Samsung's Latest Galaxy Buds Might Be Android's Answer to AirPods

One cool feature for the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro is Auto Noise Adjustment, which can automatically adjust the ANC for you. For example, if your earbuds detect an ambulance siren, they'll turn the ANC to Ambient mode so you can stay aware of what's going on around you. If there's construction noise, they'll turn up the ANC to full to block any external noise.

For sound, the Galaxy Buds 3 (the non-Pro model) has a 1-way single amp and dynamic driver along with Adaptive ANC (an odd choice for buds without a seal). With the standard Buds 3, you lose out on the Auto Noise Adjustment feature that the Buds 3 Pro have.

I do like that adaptive ANC as my own Anker Soundcore's do have adaptive ANC, but it is more for levels of noise, and don't automatically let a speaking voice or a siren through. But that is purely software, and there is no reason why Anker should not be offering that.

That said, I still have a fear of paying so much for any of these devices if the non-replaceable batteries are only going to last 2 or 3 years max. I never bought another pair of AirPods after mine's batteries dies just after 2 years.

Samsung's Ring also sounds interesting (I have the Oura right now) but I'm really waiting to first see what the reviews have to say, and see what functions are actually available (and how well they work).

See https://lifehacker.com/tech/samsung-latest-galaxy-buds-might-be-androids-answer-to-airpods

#technology #earbuds

Well it's been externally audited (the other existing services) and passed, and is not selling information. It does not have a government that invasively spies. So as far as any service goes, it probably rates quite well. The only service you can trust is the one where you write all the software from scratch without 3rd party libraries, and host it yourself. Very few go that far.

OMG!! R300 million stolen in massive cyber-heist in South African gov dept over 10 year period

Cybercriminals have stolen at least R300 million from South African taxpayers over the past ten years thanks to security flaws at the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure.

I am just dumbstruck over this, and can only quote the Minister's own words here: "The minister said it was unthinkable that this had gone on for so long without being noticed".

When is South Africa going to take cybersecurity seriously with government? Despite the Cybersecurity Hub , a National Cybersecurity Policy Framework (NCPF), etc, we see posts and a website, but very little in the way of actual preventative actions. The country has been embarrassed by more than one department denying they've been hacked at all, only to find out a week later after the data is leaked, that the department had no clue what they were talking about.

I've actually tried contacting the Cybersecurity Hub using their PGP encrypted e-mail to get suggestions on bolstering a government website I assisted in maintaining, but never got any response from them at all. I think at one stage their mailbox was also full.

Cybersecurity is not just about financial loss, or exposing citizen's private data, but also about protecting the very sovereignty of the country. Intrusions today can also expose backend systems and even state or military secrets.

I'm really not sure these types of expertise actually exist within the departments themselves, as they are firstly highly specialised, but are also evolving daily.

See https://mybroadband.co.za/news/security/543863-r300-million-stolen-in-massive-cyber-heist.html

#technology #SouthAfrica #cybersecurity

Openvibe combines Mastodon, Bluesky and Nostr into one social app

See https://techcrunch.com/2024/07/09/openvibe-combines-mastodon-bluesky-and-nostr-into-one-social-app/

Cross-Platform ONLYOFFICE 8.1 office suite has an excellent PDF editor and forms creator

With this update, the PDF editor also supports page deletion, rotation (left or right), and insertion (blank page before or after), all easily accessible from the "Home" tab (remember to enable "Edit PDF"). Moreover, you can now insert and adjust existing objects, including images, tables, hyperlinks, and equations. On the "Home" tab, click "Edit PDF," then go to the "Insert" tab to add an object (some options are directly accessible on the "Home" tab). To adjust an existing object like an image, select it and edit (rotate, resize, etc.).

ONLYOFFICE 8.1 has eliminated the DOCXF format and now uses PDF forms, allowing you to easily create complex forms entirely in PDF. This change ensures that users with various devices and software can fill out your forms more easily, unlike DOCXF forms, which require compatible software to open and edit.

Not so funny how Microsoft always end up locking you into using their products (mainly because they do not support truly open standards). So good to see a proper open PDF format being supported here. It is fully compatible with Office Open XML formats: .docx, .xlsx, .pptx. ONLYOFFICE is released under the GNU Affero General Public License, so it ensures that anyone who modifies the code, must also release the modified code. It works without a cloud account.

It will install on Windows, macOS, and Linux (including AppImage, Flatpak, or Snap versions).

See https://www.linuxtechmore.com/2024/07/onlyoffice-8-1-unveiled-with-supercharged-pdf-editor-and-more.html

#technology #officesuite #opensource #PDF

StreamController Application on Linux for the Elgato Stream Deck

StreamController is an elegant Linux application designed for the Elgato Stream Deck, offering advanced features like plug-ins and automatic page switching to enhance your streaming and productivity setup. It can support multiple Stream Decks together. A very useful feature is automatic page switching which means you do not always need an available button on the deck's main page to switch to other pages, as those pages can be activated automatically when the app becomes active.

