The fact that it is a open linux device and I can launch in to KDE is the reason I got it. If it was some proprietary OS like other games consoles or Windows, I wouldn’t have bought it. The Steam Deck is such a breath of fresh air compared to how hostile other consumer electronics have become.
Funny how we are moving back to bicycles, as cars aren’t scalable solution.
The Bluetooth issue also happens on iOS, so I think it is an explicit choice, as Apple wants as many devices contributing to their Find My Network. It’s also the reason they changed control center on iOS to no longer turn off Wifi and Bluetooth, but to disconnect the current connections.
They are definitely are starting to trash it with ads for their own services, user hostile behavior/dark patterns (try turning off Bluetooth and applying a software update, it will be magically back on), and have ruined the UI slowly turning it in to iOS.
Even if companies were replacing existing hardware, the existing hardware uses less power. So whether it is additional hardware or not, there will be an increase in energy demand, which is bad for climate change.
I have been enjoying Tech Won’t Save Us. It mainly focuses on the politics and unethical behavior of Big Tech/Silicon Valley. It has been an eye opener.
Anyone try it out yet?
There’s a steam deck graphics preset on the next gen version that works really well. I have the FPS locked at 45fps and it is really smooth. I am also playing the next gen version on my PS4 and it is really laggy compared to the steam deck.
The ads and spyware work great for Microsoft!
The FOSS contributions from companies mentioned is only at the kernel level. And a lot that use the kernel, but with proprietary blobs for their hardware. I suspect that is because kernel/embedded development is hard and costly.
Most of the dominate OSes people use, with the exception of Windows, is based on an FOSS kernel, with then the layers above and applications being proprietary.
These software systems are being used to lock people in to the specific platforms and perform user hostile behavior. So while having the kernel be FOSS, it doesn’t result in user freedoms imagined by FOSS, it just companies reducing their costs.
There’s some truth to it. I’ve seen devs not clarify something from the designs with other stakeholders due to lack of social skills. You end up with something they implemented to the spec, but makes no sense it reality.
I have problems where when my Apple Silicon MacBook Pro will have been “asleep” for days in a backpack and then I try and use my Bluetooth headphones on another device, it will connect to the asleep Macbook.
I solved it by running a small program that kills Bluetooth when the laptop goes to sleep.
Doesn’t this waste more power being connected rather than actually sleeping? With a laptop lid closed, there’s no screen to show notifications on. What’s the point of this?
You can debloat the devices, removing all the shit from Google and the devices manufacture.
I recently got a Lenovo tablet from 2017, and once I removed all the shit software, including Google’s, it is quite useable.
I just had to RMA mine in for this issue, still waiting for new unit. Hopefully this does really fix it.
I hope it stays above macOS long term! Apple shot themselves in the foot many times with gaming on their platform.
But for their laptops the support has dropped to the lowest in years. Some intel MacBooks no longer get the latest version after 6 years.
As Apple has moved from focusing on hardware to services, including ads, they do have an interest on using your data.
There was even a scandal where with the App Tracking permissions added, which reduced third party data collection, but their 1st party apps like Stocks, doesn’t respect it, continuing to collect data even when the user has denied tracking globally.
I (originally from the US) moved to Germany with a Swiss girlfriend, so we visit Switzerland frequently and know the cultural/politics.
I find Germany to have much better social policies than Switzerland, such as better worker rights/conditions, public health insurance. The Swiss people voted against having minimum 5 weeks vacation and also just rejected caps on the private insurance minimum costs. The politics are much more conservative/individualistic compared to Germany. On a positive side, Switzerland probably has the best public transport system in Europe.