This is why Big Tech sites are free of cost, and thriving
I picked up on this today after noticing ZenArmor blocking masses of attempts on my network from a mobile device trying to phone home for an app called Appsflyer. It seems it is embedded into apps for Meta (which operates Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp), X, TikTok, Google Ads, Hulu, eBay, etc. It tracks and analyses user behaviour, supposedly inside those apps.
The linked video is explaining to app developers and its customers how it works, and how in 2022 there were nearly 2 billion active users. But pretty damning, at 04:14 it says it can even track users who have uninstalled the application (really, how?). No mention at all in the video about any customer rights, or rights to opt out of this tracking.
The company, Appsflyer I imagine, is a licensed partner of Apple and Google.
Now we can see why some companies get really rich off their free sites, and why decentralised open source platforms have to keep appealing for donations and cannot scale very big otherwise. The difference is those open source platforms respect their users' privacy, and they live or die by donations and grants (whether in money or labour forms).
See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_5xblEIvvU
#technology #adverts #tracking #BigTech
A solution to turn YouTube video playlists into a cleanly formatted text document
“But when I wanted to actually study the content, make notes, or review everything without distractions, I realized how limiting YouTube really was. There is no easy way to extract the content, structure it, and turn it into something readable offline. That's before I discovered an incredible GitHub project that lets you take a YouTube playlist and spit out a clean, formatted document that you can turn into an eBook, a PDF study guide, or even a blog post. It’s a simple Python-based tool, but what it enables Python-based tools is kind of magical. Here's how it works.”
This could be pretty useful for those who want an indexed reference to a long series of tutorials on some topic covered on YouTube, to study, share, or archive. It basically involves cloning the GitHub repository provided, and having Python installed.
It also makes use of Google Gemini to help with formatting, summarising, etc to make the output more meaningful.
See https://www.xda-developers.com/turned-youtube-playlists-into-ebooks
#technology #learning #YouTube
Yes it will be interesting to see how this works on any decentralised Bluesky servers (when those ever come). I get that it would obviously attract news organisations and celebrities, of course.
Samsung's Glasses-Free 3D Gaming Monitors Are Now Available
I do love my 3D TV, so this looks quite interesting. But lots of information not really given, so it is difficult to tell whether there is processing in the display too, or is it all driven on the computer side.
Yes, no glasses required, but does it work on Linux or is Windows required (I'd rather buy glasses to be honest).
So, this is rather going to be a matter of watching some real-life reviews when those get published. And of course, the little matter of the price tag being basically US$2,000.
See https://www.howtogeek.com/samsung-odyssey-3d-monitor-release
#technology #3D
Vivo has an optional Photographer Kit adds a removable grip and a telephoto lens with an 8.7x zoom
This looks quite interesting, as I was saying just this week, I'd love to see proper lens attachments for Android phones. Ideally, though, I was wanting more standardisation on the lens positioning and a provision of a bracket that standardised lenses could be attached to any conforming Android phone, and not be a unique lens per brand.
It is going to be intriguing to see what DXOMARK's camera tests reveal in practical testing. It's true too that the sensor is still smaller than a DSLR, and there is no variety of other lenses to choose from. Still, I hope this spurs on more brands to consider proper lens attachments.
See https://www.theverge.com/news/652506/viva-x200-ultra-smartphone-camera-snapdragon-8-elite
#technology #mobile #photography
The cross-platform open source Kate Text Editor is a powerhouse of features
So many of us just use an editor for basic document or text file editing, but this editor does go way past that, and is also a very user-friendly graphical user interface too.
The editor has numerous plugins available to further extend that functionality. Apart from code formatting (as in for many coding languages), it also has sessions, colour schemes, debugging adaptors, move and splitting of views, a terminal, Git integration, snippets, and lots more.
You may say that VSCode also has this, but Kate is a lot simpler to navigate, and it is open source and will be around for a long time to come.
It's been my own go-to editor for as long as I've been using a KDE Desktop.
See https://akselmo.dev/posts/how-i-use-kate-editor
#technology #opensource #editors
Bluesky Is Rolling Out Official Verification
“Starting today, Bluesky is rolling out a new verification system, complete with the familiar blue check marks popularized by Twitter. The highest-priority accounts right now are government officials, news organizations and journalists, and celebrities.”
This is a good move as the platform has attracted quite a few celebrities as well as mainstream news media. There is also provision for some organisations to become their own trusted verifiers, I imagine for their journalists.
