#ios 11 problems

[lixiesstorys]

Vent (?)

NOT A FANFIC

Trigger warnings: talking abt self harm and suicide, addiction (?) to pain killers, abuse of pain killers, eating disorders, mental health problems/illnesses/issues

Normally I don't do those posts, because I don't want anyone to trigger theirselves with it or that people worry about me (or because if I write something like that, I feel like a burden XD) but I have to get this off my chest. (I'm about sorry and please don't read to trigger yourself or if you're senitive about those topics!)

I'm the quiet friend that nevere belongs anywhere. I'm the quiet friend that is the side kick you can go to when no one else is there and that you can abonton, but it stays with you. That is what I am. nothing but an annoying side kick that is only needed for listening to problems.

No one ever cared about my feelings. How I feel about that, what problems I have.

You know what the problem is when you're a perfectionist? You're as good as possible and most times that is good. But as soon as you write a worse mark than normally and you are sad about it (maybe from 9 - 10 to 7 - 8) you make things up and are too sensitive. 'that aren't even real problems'. Maybe it isn't a really failed grade, but for me it's as much pain as if someone really fails a grade. It is the same pain, but no one understands it. Maybe I don't really have to fight for my education, but it feels like that. And my marks don't come from donig nothing. I can't count the nights I skipped, so I was able to study, but got only a 7 - 8 (in Germany it's the mark 2).

For most people it looks like I ahd the perfect childhood, but in real life I didn't even have one. My father abononed me and my mom when I was 1. I got bullied in school (from my teachers). When I was 11, I was able to think like an adult. That may sound cool, but that is only the result of growing up to fast. I also got anorexia. With 9 I had nothing else in my head then grades, marks and studying. With 12 I burned out and got depression and social anxiety. I never had real friends, only those who didn't care about me.

I also lie alot. I don't want to, but as soon as I don't know what to say or if I'm overwhelmed, I start to lie. Those aren't big, but something like 'yes, I ate something' makes me feel bad for the person that asked. Another (maybe more understandable) lie is about my age. I won't say my age here, but I can say, that I'm still a minor.

Back to my time-line: when I was 9 i also started to hurt myself. Not by c&tting, but by punching, biting and insulting myself. With 13 I was (nearly) addicted to pain killers. They made me feel numba nd the pain would go away. I got bulimia in that time too. With 14 Io started to cut myself and with 15 I tried to kill myself several times. Those are the worst parts of my life, but no, I don't have problems, if anyone asks. I'm fine, don't worry about me. I was changing between binge eating and starving myself.

With 15/16 my mom wanted that I go into a clinic, but we agreed on therapy. There we found out, that i have PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder), ADD, depression, burn out, obsessive-compulsive disorders, anxiety and social anxiety. With 16 I found out about littlespace ans a coping mechanism.

Sometimes I wonder if that all wouldn't have happened, if someone had really listen to me. If someone watched my smile fade away. Or am I such a great lier that no one noticed?

I'm still the quiet but 'happy' friend. I'm still the perfectionist no one understands and everyone is annoyed of. Nothing really changed except that I know why I am who I am. That I actually am non-binary trans masc (wich also can lead to depression if you don't know who you are).

But isn't it sad, that people have to harm themselves or even try to kill themselves? That people have littlespace as coping meschanism as reaction to trauma?

And another thing: why are mental health issues accepted (what is important of course!) as long as it's not gender dysphoria?

There we are again. I'm still a minor and so much happened in my life. And you know what is kinda sad? There are other people outside, that have the same problems like me. To everyone whos suffers: I officially tell you: I am here for you! Talk to me and I try to help you! (This is okay for me, since I told you I want to help you) But in every case: please, if you don't feel happy anymore, please search yourself help! It's never too early, only too late. It doesn't have to come that far, like with me, just because I didn't see that I needed help (I still don't see that, but I'm working on it. Please, just reach out for help and don't fear to talk about your problems. That is important! You are important!

[libero-de-mente]

Prologo:

- "Pa', ti ricordi quel viaggetto a Valencia di cui ti avevo accennato, vero?" - figlio n. 2 si materializza con la grazia di un pavone, sfoderando quel sorrisetto da furbetto patentato che sa benissimo come incantare il sottoscritto, un povero padre dal "no" facile come un unicorno in tangenziale.

"Sì, mi ricordo che..." - tento di rispondere, ma vengo zittito come un concorrente eliminato al primo turno di un quiz.

- "Domani mattina alle cinque devo essere in aeroporto...".

Il volto di Eric Draven si staglia davanti a me, con quegli occhi che puntano a ore 11:00, con un sorriso appena accennato come se stesse assistendo a un improbabile duetto tra Gesù e Maradona, uno che benedice e l’altro che palleggia col paradiso.

Lo fisso, mentre il mio cervello fa i conti alla velocità di un bradipo discalculico e ubriaco - "A che ora mi tocca aprire gli occhi? Quanto ci vuole per arrivare? - sono tentato di aprire la calcolatrice sullo smartphone - "Domani mattina, dici? Cioè in piena notte?"

- "Sì, ma tranquillo, se non ce la fai mi arrangio, eh, no problem" - dice lui con la nonchalance di chi sa che "arrangiarsi", nel dizionario di un padre come me, è una parola esotica tipo "riposo" o "vacanza".

Al mio grugnito di resa, un misto tra consenso e "tanto lo so che finisco sempre così", Eric si volatilizza, lasciando un vocale nella chat degli amici: "Raga, missione compiuta, UbeRino è prenotato". Già UbeRino... mi sento davvero il servizio Uber+Rino.

Oggi, 29 marzo.

E così, stanotte i Tre Caballeros, il leggendario trio composto da Eric Draven, Dylan Dog e Marrin Mystère, fanno il loro trionfale ritorno.

All’una e mezza mi piazzo in macchina come un cecchino, strategicamente vicino all’uscita degli "arrivi internazionali", pronto a intercettare il trio.

