Danie

https://gadgeteer.co.za

Tech blogger on topics such as technology, open source, privacy, green tech, health tech, South Africa, and Cape Town

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Last Notes

2024-11-17 21:21:05

You can actually turn an old phone into a NAS
If you're a tech enthusiast like me, chances are you have an old phone or two lying around unused. While it's not necessarily the best use for it, you can definitely take one of those older devices and use it as a rudimentary NAS (network attached storage device) for sharing data across all your devices.
On top of that, if you really want to take things a step further, you can root an old Android phone and set up Docker on it. From there, you can host normal applications that you would on any other NAS and deploy them on your network, including running things like Pi-hole or Jellyfin. They're making just a NAS out of an Android phone, but you can easily host a Nextcloud Pi server on your smartphone if it's rooted.
We forget that yesterday's flagship, or even mid-range, phones are actually pretty powerful devices, often a fair bit of storage. With a USB hub plugged in, you can attach storage, an Ethernet connection, and more.
Repurposing an old phone, instead of throwing it out, is certainly also cutting down on e-waste.
See https://www.xda-developers.com/how-turned-old-phone-nas
#technology #NAS #environment
https://image.nostr.build/50c150c3b27486d6fe3e9d329648500228dded2956ff282e13dab436979ebe57.jpg

2024-11-17 09:34:41

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Sadly yes we see many companies doing that wanting to make a profit selling their own stuff. Big Pharma is often guilty of wanting to make a pill for something that has a perfectly good natural remedy. Often governments even end up outlawing natural remedies in favour of a prescription drug. In my country there was a long and bitter fight to get legal access again to cannabis to help treat pain and suffering for cancer patients (at least people have a choice now).

2024-11-15 11:05:15

Mermaid is an open source tool that can be used to create such charts using Markdown plaintext
Quickly create a flowchart, mindmap, or Gantt chart without once touching your mouse.
Open source means it is not going to suddenly disappear tomorrow, it can be broadly supported across different platforms and Markdown editors, and you can see what it is doing (not a binary storage blob).
Wherever a Markdown editor has support for Mermaid (often through a plugin) this type of chart and diagrams will work. For those who do tables in Markdown, Mermaid's syntax will look familiar.
Plain text format means it will still be readable in 500 years time when Microsoft is long gone.
The linked article also gives a link to the online Mermaid site where you can test this out, or design your chart and then copy the code to your Markdown file.
See https://lifehacker.com/tech/mermaid-creates-diagrams-and-flowcharts-with-plaintext
#technology #opensource #markdown
https://image.nostr.build/93f9fc85c52177c8289821527b2ca178f672246fe20ee87741bc36a0e5643f06.jpg

2024-11-15 10:06:31

Nebraskan Farmers Were Using Wind Turbines Before Environmentalism Was Invented
Many seem to forget that electric cars, windmills generating energy (whether electric or mechanical energy) are just not new ideas.
The difference is that the technology at the time was limited by what was known then. Today, we can make things work much more efficiently. With the networking of ideas, we are also able to exponentially improve what we know.
So many inventions have come about from society's need to solve challenges and problems. And yet so many ideas were violently resisted as well - remember when all cars had to be proceded by a person waving a flag, or where it was thought that steam locomotives would cause cows to stop producing milk, when we thought humans could not travel faster than they could run, when we were not made to fly, when we thought 5G cell towers were going to cause cancer, and so the list goes on and on.
Our biggest problem today is we are a society of buying everything - so things cost more, we lose our ability to fix and repair things, and then we panic that a new invention is going to take all the jobs away. In fact, new things (like just moving from horses to cars, or typewriters to computers) have created more new jobs after the transitions.
Society's difficulty is more one of not being willing to change, and today even more so, with the misinformation that is so popular.
See https://hackaday.com/2024/11/14/nebraskan-farmers-were-using-wind-turbines-before-environmentalism-was-invented
#technology #windpower #environment #change
https://image.nostr.build/3321dc5ce738dc853ca8d712cd221ea866f11805f2fbc762f8d3bb5ab438c271.jpg

2024-11-14 20:44:43

Online shopping syndicate warning in South Africa
Hot on the heels of today's report about some incredibly weak passwords that South Africans are using online, and then re-using across other websites, comes this warning now about very realistic looking fake online shopping sites that closely resemble the real brand.
We have Black Friday coming up, as well as the festive season, so everyone is looking out for bargains. We should never be clicking on links we receive over instant messengers or e-mails, but now you want to be doubly sure you are actually on Takealot, or whatever site you expect to be on.
I'd suggest you check the URL carefully before making purchases, and rather use your saved bookmarks to access sites you regularly use. Your password manager refusing to show a login, is also a sign you may be on a fake site.
See https://mybroadband.co.za/news/security/570114-online-shopping-syndicate-warning-in-south-africa.html
#technology #southafrica #scams
https://image.nostr.build/9fe86ba1a2a7346f87372441c782cbf641d8d3e1395f777e83d170a5cc5f5a91.jpg

2024-11-14 20:31:20

Google's Gemini AI Chatbot Finally Has an iPhone App
Billed as a way to converse with Google’s AI, it’s kind of like using speech-to-text, but without having to press a microphone icon before each question. Just say your questions out loud, and Gemini will respond to them in real time, incorporating context from your previous questions.
Exclusive to the iPhone app is some clever use of the Dynamic Island. While you’re talking to Gemini, you’ll see icons in the Dynamic island indicating that Live is still active and whether it’s listening to you.
So far I've been Gemini the most useful for decent answers to things, including helping out with getting various code snippets sorted out. But it is pretty good for most things you'd ask of any smart speaker.
I see it can also be used to report road conditions and issues in Waze, something which I need to try instead of doing the three button presses on the car dashboard.
See https://lifehacker.com/tech/googles-gemini-finally-has-an-iphone-app
#technology #AI #ios
https://image.nostr.build/3fd9ba3643df15151420dbb7accaab7ed9c64bb8354efb620c6a928328342c8b.jpg

2024-11-14 18:04:03

Best Free and Open Source Alternatives to Apple Health
A big issue with some Big Tech health cloud services like Apple, Google, etc is you can't get your data out easily to perform your own analytics, or use them if you decide to leave that platform. Apple Health cannot be viewed or analysed on a Linux desktop at all.
These tools help monitor exercise offline from your devices, either through direct link, or importing of data.
Jogger is for Linux computers or phones to track running and other workouts.
Golden Cheetah is a really powerful offline analysis tool that connect with indoor trainers and cycling equipment such as cycling computers and power meters to import data. In addition, it can connect to cloud services such as Strava. It shows many stats that I don't even understand, but seems ideal for analysing cycling, swimming, etc and asks for data such as wheel sizes, swimming pool lengths, and so on. It will also track nutrition and body measurement data, and it runs on Windows, Linux and macOS.
MyTourbook is software which lets you visualize and analyse tours which are recorded by a GPS device, bike- or exercise computer and ergometer.
See https://www.linuxlinks.com/best-free-open-source-alternatives-apple-health
#technology #health #opensource
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2024-11-14 10:23:13

Open Source Cardiography Signal Measuring Device
Much of the world’s medical equipment is made by a handful of monopolistic megacorps, but Milos Rasic built an open cardiography signal measuring device for his master’s thesis.
Using a Pi Pico W for the brains, Rasic’s device can record, store and analyze the data from an arm cuff, stethoscope, electrocardiograph (ECG), and pulse oximeter. This data can be used for monitoring blood pressure in patients and he has results from some of his experiments to determine the optimal algorithm for the task on the GitHub if you really want to get into the nitty gritty details.
See https://hackaday.com/2024/11/13/open-cardiography-signal-measuring-device
#technology #opensource #medical #cardiography
https://image.nostr.build/3825f700fcf5a1cb7f57f4b074592377fdb15e56420fedc05241e060ec1737be.jpg

2024-11-13 12:08:05

You can finally move your health data across Android devices - Can't believe this was not backed up before
Since Google had moved Health Connect (the service that each health and exercise app can optionally sync to on Android) into the main Android device menu, I just assumed it was part of the device backup (E2EE if needed). Now it turns out that this was never the case. If so, this is terrible design, and I can't imagine that Apple Health only exists on the user device with no sync or backup via Apple Cloud.
But OK, let's move on. It seems now that backup is available, it is also not on by default (you must activate the backup schedule), and no it is not going to back up as part of the Android device sync (it exports to a local file, and you must back that up). Again, what a clunky implementation.
When I activated mine, I got the option to save my backup file to Proton Drive, which is perfectly fine for me. So it will back up to cloud services that you have active on your device (and you can import from them too). The linked article also mentions Google Drive, so I'd imagine if that is active on your device, you may see that as an option.
See https://www.androidpolice.com/you-can-finally-move-your-health-data-across-android-devices
#technology #health #Android
https://image.nostr.build/28f27d58e801c75ab7f87aab5842224eab62f1442cd2b1cc0dd5438756e1476b.jpg

2024-11-12 20:02:28

Signal introduces convenient “call links” for private group chats up to 50 people with creating a group
Users can control who joins the secure group chats by requiring admin approval when a new join request is created, so the host can approve or decline them.
Nice to see such chats also have features like raising a hand button, emoji reactions, enhanced desktop call views, microphone and camera muting, switching video source, etc.
And it is cross-platform too, so this should make it really easy for everyone to use. What with Telegram defaulting to no E2EE and WhatsApp leaking metadata like a sieve, Signal has become an attractive private and secure option for most users. Yes I know all about Session, Threema and SimpleX (and I use all three) but I have no friends using them, so they are not yet a mainstream option really.
See https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/software/signal-introduces-convenient-call-links-for-private-group-chats
#technology #messengers #privacy #security
https://image.nostr.build/2eba2c29bba265e9e8f861dfdb97d1d23b50b5fa3da217a6b531bb7cfa41c39c.jpg

2024-11-02 20:44:29

Capacities could be a very good alternative to Obsidian Notes
I've only had a brief look and test so far, but I'll be testing this out a lot more. Obsidian is free to use but not open source software, Capacities is the same with a generous free option and is not open source software either.
Something quite different, but useful, is that Capacities is cloud synced first, so the various clients all sync via the cloud for free (unlike Obsidian which can be a bit clunky via SyncThing or similar sync software).
Obsidian is more offline first in Markdown format for full portability between other note apps. Capacities however does export (and backup) to various formats including PDF, Markdown, MS Word, and Latex. I'm just not seeing a bulk export yet of selected notes (called pages in Capacities) to these various formats. I'm testing this a bit more still.
Getting some notes from Obsidian into Capacities so far was just a matter of copy and pasting. I just had to copy and paste any images separately into the note. Tables, code snippets, headings, etc all came across perfectly.
Speaking of code snippets, I do really like that you can tag each one as a bash script, Python code, Lua code, etc, and it does a great job of syntax highlighting (something I was not seeing in Obsidian).
Capacities does not yet have all the plugins that Obsidian has, but for many who were thinking of starting to use Obsidian, Capacities may be a good option to consider.
I'll also be interested to see what the Linux app (in development) stores locally and how well it works offline. There are already desktop apps for macOS and Windows (and mobile apps for Android and iOS).
See https://www.xda-developers.com/i-found-a-powerful-alternative-to-obsidian-and-i-cant-stop-raving-about-it
#technology #knowledgemanagement #notes
https://image.nostr.build/fecacae76703b79e8c330667d521df72fa57bb0681dc5ea24ab738bdd4836446.jpg

2024-10-23 17:41:33

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This is another impressive firewall tool - https://safing.io

2024-10-23 14:10:34

OpenSnitch is a comprehensive open source Linux application firewall
This is not a simple firewall to get started with as it can be a bit of an uphill battle to get all the outgoing connections vetted (if you want to filter those), but I'd imagine once set up, it is a pretty powerful tool to have.
Key features:
* Interactive outbound connections filtering.
* Block ads, trackers or malware domains system-wide.
* Ability to configure system firewall from the GUI (nftables).
* Configure input policy, allow inbound services, etc.
* Manage multiple nodes from a centralized GUI.
* SIEM integration
It is regularly updated, with 74 contributors contributing to over 30 releases. The project has also received over 10,000 starts.
See https://github.com/evilsocket/opensnitch
#technology #opensource #security #firewalls
https://image.nostr.build/4a68577389ccad04c0218e23b6ff0b32c1414190b9c21baedab23e2067416107.jpg

2024-10-22 08:07:10

Happy 20th Anniversary, Ubuntu!
Exactly 20 years ago today, on October 20, 2004, the 4.10 “Warty Warthog” release of the Linux distribution with the strange and unfamiliar name Ubuntu debuted under the company’s slogan “Linux for human beings.”
For me, what stands out most about Ubuntu, is that it helped drive Linux to be more popular and increase adoption amongst end-users and small businesses. Back around 2006 my own company was busy preparing to adopt Linux, and Ubuntu was the distribution being looked at. I started out on Ubuntu as my first Linux distro back then.
If Linux is so widespread today, it’s largely thanks to Mark Shuttleworth and his company. They were bold enough to challenge tech giants like Microsoft and Apple, believing that Linux isn’t just for tech experts but for everyone. And it can be said that he succeeded in this endeavour.
Mark is also a South African entrepreneur, but has no musk odour...
See https://linuxiac.com/happy-20th-anniversary-ubuntu
#technology #Linux #opensource
https://image.nostr.build/7aae4a59d4e9859de1a29b424b6598dccd34a149633b84c818f234b5f3af9718.jpg

2024-10-21 20:20:55

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It may well have been copied but the license attached prohibited any changes or modification. So legally you could only use it was freeware really.

