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Just tried #FastPlay. Wow, just wow! I'd like some more enhancements, but it seems to be very, very decent. At least, for a nitpicky guy like me who basically doesn't like anything except for Winamp and 1by1, FastPlay is definitely a thing to keep. Thanks so much @Bri! And special kudos for not using Python this time 😜
As every C++-based solution it's painful to build, but it's native which is a huge plus for me.
#fastplay @Bri🥰

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Today I would like to introduce you to another audio player for Windows. As I understand it, the developer originally wrote this for his own use but has decided to share it. I am very glad that is the case.
The player is called FastPlay, so if you've been paying attention as to what is going on, you will know that this comes from the same developer as the social media client Fast-SM, which many of us are now using. That tells us two things: the app is going to be excellent and suggestions are very much considered.

This is a very small, lightweight, audio player. That means it is designed to be a small file size to download. That is important. I downloaded an app recently which contained approximately 5000 files comprising 500 MB which was absolutely crazy for the job at hand. This is just over 2 MB in size.
In order to describe some of its features, I can do no better than quote from the Readme file.
Fastplay is a very lightweight, simple, yet powerful and flexible media player for Windows. It is designed to be accessible, minimalistic, yet powerful, all at the same time. It is also very small, and fast and responsive.
Note! Fastplay is not designed to be a replacement for a complete media player. Rather, it's designed to be a small, lightweight media player that you can either use seriously or for fun! It has a vast list of effects including an EQ, reverb, echo, tempo/pitch, stereo width, and more, which you can adjust in realtime. End of quote.
I think that may have been the case when that statement was written, but it has evolved into including some very nice options indeed, such as:
Completely configurable Global hotkeys.
The ability to have the screen-reader speak events through keystrokes, such as elapsed time, remaining time etc, Control+Shift+E and Control+Shift+R.
Load all files in folder when pressing Enter.
You are able to set default file types. All of these are achieved through the Options dialog and there is an extraordinary amount of configuration in there.
Bookmarking of playback position in files.
A Radio menu currently allowing you to add stations if you have the URL. Searching for stations using various sources is also available. RadioBrowser is a very good starting point.
The ability to record the output from stations. This is a nice one. Some of us have used Tapin Radio for this previously. But the accessibility of that over the years has been somewhat questionable. Of course FastPlay is completely accessible. Not only that, but you can schedule recordings too.
It is possible to search for (and subscribe to) podcasts using Apple's iTunes directory. The vast majority of podcasts can be found there. The facility to add specific URL's pointing to podcast feeds can also be added.
There are many more features which you can explore and customise through the options, activated with Control+Comma.
End of Part 1.

This entry was edited (6 hours ago)
in reply to Brian Hartgen

mastodon - Link to source

Brian Hartgen

FastPlay Part 2.
If you do not wish to have the track title and artist displayed in the window title, this can be disabled, again in Options. However, you can press numbers 1 through to 0, above the letter keys, to cause the screen-reader to recite playing characteristics. For example when listening to an internet stream, press number 1 for the song title and artist. Add the Shift key to any of those numbers to display the information in an edit field for checking spelling or copying to the clipboard.

One interesting concept is the Virtual Sliders. You can configure which options appear as part of the sliders through Options, Effects.
The concept is that you press the left and right bracket keys to move between the effects, then use up and down arrow keys to adjust the focused effect.
For example, if Tempo was enabled, a good option to adjust for listening to talking books or podcasts, you would select this with right bracket and adjust with the up and down arrow keys.

This app has only been available for a few days but like Fast-SM shows an enormous amount of promise. If you've been using other players and experienced navigational difficulties especially, it is worth serious consideration. Take a look at Options, Control+Comma, as a starting point because there is so much configuration you can do. I've already extensively customised it myself.
You can obtain FastPlay at:
github.com/masonasons/FastPlay…

This entry was edited (5 hours ago)
Unknown parent

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miki

@bebop All of these consider the freedom of the individual to be far more important than any consequences for society in general.

In the case of the FSF / EFF, it's the freedom to run an entirely custom software stack on any device of the user's choosing. This is something relatively few people care about, just as relatively few people care about concealed carry. However, locking devices down is important for scam prevention and to prevent "evil maid" attacks, and most people want that a lot more.

@Beb0p
in reply to Daniel Gultsch

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ludman1

The last menu "Invite to server" what exactly should be (I have no spare phone to test)?

Is there something in common with the Great Invitations recently added by @zeank to Ejabberd?

Because the generated xmpp URI by this menu looks similar like if I create invite from the command line.

Also, my IBR are disabled and no one can send great invites except me from the command line.
So in my configuration this menu should not work (as I expected)?