Ore 01:43, eccoli: i Tre Caballeros si presentano con un’andatura che definire bizzarra è un eufemismo. Sembrano reduci da una maratona a cavallo nella Pampa Argentina, altro che un volo di due ore. Li osservo: passi incerti, equilibrio precario, un mix tra cowboy e pinguini sbronzi.

Scambio di saluti, abbracci, qualche battuta che strappa una risata. Ma tranquilli, cari Caballeros, i vostri tassisti personali – alias i genitori – sono lì, appostati nelle auto, a scambiarsi sguardi complici dai finestrini. Un cenno, un mezzo sorriso, un silenzioso "toh, anche stavolta tocca a te". È la solidarietà tra genitori, quella che sa che tutto questo casino un giorno sarà un capitolo epico nei ricordi dei figli.

Finalmente ci siamo: ultimo abbraccio, giuro, stavolta è quello definitivo. I Tre Caballeros, stremati e con l’eleganza di un sacco di patate, si trascinano verso le rispettive carrozze. Eric Draven, il mio caballero personale, si infila in macchina col suo zainetto formato francobollo.

- "Ciao papà, grazie di essermi venuto a prendere".

- "Non ringraziarmi, piuttosto a casa mi racconti? Hai fame?"

- "Un pochino, sì. Ma se non c'è nulla mi arrangio".

E daje con questo m'arrangio - "Ti vedo distrutto, chissà che vita spericolata in questi tre giorni! Ma sei sudato, hai caldo?"

- "No, no, tranquillo, a Valencia era peggio".

- "Scusa, Eric, ma in quello zainetto ci stanno al massimo due calzini spaiati, uno spazzolino spelacchiato e un paio di mutande... e pure solo se sono di quelle microscopiche da tanga!"

- "Eh, mi sono organizzato, papà, avevo tutto con me. Ma in aereo puoi portare solo ‘sto coso, il resto te lo pesano e ti chiedono un lingotto d’oro per ogni calzino in più".

- "Capisco, capisco" - in realtà non ho capito comunque cos'è riuscito a infilarci in quello zainetto.

A casa, mentre gli scaldo un panino degno di un banchetto di mezzanotte, Eric si sveste e si piazza in pigiama a tavola. Affronta il panino come un guerriero stanco ma soddisfatto. Io, curioso, faccio un giro in bagno e sulla cesta dei panni sporchi troneggia una montagna di roba: due paia di pantaloni, tre camicie, due felpe, due cappelli e un campionario di biancheria che manco un negozio di intimo in saldo.

Torno in cucina, incuriosito: - "Scusa, ma tutta quella roba da lavare era nello zainetto? Sei riuscito a scoprire il segreto delle particelle Pym che usa Ant-Man per rimpicciolirsi?"

- "No, pa', era tutta addosso a me. Nello zaino non ci stava" - risponde serafico, dando un morso al panino con l’aria di chi ha appena svelato il segreto dell’universo.

Eric Draven, diabolico incantatore di abbigliamento, l'Arsenio Lupin degli scali aeroportuali che passa sotto i portali e gli scanner a raggi X con sorriso sicuro, ma forse qualche controllore all'accesso questa notte avrà sorriso divertito.

[ii-meeple-confessions]

THE METAGS IS A GOOD POINT!!!! I love speculating on silly little things like what time ii takes place in... ambiguous time between 2018 and 2022 how lovely!!! I will make this an actual confession though since I'm on the topic of metags:

I love them. I love them so so much. They're so stupid. Why are they alive. How do they see things. What is wrong with them... Beautiful little beasts. Actually, on the note of how they see things, I wonder if they don't see visually but instead use some kind of app to scan the Meeple facilities. Kind of like echolocation if your echolocation is a visible map to you. Maybe they have a "Find Me App" instead of a "Find My App".... On that note, I think it's interesting that they're used as Guards of all things. I feel like they'd be more useful as spies, being able to keep track of meeple devices.

....On that note, I just realized, the Find My App was released on iOS 13 September 2019... The latest Mephone, the Mephone X is originally shipped with iOS 11 BUT CAN run iOS 13. Thus, the latest Mephone that CAN run iOS 13 is the Mephone6S.

The only PROBLEM with this is that we've been shown downgrading/upgrading iOS's (meOS's in this case...) changes the personality and software OF the Meeple. So, none of the Mephones can update to iOS 13, because it'd literally wipe out their very being.

GOOD JOB COBS, YOUR METAGS CANT EVEN SERVE THEIR ORIGINAL PURPOSE????? ?????????????????? The Find My App has no use these phones CANT BE TRACKED?????? this is genuinely so funny to me -2G Anon

GEHEHEHEHE I DIDN’T EVEN THINK OF THAT OHH MY GOD. just purposeless little bugs roaming around meeple hq… what guys… I wanna hold one in the palm of my hand

[omegasomeone]

Magical Wilted

Part 1: Calipto - Eucalyptus

Chapter 1: Seeds

Today was supposed to be the day. I had everything planned out, to the last minute detail. This day was supposed to be perfect. We would meet up at the park we used to play in. we would then go watch the remake of the first Magical Astra movie as it used to be our favourite movie. then we’d stop by my place to play some Extreme Fam Bash before eating at the restaurant near our old school. But of course, after ten minutes waiting on a bench, a call. “Sorry, the meal I ate yesterday didn't sit right with me, I won't be able to come.. Let’s do this another time, OK?”

despair. rage. disgust. sadness. the perfect day meeting with an old friend that i hadn't seen in almost half of my life was ruined. Just like that. welp, fun's already dead and buried at this point, guess I'll try and at least be productive! that'll show 'em!

Oh, yeah, the name's Calipto, by the way. Hi, the person I'm making up in my head so that I can narrate my life! imagining you helps me think, so, hi, and welcome to my head!

Heading home with newfound.. determination? Spite? I didn't know which one exactly, but with at least one of them, I found myself in front of an arcade. Thinking about how weird it was that i had never noticed it, and that it hadn't closed down yet, I let curiosity -and nostalgia- get the best of me. inside were a crane game, an old Sing Sing Revolt! cabinet and a few racing games, as well as a gashapon that seemed to have figurines from a show i used to watch as a kid but couldn't remember the name of. nobody was at the counter, as if i wasn't supposed to be there, as if it was already past closing time, when it was only 3 PM.

