Weldawadyathink's recent activity
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Comment on Are touchscreens in cars dangerous? in ~transport
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Comment on Waymo has received their permit to operate at San Francisco International Airport in ~transport
Weldawadyathink Link ParentSFO has one of the best plane to train transfers I have seen at a US airport, and it is exactly as the parent commenter described. I think they were underselling public transit a bit, but not...SFO has one of the best plane to train transfers I have seen at a US airport, and it is exactly as the parent commenter described. I think they were underselling public transit a bit, but not much. SFO has a bidirectional train loop with trains every two minutes or so between the various terminals and the parking lots. BART gets a train station attached to this train loop. The only way to bypass that train loop is to be picked up by someone. So that leg of the journey is also required if you park or rent a car. BART itself is more like a RER or S-bahn than a metro. Think like the Paris RER, but the metro doesn’t exist, so if you aren’t near an RER station you have to walk or taxi.
It is nothing compared to most European airports.
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Comment on What's a setting that you'd recommend? in ~tech
Weldawadyathink Link ParentI have never touched this setting and have still been able to run games that are “unsupported” on my Steam deck. What does that setting actually do? I haven’t seen a title in my library that won’t...I have never touched this setting and have still been able to run games that are “unsupported” on my Steam deck. What does that setting actually do? I haven’t seen a title in my library that won’t attempt to use proton, even if listed as unsupported.
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Comment on What's a setting that you'd recommend? in ~tech
Weldawadyathink Link ParentApple laptops have a Spock button? What does it do?Apple laptops have a Spock button? What does it do?
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Comment on iOS 26 is here in ~tech
Weldawadyathink Link ParentYep. I learned about it when jailbreaking an old iPod touch. I don’t think Apple uses it in any external communication, but it’s used internally.Yep. I learned about it when jailbreaking an old iPod touch. I don’t think Apple uses it in any external communication, but it’s used internally.
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Comment on iOS 26 is here in ~tech
Weldawadyathink Link ParentThe iOS launcher is called springboard.The iOS launcher is called springboard.
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Comment on It’s the little things that make me not fully jump to linux in ~comp
Weldawadyathink LinkmacOS is the only desktop os that I have used that does monitor configuration well. Windows has done every thing you mentioned to me except the framerate bug. And while we are talking about...macOS is the only desktop os that I have used that does monitor configuration well. Windows has done every thing you mentioned to me except the framerate bug. And while we are talking about framerate, why on earth does windows default to 60hz if a higher refresh rate is available? That is inexcusable.
To share a similar anecdote, take a look at clamshell mode for the various OSs. This is when you have a laptop closed but still outputting to an external monitor. On macOS, setting this up is as simple as plugging in a monitor and closing the laptop. On windows, for some reason they make you dig through the power options menu. I think laptop manufacturers fix this with their modified windows images, so some people don’t have to configure it. But since it isn’t the default, most corporate laptops don’t have it set up correctly. And if you actually use the power levels in windows, you have to set it up separately for each power level. WTF?
Also windows still handles display scaling worse than what is possible. I would run into huge blurry apps that don’t support scaling every so often. And have you ever run multiple monitors with different scaling factors? Works fine on macOS, and works terribly on windows.
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Comment on How are Framework Laptops? in ~tech
Weldawadyathink LinkMy sister has a framework 16 from one of the later launch batches. She absolutely loves it. I personally am hooked on macOS; if I was not, I would probably have a framework 16 also. She hasn’t...My sister has a framework 16 from one of the later launch batches. She absolutely loves it. I personally am hooked on macOS; if I was not, I would probably have a framework 16 also. She hasn’t needed to repair it yet, but she has been inside a few times to upgrade the storage. As far as I can tell, the only downside is the size. It’s not a very small laptop for the components you get. I haven’t seen their other sizes though, so they may be fine.
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Comment on iPhone 17, 17 Pro and Air announced in ~tech
Weldawadyathink Link ParentApple actually has a really good return policy. You would have to buy straight from them. I think it’s like 14 days no questions asked returns. Look online for the details. Should be enough for a...Apple actually has a really good return policy. You would have to buy straight from them. I think it’s like 14 days no questions asked returns. Look online for the details. Should be enough for a short trial run.
My recommendation is to ask a family member or friend to see if you can try their old iPhone.
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Comment on iPhone 17, 17 Pro and Air announced in ~tech
Weldawadyathink Link ParentGoogle Maps is available for on iOS, so your experience could be identical to what you are used to. However I would give Apple Maps a try if you switch. I just really like the user interface of...Maps
Google Maps is available for on iOS, so your experience could be identical to what you are used to. However I would give Apple Maps a try if you switch. I just really like the user interface of Apple Maps better. Google Maps seems like a UI that Google spent a decade shoving various features into. As a result, it has a lot of features, but the UI is busy and cramped. Especially once a navigation is in progress, the UI should get out of my way, and Apple Maps does a better job of this. As for transit directions themselves, Apple Maps (where transit is supported) seemed to me to have slightly better transit data than Google Maps. Still, if it is available in that city, I would always recommend Citymapper.
