Macha's recent activity
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Comment on Amazon ordered to pay $20K after British Columbia customer says package never arrived in ~tech
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Comment on Not sure if coincidence or I should give up (on USB flash drives) in ~tech
Macha LinkHonestly there's no flash drive I would trust as more than a transfer medium or a immediate use os installation media. I wouldn't trust them as backups and I certainly wouldn't trust them as...Honestly there's no flash drive I would trust as more than a transfer medium or a immediate use os installation media. I wouldn't trust them as backups and I certainly wouldn't trust them as primary active storage.
The most frequently used flash drive I have is some 8GB drive from the early 10s as most of the newer drives I've gotten have failed.
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Comment on What's your video game comfort food? in ~games
Macha LinkOpenTTD and factorio. Both have the “there’s always something that can be done” feel while not putting huge pressure on when I feel like taking things chill.OpenTTD and factorio. Both have the “there’s always something that can be done” feel while not putting huge pressure on when I feel like taking things chill.
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Comment on Amazon Web Services outage impacts in ~tech
Macha Link ParentNo docker, no npm, slack is a mess. IAM is causing problems in work even though we’re in eu regionsNo docker, no npm, slack is a mess.
IAM is causing problems in work even though we’re in eu regions
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Comment on I could use recommendations for an ultrawide monitor in ~tech
Macha Link ParentI think six years ago the only OLED option were the LG TVs which absolutely do have burn in issues if you use them as computer monitors, yeah. Dedicated computer monitors usually compromise on...I think six years ago the only OLED option were the LG TVs which absolutely do have burn in issues if you use them as computer monitors, yeah. Dedicated computer monitors usually compromise on other areas (like peak brightness or pixel shift) to avoid that
The pixel layout thing is controlled by fontconfig on Linux which I’m pretty sure only supports rgb or bgr layouts.
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Comment on I could use recommendations for an ultrawide monitor in ~tech
Macha (edited )LinkI have two IPS displays and an OLED display, same resolution and size (27" 1440p) and have them next to each other. Burn in is not a problem really. I work from home and game often, which means it...I have two IPS displays and an OLED display, same resolution and size (27" 1440p) and have them next to each other.
- Burn in is not a problem really. I work from home and game often, which means it gets 8-12 hours of usage without a break. I leave the monitor do two things to manage burn in:
- I left the pixel shift feature on. This works by your monitor having like 10 extra pixels in each direction and it periodically shifts the visible area slowly around the actual resolution so that hard lines (like window splits, taskbars etc) aren't leaving clear burn in. You'll probably notice this a lot for like the first day or two using a monitor and then never again.
- I leave the monitor do its refresh cycle thing once a day. Now it suggests doing it every 4 hours, and if the monitor goes to sleep and then wakes up it'll ask you to send it back to sleep for the refresh, but I only let it do it when I'm done for the day, so 2-3 times less often than it suggests.
- I've had no noticeable burn in which aligns with what Tim from Monitors Unboxed has observed on his (you can only really see the burn in with their exaggerated filter view)
- Text is a problem. So there's a technology called subpixel rendering which is used to make text look better on non-retina displays (So 1440p 27", 4k 32" all count as "low" dpi for this, 4k 27" is kind of mid-dpi). This makes assumptions about how the subpixels in your monitor are laid out. Most LCDs are laid out in consistent patterns (usually RGB, sometimes BGR), while OLEDs have all sorts of "unusual" layouts that the subpixel rendering wasn't designed for like triangle RGB or RWGB etc. If you use subpixel rendering for the wrong pixel layout, you'll get color fringing. If you turn it off, you'll get blurrier text. A lot of the operating systems aren't that interested in upgrading their subpixel rendering tech in light of retina/high DPI displays (like 1200p13" etc.) becoming more common in laptops. So that means on an OLED you get to choose between blur and colour fringing, while on an IPS panel you can have neither.
Honestly, as much as I like my OLED, I think you'd be better served with an IPS if your priorities are code and photo editing first. 60hz to 120hz is a huge improvement, and most IPS panels now are 144hz or 165hz. Most OLEDs are 240hz (or above), but there's serious diminishing returns. 120hz to 240hz is like.... 20% of the improvement vs going 60hz to 120hz.
- Burn in is not a problem really. I work from home and game often, which means it gets 8-12 hours of usage without a break. I leave the monitor do two things to manage burn in:
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Comment on Spit on, sworn at, and undeterred: what it’s like to own a Cybertruck in ~transport
Macha Link ParentAs discussed it has become a bit of a political symbol so I also imagine there’s people who either want to own one or want to support the idea of owning one because they agree with musk’s...As discussed it has become a bit of a political symbol so I also imagine there’s people who either want to own one or want to support the idea of owning one because they agree with musk’s political views. But it’s an expensive vehicle so they wouldn’t be able to afford one.
