Brent WT4UJun 10, 2024
scy

Did you know that #XScreenSaver (yes, the collection of screensavers for X11) is available on Android?

And that #Google requires it to have a privacy policy in order to be available in the Play Store?

And that the maintainer chose to crowd-source a privacy policy where every item starts with "Unlike Google"?

It's become a great list of all the privacy violations Google did and still does. And I thought that it's gonna be long, but it's even longer than I imagined.

https://www.jwz.org/xscreensaver/google.html

Jun 10, 2024 at 7:17amWeb
Show threadTim Ward ⭐πŸ‡ͺπŸ‡ΊπŸ”Ά #FBPEJun 10, 2024

@scy What's the use case for an Android screen saver?

On my phone, I want the screen switched off when not in use, to save battery.

I have a tablet which is in use in the kitchen as a #HomeAssistant dashboard - this is permanently plugged in so no worries about battery life. But it exists so that we can see things at a glance, so we don't want a screen saver there either.

Show threadThomas MayerJun 10, 2024

@TimWardCam @scy

To state the obvious:
You do not have a use case for a screen saver? Then do not use it.

Show threadTim Ward ⭐πŸ‡ͺπŸ‡ΊπŸ”Ά #FBPEJun 10, 2024
@residuum @scy Sure. But that doesn't stop me being curious as to the use cases that other people have.
Show threadscyJun 10, 2024
@TimWardCam @residuum Watching it for the aesthetics or nostalgia.
Show threadFrank Bennett πŸ‡―πŸ‡΅Jun 10, 2024
@scy @TimWardCam @residuum Also the maintainer himself is kind of a legend.
Show threadRhey'ven Jun 10, 2024
@scy @TimWardCam @residuum I use it in my Nvidia Shield because the Matrix screensaver looks awesome on my TV
Show threadKennethJun 10, 2024

@TimWardCam Different strokes for different folks.

@residuum @scy

Show threadCarlos SolΓ­sJun 10, 2024
@scy @residuum @TimWardCam XScreenSaver may be used in Android-powered TVs and screens that stay on for hours. A bit of a niche use case, but a case it is
Show threadm0xEEJun 10, 2024
@csolisr @scy @residuum @TimWardCam
Besides, the linked page mentions live wallpapers β€” maybe that is a good use case for it on a phone 🀷
Show threadBenBEJun 10, 2024
@TimWardCam @residuum @scy As I read the privacy policy, one possible usecase is as a live (animated) background on the homescreen …
Show threadSilentMobiusJun 10, 2024
@TimWardCam @scy it's the xscreensaver code, usable as an android live wallpaper. Which is usable as the background to your app launcher
Show threadmid_kidJun 10, 2024
@TimWardCam @scy Android has a screensaver feature, and they can be set as live wallpapers as well.
Show threadKim Spence-Jones πŸ‡¬πŸ‡§πŸ˜·Jun 10, 2024
@TimWardCam @scy I think the main use case is as a vehicle to troll Google. 😁
Show threadwhJun 10, 2024
@TimWardCam @scy you can use it as a live (animated) wallpaper.
Show threadPaul FenwickJan 14, 2025
@TimWardCam @scy : I have a TV that runs Android. I think that could use a screensaver.
Show threadEnkiuszπŸ‡ΊπŸ‡¦Jun 10, 2024
@scy brilliant subversion.
Show threadandreJun 10, 2024
@scy The last one is especially delicious. 😬
Show threadPaulaToThePeople 😷Jun 10, 2024
@scy This should be the new standard.
Show threadstibJun 10, 2024
@scy
I absolutely don't need a screen saver on my phone, but hell yeah I'm installing it, just so I can agree to the privacy policy
Show threadstibJun 10, 2024
@scy
Half an hour later my phone battery is dead because I've been going through all the old X11 screen savers on it. I remember now why I never bother installing it on any of my Linux machines. They're all so deliciously bad. Like, almost so bad they are good, but instead so bad they are just really bad.
Show threadKennethJun 10, 2024
@scy Remarkable.
Show threadKennethJun 10, 2024
@scy Neat bit of leverage.
Show threadvxoJun 10, 2024
@scy that's glorious.
Show threadOrion  β’Ά ⛰️Jun 10, 2024
@scy The last one in the list is priceless
Show threadMattJohnsJun 10, 2024
@scy I’m sure there’s as β€œGoogle burn-in” joke in there somewhere …
Show threadπŸ³οΈβ€πŸŒˆπŸœTechnomancerπŸœπŸ³οΈβ€πŸŒˆJun 10, 2024
@scy. I wish all software was like this.
Show threadBenBEJun 10, 2024