Suddenly, one of the plushies in the crane game caught my attention. it looked like a pastel blue frog, with what seemed like cat eyes and whiskers, and wings of uneven size. it was.. kind of endearing in a weird way? like how you see a caterpillar eating a leaf and can't help but tell it “you can do it, little guy!”

I decided to get it, hoping my crane machine skills weren't too rusty after at least half a decade of not exercising them, and managed to make it mine in only three tries. Looking at it from up close and holding it in my own hands, it looked surprisingly well made. No sign of stitches, the fabric felt really high quality (and really fluffy!) and the stuffing used made it really squishable. I really didn't understand how such a high quality plushie ended up in a crane game instead of directly for sale.

Well, that wasn't my problem, and i really was lucky it got there so i could get it. it seemed like everything else needed arcade specific tokens to play, so i went straight to my place. I reheated some leftover pizza in the microwave, sat in front of the TV then turned it on.

“The search for Io Viola is still on; the 11 year-old girl was last seen at her school in northern Lillac City monday morning, when she asked her teacher to go to the bathroom. If you see her or have information that could help find her, please go to the neareat police station to give your testimony.

Still in Lillac City, three monsters attacked the town hall. Fortunately, Rose Magical managed to hold them all off until every civilian had fled the area then managed to kill the beasts. an eyewitness asked to talk about the fight: ‘Violet Magical wasn't there! She wasn't there! And Rose's petals are withered! Last time a Magical's outfit did that, she tried to destroy the world! I'm sure Rose killed Violet! HE'S GONNA COME FOR US ALL! WE'RE DOO-’”

“Yeeyup, that's enough of that for today. Man I’m so tired.. so much for being productive,” I thought to myself, “I’ll just go to bed early. Studies can wait.” I fell asleep around 5PM, and woke up at 6, more than half a day later, even though my phone was in another room, and I always sleep through it anyway. I made myself a hot chocolate, grabbed a banana, and sat on the couch next to the plushie. I enjoyed my breakfast before putting my laptop in my courier bag and- crap! my teeth! I hurried in the bathroom to clean them before heading out. before closing the door, I said: “have a nice day!”, just to... talk to the plushie, I guess? Hey, don't judge me, I’m sure you’ve done something like this before! I hear a faint voice telling me to the same.. NOOOOOOO, someone heard me! this is so embarrassing, I wanna go straight to bed and not leave it for at least two years!

I -for once- caught my bus and arrived at my college on time. The class started; I had had 13 hours of sleep yesterday, I'd keep awake for all the lesson! I could do it! I just had to keep focused and I wouldn't... fall asleep... in class... just... focus...

Next ->

[countzeroor]

I've been thinking long and hard about the BDS Microsoft Boycott call. The request focused on Microsoft Games, on the basis that, in theory, that's the easiest part of the Microsoft financial ecosystem for people to disconnect from in order to send a message. This includes pushing people (including parents) to uninstall and get their kids to stop playing Minecraft.

First off, the way the game industry is now, unfortunately, is that game developers or even full divisions of larger companies that underperform - or even just indy developers who self publish and underperform, just get shut down and everyone gets fired. Even if we boycott South of Midnight as part of the BDS movement and clearly communicate that message, what's more likely to happen is the company would be shut down, everyone would be fired, and a bunch of alt-right chuds would ignore the BDS boycott and call this a triumph of "Get Woke, Go Broke". They might even try to co-opt the movement as a half alliance of convenience, half desire to redirect the movement for antisemitic ends, with no actual interest in the plight of the Palestinian people.

There was an opportunity here to point people towards alternatives outside of either abandoning the software entirely, or alternative programs people who want to boycott can use to abandon something that they didn't think they could.

First, and this feels weird to say, Minecraft is something that doesn't have a lot of alternative replacements - it's a sandbox that allows children to indulge their imagination to create large scale ambitious projects that can't be replicated the same way as, for example, Lego, because they take no space in the real world, and thus you have no real world storage concerns, both in terms of space and in terms of risk of damage. The alternative to Minecraft isn't Palworld or Ark Survival Evolved. It's Roblox. And Roblox is also a bunch of dark patterns and sexual predators stacked on top of each other in a trenchcoat.

https://youtu.be/cGAXGroHZKA?si=SNfL_seTHlLTzLh4

https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2024-roblox-pedophile-problem/

Now, on the other hand, Microsoft will happily charge you money to host a Minecraft server through them, and that puts money in the Azure division, the part that is directly aiding and abetting Israeli war crimes. But you don't have to go through Microsoft. You can run your own Minecraft server. Microsoft even tells you how to do it.

https://help.minecraft.net/hc/en-us/articles/360058525452-How-to-Setup-a-Minecraft-Java-Edition-Server

So, cancel your Minecraft Worlds subscription, and roll your own server. You can even set it up so it stays in your network, so your kid's friends have to come over to use it (or so it stays in the family).

Next up - Microsoft pushes OneDrive hard as part of Windows 11. They also pushed it hard on Windows 10. They insist that it's the best and biggest way, and easiest way to backup your data. It's not. There are myriad alternatives, from Google Drive, to Dropbox, to the Apple iCloud (if you use iOS devices). And, OneDrive uses Azure Cloud services to host your data

So, disable OneDrive, and go somewhere else. I've listed several alternatives above, but if you're okay with the backup being on site, you can also build a NAS (Network Attached Storage) server to store files locally. This does have the disadvantage that if something damages your house, your kinda in trouble, though using something like Backblaze on the NAS can make up for that.

Then there's the whole Microsoft 365 suite. Azure is connected to the Microsoft Office part of the business, and they've been incorporating some of those services, like Copilot, into Microsoft 365. So, again, there are alternatives.

LibreOffice has been around for years, is free, and runs locally with no cloud hooks. You can replace Outlook with Thunderbird, or the BetterBird fork.

