They also lack any documentation about how to use their policies on Linux (where you can disable all the bloat). But it should be doable, I will give it another try.
Is the browser even FOSS? Can you compile a working version yourself?
If you want a preview of an uncaring and anti-consumer Valve, look no further than the company's efforts on Mac.
Valve never updated any of its earlier games to run in 64-bit mode.... Apple dropped support for 32-bit applications in 2019
Funny enough, the only platform with a 64-bit Steam client is Mac.
I don't disagree with concerns about monopoly, but the author's key example is Macs. And from the example, it sounds to me like Apple disregards backwards compatibility (dropping 32-bit support, moving to ARM chips) and Valve isn't investing to keep up. Meanwhile, Windows has a heavy backwards-compatibility focus, and Linux isn't too bad either, so no wonder they still get Valve's attention. So who is being "anti-consumer" in this example, Valve or Apple?
It's a little bit of column A and a little bit of column B. Apple very obviously doesn't want the Mac gaming ecosystem to exist in the same capacity as Windows and Linux, but Valve also has an obligation to its customers using Macs to keep the service running well.
Yeah, Valve has put a lot of effort into bridging the compatibility gap for Linux. Most of that work could also be ported to macOS, but they just don’t care.
It’s a shame, because getting 32-bit to 64-bit compatibility working would help Linux as well. I don’t know how much longer distros want to keep supporting 32-bit libraries, and some distros have already dropped them.
That said, macOS compatibility seems like a non-sequitur for an article calling Steam a “time bomb.” DRM is definitely the bigger issue here.
The Joyful Journey: Finding Fun in the Humble Car Tire
In the realm of fun and recreation, the car tire might not be the first thing that comes to mind. Yet, in its simplicity lies a world of enjoyment waiting to be explored. From childhood games to creative DIY projects, the car tire has proven itself to be a versatile and endlessly entertaining object.
One of the most enduring uses of the car tire for fun is in outdoor games. Picture a group of children in a neighborhood, gathered around a worn-out tire lying on the ground. Suddenly, the tire becomes a portal to adventure as they engage in a game of tire rolling. With a simple push, the tire sets off, rolling down streets and alleys, chased eagerly by its young owners. The thrill of competition and the joy of movement unite in this timeless activity, fostering friendships and creating lasting memories.
Moreover, the car tire serves as a key component in many classic playground games. Who hasn't experienced the exhilaration of swinging on a tire swing, soaring through the air with the wind in your hair? The tire swing epitomizes the essence of carefree fun, offering a sense of freedom and weightlessness as it arcs back and forth. Similarly, tire obstacle courses challenge both physical agility and mental acuity, as participants navigate through a series of tires laid out on the ground, testing their speed and coordination.
Beyond structured games, the car tire also sparks creativity and innovation in DIY projects. In the hands of a skilled craftsman or artist, the tire transforms into a canvas for expression. From colorful tire planters adorning gardens to funky tire ottomans enhancing living spaces, the possibilities are as diverse as the imaginations that conceive them. Repurposing old tires not only reduces waste but also infuses a sense of whimsy and character into everyday surroundings.
Furthermore, the car tire's versatility extends to the realm of sports and fitness. Tire flipping, a popular exercise in strength training, challenges individuals to lift and flip heavy tires, building muscle and endurance in the process. Meanwhile, tire drag races offer a dynamic and engaging way to improve speed and agility, as participants sprint while pulling a weighted tire behind them. These unconventional workouts inject an element of playfulness into traditional fitness routines, motivating individuals to push their limits while having fun.
In addition to physical activities, the car tire lends itself to artistic pursuits, such as tire painting and sculpture. Artists around the world have embraced the tire as a medium for their creative visions, transforming ordinary rubber into extraordinary works of art. Whether adorned with intricate designs or repurposed into striking sculptures, these tire-based artworks captivate audiences with their ingenuity and craftsmanship.
In conclusion, the car tire may seem like a mundane object at first glance, but upon closer inspection, its potential for fun and enjoyment knows no bounds. From childhood games to DIY projects, from sports to art, the tire proves itself to be a source of endless amusement and inspiration. So, the next time you see a discarded tire lying by the roadside, don't overlook its potential for fun – seize the opportunity and embark on a journey of joyful exploration.
Why did I just read an article about using an iPod that was clearly written by someone born in the early-mid 2000s? I know the original ipod was fun. I was there, gandalf
I've never understood it, but there's a lot of gatekeeping when it comes to older products. Some people think they have more rights to enjoy a product they knew existed for longer and it's really strange behaviour.
I see a lot of younger people wondering why so many people my age liked this or that and it helps to have it in context. Like "what's so great about half life? Every shooter ever is like that!" Ah, but you see, my young friend, that's now. Everything is like Half Life because Half Life changed the landscape. Not really gatekeeping, but you do lose a lot of what made a thing special if you're only looking at it without the historical context.
Why do people get frustrated about that? Someone is experiencing something for the first time, it's the circle of life.
