I like self checkout as an option, almost everywhere.

I DON'T like REQUIRED self checkout.

Repost of a my previous comment on this elsewhere:

They have been “claiming”/ “announcing” this breakthrough since 2017 repeatedly. They STILL haven’t figured out how to mass produce it affordably to make it meaningful. They keep pushing out the date for when it will arrive for many years now.

So use google wallet..

Instead of rebranding / upgrading one product, Google continues to make new products and have awkward migrations between them.

Proton is built on top of wine for windows compatibility. The wine project has been very careful to independent build its compatible versions of libraries. There should be no Microsoft code in wine.

Anyone watching LTTs server videos hopes it is only for entertainment as following what they do other than for your home lab would be a disaster.

However they are building up the LAB and are selling it as serious detailed reviews.. This would be a shift from their current content.

Flip side Gamers Nexus is hard core serious and I always have to skip through their videos as they put me to sleep.

Gamers Nexus They Changed Everything: Valve Steam Deck OLED vs. LCD Tear-Down points out WAY more changes, they refreshed A LOT of the components. Completely new main board etc.

US automakers broke their deals on running factories here. We have no native auto brands (other than attempted startups) building factories.

No need to protect US brand pricing anymore, let’s make cars affordable to Canadians

But ublock origin lite is by the same dev.. Not as many features but it conforms to the new rules and is still much better than not having a blocker if you use chrome or edge.

Odd not a single mention of hotmail in there the original web based email service which arguably was the one of the prime options till gmail offered way more storage.

TIL Flipboard still exists.. I stopped using it many years ago.

Mc Donald's already has customer self serve kiosks and mobile apps with the full menu that limit you as to which items you can add or remove.

How did they screw this up and leave things open ended for the LLM?

IE why was the LLM not referencing a list of valid options with every request and then replying with what the possible options are. This is something LLMs are actually able to do fairly well, then layer on top the EXACT same HARD constraints they already have on the kiosk and mobile app to ensure orders are valid?

Some people purchase a phone based on looks, some for customization, others for specific apps, some it comes just down to what they can afford

I can come up with strong reasons to use Window or MacOS as your primary desktop os. IOS or Android as your phone OS. Windows / Linux / BSD for a server or appliance OS.

If someone thinks one size fits all THEY are the ones that should not be trusted in terms of tech insights.

I will put one other mistake in there, is self checkouts with too many prompts. I avoid using self checkout at a few stores because the minimum number of prompts is higher than 3.

Good: scanning starts the process, select done AT MOST asks for how many bags, then payment type, swipe and pay (optional email receipt on pin pad).

Bad: Cant' start till you tap start, asks for member ship card up front, asks if you want to donate, scan, asks if you want to use your rewards, asks for number of bags, also would you like an email receipt?

MS had this implemented originally in NT4 then started allowing more drivers direct access for performance.

They tried again with VISTA but McAfee and Symantec cried to the EU and forced MS to back down.

Apparently apple got away with implementing it however.

Steam Deck and Proton have done wonders for Linux compatibility efforts.

However looking at NEW releases I actually want to play, many launch barely working on windows let a lone via proton / emulation. My back catalog has great support but we need more titles launching with official support.

The worst thing has to be all of the "launchers / game stores" JUST GIVE US GAMES!

2010 investigating solid state

2013 mentions working on solid state

2017 ETA commercialize by Early 2020s

2019 Will establish a joint venture with Panasonic by 2020 no ETA on batteries

2023 June commercialization in 2027-2028

2023 Oct ETA still 2027-28

Note that further interviews state: limited production starts in 2027 The 745 and 10 min charging are worded as "could enable" IE will NOT be in the 2027-28 initial release.

They also plan to introduce it in hybrids first.

Haven't plugged in a VGA cable in a long time. As someone else pointed out it depends if it is temporary or long term.. I always screw them in if it is long term

Most RJ-45 connectors (without a boot on them).. The connector only fits one way, the orientation is clear on both ends while holding, looking or even by feel if you have to do it blind and it locks into place easily. Only issue is how fragile the clocking part is, which boots are supposed to help protect but make more difficult to use.

I like reversible connectors like lighting and USB-C but I find them too small and fragile in general and they are not very satisfying to connect.

I have a special hate for connectors that are HARD to blind connect or even tell at a distance like USB-A, HDMI and Displayport which are ether rectangles or slightly not rectangles that are close enough that is hard to tell in the dark behind a device.

I have a strong dislike for connectors with thumb screws, but like locking connectors like Centronics or as noted RJ11 or RJ45.

More and more I have been using the Bing “chat” search. It does a search, filters through the results and summarizes the answer with links to the sites it found them on.

For certain types of search it is a huge time saver of scrolling through results to find answers on various pages.

Over all bing search it self isn’t bad.

As has been pointed out MANY times on the current CAST items if you have an accident large enough to go through the replaceable parts the crash bars and it DOES damage the cast it is a write off anyway.