Finally, there are the hooks to Copilot, which also runs on Azure, which Microsoft runs in the operating system. Turn that shit off.

https://www.tomsguide.com/computing/software/how-disable-copilot-in-windows-11

Also, turn off the Bing websearch hooks as well, as those also connect to Azure.

https://www.howtogeek.com/826967/how-to-disable-bing-in-the-windows-11-start-menu/

Also, if you use DuckDuckGo, that links with Bing for part of their search results, so you may want to switch back to Google or find another search engine in the interim.

[sentience-if]

Yes. The answer is yes. I'm about to be a problem and ask alot of shit regularly. Sorry.

1. That 1.5 relationship Klaus was in one ask about previous relationships had me like... 👀 like..how.. why the half.. or was I seeing things?

2. Since our cast is basically a bunch of kinda sus people except for Ira bless that sweet soul.

Ima come with my fav ask of all time. I don't know if it's been asked apologies if I missed it. But how jealous do the ROs get? Like they are at a festival and someone is trying to get into Io's pants during a crushing stage?

you're not seeing things (klaus is. a problem) and it's SO funny you think Ira is the least sus but that's all I'm gonna say about that :3c

For Val, it depends on how into it Io is. If Io is flirting back and playing along, they'll probably tease you about it later but mostly let it happen. Screaming on the inside, though. If Io is visibly annoyed, they're in full defense mode and will make an immediate opportunity to pull Io away. Pretending to be your partner is a viable option.

Kat is all over that shit, she's interfering whether you like it or not. She's in there with thinly veiled threats and that terrifying stare, and if they don't back off there's going to be a problem. She won't get touchy on Io about it, but she will hover over your shoulder and be impossible to ignore

Ira is immediately just :( :( :( They won't get involved but they will sulk the rest of the night and completely deny anything is wrong. They stick to you like velcro and need a major dose of attention to get over it. Asking about their current hyperfixation will probably do the trick lol

Unless it clashes with whatever he's got planned, Klaus does not care even a little bit. He's like hmm. weird. and moves on with his life. However, if Io decides to leave early with this person instead of being around Klaus, he'll be annoyed and by God will you know it. Snark dialed up to 11.

Constantine is a bit more difficult lmao, especially depending on how antagonistic you are with them. They'd rather die than admit someone flirting with Io bothers them, so they'll probably resort to being extra mean. Something about how that person was the ugliest motherfucker they've ever seen and you have horrific standards. Saints, why do you attract problems wherever you go?

[dpfocu]

OpenAI’s 12 Days of “Shipmas”: Summary and Reflections

Over 12 days, from December 5 to December 16, OpenAI hosted its “12 Days of Shipmas” event, revealing a series of innovations and updates across its AI ecosystem. Here’s a summary of the key announcements and their implications:

Day 1: Full Launch of o1 Model and ChatGPT Pro

OpenAI officially launched the o1 model in its full version, offering significant improvements in accuracy (34% fewer errors) and performance. The introduction of ChatGPT Pro, priced at $200/month, gives users access to these advanced features without usage caps.

Commentary: The Pro tier targets professionals who rely heavily on AI for business-critical tasks, though the price point might limit access for smaller enterprises.

Day 2: Reinforced Fine-Tuning

OpenAI showcased its reinforced fine-tuning technique, leveraging user feedback to improve model precision. This approach promises enhanced adaptability to specific user needs.

Day 3: Sora - Text-to-Video

Sora, OpenAI’s text-to-video generator, debuted as a tool for creators. Users can input textual descriptions to generate videos, opening new doors in multimedia content production.

Commentary: While innovative, Sora’s real-world application hinges on its ability to handle complex scenes effectively.

Day 4: Canvas - Enhanced Writing and Coding Tool

Canvas emerged as an all-in-one environment for coding and content creation, offering superior editing and code-generation capabilities.

Day 5: Deep Integration with Apple Ecosystem

OpenAI announced seamless integration with Apple’s ecosystem, enhancing accessibility and user experience for iOS/macOS users.

Day 6: Improved Voice and Vision Features

Enhanced voice recognition and visual processing capabilities were unveiled, making AI interactions more intuitive and efficient.

Day 7: Projects Feature

The new “Projects” feature allows users to manage AI-powered initiatives collaboratively, streamlining workflows.

Day 8: ChatGPT with Built-in Search

Search functionality within ChatGPT enables real-time access to the latest web information, enriching its knowledge base.

Day 9: Voice Calling with ChatGPT

Voice capabilities now allow users to interact with ChatGPT via phone, providing a conversational edge to AI usage.

Day 10: WhatsApp Integration

ChatGPT’s integration with WhatsApp broadens its accessibility, making AI assistance readily available on one of the most popular messaging platforms.

Day 11: Release of o3 Model

OpenAI launched the o3 model, featuring groundbreaking reasoning capabilities. It excels in areas such as mathematics, coding, and physics, sometimes outperforming human experts.

Commentary: This leap in reasoning could redefine problem-solving across industries, though ethical and operational concerns about dependency on AI remain.

Day 12: Wrap-Up and Future Vision

The final day summarized achievements and hinted at OpenAI’s roadmap, emphasizing the dual goals of refining user experience and expanding market reach.

Reflections

OpenAI’s 12-day spree showcased impressive advancements, from multimodal AI capabilities to practical integrations. However, challenges remain. High subscription costs and potential data privacy concerns could limit adoption, especially among individual users and smaller businesses.

Additionally, as the competition in AI shifts from technical superiority to holistic user experience and ecosystem integration, OpenAI must navigate a crowded field where user satisfaction and practical usability are critical for sustained growth.

Final Thoughts: OpenAI has demonstrated its commitment to innovation, but the journey ahead will require balancing cutting-edge technology with user-centric strategies. The next phase will likely focus on scalability, affordability, and real-world problem-solving to maintain its leadership in AI.

What are your thoughts on OpenAI’s recent developments? Share in the comments!

