babypuncher's recent activity
-
Comment on We are back at square one of personal messaging in ~tech
-
Comment on We are back at square one of personal messaging in ~tech
babypuncher Link Parent The problem with SMS is that it's entirely stuck on my phone. I don't like carrying out conversations on my phone when I'm sitting at a computer with a full keyboard. SMS is also almost completely...The problem with SMS is that it's entirely stuck on my phone. I don't like carrying out conversations on my phone when I'm sitting at a computer with a full keyboard.
SMS is also almost completely lacking in any form of security. Any messaging solution worth a damn needs to at least have the option of end-to-end encrypted chat sessions. Even Facebook Messenger offers this.
5 votes -
Comment on Capcom Home Arcade - a "classic console" in the form of an arcade stick, with 16 Capcom arcade games in ~games
babypuncher Link I'm guessing that is what this deal with FBA is all about, which raises a lot of questions about how this will play with the current license of FBA or the rights of past contributors.I'm guessing that is what this deal with FBA is all about, which raises a lot of questions about how this will play with the current license of FBA or the rights of past contributors.
3 votes -
Comment on What To Expect From Sony's Next-Gen PlayStation in ~games
babypuncher Link Parent That's not entirely true. You can buy a pre-built PC, but odds are you will still be stuck troubleshooting problems with drivers and other software at some point. You have to deal with a litany of...That's not entirely true. You can buy a pre-built PC, but odds are you will still be stuck troubleshooting problems with drivers and other software at some point. You have to deal with a litany of different storefronts, and there's not a good way to get a single UI for everything that works with a controller from your couch. All of these little things add up to a lot of friction that is largely nonexistent on consoles.
2 votes -
Comment on What To Expect From Sony's Next-Gen PlayStation in ~games
babypuncher Link Parent I don't think that's true at all. Consoles are still absolutely huge. Building and maintaining a PC, while not exactly difficult, is still a lot more effort than just buying a magic box at Best...I don't think that's true at all. Consoles are still absolutely huge. Building and maintaining a PC, while not exactly difficult, is still a lot more effort than just buying a magic box at Best Buy and plugging it in to your TV.
-
Comment on What To Expect From Sony's Next-Gen PlayStation in ~games
babypuncher Link Parent They are stuck keeping it since apparently backwards compatibility with PS4 games is going to be a feature.They are stuck keeping it since apparently backwards compatibility with PS4 games is going to be a feature.
4 votes -
Comment on Game of Thrones Season 8 Episode 1 discussion in ~tv
babypuncher Link Parent Bran saw Jamie and Cersei getting nasty in a tower at King's landing. Jamie pushed him out the window, resulting in him becoming paralyzed.Bran saw Jamie and Cersei getting nasty in a tower at King's landing. Jamie pushed him out the window, resulting in him becoming paralyzed.
2 votes -
Comment on Make Netflix Remove "DRM" in ~misc
babypuncher Link Parent Netflix has no choice but to include a DRM solution in their product if they want to license content from film and television studios. Netflix isn't going to abandon their business model just to...Netflix has no choice but to include a DRM solution in their product if they want to license content from film and television studios. Netflix isn't going to abandon their business model just to make a point about the ineffectiveness of DRM. The change needs to happen with the studios, not the company delivering the content.
From an engineering perspective, it doesn't make practical sense for Netflix to create separate video delivery systems for both DRM and DRM-free content. You're doubling your potential exposure to bugs and the only thing you gain is some quaint virtue signalling.
-
Comment on Disney+ launches on November 12 for $6.99/mo, plus new Marvel, Star Wars series in ~movies
babypuncher Link Parent I bought the first 11 seasons used for about $50, ripped them, and threw them on my Plex Server. Best thing I ever did.I bought the first 11 seasons used for about $50, ripped them, and threw them on my Plex Server. Best thing I ever did.
2 votes -
Comment on Why vi rocks in ~comp
babypuncher Link Parent Most software is easy to learn without needing a manual. Reading the manual should be for learning how to use more advanced functionality. There is far more complicated software out there than Vim...Most software is easy to learn without needing a manual. Reading the manual should be for learning how to use more advanced functionality. There is far more complicated software out there than Vim that doesn't need a manual to figure out how to get basic work done.
4 votes -
Comment on Why vi rocks in ~comp
babypuncher Link Parent It's OK for software to have a learning curve, but it should be designed with discoverability patterns so that said learning curve doesn't feel insurmountable. Any software should be usable out of...It's OK for software to have a learning curve, but it should be designed with discoverability patterns so that said learning curve doesn't feel insurmountable. Any software should be usable out of the box for at least some of its basic designed tasks without needing to consult a manual.
4 votes -
Comment on Why vi rocks in ~comp
babypuncher (edited ) Link Parent I'm a coder and I made a concerted effort to learn Vim for a few weeks. I did not feel like it would actually make me faster or more productive. The small time savings from the memorized keyboard...I'm a coder and I made a concerted effort to learn Vim for a few weeks.
