nicholfd

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nicholfd
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  • WebM video support has been added in macOS Big Sur 11.3 beta 2

    nicholfdnicholfd
    cjcoops said:
    Same with Matroska and FLAC, which are hugely popular formats and are not really usable on the platform unless you convert them using a third party utility, when not so long ago you could just add plugins for them, and they would play in preview. I'm 100% with you there, it seems like such a step back to close up what used to be a very open and modular architecture. On the other hand maybe the openness made it too much of a target for malware?
    Which platform?
    I use VLC on my Macbook, and Nplayer on my IOS devices - although VLC is another free option for them too, and have always happily played any video format (mkv etc), or FLAC if needed in VLC.
    I've never used Quicktime in the past, in the same way I never used Windows Media Player back in my Windows XP days - just use VLC at least and stop worrying about format compatibility.
    For the Mac, you should move to open source IINA player:  https://iina.io .  It's a true/proper Mac app.  It's optimized for Mac playback.  Most of my 4K UHD disc backs simply can't be played by VLC - stuttering.  VLC doesn't map UHD colors correctly.  All of my 4K UHD disc backups play without stuttering on IINA, and IINA is macOS color mapping "aware".  UHD titles look beautiful. 

    VLC UI is just plain horrible.  VLC will play about any file format (so will IINA - uses some of the same open source libraries as VLC), but non-standard key shortcuts, doesn't support true full screen (it overlays the desktop it's on), "float on top" is broken in many ways on a Mac, etc.
    jony0

  • Apple's iOS 14.5 redirects Google Safe Browsing traffic to protect privacy

    nicholfdnicholfd
    OctoMonkey said:
    applguy said:
    Is this the end of the free internet as we know it? If companies can’t sell user data their business model is going to have to change. 
    I certainly hope so!

    Of course...  if your request passes through Apple and then to Google, Google no longer has the user data Apple does.
    Not sure I trust Apple.  :-| 
    Uh...  Turn it off (as the article mentioned), if you don't want to use the feature.
    jony0watto_cobra

  • Apple users supportive of privacy measures, but open to ad tracking

    nicholfdnicholfd
    And yet, iOS still does not support DNS over TLS or DNS over HTTPS.  Why?

    Windows 10 now supports secure DNS (even if it’s only DNS over HTTPS).

    Secure DNS as well as restoring the option for full device and cloud backup encryption would be a good start.

    Adding an option to force emails to be encrypted would be great. Say a Mail+ service that simplifies and makes secure email a reality for all iOS ans macOS users.  Maybe even build in some message retention features like automatic document deletion after a period of time.

    Maybe add an option in Messages so that messages would self destruct after being read or after a specified amount of time?

    How about an assurance that NO records of message traffic are stored by Apple for any reason?

    Just a few real world options that would make real contributions to user privacy.
    Apple devices, if secured with an unlock code, are full device encrypted.  

    Cloud backup encryption is there, and has not changed.  But cloud backup encryption has ALWAYS stored a set of keys with Apple, that Apple will provide to law enforcement with a valid search warrant.  If you only have one Apple device and Apple does not store key, then you wouldn't be able to restore the backup. (I know there are ways to avoid this, but non-technical people would not understand it and would scream bloody murder if they could not restore from their backup if they lost their cloud backup key!)

    See this Apple support document:  iCloud security overview
    muthuk_vanalingamjony0

  • Microsoft pits Surface Pro 7 against MacBook Pro in new ad

    nicholfdnicholfd
    cloudguy said:
    You can't even do something simple like install VSCode or Atom and write Javascript or Python code on an iPad.

    WTF are you talking about?  I write code on an iPad all the time (Python, Perl, PHP, BASH, etc.) - there are many fine code editors (VSCode is not one of them & Atom is ok) and there is even a Python IDE that actually runs Python code - Pythonista 3 & a version for Python 2.  Here is a PHP IDE I've used on an iPad - DraftCode Offline PHP IDE.

    VSCode on macOS is a PoS - doesn't even follow standard keyboard shortcuts.  It's just a poorly ported Windows app.

    I tried Atom on macOS for some embedded development - another poorly ported app, with some good ideas, but if things like undo/redo don't follow standard Mac app conventions - WTF?!?!?
    stompyrevenantpscooter63jdb8167watto_cobra

  • Apple plans macOS software fix for M1 Mac Bluetooth connectivity issues

    nicholfdnicholfd
    For those of you having Apple BT connectivity issues, you should look for USB 3 connected devices causing interference.

    It is well documented in the entire computer industry that active USB 3 connections produces radio frequency noise that interference in the 2.4GHz frequencies (both BT & WiFi), since it's release:  https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=usb+3+interference&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

    My personal anecdotal evidence is that I've never had an Apple BT issue that wasn't found to be caused by some USB 3 connected device.  Unplug the USB 3 device from the Mac, and no more interference. 

    This is with 2012 - M1 Mac minis, 16" MacBook Pro, M1 MacBook Air and 2012 Mac Pro (with upgraded internal BT/WiFi & USB 3 card).  

    With the Mac Pro, I couldn't even get a Logitech USB Unifying receiver/dongle (2.4GHz, but not-BT) to work reliable when it was plugged into the back, near the USB 3 card w/USB 3 drive active.
    rundhvidwatto_cobrarazorpit