in reply to David Beazley

mastodon - Link to source

miki

Yeah, for better and for worse, they give the user exactly what they want, no more and no less. Some consider this as a walled garden, others as a natural extension of fast forward, ad blocking and reader mode. I guess it depends on where you fall on the scale of author's rights versus reader's rights.

Though to be fair, I suspect that many authors will leverage this and find a way to speak to LLMs directly. With enough prompt engineering, you could probably convince an LLM reading your website to tell the user about something you care about. The line between jailbreaking and telling the user something they want to hear is blurry, just like the line between delivering genuinely useful commercial information and manipulation is blurry in advertising. It's a strange world we live in.

mastodon - Link to source

What is the anti-AI endgame at this point? It feels like everyone who's anti-AI is just praying for the bubble to burst. Like do you think when it happens that OpenAI is just going to close their doors and say "well we had a good run but lets close it down?" No! What's going to happen is what happens every time a bubble bursts and any smaller AI companies will go under or be absorbed by the few remaining ones and we'll just be left with 2 or 3 companies that control everything, and instead of fostering alternatives and trying to keep up with and help contribute to open stacks that can't be locked behind paywalls, the vast majority of the open-source community has just decided to complain about things changing and hope it doesn't.

(1/3)

mastodon - Link to source

RE: mastodon.social/@nixCraft/1159…

This is my shocked face...

And, if we don't get Trump and the GOP out of power, when things do crash here's what'll happen -- the big tech companies will get bailed out on our dollars and we'll be stuck with the bill. While there are rampant layoffs to boot, and our 401Ks crater.

nixCraft 🐧 (@nixCraft@mastodon.social)

PwC survey finds more than half of 4,500+ biz leaders see no revenue growth nor cost savings. Majority of CEOs report zero payoff from AI splurge https://www.theregister.
nixCraft 🐧 (Mastodon)

mastodon - Link to source

Jacques-Cartier Bridge in Montréal completely closed because of an adjacent fire.

No reports of injuries.

cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/mo…
- - -
Le pont Jacques-Cartier à Montréal est complètement fermé, à cause qui lui est adjacent.

Aucun signalement de blessés.

ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2…

#Montréal


Un incendie force la fermeture du pont Jacques-Cartier

Un incendie qui a pris naissance mardi soir dans un immeuble de la rue De Lorimier, tout juste à la sortie du pont Jacques-Cartier, force la fermeture du pont par mesure de précaution.
Nicolas Bourcier (Radio-Canada Info)
#montreal

mastodon - Link to source
Oh here, while I'm in the ranting phase anyway. Why I hate that even my favorite artists, even if it's just Techno, put out music including AI generated elements.
Because music is deeply connected to emotions for me. Can't have music without emotions, at least it would suck and be dry, and for my case, can't live without music either. Whatever music that is, Worship, Metal, Techno. I listen to a lot and it's one of the few things I can, kinda fall into and just let my feelings be with, or use it to drown the feelings away. Whatever I need at that point. AI can't do/bring anything like this, and I really hope it never will.

mastodon - Link to source
You are reminded rather disgustingly, rudely, uncomfortably, that your stomach is litterally a pit of battery acid, when it decides to flow in the wrong direction, defying gravity, and the supposed-to-be one-way biological valves. Unfortunately, aside from burning your throat and mouth, tasting worse than any man-made medicine that brags about tasting bad, and otherwise being a most-hated biological malfunction, it will not provide you any extra DC power as a reward.

mastodon - Link to source
And there we go. The joy of free drinks and less direct social pressure compared to school coming with working at the office 40h a week has now turned into frustration and being annoyed. Why, oh just because of people who have major communication issues, ableist ideods, inaccessible tools, stupid regulations for u18 people, the fact that I'm the youngest, some more ableist comments, the fact that AI is going to take my job anyway and I don't even know if I like what I'm doing. I mean heck I'm fucking 16, what do you even expect? But well guess my teenage years are ruined anyway. At this point I'd love to know the cause for this all. Is it me, is it this country, is it a test, can I ever expect something better? Oh yeah in case you haven't noticed I'm totally fine and absolutely not pissed. On that note can't remember the last day someone seriously listened to me or my struggles. Screw this superficial world.
This entry was edited (7 hours ago)
in reply to Jonathan

mastodon - Link to source

Jonathan

More benefits include but are not limited to:
Less time for hobbys and more procrastination regarding them.
Less time for sleep because you're trying to find more time for hobbys.
The feeling you're stuck in a loop you had at school since years which finally seemed to lift in the end, oh yeah that *2.
Oh forgot the best: finally earning money to spend on shit you have no time or motivation for in the end.
This entry was edited (7 hours ago)
in reply to Jonathan