2024-10-21 08:31:18

Winamp Open Source Story Is Over: A lesson in what open source actually is
In the last five months, Winamp, the iconic music player from the recent past, has been on quite a journey. It started with exciting news, which caused great enthusiasm, but sadly, things didn’t turn out well in the end. Without warning, Winamp deleted its entire GitHub repository, effectively ending the whole story around open-sourcing the music player code.
Clearly, the organisation had no clue what open source is actually about. The right to fork, modify, etc is all enshrined within open source.
The linked article unpacks a little of how that all went wrong.
See https://linuxiac.com/winamp-open-source-story-is-over
#technology #opensource #music
https://image.nostr.build/ab9b98e0e662692bcd856324b9085cfc4df4fa49a34e1673dbb73b8f56442a4f.jpg

2024-10-19 12:55:13

7 reasons Photopea is the best free alternative to Photoshop and Lightroom, and 1 why not
Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom have long been the benchmarks in the industry. However, their ongoing subscription costs can be a burden for students and hobbyists. If you're seeking an alternative to Adobe’s creative suite, consider trying Photopea. Unlike other free alternatives, Photopea isn’t just a watered-down solution with limited features. It’s a robust powerhouse that goes toe-to-toe with Photoshop and Lightroom, offering a surprising amount of advanced features without costing a dime.
So, whilst some very good reasons are given to use it, and many will want to because of the intuitive UI and cross-platform support, they are very clear that the product is free because it is paid for by adverts in the app. Adverts can be annoying, but they may also be intrusive in terms of privacy. That said, they do not look like they take over the interface.
While Photopea won’t rival the likes of Canva, its graphic design tools can surely challenge the likes of Krita and Illustrator. You can create vector graphics using pen, shape, and text tools, explore path manipulations, and use web design tools to create mockups. You surely won’t have a hard time sketching concepts, designing logos, and creating illustrations.
See https://www.xda-developers.com/reasons-photopea-is-the-best-free-alternative-to-photoshop-and-lightroom
#technology #graphics #editing #alternativesto
https://image.nostr.build/0317ea742268e23b20cec7e3bbf15197c89ce93514fc43f37abef8a157092672.jpg

2024-10-19 12:20:33

GSConnect is KDE Connect for GNOME desktop users
For Linux, KDE has developed a solution called KDE Connect. It works better in the KDE environment and hence we have the GSConnect extension for GNOME desktop users.
GSConnect is an implementation of KDE Connect itself. While KDE Connect may already work on GNOME, GSConnect gives a better experience for GNOME users.
Hopefully, this makes the rich experience of KDE Connect a bit more seamless and enjoyable for GNOME desktop users.
See https://itsfoss.com/gsconnect
#technology #Linux #KDEConnect
https://image.nostr.build/5008509394c74bc1077fa94c777419d4bf0f6569f7f05253edc9ade46e28a2a7.jpg

2024-10-19 12:09:27

Pi-Apps: The Unofficial but Definitely Better App Store for Raspberry Pi
Though not popular, Raspberry Pi OS does provide a GUI method for installing and uninstalling applications. It's the Add/Remove Software tool, introduced in 2016 as a GUI-based method for installing applications.
Unlike the traditional Add/Remove Software tool, Pi-Apps is faster, more reliable as less chance of getting confuse between packages with similar names, and packed with useful features. While designed for Raspberry Pi OS, Pi-Apps works seamlessly with other operating systems like Ubuntu for Raspberry Pi.
See https://itsfoss.com/pi-apps-store
#technology #raspberrypi
https://image.nostr.build/bd5718e48291b0b37f86b0648eab0bb3872466cdd587f3f4825f58f976642a94.jpg

2024-10-16 14:59:50

A Phone? A Ham Radio? Relax! It’s Both!
A lot of hams like to carry a VHF radio. Of course, nearly everyone wants to carry a phone. Now, thanks to the kv4p HT, you don’t have to carry both. The open-source device connects to your Android smartphone and turns it into a radio transceiver. You can build it yourself for about $35.
The device uses an ESP32 and only transmits one watt, but it has lots of features like APRS and scanning. I do like the text transcription service that the phone provides, which is really great for those who can't hear clearly.
I can see more and more now why having a 3D printer can be really useful.
See https://hackaday.com/2024/10/15/a-phone-a-ham-radio-relax-its-both
https://image.nostr.build/5a36d17d7f1a532422c0451f6cdff7251e9382e1dd2d328dee675c77d4c4eed3.jpg

2024-10-15 11:51:29

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Hyperlapse night photo showing stars movement - without star trails
https://video.nostr.build/5abc5567aab882848f058a225cac001e1f8aed72f1bf012df60ee30f816e5be8.mp4

2024-10-15 10:56:09

Stayed at #MontevueNatureFarm other side of #Montagu in #SouthAfrica. No other humans in sight and no cellphone nor Internet. A relaxing break, and absorbing some nature again. We took long walks along the 4x4 trails across the farm, enjoyed the hot tub, braaing, and the outdoor shower.
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https://video.nostr.build/def754468f105df47e54505be296f23d3dbd2208b7283a1789f2ae21c72a2510.mp4
https://video.nostr.build/abbebc90fa89b75d128b07cd2d90109b17d45799827a30aa145fb20197addab1.mp4
https://video.nostr.build/c383256d44b160462c1bb130258de61eecde2ec2fd42572b2f2e8fced8725af6.mp4
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2024-10-10 16:37:35

The 30-year-old internet backdoor law that came back to bite
News broke this weekend that China-backed hackers have compromised the wiretap systems of several U.S. telecom and internet providers, likely in an effort to gather intelligence on Americans.
The wiretap systems, as mandated under a 30-year-old U.S. federal law, are some of the most sensitive in a telecom or internet provider’s network, typically granting a select few employees nearly unfettered access to information about their customers, including their internet traffic and browsing histories.
But for the technologists who have for years sounded the alarm about the security risks of legally required backdoors, news of the compromises are the “told you so” moment they hoped would never come but knew one day would.
“I think it absolutely was inevitable,” Matt Blaze, a professor at Georgetown Law and expert on secure systems, told TechCrunch regarding the latest compromises of telecom and internet providers.
Fact is, any intentional backdoor is not going to be secure. Secrets don't remain secret. That is just the way things are, and more so if more than one person knows about it.
“There’s no way to build a backdoor that only the ‘good guys’ can use,” said Signal president Meredith Whittaker, writing on Mastodon.
The theory around backdoors comes from the same era as changing your password every 30 days. Times have changed, and we should know better in 2024.
See https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/07/the-30-year-old-internet-backdoor-law-that-came-back-to-bite
#technology #security #backdoors
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2024-10-09 21:20:14

Openvibe is a single iOS and Android app for Bluesky, Mastodon, Threads, and Nostr decentralised networks
Often we have different friends on different social networks. This app allows you to have a single timeline to read across all these popular decentralised social networks, and to also cross post to all of them.
We've seen plenty of apps like this for X, Facebook, Instagram, and other old legacy platforms, but really not many at all for the modern decentralised platforms.
Mastodon, of course, allows your posts to be visible right across all the Fediverse social networks too.
It claims no ads, no data selling, and permissionless.
A potential downside, for any such aggregator, is going to be that it cannot support some of the more nuanced features that each platform offers. So, this will be ideal for reading a single timeline, liking, replying and posting. Still, that will save an awful lot of time for many users of these platforms.
A plus is because it signs in to each network with your existing profile at each network, you lose nothing if you decide not to use the app in future.
See https://openvibe.social
#technology #socialnetworks #decentralisation #openvibe
https://image.nostr.build/d74144609dc9a3572984e2aaa408c97c6fea8d844b50d3da0671eb76ef8a84e6.jpg

2024-10-08 19:10:39

Thinking of Buying a Cheap Racing Wheel? Don't Bother
Incredibly true! I wasted money my first time around by “saving” money on a cheaper steering wheel… That 270 deg rotation, no pedals, no gear shifter option, compatibility issues, etc all broke my experience. I could not get my truck to keep on a straight line properly even.
I forked out for the Logitech G29 wheel with pedals and shifter, and what a major difference. It is by no means a pro wheel, but it does everything I need and performances well enough to really enjoy the games i use it will. It is compatible with everything (including Linux) and has a couple of useful extra buttons and paddles to make the game experience great.
This wheel cost a bit more, but I've been using it for a good many years now without any issues.
So, like the title goes, really don't bother with a wheel that does not meet the basic requirements. A Logitech G29 is probably a good minimum benchmark to work from.
See https://www.howtogeek.com/thinking-of-buying-a-cheap-racing-wheel-dont-bother
#technology #gaming
https://image.nostr.build/08a5f7de6bfc0ffd47f138532f8acd2e282f75b2b0018cf9e423545df59d962c.jpg

2024-10-08 11:09:26

Picking out the best SD card for a Raspberry Pi just got a ton easier
It is true that many SD cards that fail in Raspberry Pi's is because they are not suited to that type of use. It is not so much about the cost of putting a replacement card it, but far more about the loss of data, especially when daily backups were not being made, and the inconvenience of a sudden failure.
"Tested and certified by Raspberry Pi to provide the best stability and performances with all Raspberry Pi boards. A2 Class micro SD card supporting DDR50 and SDR104 bus speeds and command queuing (CQ) extension. Also available as preloaded with Raspberry Pi OS."
It looks like US$9.95 for a 32 GB card.
See https://www.xda-developers.com/best-sd-card-raspberry-pi-easier
#technology #RaspberryPi
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2024-10-04 12:01:07

World Wide Web Foundation to close, as Berners-Lee shifts focus to Solid Protocol to take on centralised social media
n a surprising announcement, Sir Tim Berners-Lee, founder of the web, and Rosemary Leith, co-founder of the World Wide Web Foundation, revealed that the organization is ceasing operations. The decision comes after 16 years of advocating for a safe, trusted, open web.
However, Berners-Lee is not giving up on the Foundation's goals; instead, he's just redirected his efforts to the Solid Protocol.
From where they sit, the top threat to users' rights is dominant, centralised social media platforms, such as Facebook, X, and Reddit. This dominance has led to the commoditization of user data and a concentration of power that's contrary to Berners-Lee's original vision of the web.
I've mentioned before that I was very concerned about some great ideas that came out of the Solid Protocol, but the momentum was dismally slow. There was a proof of concept and then not a lot heard. So this move is probably a very good thing to get some momentum and help shake things up.
Big businesses running a centralised social media platform, some selling the data, others exploiting it for their own gains, some giving into political interferences, etc is just not good for end users (the public).
On the other hand, decentralised platforms need to work cohesively, profiles need to survive hosting changes, users need to be found (if they wish to be), and they need to interconnect. This is what the Solid Protocol was tackling.
So, I'm looking forward to seeing what happens with this going forward.
See https://www.zdnet.com/home-and-office/networking/world-wide-web-foundation-to-close-berners-lee-shifts-focus-to-solid-protocol
#technology #decentralisation #socialmedia #solidprotocol
https://image.nostr.build/ee519c44c719846eb514d8441d399e23c0b7d12f7bfa9a3d895c4b8e5acf9489.jpg

