xethos's recent activity
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Comment on Discord will require a face scan or ID for full access next month in ~tech
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Comment on Discord will require a face scan or ID for full access next month in ~tech
xethos Link ParentSelf-hosting isn't a hard requirement, and there seem to be a reasonable number of public servers with fairly open registrations [0]. It's not the infinite choice one finds with Mastodon /...Self-hosting isn't a hard requirement, and there seem to be a reasonable number of public servers with fairly open registrations [0]. It's not the infinite choice one finds with Mastodon / Fediverse servers, but decision paralysis isn't always a selling point.
You could probably create a couple rooms in whichever server you join, mark them invite-only (and optionally "from this server"-only), then create what Matrix calls a space (IE, a collection of rooms grouped together) with all your invite-only rooms joined together. That way you can send a single invite code to your friends for the space, and it should allow your friends to join every room in the space, and have them grouped neatly together. You should be able to adjust power / permissions levels from there
And yes, Discord calling random groups a "server" has grated on me for years, and does not make jumping in to (or out of) Discord easier as people attempt to navigate the language used
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Comment on Discord will require a face scan or ID for full access next month in ~tech
xethos Link ParentYou might have to elaborate on streaming, but it has both Zoom-style (actively invite to, and join, a call) and Discord-style (the room is always there, you can drop in and out as you please)...You might have to elaborate on streaming, but it has both Zoom-style (actively invite to, and join, a call) and Discord-style (the room is always there, you can drop in and out as you please) voice and video calls / rooms.
I don't like some aspects of it, and it isn't at proper feature parity yet (for example, I don't see the list of active people in a voice-room, assuming that feature even exists), but the speed of improvement is better than some might have you believe
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Comment on Discord will require a face scan or ID for full access next month in ~tech
xethos Link ParentMatrix actually has everything on your list. An idle, always-on style voicechat room is available as well, though the UX isn't nearly as polished as Discords (who've spent years making theirs...Matrix actually has everything on your list. An idle, always-on style voicechat room is available as well, though the UX isn't nearly as polished as Discords (who've spent years making theirs better).
Many servers have open sign-ups as well, meaning you can try a non-overloaded server before you decide if you even want to try hosting your own:
https://servers.joinmatrix.org/
I've been hosting my own for years now, and found it fairly straightforward / set'n'forget on Debian. Feel free to send me a DM if you'd like a registration code (as I do not have open registration) to play around with it too.
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Comment on RCS — SMS via the internet — is good, but it doesn't matter in ~tech
xethos Link ParentNo, you haven't given it to them. Facebook, to have that information, and be in compliance with the GDPR, would have to have been given that information by another source. So now we guess: how...Whatapp accounts are phone numbers. They don't know my name (other than what I chose to enter) or address or even have an email for me
No, you haven't given it to them. Facebook, to have that information, and be in compliance with the GDPR, would have to have been given that information by another source.
So now we guess: how many of the people that will ever contact you via Whatsapp, will both fill in additional information about you in their contacts app (name, job, relation to them, etc), and allow the Facebook, Messenger, or Whatsapp apps access to their contacts? Because my guess is above zero, and that's all Facebook needs to match number to name to spouse to address, and so on
What Whatsapp uses may not be what everyone considers an "account", sure. But bet your ass feeds Facebook more information than just "This phone number is in use", even if that's all the information you submit
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Comment on Federal officers kill another citizen in Minneapolis, National Guard activated in ~society
xethos Link ParentIt's not an unfair reaction on your part, but I'd like to draw attention to the word "secure" at least. Secure for whom, and secure from what? Because making it a safer place to protest helps...It's not an unfair reaction on your part, but I'd like to draw attention to the word "secure" at least. Secure for whom, and secure from what? Because making it a safer place to protest helps protestors, not ICE. Having the better-trained, better-armed National Guard standing right there to secure the evidence and any suspects next time this happens, helps protests and actively harms ICE.