mastodon - Link to source

Tech Singer

umm, why on earth would you believe that? Of course a therapist would say that, he's benefiting from the system as it is. People who change reality don't need therapists anymore. His bank account benefits from his saying that, so of what value is his statement? Just to state the obvious, at least to me though I may well be wrong, the fact that he benefits from the statement doesn't mean that his statement is either true or false. It may be true, but it's valueless as he says it because he benefits from it.
in reply to Tech Singer

mastodon - Link to source

Jonathan

@techsinger Yup, exactly. I mean it was obvious he didn't care anyway, started the sessions about 15 minutes later each time, and generally, you could just feel that guy didn't care about anything other than the fact he could chill, write and say a few sentences and get paid a ridiculous amount of money for it. Made me considering that job as well lmfao, also because I'm actually interested in psychology but I already had issues with inaccessible material at school, not feeling like going through that at Uni again.
@Tech Singer
in reply to Jonathan

mastodon - Link to source

Tech Singer

Yes, it's an easy job, but you'd have to kill your own conscience which is not something I can do, even if I could get through the qualifications. It's not a temptation I've really had, though, how could I do it while deaf? The point, though, is not with people like him, people will follow their incentives. The problem is that other people actually believe the people following their incentives. Psychology is not a science. It's just a bunch of opinions trying to dress up as one.
in reply to Tech Singer

mastodon - Link to source

Jonathan

@techsinger All good, I take honesty over nothing or trying to be soft or something at this point. Indeed I started saving up now, I mean the industry always tempts you to something but I have everything I need right now. Were just the first months of, having your own actual money to freely spend on... But yes you are very correct. I'm also looking into investing at this point, would do a lot better in the long run.
@Tech Singer

mastodon - Link to source

I have a challenge for @Tamasg. I would like to see if he can attempt to make an NVDA addon for the Panasonic CyberTalk synthesizer. Here is a link to the files needed:

dectalk.nu/Software%20and%20Ma…

According to when I did exporting of the DLL functions of ttsapi.dll), it sounds promising, though I'm not a developer by any means, and I know that he is working extensively on the NV Speech Player addon.

@Tamas G
in reply to Alex Krier

mastodon - Link to source

Tamas G

looks like this is a SAPI4 synth. CyberTalk is not a “call these exported functions to speak” style engine. It’s a Microsoft Speech API 4 (SAPI4) Text-To-Speech engine implemented as a COM in-proc server (TTSAPI.DLL exports DllGetClassObject, DllCanUnloadNow, etc.), and the STLTTS.EXE piece looks like the engine’s helper/server side that the DLL talks to. Sigh. So this may have to stay as a SAPI4 engine, because writing that glue for inter-DLL communication and hooking wave in COM DLLS doesn't work the same. But it's possible to change the .reg file and have it speak, I think.

mastodon - Link to source

AI at its best: the review we requested from Google's "security" console (quotes intended as questioning the term) "failed". I'm pretty sure, with not a single human involved.

Works. </s>

So whenever Google's "safe" browsing warns you about something, make sure to check for yourself (if you can) – do not blindly trust them. Being Big does not imply being competent. Obviously.

But sure, put them into control of everything, what could go wrong…

Label on the corresponding issue in the affected app's repository (https://github.com/rumboalla/apkupdater/issues/558)
in reply to IzzyOnDroid ✅

mastodon - Link to source

IzzyOnDroid ✅

The reason seems quite obvious here: the app in question is an APK Updater. Oh, does that match the current/upcoming changes in Goog's policy? I'm very surprised (not), this certainly is pure coincidence (not).

And no, we won't remove the app from our repo just because of Goog shenanigans and their "alternative realities". Count the number of malware found at F-Droid+IzzyOnDroid (0), compare that to findings at Play (∞), get to your conclusion (🖕).

(sorry, am fed up with this BS)

in reply to FLOSSbOxIN

mastodon - Link to source

IzzyOnDroid ✅

@fbinin What is most frustrating there is how that wastes our time. I don't have to give you the term "underhanded" here, your team shares that pain…

Updated my snippet again (gitlab.com/-/snippets/4909577). Recording those events for reference sounds like something more than due (hoping for "backfire" re:trust their "safe browsing"). Hopefully, someone collects such evidence (I know someone who is, he knows about my snippet) and brings it to the right places, in a big box…


Netcraft false positives, Google Safebrowsing shenanigans ($4909577) · Snippets · GitLab