2024-09-23 08:49:53

Adapter adds eSIM to any Android smartphone
Most Android phones, that contain eSIMs, are pretty expensive.
Fortunately, several companies have developed eSIM adapters that can be plugged into regular physical SIM card slots and add eSIM technology to your phone.
Among the newest providers is JMP, whose adapter was recently tested by Android Authority.
The adapter’s shape is identical to a regular physical SIM card, which lets you insert it into nearly any device with a SIM card tray or slot, including Android smartphones, tablets, and mobile Wi-Fi routers.
The only feature your smartphone must support to use the JMP eSIM adapter is the Open Mobile API (OMAPI), which is required for interfacing with the eSIM chip.
Almost every smartphone with Android 9 Pie or later comes with the feature, but there are a few exceptions — like the Nothing Phone 2a.
The downside is the cost of the adapter at $39.99 (about R716) and shipping to SA $35 (about R626) but I suppose that is cheaper than a higher end phone, and offers the versatility of an eSIM.
Interestingly, too, JMP has open-sourced its software as well.
The linked article also mentions two other alternatives to consider.
See https://mybroadband.co.za/news/cellular/561542-adapter-adds-esim-to-any-android-smartphone.html
#technology #eSIM #opensource
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2024-09-19 12:54:13

Kelsey Hightower: If governments rely on FOSS, they should fund it
Acclaimed engineer Kelsey Hightower, who stopped coding for money in 2023, remains an influential figure in the world of software, and he's proposing something that might stir up the open source community.
Funding open source is an ongoing hot topic. During a chat at Civo's recent Navigate event, Hightower joked with us how companies were happy to spend big on cloud subscriptions but tended to skimp when it came to paying a comparatively token amount for open source.
Open source developers, however, require reimbersement, and Hightower has some interesting ideas on how that could be accomplished. "I think we have all got a little complacent," he tells The Register.
It's true that much of the open source that is used by governments, are often essential, otherwise they'd be paying an arm and a leg for some commercial cloud subscription. It's important, not only to ensure getting some support, but to also ensure that the software is kept up to date and continues to receive support into the future.
Some governments do actually contribute already if I think of some examples from France, Germany, and the EU itself. FOSS software being used is not just the glossy front-ends that users see, it is often the essential plumbing holding the wide area networks together, or keeping the storage and databases going. In many cases, I'm pretty sure that CEOs are not even aware of how much open source software is used in their organisations.
See https://www.theregister.com/2024/09/19/kelsey_hightower_civo
#technology #FOSS #opensource #government
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2024-09-08 19:49:25

- reply

I still have it but like most ultra private chat apps, none of my friends use it at all ;-)

2024-09-07 10:44:21

Bitfocus Companion is a Cross-Platform Open-Source app for the Elgato Stream Deck
Bitfocus Companion enables the reasonably priced Elgato Streamdeck and other controllers to be a professional shotbox surface for an increasing amount of different presentation switchers, video playback software and broadcast equipment. It has over 500 ready-to-use connectors to interface with numerous hardware devices (for presentations, music and video production work, cameras, etc) and for software services (YouTube, Twitch, Google Sheets, Zoom, OBS Studio, Slack, Home Assistant, etc).
In this video, I show how I'm using it for general gaming and productivity use at home. I show examples of how to start creating buttons, how to use delays and feedbacks, and some workarounds for auto-page changing (if you have a small deck), using global shortcut keys under Wayland and X11, opening an Obsidian Note, running OS updates, and more. I also show a workaround I use in gaming to hold a button to execute repairs whilst I do other things in the War Thunder game, like shooting back at the enemy.
My Stream Deck also works as a mini-dashboard for my Home Assistant to alert me of warning conditions for my solar system, home router, server, etc.
I spend some time too on the page I use for OBS Studio which has a button that visually shows the microphone recording level, zooming controls, warnings for microphone muted, etc.
The video is intended to give you a feeling of what this software can do and what its interface looks like. I also do a quick high-level comparison of how it compares to the StreamController software, which I did a video about a month or two back. In that video, I also showed how I use a Stream Deck to automate some spreadsheet functionality.
Watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zakLajaUZYY
#technology #streamdeck #opensource #productivity
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2024-09-06 09:51:34

SSDs have a secret way to protect your data when they fail
Many SSDs will use SMART to keep track of how close they are to failure, and when they cross a threshold that indicates failure is imminent, they will lock down and enter a read-only state. This means that you can't write anything to them, but it's also a clear sign to the user to get everything off of the drive while it still works. You can tell if your SSD has entered that state if you can't unlock it to write to it.
This will be reassuring to many who think if an SSD fails, it is basically not usable and the data is gone. So, if you've used an SDD for quite a while (a good many years) and it suddenly no longer boots, check on another computer (it's SMART stats should show if it failed). You should be able to clone it to a new SDD drive and carry on working with your data intact.
See https://www.xda-developers.com/ssds-protect-data-when-fail
#technology #SSD
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2024-09-05 10:07:14

You’ll Never Know How Accurate Your Fitness Tracker Is, and That’s OK
The appeal of fitness-tracking smartwatches is that they have all the answers. They turn our squishy bodies’ inscrutable secrets into hard numbers we can plainly read and analyze. But we would be fooling ourselves if we believed that our smartwatches always tell the truth. According to a new scientific analysis, not only do wearables often get things wrong, it may not be possible to ever really know how accurate they are.
This isn’t going to be shocking news to longtime Lifehacker readers. We’ve discussed the fact that some smartwatch metrics are more reliable than others, and that calorie burn is one of the less accurate ones. On the other hand, heart rate variability shows different raw numbers from one device to another, but the major recovery-focused devices all manage to capture the same rough trend—if you trust my homebrew study with a sample size of one.
So what do we know about the accuracy of the smartwatches on the market, and why is it so hard to answer that question? That’s the problem that the recent analysis, from a group of sports scientists and data scientists in Ireland, set out to answer. It’s an umbrella review—a study of studies of studies—that aimed to collect all the relevant published data on consumer wearables.
I suppose, much like taking most vitamins, trackers can make us feel better about ourselves. It's not to say they are useless, but they are not medical grade accuracy, and as I posted recently, there is also no absolute "maximum heart rate" that works for everyone. So it is better to use these to keep track of changes, and look out for signs when you maybe need to go visit a doctor.
Steve Jobs would have been right as well about especially wrist based trackers, as a lot depends on how you wear it. Too loose, too low on the wrist, etc can make a massive difference.
And also very true that models get replaced so quickly with new one's, and good testing takes time to get done.
See https://lifehacker.com/health/how-accurate-fitness-tracker
#technology #health #trackers
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2024-09-04 09:20:27

WHO Review: ‘No link’ between mobile phones and brain cancer
The final analysis included 63 studies from 1994-2022, assessed by 11 investigators from 10 countries, including the Australian government’s radiation protection authority.
Despite the huge rise in the use of wireless technology, there has not been a corresponding increase in the incidence of brain cancers, the review, published on Tuesday, found. That applies even to people who make long phone calls or those who have used mobile phones for more than a decade.
WHO’s evaluation will be released in the first quarter of next year.
I've commented on this before, during the peak of the 5G cell tower 'panic'. There were all sorts of confusion about different frequencies, electromagnetic types, and over distances. Many heard the words 'microwave frequencies' and confused this with putting their heads inside a microwave oven. Light and audible sounds are both frequencies, but sound is going to do more damage as it is at a lower frequency and penetrates deeper. The higher the frequency, the less the penetration through solid objects. The human skull actually does a pretty good job of shielding ultra-high frequencies (and in fact even the skin does so).
But it is good to finally have it shown there is no link found, which bears out the long-known theories that hold true for radio transmissions.
See https://techcentral.co.za/no-link-mobile-phones-and-brain-cancer/250990/
#technology #cancer #conspiracytheory #health
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2024-08-31 14:52:16

Putting a Raspberry Pi inside a Docker Container
The Pi container emulates an entire Raspberry Pi from the ground up, allowing anyone that wants to deploy software on one to test it out without needing to do so on actual hardware. All of the configuration can be done from inside the container. When all the setup is completed and the desired software installed in the container, the container can be converted to an .img file that can be put on a microSD card and installed on real hardware, with support for the Pi models 3, 4, and 5.
This would be pretty useful if you want to distribute an application all ready to run on a Pi. Others may find it useful to just test out how a Pi works, or even for testing something dicey out without messing up your running Pi.
See https://hackaday.com/2024/08/30/putting-a-pi-in-a-container/
#technology #RaspberryPi #docker
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2024-08-26 09:13:54

This Raspberry Pi project uses AI to tell visually impaired people what's around them
The idea behind this "third eye" project involves the patient wearing glasses with a little camera on them. This camera feeds information to a Seeed Studio XIAO ESP32S3 Sense and a Raspberry Pi 1 Model B+, which uses object recognition to work out what's in front of the person. The boards then convert a text-based description of what's going on in front of the wearer and relay it via text-to-speech through the headphones to the wearer.
It would be interesting to hear how the nature of what is described, audibly, is useful to the listener. But I'd imagine too that anything like this can be further trained and improved.
See https://www.xda-developers.com/raspberry-pi-ai-visually-impaired/
#technology #opensource #AI #vision
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2024-08-20 11:41:00

Organic Maps — Free, Open-Source, Private, Low Battery mapping app for Hiking, Biking, Trails and Navigation
Organic Maps is a free Android & iOS offline maps app for travellers, tourists, hikers, drivers, and cyclists based on OpenStreetMap data created by the community. It is a privacy-focused, open-source fork of Maps.me app (previously known as MapsWithMe), maintained by the same people who created MapsWithMe in 2011.
Features:
* Detailed offline maps with places that don't exist on other maps, thanks to OpenStreetMap
* Cycling routes, hiking trails, and walking paths
* Contour lines, elevation profiles, peaks, and slopes
* Turn-by-turn walking, cycling, and car navigation with voice guidance and Android Auto
* Fast offline search on the map
* Export/import bookmarks in KML/KMZ, import GPX
* Dark Mode to protect your eyes
* Countries and regions don't take a lot of space
* Free and open-source
Why Organic?
* Respects your privacy (requires no Google login nor registration)
* Saves your battery
* No unexpected mobile data charges
* No ads
* No tracking
* No data collection
* No phoning home
* No annoying registration
* No mandatory tutorials
* No noisy email spam
* No push notifications
* No crapware
It is based on OpenStreetMaps, so I could see a little known trail in the middle of the Cederberg mountains in South Africa. The great thing though with OpenStreetMaps is, if something dos nor exist, you can just add it yourself.
It installs on iOS and Android phones (including from F-Droid and Obtanium), but I was also p[leased to see a Flatpak install for Linux desktops as well.
See https://organicmaps.app/
#technology #trails #navigation #opensource #privacy
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2024-08-19 20:05:44

5 essential Linux terms every new user needs to know
It's important because Linux gives a user lots of options, unlike Windows and macOS, which are essentially one integrated system with just applications that get installed.
This is not to say Linux is "complicated" because for any distro chosen, it downloads and installs as a "single system" as a distro is basically packaged from a bunch of choices made by the distro provider. This is why you'll sometimes see Ubuntu GNOME and Ubuntu KDE as complete downloadable distros.
But Linux is also not fixed by the distro you install. You can for example change the desktop environment, and you can switch between two or more desktop environments.
This is one reason why understanding some key concepts can help clarify things for users. Another good reason is if you do need some help with diagnosing a problem, it does help that discussion if the concepts mentioned are understood (everyone on the same page).
But also do not let this put anyone off, as many new users download and install say Linux Mint Cinnamon, and are perfectly happy not knowing what parts there are to the system.
The linked article will unpack the concepts of a Distribution, a Desktop environment, a Package manager, the Command line, and your Home directory.
See https://www.zdnet.com/article/5-essential-linux-terms-every-new-user-needs-to-know/
#technology #Linux #opensource
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2024-08-14 19:22:36