[stephen-barry]

Trump Offered Men Something That Democrats Never Could

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/06/opinion/trump-white-young-men.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

Mr. Trump offered a regressive idea of masculinity in which power over women is a birthright. That this appealed in particular to white men was not a coincidence — it intersects with other types of entitlement, including the idea that white people are superior to other races and more qualified to hold positions of power, and that any success that women and minorities have has been unfairly conferred to them by D.E.I. programs, affirmative action and government set-asides. For men unhappy with their status, this view offers a group of people to blame, which feels more tangible than blaming systemic problems like rising economic inequality and the difficulty of adapting to technological and cultural changes...

[photon-ephemera]

I have never been an Apple iDevice person but imma be honest, since Procreate put out the statement on anti-AI generated images and stuff, I have been looking into buying an iPad purely so I can start learning how to use Procreate (gdi for only being on iOS)

I have 3 pays until my birthday so HOPEFULLY I will be able to have enough saved to get it as a bday present to myself lol. I also have a con in a couple weeks so. Who knows how that will turn out. Artist Alleys make me wanna spend all of my money...I need to be careful :') I'm going both days so I need to be even more responsible LOL

Still umming and ahhing between the 11" and the 13" iPad Air M2 (I cannot justify the Pro, oof, I ain't made of money), and I definitely want the 256GB one. Obviously need the Apple Pencil too (Pro? Maybe?). Then there's the stuff like the case, need nib protectors too bc I want a paperlike screen protector bc I have a Samsung tablet atm and it's a glossy screen and it kinda sucks for drawing on. My Cintiq is a more matte screen which is SO MUCH NICER to draw on.

I have ideas and I want a portable option so I don't have to just sit at my desk, I can sit anywhere in the house or even bring it when I go out places, etc, etc...also Procreate has some really neat features (I love you CSP but I am not paying for 2 subscriptions) I was trying it out on my sister's iPad and it's pretty nice indeed, I could get used to this. Also the amount of user-made assets and tutorials for Procreate is so cool, I know I can definitely find something that's in the realm of what I'm wanting to do :3

Also I am one of those people who loves customising their devices and it's so much easier to do on an Apple device over an Android. I use a Samsung phone and I do have it to a point where I really like how I've customised it, but my tablet is another story - it's okay but ehhhh, I want it different. Yes I am going to change my icons when I get my iPad, this thing is gonna be so fun when I am done with it. Still thinking about if I should get a clear back folio case so I can stick prints and stuff in the back or if I should just go for a regular folio case, but that's a problem for idk, a few weeks from now.

Oh god my birthday is in just over a month-

Anyway yeah. Hoping to get the iPad and stuff around my birthday but knowing me it'll prooooobably be closer to Christmas but also I hate waiting so we'll see if my impatience is stronger than my impulsively spending on other stuff I don't need - place your bets now /hj

[unscharf-an-den-raendern]

Hab mal Bock auf so ne kleine Prediction Liste für nächste Staffel zu machen und weil ich nicht weiß wo hin damit kriegst du sie 😂

1. Da wir ja jetzt wissen, dass sich Elly und Massuda ein Zimmer teilen kriegen die wahrscheinlich viel Story zsm. Die versuchen anscheinend ja auch den ultimativen Hack zu finden um gute Noten zu finden.

2. Elly wird auch noch viel Story mit ihrem Bruder kriegen. Die verstehen sich ja nicht so und haben sich oft in den Haaren. Von dem was war wissen ist Joshua auch wirklich aktiv an der Schatzsuche beteiligt.

3. Maxi ist so der Kopf von der Schatzsuche würde ich mal sagen, ich denke ihre Story wird sich komplett darum drehen dazu kommt dann auch noch die Freundschaft mit Karl die ihm dabei wahrscheinlich viel unterstützen wird.

4. Bei Annika und Nesrin könnte ich mir auch gut vorstellen, dass sie sich aktiv an dieser Schatzsuche beteiligen und die Pranks dürfen wahrscheinlich auch nicht fehlen. Außerdem glaube ich, dass Nesrin noch ne Lovestory mit Marlon kriegt. Das da aber auch nicht alles glatt läuft und Annika so ein bisschen als Vermittlerin tätig sein wird.

5. Ich glaube Marlon wird ohne Nesrin wieder ne ziemliche dünne Story haben mit dem Express höchstens.

6. Reena und Chiara werden ihre Freundschaft wohl auch weiter ausbauen. Reena wird wieder Ihr Organisationstalent unter Beweis stellen wollen. Chiara wird im Express wahrscheinlich auch wieder involviert sein.

7. Leon wird ganz schön damit zu kämpfen haben, dass Io weg ist und er alleine jetzt am Einstein ist. Kann mir vorstellen, dass Charlotte in motivieren will sich neue Freunde zu suchen aber ihm wird das wohl erstmal nicht so leicht fallen. Ich glaube auch zu dem, dass wenn Io zurück kommt sie mit Leon Schluss machen wird.

8. Mikka ist jetzt ohne Casper am Einstein, aber ich denke er wird keine Probleme haben Anschluss zu finden. Er wird sich auch an der Schatzsuche beteiligen in dem er im Share Space so nen Schatzsuchen Roboter oder sowas baut, haha. Kann mir auch gut vorstellen, dass er sich gut mit Tahmina verstehen wird.

9. Tahmina wird glaube ich eine sehr coole Rolle werden, viel Story mit ihrer Tante haben und vllt kommt es ja da auch noch zu einem Konflikt.

10. Simon ist glaube ich so eine gute Laune Rolle, die sich mit jedem verstehen will und überall dabei ist. Das er Hauser’s Liebling ist könnte sich für ihn eventuell auch als Nachteil erweisen.

11. Noah’s Story wird sich viel um Colin und seine Vergangenheit/Gefühlswelt drehen. Ich denke er wird eine richtige Charakterentwicklung durch machen, da durch das er Colin gehen gelassen hat und damit in der Staffel klar kommen muss. Bei der Schatzsuche kann ich ihn auch sehen in dem er ein Filmprojekt drüber macht oder so. Bin auch davon überzeugt, dass er sein Happy End mit Colin am Ende kriegen wird. Könnte mir auch vorstellen, dass vor allem Ava und auch Joel für ihn da sein werden.