I'm using StreamController to view and manage my Home Assistant application, Kdenlive, spreadsheet, Snowrunner and OpenBVE games, OBS Studio, and more. I demo this in the video and also show how buttons can be configured and used.

If you are a Windows user you may still find some of the use cases interesting to try out on the Elgato Windows software, and even if you don't yet own a Stream Deck, the video may help motivate why you could find one very useful. For Linux users, this also inspires the confidence to buy an Elgato Stream Deck, as you can see the level and type of support available right now for Linux users.

Watch https://youtu.be/kIJOj_6Jimk

#technology #opensource #streamdeck #homeassistant #streamcontroller

You mean versus China, Russia or the USA?

We saw similar but through smaller and newer parties splitting the existing votes. Then the largest party in one Province lost because the other parties firmed a coalition. But at the end of the day, the most voters are still represented so I suppose it works out...

Paperless-ngx is an open-source document management system that transforms your physical documents into a searchable online archive

You can either scan or upload various document formats into Paperless-ngx.

It will organise and index your scanned documents with tags, correspondents, types, and more. Your data is stored locally on your server and is never transmitted or shared in any way. It performs OCR on your documents, adding searchable and selectable text, even to documents scanned with only images.

Documents are saved as PDF/A format which is designed for long term storage, alongside the unaltered originals. It uses machine-learning (see no AI) to automatically add tags, correspondents, and document types to your documents. Supports PDF documents, images, plain text files, Office documents (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and LibreOffice equivalents) and more.

I installed this using the Docker Compose script file. I did notice though for support of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and LibreOffice equivalents I needed to also install Tika and Gotenberg (added them to the Docker Compose file).

It is not just limited to documents, though, as it will also connect via IMAP to an e-mail server and organise and archive your e-mails.

I'm testing it out a bit now and finding it useful for scanning in my numerous receipts, as the OCR will help find what I'm looking for later. I'm thinking of doing a video about it in a few weeks to show what it does, and does not, do.

See https://docs.paperless-ngx.com/

#technology #opensource #archiving #documents

Proton Just Launched a More Private Version of Google Docs with End-To-End Encryption

Apart from China and Russia, the USA also has some pretty invasive mass surveillance laws, some of which operate in secret. So seeing countries outside the Five-Eyes nations launching more privacy respecting services is always very welcome to see.

As with all Proton services, Docs put you back in control of your data. Thanks to our open-source end-to-end encryption, you are the only one with the key to read and share your documents. Not even Proton can access your docs content or metadata (such as file names). Instead of storing your data in the US, where it can be subject to government surveillance, Proton is protected by strict Swiss privacy laws (new window).

Docs in Proton Drive will also support the option to embed images and invite various collaborators, though they will need at least a free Proton account, so the company can ensure the secure environment remains intact. Further, you’ll be able to see who is viewing the document, as well as where they are working, using similar collaborative cursors to what's in Google Docs.

With Proton Drive and Docs, you now have a secure, privacy-first cloud storage and productivity alternative. If you’re working in law firms or healthcare, you can draft contracts and manage patient data in compliance with privacy laws. Journalists, content creators, and entrepreneurs can keep their projects protected from data leaks and Big Tech surveillance (no AI snooping on your work).

Of course, there are also self-hosted alternatives such as CryptPad, and some providers also host these services online. They provide a nearly identical service, also with E2EE, so it is also worth considering.

See https://proton.me/blog/docs-proton-drive

#technology #privacy

The Youth should know there are WAY CHEAPER, and better, alternatives to expensive Gillette razor blades

In hindsight now, I wish my father would have told me about safety razor shaving with universal standard double edge razor blades, when I started to shave!

I was probably taken in by all the Gillette advertising, and of course, I'd never experienced any other option, so I ended up just using those twin-blade cartridges many years ago. I often had to endure the odd ingrown hair or two for months on end (more about this further on).

To start with, cost, which you'd really have thought would have put Gillette's multi-blade razors out of business long ago (but not, largely because many people do NOT KNOW about suitable alternatives. Just do a search online for Astra Superior Platinum DE blades. They are not half the cost, nor a quarter of the cost cheaper... they're on average about 400% cheaper. This is why after buying a good safety razor that lasts longer than a single lifetime, it ends up paying for itself after a year just through using DE razor blades. There is no vendor lock-in so you are free to try any DE blades as each has different characteristics.

So how do they shave? Well pretty similar to cartridge razors, as safety razors are not cut-throat / straight razors where any slip could be a disaster (hence the name safety razors). What they do not do, because of the single blade, is to lift the hair out from below the skin and cut it. They instead cut the hair level with the skin. This actually helps prevent ingrown hairs for many. I discovered this merely week or so after migrating to safety razors. Many say this level of cutting is easier on the skin, as there is also only one blade being used.

