Try Grayjay. It's free (though you can buy a license to support its development) and open source has fully viewable source code. You can login through the YouTube plugin's settings and either stay logged in or import all your subscriptions and then logout to avoid any further Google tracking. It's pretty stable compared to other FOSS YouTube apps and also has plugins for Twitch, Nebula and other video/audio content platforms. The YouTube plugin supports SponsorBlock and dislikes. Grayjay is being actively developed by the FUTO organisation, so is unlikely to randomly die like can sometimes happen with other FOSS projects.
Depending on how you use YouTube, the one significant downside may be the complete lack of support for Shorts. Not only can you not access Shorts from inside Grayjay, but if you open a Shorts link inside the application you cannot play it in full screen vertical. I am not a Shorts viewer (I used to disable it in ReVanced) but other FOSS apps like LibreTube support Shorts so this is one notable point of difference with Grayjay.
You're technically correct, if I recall they decided to release it under an alternative license after seeing other FOSS YouTube clients like NewPipe being forked, loaded with ads and then put on the Play Store. This gives FUTO the option of pursuing legal action if bad actors attempt to do the same with their app. However, it is free and the source code is viewable.
If it is free to download, free to use and has no pay nagging or restrictions then it is effectively free to any user. As I said, you can buy a license to support its development and this is clearly what they would like you to do, but there is nothing forcing you to pay.
Although interestingly the price of the 10 series continues to fall quite significantly. I'm not quite sure what Sony's strategy is but it seems they are trying something at the moment.
When I announced I would be closing my communities earlier this year, a curious thing happened: a surprising number of regulars replied with some variation of “I think this is my exit.” While some were specifically talking about Matrix, claiming that mine was the only room they were really active in and therefore they saw no...
That was an excellent read. I have often wondered myself how other people are going when I see them so adamant that they'll never use a mainstream social media/messaging service ever again and now refuse to be friends with anyone who does. I've heard "if my friends won't value my privacy, they're not real friends", or variations of it, so many times in privacy communities.
The funny bit to me is how obvious they are about restructuring their business model. Netflix clearly wants a greater proportion of their revenue to come from advertisers, so they're charging exorbitant prices for the 4K and, in particular, standard plan while keeping the "ad-supported" plan fairly low. They were probably seeing waves of short-term subscribers in response to big releases and are trying to bait those people into staying subscribed permanently while also milking then through advertisements. I wouldn't be surprised if the standard plan is removed at some point because it's such bad value now.
Because of how it is priced relative to the other tiers. It is significantly closer in price to the highest tier ($7 gap) despite being almost identical to the lowest tier in terms of features ($11 gap). The only meaningful difference is ads. It's very clear that Netflix is trying to price out customers who are unwilling or uninterested in paying for all the features limited to the highest tier (4K, double the simultaneous streams, better audio, etc) and force them on to the cheaper, ad-supported plan instead because they believe they can make more money this way.
Additionally, the middle tier is priced closer to the highest tier to imply that the highest tier is great value (because it has so many extra features for a smaller price increase than between the lowest tier and the middle tier). This is a classic retail strategy designed to trick consumers into spending more money than they originally needed or wanted to because "it's better value". Consumers often conflate "better value" with "saving money", even though they are doing the complete opposite when they pay $7 more for features they didn't initially care about at all.
Wonder if ads actually makes up for the difference or if it’s just under priced to push people towards it.
The ads are almost certainly making up the difference and then some, otherwise I don't see why Netflix would pursue that strategy at all. The only other theory I can think of is that people are less likely to initially cancel an $8 monthly subscription than a $19 subscription, and are therefore more likely to forget to cancel it in the future.
Like the rest of the tech industry, Netflix is way past the point of making a loss just to drive growth and is now obsessed with driving maximum profits because their shareholders are demanding (or are owed) returns on the big investments they made in a different financial climate years ago. That's why Netflix is introducing ads, pushing up prices and cracking down on shared subscriptions (and now even a one-off payment to "add" an account member from outside of your household) and cancelling projects with real artistic merit at short notice when they don't show immediate signs of becoming the next massive hit. It's all about making as much money as possible now. We are no longer in the age of focusing on providing a reasonably priced and objectively good service and that will drive people back to piracy, just as it has done previously.
That's a boring answer but it is sadly true for Google and every other big tech company currently. They focused on massive growth for years off the back of heavy investment but now that the financial climate is bad and interest rates are up, all these companies suddenly need to refocus the business around profitability. It's why this wave of enshittification has hit the internet within the last few years.
Through subscriptions. Both Google and Samsung are focusing heavily on that at the moment. That's also why their unique software features are often free at first. If Galaxy AI started off as a monthy subscription everyone would ignore it but their plan is to get you reliant on it then introduce a fee.