12. Ava wird ja weiterhin auch wieder ne Story mit ihrem Bruder haben. Mal schauen was das auf sich hat.

Bei Reena wurde ja auch angekündigt, dass sie sich noch um den Schulgarten kümmern wird. Ich könnte mir vorstellen, dass sie das nur Chiara zuliebe macht (da Sirius ja nicht mehr da ist), dann allerdings feststellen muss dass sie einfach keinen grünen Daumen hat. Außerdem vermute ich, dass sie am Ende der Staffel noch eine Ausstiegsgeschichte bekommt, da Staffel 27 schon ihre fünfte Staffel ist.

[demonfox38]

Completed - Shantae: Risky's Revenge

You know what? I did like that Capcom NES "Little Mermaid" game. You would be absolutely right about that.

Round Two of my "Play More Steam Games" year started off rough. Windows 11 sought to be a prima donna, refusing to render anything but a black screen for two of the games from my Steam library. Luckily, all it took was forcing the executables to run in a higher priority mode through System -> Display -> Graphics, but man. That was a two-hour headache I didn't need.

Of the two games I had tested, "Shantae: Risky's Revenge" won out in terms of priority. Granted, had I known what I do now, maybe I would have tabled this one for just a little longer. It wasn't exactly watching "The Empire Strikes Back" before "A New Hope", but it may have been watching "Attack of the Clones" before anything else!

The "Shantae" series in its current incarnation is a set of Metroidvania-styled games starring the titular Shantae, the often hired and fired protector of Scuttle Town (and Sequin Land) at large. When I say "in its current incarnation", I don't mean to imply any gameplay changes. What I am trying to say is that "Shantae" was both simultaneously notable and niche in its first incarnation. Notable, in that even I—some nobody kid from Iowa—knew about this game. Niche, in…well, let's just say poor sales and the general screwed-up state of the second-hand game market has resulted in this:

Dude, I own a physical copy of "Earthbound", and even those prices make me want to scream. Like, we can talk about how it might be wasteful to have companies like Limited Run Games reprint copies of games, but when this second-hand market the alternative…(Also, who do we have to bribe to get "Power Blade 2" re-released? Because JFC on those prices, too.)

Since the ancient days of the Game Boy Color, the Shantae series has had a more consistent game release schedule, cranking out a new Metroidvania about once every 3-5 years. This started with 2010's "Shantae: Risky's Revenge," the sequel to the aforementioned cult classic. In it, Shantae is tasked with securing three magic seals and recovering a stolen lamp from Risky Boots, her arch-nemesis from the previous game. Alongside a Belmont-esque hair whip attack, Shantae is also blessed with the ability to cast spells and transform into various creatures. Granted, given that these powers come to her via being half genie, you can imagine what a problem that stolen lamp just might turn out to be for her…

Originally, this game was released on the Nintendo DSi, a late-stage iteration of the Nintendo DS known for its implementation of a digital shop. Which, uh…I'm guessing isn't operational anymore. The iteration I played was the so-called "Director's Cut", which generally changed menu presentation and character artwork to use higher-resolution images. It seems like it also preserved a bonus mode that was made for an iOS version of the game, which feels a bit more substantial than just updating portraits.

Given the collapse of online shops, it's just lucky this game is available at all. (More reasons to go physical, right? Well, if game publishers ever put a complete product on their cartridges/discs in the modern era, anyway…)

There are two dichotomies in Metroidvania games that aren't often discussed. For me, these are offensive styles and end goals. See, "Metroid" games typically operate via fast ranged gameplay while "Castlevania" takes more methodical strikes, often keeping within slugging distance of its foes (Charlotte Aulin and arguably Shanoa being exemptions.) Extending from that, "Metroid" games are more rewarding for speed than item collection/map completion, while "Castlevania" games tend to reward meeting extensive collecting goals or world exploration. (There are some exceptions here too for the "Metroid" series, but it's usually more about getting tits and TFO than how many lore dumps or missile expansions you left behind.)

I bring this up because I think it helps to explain how I like my particular Metroidvania mixes and how "Shantae: Risky's Revenge" falls into this spread. See, I wouldn't classify myself as a fast gamer. I'll do weird things, and if I want to prove something, I do them as hard as I can. But, generally, I want to experience as much as I can in one go-around. I want my marks to be high in figuring out how to worm into certain locations or call a game director's bullshit. (Looking at you, Igarashi.) I'm not the kind to grind something over and over again until the speed and efficiency of my gameplay makes someone's pants fly off. I mean, I love watching other people do that, but man. I'm just not wired up to be wired. Plus, I've got hundreds of other games that I want to play in my lifetime, so I want to make what may be my only time with a game count.

So, where's "Shantae: Risky's Revenge"?

Fight-wise, this is pretty "Castlevania." Like, I wouldn't classify Shantae as being as robust as a Belmont, but the melee-ranged whipping and magic spells on a limited meter make it pretty clear that she'd fall on the "Castlevania" side of things. Good for me! Mostly. I mean, she doesn't seem to have that movement trick that Alucard et. al have where you can spam attacks at twice the speed intended by hop-slashing, but she's functional.

Girl absolutely needs that hair conditioner, though. Definitely an item worth saving up for!

Goal-wise? The game's making a cake sandwich, and it's really trying its damnedest to eat it. You can receive achievements for just finishing the game, as well as finishing it with all items, finishing it under four hours, and then finishing it both under four hours and with all items. The ending itself doesn't seem to change all that much, which is a bummer, as it ends where most "Metroid" games begin. Frankly, all you get out of it is a different picture after the credits. But, if that's something you want to tackle, boy howdy. You do you.

In terms of difficulty, the game is…honestly, very strange. Like, I was almost tempted to say that this is a good Metroidvania game for beginners, but then I hit the Battle Tower. Holy crap. One of my Tumblr mutuals mentioned that the Battle Tower is where they bailed on the game, and I can't blame them. It's a timed ascent up 10 flights of stairs filled with monster battles and a whopping 2 minutes on the clock. Like, you do get time extenders in pots between fights, but yikes. That's not something you want to deal with when you're playing late at night to recover from your mind-numbing, soul-sucking existence.