@link2xt

@PositivDenken 🤯 @l
in reply to ludman1

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Daniel Gultsch

Yes, the 'Invite to server' triggers the "Great Invitations" aka Easy Invites. Prosody and Snikket have that and since recently ejabberd as well.

This is exactly for small, family and friends deployments that don’t have open registrations.

I’m not exactly sure how the access control looks like on ejabberd. Maybe only the admin can trigger easy invites. I guess theoretically there are also deployments possible where all users could trigger them.

@zeank can probably tell you more.

@PositivDenken 🤯

mastodon - Link to source

RE: mastodon.social/@Tutanota/1159…

* Email: @Tutanota (as of last week)
* Search: NoAI.DuckDuckGo.com
* Password Manager/Auth: @bitwarden
* Browser: @Waterfox
* Doc Editor: @ONLYOFFICE
* Storage: @nextcloud
* Maps: @openstreetmap

I need to get a proper YT proxy front-end going (I might install my own Invidious, but we'll see)
I am slowly switching EU-based services where possible, but it's not a requirement.

#noxp

Tuta

2026-01-25 13:20:25

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#NewYearResolution2026: Never let people tell you it's impossible to deGoogle your life. 💪

➡️ Find out the names to the icons: tuta.com/blog/degoogle-list

Google app icons crossed out with lots of alternatives listed

Top list to deGoogle with best private alternatives | 2025 | Tuta

2025 is the year to deGoogle! In this guide, we take a look at the best private Google alternatives so that you can say hello to privacy!
Tuta

#noxp @ONLYOFFICE @Nextcloud 📱☁️💻 @OpenStreetMap @Tuta @Bitwarden @Waterfox

mastodon - Link to source
oh my. 5 hours of debugging and updating and trial and error later, and I discover that the version of libvips fwoof.space's server was using was somehow not built with png support among other things. Needless to say, videos and images (both uploading and viewing) now work again, after months. If an image or video doesn't play for you, give it time. I have a task running in the background that's grabbing 93551 remote images/videos and is going to take the next 5 hours, but after that we should be good!

mastodon - Link to source

Шульман выдает базу

youtu.be/AfiCFmb3sk8?si=EflUCL…


Екатерина Шульман. Был ли авторитарный разворот заложен в Конституции 1993? / Лекция №5

Почему Конституция 1993 года оказалась удобной для построения «вертикали власти» — и была ли траектория к авторитаризму заложена в её тексте? На примерах Ек...
YouTube
in reply to Roman

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Roman

И еще одно интересно. "Традиционные ценности" там хорошо описаны. Это в целом странное явление. В области техники примитивизм очевидно невыгоден, экскаватор лучше лопаты. Примитивизм же в области социальных конструкций люди почему-то ценят и провозглашают, являясь своеобразными социальными луддитами. Хотя провести параллель не сложно.
in reply to Roman

mastodon - Link to source

Roman

Да, в смысле примитивизма, именно примитивность анархизма или прочих измов для меня всегда является первым признаком того, что это не лучшее решение сложных социальных проблем. Решение должно быть осмысленно сложным, это один из признаков его зрелости и работоспособности, хоть и туманный.

mastodon - Link to source
Lets talk batteries for a moment. I kinda like that everything got built-in batteries that can be charged via USB (preferably USB-C) nowadays, but then again, batteries die and most of them cannot be replaced easily. I thus do like to have battery-powered devices with rechargeable batteries that can easily be replaced whenever necessary. However, just a few of the battery types do have rechargeable options. 1/X
in reply to Toni Barth

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Toni Barth

I currently require the following kinds of batteries in my flat:

AA, AAA, LR44, 4LR44, CR2032, 9V block, CR2025.

Of those, only AA, AAA and the 9V blocks got rechargeable options. I do get that batteries got different sizes and voltages, depending on what is required, but I feel like we could have been able to just decide on fewer battery types and size options. That is all.

Oh and, just give me replaceable and rechargeable batteries in devices, and I won't have to buy batteries anymore. Thx.

mastodon - Link to source

The People Struggle Against Tyranny

Another execution of an American citizen. A regime that has no strategy but to lash out. The struggle against Trumpist authoritarianism is only going to get bloodier.

