TECHNOLOGY: Kiss of Death — Google URL Shortener

Friday, July 26, 2024

https://www.androidauthority.com/when-google-will-break-googl-links-3462692/

General technology
Google’s kiss of death is coming for your goo.gl links

  • It’s time to replace your short links before the tech overlord breaks them.

By Mahmoud Itani

*** begin quote ***

In typical Google fashion, the company killed its goo.gl short link generator on March 30, 2019. Since then, users have still been able to access goo.gl links created before the generator’s shutdown. However, this will change next year, as Google will completely sunset the service, breaking the short links in the process.

*** end quote ***

# – # – # – # – # 

https://developers.googleblog.com/en/google-url-shortener-links-will-no-longer-be-available/

Google URL Shortener links will no longer be available
JUL 18, 2024
Sumit Chandel Developer Relations Engineer
Eldhose Mathokkil Babu Software Engineer

*** begin quote ***

In 2018, we announced the deprecation and transition of Google URL Shortener to Firebase Dynamic Links because of the changes we’ve seen in how people find content on the internet, and the number of new popular URL shortening services that emerged in that time. This meant that we no longer accepted new URLs to shorten but that we would continue serving existing URLs.

*** end quote ***

And off to the Google Graveyard, it goes.

Unfortunately I was on a kick using them on my blog for a while until for whatever reason, I stopped.  Now I had to waste two hours correcting that link headed mistake.  Sigh!  Some links were broken and one of my favorite authors died unnoticed.  But I did find some old forgotten content that made me laugh, cry, and wonder where my skills went.  Some of the content was timeless.  Me not so much!

—30—

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TECHNOLOGY: When to we own what we purchase

Sunday, June 2, 2024

https://www.404media.co/samsung-requires-independent-repair-shops-to-share-customer-data-snitch-on-people-who-use-aftermarket-parts-leaked-contract-shows/

Samsung Requires Independent Repair Shops to Share Customer Data, Snitch on People Who Use Aftermarket Parts, Leaked Contract Shows
Jason Koebler
May 23, 2024 at 9:19 AM

*** begin quote ***

The contract requires repair shops to “immediately disassemble” devices that have parts “not purchased from Samsung.”

In exchange for selling them repair parts, Samsung requires independent repair shops to give Samsung the name, contact information, phone identifier, and customer complaint details of everyone who gets their phone repaired at these shops, according to a contract obtained by 404 Media. Stunningly, it also requires these nominally independent shops to “immediately disassemble” any phones that customers have brought them that have been previously repaired with aftermarket or third-party parts and to “immediately notify” Samsung that the customer has used third-party parts.

“Company shall immediately disassemble all products that are created or assembled out of, comprised of, or that contain any Service Parts not purchased from Samsung,” a section of the agreement reads. “And shall immediately notify Samsung in writing of the details and circumstances of any unauthorized use or misappropriation of any Service Part for any purpose other than pursuant to this Agreement. Samsung may terminate this Agreement if these terms are violated.”

*** end quote ***

Sorry but this seems to be a monopoly behavior.  At what point do we actually own things that we buy?  Not rent  Not license.  Not lease.  But “buy”.

I think that Samsung needs a lesson in free market capitalism.

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TECHNOLOGY: Gooferment Skrules ban what they don’t understand

Tuesday, May 28, 2024

https://techcrunch.com/2024/05/25/ai-tutors-are-quietly-changing-how-kids-in-the-us-study-and-the-leading-apps-are-from-china/

AI tutors are quietly changing how kids in the US study, and the leading apps are from China
Rita Liao
6:00 AM PDT • May 25, 2024

*** begin quote ***

Several public school districts in the U.S. have banned access to ChatGPT on school devices, but enforcing a ban on generative AI outright becomes challenging as soon as students leave school premises.

*** end quote ***

This story made me laugh.  

Typical of anything Gooferment’s “Let’s just ban it” approach to something new and strange.

Worked so well for the drug war and innumerable other Gooferment actions.

Guess they don’t know that humans are infinitely adaptable and equally hard to control. 

(A four year old has taught me that you can’t make someone do what they don’t want to do.  So you better find a better way to get them dressed.)

—30—

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TECHNOLOGY: Comcast to begine the streaming content wars?

Monday, May 20, 2024
https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/peacock-netflix-apple-tv-plus-bundle-streaming-comcast-1236002375/
 
May 14, 2024 5:28am PT
Comcast to Launch Peacock, Netflix and Apple TV+ Bundle at a ‘Vastly Reduced Price’ 
 
*** begin quote ***
 
Get ready for the next cable-like streaming bundle: Comcast later this month will launch a three-way bundle — with Peacock, Netflix and Apple TV+ — offered at a deep discount, Comcast chief Brian Roberts said.
 
*** end quote ***
 
​Maybe time to inventory all the streaming services in prep for “better deals”.  I suspect that everyone will be scrambling to match so as not to be Comcast’s “lunch”.
 
—30—
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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TECHNOLOGY: why can’t I … …

Friday, March 8, 2024

My knee hurts. I have a doctor’s appointment (first available and will take some else’s cancellation). I am sitting in my car and have my leg stuck out the door because my knee doesn’t hurt when stretch that way. My car insists that I close the door by an incessant unending annoying beeping. So even if put the accessories on, it keeps beeping.

Now here is the funny part. If I start the engine, it stops. Isn’t it more dangerous to have the door open with the car running than when it is off?

Hence to me this is a tech fail. And I hope the designer and the engineer who implemented it spend some time in Purgatory listening to this torture.