Even that tower's difficulty might not be its own fault. I think the UI for the game's shop is not clear or helpful. There's two different currencies the game uses for items (gems and jams), and the latter is not initially defined with great clarity. Like, when you look at this, what do you think this item costs?

It's supposed to be 1 jam, 150 gems. But, I read that as 150 jams. Like, you get maybe a fifth of that in game max. But, when you're trying to be an independent gamer and not reading guides, that measurement can be very confusing. It should really be 1🫙150 💎, if you're going to involve icons in the mix.

Do your chemistry teacher a favor, alright? Keep your units straight.  

Outside of my computation issues with the shop, I found some of the later levels' platforming to be daunting. Like, I don't know how to say this without sounding weird, but I like Metroidvania games because they generally are more forgiving about platforming than a standard game. You fell? Oh, well. Just don't land in the acid or lava or spikes, and you can try again. Maybe chug some health potions. Here? It's a bit more on "Zelda" rules, so failure isn't the worst it could possibly be. It's just with as many fiddly, narrow platforms as the game throws at you, damage can add up really quickly.

Also, those Monkey Bullet puzzles are exercises in frustration. Slippery friction + precise square navigation = screaming monkey time.

One last weird note I made was on the game's achievement system. I'm fairly certain I got two achievements that I did not meet the criteria for receiving ("Tinkercide" and "Speed Run the Baron's Lair!") Which, hell. I guess if something is given in the favor of the player, why should I bitch? It just seems weirdly implemented.

Screw those two achievements regarding withholding a puppy from an NPC and hurting it, though. Surely, the game can find something better for me to do. Like, collect cats. Another mermaid shooting gallery. Hell, we're halfway to an "Ecco" game. Give me some hoops to jump through!  

It is lucky for the game that it is pretty damn unique and cute, at least in terms of style. Like, the character portraits are mid 2000s Flash animation quality, so eh there, but the sprites themselves are quite lovely. Everything is brightly colored and has a pleasant bounce to its movement. Looking at older "Shantae" footage, it seems like a lot of the animation style was preserved from the GBC game, which I imagine is a lovely touch for fans of the original game.

Sequin Land is a pretty cool setting as well. Like, my issues with this game aside, I can see why the "Shantae" games have become a solid franchise over the past decade. It's got a playful charm to it, something akin to what I grew up with in the 90s in terms of Arabian fantasy. The inclusion of the undead as a staple is a bit strange, but it's played with very well. It's the kind of game that makes you wonder if the link between zombification, civility, and coffee has something to do with adenosine receptors. I mean, I'm not a neurologist, but a part of me wants to take that joke about making coffee for zombies a little too far. It's a weird kind of inspiration, but you've gotta take it where you can get it!

Additionally, the transformation gimmick is simpler to set up than in the previous game. All it is here is holding a button down to cycle through animations until you get the one you need. I'm a simple woman. Give me a game where you can turn into a mermaid, and I'll find my own joy in it. I can bitch about the fiddliness of that monkey all day, but the mermaid? Yeah. Fine by me. (The elephant's okay too, I guess. At least it's good about keeping the undead dead!) 

I'm glad that the "Shantae" series made it past this game. Between the structural issues for "Risky's Revenge" and a bummer of an ending (regardless of your skill, mind you!), it would be a shame if this was the end of the run for Shantae. There are cool portions to it, but man, I can't really recommend it. The writing goes from juvenile to depressing, and the difficulty oscillates quite a bit, so I don't know who the audience for this would be other than previously existing "Shantae" fans. Theoretically, this could have been a great Metroidvania starter for preteens. But, man. I can't see many having the gumption to tough out shooting monkey puzzles and surprise speed-run segments.

Like, don't get me wrong. I've got "Shantae and the Pirate's Curse" downloaded and ready to go for later on. (Risky's not the only vindictive bitch here.) I just don't know if I'd be right up to bat for this particular title. I mean, if you get it as a gift or for under five USD, okay. File it under the "gift horse" idiom. But, I wouldn't go over $8.00 at the very least. I don't want to be one of those pricks that have a dedicated price point for each hour of a game, but I think a dollar an hour here is a fair estimate of overall value. And I got my first (and possibly only) run done in under 8 hours, so there you go. Value calculated.

Which isn't what this game's store owner did! BOOM! LAST MINUTE DRAG ON THE STUPID STORE USER INTERFACE!

Okay, I'm done. 

[cydiaios2025]

Cydia iOS 26 – Take Complete Control of Your iPhone

Apple iPhones are secure, sleek, and simple—but they also restrict what you can change on your own device. Want to rearrange system settings, install custom apps, or change how your phone looks? Cydia iOS 26 is the answer. It opens up powerful features, advanced tools, and deep customization options Apple doesn’t allow.

With iOS 26 now out, more users want access to Cydia iOS 26. This guide explains what Cydia does, why Cydia iOS 26 is important, and how to install it the easy and safe way using iNstantJB—no complex steps or a computer needed.

What Is Cydia?

Cydia is a third-party app store for jailbroken iPhones and iPads. Unlike the App Store, it lets you download tweaks, themes, system tools, and apps that Apple doesn’t support. These additions can change how your device looks, behaves, and performs.

With Cydia iOS 26, these options now work with the iOS 26 update. You can finally use advanced tools to personalize your device right the way you want.

Why Cydia iOS 26?

Apple’s iOS 26 brought new features, but also tightened security. That made it harder to install mods and tweaks. Cydia iOS 26 clears that barrier. It gives users full access to system-level tools, themes, and hidden features that Apple doesn’t allow.

Whether you want a fresh theme, improved battery life, or gesture controls, Cydia iOS 26 lets you do all that—and more.

How to Get Cydia iOS 26

Cydia can't be installed like regular apps; it needs a jailbreak. The most secure and fastest way is through iNstantJB. Here’s how it works:

Open Safari on your iPhone or iPad.