I think the previous model had the best battery life of any phone GSMArena had tested, so I guess that's the niche. But I'm sceptical of a crossover between people who buy phones with with an extreme focus on battery life and people who buy phones with pretty unimpressive and out of date mid-range processors. Particularly at the price the 10 series retails for. I'm struggling to understand why Sony continues with the 10 but I guess there is a market somewhere.
This is even more concerning (or funny, depending on how dark your humour is) when you realise that it will be replaced by AI-generated webpages. Humanity's presence on the internet is disappearing before our eyes.
I think the Wikipedia article needs to be updated to be honest. Continuing to describe it as a "conspiracy theory" is quite misleading given the phenomenon is already underway and only picking up pace.
It’s not as though Motorola doesn’t offer support for the device. The company confirmed that it would offer “three major Android updates and four years of security patches” over the course of Razr+’s lifespan, but it’s clear that customers will be left waiting for any major updates.
It also promised at least bi-monthly updates for the 2023 razr line, another area in which it has failed to deliver. My razr 40 is still stuck on the February security update. Before that it was stuck on the November security update until the middle of March. This is the first time I've owned a Motorola phone so whilst I knew they had a bad reputation for support, I was clearly a bit naive. I never imagined they would be so far behind within the first year of release.
groups are great at isolating you from the weird conspiracy theory public content in comments.
Joining groups is actually what drives people into those conspiracy black holes because of the way the recommendation algorithm is designed. It will recommended you more and more extreme groups because they are what keeps people using the platform for longer.
The thing people miss when they boast "wElL I DoNT uSe iT sO nOt mY pRoBlEm" is that an increasingly large proportion of our society does use these shit platforms, and for longer periods too. We have to live in this world with all the brainrotted zombies so it is actually our problem too.
Depends whether you're relying on the algorithm (recommendations) to find new groups or whether you're manually searching for and vetting these groups yourself. If it's the latter then it's not luck, that's a safe and smart approach to take with social media.
I know free vpns usually are not good, but right now I am not in a position to pay for a vpn. I found Privado VPN and it doesn't keep logs and is based in Switzerland. It has a data limit for free users, but do you think its safe for torrenting?
How often would you be forced into torrenting those mediums and how great is the risk? E-books do not need to be torrented as there are plenty of alternative ways to access them (including legal methods such as libraries). Audiobooks potentially do, but AFAIK are not prosecuted to the same extent as films and TV or video games. It can definitely be convenient to torrent music and it is a riskier medium than e-books or audiobooks, but similar to e-books there are plenty of alternatives to torrenting. I just don't see why you would bother signing up for a free VPN if that's the stuff you're after.
I would argue the opposite. These big companies have discovered what they believe to be the Holy Grail of technology (generative AI) and are now in a race unlike any seen before to deploy it as quickly as possible to the world and gain market dominance. Big tech is completely out of control right now, even the CEOs are describing it as "frantic" behind the scenes.
I don't think anyone is actually so clumsy that they need a phone like this. If you think you are, it's likely because you're not focusing enough on using the phone when you're using the phone. Inattentiveness is a major cause of phone drops from what I've seen and experienced.
I didn't say anything about building sites. I was responding to the part of your comment where you claimed you need a fugly brick phone because you're clumsy.
None of that has anything to do with what I said (clumsiness). Thank you for replying to a comment you didn't even bother to read, very respectful of you.
Oh, it will impact a lot more than one private search engine. Watch The AI Dilemma presentation given by Asa Razkin and Tristan Harris last year if you want an idea of what could be coming.
Slightly outdated already, with AutGPT being a thing.
That's the really disturbing thing and what makes this challenge so different to all others humanity has faced to date. I think Asa even referenced in the presentation that some of his slides were going out of date on a daily basis, that's how fast the technology was moving.
I miss the days of VHS and DVD shelfs in homes, for example. If you bought the tapes and had them in your home, no corporate entity could alter those tapes without your consent, monitor how many times you watch them, sell your data to whomever they please without your knowledge, roll out new mandatory conditions to a 'user...
I understand and relate to how you feel and I hope these changes feel positive to you and not forced. Please remember that these values do not have to be absolutist in their implementation and that there is a place for "hypocrisy". No human is perfect and it's okay to make concessions if you are struggling with a complete lifestyle transformation. Too often I see people start down this path of full on zealotry only to rubber-band weeks or months later because it was just too difficult for them to maintain that level of commitment to whatever their cause was. Instead of readjusting to find a better balance, they give up entirely and then feel really miserable about the experience because it seems like the things they valued in life were completely unattainable. This is all just a long way of saying take care of yourself on the journey.
I have been pro privacy and anti data harvesting for many years now, however it is becoming increasingly more difficult staying off some platforms. Mostly Meta....