Cheap DIY open-source button pad can do a lot of what an expensive Stream Deck does
This is going to be way cheaper than buying a Stream Deck, but it will certainly cost a bit of time and effort getting it together.
What it will do is allow for up to 8 different paper templates to be inserted with custom button logos (think of these templates as Stream Deck pages). The colour of each button can be changed, as well as switching between a press function or a toggle function. The button presses basically function as controller button presses or toggles.
What it is not going to do, though, is display any information back from the computer onto each button, or indicate any status back through a button, which a Stream Deck can do.
Besides that, though, it is great for having custom buttons set up for games to control lights, gears, AWD, horns, camera views, etc.
The video in the linked article does a good job of showing how it works.
See https://hackaday.com/2024/08/13/cheap-diy-button-pad-uses-neat-punchcard-trick/
#technology #DIY #opensource #StreamDeck
https://image.nostr.build/b81f9885569c30c0c0bb9fd3a508e527673c02f66207b14cea5b6bb555c50d81.jpg

2024-08-14 18:08:37

The best free password managers: Expert tested by ZDNET
We use passwords every day to access everything from our social media profiles to our bank accounts -- and if you are following good password hygiene rules, you have a lot of complex, unique logins that are impossible to remember. A password manager can help you organize and store this information securely, while giving you quick access when you need it. You don't even need to pay a premium for this service, as there are several great free password managers to choose from.
There are some excellent password managers today which provide an abundance of required features free of charge. This leaves really no excuse for anyone still using the same password across different sites.
ZDNET has listed Bitwarden, NordPass, Proton Pass and LogMeOnce as worthy of their recommendation. All these services provide full synchronisation across all your mobile and computer/laptop devices. So, by using them, you are also not locked into a specific OS or OEM.
Today, one also wants to be sure your password manager can handle TOTP and passkeys (also synced across all your devices). Some now also offer hide your e-mail functionality.
The linked article also adds a few worthy mentions at the end such as KeePass, RoboForm and Dashlane.
See https://www.zdnet.com/article/best-free-password-manager/
#technology #passwords #security
https://image.nostr.build/ba66cb5e1074bf5a20a8b886e99662856c0be503a8bbc8b0f5dbf7a90b285e37.jpg

2024-08-14 16:46:07

Deep-Live-Cam goes viral, allowing anyone to become a digital doppelganger
Over the past few days, a software package called Deep-Live-Cam has been going viral on social media because it can take the face of a person extracted from a single photo and apply it to a live webcam video source while following pose, lighting, and expressions performed by the person on the webcam. While the results aren't perfect, the software shows how quickly the tech is developing—and how the capability to deceive others remotely is getting dramatically easier over time.
The results shown using a moving flashlight are quite impressive. It is quite amazing though given that this all just works with some free Python code, a normal 2D photo, and a webcam. Yes, it is certainly not perfect, but is good for a laugh with your friends.
See https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2024/08/new-ai-tool-enables-real-time-face-swapping-on-webcams-raising-fraud-concerns/
#technology #deepfakes #webcam
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2024-08-13 16:57:37

- reply

Note this is not fully open source as the API is closed source and is required to use it properly.

2024-08-13 12:21:23

Cal.com is an open-source alternative to Calendy for scheduling meetings
Cal.com works by everyone sharing their calendars to it, and it then suggests times when everyone should be available. It is great for doctors, dentists, teachers, companies meeting candidates, etc who need to set up meetings and want the process as automated as possible.
It can be self-hosted for complete privacy, or they also offer a hosted service which is free for individuals. Not only that, but it can connect to many types of calendaring services, and also has support for CalDav.
See https://cal.com/
#technology #opensource #selfhosting #meetings
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2024-08-06 18:26:04

Proton VPN adds ‘Discreet Icons’ to hide app on Android devices and adds more servers for countries with lack of freedoms
One of the stand-out features is 'Discreet Icon,' a new setting allowing users to disguise the Proton VPN app icon and make it appear as a weather, notes, or calculator app.
In countries governed by oppressive authoritarian regimes where many VPN tools, including Proton VPN, are banned, random physical checks performed by law enforcement on people's devices could get them into trouble if a VPN app is found on their apps list.
The second highlighted feature is the addition of the 'Stealth' anti-censorship protocol to Proton VPN's Windows client. This protocol allows users to disguise VPN traffic as regular internet traffic. Previously, the protocol was available on iOS, macOS, and Android.
Proton VPN will start providing new servers in the twelve countries at the bottom of the Freedom House Index and Democracy Index lists, where people need a trustworthy VPN more urgently. These countries are Afghanistan, Bahrain, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Yemen.
Interestingly, the servers are not situated inside these countries, but in neighbouring countries, and simulates an IP address of the target country.
It's clear that Proton's philosophy is quite divergent from Google's philosophy. Google may provide services for "free" but it is using its users' information to serve adverts and working with advertisers. Proton takes the opposite path by charging users for the services, but then providing them with privacy and not working with advertisers. It is good to see, though, that Proton is still providing a pretty robust free VPN service to users (whilst I think Google just recently discontinued their VPN service).
The thing to remember is that privacy does not go hand in hand with free services, as someone has to pay the bills or donate the time/resources.
See https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/proton-vpn-adds-discreet-icons-to-hide-app-on-android-devices/
#technology #privacy #VPN
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2024-08-06 18:04:27

WordStar 7, the last ever DOS version, is re-released for free
Before WordPerfect, the most popular work processor was WordStar. Now, the last ever DOS version has been bundled and set free by one of its biggest fans.
One forgets today how massive WordPerfect and WordStar were in their days. In fact, anyone younger than around 35 or 40 years old won't know anything except for Microsoft Word. WordStar is probably also "well" known for its odd shortcut keys. Back in its day, we did not have a mouse, so everything revolved around keyboard shortcuts.
Yes, Microsoft really did make everyone a bit lazy, as it's no secret that if you know your common keyboard shortcuts in any app, you can work a lot faster than the person that also uses their mouse or the menu to do everything. Which is why those, who really know their command line, are going to work must faster than their counterparts using a GUI app.
But that's the world we live in today
So, this old WordStar app will actually run in Windows, macOS and even Linux (with the suitable DOS emulator).
See https://www.theregister.com/2024/08/06/wordstar_7_the_last_ever/
#technology #retro #WordStar
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2024-08-02 09:26:12

3 reasons magnetic switches are shaking up the keyboard scene
Mechanical keyboards have been responsible for a huge shift in user behaviour, owing to the superior typing experience they offer over traditional or membrane keyboards. Mechanical switches are at the core of that experience, offering a satisfying tactile and auditory response to users, which can't be replicated on conventional keyboards.
We are now witnessing what could be another radical shift in switch technology — magnetic switches. To be clear, magnetic switches didn't come up yesterday. The tech has existed since the 60s, and we've seen it in popular keyboards from brands like Wooting since late 2022. However, what's new is the bubbling interest in magnetic switches from consumers and manufacturers, with brands like Wooting and Razer fighting hard to come out on top.
What is interesting to me about this, is that I think of magnets as losing power over time and having imprecise points at when they trigger. It seems that I was very wrong on this.
The key thing here is these are permanent magnets and they use the Hall effect switches (like we use Hall effect sensors for measuring electrical current travelling through a wire). So this also means being able to have dynamic actuation and reset points. Also, there is no physical contact switch, so they could last a lot longer (and be silent).
See https://www.xda-developers.com/magnetic-switches-shaking-up-keyboards/
#technology #keyboards
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2024-07-11 14:01:18

How to fake the GPS location on your iPhone or Android phone
Perhaps you're trying out an app that searches for nearby stores or restaurants in another city, wanting to access services that are only available within a specific country or region, or playing a location-based game. Whatever the reason, sometimes it's useful to be somewhere else as far as your smartphone is concerned. The good news is that with the right tools, it's not difficult to spoof your GPS location.
But of course that process is a LOT easier when using an Android phone.
It's important to keep in mind that this process isn't foolproof, and can have unintended side effects. For example, while you're running an app that fakes your GPS location, it will affect built-in services like Find My iPhone and Find My Android because the location of any nearby AirTags will be misreported, and your phone will possibly even supply an incorrect location to emergency services like 911.
See https://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/how-to-fake-the-gps-location-on-your-iphone-or-android-phone/
#technology #location
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2024-06-26 09:26:38

Switzerland mandates software source code disclosure for public sector: A legal milestone
The EMBAG law stipulates that all public bodies must disclose the source code of software developed by or for them, unless precluded by third-party rights or security concerns. This mandate aims to ensure greater transparency, security, and efficiency in government operations by promoting the use of OSS, which allows for public scrutiny and contribution to the software code.
One of the critical aspects of this law is encapsulated in Article 9, which not only mandates the disclosure of source code but also allows public bodies to offer additional services related to support, integration, or IT security, provided these services align with public tasks and are offered at a cost-covering remuneration. This provision ensures that while fostering OSS, the government can also maintain a competitive balance and avoid market distortion.
The crux of it really comes down to public money being used for these services. An added benefit of course is that the software could be supported if the supplier goes out of business. Vendor lock-in is a major risk in public sector IT and this helps break that perception / reality. As for security it must be remembered that this is the operational code, and not user data, encryption keys, API keys, etc which always remain private.
See https://joinup.ec.europa.eu/collection/open-source-observatory-osor/news/new-open-source-law-switzerland
#technology #opensource #Switzerland
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2024-06-17 19:49:44

FUTO Keyboard is an open-source mobile keyboard for Android that stays private and offline
If your computer keyboard doesn't ask for internet access, neither should your mobile keyboard. FUTO Keyboard is a modern keyboard app with voice input and autocorrect, that is completely offline and never connects to the internet, in order to ensure your privacy and security.
FUTO Keyboard contains modern features such as autocorrect, voice input and swipe typing. It is also configurable to suit your personal taste.
No data is collected, nor shared anywhere. It is still in alpha version but can be downloaded either from the Google Play Store, from F-Droid, or using Obtanium to update directly from the APK releases on GitHub.
See https://keyboard.futo.org/
#technology #privacy #Android #FUTOkeyboard
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2024-06-02 10:31:29

Take Control Of MS Flight Sim With Your Smartphone And This Open-Source App
Anyone with more than a passing interest in flight simulators will eventually want to upgrade their experience with a HOTAS (Hands On Throttle-And-Stick) setup that has buttons and switches for controlling your virtual aircraft’s assorted systems, which are well supported by games such as Microsoft Flight Simulator (MSFS). But a traditional HOTAS system can be a bit of an investment, so you might want to thank Vaibhav Sharma for the virtualHOTAS project that brings a configurable HOTAS interface to your phone — just in time to try out that Dune expansion for MSFS.
The phone’s orientation sensors are used as a joystick, and on the screen, there’s both sliders and buttons you can use as in-game controls.
What's interesting with this is that there is no app installed on the phone, so it should work with Android and iOS. The app is an open-source Python app running on the computer, and the computer accesses it via a browser URL. Also, as it is a general interface, it will likely work as a general-purpose interface for other projects as well.
See https://hackaday.com/2024/06/01/take-control-of-ms-flight-sim-with-your-smartphone/
#technology #opensource #gaming
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2024-06-01 15:54:38

