xethos's recent activity
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Comment on Do I belong in tech anymore? in ~tech
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Comment on Do I belong in tech anymore? in ~tech
xethos Link ParentPerhaps beside your point, and it was just an example, but cybersecurity isn't taken seriously either. The people that do the work, and give a damn, are serious people that do good work, and my...Perhaps beside your point, and it was just an example, but cybersecurity isn't taken seriously either. The people that do the work, and give a damn, are serious people that do good work, and my hat's off to them. Corporations do not, generally, take cybersecurity seriously, and the public knows it. That's how we end up with scenes like this [0] one from Mythic Quest
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Comment on Do I belong in tech anymore? in ~tech
xethos Link ParentI work with systems ajacent / parallel to emergency services communications, and we have fallback systems we test fairly frequently, as the system is put in maintenance mode for upgrades,...I work with systems ajacent / parallel to emergency services communications, and we have fallback systems we test fairly frequently, as the system is put in maintenance mode for upgrades, maintenance, testing, etc.
Large vehicles continue to have air brakes that fail safe, and collision-avoidance is the backup to people - which I actively turn off because my Honda thought it saw something on the highway, on a clear day, and decided to emergency stop at highway speed.
I'd also like to point to Toyota's spaghetti code being at least partially blamed (rightly or wrongly) for unintended acceleration.
You're not wrong, some industries are safety-critical and need to have good quality controls in place for software. But my core argument is that I don't believe for a moment it's anywhere near the majority that is safety-critical, and of the majority that isn't safety critical, the quality leaves quite a bit to be desired
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Comment on Do I belong in tech anymore? in ~tech
xethos Link ParentI support the overall point. But after becoming completely disillusioned with how major tech companies behave, after seeing Google at their best become what they are now, after becoming beyond fed...sometimes it also results in negligence on vital software, and someone gets hurt
I support the overall point. But after becoming completely disillusioned with how major tech companies behave, after seeing Google at their best become what they are now, after becoming beyond fed up with the state of software being shoved everywhere it does not belong:
What vital software?
Because I don't think it's a thing outside of specific industries. Someone will point me to THERAC-25, but that adds to my point - it's been decades, and that's what we have for examples. Tell me aerospace has problem and I'll agree. People can get hurt there, but there are pretty strict human factors requirements there too.
Like today I'll use the software in my car, or on the bus, to get to work, but a glitch in my infotainment system is not going to kill me. The bus having delayed stop announcements isn't life-threatening. My fiancee will change her flight online, use her VISA, chat on Discord... and none of that is life-threatening. At most the VISA is kept secure because it's cheaper for VISA not to be inundated with calls of "I need my money back"
There are a handful of places where, if software goes wrong, people can and will get hurt. It's just a miniscule minority, and I think the absolute state of modern software supports that assumption. Google pays for some of the best programmers in the world (that are willing and able to work there), and not only could they not be bothered to support VOIP, they can't always get their dialer to recieve phone calls [0, 1]. If that is software engineering at it's modern best, am I wrong for thinking so poorly of it?
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Comment on How long can I go with an obsolete phone? in ~tech
xethos Link ParentTruth be told, so would I. I've resorted to using OSM when out'n'about, looking up directions on desktop before leaving, and (as a last resort) OSM's spoken turn-by-turn directions, as my areas...Truth be told, so would I. I've resorted to using OSM when out'n'about, looking up directions on desktop before leaving, and (as a last resort) OSM's spoken turn-by-turn directions, as my areas are reasonably well mapped - and if they aren't, they're added to my to-do list lol
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Comment on How long can I go with an obsolete phone? in ~tech
xethos Link ParentLate, but I'm still stuck on why you're stuck with Google either way. Either you make the jump to GrapheneOS (and drop Google), or you could just run adb disable on all Google software you don't...Late, but I'm still stuck on why you're stuck with Google either way. Either you make the jump to GrapheneOS (and drop Google), or you could just run adb disable on all Google software you don't want now.
The latter means better performance and dramatically better battery life, and you get to test which apps you can use without Google early. Further, unless you're expecting baseband attacks (which aren't exactly common), the safest thing to do is drop all proprietary apps - an opaque app with malicious dependencies, Meta-supplied SDKs, or generally poor respect for the users' privacy is the much more likely threat, and minimizing non-FOSS apps is something you're planning to do anyways as you de-Google in the future.
Purging Google from your current handset is all upside
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Comment on Why does WhatsApp drain so much phone battery? in ~tech
xethos Link ParentIf it's not immediately duplicable on others' iPhones, I wonder if it's related to how many (and how acive) group chats you're included inIf it's not immediately duplicable on others' iPhones, I wonder if it's related to how many (and how acive) group chats you're included in
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Comment on Fines doubled as teens outsmart Australia's world-first social media ban in ~tech
xethos Link ParentI mean, I am an outlier living in a city with competently run public transit, but mostly yes? Twitter or Instagram-exclusive means it's not for me. I've done both, drive around and look, and...I mean, I am an outlier living in a city with competently run public transit, but mostly yes? Twitter or Instagram-exclusive means it's not for me. I've done both, drive around and look, and just... call the business. I'll look up directions before I leave, remember addresses, and just generally live like it's 2006, [modified, 4G-enabled] BlackBerry and all. Biggest change is the mobile web has gotten (mostly) better.
