SteamOS is a linux distro based on Arch Linux, similar to any other. It’s a amalgamation of different pieces of software, including a traditional desktop environment (plasma). But it does not boot into the desktop mode by default, instead it boots into their own graphical environment (gamemode) by default, running their steam client.

That’s because their main focus is gaming machines, and that’s why they want gamers to be greeted with a consolized, 10-foot UI.

I think you’re confused because you think of steamOS being the UI (i.e. “Desktop Environment”) that welcomes you when you boot into it, instead steamOS is the entire package, including a “traditional” desktop environment (which is KDE Plasma), as well as their own (gamemode), etc.

Which aspect of that confuses you? That it uses a Desktop Environment to do desktop things, or that they are using KDE Plasma instead of something else (say, gnome)?

The issue about that extension is how it handles consent.

In most cases, the add-on just blocks or hides cookie related pop-ups. When it’s needed for the website to work properly, it will automatically accept the cookie policy for you (sometimes it will accept all and sometimes only necessary cookie categories, depending on what’s easier to do

You should be aware that it will often just accept all cookies, because that is easier.

Microsoft […] gets massive backlash

Pretty much since the release of Windows 10, Microsoft has been getting backlash because of the invasive, hostile and insane decisions they make and force on their users. It’s gotten particularly vocal since W11 and the EOL of Windows 10.

Yet, everybody seems to eat the plate of shit MS serves them. They complain, but most people dont seem to want to put in effort to rid themselves of Microsoft.

I could cry.

This one came to my mind instantly as well…

what was wenger thinking sending walcott on that early?

The Stadia Controller and the Gullikit KK3 Series have built in batteries and therefore come with their own charging circuit.

The Steam Controller does not charge the batteries, you have to use an external AA charger

The 8bitdo Pro 2 comes with a rechargable battery pack that sits in the AA compartment of the controller (similar to the old xbox 360 play-and-charge kits) and can be charged via USB. I don’t know if that charge function is limited to their battery pack, or if it will work with AA rechargables as well. My guess is, though, that it doesn’t, because it would have to somehow identify if the cells are actually rechargable, or if they are just alkaline batteries - trying to charge alkalines can be dangerous.

Allthough persoanlly, I consider using an external AA charger a convenience.

I do have quite a few different controllers, all work fine on linux for me:

• Xbox One controllers (newer models, older ones don’t support bluetooth)
• 8bitdo SN30 Pro 2
• Gulikit KK3 Pro
• Steam Controller
• Google Stadia

The Stadia Controller is not my favourite, but it still works well. I mainly use the Gulikit and 8bitdo ones, depending on the game and wether my main input is meant to be d-pad or left joystick.
The Steam Controller is unique, but I rarely use it.
Bonus points for the 8bitdo Pro 2, the Steam Controller and the Xbox Controllers using AA batteries instead of relying on built in, proprietary rechargable batteries. Pair them with some good IKEA Ladda rechargables and they are awesome.

usually, they don’t actively seed, they are just part of the swarm, and request content from you. And if that content is part of e.g.their movie, they get you for distributing the movie.

That’s not true, generally it uses less water.

https://web.archive.org/web/20220930071039/https://blogs.unimelb.edu.au/sciencecommunication/2017/09/29/is-your-dishwasher-saving-the-planet/

If it doesn’t clean your dishes properly, you’re not using your dishwasher properly, remember to clean your sieve regularly.

“Versohl mir den Hintern, Mami”

That’s what someone in the pockets of big mouth wash would say.

Back when Randall Munroe released his “What if” in eBook format, it essentially was only available with DRM.
When I emailed him about it, asking for a place to buy it without DRM, he responded with DRM unfortunately being mandated by his publisher, and finished his email with a link to this comic of his:
https://xkcd.com/488/

I bought a kindle when amazon sold them for a special price of 25 Euro. It’s a cool device for reading books, but I found their UI horrendously cluttered and filled with “suggestions” instead of focusing on the content I already have. I have since jailbroken the device and am using koreader on the device to read my ebooks transfered as epubs via calibre.

That has the advantage that when I buy DRM-free books in epub format, I am not relying on amazon to properly convert the file to a kindle proprietary format.

Borderlands 4 is better than Borderlands 4, but not even half as good as Borderlands 4.

Looking forward to the sequel, Borderlands 4.

I can’t find any info about a blanket ban on idle/clicker games, and quite frankly, I don’t see why valve would ban them.

For them, it’s free money:

1. the developer has to pay a flat fee for the game to appear on the storefront
2. the developer has to pay an additional fee to enable community items
3. both the developer as well as valve receive a percentage cut of the sale price in the community marketplace

my guess is that a lot of people let the game idle in the background to farm items, that’s why it’s so “popular”. It’s not “active players”, it’s just a large number of people farming items in the hopes to get one they can sell for a larger sum.
Afaik it has been in the top charts for over a year.

Banana (which I’ve never even heard of and I have no clue why it’s that popular).

It’s an idle/clicker game that drops steam items that can, theoretically, be sold for money. I can’t recommend it.

The Bitrate part was a joke, yes. 96k is low, although I just remembered a special mp3 codec from NERO that allowed for such low bitrate, at the same perceived sound quality as 128kbps.

But obviously, all my CDs have been ripped as either V2, V0 or 320kbps - I personally have not noticed any difference to FLAC files with either of those qualities, I guess my ears are not sensitive enough.