I get where you're coming from and I have often felt the same. However recently I have been listening to a podcast called Your Undivided Attention which has given me a bit of optimism about the future. It's not specifically about digital privacy, but that is one of the areas they are aiming to improve through their advocacy for a more sustainable and ethical business model within the tech industry (as opposed to the surveillance capitalism we live with now).
It's really easy to feel like the fight for digital privacy is just an impossible one for people like us to win, because the tech industry has so many more resources at their disposal than us. So this podcast gives me a little more hope because it's an example of people from within that industry acknowledging that there is a problem and working together to brainstorm and advocate for solutions. It helps me to know that there are really smart and creative people out there who are on my side and dedicating their lives to finding solutions to the problems the tech industry is causing.
Agreed, I think it is a mistake to think we are somehow above it and that only stupid people fall for this stuff. The Social Dilemma explained this idea really well, I thought. One one side of the screen we have computers that are gaining power exponentially and constantly improving algorithms designed by graduates from the top universities in the world. On the other side of the screen is our monkey brain which has barely improved at all across hundreds of thousands of years. Who do you really think is going to win in that battle, particularly when we throw generative AI into the mix? Maybe I can sort the fake from the real today, but if we continue on the same trajectory then that is going to change very quickly.
it is absolutely necessary to indicate that pixel phones are the cleanest out of the box phone experience you can get.
No they're not. Have you actually bought a newer Pixel and used it without a custom ROM? They are loaded with extra Google applications and features now. It's a very different experience to several years ago when everyone referred to Pixels as "stock" Android. Motorola phones have a more "stock" experience than Pixels now.
That's not true, though. Motorola phones do not contain all the same Google features and applications as Pixels and the way in which their first-party applications are embedded in the OS is less significant than the way in which Google embeds theirs.
EDIT: Your risk surface question is also a strawman and shifting the goalposts. Neither myself nor OP made was making an argument about risk surface.
You are describing basically all phones, including Pixels. If you want to flash AOSP or some custom ROM, fine, but that's not an "out of the box" experience as you originally claimed.
I guess the disagreement here is coming from how we define a "clean" experience. Based on my recent use of phones from both manufacturers, the Motorola phone allowed me to disable and uninstall more stuff without breaking the core UX, hence it was a cleaner experience. Motorola doesn't really impose itself on the user, in that sense.
Alternatively Pixels are really designed to be used by people fully integrated within Google's ecosystem. When you start attempting to escape that it becomes a pretty annoying experience and one that I would not define as "clean". It's increasingly akin to using a Samsung phone with OneUI, which is similarly insistent on you using all it's baked-in, exclusive first-party features (many of which requite an account or enable additional tracking).
To me the real issue is not trust in the design, but rather trust in the warranty/return/refund process. The technology is fairly new and still has potentially significant weaknesses that may leave the occasional customer with a damaged or completely broken phone through no fault of their own. To me, that is an acceptable and understandable problem and one that doesn't inherently make the product unfit for sale to the general public. The real problem is that several manufacturers of these folding/flipping phones have warranty policies and/or practices that attempt to make the customer foot the bill for a defected product that they have not mishandled or mistreated in any way. Shane Craig has done a couple of videos on his experiences with a broken Pixel Fold and Google's warranty service recently that highlight this practice. That is completely unacceptable and is definitely an extremely valid reason to avoid folding phones if you live in a country like the US with weak consumer laws.
I used to use NewPipe back in the days of yore. Then I got Youtube Premium since it bundled in Youtube Music as well which I used. But the former's app on mobile is a shit show. Even after paying, you are asked to tip random creators, purchase merchandise[ which are shown as actual ads below videos] and join channels to access...
I don't think recommendations being messed up by the algorithm is the real issue with YouTube (or any big tech social media platform). It's the fact that the algorithm is so good at predicting what you want to watch before you even think about watching it, that you slowly become pushed into an echo-chamber where your entire online space is inhabited only by people who agree with you, issues that you think are relevant, etc. It's the entire concept of algorithm-based recommendations that is messed up and it's damaging society.
Yes, exactly. Negative emotions have been shown to drive more engagement in users, so the algorithms are designed to highlight conflict and increasingly extreme viewpoints. For younger viewers, the algorithm favours addictive content to ensure they stay glued to the screen.
I wanted to degoogle since Google has been most annoying so far with S21FE. Was thinking of getting Pixel 8a but due to mixed reivews I was looking for other phones. Thoughts on this? Would be also nice if I can get some opinions from people who have the phone as well.
Just be aware that everyone has a different idea of how much privacy they need and who/what from. Whilst it is absolutely true that there are more private custom ROMs available, that does not necessarily mean that /e/ is universally "bad for privacy". Depending on the extent to which you are attempting to deGoogle your life, it may be good enough.