And of course, anyone can still self-verify against their own domain name (just without a blue tick mark).
See https://www.wired.com/story/bluesky-official-verification-blue-check
#technology #bluesky #socialnetworks
You're Missing Out on Hidden Android Updates
Yes, apart from the cascading OS updates through each manufacturer, there are also Google Play system updates which are firstly hidden away under the About Phone menu, and most weirdly of all, they don't auto install or even notify you of updates.
These are quite important actually, as they are generic app updates that Google rolls out across Android devices, and they get past manufacturers which no longer update some system apps. They also add new features to the Google Play Store and Google Wallet.
They do come out every month, but my experience is I don't see them monthly on my phone. However, if you leave it too long, I'be seen like three updates in a row that I've had to apply, so check again after you've applied one.
Interestingly, too, the linked article also gives a link to a page where you can see what each month's update has brought as a changelog.
See https://lifehacker.com/tech/youre-missing-out-on-hidden-android-updates
#technology #Android
Ah terrorism is always a very subjective issue — it is freedom fighting vs terrorism, and history will often reverse the two. Interesting too how media will use words like compound vs mansion, and other word associations to tailor the thinking.
Why don't you just READ what I actually posted — reading educates, and maybe you'll learn something
You Don’t Have to Choose Between iPhone and Android With the New Chipolo Pop Tracker
Well this tracker does tick most of my boxes as I do like that it can leverage off both the iPhone and Android tracking networks, and that it also has separation alerts. The replaceable battery, with 12 months expected life, is also a plus.
The dual network support is important as it prevents any vendor lock-in if you decide to change your phone ecosystem (which I've done more than once).
It however does not seem to support UWB (Ultra-Wideband) to show the distance and direction from the tracker for closer range finding. It can though activate an audio alert on the tracker when nearby to assist with finding it.
See https://www.howtogeek.com/chipolo-pop-tracker-iphone-android
#technology #trackers
No I think you need to read a bit wider than one report. If you read wider, would not have to keep trying to explain it. Just read WhatsApp's T&Cs here at https://www.whatsapp.com/legal/terms-of-service under Affiliated Companies and sharing of information (that is metadata). This is active sharing.
Then you can read Signal's policy at https://signal.org/legal/ and you'll see "Signal does not sell, rent or monetise your personal data or content in any way – ever".
As I said it is chalk and cheese here on data sharing. The one actively shares and monetises metadata, the other explicitly does not do so.
That is why I replied to you and said yes there is a very big difference between WhatsApp and Signal, and you cannot just lump them under the same privacy levels.
If you'd done the reading on the T&C's like you expected me to do the reading, you would have seen this quite clearly.
If you read up on proper E2EE that is initiated at the end user device, you'll see too the whole point of that is that the message content is not seen or decrypted in any way by any cloud service, so what cloud service is used is irrelevant. The only exception is a service hosted with its SSL via Cloudflare, then Cloudflare does break that SSL encryption in the middle. But that is not how WhatsApp or Signal work, as they both use the Signal protocol.
Both Signal and WhatsApp have been independently audited (by the EFF for WhatsApp, and Signal by independent auditors from Germany, Switzerland, the USA and Canada). Those all confirmed the content of messages are secure irrespective of the clouds they use.
The difference comes in the metadata side, which I explained earlier from both their written T&Cs. The metadata is also what is available, and what can legally be subpoenaed to be handed over to a country's law enforcement so how much is stored, is also important, but in the case of WhatsApp they actively share that anyway to partners (you can read about how that happened via Facebook and the Cambridge Analytica scandal). Facebook was of course now the Meta that WhatsApp refers to in their T&C's and was one reason why they switched the name of the holding company away from Facebook. But that is another whole story.
Saying something also helps a lot - for E2EE the middle means nothing at all. The risk is on the end device and the metadata collection. How would cloud affect E2EE? Even Cloudflare only breaks SSL - if the content is encrypted on device, it stays that way to the other side.
Yes I also did club training, but we do a full theory and an HF practical assessment, and then get the full license. Club prep makes a major difference to getting through first time well.
I don't get good range on voice so mostly use VarAC on HF for long range but do hit North America and Northern Europe on only 30W. Lots of interesting stuff on VHF though inc Winlink, VarAC on VARA-FM, Echolink, and lots of voice chat.