5 Tips to Secure Your GPG Key in Linux
GPG keys are a vital part of verifying your online identity. As such, securing it from bad actors ensures that no one can impersonate you in your communications with other people.
Most of us are probably guilty of just setting our GPG key up once and then just using it, but here are some tips if you want to lock it down a bit further.
If you have not yet set one up, there is also a link at the start of the article for how to do that.
See https://www.maketecheasier.com/secure-gpg-key-in-linux/
#technology #security #GPG
https://image.nostr.build/d01a8b75a05c11aa7b3b76d90e8667dfa2d2b6846fe7b0dec8071643814839d7.jpg

2024-05-31 12:50:43

Turning An ATX PSU Into A Variable Bench Supply
Bench power supplies can sometimes be frustratingly expensive and also kind of limited. If you’re enterprising and creative, though, you can create your own bench supply with tons of features, and it doesn’t have to break the bank either.
ATX power supplies work as a great basis for a bench power supply. They have 12 volt, 3.3 volt, and 5 volt rails, and they can supply a ton of current for whatever you might need.
It is usually true that many devices get more fully unlocked regarding features, when open source firmware is applied to them, for example, true for most network routers. This project likewise does unlock some additional functions for an ATX power supply unit.
One caveat here, of course, is you'd be working with voltages so you'd want to be very careful and ensure too that fuses are correctly applied. There is also quite a debate in the comments about whether this is a good idea or not, but that said, I had actually bought an ATX adaptor plug a while ago for a computer power supply to supply 12V for my radios.
See https://hackaday.com/2024/05/23/turning-an-atx-psu-into-a-variable-bench-supply/
#technology #PSU
https://image.nostr.build/61f8f92187a61da377c80db396be8364bb8644d87acaa6ef70a2755b4b481ac9.jpg

2024-05-28 13:56:23

LibreOffice has some really excellent getting-started Guides for their open-source Office Suite
There are some good reasons why Microsoft Office gets used widely, and that is often because it comes pre-installed as trialware on Windows PC's, it is pushed into schools and universities with educational discounts, it has massive funding for lobbying governments and sponsoring "digital villages", etc.
But it does create vendor lock-in, stifles innovation through being closed-source, pushes many into being locked into a cloud service with ever-increasing costs, does not use a fully open-standard format (provides limited support for ODF as well, and there was good reason why many governments chose ODF over Docx), makes it difficult to export one's documents cleanly between different applications, and of course has numerous license limitation son how it can be used.
It is certainly not to say that LibreOffice is better in terms of features than MS Office, but I've yet to find something I could not do with LibreOffice that I needed to get done. It is fully open-source, free to use and free to modify and examine, free of restrictions on its use, and is fully cross-platform (not only for the application itself, but also for its documents that can move between platforms and even to other applications using the open ODF format).
But one potential drawback with many open-source projects (including GIMP) is their lack of really good documentation. Good documentation needs to be clear and easy to understand. LibreOffice actually does have very good documentation at the link below. The guides are well-designed and many are over 500 pages each. They cover a Getting Started Guide, Writer Guide (word processing), Calc Guide (spreadsheets), Draw Guide (vector graphics drawing and illustrations), Impress Guide (presentations), and the Math Guide (formula equation editor).
The guides are also available in some other languages and can be downloaded as PDFs to be printed, or even in ODF source format for editing or adapting to one's needs.
See https://documentation.libreoffice.org/en/english-documentation/
#technology #opensource #LibreOffice
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2024-05-28 10:17:12

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Token2 sent this clarification after posting: only the management software is open-source for the time being. The firmware (Java applet) is planned to be made available as open source for public security audit purposes, but the timeline is not yet clear.

2024-05-26 17:55:59

Token2 is an open-source Swiss FIDO2 security key that brings innovative features at a cheaper price
Token2 is a cybersecurity company specialized in the area of multifactor authentication. Founded by a team of researchers from the University of Geneva with years of experience in the field of strong security and multifactor authentication. Token2 has invented, designed and developed various hardware and software solutions for user-friendly and secure authentication. Token2 is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.
Don't believe what AI tells you, as they tend to generalise around past statements. Token2 is a good example of how newer challengers to the incumbents, like YubiKey, bring lots of innovation. For example, Token2 has the ability to store up to 300 passkeys, dual port USB-A and USB-C on a single device, FIDO2.1 with additional PIN, opens-source, etc.
I also like the fact the device's firmware and management is in Switzerland and not within one of the Five Eyes countries.
There are quite a few options, but their FIDO2 Keys page also has a selection wizard to help out.
Whilst prices may be cheaper, depending on your country, shipping may cost a bit more.
See https://www.token2.ch/
#technology #security #Token2 #authentication
https://image.nostr.build/a1c77ca1a7997295048a581ed2be8ef5bc074599a249221e50e6261a3e1b09dd.jpg

2024-05-24 10:00:22

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Of course if one had unlimited cash that would always be an option, but many can barely afford to put together a NAS (so many also don't even backup to an external device).

2024-05-24 09:58:55

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And of course plenty of others such as https://lifehacker.com/entertainment/best-wordle-alternatives

2024-05-24 09:39:35

Jumblie is a challenging browser-based open-source puzzle game to guess the four words of the day
The game has a theme word for each day, so keep that in mind when guessing the words. It is more challenging than Wordle because there are no hints apart from the theme word. So, if one of the words is 'landing' and you guessed 'land' there is no confirmation you're getting warm at all.
How to play it: There are exactly four words hidden amongst the letters, and all letters are used exactly once. The words will always be between 4 and 9 letters long. Click on the letters (or type them on your keyboard) to spell a word. When you have a word you want to submit, click the "Submit" button. If the word is one of the daily words, it will be added to your found list of words. Find all four words as fast as you can! Each successful word is assigned a colour, so a red word will mean the shortest word is taken, so don't try to guess more words with that same length of letters.
You can also click the Reshuffle button to rearrange the letters, which can help spark some ideas.
If you're struggling, you can give up after at least 5 incorrect guesses. It also has an option to share your results by copying them to the clipboard to paste into whatever social network service you use.
See https://jumblie.com/
#technology #gaming #puzzle #jumblie
https://image.nostr.build/4f69c18140f2ad0258c9dbce1c519f985a6ec25729e58552bdcd33a912f227f9.jpg

2024-05-23 16:08:57

Earbuds for more restful sleep: Anker's Soundcore Sleep A20 now officially available
With their air-filled Air-Win design with Twin-Seal ear tips, the new generation is said to offer up to 1.8 times better noise reduction than its predecessor, the Sleep A10, according to the manufacturer. Among other things, they are equipped with a 4-layer noise masking system and are designed to better suppress bothersome ambient noise such as snoring, city noise and the like. Anker promises that the special design means there is no annoying pressure on the ear and auricle and that they are also suitable for side sleepers.
The earbuds also enable automatic sleep monitoring, including sleep position tracking, via the Soundcore app.
Wearing earbuds for sleeping is very different from during the day. I'd be interested to hear what others think about the "pressure on the ear" when sleeping with these earbuds. That is one of the biggest issues for most when sleeping. I've been very happy with my own Soundcores for afternoon naps - great noise-cancelling, but you can't sleep on your side with them.
See https://www.notebookcheck.net/Earbuds-for-more-restful-sleep-Anker-s-Soundcore-Sleep-A20-now-officially-available.840114.0.html
#technology #sleep #earbuds

2024-05-23 12:21:11

Should you build your own NAS or buy a pre-built?
An interesting read, and I have to say I do lean more towards building your own. I did buy a bare-bones NAS by D-Link many years ago because you could add your own hard drives, but what I discovered after a few years was there were no more software updates, and it is not easy to upgrade later on either.
Today I'm running a bare-bones Intel NUC box with two external laptop hard drives (powered through USB), and Open Media Vault NAS software on it. I get ongoing software updates and can upgrade RAM and drives etc. That said, its throughput is not that great as the drives are connected via USB cables. It boots from a SATA connected SSD drive. It also has Docker running on it with a few applications hosted in Docker containers, so it is quite versatile.
Knowing what I know now, I would rather have bought something that would allow proper SATA connectors to the hard drives for way better throughput speed.
See https://www.xda-developers.com/building-vs-pre-built-nas/
#technology #NAS #backups

2024-05-16 19:59:25

RealVNC is ending their free Home plan but here are some alternatives for remote GUI desktop management
There is a RealVNC Lite alternative if you look carefully on their website, and that option may well still work for you after June. Unfortunately, RealVNC is pretty good and has excellent mobile clients, so it has long been a first option for many for remote GUI desktop management.
The linked article has some popular alternatives that are cross-platform if RealVNC is no longer going to do the job for you. They do all have some trade-offs, but are free to use.
I've already had TightVNC set up as a backup for some of the volunteer work I do, and it does work well from my Linux desktop to the remote Windows desktop (the server side). TigerVNC is another good option to use.
See https://www.techradar.com/best/best-linux-remote-desktop-clients
#technology #RealVNC #VNC #remotedesktop
https://image.nostr.build/b2aac0a56096ea5994534e80aec9b563f71b2d879f6b9cd55d33c114d0ec0a30.jpg

2024-05-13 20:14:17

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Actually that is more of a reason to have auto posting as I don't spend most of my time there - I mostly just reply to comments. I'd prefer not to have to go there, especially to do manual posts, and posting from Nostr could mean full length posts (not seen yet how it comes out on the other side).

2024-05-12 17:41:47

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From what I see though it is generating a mirrored profile across the bridge, but there is no way to link it to an existing profile one has on the other side, to post into that profile?

2024-05-12 12:25:28

Garmin SOS fails South African biker after accident
A South African biker’s post-accident medical treatment was delayed after the SOS feature on his Garmin satellite communicator failed to evoke a timely response from emergency services.
Rapport reports that Johan Swarts only received a call from responders while in hospital on the day after he suffered a serious crash, despite paying a R574.99 (US$31) monthly subscription for the service.
He told Rapport that a Garmin product manager only responded two months after his complaints and said the SOS was only received on 18 February, a day after the accident.
So, yes testing is important as well as informing someone where you are going and when you expect to be back, but this is extremely concerning as such devices (along the expense they incur) are intended for use in the most dire emergencies. South Africa, as well as the rest of Africa, has some very isolated areas.
As of 2024 there are yet no reliable satellite services in Africa for ordinary cellphones, so the only option is a full-blown satellite phone (of course with its associated cost that many cannot afford).
Seems it did actually work if the message came through a day later. But where did it come through to a day later, and why? It's like a key piece of the puzzle is just missing here. Certainly a radio transmission is almost instantaneous, it does not transmit "slowly" over 24 hours. Seems to me, there was some human or system failure between the UK and SA? Due to the nature of this service, it warrants a really thorough investigation.
See https://mybroadband.co.za/news/gadgets/536343-garmin-sos-fails-south-african-biker-after-accident.html
#technology #SouthAfrica #Garmin #motorcycling
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2024-05-08 09:45:00

The Internet Archive has hundreds of full usable Palmpilot apps that you can run in your browser
https://image.nostr.build/28168477d859841e8b9655ead37f19a1b679ae6bd8c4f9ec0bb4e46bffc07f4e.jpg
This really brings back memories, and I was even able to run the HanDBase app, which was a database app you could use to easily create a database with properly defined fields etc. The apps all run in proper Palmpilot or Palm OS emulators, so you do get the actual feeling of using the device right down to the Graffiti writing (which took me a few minutes to get used to again (it's been a good 30 years since I last used a Palmpilot).
Partly the power behind Palm was the ability to install 3rd party community apps, and there were really some very good ones. It may look awfully simple today but that was the limitation of the graphics and devices of the time. This was long before smartphones and up to this point we mostly only had dumb fixed ROM pocket organisers.
See https://archive.org/details/softwarelibrary_palm?tab=collection
#technology #retro #Palmpilot

