TalonJul 11
Did you know that Microsoft just turns Copilot writing assist on for webpages in Microsoft Edge?
So like, if you type in edit boxes, it just... gets sent to Microsoft? Straight up?
And this is enabled by default?
So first, what the actual hell? Second, why is nobody talking about this? How the hell is right now the first time I find out about this?
Show threadAndrzej Stamburski
@talon Ms Windows is not an OS. It is an Microsoft endpoint at your home to serve Ms business. Edge is not a webbrowser. It is a tool of Microsoft to know what you are browsing in the web. Chrome is not a web browser, it is a tool of Google. Android is not an OS, it is a tool for many companies to inform them everything about you, what you watch, what you listen to, what you are interested in, when you go to bed and when you wake up.
I'm surprised that you are surprised.
Jul 12 at 9:57amWeb
Show threadAndrzej StamburskiJul 12
@talon Alternatives do not exist and are actively blocked by governments, banks, employers, but there are some. They are not always as easy to use and not so popular.
Show threadAmici Is Me 🇵🇸 🇺🇦 🇳🇴6d ago

@stamberry @talon

You'll find many of the alternatives popular here.

@e_mydata, an android alternative compatible with android apps, which you get the option to install instead of android if you buy a #FairPhone5 (a very pleasant smartphone, made from recycled and ethically sourced materials, with 5+ years warranty, and decent specs)

For browsers there's @Vivaldi, based on Chromium so it's compatible with Chrome-apps. They have their own Mastodon server with thousands of users too.

Show threadAmici Is Me 🇵🇸 🇺🇦 🇳🇴6d ago

@stamberry @talon

When it comes to operating systems, there's multiple brands of linux consumer laptops across Europe. I myself have been using Tuxedo for a long time now (they have some quite powerful laptops), where I also have NextCloud as my cloud service.

Independence happens one step at a time, cutting out one service at a time.

Spotify? -> BandCamp
Google/Bing search? -> DuckDuckGo or Qwant/Ecosia

Show threadAmici Is Me 🇵🇸 🇺🇦 🇳🇴6d ago

@stamberry @talon

Only service I have not been able to fully substitute are YouTube (for their vast catalogue) and Google Maps (for their up-to-date business information, street view, etc.)

Show threadAndrzej Stamburski6d ago
@amici Thanks for answers. I'm on Linux since 2007. Ubuntu Touch was my only phone 2015-2019. I also host my own Nextcloud server, so nobody in my family is using google nor apple for storage.
Show threadKinene5d ago
@amici @stamberry @talon On Android, check out f-droid, which has open source substitutes for YouTube and G. maps. Most of the apps I use come from them.
Show threadAmici Is Me 🇵🇸 🇺🇦 🇳🇴5d ago

@c_merriweather @stamberry @talon

The open source maps I have tried, like Organic Maps, are noticably subpar in information, and I often find myself resorting to Google Maps because what I need isn't available in the others

"YouTube substitutes" (which aren't real substitutes but just client hacking and rerouting) are also unstable. Invidious instances often lack enough bandwidth to deliver full HD. I believe both NewPipe and FreeTube also rely on Invidious in the background.

Show threadAmici Is Me 🇵🇸 🇺🇦 🇳🇴5d ago

@c_merriweather @stamberry @talon

PeerTube has the technology to be a proper YT substitute since its peer-to-peer enables server-independent traffic scaling. But the PeerTube catalogue is quite small, and there's a major lack of highly skilled content creators and community per channel

Show threadKinene5d ago

@amici @stamberry @talon I don't expect perfection, but I enjoy the lack of advertising on NewPipe, Xtra, OrganicMaps, and Grasshopper.

As always, YMMV.

Show threadAmici Is Me 🇵🇸 🇺🇦 🇳🇴5d ago

@c_merriweather @stamberry @talon

in the case of Invidious/NewPipe etc., it's not about perfection. The service is simply not available because YouTube blocks it, then you have to wait for a software update before it works again

I still use NewPipe because I quite like it - when it works, but it isn't solving any actual problems. It's still YouTube, just with a middleman to pass data into an alternative client.

PeerTube is where things should go, and needs to go. That's the future we deserve

Show threadAmici Is Me 🇵🇸 🇺🇦 🇳🇴5d ago

@c_merriweather @stamberry @talon

Of course NewPipe is totally prepared for that, with its integration with PeerTube. As soon as we can make enough content findable on PeerTube, the revolution and the shift is ready to go.

Show threadKinene5d ago
@amici @stamberry @talon All I want to do is stream videos of #ttrpgs, which are unlikely to ever be on a different
platform. NewPipe works well enough for that.