kfwyre's recent activity
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Comment on NATO alphabet in ~talk
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Comment on NATO alphabet in ~talk
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Comment on NATO alphabet in ~talk
kfwyre LinkB as in Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffaloB as in Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo
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Comment on Save Point: A game deal roundup for the week of November 9 in ~games
kfwyre LinkThe base game for Immortals Fenyx Rising is free on Ubisoft Connect. I thoroughly enjoyed the game. It's clearly inspired by Breath of the Wild but has its own identity. The game's got lots to do...The base game for Immortals Fenyx Rising is free on Ubisoft Connect.
I thoroughly enjoyed the game. It's clearly inspired by Breath of the Wild but has its own identity. The game's got lots to do (in typical Ubisoft fashion), but a lot of it feels worthwhile. There are tons of different puzzle/challenge vaults you can enter, as well as in-world quests and whatnot to complete. I spent around 70 hours with the base game to 100% it (never touched the DLC). I think it's worth picking up at cost, but for free it's a steal.
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Comment on Valve announces new hardware: Steam Frame, Steam Controller, and Steam Machine in ~games
kfwyre Link ParentOne of my friends called it a ālegally distinct GameCubeā and I guffawed.One of my friends called it a ālegally distinct GameCubeā and I guffawed.
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Comment on Valve announces new hardware: Steam Frame, Steam Controller, and Steam Machine in ~games
kfwyre Link ParentTheyāre good, but not great. I would recommend buying something better than the regular Airs, but I havenāt used any others so I donāt know which model to recommend. Things I like about the Airs:...Theyāre good, but not great. I would recommend buying something better than the regular Airs, but I havenāt used any others so I donāt know which model to recommend.
Things I like about the Airs:
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The aforementioned ergonomic benefits.
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You can buy prescription lens inserts for them since you canāt wear glasses with them on.
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My little dog can snuggle up on my chest while I play my Deck lying down. This is priceless to me. š„°
Things I donāt like about the Airs:
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Unavoidably, it adds a cord to an otherwise cordless setup when I use it with my Deck. Not a huge issue, but worth noting.
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I canāt quite get the full frame in focus. There is always some edge that is a little blurry. If I bring the glasses further onto my face to alleviate that, my eyelashes hit the lenses, which is a non-starter. I just choose to play games on it where the edges of the screen are unimportant. I guess I could also trim my eyelashes? Probably not going to do that though.
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The movement that @gary mentioned can be off-putting. Iāve gotten used to it so it doesnāt bother me anymore, but I can definitely see how it would cause issues for people.
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Image clarity feels a little on the low side. Iām not sure if this is because of the resolution it runs at or some other aspect of design, but Iām assuming better models would alleviate this. The games I play on it are mostly chunky pixel art games anyway, so itās not really an issue for me. That said, the newer models might run at significantly higher resolutions that could exceed the Deckās hardware capabilities, so thereās probably a balance to be found.
The marketing for these devices makes it sound like youāll have the equivalent of a giant TV in front of you. In my experience, itās more like if I held my Deck screen closer to my face. The intended illusion doesnāt come through for me, but I donāt need that to work. Instead, Iām happy just having an easy external monitor for my Deck that I can use while lying in bed.
I havenāt used them on a plane flight yet, but I also think they would be great for that (if you donāt mind looking a little odd to the other passengers). I love playing my Deck on flights, but the cramped space of an airline seat means my neck is in an even worse position than normal. This would let me keep my head up instead of craned down.
They are definitely a ānice to haveā rather than a āmust haveā IMO, and I think the Airs I have are likely the entry level hardware that have some tradeoffs for their cheap cost. If you already are on board with the concept and know theyāll work for you, Iād recommend paying more for a better model to sand away some of the rough edges.
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Comment on Humble Bundle: Modern Sci-Fi Classics (Charles Soule, Joseph Fink, Hugh Howey, and Neal Stephenson) in ~books
kfwyre Link ParentI appreciate the feedback. I always try to avoid furthering the ādefault Americanā trope here ā you know, where people from the US post things online as if theyāre applicable to everyone...I appreciate the feedback.
I always try to avoid furthering the ādefault Americanā trope here ā you know, where people from the US post things online as if theyāre applicable to everyone everywhere. Itās always felt a little self-centered to me, and I, selfishly, want to be the kind of American online that the rest of the world likes, rather than one they find inconsiderate.
Also, I only rarely post Humbleās book deals because I try to be highly selective about the ones that I think are āworthā it. Tildes is one of the few places people can go online and escape advertising, so I want to honor that as much as possible. This bundle felt like it was one of the ones that crossed that threshold because it was so relevant to our audience here, but that was before I knew it was available to so few of us. That changes my personal calculus.
Thirdly, I was excited to post it for everyone, but then sad to then find out that many people in our community canāt access it. That makes me feel like I disappointed more people than I helped.