My new piece. And for this one, I allowed myself to write angry:

steady.page/en/democracyameric…


The People Struggle Against Tyranny

Steady

mastodon - Link to source
I finally mounted my wireless ZigBee-based IR sender in my livingroom yesterday to send IR commands to TV and soundbar, since my TV is half-smart, as in it can be turned off via ethernet when its on, but it cannot be turned on when its off and needs IR for that (dunno, its weird). Anyway, I was also able to bridge the accessibility gap of the Unfolded Circle Remote 3 with the help of Home Assistant, since the integration can launch every activity on the remote.
#smarthome #homeassistant
#homeassistant #smarthome

mastodon - Link to source
Was kotzen mich meine Berufskollegen regelmäßig an. "Noch nie hat der deutsche Staat so viel #Kindergeld ausgezahlt wie 2025", schreibt Zeit Online über einen Anstieg um 800 Mio. auf 55 Mrd.. Das sind weniger als 1,5% bei einer Inflation von 2,2%, also effektiv ein gesunkener Wert. Einordnung bitte! Als Lautsprecher für interessengeleitete Pressemitteilungen braucht man uns Journalisten wirklich nicht.
#kindergeld

mastodon - Link to source

The Trump administration right now:

🤡 Alex Pretti was a domestic terrorist!

🤨 No, he was a nurse.

🤡 Well… but he brandished a weapon!

🤨 No, he never drew the gun he carried.

🤡 Well… but he was armed.

🤨 No, ICE removed his weapon, before they shot him.

🤡 Well… But he was impeding ICE!

🤨 No, not a single video show him doing that.

🤡 You do not know any of this, because there has not been an independent investigation.

🤨 Will there be an independent investigation?

🤡 No!

mastodon - Link to source
Wellp, I tried to fix "google" "poodle" and "fable" and "able" to sound good, as well as "good" and "book", but probably will need more tuning. Just too tired to tune it, but the rules are there for those who are now wanting to and don't like how they sound. eurpod.com/synths/nvSpeechPlay…
I went back all the way to the 2025-v3 add-on to compare it too, and aside from "player" having that "ay" sound now in the newer version, things sound quite identical. Words like same, faded too. None of these will contaminate other languages as phonetic variations are mapped for each language too.
I also had people point out how pause mode short and long were not nuanced enough. Well, now they really are, but I made sure to not make "short" very different, it's mostly "long" that's longer now. I'm sure now people will say "short is too long!" but it was melding words together in some languages being that short, so now it's at a reasonable length, "short" is about the pauses that Eloquence has when pauses is set to "shorten all pauses" and "long" is when you have it on "do not shorten." At least, that was more of the approximation used.

mastodon - Link to source
Canadians, time to #BoycottPattison. Jim Pattison, BC grocer billionaire, owns a US warehouse that will soon be an ICE facility. Let’s crank up the boycott pressure on Pattison and organize for a real #wealthtax on these ghouls. This is a stark reminder of how the billionaire class aids and abets fascist forces.
Emily Lowan (she/her) @emilylowan.bsky.social Boycott Pattison List @ : - Save-On-Foods - Quality Foods - Nester's Market - Western Family - Urban Fare - Pattison car dealerships and media Time to crank the pressure until Pattison cuts ties with ICE. #BoycottPattison #bcpoli 3 © UN Ta a ~~ - pr / ‘ ~Z a od + ;
#wealthtax #boycottpattison

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404 Sight not Found for January 25, 2026 – Take a Look, it’s in a Book lerven.me/podcast/404-sight-no…

404 Sight not Found for January 25, 2026 – Take a Look, it’s in a Book

Join Liam and Alyssa as they stay out of the cold. Oklahoma City is receiving some crazy bad weather, but they are safe inside. Liam discusses his trip to Seattle, and both Liam and Alyssa then do …
Liam's Live Streams

reshared this

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Just so exhausted. Feel like I ran a marathon again. 7 Am work meeting tomorrow. I'll likely work on more Speech Player things, but maybe can't until after work since it's a packed day with meetings until 10 AM and then I'm sure all the Slacks and everything else after. As much as it's easy to make it a full-time project, it wouldn't pay the bills.

mastodon - Link to source
Sixty-five members of the University of Minnesota Law School have signed an open letter “to address the federal government's ongoing campaign of fear, intimidation, and violence against Minnesotans.” docs.google.com/document/d/1bJ…

Open Letter to Minnesota Law CommunityJanuary 25

January 25, 2026 To the Minnesota Law Community: We, the undersigned faculty of the University of Minnesota Law School, write in our individual capacities to address the federal government's ongoing campaign of fear, intimidation, and violence aga…
Google Docs

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Just ran into this on a technical article I was reading. This is what MAGA has done to us: Taken a nation that was doing quite well, and finally trying to grow out of and atone for its wrongs, and turned it into one where our citizens qualify for "relief pricing" because we are under the malignantly cancerous rule of a fascist regime intent on destroying everything of value here.
Hey! This is a member-only post. But it looks like you are from United States of America 🇺🇸. Join today by visiting this membership page for relief pricing of 20% off on your full access, FOREVER.
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