Another difference, although not needed, is using proper shaving soap that is lathered up using a brush. Apart from the glide it provides, most soaps are made from natural products that may include coconut oil, lamb fat, etc and actually help condition the skin (many also being vegan products including the brushes). The brushing also helps stimulate the hairs before shaving. Soaps and creams come with some amazing fragrances, but many are also fragrance-free.

Traditional shaving is also more environment friendly: Apart from natural soaps, these do not use aerosol cans at all either. Unlike cartridge razor blades made from mixed plastics and metals that can't easily be separated, DE blades are pure metal. I store my used blades in a money tin and these can be sent for recycling once the tin is full (after about 5 years my tin is not even a quarter full).

So where does one start then? I'd recommend starting with a reasonably good razor, something like a Merkur 34C or an Edwin Jagger DE89. For blades, I've settled on the Astra's, but I'd highly recommend getting a DE sample pack to try out different blades to find something that matches your razor, skin, and beard type. Starting out with a very cheap razor and blades is often not going to be a good experience.

I have tons more tips and advice on my webpage at the link below. I just wish more people knew about the benefits and alternatives of traditional wet shaving, but unfortunately the Big Pharma and similar companies prefer the exceptional profits of selling Gillette type blades.

See https://gadgeteer.co.za/myotherinterests/traditional-wet-shaving/

#shaving #environment #Gillette #cheaper

Canonical's 'distroless' Linux images are a game-changer for enterprises

Canonical has announced plans to offer customized Docker container Long Term Support (LTS) Linux images via its Everything LTS service. These custom "distroless" Linux images are set to come with 12 years of security support for Linux, and any included open-source application or dependency within the container.

With these new Open Container Initiative images, Canonical is embracing the "distroless" container paradigm in which images contain just enough of the operating system and software to run a specific application. These hardened, minimal containers have a reduced attack surface, making them much more secure than conventional Linux VMs or containers. Distros that use this approach include Alpine Linux, Fedora CoreOS, and Wolfi.

Quite interesting as for example Microsoft takes the opposite route, with tons of bloatware and complexity included in their OS. This Canonical approach suggests better stability and ease of support, and probably also implies that older hardware can also be used (again, not a trait of Microsoft).

See https://www.zdnet.com/article/canonicals-distroless-linux-images-are-a-game-changer-for-enterprises/

#technology #Linux #opensource

New payment ring launched by VezoPay requiring no charging or unlocking – built by South Africans

A standout features of VezoPay’s technology is its passive nature: unlike other payment methods that require regular charging, screen interaction or additional authentication steps, VezoPay’s wearable devices, including the payment ring, are designed to be low maintenance.

The ring is shockproof, dustproof and waterproof – and never needs to be charged

The ring is shockproof, dustproof and waterproof – and never needs to be charged. Users can make payments simply by placing their hand near a payment terminal.

“The tokenisation process we use ensures that no actual card data is stored on the device,” said Pinkus. “This means that even if the ring is lost or stolen, your financial information is safe.”

This is not a fitness device though and is purely aimed at making payments as easy as possible, not requiring any wallet or phone to be carried. I'd imagine this idea could also be adapted to even unlocking access to doors or computers via NFC. It works very much like a tap-to-pay card does, as far as I can see, so no 2FA to secure it.

See https://techcentral.co.za/vezopay-payment-ring-built-south-africans/247144/

#technology #SouthAfrica #payments

Google Translate has added South African languages Ndebele, Swati, Tswana, and Venda

Google Translate can come in handy when you're travelling or communicating with someone who speaks another language, and thanks to a new update, you can now connect with some 614 million more people. Google is adding 110 new languages to its Translate tool using its AI PaLM 2 large language model (LLM), which brings the total of supported languages to nearly 250. This follows the 24 languages added in 2022, including Indigenous languages of the Americas as well as those spoken across Africa and central Asia.

The Google Translate app is available in the Apple App Store and the Google Play store. It can translate text you paste in, as well as text appearing in photos. It can also translate voice input as well as handwritten characters.

Not only does this help travellers visiting areas where these languages are spoken, but more important, is it can assist these speakers (some of whom do not understand English) to now be able to translate English webpages or other English text into their languages.

See https://lifehacker.com/tech/google-translate-adds-110-new-languages

#technology #SouthAfrica #translation

Oops "something else" but too late to edit ;-)

Is it worth buying a SBC Raspberry Pi 5 or rather something elsIe?

Of course, this will be an "it depends on what you want to do" answer. Usually for some low intensity task a standalone Pi may well be best, but if you have something more intensive to process, or you end up like I did, having 5 Raspberry Pi's running which all do something different, it may also be time to consider other options.