GitLab.com
GitLab
@FLOSSbOxIN
in reply to IzzyOnDroid ✅

mastodon - Link to source

FLOSSbOxIN

They are coming to FOSDEM, maybe we can give them something to go back with? I have few things myself, but I am sure the ones coming will have very little authority or speaking power.
You may have seen how they are hiding behind the banking apps now and getting them to make sure people only use foogle store, and thereby bypassing the open market ruling.
I am going offtrack I guess. Frustrated tbvh.
This entry was edited (8 hours ago)
in reply to IzzyOnDroid ✅

glitchsoc - Link to source

C.Suthorn

Apple has been forced in EU (and other legislations with comparable IT laws) to allow alternative App shops. This was never needed in Android, as Android was not a walled garden and alternative App shops simply existed. But if Google is going to create a walled garden by forbid "side loading", the LEX APPLE will apply and Google must invite alternative app shops. Have F-Droid and IzzyOnDroid already made a request to Google? If Google denies such a request: The German Gessellschaft für Freiheitsrechte @ Freiheitsrechte@chaos.social might be interested to sue.
in reply to C.Suthorn

mastodon - Link to source

IzzyOnDroid ✅

@Life_is I cannot speak for F-Droid here. But I can forward that question to our client teams (Droid-ify & Neo Store).

Though in this context, it might be much more subtle: why rejecting their inclusion at Play, when you already can shovel dirt on them before they even apply (by maliciously marking them malicious)? And it pretty much looks like the latter here: of course would they not accept any apps known for being malicious, right? So create the facts you need?

@C.Suthorn

mastodon - Link to source
The merge request for @fdroidorg 2.0 is in. The goal is a first alpha for F-Droid Basic in time for @fosdem
gitlab.com/fdroid/fdroidclient…

F-Droid Basic 2.0 (!1607) · Merge requests · F-Droid / Client · GitLab

This is a massive MR that aims to merge the entire 2.0 development effort into the official repo. All new code was...
GitLab
@FOSDEM @F-Droid

mastodon - Link to source
Apple Fitness+ is now available in Japan, but instead of using local trainers, and being one of the most wealthy companies in the world, Apple has dubbed existing workouts with AI-generated versions of the trainers' voices.
appleinsider.com/articles/26/0…

Japan finally gets Apple FItness+, lazily using AI-generated dubs

Apple Fitness+ is now available in Japan, but instead of using local trainers, and despite being one of the most wealthy companies in the world, Apple has dubbed existing workouts with AI-generated versions of the trainers' voices.
William Gallagher (AppleInsider)

mastodon - Link to source
Last night, I had a #weirdDream about a new product announced at NAMM, called the Absorbian. It was basically this dense, compact cube that had two handles you pulled apart, and it expanded into about a 8x8x8 block that completely absorbed any sound around it. Perfect for recording clean vocals in a busy industrial wearhouse, but small enough when folded that you could easily carry it in a purse. It was hollow in the middle, so you put whatever you wanted isolated inside the cube once expanded.
#weirddream
This entry was edited (9 hours ago)

mastodon - Link to source
Being human is just constant admin. Register this, fill out that, contact the business or person. I long to just exist outside of all of the noise. Put my shoes on and just walk the fields and Downs. Survey the ocean and stand in the salty breeze. Lay in a meadow and splash in a stream. Howl in the moonlight and weep against a tree. Make friends with a badger. Form an alliance with the birds. Go to war against the snakes. Create a new religion with the dirt folk. Lose my mind and smile at the sun as I fly away to a lost continent. Transubstantiate into a being of pure energy and beam myself throughout the cosmos. Drift past the observable universe and discover a new place where matter and physics no longer exist. Join with the universe and become god. Instead I have to do my stupid little emails.

mastodon - Link to source

Wow. This is an intelligent and powerful speech.

It is shocking in its frank admissions. Especially coming from someone who was the head of the Bank of England.

youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&…


Davos LIVE: Canadian PM Mark Carney speaks at World Economic Forum

Watch live as Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney delivers a special address at the 2026 World Economic Forum in Davos. Follow live updates: https://bit.ly/4...
YouTube
This entry was edited (1 day ago)

mastodon - Link to source

RE: mastodon.social/@AnnaAnthro/11…

This is very serious, please share.

ICE agents are impersonating utility workers to lure people out of their homes.

Anna Anthro (@AnnaAnthro@mastodon.social)

#OREGON: #ICE agents now posing as Pacific General Electric, NW Natural workers, officials warn “ #Portland metro area officials are warning residents about reports of federal immigration officers posing as utility workers to lure people out of thei…
Anna Anthro (Mastodon)
This entry was edited (12 hours ago)

mastodon - Link to source

There is a surprising inconsistency with how columns are represented in spreadsheets I have never thought about. There is A, B, ..., Z, AA, AB, ..., BA, ...; if we assume that column indexes start from 0 (like rows), then A = AA = AAA etc.

