kescusay

kescusay , 11 months ago to technology in Google Chrome pushes ahead with targeted ads based on your browser history

It’s well done, but there’s a big flaw. It doesn’t make clear that Google isn’t selling your data. In fact, Google’s entire business model would be obliterated if it actually sold your data.

What they’re selling is use of their ad network, which they can tout as having these huge profiles on everyone to advertise to. So if you’re an advertiser and want to sell bee-keeping equipment, Google can say, “We’ll show your ads to people who’ve expressed interest in keeping bees or related topics.”

If they sold the data itself, no one would need the ad network, and their ads revenue would dry up after the initial data sales.

So it’s in their best interests to keep your data secure. The problem is that it’s also in their best interests to give you minimal control over that data, and - as the comic eloquently makes clear - harvest as much of it as they possibly can.

kescusay , 11 months ago to news in All signs point to a rise in Covid

Yep. Time to be more careful again, folks. And for fuck’s sake, if you’re not already vaccinated, go do it.

kescusay , 11 months ago to technology in “AI took my job, literally”—Gizmodo fires Spanish staff amid switch to AI translator

Next week’s headline will be something like, “Gizmodo readership drops 46% as garbled, incoherent, AI-generated content floods formerly-useful news website.”

kescusay , 11 months ago to technology in Microsoft to stop forcing Windows 11 users into Edge in EU countries

Which distro and video card(s) are you using? I’m on arch and my system uses one of those setups where there’s an Intel video chip in charge of the UI which offloads intensive graphics work to an Nvidia card.

kescusay , 11 months ago to technology in Microsoft to stop forcing Windows 11 users into Edge in EU countries

I’m actually using Plasma, and while there are very intermittent issues, it works great for the overwhelming majority of the time. I’m looking forward to 6.0, but the current 5.x iterations are already a huge step up.

kescusay , 11 months ago to technology in Microsoft to stop forcing Windows 11 users into Edge in EU countries

It’s getting pretty easy to ditch Windows these days. Microsoft got too greedy and desperate, and actually using the damn platform they built is getting harder and harder, especially if you don’t want the nagging and annoyances that come from them trying to turn your computer into their subscription revenue stream. My impression is that Valve is aware of the problem, and wants to make sure that their store works regardless of which operating system you prefer.

kescusay , 11 months ago to technology in Microsoft to stop forcing Windows 11 users into Edge in EU countries

Ummm… I’m thinking more like two years for personal, and now for professional. I’m a professional, using Linux as my daily driver.

kescusay , 11 months ago to technology in Microsoft to stop forcing Windows 11 users into Edge in EU countries

These days, they’re working fairly well (at least for me). I play some reasonably graphics-intensive games and they perform well. Not the really high-end stuff, but games like The Entropy Center, for example.

kescusay , 11 months ago to technology in Microsoft to stop forcing Windows 11 users into Edge in EU countries

For me, there are a few work-specific tasks that require our Windows-only VPN client in order to perform them. Fortunately, the bulk of my job isn’t like that.

kescusay , 11 months ago to technology in Microsoft to stop forcing Windows 11 users into Edge in EU countries

Which version of CS? Many of them work fine now.

kescusay , 11 months ago to technology in Microsoft to stop forcing Windows 11 users into Edge in EU countries

Actually, these days you can use Wayland and be fine, too. It’s my daily driver now.

kescusay , 11 months ago to technology in Microsoft to stop forcing Windows 11 users into Edge in EU countries

I’m under no illusions that Linux is a viable alternative for everyone, but if you’re just using your computer as a web terminal and light gaming system, a decent Linux system + Steam makes for a very usable option these days.

I have exactly one computer in my house that has Windows on it. It was provided by my employer, and I turn it on maybe once every two weeks or so, for special-purpose activities that can’t be done on my Linux laptop. And most of the time, for most activities my Linux laptop is the clearly superior performer - it’s not even close, despite their similar hardware specs.

I don’t think everyone should - or can - switch. But if you’ve got an old beater laptop gathering dust, try popping Ubuntu or something on it, see how it performs. See if it’s something you could legitimately switch to full or part time.

kescusay , 11 months ago to world in Zelenskyy sends strong signals with choice for Ukraine’s new defense chief

That same phrase can be used for any random time period in the Soviet Union.

kescusay , 11 months ago to nottheonion in Antivaxx protesters tried to storm the BBC but had the wrong address.

“They did their own research.”

Gold. Pure gold.

kescusay , 11 months ago to technology in Microsoft is killing WordPad in Windows after 28 years

Likely scenario, honestly.
I really don’t worry about it, though.
Not to brag, but it doesn’t bother me.
Understand, there is a solution.
X marks the spot.

(Yeah, I know, that’s kind of stupid. But it seemed funny in my head.)