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Comment on What code editor / IDE do you use (2025)? in ~comp
Macha LinkIt depends on context really: Java/Kotlin/PHP: IntelliJ with IdeaVim plugin. The Java world sort of assumes you're using a heavyweight IDE, and IntelliJ is still the best option there. The PHP...It depends on context really:
- Java/Kotlin/PHP: IntelliJ with IdeaVim plugin. The Java world sort of assumes you're using a heavyweight IDE, and IntelliJ is still the best option there. The PHP extension for VS code is also really limited, though I think all the people trying to use Cursor lead to some movement/improvement there
- Rust/Javascript/Typescript: VS codium with vscode-neovim plugin. These languages benefit from an LSP that is easiest to get going in VS Code. VS Code has historically been the example that Electron doesn't have. That said, the fact that Microsoft now primarily sees VS Code in terms of "CoPilot delivery vector" has left me a little concerned about the future of VS Codium. There are vim bindings for VSCode that are just sequences of shortcut but I found that unlike IdeaVim, they weren't authentic or feature complete enough to not break my vim usage, so I use vscode-neovim which sort of bonds vscode and neovim in an unholy manner
- Python/random other text editing: neovim, though I have dabbled in helix
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Comment on Tildes Minecraft: What do you want to see in the next season? in ~games
Macha Link ParentI haven't played in previous seasons, so take this with whatever level of grain of salt you feel that deserves (but have been considering joining the server when it starts again). But generally I...I haven't played in previous seasons, so take this with whatever level of grain of salt you feel that deserves (but have been considering joining the server when it starts again). But generally I feel anything that makes travel be more "in the world" is a good idea. Railway stations, nether hubs, etc have always been good community focus areas on servers I've played on before.
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Comment on Tech companies are finding out everything is political in ~tech
Macha Link ParentThey set out to be techno-libertarian twitter with a side of crypto bro, but those weren't the people looking to leave twitter so they sort of accidentally became "lefty but not mastodon-lefty...They set out to be techno-libertarian twitter with a side of crypto bro, but those weren't the people looking to leave twitter so they sort of accidentally became "lefty but not mastodon-lefty twitter" and then also gained a bunch of of the Mastodon crowd too as it looked to have higher adoption
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Comment on Google details Android developer certification requirement, and it’s as bad as we feared in ~tech
Macha Link ParentDue to the EU's competition rulings, Apple is loosening their policies from "you may only distribute on the App Store with Apple's permission and yearly developer fee, and cut of sales" to "you...Due to the EU's competition rulings, Apple is loosening their policies from "you may only distribute on the App Store with Apple's permission and yearly developer fee, and cut of sales" to "you may only distribute with signing by Apple's permission and yearly developer fee", so the upcoming looser rules are about the same as Google's new rules.
The EU has indicated that they think that Apples new plan is still too strict to comply with the ruling against them
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Comment on Factorio Space Exploration 0.7 released in ~games
Macha (edited )Link ParentImportant to note that the steam deck runs vanilla factorio great. Performance suffers with megabases, or as they’re called in the space exploration mod, mid game basesImportant to note that the steam deck runs vanilla factorio great.
Performance suffers with megabases, or as they’re called in the space exploration mod, mid game bases
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Comment on Factorio Space Exploration 0.7 released in ~games
Macha LinkNeat, I assumed the update for 2.0 would be basically “start a new factory”. I wonder how it interacts with space age EDIT: ah, it’s marked incompatible with both space age and quality. Space age...Version <= 0.6.x is for Factorio versions below Factorio 2.0. If you want to load a 0.6 or earlier save in 0.7+ then you should update to the last 0.6.x version in Factorio 1.1, re-save the game, and then update to Factorio 2.0 and the latest 0.7.x version.
Version 0.7.x is for Factorio 2.0. The 0.7 versions are intended to be as close to the 0.6 version as possible, while using the 2.0 version of the Factorio game engine. A lot of things had to change because of how the game engine changed, for example, the way you launch your first satellite rockets is slightly different.Neat, I assumed the update for 2.0 would be basically “start a new factory”. I wonder how it interacts with space age
EDIT: ah, it’s marked incompatible with both space age and quality. Space age is reasonable enough, would be nice if it worked with quality though
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Comment on Amazon to end commingling program after years of complaints from brands and sellers in ~finance
Macha Link ParentI think that comes down to Amazon insufficiently checking returns before sending them out to the next customer so this might still be a problemI think that comes down to Amazon insufficiently checking returns before sending them out to the next customer so this might still be a problem
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Comment on Why do some gamers invert their controls? Scientists now have answers, but they’re not what you think. in ~games
Macha Link ParentHuh, I usually invert analog sticks but never invert mice.Huh, I usually invert analog sticks but never invert mice.
