literal junk as labeled so by the game.i
Far too many quests give far too vague directions on even things that should be crystal clear, such as who and where to turn it in too.
Pathfinding around hazards is truly bad to nonexistant, creating unecessary micromanagment.
Having an entirely random limit on amount of money allowed and then not even telling the player they reached it is insane.
Whatever is the reason for these, personally I don't consider not having basic QoL features a virtue in any kind of game.
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Comment on Google details Android developer certification requirement, and it’s as bad as we feared in ~tech
Tiraon (edited )Link ParentMost of my usage is navigation, calls, sms, email, very light internet browsing, alarm and whatever is effectively forced on me. Mostly done when walking around since when I am not I have...Most of my usage is navigation, calls, sms, email, very light internet browsing, alarm and whatever is effectively forced on me. Mostly done when walking around since when I am not I have incomparably better options(as a side note I don't think I would be able to downgrade to a phone for more than necessary, the experience is atrocious). That wouldn't carry over to any bigger form factor well.
My thinking right now is that I will either move to Apple, as a single monolithic entity that pays lip service to privacy might be preferable at that point to multiple ones that have no compunction or real need to be selective about forcing any kind of monetization.
Alternatively I might keep around cheapest random g-compliant device to do anything that would be too onerous otherwise and carry around whatever would be least compromises needed phone with whatever the most stable mobile linux distro at the time is.
The few years ago I used PinePhone the daily it was almost as much as I needed. The biggest problems being battery life, random ui problems and stability. Maybe it will get better by then with one device or other.
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Comment on A better way to watch YouTube in ~tech
Tiraon LinkPersonally I effectively gave up on YT what a decade ago by now? I prefer not to exert constant effort simply to not get bombard with designed to be addictive but otherwise low quality content and...Personally I effectively gave up on YT what a decade ago by now?
I prefer not to exert constant effort simply to not get bombard with designed to be addictive but otherwise low quality content and also ads. All determined by entity with orders more magnitude of resources dedicated to get me to watch it.
If something links to interesting video I watch it, otherwise what YT?
For the few video media I watch now I have taken the third option.
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Comment on Google details Android developer certification requirement, and it’s as bad as we feared in ~tech
Tiraon LinkWhat this actually means is that they decided to start unilaterally dictating what you can do with the device you nominally bought. Even more so than they do now. They have the power to do this so...What this actually means is that they decided to start unilaterally dictating what you can do with the device you nominally bought. Even more so than they do now.
They have the power to do this so they are doing it. Android was never actually open and now they are abandoning even the thin pretense.
Fifteen years ago it would be significantly easier as an end user to reject anti features of smartphones. Five years ago it was already pretty hard and now it will be harder.
The solution always was education and willingness to learn but most people apparently prefer fake convenience that will be taken away.
Meanwhile smartphone and actually just Android/ios is basically mandatory to participate in society.
On desktop, Linux is very easy to setup and use but mobile has far worse options.
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Comment on The video-game industry has a problem: there are too many games in ~games
Tiraon Link ParentLess all the criteria and more pick two or good enough. Just a list to not go offtopic too much Subnautica - the ambiance is really good, grind is not too bad, story is fine Titan Outpost - cool...Less all the criteria and more pick two or good enough.
Just a list to not go offtopic too much
Subnautica - the ambiance is really good, grind is not too bad, story is fine
Titan Outpost - cool lonely atmosphere, branching and jank
Dex - cyberpunk vibes, story is there - a lot will depend on if the player gets sucked in by the aesthetic or not
Golem Creation Kit - weird unexpected story direction and light on story, short, unusual
Invincible - cool retro futuristic aesthetic, I am not too fond of some plot points but generally fine, mystery game, light on gameplay
Golden Treasure The Great Green - dragon hatchling perspective, font and word choice differentiation of characters, life journey
Solstice - visual novel, remote setting, mystery, personal focus
If people are interested I am willing to go more into detail and make separate thread, or maybe I'll make it anyway
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Comment on The video-game industry has a problem: there are too many games in ~games
Tiraon Link ParentI am aware of it and have used it extensively. It definitely helps and brings my personal hitrate up to around 1% I mentioned. I had most luck with recomendation threads since that means someone...I am aware of it and have used it extensively. It definitely helps and brings my personal hitrate up to around 1% I mentioned.
I had most luck with recomendation threads since that means someone both decided it fits the request, probably, and cared enough about the game to mention it but that needs places for that to happen. Tildes is small and dedicated forums are hard to find.
