[-] ultratiem@lemmy.ca 91 points 5 months ago

Hi, I'm a publisher and I'm really sad reading some of these replies. Yes we turn a $5 textbook into $500. And yes we don't pay the authors anything. In fact, we routinely work together to make sure they can't even go anywhere else and get paid. Yes, we exploit laws and have lobbyists in every government to protect our interests.

But we are people too! We have feelings! And it hurts to read some of the replies that blame us for being greedy. We are, but it still hurts hearing it. Please do better internet!!

478
submitted 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) by ultratiem@lemmy.ca to c/privacy@lemmy.ml

ASUS rolled out an update to its firmware (3.0.0.6.102_34791) that now requires users to be over the age of 16 and to send a slew of metrics and data back to ASUS. If you do not agree or do not check the box to verify you are 16y or older, you cannot use the router. At this time, I’m not sure if ASUS has meant to disable the router for anyone under 16 or if it’s a bug.

You can opt out at any time but lose access to a slew of features:

Please note that users are required to agree to share their information before using DDNS, Remote Connection (ASUS Router APP, Lyra APP. AiCloud, AiDisk), AiProtection, Traffic analyzer, Apps analyzer, Adaptive QoS, Game Boost and Web history. At any time, users can search the contents of the terms at this page or stop sharing their information with other parties by choosing Withdraw.

Moreover, ASUS disables automatic firmware updates and worse, all security upgrades unless you opt into the data sharing. Security upgrades perform the following:

Security upgrade incorporates security measures that continuously update its security file and scans to protect against malware, malicious scripts, and emerging threats in order to secure the router and ensure system stability. Some upgrades addressing important security issues or meeting legal/regulatory requirements will still be downloaded and installed automatically, even if "Security Upgrade" is turned off.

Edit: I have personally contacted their CEO's office, but if others would like to voice their disapproval as well, here is a link: https://www.asus.com/us/support/article/787/

185
submitted 6 months ago by ultratiem@lemmy.ca to c/technology@beehaw.org

Just a few years ago, you would never see such a disparity in votes vs comments. But these days, this is pretty much the norm. I've seen posts with 10K+ upvotes and no more than 80 comments.

I'd say in about 2 years, the entire place is going to be bots with AI generated content that try to mimic "real users" using their new Dynamic Product Ads tool. Not sure how that's legal as I thought ads needed to be marked or differentiated from regular content, but here we are.

The future looks bleak and AI even bleaker. Because it's going to be used against us to make the rich richer and not to make our lives better.

[-] ultratiem@lemmy.ca 88 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

As comical as memey as this is, it does illustrate the massive flaw in AI today: it doesn’t actually understand context or what it’s talking about outside of a folder of info on the topic. It doesn’t know what a guitar is, so anything it recommends suffers from being sourced in a void, devoid of true meaning.

[-] ultratiem@lemmy.ca 131 points 6 months ago

The real question is why people are still using that dumpster fire of a website.

[-] ultratiem@lemmy.ca 84 points 7 months ago

Hi. I’m not American. But we all understand Trump’s threats. Or the inherent threat he poses. I think I speak for the world.

I’m more worried about a system that let someone like that get this far!

28

Currently Voyager shows the UI when previewing an image. A user must tap one to hide it.

An option to have it hidden unless tapped would be a great bit of UX for users to view images without obstruction or manual input.

🙏

58

Device storage is a premium commodity. It would be great to see cache clearing and perhaps setting size limits.

[-] ultratiem@lemmy.ca 87 points 1 year ago

I don't get why the entire world isn't on Mullvad.

I don't trust these guys at all. I trialed them and despite their full money back guarantee, they locked me into a support loop, always switching support staff with boiler plate responses and links that dealt with account issues or whatever. It wasn't until I left a stern reply demanding the refund or I would escalate the matter with the proper regulatory bodies.

It took 4 support tickets. To me, they came across hella shady.

28
submitted 1 year ago by ultratiem@lemmy.ca to c/privacy@lemmy.ml
[-] ultratiem@lemmy.ca 93 points 1 year ago

This entire shitty ad model these companies have pushed onto the net needs to go. Seriously. Find a better way to monetize your world.

[-] ultratiem@lemmy.ca 92 points 1 year ago

8 years!

No!!

8 years, 6 months!

Sold!!!

[-] ultratiem@lemmy.ca 102 points 1 year ago

Voltage argued that if the subscriber wasn’t the infringer, the fact that they had already received warnings under Canada’s ‘notice-and-notice’ regime, among other things, meant that they should be held liable

You sent the ISP that governs that particular IP a notice, nothing more. “They” didn’t receive notice, the entity using that IP did, which still remains a mystery.

I’m glad Canada has some semblance of intelligence in that you can’t convict someone based on a fucking IP. That’s as wild as holding someone accountable for a hit a run because they have the same make and model and colour of vehicle that was scene at the crime but no one saw the plate or the driver. I mean, come on. Using IP alone shouldn’t actually be a thing.

[-] ultratiem@lemmy.ca 94 points 1 year ago

That’s what we were all clambering for: a self driving machine that operates like a mouth breather late for work.

Elon is a masterclass of stupid.

[-] ultratiem@lemmy.ca 90 points 1 year ago

You can’t abuse unlimited. That’s why it’s called “UNlimited.” I hate this two faced, corporate back sludge that always, and I mean always, puts it on the consumer as if they did something wrong. When in reality, it’s the company that is redlining or needs to boost those unsustainable goal of doubling revenue every quarter, ad infinitum.

The real narrative is Dropbox needs money so they are scrambling to cut every expense. No matter what spin they put on it.

5

I purchased a router from the EU. So the frequencies are different than those sold in the US.

What’s the worst that could happen running a router in the US that’s on the frequencies from another country (like UK).

[-] ultratiem@lemmy.ca 93 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

after reprimanding lenders for failing to reward deposits

This really is key. Think bank for a second. They make oodles off cash of nothing. Nothing. Just other people’s money. Think what you could do in 30 days with $6b. And what do the millions of people who pooled that $6h get? Fees. Nothing. There’s no interest for chequing, which the banks have set up to be the only way really to bank with. Savings net you next to nothing (do banks really think .5% is enough when they likely double your money day to day).

And incentivizes to deposit? Yeah, zero.

So they take all your money, charge you for it, make a killing, pay next to no taxes and call it a day.

And here I am slaving away making nothing, paying 45% in taxes, all the while making them rich. I’m so done with capitalism which has turned out to be every bit as bad as every other kind of government that came before it.

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ultratiem

joined 1 year ago