The only flaw is how much harder it made dating, but I'll burn that bridge if I'm ever looking again - and I'm sure living in the small town of Red Deer, AB (at the time) didn't help
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Comment on Anyone had experience with Element and making friends on there? in ~tech
xethos Link ParentI don't recall actually having to use my keys... ever? I do have to put in what is effectively a second password (that I could choose, not the recovery key), and in ElementX I have "Allow Key...meaning you can lose your conversation history when installing on a new phone if you don't have the keys from your old one and no backup
I don't recall actually having to use my keys... ever? I do have to put in what is effectively a second password (that I could choose, not the recovery key), and in ElementX I have "Allow Key Storage" enabled, which would be enabling the exact behaviour I see.
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Comment on Google must pay record €4.1 billion fine, top EU court rules in ~tech
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Comment on Google must pay record €4.1 billion fine, top EU court rules in ~tech
xethos Link ParentTo call Google controlling (at the time of this lawsuit) is an understatement. The fact that Apple does not impose their will on other OEMs or hardware partners may not be great for those that...To call Google controlling (at the time of this lawsuit) is an understatement. The fact that Apple does not impose their will on other OEMs or hardware partners may not be great for those that dearly want to use iOS, but it's legal to refuse to sell their OS. Google's contractual requirements for selling an Android branded handset, on the other hand, were found abusive, illegal, and anti-competitive.
Simply put, there are some things money can't buy. A license to run iOS is one of them. That doesn't make Google's contract for hardware partners legal.
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Comment on Google must pay record €4.1 billion fine, top EU court rules in ~tech
xethos (edited )Link ParentEchoing sibling because the distinction matters a great deal. AOSP is Free-as-in-beer, Open Source Software. An egrigous example of AOSP being ignored is that AOSP includes the TalkBack...Echoing sibling because the distinction matters a great deal. AOSP is Free-as-in-beer, Open Source Software.
I hesitate to even call it FOSS because, while it absolutely still fits the definition, calling AOSP FOSS while (AFAIK) Google does not accept outside contributions, feels weird to me.An egrigous example of AOSP being ignored is that AOSP includes the TalkBack accessibility service for vision-limited users, but has no Text-to-Speech engine to actually make that accessibility service functional. This is hardly the only example, but it is my favourite, because TTS is for more than blind users - it's for everyone that wants spoken directions when driving, too. [1]Android, on the other hand, is a registered trademark. If you want to sell an Android branded handset, tablet, or smartwatch, you negotiate with the big G. For the longest time, they demanded their apps, pre-installed, front and center when the user first booted the device. It was so stringent, they mandated which page their apps showed up on, on the homescreen - along with a boatload of other requirements.
And while AOSP is open and free for all, to get the Play Store / Android Market and Android branding, OEMs could not (at the time of this lawsuit) do both Android and (for example) Amazon's AOSP-derived OS. I frankly struggle to convey just how thoroughly Google had locked down Android when this lawsuit finally came around [0]. Fortunately for Google, the suit was settled after nearly all other AOSP-derived OS' had been given up on, and after they'd killed off all other serious competition
While I have (so, so much) more to say on the subject, this'll just balloon in length if I don't cut it here. Suffice to say, AOSP and Android are not the same, much as Google might want people to conflate the two.
[0] Perhaps Ars can do a better job than me: https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2018/07/googles-iron-grip-on-android-controlling-open-source-by-any-means-necessary/
[1] Paragraph edited and reworded for clarity after I was corrected below
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Comment on Reddit will require you to be logged in to use old.reddit.com in ~tech
xethos Link ParentIt's not, but it's also less garbage than the alternative. Not always easy to physically hit the touch targets on a 3.5" screen, but Vimium (the Firefox extension) works around that pretty...It's not, but it's also less garbage than the alternative. Not always easy to physically hit the touch targets on a 3.5" screen, but Vimium (the Firefox extension) works around that pretty smoothly with a physical keyboard too
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Comment on Reddit will require you to be logged in to use old.reddit.com in ~tech
xethos Link ParentI've got Redirector [0] set to send any www.reddit.com links to old.reddit.com on mobile (as well as xkcd -> m.xkcd), which makes everything pretty seamless. Requires Firefox Beta on Android...I've got Redirector [0] set to send any www.reddit.com links to old.reddit.com on mobile (as well as xkcd -> m.xkcd), which makes everything pretty seamless. Requires Firefox Beta on Android though.
