Google/Nest cameras cloud servers being shut down. Devices becoming bricks.

[Coolcats]

I hate Microshaft and its endlessly fiddling with its OS and changing menus and commands for no good reason. GJH has explained why I still have a laptop running XP Pro, mainly so I can carry on using my trusty 20-year-old HP Laserjet, and my slightly younger HP scanner/copier and its clever software. There is some faff involved in stransferring documents, but that saves buying new peripherals. I also don't want to send a perfectly good working printer etc to the tip. Manufacturers are trying to force us to replace every kind of consumer goods at least every 5 years and also making them unrepairable. Not great for the environment. Very wasteful.

I don't trust e-books for similar reasons. An e-library in the cloud can easily disappear overnight, with or without notice. They may be cheaper initially than printed books, but at least the hard copy version isn't ephemeral, subject to the whims of e-commerce. In several ways it is a store of value. Real books can increase in value, especially rare 1st editions signed by the author. Win-win.

My wife occasionally uses MS Teams for conf calls it seems with the push to cloud services she can only arrange a call if she uses the office 365 suite this is another change and would mean more costs so Teams is going in the Bin.

 

[kevenh]

My wife occasionally uses MS Teams for conf calls it seems with the push to cloud services she can only arrange a call if she uses the office 365 suite this is another change and would mean more costs so Teams is going in the Bin.

Oh! A company I volunteer for use MS Teams so I had to just recently start using Teams for online meetings.
The app is installed on my apple devices and a Windows 10 desktop with no sight of Office 365

 

[Coolcats]

On the flipside, I’m many years into researching just what the issue is using connected devices, opting into the most verbose feedback with devices and website cookies, etc.
My life is unchanged with Amazon, Google etc. knowing even the extra stuff let alone the basics.

I often precipitate in beta release programs of software and hardware so that’s where opting into sending diagnostic info started but even outside of beta programs, if developers can improve their released apps with this feedback, I’m glad to help.

I’m not gullible and look for unsolicited info requests.
Mrskevenh never accepts updates, cookies, etc. and gets cross when she can’t get info she wants or apps stop working. Hmm!

If I was concerned about customer data usage, apple would be included as someone to be concerned about but I’ve provided sources for why before - obviously unheeded or their customer data usage deemed to be OK

Oh come on. Every one know Apples is the lessor of the two weavels

 

[Folkranger]

Oh come on. Every one know Apples is the lessor of the two weavels

So you're saying Apple leases out weavils? I knew they weren't quite kosher.

 

[Coolcats]

So you're saying Apple leases out weavils? I knew they weren't quite kosher.

It’s all protein

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[kevenh]

Oh come on. Every one know Apples is the lessor of the two weavels

A great book series. I might reread for a 3rd time.
Note to self “look out for a full set in an ebook sale”

Edit: I liked the film too. 2 (3?) books mashed in as one though. Shame there isn’t another film coming

 

[Coolcats]

Oh! A company I volunteer for use MS Teams so I had to just recently start using Teams for online meetings.
The app is installed on my apple devices and a Windows 10 desktop with no sight of Office 365

Interesting will have to double check

 

[kevenh]

Interesting will have to double check

Some check my side too. On Windows 10 maybe Teams installs standalone via links from the Office 365 download area.

 

[Coolcats]

Some check my side too. On Windows 10 maybe Teams installs standalone via links from the Office 365 download area.

That’s right but there has just been an update it looks though you have to have outlook to now to schedule a call rather than from the teams desktop app. Microsoft appears to be moving outlook to 365.

 

[Gromett]

I don't trust e-books for similar reasons. An e-library in the cloud can easily disappear overnight, with or without notice.

I buy my ebooks off amazon and use the OpenSource software called Calibre to remove the DRM and back them up. They cannot be disappeared overnight and I have a backup in multiple places

How to Remove DRM From Kindle Books [DRM-free books 2023 ]

If you want to open Kindle AZW files in other software, you’ll need to know how to remove DRM from Kindle books.

www.cloudwards.net

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[Gromett]

More Google stuff shutting down? And it is affecting third party hardware. Lenovo , JBL and LG are all affected and I am not sure that there aren't others.

More Google Assistant shutdowns: Third-party smart displays are dead

Software support is dead, and all the hardware is out of stock.

arstechnica.com

 

[Gromett]