lynxy's recent activity
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Comment on Pedro Pascal slams J.K. Rowling’s celebration of anti-trans bill: ‘Heinous loser behavior’ in ~lgbt
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Comment on What programming/technical projects have you been working on? in ~comp
lynxy LinkI finally gave up on the Elegoo Neptune 4 Plus- I'm getting Y-slipping in maybe 50% of prints no matter what I do. I'm not certain bed-slingers were made for beds this large. At this point I...I finally gave up on the Elegoo Neptune 4 Plus- I'm getting Y-slipping in maybe 50% of prints no matter what I do. I'm not certain bed-slingers were made for beds this large. At this point I really don't care about speed, I just want something reliable- and so I've ordered a Prusa. It will be coming in 10 weeks, which is a while!
In the mean-time, I'm trying to get what prints I can out of the Elegoo, including parts for an easy install-uninstall bug-net frame I'm putting together. It's getting warmer and mosquito season will soon be upon us.
Otherwise, plenty of little projects that don't seem to go anywhere! Fiddling with driving multiple 7-segment displays through a shift-register, replacing the fans in a second-hand Eaton UPS with 80mm Noctua, debating switching to ZFS over MDADM.
Actually, that last one is one that I really have choice-paralysis on. I've used MDADM for the longest time for simplicity, but my partner has been pestering me about using ZFS, and I admit it does offer a few features which sound useful (non-homogeneous disk handling, metadata caching on faster media, etc). I've had a few data scares with MDADM recently in which the arrays failed to come back up after a power cycle (hence the UPS I just got!), and ZFS has a reputation for data safety. Unfortunately it also seems like ZFS is ideal for enterprise, in that it's best used when you know (and own!) the full set of hardware you will eventually be using in prod. This isn't ideal for home-use, as I'd like to grow the array over time, not buy everything up-front. It seems VDEV expansion has been added in limited capacity at the end of last year / start of this year, after a multi-year effort. I don't know. As usual.
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Comment on UK creating ‘murder prediction’ tool to identify people most likely to kill in ~tech
lynxy Link ParentNot to entirely defend the current regime, as they have their own particular brand of awfulness and ineffectiveness, but the article does state that this programme was initiated by the Prime...Not to entirely defend the current regime, as they have their own particular brand of awfulness and ineffectiveness, but the article does state that this programme was initiated by the Prime Minister's Office during Sunak's tenure.
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Comment on Elon Musk says xAI has acquired X in deal that values social media site at $33 billion in ~tech
lynxy LinkIt's tangential, but the name Colossus in this context only brings to mind Ozymandias. He doesn't realise how small he is.It's tangential, but the name Colossus in this context only brings to mind Ozymandias.
And on the pedestal, these words appear:
My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;
Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal Wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away.He doesn't realise how small he is.
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Comment on What programming/technical projects have you been working on? in ~comp
lynxy LinkI have been attempting to understand / re-implement large portions of the AACS Bluray encryption scheme in order to rip a number of discs which libaacs appears to struggle with, although I'm...I have been attempting to understand / re-implement large portions of the AACS Bluray encryption scheme in order to rip a number of discs which libaacs appears to struggle with, although I'm butting up against some gaps in knowledge due to the vague monopoly the developer of MakeMKV has quite deliberately built themselves.
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From what I can tell, the steps are as follows:
The Host Certificate is extracted from a licensed Bluray playing software and can be used to generate a Read Data Key, an important key for navigating bus encrypted discs.
The Device Key is extracted from the Bluray drive (how?), and is used to first generate a Processing Key (still unsure on the process), then extract from the Media Key Block the Media Key (is it this way round or the other?). The Processing Key is unique to each version of the MKB file and each disc.
Using the Host Certificate (or Device Key again?), we can commune with the Bluray drive, containing a UHD Bluray disc, in order to fetch the Volume ID. I believe this is done using SCSI MMC (MultiMedia Commands).
The Volume Unique Key is found by AES decrypting the Volume ID, using the Media Key as the decryption key in ECB (Electronic Codebook) mode. The Volume Unique Key is the primary component of what is distributed in the KEYDB file.
The Volume Unique Keys can then be used to calculate the Title Keys (through some form of hash with title metadata?), which are the actual keys used to decrypt individual titles inside the BDMV/STREAM directory.
Finally, for some discs with BD+ protection enabled (very few at the moment), we must utilise BD+ tables, which appear to be unique for each version of the MKB file. BD+ tables contain the necessary patches to fix video errors and circumvent the need to emulate the BD+ VM.
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I'm still trying to work through a couple of the steps as implemented by libaacs and libbluray, though my C is a little rusty and the steps can get a little (very) convoluted. I have a number of hurdles to navigate. Primarily, libaacs appears to make a number of considerations for AACS2 but this is "not fully implemented". The specification for AACS1 is fully public, but the specification for AACS2 is distributed only to licensed companies under NDA. The biggest blocker in this process is usually the bus encryption which is mandatory for all UHD discs, but I'm using a couple of Asus BW-16D1HT drives which have been flashed with a LibreDrive compatible firmware, which should allow me to avoid bus encryption entirely.