@scy LOL:

Unlike Google, XScreenSaver will never offer you advice, as it cannot talk. In the event that XScreenSaver does talk, we ask you to ignore its advice. As we do with Google.

Show threadAnne O'neamJun 10, 2024
@scy The last item is really the most important one!!
Show threadPozorvlakJun 10, 2024
@scy As soon as you said "the maintainer" I knew this was going to be good - JWZ has been doing this kind of thing since before he was at Netscape.
Show thread🐧DaveNull🐧 ☣️pResident Evil☣Jun 10, 2024
@scy What's not gonna be long is how short will it stay before google bans it "for inappropriate privacy policy" 😈🀑
Show threadHenning Paul DC4HPJun 10, 2024
@scy But will it (unlike Google) never give you up, let you down or run around and desert you?
Show threadLana The RavenJun 10, 2024
@hennichodernich @scy
See the last item on the list
Show threadHenning Paul DC4HPJun 10, 2024
@KDHofAvalon @scy Haha!
Show threadRΓ©mi CardonaJun 10, 2024
@scy typical jwz, 10/10
Show threadtecnoterrestreJun 10, 2024
πŸ‘
Show threadsnowyfoxJun 10, 2024
.
Show threadguustJun 10, 2024
@scy this person is my today-hero
Show threadLightπŸ§β‚Jun 10, 2024
@scy
Oh nice now XScreensaver can be downloaded from the Google Play Store too, I only known that it's available on f-droid. πŸ˜„ 😁
That privacy policy is genius, I like the wording. 😍
Show threadroot42Jun 10, 2024
@scy the maintainer is actually here too and is @jwz
Show thread0megaJun 10, 2024
@scy Well played 😁
Show threadπŸ‡³πŸ‡Ώ   πŸ’‰*10 RogerJun 11, 2024
@scy nice. I have the gravity well on now.
Show threadBlack Wolf Jun 11, 2024
@scy Freaking amazing 
Show threadR. L. Dane  Jun 11, 2024

@scy

jwz's snark is my spirit animal πŸ˜„

Show threadBardMoss the Bodhi Linux GuyJun 11, 2024
@scy
Have you seen the version that scrolls up like Star Wars?
Show thread𝖆𝖒𝖆𝖗𝖔𝖐Jun 11, 2024
@scy
I just wonder why he even bothers to get it into Google's Play Store when there's a simple apk file available. Also there's F-Droid, IzzyOnDroid and other free app stores.
Show threadscyJun 11, 2024
@amarok There's a name for that feeling, it's called elitism.
Show threadYurekaJun 12, 2024

@scy

XScreenSaver will never prevent you from running an Ad Blocker

what if my screen is locked 

Show threadadbJun 13, 2024
@scy beautiful
Show threadCody SparksJun 16, 2024
@scy @jwz is one of my favorite coders of all time and XJack is my favorite screensaver. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
Show threadDarth KilroyJun 17, 2024
@scy This is a list of googles crimes against humanity
Show threadSwindlerOfInsanityAug 8, 2024
@scy amazing
Show threadifraudingAug 8, 2024
@scy
Yeah, seeing "Unlike Google, XScreenSaver will never collaborate in genocide." makes me trust this maintainer politically. Not.
Show threadTheseusJan 14, 2025
@scy wonderful idea :-)
Show threadThe Ethereal ConclaveJan 14, 2025
@scy it just keeps going

 - posted by Penny, she/her
Plural Plugin
Plural Plugin

A page describing how to use and install plural plugin

what is a woɘmβ‚˜β‚‘β‚™?
Show threadNRoach44Jan 15, 2025
@scy "unlike google, we'll time bomb this code to annoy you when you use it on old devices"