Danie van der Merwe

Steam’s new native gameplay recording tool also works on the Steam Deck

Thu, 27 Jun 2024 13:27:21 +0200

gadgeteer@hub.netzgemeinde.eu

Steam’s new native gameplay recording tool also works on the Steam Deck

Valve has added a native gameplay recording tool to Steam (Beta version) so that you can more easily capture and share clips. The game recording feature is available now in beta — including on Steam Deck.

You’ll be able to both continuously record clips with background recording or manually turn on recording with a hotkey, according to Valve’s website about the updates. When you’re recording, you’ll see the “Steam Timeline,” and you can add markers to note interesting moments you might want to come back to later.

The tool won’t record your desktop, and you can pick which audio channels are included in the recording.

It uses the GPU without impacting too much on game performance, so this can be a lot better than running say OBS Studio separately.

See Steam’s new native gameplay recording tool also works on the Steam Deck

An easier way to capture your next Elden Ring death.

#technology #gaming #Steam

technology gaming

Switzerland mandates software source code disclosure for public sector: A legal milestone

Wed, 26 Jun 2024 11:27:51 +0200

Danie van der Merwe

gadgeteer@hub.netzgemeinde.eu

Switzerland mandates software source code disclosure for public sector: A legal milestone

The EMBAG law stipulates that all public bodies must disclose the source code of software developed by or for them, unless precluded by third-party rights or security concerns. This mandate aims to ensure greater transparency, security, and efficiency in government operations by promoting the use of OSS, which allows for public scrutiny and contribution to the software code.

One of the critical aspects of this law is encapsulated in Article 9, which not only mandates the disclosure of source code but also allows public bodies to offer additional services related to support, integration, or IT security, provided these services align with public tasks and are offered at a cost-covering remuneration. This provision ensures that while fostering OSS, the government can also maintain a competitive balance and avoid market distortion.

The crux of it really comes down to public money being used for these services. An added benefit of course is that the software could be supported if the supplier goes out of business. Vendor lock-in is a major risk in public sector IT and this helps break that perception / reality. As for security it must be remembered that this is the operational code, and not user data, encryption keys, API keys, etc which always remain private.

See New Open Source law in Switzerland

Switzerland has enacted the "Federal Law on the Use of Electronic Means for the Fulfilment of Governmental Tasks" (EMBAG), establishing a mandatory requirement for open source software within public sector bodies.

#technology #opensource #Switzerland

technology opensource Switzerland

Wed, 26 Jun 2024 20:22:27 +0200

Tomáš Znamenáček

zoul@boskovice.social

@gadgeteer @waldoj Isn’t the “unless precluded by third-party rights or security concerns” part a huge loophole though?

Wed, 26 Jun 2024 20:34:26 +0200

Waldo Jaquith

waldoj@mastodon.social

@zoul @gadgeteer Speaking only from a U.S. perspective: there's no getting around having those two exceptions, so both require management to prevent abuse. So this has to be paired with agency-level mandates to maximize government ownership of software (no sneaking in a key library owned by a vendor) and minimize secrets in software (no hard-coding passwords etc. so you can declare it all needs to be secret).

Thu, 27 Jun 2024 13:23:34 +0200

Danie van der Merwe

gadgeteer@hub.netzgemeinde.eu

@Tomáš Znamenáček the preclusion is not a default, so I would imagine the supplier would have to justify a "security risk" and why. But this does allow the government to have leeway to decide.

The Moto Tag is an AirTag for Android: It Ticks my Boxes

Tue, 25 Jun 2024 18:39:06 +0200

Danie van der Merwe

gadgeteer@hub.netzgemeinde.eu

The Moto Tag is an AirTag for Android: It Ticks my Boxes

This appears to be the first Find My Device network tag that supports UWB so that finally ticks one of my missing (so far) boxes for fine-grained locating of the tag.

It will be able to re-use my existing AirTag holders which is good, but on the flip side I'd rather prefer built-in keyholes, actually. I am migrating away from AirTags so already have all the holders etc for them.

They do not appear to have a wallet/card option, but right now I do have an AirTag working inside my wallet. I just cannot go any thicker than the AirTag size right now.

As usual, I suppose proper user review testing will reveal more, but that will probably only be after 2nd August.

See The Moto Tag is an AirTag for Android

It even fits in third-party AirTag cases.

#technology #trackers

technology trackers

Blackmagic’s free camera app is now available on Android, but only for newer Pixels and Galaxy models

Mon, 24 Jun 2024 22:00:18 +0200

Danie van der Merwe

gadgeteer@hub.netzgemeinde.eu

Blackmagic’s free camera app is now available on Android, but only for newer Pixels and Galaxy models

After launching on the iPhone last September, the robust Blackmagic Camera app is available on Android devices today, with the same professional-grade shooting features and compatibility with Blackmagic Design’s other video production pipeline tools.