Music
Can’t help much, but it should be possible without transcoding. Another option is to spin up plex and use one of the many plex clients.
Browser
Extensions very much do exist, including adblocking extensions. You can even have extensions in safari.
Privacy
Apple is far from perfect, but right now only one company is even giving lip service to privacy, and that is Apple. iCloud accounts even have an end to end encryption mode that encrypts all data backed up to Apple. The mode is called “advanced data protection” if you want to do more research. I am sure a secured iPhone still isn’t as good as graphene OS, but Apple is the only vendor making devices for non-technical users who want privacy.
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Comment on Investment club? in ~finance
Weldawadyathink Link ParentTL;DR no difference VTI is an exchange traded fund. You buy individual shares of VTI on the market. You don’t even have to invest through vanguard to get VTI. VTSAX is a mutual fund. You put a...TL;DR no difference
VTI is an exchange traded fund. You buy individual shares of VTI on the market. You don’t even have to invest through vanguard to get VTI.
VTSAX is a mutual fund. You put a specific dollar amount in, it is pooled with other users, and invested in a specific way. The management strategy is up to the fund manager.
In this instance, both are managed in the same way, so no difference. Although the mutual fund, specifically the admiral funds with a minimum investment amount, tend to have a lower management fee.
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Comment on iPhone 17, 17 Pro and Air announced in ~tech
Weldawadyathink LinkI have a 14 Pro in purple currently. I was hoping that something this year would be a good purple color. I really want to get lightning out of my life, but there isn’t really anything compelling...I have a 14 Pro in purple currently. I was hoping that something this year would be a good purple color. I really want to get lightning out of my life, but there isn’t really anything compelling about the new phones. They are good, but I don’t think I would use any of the fancy features.
Instead of upgrading my phone, I think I might grab the new watch ultra. I have an S8, and the battery needs to be replaced. The satellite and longer battery of the ultra might get me to upgrade. And the titanium Milanese loop is apparently pretty good. Even with a new battery, my watch would run through the battery pretty fast on long runs or kayaks. Last kayak trip, the battery only lasted a few hours from a full charge. Hmmm.
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Comment on Vimeo enters into definitive agreement to be acquired by Bending Spoons for $1.38 billion in ~tech
Weldawadyathink Link ParentThey definitely don’t serve uncompressed video. It may be less compressed, but it is still compressed. Uncompressed 1080p video takes almost 3 Gbps. If you had a gigabit internet connection, you...They definitely don’t serve uncompressed video. It may be less compressed, but it is still compressed. Uncompressed 1080p video takes almost 3 Gbps. If you had a gigabit internet connection, you could only stream 720p30. You couldn’t even do 720p60. There is basically no reason to serve uncompressed video in any circumstance.
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Comment on What's your go-to hot sauce? in ~food
Weldawadyathink LinkPalo Alto firefighter sauce. I don’t know if you can find it outside the Bay Area though. It was originally made by someone at the Palo Alto fire station, and it was good enough that they decided...Palo Alto firefighter sauce. I don’t know if you can find it outside the Bay Area though. It was originally made by someone at the Palo Alto fire station, and it was good enough that they decided to start selling it. Way better flavor than any other hot sauce I have had.
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Comment on What creative projects have you been working on? in ~creative
Weldawadyathink LinkI am getting back into sewing. I just did my first project with a zipper. It’s a small pouch. Nothing fancy, but I just wanted zipper practice. The stitches are a bit sloppy, but it still came...I am getting back into sewing. I just did my first project with a zipper. It’s a small pouch. Nothing fancy, but I just wanted zipper practice. The stitches are a bit sloppy, but it still came together quite well. The pattern came with a larger version, and I want to try that when I can get a suitable zipper.
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Comment on OTC nasal spray seemed to cut COVID infections by 67% in mid-sized trial in ~health
Weldawadyathink Link ParentI skimmed the study, but missed the part about using it 3x daily. I hope it can be found to be effective, even if less effective, at normal antihistamine doses. For me, I have allergies anyway, so...I skimmed the study, but missed the part about using it 3x daily. I hope it can be found to be effective, even if less effective, at normal antihistamine doses. For me, I have allergies anyway, so using this instead of my normal antihistamines would be an easy change. With the FDA bullshit meaning I can’t get another Covid vaccine, it might be worth trying.
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Comment on What is a business/org that is great and ethical in so many aspects that everyone should consider using? in ~life
Weldawadyathink Link ParentI really want to like libro.fm, and love the idea of supporting local book stores, but the quality of their products they provide is sub-par. There is a file format for audiobooks. It is m4b. It...I really want to like libro.fm, and love the idea of supporting local book stores, but the quality of their products they provide is sub-par.