From what I've read, this works because of the difference in operation between "UHD Official" and "UHD Friendly" drives. The former are drives which are UHD compatible and have been licensed to play UHD content. The latter are drives which are UHD capable but have not been licensed and so refuse to play UHD content, but when flashed with LibreDrive that forces the drive to act like a dumb-reader, skipping all anti-piracy computation, so that you can dump the contents of a UHD Bluray just fine. It was my understanding that once a drive has been flashed to be LibreDrive compatible, you can simply mount the disc as if it were external storage and dump the contents without issue, although I've seen a few posts on the MakeMKV forums by the developer which appear to imply that LibreDrive is a state that must be triggered and can only be triggered by MakeMKV itself, being disabled upon power-cycle? Either way, I can mount the discs and have dumped what appears to be the entire disc contents without issue.
To be honest, I've understood and re-implemented multiple steps in this process but I'm still struggling a little with dumping the contents of the MKB file. Past the initial file metadata it doesn't follow the expected file structure at all. I wish MKB and certificate file structures were neatly documented somewhere, but alas.
Finally, forum posts appear to indicate that some drives will not play certain media until a disc with the newest MKB version has been inserted- something about un-revoked keys? I wasn't aware keys could be un-revoked as well as revoked. I'm still not sure why this works, or even if it works. I'm unsure if Device Keys work on MKB versions below a specific version, or between two specific versions. Will an un-revoked Device Key that works with MKBv82 work with all prior versions? Who knows.
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As an addendum, for anybody asking why I don't just use MakeMKV- I'm not a fan of the developer's attitude and approach. MakeMKV started life relying upon the collaboratively sourced and public KEYDB file, fetching VUKs from it in order to decrypt content. At some point it transitioned over to a "hashed keys" file, a proprietary database of keys which is distributed by MakeMKV internally and is stored encrypted on disk. When asked if MakeMKV could expose to users the VUKs of media which they were decrypting using the tool, the developer replied that it would be "too complicated to extract a VUK" from their software. It's only too difficult because that is by design. It would be trivial for the developer to implement, but they're building a walled garden- and it's no wonder the majority of people use the tool when it works more consistently than the very few alternatives that exist. This approach is very anti-collaborative, and completely at odds with the philosophy of the software / piracy / media scene.
I don't know- I'm probably wasting time in a fit of stubbornness.
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Comment on Anyone interested in trying out Kagi? (trial giveaway: round #2) in ~tech
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Comment on Could AI lead to a revival of decorative beauty? in ~tech
lynxy Link ParentOne doesn't have to sell a better product to undercut existing manufacturing. The average consumer's judgement of quality isn't exactly fine-tuned, and many people are happy with something that...One doesn't have to sell a better product to undercut existing manufacturing. The average consumer's judgement of quality isn't exactly fine-tuned, and many people are happy with something that passes at a glance- though I'm not sure how many of these do. I've already spotted multiple six-legged sheep in the examples.
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Comment on Could AI lead to a revival of decorative beauty? in ~tech
lynxy LinkSo Davies and Marsh didn't create this AI, only collect enough photographic examples of Delftware tiles to vaguely train it on a style off the internet. They don't host this AI- it's hosted, at...- Exemplary
So Davies and Marsh didn't create this AI, only collect enough photographic examples of Delftware tiles to vaguely train it on a style off the internet. They don't host this AI- it's hosted, at great expense, in America and running on Nvidia chips. They don't even, as the article initially frames the situation, perform any of the "technologically advanced" printing process. This is handled by Digital Ceramics, a more typical company with a focus on traditional lithography printing techniques.
These two men have started a business in which they middleman AI generated slop and a printer, undercutting an old and internationally loved industry and appropriating a style from the Dutch. You may like the outcome and I won't hate on you for putting it in your house, but in my honest opinion I find these men repulsive.
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Comment on Growing up Murdoch in ~finance
lynxy LinkA very engaging read, and an interesting, if (as already pointed out) one sided accounting of the familial drama behind what is arguably one of the most damaging organisations (or dynasties? they...A very engaging read, and an interesting, if (as already pointed out) one sided accounting of the familial drama behind what is arguably one of the most damaging organisations (or dynasties? they seem to be treated as the same thing by the Murdochs) of the modern world.
And yet, despite how biased in-favour of James Murdoch it inherently is, even with the author's attempts to contact names mentioned for comment, I feel absolutely no sympathy towards James himself- nor would I even if it appeared like the most recent skirmish wasn't going his way. It is repeatedly hammered home that James is "dissatisfied" with the approach that NewsCorp takes to politicised issues in the media, almost immediately followed by an account of how James stepped up and.. fell into line. He claims that he can't just quit because that would allow evil to win, and instead he just participates in evil whilst grumbling. He turns around and attempts, once again, to make a name for himself by building yet more problematic empire. It doesn't matter how much you donate to vague "foundations" which aim to combat the evil you are complicit in.
Instead of convincing me to consider James Murdoch as a potentially more moralistic scion of a rich old bastard, it paints a picture of a family of awful people in which James is impotent at best, and directly responsible for the evil at worst.
