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    1. How to find out which extension opened an advertising tab?

      Recently I've been coming back to my chrome browsers to find a tab open with the following URL: (link disabled to prevent giving them any more clicks) https...

      Recently I've been coming back to my chrome browsers to find a tab open with the following URL:
      (link disabled to prevent giving them any more clicks)

      https ://theaisecrets.beehiiv.com/p/chatgpt-can-now-work-docs-apps-websites-emails

      This is happening across all my computers, both linux, windows, and linux VM, so I don't think it's OS-specific malware, but I suspect a rogue chrome extension is opening the tab, because I have chrome synced across all affected devices via my google account.

      I've searched for this particular problem and URL to no avail, so I wondered if there's a way to track back which extension opened the tab, other than by doing a binary search disabling half my extensions at a time (which would be annoying as hell - the tabs only seem to get opened once a day or so).

      14 votes
    2. Help fixing an old Sony TV

      Hi Tildestrians! I recently acquired a broken Sony TV from work. Its older, but its 4K, and would be a substantial upgrade over my current TV, so I am hoping to fix it. My usual willingness to...

      Hi Tildestrians! I recently acquired a broken Sony TV from work. Its older, but its 4K, and would be a substantial upgrade over my current TV, so I am hoping to fix it. My usual willingness to tinker and google prowess has failed me. I am hoping one of you can provide some guidance.

      Its a Sony XBR-55X850B. It is showing an error code of 7 flashing red lights. I tracked down the service manual (Sony, you should really have this available to customers and not locked behind an "authorized service center" certification), and it says the motherboard needs to be replaced. I found a replacement motherboard on ebay (it was for the 65 inch version, but that should not make a difference). I installed, and it gave a different error code. I think it was flashing green and orange. Based on my research, that means it needs new firmware to be flashed. Sony's website doesn't still have the firmware file for that TV (should be illegal in my opinion), and tells you to contact support. Support seemingly can't give out the firmware file either. I found a firmware file on Softpedia, but I have no idea if it is legitimate or even still a working file. Threw that on a fat32 drive, and couldn't manage to get it to update. I tried multiple drives and all usb ports over the course of 2 weeks. I ended up pulling the new motherboard and returning it (thankfully I was able to return it for full price). Now I am stuck with a TV panel that works perfectly, except for the motherboard, and I seemingly can't replace the motherboard.

      This got me thinking: I don't need anything fancy. I want a display with an HDMI input that takes 4K signal and puts it on the screen. I truly don't need anything more than that. Even an IR remote for power is optional, because I could plug it into a smart outlet. I don't need the speakers because I have a receiver. I know you can get bypass boards to turn laptop screens into monitors. They take the place of the support circuitry on the laptop motherboard and give you a display input, and nothing more. Is there anything like that I can get for this TV? I don't know where to start on that search.

      Or are there any other routes I should explore before junking this TV? It feels really bad to throw out a perfectly good 4k panel just because the motherboard is broken.

      11 votes
    3. Seeking advice for choosing an inexpensive, plug and play headset with microphone for recording presentations and participating in video chat

      Basically the title. I've been told my voice is too soft on zoom in spite of having tried many options. Before I buy new hardware, I'm asking advice. I have to record a presentation soon, so this...

      Basically the title. I've been told my voice is too soft on zoom in spite of having tried many options. Before I buy new hardware, I'm asking advice. I have to record a presentation soon, so this is important.

      What advice can you give?
      Thank you

      19 votes
    4. Facebook does not let me delete my account

      I did not use facebook for ages, i always thought i need it for my international contacts, but now this new pay or say yes to ads window showed up I realised I did not use it for a long time. So I...

      I did not use facebook for ages, i always thought i need it for my international contacts, but now this new pay or say yes to ads window showed up I realised I did not use it for a long time. So I was like, tech is like clothes, if you don't use it for a year it's time to let it go.
      So i tried to delete my acc.
      After some research (wtf????) I finally found this page
      https://www.facebook.com/help/delete_account
      where I can click my through a menu, until I can enter my password to delete my account, and it just does not let me.
      ""Sorry, this feature isn't available right now""
      wtf? how is deleting my acc not available????
      fuck this, fuck them. this is one of the "leading" tech enterprises. this is one of the biggest fucking companies in the world.
      I don't know how that is even legal.
      I'm so fucking angry. Fuck this fucking fuckers!
      does somebody know what i can do? can i send them an angry real life letter? do i need a lawyer?
      I'm not really in the EU, but the GDPR still applicates to me. so what do I do now to get rid of this fucking fuckers?

      ps. looking in the internet does not help nothing, it's just 100s of links to facebook help center. fuck the fucking modern web as well.

