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Me too, but at the same time I’m glad we don’t all use exactly the same thing as that usually means cyberattacks are funneled to just one option. You could also say XMPP has been the default for the longest time, but just as it still happens today using XMPP doesn’t mean everything is compatible. Each app has it’s own set of features, some only use OTR for encryption, others might use OMEMO but not the same version and mix up encryption keys… Matrix used to be more compatible between clients, but then 2.0 appeared and either some features aren’t handled the same or some servers don’t so federation breaks or gets laggy. My guess is the next widely adopted thing will probably be a freemium, falsely secure and not private at all centralized service based on FOSS software, already prebundled and preset together with whatever people use the most and with some “all-you-can-eat” offering (probably AI unless the fad fades out). So maybe an upgrade to Whatsapp or something else from Meta or Microsoft. Apple won’t do anything that’s crossplatform, Google can’t persevere on a single IM solution without releasing 3 more that add nothing new and scraping them all in a year, and Amazon will probably stick to backend.

Still, nothing stops us from using whatever the hell we want. I have my XMPP account and I’m happy with it. I don’t have much use for it, but I don’t plan on deleting it anytime soon.

Then I’m glad if I’m wrong. Regarding your question, I believe we’re fortunate to have the options we have and to have found them and used them. I don’t think any of them are perfect just as I don’t think if any of them had one app to rule them all it’d make much of a difference. Most people stick to the worst possible options such as Whatsapp because it’s what’s shoved down their throats in the first place. You could have tons of cash lying around to burn on marketing your service and/or create something that makes lazy people even lazier. Whatsapp gained it’s userbase through the years and thanks to a what I see as a mixture of good funding, interoperability between different mobile OSs, and accounts linked to phone numbers everyone had but without the cost per SMS most were used to nor regional limitations. We already had tons of instant messengers back then, and apps were already available around 2008 or so that let anyone use any of their IM accounts at once from their smartphone. But I guess tons of people wouldn’t even have an email address if it wasn’t for Microsoft and Google, and that says a lot. I mean, just look at how OpenAI’s ChatGPT has blown up these past couple of years. Most people clearly don’t care about quality, reliability, security or privacy, they just want to use whatever requires the least amount of effort. I wouldn’t be surprised if people stopped using Tinder in favor of an app that booked hotel rooms for couples and groups based on all the data it learns about each user. 0% talking, 100% increasing cleaning personel’s workloads.

Matrix going freemium isn’t just inaccurate (they plan on adding a premium option only on their homeserver because they need the funds, which is reasonable since they’re not growing magical money in their backyard) but mentioning it beside Whatsapp’s ads is pure comedy. You don’t need to stage things this way to bring people to push the team behind Privacy Guides to accept a few XMPP apps in their recommendations list. Just look at what the developer of Conversations ended up working on. Aren’t you going to add that beside Whatsapp too? FFS, just support your favorite developers and stop trying to put down other developers of open source privacy focused software.

Nope. To add a little context, imagine that someone who uses Lemmy (which is well known to be developed by a team of people not everyone agrees with) to crosspost the same articles to infinity told everyone not to use a piece of well regarded and audited open source privacy software because it’s main developer has sided with US republicans.

Some users are mentioning SimpleX, which has some very good features, but for activism I’d really suggest Briar. Just scan each other’s QR codes to add all the needed contacts with no real names and create a mesh network through WiFi or Bluetooth connections between devices (no internet needed). If everyone is still bent on using Signal, whoever owns an Android phone should at least download the .apk from Molly.im. This version of the app is better suited for this.

My partner and I had a lot of fun playing RL back when it released. We both purchased it. Toxicity in matches grew exponentially soon after and she was the first to eventually get tired of it’s chat, players scoring against their team, and so on. We both stopped playing and then it’s dev studio was sold to Epic Games and the EGS account requirement was that last little push we needed to know we wouldn’t play it ever again. Still, we share some very good memories of that game. I’d say it was worth the purchase.

This was one of the few ToS updates I was actually glad to read. ToS changes usually mean a company is slowly rephrasing them to fuck us over.

None. I couldn’t care less about people hating the games I enjoy.

I’m frankly glad you liked them so much. Which are your favorites?

Got my hands on the first Switch model and it’s available games on it’s release date. I’ve played Nintendo games all my life. I just weigh the pros and cons of every option and am not ashamed to say Nintendo products and services aren’t a good deal right now. It doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate the artistry and optimization efforts of development teams (Genyo Takeda did wonderful things at Nintendo until he retired, for instance), it means I carefully choose which hoops I jump through to purchase, play and keep the games I love.

True. Someone else also pointed out that Nintendo’s brand casts a huge shadow over lesser known products like the Deck, which is also true. Anyone new to gaming that doesn’t take their time to figure out which handheld will be cheaper and more feature rich will either get a Switch, a Switch 2 or one of those fake Switch consoles sold for under $50.

What’s most common doesn’t aply to everyone, just to most. But your reasoning didn’t favor the point you were trying to make, and pushed the notion that I’m disgusted at anyone playing on a smartphone (I play on mine too, so no). So yeah, just as you said, even if some people buy a Switch with other reasons in mind, most will because they want to stick to where their Zeldas and Marios are. Some may even get triggered whenever someone posts info about how the Switch and Switch 2 won’t get you the best bang for your buck and therefore might not be the most well informed purchases you can make for your gaming needs.

I’ve generally seen purchasing a Steam Deck as an informed decision. But most people are very nostalgic (can’t blame them, SNES to Wii Zeldas and Metroids were amazing) and have uncontrollable FOMO, which Nintendo keeps on milking even when their software and hardware is noticeably much worse than it’s competitors’. If anyone also wants to know how Nintendo currently uses the money they earn, here’s a video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n025Gxn5GEM No wonder they’re less worried about wasting money on legal battles. No trace of the good old Nintendo.

• For Nintendo fans that may get triggered by this, don’t. Just own it. Spending more on something worse doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy it.

Can’t look back since I got my first Steam Controller. Once you get used to them trackpads are way more comfortable (and durable) than joysticks. I’d be happy with a controller with no joysticks too. Much easier to throw in a bag and take for a trip.

You’re not alone. But since YouTube is such a shitshow anyway I’m kinda glad to be pushed away for being privacy and security conscious. Invidious instances are a good point of transition while adapting to Peertube and such. Sure, most video content is uploaded to YouTube, but that’s also part of the charm of using alternatives. There’s less garbage to filter and some geniunely good and passionate (not algorithm driven) creators to discover.

Even if idiots with enough money stay unleashed this is great news. One step at a time. Thanks for sharing!