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Comment on TRMNL - Open source e-ink "companion" device in ~tech
lynxy Link ParentIt certainly seems like a good option for hanging next to the front door and displaying upcoming departures from your local bus stop- a project I've been meaning to get on with for some time, as...It certainly seems like a good option for hanging next to the front door and displaying upcoming departures from your local bus stop- a project I've been meaning to get on with for some time, as I'd prefer to line up leaving with a bus if possible. Less waiting around in the cold.
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Comment on Framework (2nd gen) event: 25th February in ~tech
lynxy Link ParentIt's certainly getting there, and I'd love to see a company like Framework contribute to that progress. I'm still watching with interest what comes out of the partnership between Valve and the...It's certainly getting there, and I'd love to see a company like Framework contribute to that progress. I'm still watching with interest what comes out of the partnership between Valve and the Arch Linux team- especially in the aarch64 package distribution space.
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Comment on Framework (2nd gen) event: 25th February in ~tech
lynxy Link ParentOhh, I love the idea of a convertible chassis Framework. My favourite form-factor laptop so far has been the Dell XPS 2-in-1 with the 360 degree hinge (not the tablet + keyboard thing, that was.....Ohh, I love the idea of a convertible chassis Framework. My favourite form-factor laptop so far has been the Dell XPS 2-in-1 with the 360 degree hinge (not the tablet + keyboard thing, that was.. a miss-step).
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Comment on Framework (2nd gen) event: 25th February in ~tech
lynxy Link ParentI politely disagree- the former thread from half a week ago discusses the availability of individual parts of a Framework product. This is an upcoming announcement about the future direction of...I politely disagree- the former thread from half a week ago discusses the availability of individual parts of a Framework product. This is an upcoming announcement about the future direction of the company.
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Comment on Framework (2nd gen) event: 25th February in ~tech
lynxy (edited )LinkIt looks like Framework will be announcing the "second generation" of something, whether that be the 13" or 16" latop chassis (unlikely to be the 16", IMO, as the first generation is quite...It looks like Framework will be announcing the "second generation" of something, whether that be the 13" or 16" latop chassis (unlikely to be the 16", IMO, as the first generation is quite recent), or a new form-factor entirely. They don't usually make so much fanfare about new chip architectures, so I think it's also unlikely to be that. Whatever it is- I'm intrigued!
There are apparently a number of "clues" on the announcement page- anyone have any ideas?
Edit: Using the inspector, the "emojis" used in the header paragraph are labelled "wave", "color wheel", "yoga", "bolt", "lan party", "gamepad", and "cheetos". I couldn't make out what one or two were supposed to be, and it would make sense that the image names are just generic, but knowing that "lan party" and "gamepad" are used is interesting.
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Framework (2nd gen) event: 25th February
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Comment on Building a personal, private AI computer on a budget in ~comp
lynxy Link ParentIt is still the case that the open weights include an amount of "post training" which encourages the LLM to censor itself on certain topics, even when hosted locally. I've had a go at running it...It is still the case that the open weights include an amount of "post training" which encourages the LLM to censor itself on certain topics, even when hosted locally. I've had a go at running it using Ollama, both the 7B and 32B models.
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Comment on TikTok and TikTok Lite APK are available on TikTok.com in ~tech
lynxy LinkI'm a little confused- I get the TikTok website with options for either Android or IOS, but both pages include only a QR code which, when scanned on my Android device, attempts to open the Google...I'm a little confused- I get the TikTok website with options for either Android or IOS, but both pages include only a QR code which, when scanned on my Android device, attempts to open the Google Play Store (which it can't do because I don't have it). In what way is this APK provided sans-store? Maybe it's location locked for USA only? I am in the UK currently.
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Comment on Let's Encrypt is ending support for expiration notification emails in ~comp
lynxy Link ParentAfter a couple of days of thinking about it, I too finally got off my ass and set up auto-renewal on a couple of my important domains. Luckily Certbot has a plugin for DNS challenge (required for...After a couple of days of thinking about it, I too finally got off my ass and set up auto-renewal on a couple of my important domains. Luckily Certbot has a plugin for DNS challenge (required for wildcard certificates) on PorkBun (the registrar I use), so it just required a Bash script and a Systemd timer for it to run every couple of months. Maybe this is the better solution than waiting for an email and waiting until it's urgent to SSH in and manually renew the certs!
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Comment on Single most useful program you daily use? in ~tech
lynxy LinkNot a program, per se, but as everybody else has already outlined the ones that I feel are important (terminal, firefox / fennec, various app-launchers and editors), I'm going to go for uBlock...Not a program, per se, but as everybody else has already outlined the ones that I feel are important (terminal, firefox / fennec, various app-launchers and editors), I'm going to go for uBlock Origin. I would not be able to use the internet without it- it would drive me mad.
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Comment on Global Capslock key in ~comp
lynxy LinkThere are not enough people using it at the moment to mAKE IT INTERESTING, But it does work well enough. Neat find! Hilarious idea.There are not enough people using it at the moment to mAKE IT INTERESTING, But it does work well enough. Neat find! Hilarious idea.
David Tennant :)