Adam @adam@librem.one

Anything worth doing is worth doing poorly

I wrote a blog post that's a fairly detailed how-to on conducting usability testing for free software: https://samuelhewitt.com/blog/2019-08-27-how-to-run-a-usability-test-on-free-software-linux

This article does a good job on presenting the many different ways that data about your credit card purchases are shared without your knowledge or permission: #privacy https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2019/08/26/spy-your-wallet-credit-cards-have-privacy-problem/

At the end of the day Google is becoming so dominant on the web that they practically *are* the web, so you either use Google products or you avoid touching a computer. I can't quit Google entirely (Chrome DevTools, GMaps, YouTube are the big ones for me).

How do you deal with something that builds amazing products but also does it in kind of a sleazy way? And maybe is becoming way too powerful? I suppose you become a tech vegan sneaking occasional bites of cheese pizza. https://nolanlawson.com/2019/05/31/tech-veganism/

"Basically, software remains vulnerable because the benefits created by insecure products far outweigh the downsides. Once that changes, software security will improve—but not a moment before."

https://danielmiessler.com/blog/the-reason-software-remains-insecure/

♲ @computerfact@twitter.com: programmers love to use titles like "architect" or "engineer" or "designer" instead of the more accurate "plumber" or "custodian" or "firefighter"

A "verification" system tying each battery to a specific phone is a huge blow to your ability to repair your own devices. https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/59nz3k/apple-is-locking-batteries-to-specific-iphones-a-nightmare-for-diy-repair

The #PineTab is a $79 Linux tablet
by Pine64, the same manufacturer of the #PinePhone and PineBook low-cost Linux devices.

This low-power Linux machine, however, has some hidden perks: for example, via an internal m.2 slot it supports SATA and LTE expansions in a somewhat modular way. And now it boots postmarketOS with several UIs, such as KDE #PlasmaMobile and Purism's "Phosh".

You can read more about it in our latest post: https://tuxphones.com/pine64-pinetab-pinephone-linux-tablet-postmarketos/

#linux #postmarketOS

Another ethical mobile phone initiative for my European friends.

The US is severely lagging in such options.

♲ @gael_duval@twitter.com: It's a fully ungoogled OS and online services.
Yet it can run most #Android Android apps.
It's available on 4 different smartphone models, premium grade refurbished.
--> and public orders are now available 😀
Taste a more ethical mobile experience now!
e.foundation/e-pre-installe…

pbs.twimg.com/media/EBCNPsiXoA…
pbs.twimg.com/media/EBCNPskXkA… e.foundation/e-pre-installed-r…

@strypey
I lost my faith in Signal after reading the fediverse's own @sir 's blog post on it: https://drewdevault.com/2018/08/08/Signal.html

♲ @bamafangrl@twitter.com: Do y’all remember, before the internet, that people thought the cause of stupidity was the lack of access to information?
Yeah. It wasn’t that. 🤦🏼‍♀️

Waking up from a bad dream earlier today, it occurred to me that we think it's good practice to have firewalls that restrict communications between computers, but at the same time we still think it's an excellent idea to promote and facilitate unrestricted communication between humans - regardless of their respective intents and interests.