2024-05-08 09:22:21

The origins of Bitwarden and how it is fending off the tech giants
Kyle Spearrin had never developed a mobile app or browser extension when he started building Bitwarden as a fun side project in 2015.
Nearly nine years later, Spearrin’s humble attempt at a free, open-source password manager has become one of the most popular ways to keep online accounts secure. Wirecutter, PCWorld, PCMag, and others say it’s the best free password manager, and CNet even calls it the best password manager overall. Bitwarden says it now has 8.5 million users, and it uses that audience to grow its enterprise subscription business. Bitwarden’s business side has tens of thousands of customers and helped fuel nearly 100% revenue growth last year, and the company now has roughly 200 employees.
“We really value that everyone should have access to a full-featured password management tool,” Spearrin says.
Very humble beginnings, and of course we've seen why tech giants like Apple, Google, etc embraced passkeys with such enthusiasm, as this would lock users into their ecosystem. Try using your Apple passkeys when migrating to say Android, or vice versa.
“If you are locked in with one vendor, you have a risk of being locked out of your account,” Magdanurov says. “Something can happen. Somebody can hack your account. Or their automated tools that block your account for violations can be triggered for some reason.”
So, whilst it is true many tech giants have been improving their offerings around password management, Bitwarden is managing to stay a step or two ahead of them with newer innovative features (some I did not even know about). And of course one can self-host Bitwarden too.
A lot can also be learnt from buy-outs like LastPass went through. The ownership does dictate the philosophy, or changes to it.
Although I'm eyeing out Proton Pass' rapid developments (I'm a paying Proton user) I'm still a paid tier user of Bitwarden as right now they're doing their things right, and what I really like is that their paid tier is not expensive at all. I just feel that I am supporting what they do.
See https://www.fastcompany.com/91117788/how-bitwarden-is-fending-off-tech-giants
#technology #passwords #Bitwarden #security #OpenSource

2024-05-05 11:36:18

4 Tools to Share Large Files Over the Internet Securely
These are privacy respecting tools to consider. But, what signifies as a big file? Any file that you cannot seem to send through an encrypted messaging app like Signal or Telegram's secret chat. Ideally, it should be anything more than 1 GB.
Internxt is probably the most convenient being online, whilst an option like OninionShare is fully peer-to-peer but then does require the app to be installed at both ends (but is available for all generally used platforms).
See https://itsfoss.com/share-large-files-tool/
#technology #filesharing #privacy

2024-05-04 20:35:16

Video Overview of the Meshtastic Radio Mobile App Interface and Settings
This video explores what the Android app looks like, how to use the main screens, and what various settings and menu options it has. It gives a good feel of how you'd use Meshtastic radio communications from the app to control the radio settings and to communicate. I did a previous video that dealt with a non-technical intro to what Meshtastic radio is, and this is well worth just watching first if Meshtastic is completely new to you.
Meshtastic is license-free, so anyone can use it, and has really started picking up in popularity in the last year, so much so, that stock has often not been available for a month or two at a time. It's a really fun way to also connect to neighbours nearby, or keep in contact in the wilderness when out hiking.
Watch https://youtu.be/GAGOkXUlbaY
#technology #radio #Meshtastic #offgrid #opensource

2024-04-27 19:38:48

GoToSocial is a new ActivityPub social network server for the Fediverse
https://image.nostr.build/5c97148e34ac48fc7c2c7ffb2fa6838adba76fbedf18b80fb683de689dbedd83.jpg
This service is still in Alpha release but is already deployable and usable, and federates with other Fediverse servers.
However, there is no "main" instance you go to join. The intention really is that you host your own instance for yourself and a few friends and family. To this end, it is designed to be very lightweight and will happily run on a Raspberry Pi or even a $5/pm VPS.
This is taking a very different approach from say Mastodon which has one main instance everyone could join, but then it sits with the issue that everyone joins there, and it becomes a bit "centralised". GoToSocial has been designed as lightweight for self-hosting, and also has a Docker image installation, so it makes it really easy for (and encourages) most people to host their own instance.
It seems to also be focussed very much around privacy (defaults to unlisted posts) and permission controls (for example, you have an option to post to mutual-only where both people follow each other). Also, by hosting your own service you set the rules, and you are also your own admin. You can choose to turn off likes, replies, boosts, etc as well. Being your own admin also means you can easily adjust the post length as well.
It does conform to the Mastodon API so apparently some Mastodon clients will also work fine with it.
See https://github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/
#technology #ActivityPub #GoToSocial

2024-04-19 09:25:26

A Privacy Policy: We do not display advertising on the website or app but...
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I can't recall what this service was for as I don't find any login saved for it, but I was reading the updated privacy policy they sent me in an e-mail (looks like it may have been a service a tried a long time ago). It's very long and starts out quite well, but it was when I got to these paragraphs below that it really starts to worry me as they are basically claiming all sorts of metadata will be passed on online advertising networks, social media companies and other 3rd party services, including GPS locations and click stream information. This includes for children 13 years and older. It's similar to what WhatsApp passes up to Meta, which made me drop WhatsApp like a hot potato, because of who that data gets passed to.
An extract: "Specifically, we permit third party online advertising networks, social media companies and other third-party services, to collect information about your use of the VERO Website over time so that they may play or display ads for our products and services on other websites or services you may use, and on other devices you may use. Typically, though not always, the information used for interest-based advertising is collected through tracking technologies, such as cookies, web beacons, embedded scripts, location-identifying technologies, and similar technology, which recognize the device you are using and collect information, including click stream information, browser type, time and date you visited the VERO Websites, AdID, and other similar information. If permitted by your device settings, they may also collect location data through GPS, Wi-Fi or other methods. We and our third-party partners use this information to make the advertisements you see online more relevant to your interests, as well as to provide advertising-related services such as reporting, attribution, analytics and market research. We may also use services provided by third parties (such as social media platforms) to serve targeted ads to you and others on such platforms."
This extract could imply your data gets made available to data brokers even: "Please be aware that your Personal Information and communications may be transferred to and maintained on servers or databases located outside your state, province, or country. We store and process the information that we collect in the United States in accordance with this Privacy Policy though our Service Providers may store and process data outside the United States. The laws in the United States may not be as protective of your privacy as those in your location."
Well, this re-assuring that they don't "sell" the information: "We do not “sell” personal information as most people would typically understand that term. However, on certain portions of the VERO Website, we do allow certain third-party partners and providers to collect information about consumers directly through our services for purposes of analyzing and optimizing our services, displaying ads on third party sites, providing content and ads that are more relevant, measuring statistics and the success of ad campaigns, and detecting and reporting fraud. This practice may be interpreted to constitute a “sale” under the U.S. state privacy laws, or may constitute the “sharing” or processing of your personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising purposes."
They at least do expand here on selling: "We have “sold” or “shared” the following categories of personal information for the purposes described in our Privacy Policy, subject to your settings and preferences and your Right to Opt-Out: Identifiers, Commercial Information, and Internet/Network Information."
This is what is stated about 3rdparty identity services: "VERO does not receive the biometric identifier generated from the images, however, for identity verification and security purposes, VERO will receive the results of the identity verification process, including the images of your ID and the results of the liveness check, as well as text extracted from the ID scan. We may use some or all of this information and associated information to verify your account."
And this: "We do not sell sensitive information, and we do not process or otherwise share sensitive information for the purpose of targeted advertising." Except that this contradicts what was said earlier about targeted advertising! Because I understand "to make the advertisements you see online more relevant to your interests" to mean targeted advertising. Maybe relevant and targeted mean two different things?
We don't always have time to read updated privacy policies, but many do contain these hidden gems, that quite frankly can put you off using such services. The sites of course are usually "free" to use, so are funded by advertisers who require these conditions to be in place.
One can see why so many then flock to the Fediverse and other decentralised platforms which are funded by volunteers. It worth considering giving some small donations to these volunteer projects when they're keeping you free from invasive advertising and data collection policies.
From https://vero.co/privacy-policy
#technology #privacy

2024-04-12 11:00:53

The Best Podcasts for Your Smart, Bored Kid
https://image.nostr.build/0396bc3e898263a66684de280282f16fe3b421aae44014e21e8d894e2708839f.jpg
Some excellent kid safe and also informative podcasts in the list at the linked article. I'd say though they are not just for long trips in the car, as it is actually a good habit to listen to focussed and informative topics at any time. Much of my own day, including shopping trips and when driving, are spent listening to podcasts.
Audio podcasts are great for those times when you are busy doing something, and cannot be watching a screen the whole time. You can slow down, or speed up, podcast listening too.
See https://www.wired.com/story/best-podcasts-for-kids/
#technology #kids #podcasts

2024-04-10 12:12:40

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The answer is usually "why not" ;-) There is rarely any practical reason to do something like this. Supposedly DOOM can also play in the BIOS - only use I can think of is if you have an unbootable PC.

2024-04-10 09:37:24

Kobo announces its first colour e-readers
Rakuten Kobo is launching its first colour e-readers, the Kobo Libra Colour and the Kobo Clara Colour. Both use E Ink’s latest Kaleido colour screen technology, which has subtle, pastel-like hues and drops from a 300ppi grayscale resolution to 150ppi when you view content in colour.
Prices seem to be about $10 to $30 more than the black and white model, and a stylus will cost extra if you want one.
It will be interesting to see what thew reviews show from May 2024 after they've shipped. Kobo's are actually excellent readers and this also shows again how they can out-innovate Amazon. Kobo's also have long supported the ePub format, which Amazon only started to support about a year or two back. Amazon's only big strength is their massive bookstore.
It is quite easy to buy books and use Calibre to push them to a Kobo reader.
See https://www.theverge.com/2024/4/10/24124411/kobo-libra-colour-clara-colour-e-reader-kindle-e-ink
#technology #ereader #Kobo

2024-04-10 09:37:23

2024-04-10 09:37:21

2024-04-09 17:25:16

The Fairbuds noise-canceling earbuds have an easily swappable battery
https://image.nostr.build/f18afd9294abba1879954e724478103368d468863fc09b6d73cbc88b3beba23d.jpg
Fairphone, the makers of the ultra-repairable Fairphone 5, have launched a new pair of easy-to-repair wireless earbuds. Instead of tossing away your earbuds when the batteries eventually die, Fairphone’s new Fairbuds let you replace the batteries inside the buds themselves and their charging case.
In addition to replacing the batteries, you can repair or exchange the left or right earbud, the silicone ring, earbud tips, the charging case outer shell, and the charging case core. The new buds also come with a standard two-year warranty, but you can add one extra year if you register them online.
Certainly, these objectives should be embraced by all manufacturers. I will never forget my first (and only) Apple AirPods and their batteries failing just a month past the warranty period ended. They were super expensive, and I vowed to never again pay so much money for a disposable product.
The downside though with Fairphone products is they are not the cheapest around, so many are still going to buy cheap disposal earbuds. They are very likely not as good as the top end earbuds are either, but I'd be interested to see some reviews around the sound quality.
One would have to assume these could last at least two or three times longer than any earbuds which have non-replaceable batteries (batteries are usually the component that fails). But the cost of any batteries being replaced also needs to be factored in.
I'd hope though if there is enough support and sales, that these prices could actually get cheaper over time too.
See https://www.theverge.com/2024/4/9/24125089/fairbuds-fairphone-noise-canceling-earbuds-battery-replace-repairability
#technology #earbuds #environment

2024-04-09 13:46:51

Modder made an IRC client that runs entirely inside the motherboard's BIOS chip
https://image.nostr.build/de5005755e8489b630ec7f97913c0614bc3733e7d01817bccd362e682fb22c9e.jpg
Phillip Tennen, developer of the open-source axleOS, has recently decided to use what he learned from that project to create an IRC client that runs entirely within the UEFI pre-boot environment, with no operating system required. This "UEFIRC" is nearly fully functional, with a graphical interface and a TrueType font renderer, and it's all written in the Rust programming language.
Wow! It does suggest two things to me:
1. IRC is really the lightest weight social chatting app of them all...
2. IRC users are a bit different...
Technically I suppose any text based micro-blogging type service could work. Twitter or Mastodon without videos and photos may also work. But the nature of how IRC still works today, means you can get a pretty close experience to the real thing even in the BIOS.
See https://www.tomshardware.com/software/someone-made-a-functioning-irc-client-that-runs-entirely-inside-the-motherboards-uefi
#technology #IRC #BIOS

2024-04-08 22:47:56

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No but all communications providers using any radio spectrum must be licensed to use spectrum.