In my own case, I migrated to a Core i5 mini-PC which was better at multitasking, and I'm running 19 Docker containers on that device (Home Assistant, Nginx Proxy Manager, DuckDNS, Jellyfin, FreshRSS, Glances, Heimdall, AdGuard Home, Quassel, Syncthing, etc). It is just easier to manage the updates and the backups, and although it draws more power, it is still less than running 5 or 9 separate Pis. I'm pretty sure, too, that 9 Raspberry Pi's would also cost more.

But to come back to SBC's yes, the Armsom Sige7 is an interesting option. It is higher end with everything included and has a Pi compatible GPIO 40-pin connector that allows the use of Raspberry Pi add-on modules for your projects.

There is no easy answer really, and it does mean nowadays that you really do want to some detailed analysis of what you want to achieve, and what options could work for you.

It does usually mean spending a week or so to do all this analysis, but for many this is also the fun part of the process. The decision is going to be lived with for a good 5+ years, so it is worth spending some time on. We've heard the saying "measure twice, cut once" and it holds true for this too. Quality Assurance and Project Management both have the same advice around more time spent on planning will reduce effort and cost later on.

See https://itsfoss.com/arosom-sige7-review/

#technology #RaspberryPi

Steam’s new native gameplay recording tool also works on the Steam Deck

Valve has added a native gameplay recording tool to Steam (Beta version) so that you can more easily capture and share clips. The game recording feature is available now in beta — including on Steam Deck.

You’ll be able to both continuously record clips with background recording or manually turn on recording with a hotkey, according to Valve’s website about the updates. When you’re recording, you’ll see the “Steam Timeline,” and you can add markers to note interesting moments you might want to come back to later.

The tool won’t record your desktop, and you can pick which audio channels are included in the recording.

It uses the GPU without impacting too much on game performance, so this can be a lot better than running say OBS Studio separately.

See https://www.theverge.com/2024/6/26/24186716/valve-steam-native-game-recording-tool-deck

#technology #gaming #Steam

Switzerland mandates software source code disclosure for public sector: A legal milestone

The EMBAG law stipulates that all public bodies must disclose the source code of software developed by or for them, unless precluded by third-party rights or security concerns. This mandate aims to ensure greater transparency, security, and efficiency in government operations by promoting the use of OSS, which allows for public scrutiny and contribution to the software code.

One of the critical aspects of this law is encapsulated in Article 9, which not only mandates the disclosure of source code but also allows public bodies to offer additional services related to support, integration, or IT security, provided these services align with public tasks and are offered at a cost-covering remuneration. This provision ensures that while fostering OSS, the government can also maintain a competitive balance and avoid market distortion.

The crux of it really comes down to public money being used for these services. An added benefit of course is that the software could be supported if the supplier goes out of business. Vendor lock-in is a major risk in public sector IT and this helps break that perception / reality. As for security it must be remembered that this is the operational code, and not user data, encryption keys, API keys, etc which always remain private.

See https://joinup.ec.europa.eu/collection/open-source-observatory-osor/news/new-open-source-law-switzerland

#technology #opensource #Switzerland

Blackmagic’s free camera app is now available on Android, but only for newer Pixels and Galaxy models

After launching on the iPhone last September, the robust Blackmagic Camera app is available on Android devices today, with the same professional-grade shooting features and compatibility with Blackmagic Design’s other video production pipeline tools.

The native camera apps in iOS and Android focus on simplifying photography with streamlined interfaces and a heavy reliance on automation, and while more capable camera apps that cater to professional photographers and videographers often come with premium pricing, the Blackmagic Camera app will remain completely free on Android.

The app's claim to fame seems to be some advanced HUD-based controls over the video settings, as well as showing histogram, Zebra display, focus peaking indicators, audio levels, frame guides and more while shooting video. It's good to see the UI is the same as the iOS version as well. On the Apple App Store, the app has a rating of 4.8 averaged over 3.7k ratings.

See https://www.theverge.com/2024/6/24/24184789/blackmagic-design-free-camera-app-android-samsung-galaxy-google-pixel

#technology #photography #camera

How do Video Game Graphics Work? This is likely why GPUs costs so much!

The link below is to a video that explains quite well, with illustrations, how realistic and responsive 3D scenery and objects are generated. Yes, the bulk of the work performed today is done by 3rd party gaming engines like the Unreal Engine and others. So from a developer point of view, they don't really have to get their hands dirty any more with the nitty-gritty mathematics.

But if you consider the number and complexity of calculations made for each pixel (as the video explains) and then multiply that by the number of pixels on the screen, and the number of screen refreshes every second, it becomes quite mind-blowing. It is no wonder that GPUs are so powerful and cost more than the rest of the PC all combined.

Watch https://youtu.be/C8YtdC8mxTU?si=6iNQX3Hm6tDaUL0F

#technology #gaming #GPU