I don't (immediately) assume this is for ICE's benefit, especially coming from Walz
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Comment on Clicks Communicator: the ultimate communication companion in ~tech
xethos Link ParentIt's really just for the (modified?) Passport and the Q25 AFAIK. This [0] is the most recent release, but it's exclusively for the Q25. It fixes things like the currency key and minor layout...It's really just for the (modified?) Passport and the Q25 AFAIK. This [0] is the most recent release, but it's exclusively for the Q25. It fixes things like the currency key and minor layout quirks that are specific to the Q25.
The Titan 2 would probably be better served by downloading Cobalt app manager, then installing the BlackBerry keyboard from there. It's a more generic install, but no promises it would work perfectly with the Titan. Even worse, BlackBerry still holds (and held at launch) patents that make me lose interest in the Titan keyboard - meaning I never kept up with which IME would work best. Hope you find an IME you love, but I really don't have that much information unfortunately
[0] https://xwtk.cloud/delivery/HarpocratKeyboard-Q25-015.apk
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Comment on Clicks Communicator: the ultimate communication companion in ~tech
xethos Link ParentI'm actually spoiled with Harpocrat Keyboard - a modified BlackBerry Passport (or possibly KeyOne or 2?) apk that lets me use the keyboard exactly the same as my Key2 LE. Unfortunately, I'm too...I'm actually spoiled with Harpocrat Keyboard - a modified BlackBerry Passport (or possibly KeyOne or 2?) apk that lets me use the keyboard exactly the same as my Key2 LE. Unfortunately, I'm too spoiled to switch for now (though I do appreciate the suggestion, and will keep playing with it periodically)
The launcher's worth looking further into for me though, thank you
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Comment on Clicks Communicator: the ultimate communication companion in ~tech
xethos Link ParentTook me a minute to remember, but no, I didn't. Delivery was via Canada Post, and if I hadn't kept looking for who the carrier was, it would have just shown up in my mailbox one evening (instead...Took me a minute to remember, but no, I didn't. Delivery was via Canada Post, and if I hadn't kept looking for who the carrier was, it would have just shown up in my mailbox one evening (instead of noticing "It's here!" and running downstairs like it was Christmas morning)
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Comment on Clicks Communicator: the ultimate communication companion in ~tech
xethos LinkThis is very cool, and a year ago I'd be hyped. Currently though, I'm typing this on my Q25 [0,1] - and honestly, I like the Q25 better. I like the BlackBerry keyboard better. I actually like the...This is very cool, and a year ago I'd be hyped. Currently though, I'm typing this on my Q25 [0,1] - and honestly, I like the Q25 better. I like the BlackBerry keyboard better. I actually like the toolbelt, despite being on the fence when I ordered it. I like that I don't have to use my carrier's imperfect 5G, and can stick to LTE. I enjoy the trackpad, and I adore that replacement backs, screens, keyboards, etc are available and dirt-cheap.
I don't have a fingerprint sensor, but my phone stays on my person 95% of the time anyways. So I set a longer "lock" timeout, and when I set it down I use the long-press 'k' shortcut to lock it - just like BBOS10.
Their LED on the side is neat, but I'm perfectly content with it on the face. And the touch-sensitive keypad is (for me, at least) competing with the trackpad - and the trackpad wins for ease-of-repair, for being cheaper to replace should it die, and for being able to double as a mouse.
My Q25 is physically smaller too, while retaining a headphone jack. And possibly the most damning of all, the Q25 isn't using an IoT SoC. Which, while it is on the 4nm node, IoT SoCs are more likely to assume they're to be plugged in, and care less about power draw.
Not to dissuade anyone, the Communicator looks very cool - I'm glad I got something I'm happier with though.
[0] https://linkapus.com/products/q25-pro-full-device
[1] A modified BlackBerry Q20 / Classic. Externally, still the hardware RIM made ~12 years ago. Internally, an aftermarket mainboard runs Android 14, with a new battery and camera module
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Comment on Clicks Communicator: the ultimate communication companion in ~tech
xethos Link ParentThey almost certainly used Niagara for keyboard shortcuts from the homescreen. When the Zinwa-modded Q25 (new mainboard with Android 14 in a BlackBerry Q20 body) started showing up for the general...They almost certainly used Niagara for keyboard shortcuts from the homescreen. When the Zinwa-modded Q25 (new mainboard with Android 14 in a BlackBerry Q20 body) started showing up for the general public, Niagara was found to be one of the few launchers that will work with homescreen keyboard shortcuts out-of-the-box.
