Yes, I have 4 add-ons for YouTube only (3 for youtube and one to change UI of YTM, technically a tamper monkey script).

addon to auto select higher quality streams

I meant on their mobile app. On web, there are ways. But on mobile, there is none officially. I have to manually select the 1080p thingy there. Ironically, New pipe has option for custom video stream for both wifi and mobile data.

YouTube conducts so many useless experiments on their app from so called AI assisted summaries to what not, but can’t factor in basic things. Today, I bolted back to Tubular ( Newpipe fork) and the simple UI with only subscriptions is a sight to behold (no shorts, option to hide comments, sponserblock integration and not to mention, no furthur IAPs). If a paying user has to resort to 3rd party alternatives, then the situation is really grim (the only thing YT app officially has is 1080p Premium bit rate but it rarely went there automatically for me).

Google takes always anti user decisions. From small things like shoving in the cast button permanently in the playback UI of YT Music to depriving users of options (no third party clients, second rate Wear OS app, no light mode, no lossless audio, geographical restrictions on tracks(which for those same tracks don’t appear on other music services)) ; it is like Google wants users to pirate.

I paid for YT Premium because I used YT Music and YouTube was just a plus (the official YouTube app is a shill, asking to tip a creator or super thank or join membership. Like no thanks, I already paid once. Not to mention, even simplistic things like choosing a default video quality is impossible in YouTube mobile app. What the heck is Data Saving and High; give me granular controls.)

If Google continues to enshittify even the music service, I will just pirate (I tried Spotify but this post will become another rant if I list it’s shortcomings).

Folks who have heard about the book know that Frankestein was the monster.

Folks who have read the book know that Frankestein created the monster.

Folks who understand the book know that Frankenstein was the real monster.

I moved to weechat. It is terminal only. I had setup some keybindings either ways on hexchat to navigate faster via keyboard between channels / servers and weechat can replicate them (albeit it takes a little time to read documentation in this case). Many folks also are hard on users of irssi but weechat met my simplistic needs.

Not to mention almost any distro will have a packaged version of weechat in its repos.

He has multiple posts shilling the same each in a different tone. As if someone gave ChatGPT a draft and asked it to product a different output each time. And of course the proper selfie at the end of each post, as the icing on cake.

PPP is different depending on countries. He is living in India. So, 45k INR a week is great in India and will very easily make rent for him here.

I don’t generally use LinkedIn. I opened it today after long time and got logged out and was shown this.

It is ironical because Microsoft owns LinkedIn but for rescuing a Microsoft account (which is arguably more important because emails at the least are linked to it. And then there is One drive, Authenticator apps and what not) none of this is required. But for rescuing what is essentially a fruitless social network, they need an ID.

New Reddit is a mockery of design and waste of space. Add ito it the fact that RES isn’t properly compatible with new Reddit and keyboard navigation is not possible.

I have been using Nova for nearly a decade now. I think it was the first app I paid for. I tried ahem, different launchers but each had something or the other missing. Nova seems so feature complete to me. I will go looking out for something new when it breaks.

Currently on Android 15 on my phone, it works for the time being…

Sony has even lost the plot in their ~ country even. (Japan right?) Many folks don’t even know Sony still makes phones. It is not helped by the low number of Xperia models released and the exorbitant price tag. Sony is good at the camera and wireless earbuds segment but not in the phone arena.

Honestly it has been quite some time since I have seen anyone sporting a Xperia. They used to be somewhat common in my country but have almost disappeared now.

Edit: I just checked and Sony has officially stopped selling Xperia models in India (Atleast can’t be purchased directly from site). It is like they have stopped trying in many markets.

Yes, Sony is one of the last holdouts to make a flagship that still has both. They used to be really bad at software updates but have somewhat upped their ante on that. The price is still somewhat expensive and charging significantly slow (peak of 27 W is ironically slower than my budget Android phone).

3.5mm jack and SD card slot make a significant difference. I have a cheap phone but have a 256 gigs latter slotted in inside to give some storage. And former is even more important because there are lots of times when I am just listening to say, music or podcast in a still situation where true wireless buds don’t make sense. Why waste battery of expensive wireless buds when one can put decent IEMs in?

Bangalore has more registered cars than people living there as well, IIRC. And it’s worse there because Chandigarh is Atleast a planned city ( the only planned one India built from scratch post Independence) but Bangalore mushroomed exponentially after the IT boom of 90s.

As for Gurgaon, it’s tragedy that only a small circular Rapid Metro runs there. Rest of Delhi has Atleast multiple lines.

They don’t care a hoot about security. One look at Play Store which is filled with at best, low quality ad infested knockoffs to outright malware.

In fact, I would argue that Play Store is worse because they actively try to influence user’s intent by showing sponsored apps first.

In my country, Google has actively promoted apps of companies that were basically educational pyramid schemes and later fell. Even now, sponsored listings in Play Store for stuff like Learn Ethical Hacking filled with same fake reviews is promoted at top and Google has no problem with that.

Bergman made some really great films. Back in the day, I saw Seventh Seal, Wild Strawberries and Persona amongst others. The former two were quite great though Persona was so so for me. I still don’t think I have seen every film from him; maybe it’s time to see even the lesser known gems from him.

Old Reddit is the only reason why I visit it sporadically. Combined with RES, I still have the same basic keybindings to browse I had multiple years ago. The new UI of Reddit is a waste of space.

Fairphone does make wireless earbuds with replaceable batteries. That being said, does the Fairphone 6 not come with a 3.5mm jack? Sony still ships it’s Xperia series with both the jack and microsD slot, so that is certainly possible.

I know Fairphone would probably be quite expensive even for the price it offers if it ever came to my country, but for the update cycle they offer and repairable build (looks at my broken screen of old Nokia), it actually makes sense. I don’t particularly need the highest end specs, I just need a mid ranger phone that’s sufficiently fluid and Fairphone fits the bill.

In fact, I was more intrigued by their earbuds. IIRC, they are the only one with a replaceable battery. For a set of wireless ones, that is a huge step. I don’t think their sound profile was/is as good as Sony’s or Sennheiser’s but the simple fact that they don’t have to end up as e waste makes them way more value for money in the long run.

A friend of mine recently called me more brainwashed than anyone for questioning capitalism and said how can I question a system that gives me bread and butter.

When I tried to point out that the system does not give me food by the goodness of it’s heart but rather extracts something out of me in return, he pointed out that Milton Friedman was a staunch supporter of capitalism and there is no way I can know more than him.

But the truth is, the world is crumbling. And I had rather believe what is unfolding before my own eyes than an economics textbook from 1970s (not to mention, that unlike say math economics isn’t that objective a field. Just like he purported a free market supporting Economist, I too can forward names of folks who support the opposite POV).

The day folks stop seeing themselves as temporarily embarrassed millionaires would be awakening.

IIRC, they banned it from Mozilla Addon Store quite some time ago. But it can still be easily sideloaded and once done, will be auto updated as well. It works on both desktop and mobile as well.

I think the controversial nature of the extension caused them to remove it from AMO.

Even the 7a has gotten the same issue in certain regions. Link