Notices by Dwight Silverman (dsilverman@mastodon.social)

The headline I originally saw on Instagram for this op-ed by Hillary Clinton was “This is Just Dumb.“ It has been watered down a little bit now, but the original headline is very fitting. Stupid is as stupid does, and in this case, stupid is dangerous.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/28/opinion/trump-hegseth-signal-chat.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

I don't need Windows anymore. One final tool broke my reliance on Microsoft | PCWorld

https://www.pcworld.com/article/2648498/i-dont-need-windows-anymore-one-final-tool-broke-my-reliance-on-microsoft.html

Companies like Amazon, Google, Microsoft and Apple keep making product changes in the service of AI, whether users want them or not. Amazon's dropping of the ability for three of its Echo devices to process Alexa commands locally may not affect many users, but it's part of a disturbing trend toward erosion of choice - and trust.

Gift link.
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/tech/article/amazon-alexa-commands-cloud-20230410.php?utm_source=marketing&utm_medium=copy-url-link&utm_campaign=article-share&hash=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaG91c3RvbmNocm9uaWNsZS5jb20vYnVzaW5lc3MvdGVjaC9hcnRpY2xlL2FtYXpvbi1hbGV4YS1jb21tYW5kcy1jbG91ZC0yMDIzMDQxMC5waHA%3D&time=MTc0MjY1Mzc2Njk5MQ%3D%3D&rid=YmE1NjU5MDMtMDM4OS00MDYwLWE1YzItNTYwNzYwZDQ2NDc5&sharecount=NQ%3D%3D

WTAF???? https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:o4pdps2jkn7uhrdgadni7djk/post/3ljq4dqhe422y

Can you really get Windows and Office for free? These hackers say yes | ZDNET

https://www.zdnet.com/article/can-you-really-get-windows-and-office-for-free-these-hackers-say-yes/

From @edbott: "Is this legal? LOL, of course it's not."

Very long but very much worth your time to read. All of it.

A snippet. https://mastodon.social/@daringfireball/114023069259473451

How I Automated My Computer Routine With macOS Folder Actions - Alexander Deplov – Senior Product Designer Blog

https://interfacecraft.online/posts/blog/2025/how-i-automated-my-computer-life-with-macos-folder-actions/

I and many others, based on what I'm seeing on social feeds, have reported the relabeling of the Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America on Google Maps and Apple Maps as an error.

You can, too!

Apple:
https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/report-an-issue-with-maps-iph2c075a8e8/ios

Google:
https://support.google.com/maps/answer/3094088?hl=en

The Microsoft 365 Copilot launch was a total disaster | ZDNET https://www.zdnet.com/home-and-office/work-life/the-microsoft-365-copilot-launch-was-a-total-disaster/

By @edbott

@WarnerCrocker "Eventually? Why not now!?"

Seems to me the whole point of "Jurassic Park" is that we shouldn't make "Jurassic Park" happen.

Texas company raises $200 million to make Jurassic Park happen

https://www.chron.com/life/wildlife/article/colossal-biosciences-mammoth-20038093.php

@WarnerCrocker The whole point of confirmation hearings is to see how a nominee would do in a ... checks notes ... hypothetical situation. To answer that way should get a swift rebuke: "The reason we are here is to ascertain the hypotheticals and how you'd respond to them. To refuse to answer is evasive at least, and certainly disqualifying."

@WarnerCrocker I know what you mean. All iteration, little innovation. But still: an iPhone toaster! 😮

I haven't attended CES in years (and thank you, Lord!) but I still keep track of what's intro'ed there. Here are a few items that caught my eye in this week's coverage. I REALLY want the iPhone battery toaster, even though I have zero need for it!

Gift link:
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/tech/article/ces-ai-new-consumer-technology-20018964.php?utm_source=marketing&utm_medium=copy-url-link&utm_campaign=article-share&hash=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaG91c3RvbmNocm9uaWNsZS5jb20vYnVzaW5lc3MvdGVjaC9hcnRpY2xlL2Nlcy1haS1uZXctY29uc3VtZXItdGVjaG5vbG9neS0yMDAxODk2NC5waHA%3D&time=MTczNjYwODAwMTUwMA%3D%3D&rid=YmE1NjU5MDMtMDM4OS00MDYwLWE1YzItNTYwNzYwZDQ2NDc5&sharecount=Ng%3D%3D

Gentrified Doom remake trades chainsaw for cheese knife - Ars Technica

https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2025/01/doom-marine-crashes-art-gallery-politely-sips-wine/

Annoyed by AI overviews topping Google search results pages? While I think of AI as just another tool in my search arsenal - always verify! - some folks have a viscerally negative reaction to anything AI. Here are some ways to avoid AI-based results.

Gift link.
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/tech/article/google-ai-alternative-search-engines-20011767.php?utm_source=marketing&utm_medium=copy-url-link&utm_campaign=article-share&hash=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaG91c3RvbmNocm9uaWNsZS5jb20vYnVzaW5lc3MvdGVjaC9hcnRpY2xlL2dvb2dsZS1haS1hbHRlcm5hdGl2ZS1zZWFyY2gtZW5naW5lcy0yMDAxMTc2Ny5waHA%3D&time=MTczNTk5NzY4NjIyOA%3D%3D&rid=YmE1NjU5MDMtMDM4OS00MDYwLWE1YzItNTYwNzYwZDQ2NDc5&sharecount=NA%3D%3D

WordPress Developer Publishes Code To Block Mullenweg's Web Hosting Clients

https://www.searchenginejournal.com/wordpress-developer-publishes-code-to-block-mullenwegs-web-hosting-clients/536427/

An error-filled meme floating around social media earlier this month warned that Apple Intelligence can read messages in the privacy-focused Signal app, and offered tips on preventing it. But the settings offered have nothing to do with Apple Intelligence. And while the issue is overblown, I've got the settings that will really do the trick.

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/tech/article/apple-ai-privacy-messages-19986208.php?utm_source=marketing&utm_medium=copy-url-link&utm_campaign=article-share&hash=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaG91c3RvbmNocm9uaWNsZS5jb20vYnVzaW5lc3MvdGVjaC9hcnRpY2xlL2FwcGxlLWFpLXByaXZhY3ktbWVzc2FnZXMtMTk5ODYyMDgucGhw&time=MTczNDc4OTAyNjYzOQ%3D%3D&rid=YmE1NjU5MDMtMDM4OS00MDYwLWE1YzItNTYwNzYwZDQ2NDc5&sharecount=Mg%3D%3D

US targets TP-Link with a potential ban on the Chinese routers - The Verge

https://www.theverge.com/2024/12/18/24324140/tp-link-us-investigation-ban-chinese-routers

Surprise factoid in the original WSJ report: TP-Link has 65% of the market for home routers in the U.S.

@WarnerCrocker The best thing anyone can do is avoid faux-cable packages like YouTube TV, and rethink everything about how they watch TV. Because the delivery may be faux-cable, but the endless prices hikes are very much real-cable.