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Comment on Toll roads are spreading in America in ~transport
xethos Link ParentBecause I'm not seeing this addressed nearly enough: Great! The road should be public access, available to all. Now take a stroll through the road (not the sidewalk), and tell me it's currently...Because I'm not seeing this addressed nearly enough:
roads should be public-access, and that means they should be free
Great! The road should be public access, available to all. Now take a stroll through the road (not the sidewalk), and tell me it's currently accessible to all, instead of paved, maintained, widened, paid for, and throwing off excess noise and other pollutants for the exclusive benefit of motorists instead of inhabitants of the area.
The road currently has a toll: it's the price of an automobile, with the costs associated with one. This makes the costs more overt, but also more targeted at those that are benefiting.
As it stands, we're all subsidizing motorists, and enforcement for traffic violations is nowhere close to stringent enough for me to have any sympathy at all for them
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Comment on Grocery stores are profiling online shoppers and charging them dynamic prices based on algorithmically determined affluence in ~finance
xethos Link ParentAffluent people may actually get the lower price to incentivize long-term relationships, because industry claims dynamic pricing is to match the price to the value the customer recieves at the...Affluent people may actually get the lower price to incentivize long-term relationships, because industry claims dynamic pricing is to match the price to the value the customer recieves at the till [1]. So if they think you're too broke (in time or money) to go elsewhere, dynamic pricing screws you. Notably, the affluent value time, the broke value money - so rich or poor, dynamic pricing is bad news.
Further, some stores will charge higher based on where you are - inside the store, compared to in the parking lot [0]. So while not a grocery store, it can (and will) still be done by companies other than Instacart.
For a fun (video) overview of why dynamic pricing is to be derided instead of defended as well: [2]
[0]
https://retailwire.com/discussion/will-targets-dynamic-pricing-strategy-erode-customers-trust/ -
Comment on A new Jolla phone has reached the required pre-order crowd-funding amount in ~tech
xethos Link ParentIf you're after the bridges, I found the Mautrix-* ones very easy to set up. They can be, and default to, not E2EE though, which makes me less willing to share those. I don't want the...If you're after the bridges, I found the Mautrix-* ones very easy to set up. They can be, and default to, not E2EE though, which makes me less willing to share those. I don't want the responsibility, nor the possibility of what would be, from the outside, a not-unreasonable accusation.
However! If you're after straight Matrix messaging and want to test if you like it, or verify that notifications are better/faster/more reliable than the default matrix.org though, feel free to shoot me a message. I'm happy enough to share an invite / registration code to my server, and because Matrix is E2EE [0], I'm willing to handle messaging for an unknown, but presumed reasonable, Tildes netizen [1]
[0] Disclaimer: This is not Signal, AFAIK it is possible for admins to see room names and some other metadata (though it's being worked on by the team at Matrix), and I'm a private (Canadian) citizen without promises of uptime, redundancy, or availability. Cue the GNU "This is free (in beer and liberty), use at your own risk" paragraph
[1] Further, this stands for pretty well anyone on Tildes, the community here is marvelous
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Comment on A new Jolla phone has reached the required pre-order crowd-funding amount in ~tech
xethos Link ParentI'll immediately cop to hitting a few hurdles [0], so I can't blame you, but a basic matrix-synapse install (real-time messaging & notifications, closed registration, no Single Sign On), was...I'll immediately cop to hitting a few hurdles [0], so I can't blame you, but a basic matrix-synapse install (real-time messaging & notifications, closed registration, no Single Sign On), was pretty painless on Debian Stable using Matrix's python package. I've gone through at least one Debian dist-upgrade as well (bookworm -> trixie), with my Synapse install just working across it.