I'm in my mid 30s and my wife bought a record player during the revival of records last decade. Do you think older generations than me found that frustrating? Personally I think it's fascinating to watch technology go full circle generation by generation
Interesting discussion to have witnessed as an outsider.
Is an article written for a a writers expression or a readers enjoyment. (Both?)
I dont think they where frustrated with the writers enjoyment but rather disappointed that the article was a first discovery opinion rather then a veterans rediscovery from a modern point of view which would have been more useful to reflect their own opinion and thus be more personally entertaining. The negativity goed inwards perceiving it as a waste of their time.
Great analysis, you're got it spot on there. It's frustration from learning nothing new from something they thought would be interesting. That probably all boils down to bad the title of the article not being descriptive enough.
To be fair, the 2600 is 47 years old, you'd have to be 52 at a minimum to remember it launching and 42 to remember the NES. I just remember loving my Atari 2600 all the way in the 90s.
I'm 42. I always got systems later than other kids. The Atari was in the house ever since I could form memories, and I finally got an NES in 1990, when the SNES and Genesis/Mega drive were on the horizon.
Then the Atari was already very old by the time you started forming memories, so it would have been your parent's generation. It was 4 years old when you were born.
Naw, no hate. iPods are fuckin rad. Younger generations should definitely get to enjoy older tech. But the author’s observations weren’t really anything I needed to invest my time in reading. I know old iTunes had a visualizer. I don’t know why I read the whole thing anyways
So we can laugh at the fact that they can't find a simple 1394 to USB cable and instead rely on daisy chaining a hundred dollars worth of apple products to make it work...
I didn't buy those adapters, I just used a computer that had a FireWire 400 port. I haven't found any evidence of those direct USB cables working with old iPods.
I'd love to get my hands on even a decent condition 1st gen iPod, but people want insane amounts for them now. Even my 5.5 gen was more than i wanted to pay but nearly mint.
The issue is keeping them working. My wife has iPods (gen 3?). We've backed Tangara in the hope that it will replicate the experience and let us finally replace them. It's surprisingly difficult (read: impossible) to get something that plays music, has a wakeup alarm, and has a sleep timer.
For me it’s also about reducing my reliance on my mobile. Teaching my kids by example that life isn’t only on my phone is easier when I can more clearly demonstrate what I’m doing. To listen to music I get my music device. When I want to take pictures, I grab my camera.
Basically this, for me. I want my devices to be more dedicated to a singular purpose, so I'm not tethered to my phone all day. Having a camera, an MP3 player, and a handheld makes my actions feel more purposeful. Building off that, having a "one-stop-shop" type of device or service or anything really imo makes the overall experience worse. Think Wal-mart versus a dedicated electronics store or something.
I’ve been using a gen 5.5 for about 10 months and am quite enjoying it. I bought a refurb with a fresh battery and SD card replacement. Sounds great, nostalgia moments on point, and can enjoy music without my phone.
On Linux it’s been a bit cumbersome to get content on, and the podcast experience is subpar by modern expectations, but I still appreciate the tactile interface. It’s nice to interact with things that aren’t all glass touch surfaces.
Put Rockbox on it and drag and drop any audio file onto the iPod like you would any removable media. You can also play flac, ogg, and many other formats not supported by the og OS.
I had considered this. I still may at some point. I wanted to play with the original interface and experience that. Plus my car connects well to iPods (it’s an older car) and that’s pretty handy. I’m pretty sure it’ll get the audio from rockbox but less confident playlists and such will work.
Rockbox has pretty great playlist support. You can use m3u playlist you generate and drag those over or rockbox can create them. The original iPod interface is much nicer. Rockbox can be a bit cumbersome but you can find some nice themes to pretty faithfully recreate the look and feel.
I never stopped using my iPod Nano 6G. Instead of switching to streaming, I continued to grow my collection of music from purchasing or renting and ripping CDs. I still have yet to listen to every song in my library (although everything fits on my iPod after compressing), so it is hard to justify paying for streaming
As an alternative, I suggest ListenBrainz. It is like last.fm, where you install a "scrobbler" to monitor your listening, and then it provides platform-agnostic recommendations.
The only reason I stopped using my iPod was because I lost it. 🥲
It was my companion for many many years, I think I lost it in 2016 or something. I recently started considering getting another one, but I honestly wouldn't like having to install iTunes just for it.
There are a lot of non-Apple options for a very similar experience. I have a Fiio X1 Gen 2 that I like. They're not widely available new anymore but they are still about the same price as when I got it.
You don’t need iTunes to manage an iPod. There are tons of alternative apps, as well as plugins for music players like foobar2000 and Winamp.
iPods are still great. You can even replace their hard drives with modern flash storage and they work. It’s actually really impressive, i built a 256GB iPod Mini and iTunes has no problem with it. For the Mini, any compact flash card works as a drop-in replacement for the hard drive. Other models require a cheap adapter.
I completely forgot about that! I used foobar2000 a lot back in the day, but never managed how to manage my iPod through it, it was just my main music player.
Is there a market for modified iPods? I'd love to get one already modified with the flash storage you mentioned
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