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>Yes there is. Absolutely no closed software ever. That's the rule you use. Even the modem on the phone I'm typing this on is running FOSS firmware. Don't compr

>Yes there is. Absolutely no closed software ever. That's the rule you use. Even the modem on the phone I'm typing this on is running FOSS firmware. Don't compromise your freedom for convenience, you always end up with neither when you do. I don't think I understand fully the point you're trying to make. How does free and open source software prevent a software developer from inserting the code necessary for behavior such as we're discussing? Granted, they may be chastised, but the ability remains. We've seen this happen already with software developers inserting ads into the shell during install (or some other operation). A lot more work and effort on our part is necessary to prevent this type of behavior becoming normalized.

gjsman-1000 5y ago
Take a look at what just happened with Audacity. Open Source is no protection, unless you were aware of the situation and downloaded a fork.
- swiley 5y ago
  My copy of Audacity hasn't auto-updated to include any of that crap and it looks like future updates will come from a fork where it's stripped (if muse group even bothers to continue) so I'd say that's an example of it working.
  - gjsman-1000 5y ago
    Unless you were unaware of what was happening with Audacity. If you didn't hear about the news, you'll update and have no idea.
    - wizzwizz4 5y ago
      On Debian, updating won't add unwanted internet connectivity.
    - swiley 5y ago
      I installed it from guix, the package maintainers are aware of the issue and will not distribute updates containing telemetry.
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]
015a 5y ago
You saw the recent Audacity situation, right? That's the point; developers may still make hostile decisions. Those decisions may still be merged to the "main" branch. But the community is still left with recourse, whether that takes the form of a fork, or more simply, one user heading into the code and removing the hostile additions just for themselves.
userbinator 5y ago
And on the other side, how does not being open-source stop people from patching the bits anyway (maybe not legally, but no one can stop you writing to a storage device you own)? If anything, I think OSS is just a distraction from the real issue, which is companies trying to lock out users from the hardware they own in the name of "security".
raxxorrax 5y ago
Use a Intel NUC or similar device instead of a Nvidia Shield and it will offer more functionality without ads. TV streaming, Games streaming from local network at least, music... A closed environment doesn't allow for competition, so they will monetize it to the greatest degree. That would include ads. Android TV is really bad spyware for that matter... surprised it can even exist with Google TV having flopped that hard.
- Mindwipe 5y ago
  It will offer much poorer compatibility with streaming services, because most streaming services do not trust the DRM on a NUC for high quality content. (Correctly, tbh).
  - raxxorrax 5y ago
    It works with Edge mostly, but that speaks only against Netflix and Amazon DRM. I don't want to get compatible to that. Subjective, but the content isn't worth it in the first place. (Correctly, tbh) - It is still a service problem. I think at least Amazon fixed it in the meantime, I can play 4k without problems.

gjsman-1000 5y ago

Take a look at what just happened with Audacity. Open Source is no protection, unless you were aware of the situation and downloaded a fork.

swiley 5y ago
My copy of Audacity hasn't auto-updated to include any of that crap and it looks like future updates will come from a fork where it's stripped (if muse group even bothers to continue) so I'd say that's an example of it working.
- gjsman-1000 5y ago
  Unless you were unaware of what was happening with Audacity. If you didn't hear about the news, you'll update and have no idea.
  - wizzwizz4 5y ago
    On Debian, updating won't add unwanted internet connectivity.
  - swiley 5y ago
    I installed it from guix, the package maintainers are aware of the issue and will not distribute updates containing telemetry.
deleted 5y ago
[deleted]

015a 5y ago

You saw the recent Audacity situation, right? That's the point; developers may still make hostile decisions. Those decisions may still be merged to the "main" branch. But the community is still left with recourse, whether that takes the form of a fork, or more simply, one user heading into the code and removing the hostile additions just for themselves.

userbinator 5y ago

And on the other side, how does not being open-source stop people from patching the bits anyway (maybe not legally, but no one can stop you writing to a storage device you own)? If anything, I think OSS is just a distraction from the real issue, which is companies trying to lock out users from the hardware they own in the name of "security".

raxxorrax 5y ago

Use a Intel NUC or similar device instead of a Nvidia Shield and it will offer more functionality without ads. TV streaming, Games streaming from local network at least, music... A closed environment doesn't allow for competition, so they will monetize it to the greatest degree. That would include ads. Android TV is really bad spyware for that matter... surprised it can even exist with Google TV having flopped that hard.

Mindwipe 5y ago
It will offer much poorer compatibility with streaming services, because most streaming services do not trust the DRM on a NUC for high quality content. (Correctly, tbh).
- raxxorrax 5y ago
  It works with Edge mostly, but that speaks only against Netflix and Amazon DRM. I don't want to get compatible to that. Subjective, but the content isn't worth it in the first place. (Correctly, tbh) - It is still a service problem. I think at least Amazon fixed it in the meantime, I can play 4k without problems.