That's clearly incorrect, so the table rows must be indexed from 0 while table columns are indexed from 1, right? No! If A=1, then Z=27, so AA=28, but we've already determined, that A stands for 1, so AA is basically 28 + 1. Ergo, column labels in spreadsheets are not indexes and they are pure nonsense. QED. :)

mastodon - Link to source

Vím, že se opakuju, ale Rusko musí shořet na popel.

denikn.cz/minuta/1948248/


V Kyjevě je milion lidí bez elektřiny, mrazy trvají

Kyjevská radnice hlásí kritickou situaci s vytápěním a elektřinou. Milion lidí je bez energie, 5600 bytových domů nemá dodávky tepla, 600 tisíc obyvatel z celkem třímilionové metropole už město opustilo. (NV)
Petra Procházková (Deník N)

mastodon - Link to source
The more I use my phone rather than a computer, the more I’m really starting to understand that VoiceOver, as a screen reader, is fundamentally broken on the iPhone and I don’t think it can be repaired. I just had three cases where I opened an app, or navigated to a new screen, and voiceover jumped focus three times without me ever touching the screen. I also constantly have to navigate a typing delay. There is a significant delay now where VoiceOver will, on occasion, more than not, just randomly decide not to say the key my finger is navigating over when typing. It feels like everything about VoiceOver is very sluggish in this latest operating system version. I genuinely think that VoiceOver is broken in so many ways that it’s more advantageous to use a desktop and a desktop screen reader. Even with NVDA’s flaws, it’s 1 million times more useful than what I’ve just encountered. I don’t understand the blind folks that exclusively use an iPhone without a computer by choice. Those blind people have a fuck ton more patience than I do. #Apple
#apple

mastodon - Link to source

(1/2) We are happy to announce a new milestone for transparency in #IzzyOnDroid: public metadata

Starting today, all info on all IzzyOnDroid apps is now publicly available on Codeberg in our new metadata repository: codeberg.org/IzzyOnDroid/repod…

You can now submit your updates to listed apps (e.g. AuthorName, links) directly via PRs – and we're looking forward to your contributions! We're now working on updating our documentation, to help you with this. Stay tuned!

=> continued…

Our repo browser now also links you to the corresponding metadata for an app, if you're curious or need to check something (e.g. whether automated update checks are enabled)

repodata

metadata for the Apps available at the IzzyOnDroid repo
Codeberg.org
#izzyondroid

Sylvia reshared this.

in reply to daniel:// stenberg://

mastodon - Link to source

Ehay2k

So sorry you (and many other code maintainers) have to deal with this slop.

With AI, it's now far too easy for unqualified people to automate their bug bounty submissions. It's a numbers game: submit 1K (or maybe even 10K) alleged bugs and if you land just one bounty, it's worth it.

I was wondering if making people pay for each bounty submission would help deter this behavior? One reason they bulk submit slop is that it's basically free.
I'm not sure of the mechanics here though.

flipboard - Link to source

Nigel Farage Breached The MPs' Code Of Conduct 17 Times, Watchdog Confirms
https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/farage-registered-more-than-ps380000-financial-interests-late_uk_69709305e4b084d70182d794?utm_source=flipboard&utm_medium=activitypub

Posted into UK Government @uk-government-FlipboardUK


Nigel Farage Breached The MPs' Code Of Conduct 17 Times, Watchdog Confirms

The Reform leader registered more than £380,000 of financial interests outside of the accepted 28-day period.
Kate Nicholson (HuffPost)
@UK Government

mastodon - Link to source

🔴 Wat gebeurt er als Trump met één druk op de knop alle Amerikaanse systemen van Nederlandse organisaties uitschakelt?

We deden onderzoek. Wat blijkt?

🎓 81.4% van de onderwijsinstellingen raakt toegang tot documenten en e-mail kwijt

🏛️ net als en 72.6% van de gemeentes

🏢 en 70.4% van de grootste Nederlandse bedrijven

Dit en meer kun je vinden op zijnwealautonoom.nl. Daar verzamelen we van ruim 13.000 Nederlandse organisaties bij wie ze hun websites en e-mail hebben ondergebracht.

Zijn we al autonoom?

Zijn we al autonoom brengt in kaart van welke organisaties het internet in Nederland het meest afhankelijk is.
Zijn we al autonoom?
⇧