2024-04-08 13:40:44

Solved e-mail not working in luckyBackup app with smtp-cli app
https://image.nostr.build/83645dd9b5669b713139cbe33dfe6930745e2c3d5213230893552341d30368d2.jpg
I love the free and open source luckyBackup app for doing rsync backups of my user data, as rsync is fast and reliable, and you can easily verify seeing your files that are backed up. I've been using luckyBackup for many years now, despite it no longer being supported from about 12 years ago (little has changed with regards to rsync, which it uses, and rsync updates still).
The only problem I, and many others had, was when Google tightened up their SMTP access for sending of mail. We started getting authentication errors for SMTP logins with app passwords. But I'd seen many complain but no easy solution was ever mentioned for luckyBackup, which executes a command line execution to send the logs via e-mail.
This week it became critical as I noticed my backups stopped running a few days ago, and of course, I got no error e-mail. I looked to using Duplicati backup now which is really excellent and saves masses of space, but it is horribly slow, especially on the first run. For my 1.1 TB of data it has now been running nearly 24 hours and it has 230 GB still to go!
So, a renewed effort on luckyBackup finally found a breakthrough. I looked at alternative CLI mail command apps and actually got ssmtp to work, by adding an option `AuthMethod=LOGIN`. This got me to realise that of course GMail's (and some other SMTP servers) are not always standard. But the ssmtp app does not execute properly from within luckyBackup.
Then I came upon a comment in a post where someone said they had created an open-source app called smtp-cli for the command line, and it also did some diagnostics along with some optional parameters including also an option `--auth-login`. And it worked, including inside of luckyBackup!
The app only had updates done 5 years ago, but I see various issues have been closed, and more than once it was said no update was actually required as users can use the numerous parameters to control various issues. It also has a `--verbose` option to give lots of feedback on its progress or issues.
This app is also pretty useful if you're having any issue with e-mailing from cron jobs as it will handle that job pretty well too.
I just wish I'd come across this app sooner!
See https://github.com/mludvig/smtp-cli
#technology #opensource #smtp #luckybackup

2024-04-07 18:52:10

How to update the firmware on Raspberry Pi
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Essentially, firmware is a form of low-level software that instructs hardware on how to operate and interact with other devices and components. For instance, firmware tells a computer to turn on when you press the power button, and it also tells a Raspberry Pi how to read micro-SD cards and USB drives.
Depending on what you do with your Raspberry Pi, you might never need to update its firmware. Aside from the occasional bug fix, you only have to update your Raspberry if you upgrade a project with new processors, memory chips, or printed circuit boards. You probably won’t need a firmware update if you only use the Raspberry Pi to power a mini RC rover, but if you feel like adding a bit more processing power to a device running Windows 11, you’d better install new firmware.
So, this may mostly not really be required, but it is handy to know if you plan to re-purpose your Pi with newer hardware.
See https://www.xda-developers.com/how-to-update-the-firmware-on-raspberry-pi/
#technology #raspberrypi

2024-04-06 11:53:59

Starlink in Zimbabwe: Techies Find Ways to Disguise Kits, Evading Authorities
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In a country choked by high internet costs and limited options, Zimbabweans are turning to remarkable ingenuity. Facing arrest and equipment seizure for using Starlink, tech-savvy individuals have devised a way to disguise the kits.
One such individual who communicated anonymously with us here at Techzim has said he’s helping people hide their Starlink terminals from the authorities.
They modify the terminal so that it looks like a solar panel, or just a light. They are also able to make it work without the indoor router, removing any evidence of the presence of a Starlink connection, even if the authorities suspect, or a neighbour snitches.
It now seems to be a sort of business helping do this via kits that can be purchased. It is certainly also needed in countries where the Internet is itself censored (LOL yes also including Australia).
It's just really sad also where suppliers can get away with not having enough innovative competition for them to lower their prices through a competitive market. Governments too are not always putting their citizens first as licensing seems to have some other objectives. Ask citizens, and they're probably going to just say they want to have choices.
See https://www.techzim.co.zw/2024/04/starlink-in-zimbabwe-techies-find-ways-to-disguise-kits-evading-authorities/
#technology #Zimbabwe #Africa

2024-04-04 18:16:32

German state of Schleswig-Holstein ditches Windows, Microsoft Office for Linux and LibreOffice
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Schleswig-Holstein, Germany's most northern state, is starting its switch from Microsoft Office to LibreOffice, and is planning to move from Windows to Linux on the 30,000 PCs it uses for local government functions.
The announcement (in German) was made yesterday by the state's Minister-President Daniel Gunther, who has served in that position since 2017. According to a translated version of the announcement, independence was a key motivation for switching to open source software.
This is unlike the reasons that were given by Munich and Lower Saxony which were stayed to be cost savings, and then Microsoft discounted their services. Back when LiMux started, it was mostly seen as a way to save money. Now the focus is far more on data protection, privacy and security. Consider that the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) recently found that the European Commission's use of Microsoft 365 breaches data protection law for EU institutions and bodies."
See https://www.theregister.com/2024/04/04/germanys_northernmost_state_ditches_windows/
#technology #opensource #datasovereignty #Germany

2024-04-04 17:48:25

UK govt office admits ability to negotiate billions in cloud spending curbed by vendor lock-in
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It's one of the points I've been making since the beginning of enterprise cloud services. It's not to say necessarily that a cloud service is bad, but you have no control (and often no easy way out) if prices jump (remember Microsoft changing their SQL database licenses from per CPU to per core - think it was that way around).
Quite often too, cloud providers use their own proprietary formats inside their cloud, so all works wonderfully, but what went out of the window was many governments' requirements around open data standards. There was one very good reason for open data standards, and that was for easy portability to any other service, e.g. using ODF document standard and then moving from LibreOffice to, or from, FreeOffice.
Combine both of these and you're in a tightish spot. You may also have very few skilled IT staff left, because all your services now sit in someone else's cloud.
So, you just want to factor all of this in very carefully when considering whether to go into a cloud or not. We won't even mention the UK govt's experiences recently with Oracle...
See https://www.theregister.com/2024/04/04/uk_cddo_admits_cloud_spending_lock_issues_exclusive/
#technology #cloud #vendorlockin

2024-04-01 18:45:17

Overview of Memories Advanced Photo Management Suite that installs inside Nextcloud
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Memories is a fast, modern and advanced photo management suite, that installs quickly and easily inside Nextcloud. My video contrasts it with the Photos app that comes with Nextcloud, and highlights some reasons why you may want to use it instead of Photos. This app has face, object, landmark, place, and human action recognition capability through the Recognise app. It's not that obvious, but albums can be shared, and photos commented on, with other Nextcloud registered users using the underlying Nextcloud file commenting system.
Memories is a great way to collaborate and share photos privately with friends and family, and even to share public links to some of your albums. It can even work on a Raspberry Pi hosted in the home.
It also has apps for iOS and Android, which can optionally auto-upload photos into Memories.
By saving/reading titles and descriptions into the photo's EXIF headers means that importing or exporting out of Memories is a lot less of a chore with migrating between photo services.
Watch https://youtu.be/2A6u0AluCnI
#technology #opensource #selfhosting #photomanagement

2024-03-30 17:26:43

LocalSend and SnapDrop can be used for universal AirDrop instead of pushing to Apple
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Firstly, Airdop only works to other Apple devices, but there is a lot more to the world than just Apple devices! These open source (private and secure despite what Apple claims) apps will do universal file transfer between Apple, Linux, Windows, Android, etc devices.
They work on the same LAN so keep the traffic local. Snapdrop can even be self-hosted by you. Pairdrop (also .net address) is a fork of Snapdrop that offers a few extra bells and whistles like permanently pairing your devices (also Syncthing is better for this) as well as a temporary public room.
See https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2024/03/the-two-apps-i-use-when-i-need-airdrop-on-non-apple-devices/
#technology #filetransfer #alternativeto

2024-03-29 20:39:24

Proton Pass now supports passkeys on all devices and plans: Beating Bitwarden to mobile devices
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Passkeys are an easy and secure alternative to traditional passwords that can help prevent phishing attacks and make your online experience smoother and safer.
Unfortunately, Big Tech’s rollout of this technology prioritized using passkeys to lock people into their walled gardens over providing universal security for everyone (you have to use their platform, which often does not work across all platforms). And many password managers only support passkeys on specific platforms or provide them with paid plans, meaning you only get to reap passkeys’ security benefits if you can afford them.
They’ve reimagined passkeys, helping them reach their full potential as free, universal, and open-source tech. They have made online privacy and security accessible to everyone, regardless of what device you use or your ability to pay.
I'm still a paying customer of Bitwarden as Proton Pass was up to now still not doing everything, but this may make me re-evaluate using Proton Pass as I'm also a paying customer of Proton Pass. It certainly looks like Proton Pass is advancing at quite a pace, and Proton has already built up a good reputation for private e-mail and an excellent VPN client.
Proton is also the ONLY passkey provider that I've seen allowing you to store, share, and export passkeys just like you can with passwords!
See https://proton.me/blog/proton-pass-passkeys
#technology #passkeys #security #ProtonPass #opensource

2024-03-29 10:32:25

Google Just Revealed When Apple Will Officially Adopt RCS: Northern Hemisphere Fall 2024
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The Android developer just published an updated landing page for Google Messages, showing off key features ranging from customization, privacy and security, and, of course, AI.
On this landing page, there are different sections for each feature set, including one for RCS. As spotted by 9to5Google, if you expand this list of RCS features and scroll to the bottom, you see a section on "Coming soon on iOS: Better messaging for all." That's no surprise: We've known Apple was adopting RCS since November. However, it's the next line that brings the news: "Apple has announced it will be adopting RCS in the fall of 2024."
Of course, this does not say a lot as it is "in the fall" which is anywhere over a couple of months, and Google has tried to embarrass Apple into making moves before. I suppose, though, there is the looming court case against Apple which is anyway keeping pressure on Apple. If it were not for the US court case, I would have guessed Apple may have pulled out after the EU had ruled Apple was not a dominant player in the market (although the EU case was looking more at interoperability with WhatsApp and others in Apple Messages).
Of course, with Apple actually including RCS now, they can probably argue that there is interoperability via RCS between their platform and Android too. It must be remembered that in many countries, like mine, SMS's are paid for so are very expensive to use for any form of chatting, and the costs go up exponentially when you text an international number.
I personally have quite a few issues with interoperability with Apple:
* I still have AirTags from when I had an iPhone and I daily get the audio beeps warning me the AirTags are not connected (I use an Android phone and alternate between an iPad and an Android tablet)
* I can't wait to sell my AirTags and get the new one's Google was working on that will interoperate with Apple, but supposedly Apple has been delaying building in that support into their devices (which Google already built into Android for AirTags in 2023)
* Because I was on Apple Messages and my iPad still sometimes connects, I find a message on my iPad that arrived a week ago which I had not seen (I had Beeper which was solving this problem)
Apple is not at all dominant outside the USA, but it makes interacting with Apple users quite a pain, as Apple has gone out of their way to try to keep their users inside the walled garden.
See https://lifehacker.com/tech/google-just-revealed-when-apple-will-officially-adopt-rcs
#technology #RCS #Apple #interoperability

2024-03-22 10:39:44

Can you safely revive a dead lithium-ion battery? Yes - here's how
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More and more devices now come kitted out with rechargeable lithium-ion batteries -- you know, the ones that look like the old-style AA or C cell batteries, but are a slightly different size. The most common size is the now ubiquitous 18650, but there are loads of other sizes in use too, such as the 14500, 16340, and 26650.
These batteries are incredibly safe if treated properly, especially when you consider how much power they contain, and can last for many years and hundreds of discharge cycles before needing to be replaced.
Sometimes basic chargers can be "better" than clever chargers! Chiefly the issue being solved here is when lithium-ion batteries discharge down below their cut-off voltage point.
See https://www.zdnet.com/home-and-office/can-you-safely-revive-a-dead-lithium-ion-battery-yes-heres-how/
#technology #batteries

2024-03-19 22:39:08

- reply

I think it may be more the compression type (what is compressed vs discarded) than the bitrates that are more difficult to discern?