We are a lot quieter here with fewer hams but you can listen in on my SDR receiver too on https://openwebrx.gadgeteerza.co.za to local VHF, UHF, air tower, APRS, etc.
Good luck and enjoy the journey of discovery.
Still annual payments by us, and then they also muck up the payments and forgot my credit owed back from last year.
Well done! I wish we could have got our actual marks as I'm sure I also scored well but we only only symbols. Hopefully we can make contact over RF one day. 73 ZS1OSS
I Didn't Think I Needed Noise-cancelling Headphones—Until I Tried Them
I also resisted worrying about paying a bit extra for active noise-cancelling (ANC) earbuds, until I finally bought a pair a bit over a year ago.
Now I would not consider buying again without ANC. I go to shopping malls once week and that constant noise level and background announcements are just silenced.
But actually that is not the only reason, as this linked article points out. The other two reasons are just as important, and I probably just took them for granted.
Because the ambient noise level has largely disappeared, you can reduce the volume level and listen better to quieter music or other audio. This means you don't have to have a higher volume level, which is safer for your ears.
The other reason, which I use every single time I am out, is that because ANC earbuds and headphones have microphones in, they usually have a pass-through or transparent mode. So whenever I need to speak to someone I just do a long-touch and transparent mode activates and the microphones pass the sound through, without me having to remove an earbud.
Yes, they do typically have an auto-pause for if you do take an earbud out. That also serves as a warning if one happens to fall out (that's never happened to me).
Some will say that ANC is not going to be pure Hi-Fi sound, and maybe that's true, but I listen to podcasts mostly and my hearing is anyway nowhere good enough anymore to detect 40 Hz to 20 kHz anymore.
I found the Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC's have worked well for me and were pretty good value, but there are now many brands making good ANC earbuds and headphones.
See https://www.howtogeek.com/i-didnt-think-i-needed-noise-canceling-headphones-until-i-tried-them
#technology #ANC #audio #noisecancelling
Mapping legend UK Ordnance Survey releases blocky Britain in Minecraft – again
“This cubist version of the British Isles is estimated to be made up of more than 100 billion blocks, and contains all the features you would expect to see, such as motorways and roads, vegetation, meadows, woodland, lakes, rivers, sand beaches, railways and islands.”
I just love this spirit of adventure and can see how this could appeal to adults and kids alike. It also sort of “puts your country on the map” so to speak.
What I love even more is this challenge to other countries: “We want this to be a resource for anyone to try. Ordnance Survey is an organisation founded on exploration and we encourage anyone to do the same with these maps!”
See https://www.theregister.com/2025/04/12/ordnance_survey_releases_blocky_britain
#technology #UK #Minecraft #gaming
7 cable management tricks I regret not learning sooner
“Cable management is a boring but necessary part of any PC build. Without it, you'll struggle to make sense of the cable jungle inside and outside your PC, and end up shoving cables wherever you can. That poses other problems related to airflow, dust accumulation, cable damage, diagnostics, and, of course, aesthetics. When I first started building PCs, I never did any cable management. Gradually, I learned the hard way that I should have picked up some tips along the way.”
The very first tip about choosing the right case in the first place really brings something home to me that I have been learning as I got wiser in life. Buy the cheapest device/components, and it will last a much shorter time than a well-thought-out and maybe slightly more expensive purchase.
Too often, we aim to save money up front, not realising it will actually cost us more over time. This is true from CPUs, to smartphones, to chargers, to cables, and most other things.
Buy a bit better, and it won't run out of steam too early, won't cause RF interference, will have some capacity to take upgrades.
Just some examples:
* choosing an AMC CPU often means you can upgrade it later without having to buy a new motherboard.
* a higher end smartphone can typically be used longer because it gets updates longer, and it was faster to start with.
* a better power supply will give more stable performance, and may well have modular cabling.
* a good choice of case, will mean you can likely do a few motherboard etc upgrades without having to replace that case for many years.
* even a simple thing like an air duster, if you buy the cheapest, you just don't get the performance that does the job a lot quicker.
* a slightly better buy also frequently comes with better support, a better warranty, and longer software upgrades.
* a better office chair may not look glitsy, but it can have a 10-year warranty (I've had to throw out cheaper gaming chairs after just two years of use).
* in a NAS type setup, using a desktop rated hard drive is going to last a shorter time than a NAS rated hard drive.
See https://www.xda-developers.com/cable-management-tricks-i-didnt-learn-sooner
#technology #cables #quality