There is a file format for audiobooks. It is m4b. It supports a variety of audio codecs, chapters, cover artwork, saved places, etc. There is zero reason to use another file formats for audiobooks. I will freely admit I am a bit of a zealot when it comes to this, but I see no reason to deal with other formats when m4b is so comprehensive and versatile. Using other formats is, in my opinion, like insisting on using an old 480i television instead of a modern 4k TV.
Many of the books sold by libro are only available as mp3 files. I don’t mind that mp3 is an option, I mind that it is sometimes the only option. To their credit, if you request an m4b from support, they will have someone generate it for you in a few days, but that should not be necessary. And the last time I requested it (for An Unwelcome Quest), the resulting m4b file had chapters named “File 003.mp3” or something like that. That is not a good customer experience. Would you buy a book if it was missing chapter markers? And if you requested chapter markers, someone would pencil them onto the pages? Personally, I feel that is an unfinished and poor quality product.
Because of this reason, I still support Amazon through Audible. I wish I didn’t have to, but Audible provides a better product (once you strip the drm, which is quite simple to do) for cheaper. I would be happy to pay more, but I don’t want to have to fix the terrible files they offer to download. I have never seen an audible file with missing chapter markers or missing cover art.
I last used libro in 2022, so if this problem has improved, please let me know so I can reevaluate it.
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Comment on Waymo approved to operate at San Jose airport in ~transport
Weldawadyathink Link ParentCan’t you do that already just by getting a normal taxi? And the SFO to BART connection is pretty good if your final destination is anywhere near BART or MUNI.Can’t you do that already just by getting a normal taxi? And the SFO to BART connection is pretty good if your final destination is anywhere near BART or MUNI.
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Comment on The case for cultured meat has changed in ~food
Weldawadyathink LinkThe Thought Emporium has a video trying something like this. In his case, he is trying to replace DMEM with sports drinks. It is actually quite successful.The Thought Emporium has a video trying something like this. In his case, he is trying to replace DMEM with sports drinks. It is actually quite successful.
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Comment on What is a business/org that's so terrible no one should use if possible? in ~life
Weldawadyathink Link ParentI really hate to say a single word of support for a company like Comcast, but here we go I guess. I had to choose Internet for my apartment around 5 years ago. Options in the area were crappy AT&T...I really hate to say a single word of support for a company like Comcast, but here we go I guess.
I had to choose Internet for my apartment around 5 years ago. Options in the area were crappy AT&T dsl or Comcast. My parents had so many problems with AT&T that I decided on Comcast despite the many horror stories online. To my surprise, they haven’t actually been that bad in my experience. There was no yearly commitment or cancellation fees. Setup and cancellation were easy and quick. The prices I signed up for were fixed prices, so they didn’t increase after 1 or 2 years, unlike AT&T. They can actually provide the advertised speeds, unlike AT&T. I haven’t had to have a tech come out a single time. The only communication I get from them is an email about once a year saying they bumped my speed profiles (usually to slightly increase upload speed). The only annoyance I have is that maximum upload speed is like 40mbps even with a 1200mbps download speed. Even 100 up would be awesome, but preferably more like 250-300.
This is compared to the dog shit that is AT&T. Once we finally got them to enable a bonded pair, we could get a max speed of 50mbps down and 8 up. Really fantastic for the modern internet. And it couldn’t even provide that reliably. The internet and TV were so unstable that we had to downgrade to 25/4 service just so the internet would work. The slower speed costs the same price, and I had to argue with sales for a while to get them to switch to a slower speed. The faster speed would overload their provided modem and cause it to start dropping packets. Calling a tech out to fix the lines was a bimonthly job, and required having support do their troubleshooting checklist before they would send someone. The only good thing I can say about AT&T internet is that their techs never charged us a service fee because the issue was always their infrastructure.
In comparison, Comcast is a company I don’t even think about since it mostly just works with very few outages. Not a single issue in years. I am sure this is dependent on region, but I have no issues with Comcast in my area.
I don’t think /u/myrrh thinks that controls shouldn’t exist, just that they should not be modal. For example, on a touch screen, you might have to hit a climate control button, which takes you to a climate control mode and shows you the climate controls. Now, instead of just adjusting the temperature, you have to think about what mode the controls are in. It increases the cognitive power required to operate these controls. In comparison, my car allows me to control the temperature with a single knob. That knob only ever controls the temperature. I don’t need to put it in a climate control mode before I can change the temperature.
I think there is a place for modal controls in cars, but they should not be used for anything that is commonly accessed. Climate, audio volume, windshield wipers, defrosters, and other safety features should never get modal controls. Yet many modern cars put some of these behind modes.