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Comment on The video-game industry has a problem: there are too many games in ~games
Tiraon LinkAny given person will have a fairly narrow range of games they are interested in playing. The issue is really poor discoverability. Taking Steam as the largest game platform the hit rate for me...Any given person will have a fairly narrow range of games they are interested in playing.
The issue is really poor discoverability. Taking Steam as the largest game platform the hit rate for me for any recommendations is less than one percent, I also don't feel the relevancy is better than random distribution. And that is for adding the game to a wishlist and forgetting about it until a deep sale. Organic options are also lacking. Reddit used to have good communities for any particular niche here and some are still shambling along.
Myself I have strong a preference for grind free atmospheric games with good and internaly consistent storytelling that neither go into full on grimdark or force the player into their One True Way to play the game. I particularly dislike outside the game universe restrictions, such as for save games - add an option to settings which is literally a win win with no downsides, done.
Actually fnding something along those lines is hit and miss.
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Comment on Disney decides it hasn’t angered people enough, announces Disney+ price hikes in ~tv
Tiraon LinkI don't know, these days I mostly don't care about mainstream streaming services anymore as the value is not really there neither in price but mostly just the deliberate decisions about the design...I don't know, these days I mostly don't care about mainstream streaming services anymore as the value is not really there neither in price but mostly just the deliberate decisions about the design of the sites and discoverability of content.
Mostly I read free webseries and fanfictions whose curated selection is on average more entertaining that the similar in mainstream streaming media. Not to say good series and films don't exists, I just don't seem to find much in recent offerings.
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Comment on Dark patterns killed my wife's Windows 11 installation in ~tech
Tiraon LinkLarge amount of moving parts means more possibilities for breakage. Couple that with the demonstrated design considerations. There is no perfect os available right now and an end user needs to...Large amount of moving parts means more possibilities for breakage. Couple that with the demonstrated design considerations. There is no perfect os available right now and an end user needs to decide which kind of problems they want to have.
For me Windows surpassed threshold of moving from it on personal devices with the release of 10. Linux is not hard but requires wilingness to figure things out right from the start even if the things to figure out are usually easy.
In this day and age computers are so highly integrated that the choice to not pursue even the trivial basics of computer literacy is not one I understand.
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Comment on Wallet voting in ~life
Tiraon LinkPart of the article is basically that individual action is ineffective. I mean yes on an absolute scale when adding up that single action but that is also true of all the individual actions that...Part of the article is basically that individual action is ineffective. I mean yes on an absolute scale when adding up that single action but that is also true of all the individual actions that contributed to the society today.
I choose to think of it as what trajectory are my choices towards. It is not perfect but not participating in various social media, trying to vote and research who I vote for, trying to at least research my major purchases as practical, trying to avoid harmful trends or the omnipresent ads and other actions are as much as I can do.
If most people acted not even altruistically but simply with enlightened self intetest, we would live in a different society.
Burning out on trying to do too much is counterproductive but it is always possible to minimize ones own actions that don't seem like having a great effect generally.
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Comment on Samsung confirms its $1,800+ fridges will start showing you ads in ~tech
Tiraon Link ParentI could only see this being a discount if the there is a choice between that exact same model without basicaly any adversial internet enabled functionality or a complete breakdown of the price. As...I could only see this being a discount if the there is a choice between that exact same model without basicaly any adversial internet enabled functionality or a complete breakdown of the price.
As it is there is no transparency, only unilateraly adjusting the sw remotely for a single party benefit.
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Comment on Samsung confirms its $1,800+ fridges will start showing you ads in ~tech
Tiraon LinkSeems to be a pretty predictable course. Internet enabled appliance in a market where personal ownership of digital devices is for practical purposes fragile has(depending on the device) analytics...Seems to be a pretty predictable course. Internet enabled appliance in a market where personal ownership of digital devices is for practical purposes fragile has(depending on the device) analytics and ads potential or in other words monetization potential.
We have seen it with tvs where it is practically impossible to buy just a panel or cars that come standard with infotainment and internet connectivity.
Standard end user can try to not buy in to these trends when they still have a choice which they seem unwilling to do in order to get temporary convenience. Or they plain do not care, I assume due to the negative externalities being minimally obscured.