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Comment on Mastodon now has a Quote Post feature in ~tech
Macha Link ParentWhen I was on Mastodon this sparked a whole black vs LGBT culture war as some vocal LGBT users were opposed to the feature existing as it got used on Twitter to harass LGBT users, while at the...When I was on Mastodon this sparked a whole black vs LGBT culture war as some vocal LGBT users were opposed to the feature existing as it got used on Twitter to harass LGBT users, while at the same time some vocal black users were highlighting the lack of the feature as an example of not accommodating black people because the feature was commonly used within black circles on Twitter.
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Comment on What have you been watching / reading this week? (Anime/Manga) in ~anime
Macha (edited )LinkI've been catching up on Frieren and read through the Golden Land and Goddess'Monument arcs, so just have volume 14 to read (probably this weekend) and then I'll be up to date on the published...I've been catching up on Frieren and read through the Golden Land and Goddess'Monument arcs, so just have volume 14 to read (probably this weekend) and then I'll be up to date on the published volumes.
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Comment on Nintendo adding Virtual Boy to Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack, with Virtual Boy replica accessory to play games in 3D in ~games
Macha Link ParentI think they won't ever. The precedent would be they are available to NSO members in the game boy app like all other Game Boy games but they won't want to risk cannibalising sales of new Pokemon...I think they won't ever. The precedent would be they are available to NSO members in the game boy app like all other Game Boy games but they won't want to risk cannibalising sales of new Pokemon games by giving people an alternative at no extra cost they're not already paying.
Pokemon Red and Scarlet have a lot more in common than Link's Awakening and Tears of the Kingdom
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Comment on How are Framework Laptops? in ~tech
Macha LinkI bought an 11th gen Intel Framework 13 a few years ago. Since you asked, the modular ports are mostly a neat gimmick. I mostly leave two USB-C and one USB-A permanently attached but the final...I bought an 11th gen Intel Framework 13 a few years ago.
- Since you asked, the modular ports are mostly a neat gimmick. I mostly leave two USB-C and one USB-A permanently attached but the final port does get swapped between HDMI, USB-A and Displayport. A big miss in my Framework 13 is that I'd need to give up one of these ports for a headphone but newer models have a seperate headphone jack.
- I've used the repairability twice. The first was due to mixup on Framework's side where they shipped me the wrong keyboard layout. They did ask for serial numbers on parts to track down how they managed to ship a laptop with US keyboard and UK charger (this was early in their EU expansion though), but after that they did offer me the options of either shipping the laptop back for a swap or them sending me and input cover and letting me swap things out. I took the latter option and it was pretty painless which is good because...
- About a year later I had a mishap with a backpack that led to the laptop being thrown across my room. This did dent the case and damage the keyboard and power button. I got another replacement input cover (paid by me this time) and could swap it out and it was back to good for something that might have been a laptop replacement required with another brand.
Upgrades are a bit more questionable I find, I could get a new AMD mainboard and put it in, but that also requires new RAM so it's basically just the SSD that's being kept of the internals at that point. Couple that with other desirable upgrades like the new screen, new case with headphone ports etc, and if I was to upgrade I think I'd just be looking at a new laptop to be honest. It'd probably be a Framework 16 though
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Comment on iPhone 17, 17 Pro and Air announced in ~tech
Macha Link ParentI've gradually gotten used to each phone I've bought over the years... Except the pixel 7 pro, which is 6.7" phone and after 3 years of ownership feels too big still. I have a Pixel 8a also as a...I've gradually gotten used to each phone I've bought over the years...
Except the pixel 7 pro, which is 6.7" phone and after 3 years of ownership feels too big still. I have a Pixel 8a also as a work phone and switching between the two on a daily basis the size of the 8a is preferable for me.
So I had a bin company for 7 years at the house where I previously rented.
And one day, they just stopped collecting the bins. They missed every delivery for a period of 2 months. 7 years of service up until then and the only previous time they hadn't collected the bins was the one time when the country had it's record levels of snow.
Of course the company's initial response was to deflect. Apparently I mustn't have put the bins out early enough, or put them visible enough or there was an obstruction on the street.
It was only after I insisted on a refund of my annual fee as they had totally stopped providing service (with the implied threat of small claims court) that they bothered to investigate what was going on.
They told me their driver had got out the of the vehicle, gone to the house number 2 doors up from mine and observed no bin. So I went out to that spot, took a photo at that house pointed at mine, and sent it to them to show the bin was clearly visible and at this point out for months straight.
Turns out they'd gotten a new driver who was going down the parallel street with a similar name (XYZ Avenue Vs XYZ road)