Argh!

—30—

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TECHNOLOGY: No help for you if you ext to a land line

Saturday, February 24, 2024

A now funny incident pointed out a “hidden flaw” in the process of sending a text message.

A recent “I’m hone safe” text message was not received which led to a comedy of errors worthy of a Marx Brothers’ skit.  

An “after action” review  — although it wasn’t called that  — revealed that the text message was sent to a land line.

No error message was “thrown up”.

It would seem that Apple and Android could easily validate mobile versus landline and prevent such a blunder.

But, I guess there’s no demand for such “smarts”; just AI to produce revenue.

Argh!

—30—

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TECHNOLOGY: Great stickers for social media

Monday, February 19, 2024

https://kottke.org/24/02/virtual-stickers-to-manage-replies-by

 

 

a virtual sticker that reads 'Do not reply to tell me you don't have this problem'

a virtual sticker that reads 'Do not reply unless you have direct experience'

 

a virtual sticker that reads ‘Do not reply, I’m just complaining, not asking for help’

 

a virtual sticker that reads 'This is an observation. Do not attempt to help. No reply necessary.'

*** end quote ***

Great idea!

—30—

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TECHNOLOGY: Get eyeglass prescriptions on paper

Thursday, February 15, 2024

Get eyeglass prescriptions on paper

My cousin is now in a nursing home and broke her glasses. The lens was lost. I which I had gotten that Rx on paper to get a replacement. Never thought of it. So thought I’d share it to help someone avoid my frustration. (I have my own prescriptions on a credit card type thing that I got from USAGLASSES mail order.). Just never thought of it for my old relatives. Argh!

—30—

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TECHNOLOGY: The demise of Blu-Rays and DVDs allows real time “book burnings”

Sunday, January 14, 2024

https://www.breitbart.com/entertainment/2024/01/05/nolte-best-buy-end-sales-blu-rays-dvds/

Nolte: Best Buy to End Sales of Blu-Rays and DVDs
John Nolte 5 Jan 2024

  • Best Buy will stop selling physical media this year, according to numerous reports.

*** begin quote ***

“The move away from physical media has been attributed to the changing habits of [stupid] consumers, who increasingly prefer streaming and digital downloads over traditional physical formats,” per the report. “This trend has been evident over the last decade as DVD and Blu-ray sales have experienced a significant decline.”

*** and ***

What’s the matter with you people?

This is our art! And you’re going to leave it in the hands of left-wing multinational corporations like Disney, Apple, and Amazon?

Hey, it’s no skin off my nose. I got mine, and I’m going to keep right on getting mine. But if you have a movie or book or TV show or video game you love, you are facing a future where it will either get disappeared, be censored, or made available only through a monthly subscription service.

I refuse to live in that future.

*** end quote ***

I learned this lesson when all my books on cassette were made obsolete and I was urged to rebut the same content on CDs.  I griped to anyone who listen and fell on the deaf ears  of all the politicians and bureaucrats. I refused to buy it all again. 

Then the car makers dropped the cassette players.  And, I was really screwed.  So I used drive with a portable cassette player in my truck and my car.  Finally the tapes began to wear out and I just gave up.

I still hate the Gooferment politicians and bureaucrats for “copyright” law that makes me “license” content that I “buy”.   

Sorry, but I’m not buying into the whole scam.

Like “lifetime guarantees”, the value of a dollar, and “jumbo shrimp”, I can recognize a scam from a long way off and here comes the next one.  Before long, every streaming “service” will force you to pay for everything al la carte IN ADDITION TO a low monthly “membership fee”.  

Argh!

And the rubes aka “We, The Sheeple” will hail “progress”.   Not me.

—30—

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TECHNOLOGY: Drones become the future of warfare?

Thursday, January 11, 2024

 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12926561/I-saw-naked-children-eyes-gouged-cheer-time-dead-Russian-Ukrainian-drone-unit-reveals-secrets-hunting-Putins-forces-champion-killing-500-day-despite-bizarre-trick-enemy-troops-use-stay-alive.html

Ukraine has seen the most intensive use of drones in the history of warfare

  •     Sergey Panashchuk spoke to operators deep underground on the frontlines

By Sergey Panashchuk
Published: 03:21 EST, 6 January 2024 | Updated: 06:31 EST, 6 January 2024 

*** begin quote ***

I could not ever imagine that 30 years later, I would be sitting in a bunker and watching a similar picture, and both the bunker and the picture would be as real as it gets.

Our bunker is just a mile from the frontline, and it is well hidden underground. It can probably survive a direct hit from a 500-kilo KAB [Russian air-guided bomb]; no one would want to check if that is true, of course. But chances are high, as Russians constantly use their air sovereignty and KAB’s as the last argument, up to 10 times a day.

I am a guest here, but the bunker is a temporary home for four army men. It is equipped with four bunk beds, Starlink, boxes with ammunition, and food.

An operator sits at the table and monitors online streaming from the drones. Casually clicking the mouse and choosing one live stream over another. Another two soldiers are playing backgammon. The fourth is cleaning his AK rifle.

‘Look guys, that might be interesting!’ calls the operator. All of us are glued to the screen. A drone detected a group of four Russian soldiers.

*** end quote ***

I worry what happens when this “technology” comes to the criminals (i.e., drug gangs; street thugs; other gangs like Gooferment politicians and bureaucrats).

It’s just a matter of time.

How will “We, The Sheeple” respond?

—30—

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