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Comment on My guess and opinion on the common blockers to Linux adoption in ~tech
Tiraon Link ParentGenerally I am advocating that they should care otherwise someone else will be glad to care instead of them. But as we are seeing the main concern they will have is not aligned to the user. Main...Generally I am advocating that they should care otherwise someone else will be glad to care instead of them. But as we are seeing the main concern they will have is not aligned to the user.
Main point I think is that IMO society actually glorifies computer illiteracy leading a lot of people to this attitude but I don't have any answers.
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Comment on My guess and opinion on the common blockers to Linux adoption in ~tech
Tiraon Link ParentI don't think terminal usage is actually required for the basic use* on the commonly recommended beginner distros. For some tasks it is simply easier, more convenient and possible to automate but...I don't think terminal usage is actually required for the basic use* on the commonly recommended beginner distros. For some tasks it is simply easier, more convenient and possible to automate but there are are gui utilities for the common usage.
Also what is so hard about terminal aside from perception of it being hard? There is not some magical ability needed to use it. It is not as intuitive to find the actions needed for someone not technically inclined but also no need to do anything complex for that probable use case.
Also why does Windows get a pass? Magical terminal incantations and registry edits are not some unknown occurence.
Mandatory asterisk is setup, not needed usually but especially laptops or proprietary desktops can have problems sometimes.
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My guess and opinion on the common blockers to Linux adoption
The big one seems to be the inability to buy a mainstream device with a Linux distribution preinstalled. The few options I know of are niche devices or sometimes single models usually marketed as...
The big one seems to be the inability to buy a mainstream device with a Linux distribution preinstalled. The few options I know of are niche devices or sometimes single models usually marketed as dev devices. It is also near impossible to even find something without any os installed. Even manufacturer like Framework doesn't offer Linux preinstalled laptops or even just fully assembled ones but without os.
Lacking third party software and hardware support. This is a very real problem and something that can make Linux unviable for specific use cases but also something that will never resolve without higher adoption in personal computing, my guess is at tenth of marketshare we would start seeing it being treated as a serious option. It is amazing that something like wine exists and how well it works but it still can't do everything and it is worse than native support. Similarly not many people are willing to even consider VMs or dual booting for specific workflows that need Windows.
Fragmentation of distros and ways to do things but with standard recommended beginner distros this seems to me more of a perception then a clear problem for most use cases for majority users who would theoretically migrate.
A fallacy where people value a thing perceived to be free less also seems to play a role along with public perception of Linux and its users. Slogans such as Linux is only free if you don't value your time which is ironically IMO more true of Windows these days with the cost usually part of the price of the device and not really perceived or considered by the average buyer.
This seems similar to the usual jokes about vegans and other ill formed perceptions. My guess is that it is the result of people plain ignoring things that have potentional to be uncomfortable along with those with niche opinions being more likely to have considered them and to have strong reasons to hold them along with wanting to at least tell people what they are.
I am just plain ignoring Mac here to be more concise and because I have zero experience with them.
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Comment on iPhone 17, 17 Pro and Air announced in ~tech
Tiraon Link ParentDespite a massive push to make phones basically mandatory it is still possible to minimize their use. Personally I prefer to do that when possible as the experience is simply not good, both...Modern life happens through our phones
Despite a massive push to make phones basically mandatory it is still possible to minimize their use. Personally I prefer to do that when possible as the experience is simply not good, both because of sw and form factor.
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Microsoft testing new AI features in Windows 11 File Explorer
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Comment on iPhone 17, 17 Pro and Air announced in ~tech
Tiraon Link ParentI suppose it could be taken that way. In any case I simply prioritize different kind of utlity in likely different circumstances and was completely ignored along with anyone else with those...I suppose it could be taken that way. In any case I simply prioritize different kind of utlity in likely different circumstances and was completely ignored along with anyone else with those preferences for decade or more and I am not particularly enthusiastic about that. I also admit I do consider the current trends over specializing but it is in a direction I don't care about already.
I also don't think these preferences are incompatible even on a single device but I probably could have written it a less combative tone.
I won't as it is in the personal direction of someone to decide what os to use and what their needs are. Personally I can only share my opinion.
As another comment pointed out the not ready part is not something that Linux can influence. It is also something that only applies to specific workflows.
It is the general unwilingness of hw and sw vendors to support Linux, or to open source their binary blobs or to closely follow standards. That will not change until there is higher adoption of Linux. Either by individuals or as we are seeing at some places, public institutions. My guess is it would take about 8% marketshare on desktop for a more visible change.