rodrigo's recent activity
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Comment on The AI industry doesn’t take “no” for an answer in ~tech
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The AI industry doesn’t take “no” for an answer
39 votes -
Why do RSS readers look like email clients?
23 votes -
Comment on The downfall of OnePlus will be studied | The "enthusiast brand" arc in ~tech
rodrigo Link ParentYMMV, but I'm in my second MacBook in 11 years, no AppleCare, and the only problem they had was the stained screen — a chronic issue in MacBook Pro 2015 that Apple fixed twice for free.YMMV, but I'm in my second MacBook in 11 years, no AppleCare, and the only problem they had was the stained screen — a chronic issue in MacBook Pro 2015 that Apple fixed twice for free.
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Comment on RCS — SMS via the internet — is good, but it doesn't matter in ~tech
rodrigo Link ParentiOS does that since version 18.On a related note, I’ve been waiting so long for Apple to add an option to “share only these contacts” with an app, in the same way they already have granular permissions for photos (share nothing/share selected/share everything) and location (nothing/general location/precise, and share just once/for an hour/forever)
iOS does that since version 18.
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Comment on RCS — SMS via the internet — is good, but it doesn't matter in ~tech
rodrigo Link ParentYou're overly underestimating Meta's surveillance apparatus. They use WhatsApp data to feed your profile and “improve” friend suggestions and ads in Instagram and Facebook since 2016. Their words:You're overly underestimating Meta's surveillance apparatus. They use WhatsApp data to feed your profile and “improve” friend suggestions and ads in Instagram and Facebook since 2016. Their words:
“[B]y coordinating more with Facebook, we’ll be able to do things like track basic metrics about how often people use our services and better fight spam on WhatsApp,” WhatsApp writes in a blog on the change today.
“Facebook can offer better friend suggestions and show you more relevant ads if you have an account with them. For example, you might see an ad from a company you already work with, rather than one from someone you’ve never heard of.”
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Comment on RCS — SMS via the internet — is good, but it doesn't matter in ~tech
rodrigo Link ParentYes, it does! The link above (that started this conversation) is from a guy in Brazil (me! :)Yes, it does! The link above (that started this conversation) is from a guy in Brazil (me! :)
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Comment on RCS — SMS via the internet — is good, but it doesn't matter in ~tech
rodrigo Link ParentI fully agree.My biggest practical text groups are 6 people, beyond that I think it's untenable.
I fully agree.
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Comment on RCS — SMS via the internet — is good, but it doesn't matter in ~tech
rodrigo Link ParentWell, you create a WhatsApp account, and that's enough for Meta to link your account there to its massive surveillance apparatus. (Not to mention WhatsApp is a resource hog.) Living in a place...Well, you create a WhatsApp account, and that's enough for Meta to link your account there to its massive surveillance apparatus. (Not to mention WhatsApp is a resource hog.)
Living in a place where WhatsApp is almost mandatory, I wish we were tied to another app, even iMessage/RCS. (The dream would be Signal, but having to download yet another app is a major barrier.)
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RCS — SMS via the internet — is good, but it doesn't matter
31 votes -
Comment on Is it possible to live without WhatsApp? in ~tech
rodrigo Link ParentWhatsApp isn't more private than Signal. Meta data, interactions with businesses using WhatsApp API and Meta AI aren't encrypted. Worse, Meta uses all this data trove to segment ads and to feed...WhatsApp isn't more private than Signal. Meta data, interactions with businesses using WhatsApp API and Meta AI aren't encrypted. Worse, Meta uses all this data trove to segment ads and to feed its spyware machine.
Signal encrypts everything, is audited and their source code is open.
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Comment on Is it possible to live without WhatsApp? in ~tech
rodrigo Link ParentFacebook bought WhatsApp because Zuck saw how hugely popular it was using a free VPN spyware they also bought called Onavo. When he acquired WhatsApp, it already had ~500 million users worldwide....Facebook bought WhatsApp because Zuck saw how hugely popular it was using a free VPN spyware they also bought called Onavo.
When he acquired WhatsApp, it already had ~500 million users worldwide. Nowadays, it's around 3 billion people.
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Comment on Is it possible to live without WhatsApp? in ~tech
rodrigo Link ParentAt first, it was a one-week experiment. So, I didn't want to remove WhatsApp permanently. I didn't mention family and my partner because I was able to move them to Signal. It's been years since it...At first, it was a one-week experiment. So, I didn't want to remove WhatsApp permanently.
I didn't mention family and my partner because I was able to move them to Signal. It's been years since it happened. So, unlikely, yes, but not impossible.
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Comment on Is it possible to live without WhatsApp? in ~tech
rodrigo Link ParentCarriers' greed, basically. Even nowadays they charge or limit free SMS messages in some plans. Also, in early 2010's SMS was unreliable and to this day it lacks many features (a gap being filled...Carriers' greed, basically. Even nowadays they charge or limit free SMS messages in some plans. Also, in early 2010's SMS was unreliable and to this day it lacks many features (a gap being filled by RCS), like reading receipts and high-res photos. WhatsApp was simple, easy to use, and free. No wonder Zuck bought it after seeing its huge popularity through spying users' phones with Facebook owned Onavo VPN.
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Is it possible to live without WhatsApp?
31 votes -
Comment on Doppi, the nicest player for your music files in ~tech
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Comment on Dell's Consumer Electronics Show 2026 chat was the most pleasingly un-AI briefing I've had in maybe five years in ~tech
rodrigo Link ParentmacOS's system wide translation, on context menu, is such a useful tool for people that write on more than one language. Its convenience is unbeatable, and one of the things I miss the most when...macOS's system wide translation, on context menu, is such a useful tool for people that write on more than one language. Its convenience is unbeatable, and one of the things I miss the most when using something else.
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Dell's Consumer Electronics Show 2026 chat was the most pleasingly un-AI briefing I've had in maybe five years
34 votes -
Comment on Doppi, the nicest player for your music files in ~tech
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Comment on Doppi, the nicest player for your music files in ~tech
rodrigo Link Parentfoobar2000 is great. I have good memories from using it on Windows. The iOS app, while functional, is too ugly for my taste ☹️foobar2000 is great. I have good memories from using it on Windows. The iOS app, while functional, is too ugly for my taste ☹️
We're in the same boat! I use AI almost daily, although for simpler tasks, like translation (English isn't my native language) and simple JavaScript snippets (I don't code except for HTML and CSS).
My opposition — which I tried to express in the article — is more aligned with what @raze2012 said in other comments here: the overpromising and the bad practices of corporations that don't accept “no“ for an answer.