I did not feel like it would actually make me faster or more productive. The small time savings from the memorized keyboard commands aren't significant enough to mean much compared to what I can already do in GUI text editors like Sublime and Visual Studio. It seemed like a whole lot of upfront effort for maybe a 1-2% overall improvement.
4 votes -
Comment on Benny Gantz concedes to Netanyahu in ~news
babypuncher Link I know next to nothing about Israeli politics, but how on Earth was Netanyahu able to secure re-election after being indicted on bribery and fraud charges?I know next to nothing about Israeli politics, but how on Earth was Netanyahu able to secure re-election after being indicted on bribery and fraud charges?
5 votes -
Comment on US Congress moves forward on Taxpayer First Act to ban the IRS from ever developing its own online tax filing service in ~news
babypuncher Link Republicans I understand, but why the hell are Democrats supporting this? Hopefully it doesn't get enough votes in the House.Republicans I understand, but why the hell are Democrats supporting this? Hopefully it doesn't get enough votes in the House.
4 votes -
Comment on Survey: 83% of US teens have an iPhone, Android 9% in ~tech
babypuncher Link Parent It wouldn't solve my issue, but it highlights something iOS does way better than Android. If Google made something that worked as well and seamlessly on Android as iMessage, then released an iOS...It wouldn't solve my issue, but it highlights something iOS does way better than Android.
If Google made something that worked as well and seamlessly on Android as iMessage, then released an iOS app, I imagine they could capture a lot of market share.
2 votes -
Comment on Survey: 83% of US teens have an iPhone, Android 9% in ~tech
babypuncher Link Parent Every single one of Google's attempted "alternatives" was something you had to sign up for separately. They completely missed the one feature iMessage has that made it so successful: Automatic...Every single one of Google's attempted "alternatives" was something you had to sign up for separately. They completely missed the one feature iMessage has that made it so successful: Automatic setup and integration within the stock SMS app.
6 votes -
Comment on Move back to your dying hometown. Unless you can’t. in ~life
babypuncher Link Parent I don't think the issues are exclusive to rural towns, but I do think they are a bigger problem in them. Small towns tend to not have very diverse populations. Almost everyone is the same color,...I don't think the issues are exclusive to rural towns, but I do think they are a bigger problem in them. Small towns tend to not have very diverse populations. Almost everyone is the same color, goes to the same church, etc. Comparatively, in any major city, it's hard to throw a rock without hitting someone of another race, color, or creed. Frequent exposure to people of other colors and cultures makes one generally more tolerant and accepting of them
I don't think of this as the fault of the people living in small towns. It's more of a problem of lack of opportunity. How we fix that, I don't know. I don't think it's productive to just tell people that they way they think is incorrect.
9 votes -
Comment on Chromium-based preview builds of Microsoft Edge are now available for Windows 10 in ~tech
babypuncher Link Parent Nobody's working to make sure their website functions in Wexond or Min. The problem isn't a lack of alternative browsers, it's a lack of alternative browsers with enough market share to enforce a...Nobody's working to make sure their website functions in Wexond or Min. The problem isn't a lack of alternative browsers, it's a lack of alternative browsers with enough market share to enforce a standards-based web experience.
4 votes -
Comment on How has playing a video game helped you in an unexpected way? in ~games
babypuncher Link Playing Halo gave me something to bond with other kids over when my family moved to a new state in 2002. Playing Sim City 3000 taught me the basics of budgeting and debt management. Playing (and...Playing Halo gave me something to bond with other kids over when my family moved to a new state in 2002.
Playing Sim City 3000 taught me the basics of budgeting and debt management.
Playing (and modding) Quake 3 provided a carrot on a stick that I needed to learn how software works and how to code.
4 votes -
Comment on Survey: 83% of US teens have an iPhone, Android 9% in ~tech
babypuncher Link Parent There are a couple big deals with iMessage that make it a million times better than SMS. I don't think it has anything to do with knowing that the other user can afford an iPhone. 1: End-to-end...There are a couple big deals with iMessage that make it a million times better than SMS. I don't think it has anything to do with knowing that the other user can afford an iPhone.
1: End-to-end no-knowledge encryption. Apple can't read your messages, only you and the recipient.
2: Messaging from a range of devices. I don't have to use my phone to text my mom, I can also do so from my iPad or Mac Mini. Third party chat platforms can also do this, but then I have to convince my mother to create an account and install them on her devices. iMessage is automatic and completely transparent.
3: Much better group texting. This is largely facilitated by the reaction buttons you get when long-pressing a message. It lets you react to a message without cluttering the chat feed with "lol" or "😊", where it's not exactly clear what message that is a response to. When a non-iPhone user joins an iMessage group chat, it downgrades the user-experience for everyone.
SMS is honestly so crappy that I try to get people on my contacts list who don't have iPhones to use Signal instead.
9 votes
How exactly does this integrate with SMS on my iPhone though? Does Pulse just give me a separate phone number for desktop use? It's a non-starter if I have to tell all my friends and family that I will randomly switch what number i'm texting them from.