The native camera apps in iOS and Android focus on simplifying photography with streamlined interfaces and a heavy reliance on automation, and while more capable camera apps that cater to professional photographers and videographers often come with premium pricing, the Blackmagic Camera app will remain completely free on Android.

The app's claim to fame seems to be some advanced HUD-based controls over the video settings, as well as showing histogram, Zebra display, focus peaking indicators, audio levels, frame guides and more while shooting video. It's good to see the UI is the same as the iOS version as well. On the Apple App Store, the app has a rating of 4.8 averaged over 3.7k ratings.

See Blackmagic’s free camera app is now available on Android, but there’s a catch

Samsung and Google smartphones only.

#technology #photography #camera

technology photography camera

How do Video Game Graphics Work? This is likely why GPUs costs so much!

Fri, 21 Jun 2024 21:53:35 +0200

Danie van der Merwe

gadgeteer@hub.netzgemeinde.eu

How do Video Game Graphics Work? This is likely why GPUs costs so much!

The link below is to a video that explains quite well, with illustrations, how realistic and responsive 3D scenery and objects are generated. Yes, the bulk of the work performed today is done by 3rd party gaming engines like the Unreal Engine and others. So from a developer point of view, they don't really have to get their hands dirty any more with the nitty-gritty mathematics.

But if you consider the number and complexity of calculations made for each pixel (as the video explains) and then multiply that by the number of pixels on the screen, and the number of screen refreshes every second, it becomes quite mind-blowing. It is no wonder that GPUs are so powerful and cost more than the rest of the PC all combined.

Watch - YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

#technology #gaming #GPU

technology gaming GPU

The StepWell Saga: first South African cellphone game for mental health aimed at youngsters

Fri, 21 Jun 2024 21:23:52 +0200

Danie van der Merwe

gadgeteer@hub.netzgemeinde.eu

The StepWell Saga: first South African cellphone game for mental health aimed at youngsters

Mental health among South African youngsters is a serious concern. As part of a wider project to improve mental health policy and services in South Africa generally, the Foundation for Professional Development (FPD) has launched an innovative attempt to reach youth where they are at – playing games on their phones.

FPD secured a pioneering grant from Grand Challenges Canada (funded by the government of Canada) to develop Africa’s first serious game dedicated to mental health, entitled The StepWell Saga – Stronger Together.

As per edutainment theory, the game is not explicit about its mental health messages. These come through in the character dialogue and gameplay activities that teach skills like problem-solving, strategy and teamwork, and develop mental resilience — while also being fun to do. It challenges the player to think critically and promotes the importance of relationships in facing life’s challenges.

I really like the idea behind this game, and it looks like the reviews are pretty good. It is just sad that I see it is geo-restricted for South African accounts only (I personally really detest geofencing). It is however available for both Android and iOS, as well as in the Huawei store.

See The StepWell Saga: first South African cellphone game for mental health - TechCentral

Mental health among South African youngsters is a serious concern. A new game, The StepWell Saga, has been designed to help.

#technology #mentalhealth #SouthAfrica #gaming

technology gaming mentalhealth southafrica

AMD won Computex by extending AM5 support and launching new AM4 CPUs

Wed, 19 Jun 2024 16:22:23 +0200

Danie van der Merwe

gadgeteer@hub.netzgemeinde.eu

AMD won Computex by extending AM5 support and launching new AM4 CPUs

Intel typically uses the same motherboard CPU socket for two generations, but we've seen the company support the same socket for an additional series. AMD has been more consistent through the Ryzen CPU family, since releasing the Ryzen 1000 series in 2016. AM4 launched alongside the new Ryzen processors and AMD released its successor, AM5 in 2022. That's six years of support before a new platform rolled out, but AMD hasn't finished supporting older motherboards yet.

This is quite interesting as this is the first time I've bought AMD. With all my previous Intel based CPUs I had to discard the motherboard and RAM and fully replace it all when I bought a new CPU. Now it seems my AM4 based motherboard can still be used, and I could buy a brand-new CPU for it. Less wastage and expense.

I have never been able to upgrade my CPU before on its own. I'm pretty tempted to try it. But OK, the newer CPU is about 11% faster on benchmarking, but with 60% extra power consumption/heat...

See AMD won Computex by extending AM5 support and launching new AM4 CPUs

See how AMD beat out the competition with consumer-friendly announcements.

