Microsoft needs to sell its software (including OS) and they’ve always done so through manufacturers.

The average user, in their mind, doesn’t care about/want/have a choice for Windows, they just went to a shop to buy a computer, Windows was just on it. So for Microsoft, a public company who’s graphs need to keep going up forever, “increasing revenue from Windows” equates to “making people buy more computers” - this, in my opinion, is why they went down the TPM route (which consumers didn’t care about), and now, the “Copilot compatible” PC (whixh users don’t care about) routes. For the shareholders, you need a new computer, not an update to your existing one.

So this is where it gets interesting - a catch 22 for Microsoft - the average user doesn’t want a new computer (the internet works fine right), but Microsoft need their graphs to go up and they don’t want to work for free… BUT they can’t afford to have “Windows” become synonymous with “viruses” again (they bothered to make Windows defender for free for this reason), so if people don’t pay up, there could be millions of virus ridden computers and everyone will look for a new laptop “but not windows again” because of the viruses…

Mac instead? Maybe, but most laptops are sold for €300, not €1000+…

Current known, “safe consumer choice” brands (OEMs) and big box retailers are and will continue to be influenced/controlled/blackmailed by Microsoft’s license pricing and legal teams to maintain the status quo on the shelves and we’ll see what plays out.

This subscription talk then is big news, not just because of the controversy surround subscriptions generally, but because this could change the shape of supply and demand in the PC market significantly.

As always there won’t be one answer for everyone, but these are some ways it could play out.

• Microsoft forgets the idea
• Microsoft offers a free version supported by ads
• Consumers pay up, even if it takes a generation
• Consumers move to Apple
• Major PC manufacturers and retailers spite Microsoft terms, and offer alternative OS’s
• Smaller/new PC manufacturers rise, and offer alternative OS’s

Will people pay up? Will Chromebooks take over?

Or…

(Removes sunglasses)

…will 2025 be the year of the Linux desktop?

For the UK alone:

In 2022, they found more than 40 tonnes of lithium from single-use vapes was discarded, which is the same amount used to power 5,000 electric vehicles.

Source

Not surprised at all - €3.5k is car money territory, not “new tech toy” territory like say an iPad or a phone upgrade.

It is a very cool product, about where I’d expect the technology to be at following the quest’s release a few years back, unfortunately it’s not €500!

James Acaster probably my fav standup comedian.

“Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn’t stop to think if they should.”

Kinda cool though tbf. Wrappable tech would be an awesome next step, like a watch that’s all screen that you can completely wrap around your wrist.

Author: “write me a 4000 word article on why microplastics are bad

ChatGPT: generates 4000 words of text explaining what micro means, what plastic means, and paraphrasing the “controversy” section of the Wikipedia page on microplastics

Reader: “Summarise this article”

GhatGPT: “Microplastics are bad”

This is definitely a concept for emails/tickets so i assume it is for calls.

It’s called “sentiment” analysis.

Priority can also be given in some systems by customer value.

My new oven is so energy efficient it takes 20 mins to warm up before cooking a pizza for ten minutes.

Private contracts should not trump the law of the land.

PHP should stand for “Pre Hypertext Processor”.

Instead of being a recursive acronym for “PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor”.

Russia releases the compromat

Indeed.

When popular “real artists” release songs, they usually won’t have written the lyrics or the music, leaving just the vocals, which they will auto tune and possibly even mime in future performances.

A producer will then use powerful software to mix and refine everything.

So really the question to me is not about “is there anything impure in this art?” It’s “where is the line?”.

How does the image scanning compare to docker scout? (Or whatever the docket desktop one is called).

See also: Oracles Java runtime, Docker desktop, VMware.

Ubuntu pro joke related to another thread - not the best image post sorry 🙈

Do feel it is designed to scare normal users though.

Like how the GUI software updater now shows a list of security updates, and then “there are more security updates available with Ubuntu pro” in the list of updates…. the obvious implication is “you’re computer has other known vulnerabilities that can only be fixed if you pay up”.

Liiittlle bit ransomey and let be honest that’s by design.

Wouldn’t consider myself part of the anti canonical pitchfork crowd but that new behaviour did irk me somewhat.

If Microsoft did that people would be up in arms. Appreciate canonical provide Ubuntu is free but normal users wouldn’t get that nuance as they don’t think they pay for windows.

Controversial but I was surprised at how well trump did for himself.

He managed to dial down the lies and rhetoric from “how stupid does he think the audience is” to “obviously bullshit”.

Well done to Harris of course, in particular for calling his playbook tactics out at the start, then repeatedly calling out the lies and dog whistling each time - the way to beat a manipulating bully is to shine a light on their behaviour plainly in public and she nailed it.

Bonus points to Harris as well for laughing at him whilst maintaining class.

Outsmarted. Technically a board game but with an app.

It’s actually not the gimmick I thought it would be! Cast that bad boy to the tv and you’ve got a game show in the family room!

For those also wondering (and I’m quoting a comment on Ars so may stand corrected…):

Isn’t this a violation of the Geneva Conventions?

Only if used to deliberately target infantry. The videoed operations so far seem to have been intended to burn away protective cover (trees/brush), which is a permitted use even if there’s a risk of inflicting casualties as a side effect of the application of incendiaries.

Paying a monthly subscription in addition to an upfront cost to have a billboard in my kitchen is going to be a tough sell.