      42 votes
    5. 4G networks - does SMS and standard voice calls still work if 3G/2G networks are shutting down?

      Hey all, Over here in Australia (imagine in USA and a few other countries), the 3G/2G mobile networks are being shutdown. My carrier Vodafone is gradually shutting its down with Dec 15th 2023...

      Hey all,
      Over here in Australia (imagine in USA and a few other countries), the 3G/2G mobile networks are being shutdown. My carrier Vodafone is gradually shutting its down with Dec 15th 2023 being the final closure date. The 4G network will have VolTE but my device (LG V20) does not appear to support VolTE nor does it look like i can update the firmware easily (if at all) to do so.
      Anyone else have this issue with their phone? (i realise it will be older ones)
      Question about VolTE though - will sms and standard voice calling still work on 4G on my device or similar devices without VolTE ?.
      thanks
      Nig

      24 votes
    6. Do you have or know of fun domain names? Do you think it's worth having them?

      I'm interested in domain names that are remarkable in the sense that they are short or easy-to-remember. This idea for a topic started because I find myself window shopping for domain names. Thing...

      I'm interested in domain names that are remarkable in the sense that they are short or easy-to-remember.

      This idea for a topic started because I find myself window shopping for domain names. Thing is, the only use I have for a domain is for my personal website. That's why I hesitate picking up these fun quirky domains.

      What are some interesting domain names you've encountered?

      Do you think it's worth it (in terms of utility and/or entertainment value) to have a more remarkable domain name for a personal website?

      30 votes
    7. How do you feel about AI and the future?

      Off the back of all the chatter and conspiracy theories being thrown around because of the OpenAI Boardroom drama, I thought I'd ask how people are feeling about AI in general. For those of you...

      Off the back of all the chatter and conspiracy theories being thrown around because of the OpenAI Boardroom drama, I thought I'd ask how people are feeling about AI in general.

      For those of you with your head in the sand, have you heard about AI or interacted with anything knowingly?

      Those of you surfing the AI world right now, what are you looking forward to AI doing and are you fearful of where it's leading?

      I'll start by saying, as I've said before, I'm looking forward to living in a world where the start of "I,Robot" is a reality. Robotics and generative AI are going to be amazing, as shown in its infancy by Boston Dynamics. If we stick to the way things are going, we could end up very Star Trek with our very own "Data" androids.

      My fear is that the human race isn't ready, and we're too stupid as a whole, so we end up more with T1s being actually made by the military and at some point, AI will become cognitive and conscious.

      So come on, folks of Tildes, where do you stand?

      34 votes
    8. Why do people make inflammatory posts and comments on LinkedIn?

      I go to LinkedIn to find work. My real name is there. My picture is there. My career history is there. There are many places on the Internet where I can anonymously post inflammatory opinions...

      I go to LinkedIn to find work.

      My real name is there. My picture is there. My career history is there.

      There are many places on the Internet where I can anonymously post inflammatory opinions without endangering my job, my career, or my reputation in my field.

      I kind of feel like that is the situation on for everyone else on LinkedIn too.

      So... why do some people post inflammatory opinions about politics and other non-career related subjects on that site?

      All risk and for zero gain.

      30 votes
    9. Audio/video system for a small bar

      I'm helping some friends setting up a bar/little restaurant. they have some tvs and are looking for an audio system. The idea is that they can put on some music videos/sports and it shows up on...

      I'm helping some friends setting up a bar/little restaurant. they have some tvs and are looking for an audio system.
      The idea is that they can put on some music videos/sports and it shows up on all TVs and audio goes to their (to be bought) soundsystem.

      all this has to be as cheap as possible, as we're in a low income country.
      The environment is quite loud. so it needs some power.

      So I think I just gonna buy a cheapish hifi-system with 4 passive speakers, connect it with their "smartest" tv (they are all off-brand) and run audio cables to the different areas and speakers.

      how to synchronize the tvs I still have no idea, but it is not really a priority

      So my questions

      • What is something like this even called? with the keywords I tired i only find nothing or very expensive pro solutions.
      • how would you resolve the video part? 3x 15m HDMI cables seem quite expensive, but might be the only solution. how do i split the signal?
      • might it be better to buy active speakers and use a small mixer?

      If you have experience in this I would be very happy for your advice/opinion.

      9 votes