I think if Iād known up front about the lock and had been able to include that information in the tags and/or my introductory comment, then I wouldnāt feel as bad. Humble isnāt upfront about that information on the bundle (at least, nothing I could find), so I think when I post one of these again Iāll give a clear region warning, even if Iām not sure what specific regions itās valid in.
Hopefully theyāll just keep doing their regular DRM-free bundles though, as it seems like those are unrestricted.
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Comment on New York school phone ban has made lunch loud again in ~tech
kfwyre LinkEvery year my school does a fun field day field trip with the students. Itās basically a semi-structured full day of recess. We do not allow phones. The students HATE this rule and complain about...Every year my school does a fun field day field trip with the students. Itās basically a semi-structured full day of recess. We do not allow phones.
The students HATE this rule and complain about it.
Once we get there, and they start the activities, they forget all about their phones. We see them running around, playing games, talking to each other, having fun. One of the other teachers last year phrased it perfectly: āitās so nice to see them being kids.ā
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Comment on Timasomo 2025: The Showcase in ~creative.timasomo
kfwyre Link ParentThis looks really cool ā like something youād see in a futuristic sci-fi movie. Now, is dust buildup going to be an actual issue with it? I can see how it being open means itāll get more than it...This looks really cool ā like something youād see in a futuristic sci-fi movie.
Now, is dust buildup going to be an actual issue with it? I can see how it being open means itāll get more than it would in a case, but I can also see how it would be much easier to keep clean. It seems like you could do more frequent maintenance dustings which would be super easy given that you donāt have the hassle of removing the case (or trying to get in all those tiny nooks and crannies between components).
Also, with regards to heat, would this be easier to cool? I know you said water cooling isnāt an option, but does it get any benefit from being out in the open? Could you just point a regular house fan at it to cool it off?
Sorry for barraging you with questions, but this is such a fascinating concept to me. I also love the ease with which you could replace components if needed. I currently have a PC hooked up to my TV that is in such a small case that replacing anything would be nearly impossible (I donāt think Iād be able to get everything back in if I took anything out). This, meanwhile, seems so easily serviceable.
Great project, Pavouk. And I love that you uploaded the files so that other people can do their own builds too. Very thoughtful.
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Comment on PIGS, an opinionated unmarketable personal calculator in ~creative
kfwyre Link ParentConvert them to any base besides 2 to make them non-binary.Convert them to any base besides 2 to make them non-binary.
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Comment on PIGS, an opinionated unmarketable personal calculator in ~creative
kfwyre LinkSorry for the delay in my feedback! I finally had time to sit down and watch this. First off: hilarious. I wasnāt expecting to be thoroughly entertained by a calculator video but you kept it...Sorry for the delay in my feedback! I finally had time to sit down and watch this.
First off: hilarious. I wasnāt expecting to be thoroughly entertained by a calculator video but you kept it lively and funny all the way through.
Second off: WOW. I am so impressed! Iād seen your updates and knew how it was shaping up, but I was starstruck by the final product. It looks great, works great, and sounds amazing with those wonderfully satisfying clacks. I would use it for simple arithmetic I could do in my head just for that wonderful sound and feel.
Iāll also echo that your percentage calculator is brilliant. If I had to guess why we havenāt seen it, itās probably because knobs are pretty uncommon as input devices, and thatās what makes your implementation so elegant. I also love that you have the unit conversions built in. Thatās equally elegant, especially with how you can push them to the stack.
Also, who knew there were so many different paper sizes? (You, obviously, but definitely not me!)
Absolutely phenomenal job on your project, delphi. I hope you get a ton of use out of your opinionated calculator, and I wish you all the best with your incoming lawsuit from Teenage Engineering. š
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Comment on Valve announces new hardware: Steam Frame, Steam Controller, and Steam Machine in ~games
kfwyre Link ParentI got home, booted up SteamVR on my Index, played some Synth Riders, and had a great time. I did this because, after longingly looking at the Steam Frame, I was feeling my fidelity falter and...I got home, booted up SteamVR on my Index, played some Synth Riders, and had a great time. I did this because, after longingly looking at the Steam Frame, I was feeling my fidelity falter and needed a reminder to love the one Iām with.
Thankfully, the Index is still a fantastic headset that more than meets my needs. So, Iām going to stick with it, as itās done right by me so far.
But if it breaks I am SO getting a Frame. š
I will add that Iām excited about this making VR gaming more accessible to people. I know itās still a niche interest, but itās something I genuinely love. I have put hundreds of hours into Beat Saber and Synth Riders alone. I genuinely consider my Index fitness equipment for how I can get my heart rate up and have so much fun at the same time.
I hope the Frame enables more people to discover what I love about VR gaming ā that moving your whole body inside a game world can be awesome.
Also, I have a set of XReal Air glasses that I sometimes use with my Steam Deck. You put them on, and you have a virtual screen in front of your face. I find this much more ergonomic for the Deck. If Iām sitting up, I donāt have to tilt my head down. If Iām lying down, I donāt have to hold the Deck up (and have my arms fall asleep in the process).
