I don’t think it really takes a side … just kind of points out that it’s super weird that it’s more socially acceptable in one direction than the other.

I do hope the author intended for what I said to be the point though.

I would argue the top picture is also a big no no.

IMO, it shows security is not a priority for them. Just because you’re on LAN it doesn’t mean encryption is insignificant. There also isn’t really “LAN” there are just networks, so this necessitates using some sort of server even in the case where you have an IPv6 or IPv4 address that would otherwise allow you to directly connect to your peer.

Seems interesting. I’m a bit concerned that they don’t see encrypting direct traffic as an issue though https://github.com/rustdesk/rustdesk/wiki/FAQ#i-only-use-rustdesk-for-a-few-devices-on-my-local-network-with-no-internet-connectivity-can-i-still-use-rustdesk-with-direct-ip-access

Mixed feelings on that since games that get delisted often get delisted because some critical servers they depend on are going offline.

I’m not sure if that applies to Forza … but personally the last thing I want is something that’s about to be delisted.

I’m not blind, but … there seems to be quite a bit of progress in this area to the point where (at least on the surface) your claim seems outdated.

https://blogs.gnome.org/a11y/2024/06/18/update-on-newton-the-wayland-native-accessibility-project/

flatpak for something as low level as a VPN is just not a great use case. I say that as a huge proponent of flatpak.

It’s really weird to think I put out feed to attract the colorful cousins of alligators to my back yard.

They couldn’t even be bothered to report the correct keys if you use anything but an xbox controller or allow custom key binds in Dark Souls 3. I will never understand the praise the Dark Souls 3 PC port got.

I don’t know if I would call that a Muppet but fair enough lol

People are allowed to not like games you like …

I also find souls likes to feel janky. Elden Ring is playable for me, Dark Souls 3 I just rage quit rather than dealing with its UI.

The muppet on the wall?

Don’t count standard notes out just yet!

They offer discounted plans upon request!

https://standardnotes.com/help/56/what-if-i-can-t-afford-the-price-of-extended

Seems they’re discontinued?

lol

Yeah, I’m thinking that’s the case … maybe it’s a tweak to their Android text boxes. That seems like something that’s got to be keyboard independent.

I feel like the amount of ads and/or length is a little excess these days, though.

I do agree but their costs have also skyrocketed because the resolution and frame rate of videos has skyrocketed.

Linus Tech Tips did a video about this … which agree with his conclusions or not, he paints a clear picture about how YouTube is more expensive to run than it used to be https://youtu.be/MDsJJRNXjYI

Google also isn’t in the business of “running things at a loss in hopes of future profit” anymore … so they need YouTube to be profitable. Maybe it’s “too profitable”, maybe they could cut down on the amount of advertising they use … but you’re absolutely right that they do test this stuff and find the threshold between “annoying but profitable” and “annoying but we’re losing users.”

More competition is always good … but Google isn’t stopping competition from showing up, just like Valve isn’t stopping competition from showing up, they’re just providing a better service that creators keep coming back to (because it’s ultimately good for those same creators to get their content out there and monetize it).

Literally read about regional pricing and how important it is. It’s incredibly ignorant to be against regional pricing.

The alternative to regional pricing is people just don’t have access at all.

More like regional pricing is an attempt to maximise value extraction from consumers

And right there I’m done with your comment. Regional pricing is incredibly important, without it everyone pays the US or EU price and there is no service provided period.

However, you can be assured that they are charging the people they’ve identified as less wealthy (e.g. in a low average income region) more than their marginal cost. Since YouTube is primarily going to be driven by marginal rather than fixed costs (it is very bandwidth and server heavy), and there is no reason to expect users in high-income locations cost YouTube more, it is a safe assumption that the gap between the regional prices is all extra profit.

Even if true, that’s not what this hoopla is about. It’s about someone from say … the US using a VPN to get Kenyan pricing. As another person said “The internet’s most beloved company, Steam, also bans people for abusing the store using VPNs.”

Regional pricing is the only reason people in these countries even stand a chance at access to the service (because ultimately their costs might be a bit lower in these countries but not by much … I would not be surprised if regional pricing is pretty much just above the break even mark). People in other countries abusing those slashed prices threatens the whole system.

This is people in “first world” countries trying to rig the system: https://www.reddit.com/r/youtube/comments/15hz5ys/found_country_that_works_to_get_youtube_premium/

Someone in Uzbekistan for instance would feel as the average US consumer would if a year of YouTube premium was $829.

This really is not a service issue. This is not a privacy issue.

YouTube as a service is … actually a great service, it pays creators well, it’s fast, it has decades of content, and it has tons of features.

It’s monetized with ads, you either watch those ads or you pay them. Using a VPN to get a lower price on the subscription is not a service issue, that’s abuse of regional pricing, and no company would accept that.