#technology #CPU #AMD

technology CPU AMD

Use DroidCam to turn your Android phone into a wireless webcam for Linux or Windows PC's and laptops

Tue, 18 Jun 2024 15:39:35 +0200

Danie van der Merwe

gadgeteer@hub.netzgemeinde.eu

Use DroidCam to turn your Android phone into a wireless webcam for Linux or Windows PC's and laptops

This is probably most useful on desktop computers that have no webcam, but there is also an OBS Studio plugin, so an Android phone could also act as a secondary webcam when needed on those odd occasions. Also, seeing this can connect wirelessly, you could place this Android webcam further away from your PC as most desktop webcams connect via a USB cable, which can limit its reach.

The free version of DroidCam will get the job done for the most part, but keep in mind that it only allows SD-quality video streams. The higher video quality (1080p) and extra features such as Smooth FPS, video mirroring, the ability to adjust, autofocus, brightness and contrast, and more can be unlocked by purchasing DroidCam X, the paid version of the app.

See How to use your Android phone as a webcam for your PC or laptop

Turn your Android phone into a fully functioning webcam for your desktop or laptop.

#technology #Android #webcam

technology Android webcam

Linux-based postmarketOS v24.06 supports over 250 devices, taking on Google’s Android and Apple’s iOS

Tue, 18 Jun 2024 14:55:09 +0200

Danie van der Merwe

gadgeteer@hub.netzgemeinde.eu

Linux-based postmarketOS v24.06 supports over 250 devices, taking on Google’s Android and Apple’s iOS

The appeal of running Linux on personal devices lies in the freedom it offers. postmarketOS does not require account setups, does not push cloud storage, avoids pre-installed bloatware, and does not follow privacy-invasive AI trends. Instead, it focuses on free software, user control, and extending device usability beyond the original vendor's support.

This release includes many device ports previously accessible only in the bleeding-edge version, now available in the stable release. While some devices may only boot Linux, they offer unique use cases, such as running a web server on an old phone powered by a portable solar charger.

Many supported devices are still in test, but they include many "ancient" phones as well as many Chromebook devices. It appears to have a choice between GNOME or KDE.

The only challenge I foresee, really, is going to be app support. Most users are used to millions of available Android or iOS apps to access gaming, banking, media streaming, etc. Whilst most of this will probably work fine, I foresee some challenges with some banks which still insist that you use their banking app on a non-rooted phone. For example, one of my banks will insist that I use biometric authentication on their Android app even if I want to log in with my desktop browser. Also, if you're a smartwatch user who wants to track their exercising say with the Strava app, this may not be for you.

But there are very many users who may not have these requirements where this OS could work really well, especially from a privacy perspective, and providing support for older phones that no longer get any app updates.

postmarketOS is based on Alpine Linux, which is so tiny (less than 10 MB in size) that development of pmOS can be done quickly on any Linux distribution. Writing packages is easy, by the way: as long as you know how to write shell scripts, you are good to go.

The linked article brought this OS to my attention, and they do also provide a link to the OS' main website.

See Linux-based postmarketOS v24.06 supports over 250 devices, taking on Google’s Android and Apple’s iOS

postmarketOS v24.06 is now available, targeting Linux enthusiasts who seek more control and flexibility on their devices. This release brings stability improvements and automated testing, though it…

#technology #Linux #opensource #pocketmarketOS #privacy

technology opensource privacy postmarketOS

Tue, 18 Jun 2024 15:25:17 +0200

ralen

ralen@social.linux.pizza

@gadgeteer "supports 250 devices" doesnt mean "runs well on 250 devices". some of them will not have even wifi support! phones "ready to daily use" (tho very restricted" can be count with fingers. it has more sense to run a server in termux in android.

Tue, 18 Jun 2024 15:32:02 +0200

ralen

ralen@social.linux.pizza

@gadgeteer https://wiki.postmarketos.org/wiki/Devices

Tue, 18 Jun 2024 15:40:26 +0200

Danie van der Merwe

gadgeteer@hub.netzgemeinde.eu

@ralen no, that was why I mentioned many in test - more than half are still in test phase.

FUTO Keyboard is an open-source mobile keyboard for Android that stays private and offline

Mon, 17 Jun 2024 21:52:34 +0200

Danie van der Merwe

gadgeteer@hub.netzgemeinde.eu

FUTO Keyboard is an open-source mobile keyboard for Android that stays private and offline

If your computer keyboard doesn't ask for internet access, neither should your mobile keyboard. FUTO Keyboard is a modern keyboard app with voice input and autocorrect, that is completely offline and never connects to the internet, in order to ensure your privacy and security.

FUTO Keyboard contains modern features such as autocorrect, voice input and swipe typing. It is also configurable to suit your personal taste.

No data is collected, nor shared anywhere. It is still in alpha version but can be downloaded either from the Google Play Store, from F-Droid, or using Obtanium to update directly from the APK releases on GitHub.

See https://keyboard.futo.org/

#technology #privacy #Android #FUTOkeyboard

technology privacy android