Here's a comparison of the main ones. They are all good projects in their own right so take a look at their features and which phones they support. Some are focused more on hardcore security and privacy, while others are more casual in their implementation. Some only support Google Pixels while others support a pretty wide range of new and old devices.
I stumbled across this today and thought it was worth sharing. I have used every one of these ROMs except /e/ and they are all good projects in their own right.
The "user" reviews on Google Maps (and similar platforms like Yelp) can be fake. Go to the Fake Review Watch channel on YouTube or visit their website if you want to see real examples of this. This is a service that businesses of all sizes, all over the world are paying for - sometimes on a massive scale.
However if you still really want to rely on Google reviews, use GMaps WV.
Ad free YouTube App
I recently discovered SmartTube Next for Android TV to get an ad free experience and integrated Sponsorblock on my Nvidia Shield TV....
Sony Xperia 1 VI review ( gsmarena.com )
Best ship ever! ( lemmy.world )
cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/15581511...
Is Privacy Worth It? ( blog.thenewoil.org )
When I announced I would be closing my communities earlier this year, a curious thing happened: a surprising number of regulars replied with some variation of “I think this is my exit.” While some were specifically talking about Matrix, claiming that mine was the only room they were really active in and therefore they saw no...
Platforms wonder why piracy is spiking ( www.skynews.com.au )
It's not even surprising anymore platforms do this & act all Pikachu face why piracy is spiking...
Prominent Android manufacturers commit to supporting phone software for 7 years ( www.cnet.com )
cross-posted from: https://slrpnk.net/post/9647496...
GSMArena | Sony Xperia 10 VI review ( www.gsmarena.com )
Online Content Is Disappearing ( www.pewresearch.org )
cross-posted from: https://lemy.lol/post/25166889
The Motorola Razr+ is about to get a sequel, but still hasn’t gotten an Android 14 update ( 9to5google.com )
Twitter/x.com is now forcing you to disable Firefox's Enhance Tracking Protection. ( lemmy.world )
Firefox’s Enhanced Tracking Protection (Strict Mode) is known to cause issues on x.com...
is Privado VPN good?
I know free vpns usually are not good, but right now I am not in a position to pay for a vpn. I found Privado VPN and it doesn't keep logs and is based in Switzerland. It has a data limit for free users, but do you think its safe for torrenting?
Google Search adds a “web” filter, because it is no longer focused on web results ( arstechnica.com )
Ulefone Armor Pad 3 Pro: Rugged tablet launches with gigantic battery, two bright flashlights and three card slots ( www.notebookcheck.net )
Google is redesigning its search engine — and it’s AI all the way down ( www.theverge.com )
Coming to terms with no longer having privacy and control over my technology
I miss the days of VHS and DVD shelfs in homes, for example. If you bought the tapes and had them in your home, no corporate entity could alter those tapes without your consent, monitor how many times you watch them, sell your data to whomever they please without your knowledge, roll out new mandatory conditions to a 'user...
What is the cost of privacy?
I have been pro privacy and anti data harvesting for many years now, however it is becoming increasingly more difficult staying off some platforms. Mostly Meta....
The Disinformation Machine: How Susceptible Are We to AI Propaganda? ( hai.stanford.edu )
Which Android mobile phone brand brings less pre-loaded 3rd-party apps?
Please write the 3 phone brands (in order please) which you think they bring the least number of third-party apps....
Xiaomi Mix Flip surfaces in real-life image for first time ( www.gizmochina.com )
Youtube Rant from a paying customer
I used to use NewPipe back in the days of yore. Then I got Youtube Premium since it bundled in Youtube Music as well which I used. But the former's app on mobile is a shit show. Even after paying, you are asked to tip random creators, purchase merchandise[ which are shown as actual ads below videos] and join channels to access...
Thoughts on Nothing Phone 2 running with e/os?
I wanted to degoogle since Google has been most annoying so far with S21FE. Was thinking of getting Pixel 8a but due to mixed reivews I was looking for other phones. Thoughts on this? Would be also nice if I can get some opinions from people who have the phone as well.
Comparison of privacy and/or security focused Android ROMs versus "Stock" Android ( eylenburg.github.io )
I stumbled across this today and thought it was worth sharing. I have used every one of these ROMs except /e/ and they are all good projects in their own right.
Telegram founder and CEO alledges signal has backdoors, they don't provide reproduceible builds, etc.
Here's what he said in a post on his telegram channel:...
Google Pixel 8a announced ( 9to5google.com )
The Google Pixel 8a starts at $499 for 128 GB and $559 for 256 GB (Obsidian only)
Why people don't talk about Google Maps' privacy issues ( www.youtube.com )
Title is editorialized because the original is, frankly, clickbait garbage