So while I can sympathize (through lived experience) with dependancy hell and Debian being juuust too far behind, even boring (and thank god for that) old Debian is well-supported
[0] Their new calls system took me an hour or two, and multiple attempts
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Comment on A new Jolla phone has reached the required pre-order crowd-funding amount in ~tech
xethos Link ParentWhile more Linux Mobile than Jolla, I just used Matrix bridges [0] for my Pinephone. Discord, Telegram, Signal, Whatsapp, and FB Messenger are all fine for text / images, but not calls. As a...While more Linux Mobile than Jolla, I just used Matrix bridges [0] for my Pinephone. Discord, Telegram, Signal, Whatsapp, and FB Messenger are all fine for text / images, but not calls. As a bonus, this gives me one app that needs a background connection [1,2] instead of 5 on my current de-Googled Android
[0] Which, together with ntfy, I run my own server for. Much faster and more reliable than the overcrowded, and at times under-provisioned, matrix.org
[1] without Google Play Services and the background connections included, something has to watch for notifications. Some apps, like Whatsapp, just keep an open network connection 24/7. This is very not-good for battery life
[2] Most Matrix clients (for Android) support ntfy / Unified Push as well, which is much better for battery life, and can bundle notifications for Matrix, Mastodon, and Dav5x (for CalDav and CardDav syncing) - meaning reliable sync with a single bckground connection
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Comment on Android Quick Share can now work with iOS’s AirDrop in ~tech
xethos Link ParentEarly access for Pixels might be due to their receiving monthly updates direct from Google, one of their unique selling points, ...though given how "Open" AOSP has become, I strongly suspect...Early access for Pixels might be due to their receiving monthly updates direct from Google, one of their unique selling points,
...though given how "Open" AOSP has become, I strongly suspect you're correct
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Comment on The death of punctuation in ~humanities.languages
xethos Link ParentAbsolutely. Further, punctuation gives your text a voice. It means the people you're messaging can hear your intention, how you meant to phrase something, where the emphasis is. In short, it...Absolutely. Further, punctuation gives your text a voice. It means the people you're messaging can hear your intention, how you meant to phrase something, where the emphasis is.
In short, it matters, and it takes just a moment - and yes, I do mean just a second or two per message once in the habit of doing so. Getting back to scrolling is not more important than taking an extra second for whomever I'm messaging.
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Comment on Overwatch 2 now: how does it look to you? in ~games
xethos Link ParentMine routinely took a bit to compile shaders every launch, but following that Flatpak-Lutris matched your Windows experience (framerates smoothing out within one game, often nothing noticable/done...Mine routinely took a bit to compile shaders every launch, but following that Flatpak-Lutris matched your Windows experience (framerates smoothing out within one game, often nothing noticable/done by the time I made it past the menu).
My guess would have been to try using Lutris installed through Flatpak, and that might be worth exploring if there are other games that Steam/Proton struggles with day-1 support on in the future, but for now it's more "Congrats on getting everything working!"
Thanks for following up too, even if I took a day or two to be able to read it
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Comment on Is vaping less harmful than smoking, and does it help people quit? in ~health
xethos Link ParentIf my partner smoked 4-5 a day, I'd say they were a smoker. If a Tinder date stepped out for a cigarette after coffee or dinner, I'd assume they lied on their bio if they said they weren't a...should I have even really been considered a 'smoker' at 4-5/day?
If my partner smoked 4-5 a day, I'd say they were a smoker. If a Tinder date stepped out for a cigarette after coffee or dinner, I'd assume they lied on their bio if they said they weren't a smoker.
If your clothes or fingers smell like smoke, if it affects your fingernails teeth or gums, if you keep a pack around just for you that hasn't gone stale: I'd say you're a smoker
Just did a brief check, and yes, seems you can share your screen alongside a video call. "High quality" can be a difficult endorsement to make though, with some caveats being we were both (including the server) basically on LAN, we only played with it briefly, we weren't stressing any desktop or server, and my definition of high quality may not meet yours (though it certainly seemed crisp enough)
If you're leery of pushing people without being able to effectively try it yourself first, you can join one of the open servers and we can arrange a test call (Matrix handle in bio) at some point on the 17th/18th. If you're going to go through YouTube or similar for reviews, make sure they're not too stale - the platform's been maturing at a fair clip, and anything beyond about a year generally wouldn't make my list :)