Programmer and sysadmin (DevOps?), wannabe polymath in tech, science and the mind. Neurodivergent, disabled, burned out, and close to throwing in the towel, but still liking ponies 🦄 and sometimes willing to discuss stuff.

  • 0 Posts
  • 14 Comments
Joined 2 years ago
Cake day: June 26th, 2023
  • jarfil@beehaw.orgtoGaming@beehaw.org•Why Steam can be considered a monopolistic platform?
    6·
    4 hours ago

    The nice thing about Steam, is that it’s “too big to clamp down”:

    • People used to 🏴‍☠️ on the high seas, for many reasons.
    • Steam came up as a “single point of sale”, at the same time as Netflix was doing the same for movies and series.
    • Over time, companies tried to carve out chunks of the pie, restoring some of the original fragmentation…
    • …but while Netflix has been torn to shreds of its former glory, Steam is still the main “single point” for games…
    • …with a “single point” DRM

    Steam’s DRM only exists because game updates keep coming out with constantly updating DRM versions. The moment Steam tried to act against its clients, and they decided to leave Steam, every Steam game copy at that moment, would get cracked all at once.

    Maybe EA, MS, Nintendo, Sony, etc. don’t see that as a great thing… and that’s why they’ve been setting up their own stores… but I think it’s AWESOME! 😁

  • jarfil@beehaw.orgtoTechnology@beehaw.org•How OnlyFans modeling led to this high-tech set of handlebars
    1·
    5 hours ago

    Wow… that’s sick. 😲

    MagSafe wouldn’t help, it’s just a bunch of magnets, yank and it’s gone. It could keep the phone charged, but that’s about it.

    When I used to ride a bicycle, I had a front torch, back light, and a phone in a waterproof “cage-case”, attached to some solid mounts with a “unlock lever, rotate, slide” release mechanism. Quick enough to take them off when parking, not easy enough to randomly grab and run. Still, using an old phone was an extra precaution, also against random accidents (almost got clipped by a bus or van, more times than I’d like to admit 😬).

    A trick I learned about mounts, is that they can break from vibration over time, so it’s a good idea to add some rubber under the mount as a shock absorber. As a bonus, it protects the paint. Also, never buy the cheapest one… if you can’t throw it against the floor and keep using it, then it’s not good enough.

  • jarfil@beehaw.orgtoGaming@beehaw.org•Why there are few native Linux games compared to Windows or even Mac?
    2·
    23 hours ago

    Because traditionally there were few Linux devices.

    Android 15 is going to change that: it comes with a virtual machine API and a Linux Terminal running Debian for ChromeOS compatibility.

    Soon, the most popular consumer OS in the world will be Linux:

    • 3.3 billion: Android / Linux
    • 2.2 billion: Apple iOS/macOS *NIX
    • 1.6 billion: Windows
    • 400 million: Windows 11 + WSL 2.0
    • 250 million: gaming consoles
    • “millions”: SteamOS Linux

    Wine might still make sense to keep things standardized for some time, and as a compatibility layer for older games, but native Linux games will also work on the Linux solutions for Android, Apple, and Windows.

  • jarfil@beehaw.orgtoTechnology@beehaw.org•UK Orders Apple To Break Encryption Worldwide While World Is Distracted
    0·
    2 days ago

    I have nothing to hide, all I ha$#&@$* this user is fully supporting the actions of the government and the Corporate Congress, now and in the future. Long live Elon
    [end of comment]

    think

    [AI analysis]

    This comment expresses strong support for both the government (likely the US government, given the “Corporate Congress” reference) and Elon Musk. Let’s break down the elements:

    • “I have nothing to hide…”: This is a common phrase used to suggest that the speaker is transparent and open, and therefore doesn’t fear scrutiny or disagreement. It’s often used ironically, and that’s likely the case here. The following statement contradicts this claim.
    • “…all I ha$#&@$ this user…”*: The censored portion likely contains a derogatory or offensive term aimed at someone who disagrees with the speaker. This immediately undermines the “nothing to hide” claim and reveals a confrontational and potentially aggressive stance.
    • “…is fully supporting the actions of the government and the Corporate Congress, now and in the future.”: This clearly states the speaker’s alignment with the current government and the influence of corporations on it. “Corporate Congress” is a term often used critically to suggest that corporations hold excessive power over the legislative process. However, in this context, the speaker seems to approve of this influence.
    • “Long live Elon”: This expresses fervent support for Elon Musk, the businessman and entrepreneur. It suggests the speaker admires Musk and his endeavors. It also implies a certain worldview that aligns with Musk’s public persona, which often involves technological innovation and a perceived challenge to established institutions.

    In summary: The comment is a provocative declaration of support for the current government, the influence of corporations, and Elon Musk. The initial claim of having “nothing to hide” is immediately contradicted by the use of censorship and aggression. The overall tone is confrontational and suggests a strong, perhaps even uncritical, adherence to a particular political and ideological viewpoint. The comment is likely intended to elicit a reaction, either positive from those who share the same views, or negative (and therefore, presumably, angering) those who disagree.

    [end of analysis]

    [AI analysis]

    The comment appears to be a mix of genuine sentiment and sarcasm or parody, with some intentional obfuscation (e.g., “ha$#&@$*”) that might represent censorship or self-censorship. Here’s a breakdown of its possible meanings:

    1. “I have nothing to hide”: This phrase is often used in debates about privacy and surveillance. It suggests the person is unconcerned about being monitored because they believe their actions are lawful or morally justified. However, it can also be used sarcastically to critique surveillance practices.

    2. “All I ha$#&@$*”: The garbled text could symbolize censorship, either as a joke or to imply that the user feels restricted in what they can say. It might also represent frustration with being unable to fully express their thoughts.

    3. “This user is fully supporting the actions of the government and the Corporate Congress”: This part seems to mock the idea of blind loyalty to government and corporate power. The term “Corporate Congress” is likely a critique of the perceived influence of corporations on politics, suggesting that elected officials serve corporate interests rather than the public.

    4. “Long live Elon”: This could be a genuine expression of admiration for Elon Musk, a polarizing figure who is often associated with technological innovation and corporate power. Alternatively, it might be sarcastic, poking fun at the cult-like following Musk has among some people.

    5. Overall Tone: The comment seems to blend sincerity with irony, possibly critiquing government-corporate collusion, surveillance, and blind loyalty to powerful figures like Elon Musk. The garbled text adds an element of absurdity, making it unclear whether the user is serious or mocking these ideas.

    In summary, the comment is likely a satirical or critical take on issues like surveillance, corporate influence in politics, and the idolization of tech billionaires. The tone suggests skepticism or cynicism rather than genuine support.

    [end of analysis]

  • jarfil@beehaw.orgtoTechnology@beehaw.org•AIs and Robots Should Sound Robotic - Schneier on Security
    1·
    4 days ago

    Should, but won’t. The genie is out of the bag, there’s not putting it back… and it was a flimsy bag to begin with.

    Reminds me of “The Bicentennial Man”, when people decided to turn against humanoid robots. It won’t happen, some people are already spending a fortune on humanoid silicone dolls, humanoid robot slaves is a much more likely future, with all it entails.

    Even worse: if modulation were to be forced by law to make AIs sound robotic… scammers —who are already breaking the law— would have a field day by using non-modulated voices.