Again, already having those glasses means that I have even less of a reason to get a Frame, but, just like Iām excited that VR gaming will be more accessible, Iām also excited that pancake games are getting a proper first-party headset treatment too. It really is a nice way to play regular games.
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Comment on US Supreme Court denies Kim Davis' petition to revisit same-sex marriage ruling in ~lgbt
kfwyre Link ParentDefenses of our rights arenāt old news ā theyāre timeless. Also, being out of the loop these days is honestly a great thing. I wish I could do it more.Defenses of our rights arenāt old news ā theyāre timeless.
Also, being out of the loop these days is honestly a great thing. I wish I could do it more.
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Comment on Mozilla Firefox gets new anti-fingerprinting defenses in ~tech
kfwyre LinkI feel like Firefox has been on a good run lately: better privacy, vertical tabs, a cute fox image you can have on your new tab page. Iāve always been a Firefox devotee, but I feel like theyāre...I feel like Firefox has been on a good run lately: better privacy, vertical tabs, a cute fox image you can have on your new tab page. Iāve always been a Firefox devotee, but I feel like theyāre crushing it in particular right now.
Also, in the same way that Linux recently got a lot of interest from disgruntled Windows users, Firefox seems to have gotten a bit more shine to it for its adblocking capabilities in light of Chrome trying to tamp down on that.
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Comment on US Supreme Court denies Kim Davis' petition to revisit same-sex marriage ruling in ~lgbt
kfwyre LinkI celebrated with my husband when we saw this on Monday. Feels nice to get a rare glimmer of good news these days.I celebrated with my husband when we saw this on Monday.
Feels nice to get a rare glimmer of good news these days.
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Comment on Valve announces new hardware: Steam Frame, Steam Controller, and Steam Machine in ~games
kfwyre LinkMy brain is fully aware of the fact that I donāt need any of these, but I am staring at them with lust in my heart just the same. I will also put myself on record as someone who didnāt like the...My brain is fully aware of the fact that I donāt need any of these, but I am staring at them with lust in my heart just the same.
I will also put myself on record as someone who didnāt like the original Steam Controller on account of its lack of a d-pad and second stick. The touchpads were cool and did enable some unique and intuitive uses, but I thought those came at the expense of some basic functionality.
They fixed that with the Steam Deck and now this new controller. Adding trackpads without taking away the other components only helps. I donāt use my trackpads a whole lot, but whenever I do, Iām glad theyāre there.
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Comment on Humble Bundle: Modern Sci-Fi Classics (Charles Soule, Joseph Fink, Hugh Howey, and Neal Stephenson) in ~books
kfwyre LinkCan anyone outside the US confirm for me if youāve been able to buy Humbleās DRM-free book bundles in the past? I suspect the region lock on this bundle is due to their use of Kobo to redeem the...Can anyone outside the US confirm for me if youāve been able to buy Humbleās DRM-free book bundles in the past?
I suspect the region lock on this bundle is due to their use of Kobo to redeem the books, but Iād like to verify that if possible.
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Comment on Humble Bundle: Modern Sci-Fi Classics (Charles Soule, Joseph Fink, Hugh Howey, and Neal Stephenson) in ~books
kfwyre Link ParentSorry everyone. If Iād known it was unavailable for much of the world I wouldnāt have posted it in the first place.Sorry everyone. If Iād known it was unavailable for much of the world I wouldnāt have posted it in the first place.
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Comment on CGA-2025-11 š“š”šµš¢ INSERT CARTRIDGE š¢ PlayStation WHAT? in ~games
kfwyre LinkOkay, so Vib-Ribbon is adorable and surprisingly expressive for a game made entirely of angular white lines on a black screen. Also, for a rhythm game, it sure loves a tempo change! I didnāt...Okay, so Vib-Ribbon is adorable and surprisingly expressive for a game made entirely of angular white lines on a black screen. Also, for a rhythm game, it sure loves a tempo change!
I didnāt expectā¦
Spoiler
ā¦the obstacle shapes to combine in the Hard track. It threw me for a spiky loop! That was a fun iteration on the gameās core concept.
Anyone know how to āloadā a ādiscā with custom songs on it while emulating? Iām currently using RetroDECK on my Steam Deck. It defaults to SwanStation via RetroArch, but it can also use:
- Beetle PSX
- Beetle PSX HW
- PCSX ReARMed
- Duckstation Standalone
If any of these setups are able to play custom songs, Iād love to be able to try it out.
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Comment on Humble Bundle: Modern Sci-Fi Classics (Charles Soule, Joseph Fink, Hugh Howey, and Neal Stephenson) in ~books
kfwyre LinkAs always with Humble Bundle, click Adjust Donation and move the sliders to your liking. Warning: This bundle is NOT DRM-free like some of Humble's other book offerings. It redeems to a Kobo...As always with Humble Bundle, click
Adjust Donationand move the sliders to your liking.Warning: This bundle is NOT DRM-free like some of Humble's other book offerings. It redeems to a Kobo account. There are, however, methods of de-DRMing Kobo files.
Utterly (udderly?) adorable.