[0] https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/redirector/
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Comment on Gander social launching on Canada Day in ~tech
xethos Link ParentFeels like the inverse of how Voat started with a userbase of "People Reddit banned" - if you're starting off with "People that are proud of being Canadian", I guess I'm not surprised by:attracted a lot of people pissed off about all the threats America was making to our sovereignty
Feels like the inverse of how Voat started with a userbase of "People Reddit banned" - if you're starting off with "People that are proud of being Canadian", I guess I'm not surprised by:
People [...] generally being nice because it's not full of bots and assholes
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Comment on Do you cook with cast iron? Is it the hassle everyone says it is? in ~food
xethos Link ParentWhen we fry bacon, we fry it seperately, then seperate out and keep the grease. I've never used butter for eggs (don't like the taste as much), but bacon fat is something I can't recommend enough...specifically when frying eggs
When we fry bacon, we fry it seperately, then seperate out and keep the grease. I've never used butter for eggs (don't like the taste as much), but bacon fat is something I can't recommend enough if your diet (not vegan, muslim(?), etc) allows it
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Comment on Do you cook with cast iron? Is it the hassle everyone says it is? in ~food
xethos Link ParentThat's actually what I use mine for most! Not scrambled either - sunny-side up or over-easy. Mine are well-seasoned enough that eggs pretty well just glide around after "breaking free" the edges.We cook eggs in ours occasionally
That's actually what I use mine for most! Not scrambled either - sunny-side up or over-easy. Mine are well-seasoned enough that eggs pretty well just glide around after "breaking free" the edges.
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Comment on Do you cook with cast iron? Is it the hassle everyone says it is? in ~food
xethos Link ParentWhy would anyone store them anywhere else (unless they're consistantly using the full amount of oven space they have)? I'll usually give mine a scrub with steel wool, towel dry, then heat up the...Why would anyone store them anywhere else (unless they're consistantly using the full amount of oven space they have)? I'll usually give mine a scrub with steel wool, towel dry, then heat up the oven (where they're stored) to ~350 to ensure they're truly, undeniably dry. I've found if I don't, I'll end up with a bit of rust over time.
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Comment on I'm ever more annoyed with Steam in ~games
xethos Link ParentI'm sympathetic, but I don't expect it to ever happen. Ever. Steam made a massive lift with WINE / Proton; they spend ungodly amounts of money, worked (AFAIK) politely and long-term with WINE's...I'm sympathetic, but I don't expect it to ever happen. Ever.
Steam made a massive lift with WINE / Proton; they spend ungodly amounts of money, worked (AFAIK) politely and long-term with WINE's stewards, and were unafraid of playing the long game.
Getting Proton off the ground, to not just be viable, but good (to the point Microsoft is targeting SteamOS as their performance benchmark [0]), was treated as life-or-death because Microsoft had recently revealed "Look, we could run everything through the Microsoft store - we can charge tolls, or even leverage owning the OS, the store, and the competing platform to turn dominance in one (the OS) into dominance in another (game stores)". Valve knows how Microsoft loves to abuse being a monopoly, and saw the writing on the wall.
Apple will never (IMO) get a Proton equivalent because Apple is the same. Same notarization, same locked-by-default OS, same "Our way or the highway" attitide that spooked Valve to the tune of millions of dollars spent on Proton.
The hardware's nice, but Valve knows it's a trap, and a gilded cage that will not serve them long-term.
[0] Relatively clean link, with a source cited in-story, and Microsoft News shouldn't be too hard on MS: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/microsoft-targets-steamos-level-gaming-with-windows-11-overhaul/gm-GMA80B85E5
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Comment on The rise of build-to-rent housing in ~finance
xethos Link ParentFirst one sounds like a... lack of parking complaint? I'm honestly not sure how else this would affect you or your neighbours, let alone be something you have grounds to complain about. I'm open...clearly having way too many people living there, engaging in shady behavior, harassing neighbors, getting constant noise complaints
First one sounds like a... lack of parking complaint? I'm honestly not sure how else this would affect you or your neighbours, let alone be something you have grounds to complain about. I'm open to being wrong though, is there something I missed about too many people per house / unit?
The latter three though are, IMO, what bylaw and law enforcement are for. That's who a local landlord would escalate to as well, isnt' it? I can recognize Americans have a... complicated... relationship with the cops, but one very common complaint is how frequently they side with capital. I.E., the home-owning class.
Local landlords are better, sure, but I have a much easier time with TMarkos' comment regarding capital leaving the community than complaints that, personally, I'd be talking to tenants directly with first, then calling non-emergency police numbers or bylaw enforcement over.
I'm personally not convinced the abysmal state of software is due to AI. Google dropped VOIP around Android 10, roughly 6 years ago, and turned Maps from a method of organizing the world's information to being primarily ad-focused several years ago as well. Microsoft was struggling with Windows monetization and slow-to-open applications like the file explorer, and even the Start Menu, since well before AI as well - and this doesn't even touch on SteamOS beating Microsoft in gaming benchmarks, and doing so running Windows system calls, leading Microsoft to launch project K2. Apple did not abandon their Human Interface Guidelines and push out LiquidGlass because of Claude.
This is the software quality of the best programmers money can buy, from the best leadership these outrageously well-funded boardrooms can attract. AI is infecting other industries, but AI is not the reason I don't take the major software companies seriously