2024-03-18 18:40:48

Lossless Audio Does Not Sound Better Than MP3 To Most People
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Apple, Amazon, and Tidal offer “lossless audio,” claiming users can “hear the exact same thing” an artist created in the studio. However, it’s a myth that lossless audio objectively sounds better than MP3, and most users can’t hear a difference at all.
The main difference between the lossless audio and MP3 is file size. “Lossless” means it’s the same size as the original track created in the studio, and it’s usually stored as a WAV file.
Even if you are listening to lossless audio, your music is still getting compressed if you’re using Bluetooth.
So, certainly if you are using Bluetooth headphones, you're likely wasting your time with lossless audio files. I suppose a lot of the hype around lossless audio formats is that some companies also charge more for them, and listeners think they're getting better quality audio.
Even real audiophiles would be searching very carefully to actually hear any differences, and in a very quiet environment.
See https://gizmodo.com/lossless-audio-does-not-sound-better-than-mp3-1851341155
#technology #music #myths

2024-03-17 18:35:13

This is the most completely authentic 737 home flight simulator I've seen to date
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This simulator even has an authentic looking cabin door that you enter through, and a seat belt for the pilot seat. A bit of a glitch with the sim software itself, is where the plane flattens a truck crossing its path on the outward-bound taxiing (keep an eye on the right bottom side of the screen as the trucks are crossing).
If you think many of the knobs and switches are just for decoration, he has another video showing the exact start up sequence with those knobs and buttons being used. The landing gear lights, for example, do change colour and go out in a believable sequence.
But an incredibly well done job that I'm sure will give many years of pleasure.
Watch https://youtu.be/1VQ2NhXqKBs?si=nPhmEIJf7F0ibl9O
#technology #gaming #simulator

2024-03-11 16:36:29

Feeeed is a reader app that goes beyond tracking RSS feeds with an extra bell and whistle
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RSS feed apps are a really great way to focus on what you want to see and read about, but once you've read the feeds, the app is blank as it only shows what is in the specific feeds you chose.
Feeeed offers not only some extra integrations (like your own personal reminders, step count, etc), but also a bot that recommends some additional source selections.
Unlike other RSS readers, there is no read count to get through as the idea is to discover content rather than reaching “Inbox Zero” for a reader. But if you feel the urge to catch up to the latest posts, you can pin a “Latest” tab to the bottom bar.
It certainly shows that RSS feed apps need not just be basic feed apps only, and some extra bells and whistles can make them more interesting.
See https://techcrunch.com/2024/03/11/feeeed-is-a-reader-app-that-goes-beyond-tracking-rss-feeds/
#technology #RSS #news

2024-03-05 11:35:52

QDirStat is an open-source GUI app for Linux and macOS to show and clean directory space usage
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I've been using the command line NCDU for a while. Whilst NCDU is nice and fast and does allow navigating the directory tree, you had to go to a file explorer separately to delete anything.
QDirStat is doing a good job of showing everything NCDU did, and more, such as last modified, refresh just a sub-folder, and allowing various delete and clean options right inside the app.
It also has a Discover menu option to specifically find the largest or oldest files, broken symbolic links, sparse files, and files with multiple hard links.
NCDU will probably still work best for remote terminal work, but QDirStat does look very promising for graphical desktop work.
See https://github.com/shundhammer/qdirstat
#technology #opensource #Linux

2024-02-28 14:30:39

Determined maker uses Raspberry Pi and AI to block noisy neighbour's music by hacking nearby Bluetooth speakers
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Reggaeton Be Gone (the name is a homage to Tv-B-Gone device) will monitor room audio, it will identify Reggaeton genre with Machine Learning and trigger comm requests and packets to the Bluetooth speaker with the high goal of disabling it or at least disturbing the sound so much that the neighbour won't have other option that turn it off.
This may not work for everyone, and the Bluetooth needs to be in range, but I thought it was a particularly interesting technical solution to a real-world problem. It can be probably adapted for other music genres too.
See https://www.hackster.io/roni-bandini/reggaeton-be-gone-e5b6e2
#technology #noise

2024-02-27 17:20:19

Avast fined $16.5 million for ‘privacy’ software that actually sold users’ browsing data
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From at least 2014 to 2020, Avast harvested user web browsing information through its antivirus software and browser extension, according to the FTC’s complaint. This allowed it to collect data on religious beliefs, health concerns, political views, locations, and financial status. The company then stored this information “indefinitely” and sold it to over 100 third parties without the knowledge of customers, the complaint says.
The FTC also claims Avast deceived users by saying its software would help eliminate tracking on the web — when it actually did the tracking itself.
What is really sad here is that anti-virus products get really high levels of trust to operate. This is a real abuse of that trust. This really puts a serious dent in any trust that users have with this company.
This follows on from my post a day back on Mastodon about Public Relations. Public Relations is nothing more than propaganda, as just about none of any PR staff actually understand what the technical meaning is of what they are saying or promising.
See https://www.theverge.com/2024/2/22/24080135/avast-security-privacy-software-ftc-fine-data-harvesting
#technology #privacy

2024-02-27 17:10:01

Trail Sense: Android Open-Source app for entirely offline use for hiking, backpacking, camping, and geocaching
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Trail Sense is a tool, and just like any other tool that you bring into the wilderness, it's essential to have backup equipment and skills. One of its goals is that its features should make use of the sensors on a phone rather than relying on stored information such as online guides.
Features:
* Designed for hiking, backpacking, camping, and geocaching
* Place beacons and navigate to them
* Follow paths
* Retrace your steps with backtrack
* Use a photo as a map
* Plan what to pack
* Be alerted before the sun sets
* Predict the weather
* Use your phone as a flashlight
* Estimate height of a cliff
* And much more!
So you'll notice with this app there is no quick download of some map or guide. The idea is to prepare before departing with photos of your map, putting waypoints in, etc.
See https://github.com/kylecorry31/Trail-Sense
#technology #opensource #hiking #trails

2024-02-27 16:22:11

Three Meshtastic nodes are active in Cape Town for off-grid communications during disasters or just to meet your neighbours
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Myself and two other ham radio operators have established 3 Meshtastic nodes that will operate 24/7 to help build out more connectivity across Cape Town.
We are using license-free 868 MHz radios, so anyone can buy these cheap (ish) devices and get connected. The more nodes we have, the better the connectivity gets across the whole city. These radios will keep messaging going regardless of whether there is Internet or not. So if we hit Stage 8+ load shedding and cell towers and Internet starts to go down, this messaging network will still work.
This means that citizens can message for assistance needed, and this can be relayed to City or Provincial Disaster Risk Management. Or in cases of loss of communications during a disaster we can also send out messages to everyone on the network as to where water tankers will be deployed etc.
Apart from the public channel (which is much like CB radio's Channel 19) anyone can also create their own private channels (with passwords) to stay in contact with groups of friends or family. The connections between all radio nodes are encrypted with AES256 encryption, so private messages will stay private even though they bounce across 3 or more other radio nodes to reach the recipient.
You have a phone, so all that is needed is the free Meshtastic app, and a Meshtastic compatible radio device. This is probably bad timing, as right now there is a global shortage of Meshtastic radio devices. The massive global uptake has also made this situation even worse. But the point of preparing for disasters, is to do that well before a disaster strikes.
I've documented a lot of my lessons learnt, as well as given some context to the situation in South Africa for this service at the linked web page below.
See https://gadgeteer.co.za/hamradio/meshtastic-in-south-africa/
#technology #Meshtastic #offgrid #CapeTown #SouthAfrica

2024-02-25 13:53:55

Bluesky vs. Mastodon: Which Twitter Alternative Should You Choose?
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Bluesky and Mastodon are two social media networks with an aim to provide a decentralized platform for users. As microblogging platforms, they also wanted to pitch themselves as a Twitter alternative (primarily) when they started.
Mastodon is one of the most-loved open-source social media platforms. But, what's different with Bluesky?
Although they do similar things, and both can federate, there are some differences too. It's important to also remember that the Mastodon social network is one of many social networks that all use the ActivityPub protocol, and those networks collectively are referred to as the Fediverse. Mastodon may be the biggest social network in the Fediverse, but the others offer other options such as long text format posts, nomadic identities, photo albums, etc.
See https://itsfoss.com/bluesky-vs-mastodon/
#technology #socialnetworks #Mastodon #Bluesky

2024-02-21 19:36:23

Your fingerprints can be recreated from the sounds made when you swipe on a touchscreen — Chinese and US researchers show new side channel can reproduce fingerprints to enable attacks
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An interesting new attack on biometric security has been outlined by a group of researchers from China and the US. PrintListener: Uncovering the Vulnerability of Fingerprint Authentication via the Finger Friction Sound [PDF] proposes a side-channel attack on the sophisticated Automatic Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS). The attack leverages the sound characteristics of a user’s finger swiping on a touchscreen to extract fingerprint pattern features. Following tests, the researchers assert that they can successfully attack “up to 27.9% of partial fingerprints and 9.3% of complete fingerprints within five attempts at the highest security FAR [False Acceptance Rate] setting of 0.01%.” This is claimed to be the first work that leverages swiping sounds to infer fingerprint information.
Biometric fingerprint security is widespread and widely trusted. If things continue as they are, it is thought that the fingerprint authentication market will be worth nearly $100 billion by 2032.
Importantly, PrintListener went through extensive experiments “in real-world scenarios,” and, as mentioned in the intro, can facilitate successful partial fingerprint attacks in better than one in four cases, and complete fingerprint attacks in nearly one in ten cases. These results far exceed unaided MasterPrint fingerprint dictionary attacks.
I have to say, though, I'm struggling to understand how this can really work. It talks about fingerprint friction audio - does that mean the press of a fingerprint, as it sounds more like some form of swiping? The report states: "It only needs to record users’ fingertip friction sound and can be launched by leveraging a large number of social media platforms."
But it seems though they are using swiping actions to reconstruct the fingerprint, as they state this also: "In this work, we propose a new side-channel attack on fingerprints, called PrintListener, which leverages users’ swiping actions on the screen to extract fingerprint features and synthesize a stronger MasterPrint sequence based on these features to conduct dictionary attacks on users’ fingerprints".
There is a link to the original report, where it goes into some detail about how the acoustics are interpreted.
No authentication process is perfect, but fingerprints have been one of the more trusted options. But we are also learning that phone sensors such as cameras, microphones, light, vibration, etc can all be exploited in various ways. These are actually all very clever hacks. Not all can be exploited easily in the real world, but one hopes that OEMs are working to keep these exploits pinned down.
See https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/cyber-security/your-fingerprints-can-be-recreated-from-the-sounds-made-when-you-swipe-on-a-touchscreen-researchers-new-side-channel-attack-can-reproduce-partial-fingerprints-to-enable-attacks
#technology #vulnerabilities #biometrics

2024-02-17 17:01:09

Can’t decide between Bluesky, Mastodon and Nostr? Nootti’s new app lets you post to all three
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Managing a social presence these days can be tough. It’s even tougher for those who are experimenting with the new wave of Twitter-like services, like Mastodon, Nostr and Bluesky, where staying active means a lot of duplicate posts to different networks. Thankfully, developers are starting to address our needs for cross-posting tools. In addition to scheduling services like Fedica and Postpone, there’s now a new app, Nootti, that allows you to post to Mastodon, Nostr and Bluesky from one interface.
What makes Nootti compelling is that you can easily customize each post slightly for the different platforms. To do so, you first type your post in the “Main” tab, then switch over to the tabs for the other social networks. The post will be automatically filled in on each tab, but you can edit the message for the individual networks.
Which is all great, but it is only an iOS app, and there is no mention of a coming Android version at all. The Tapestry app should be coming still (no posting, and also iOS only), but I'm thinking we will see more of these integrated social network platform apps.
See https://techcrunch.com/2024/02/16/cant-decide-between-bluesky-mastodon-and-nostr-noottis-new-app-lets-you-post-to-all-three/
#technology #Mastodon #Nostr #Bluesky