Go to: https://www.instantjb.com/cydia-ios-26-0-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-jailbreak.html

Tap “Start Jailbreak”.

Follow on-screen steps.

After completion, Cydia appears on your home screen.

Try iNstantJB to get Cydia—it is the best way to download a Cydia alternative. No PC, no cables, no hassle.

What Can You Do with Cydia iOS 26?

Once installed, Cydia iOS 26 gives you access to powerful tweaks and custom themes. Here are some top features:

1. Full Customization

Change icons, fonts, status bar, widgets, control center—make your iPhone truly yours.

2. Hidden System Tweaks

Add gesture shortcuts, record calls, lock apps, manage files—all with tools Apple doesn't include.

3. App Freedom

Install emulators, screen recorders, torrent apps, and modded software that don’t appear on the App Store.

4. Performance Enhancements

Clean up junk files, boost speed, extend battery life with tools like iCleaner and BatteryLife.

5. Advanced Control

Access root files and deep system settings using apps like Filza File Manager.

Popular Tweaks for Cydia iOS 26

Here are some top tweaks available after installing Cydia iOS 26:

SnowBoard – A theming engine to completely change your device’s look

Filza File Manager – Full access to internal files

iCleaner Pro – Clean junk and speed up your iPhone

Activator – Add shortcuts and gesture controls

BatteryLife – Monitor and improve your battery’s health

YouTube Reborn – Block ads and add extra player settings

These tweaks bring real value and are easy to set up once Cydia’s installed.

Devices That Support Cydia iOS 26

Cydia works on all devices running iOS 26, including:

iPhone 15, 15 Plus, 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max

iPhone 14 & 13 series

iPhone 12, 11, X, SE (2nd & 3rd gen)

iPad Pro, iPad Air, iPad (9th & 10th gen)

If your device is on iOS 26.x, iNstantJB can jailbreak it, giving you full access to Cydia iOS 26.

Is Jailbreaking Safe?

Yes—modern jailbreaks like iNstantJB are stable and reliable. Jailbreaking doesn’t harm devices if you follow these tips:

Back up your device before jailbreak

Use trusted sources for tweaks

Avoid pirated apps

Remove issues via Safe Mode or restore if problems arise

If you need to, you can always remove the jailbreak and restore your device to a standard iOS setup.

Removing Cydia iOS 26

Changed your mind? Here’s how to undo everything:

Option 1: Restore in iTunes or Finder

Connect your device and restore. This removes Cydia and jailbreak completely.

Option 2: Use Cydia Eraser

Some jailbreaks include Cydia Eraser, which removes everything safely while keeping your data intact.

After this, your iPhone returns to a normal, stock setup.

Common Questions

Q: Do I lose data when jailbreaking? A: No—your files stay safe as long as you follow instructions.

Q: Can I still install App Store apps? A: Yes—Cydia runs alongside the App Store.

Q: Does jailbreaking void warranty? A: Apple may deny warranty if Cydia is detected, but restoring to stock removes traces.

Q: Is it legal? A: Yes—jailbreaking is legal in most countries, including the U.S.

Final Take

If you want full control, customization, and powerful tools on your iPhone or iPad, Cydia iOS 26 is essential. It offers features Apple doesn’t allow, and iNstantJB makes the jailbreak process simple and secure.

There’s no risk, and the rewards are customization, added features, and complete control at your fingertips.

Ready to go further? Visit: https://www.instantjb.com/cydia-ios-26-0-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-jailbreak.html

Unlock your device with Cydia iOS 26 today—it’s time to make your iOS experience uniquely yours.

[simonelly]

The Hidden Downsides of the HEIC Format (and the 30-Second Fix)

What Is the HEIC Format?

Why Apple Moved from JPEG to HEIC

In 2017, Apple rolled out a major photo format change with iOS 11 - switching from JPEG to HEIC. While it might seem like a behind-the-scenes tweak, it changed the way images are stored, shared, and opened across devices.

HEIC stands for High Efficiency Image Coding, and it uses a newer compression method (based on HEVC, or H.265) that maintains image quality at a fraction of the file size.

Why HEIC Is Actually Brilliant

Better Compression, Same Quality

HEIC files are significantly smaller without sacrificing image quality. This means you can store thousands of high-res photos without eating up your iPhone's storage.

Saving Storage Space on iPhones

For people with 64GB or 128GB phones, this is a huge win. More pictures, fewer cloud backups, and less “storage full” anxiety.

But Here’s the Catch…

Why You Can’t Open HEIC Files Everywhere

Despite its advantages, HEIC has a major downside: it doesn’t play nice outside Apple’s ecosystem. If you try to open an HEIC file on many Windows PCs, Android devices, or older software, you’ll get an error - or nothing at all.

Compatibility Issues Across Platforms

HEIC is supported on iPhones, iPads, macOS, and some newer versions of Windows. But for everything else - older Windows PCs, email clients, online forms, blogging platforms - it’s a guessing game.

The “Why Can’t I Open This?” Moment

A Typical Scenario: Sending Vacation Pics

Imagine this: you take a beautiful sunset shot during vacation. You send it to your family via email. They try to open it on their PC - and nothing happens.

The Frustration of Unsupported Files

The file opens as a blank icon, with no preview. “What is .HEIC?” someone texts back. You Google solutions, download clunky converters, and spend 20 minutes solving a 2-second problem.

The 30-Second HEIC Fix (No Download Needed)

Use a Free Online HEIC Viewer

Here’s the good news: you don’t need to install anything. You don’t need to change iPhone settings. And you definitely don’t need to email yourself images twice.

Instead of hunting for clunky desktop software, just drag the file onto our free HEIC Viewer and it opens instantly in your browser.

How It Works in 3 Simple Steps

Drag and drop your HEIC file onto the page.

Instant preview loads right in your browser.

Download or share the JPEG version if needed.

No installations, no spam, no complications.

[steadytrinitynexus]

Google Gemini 2.5, its ‘most intelligent AI model’ , is now available for free to all users

Google has announced that it is rolling out its latest 2.5 Pro (experimental) model to all Gemini app users. The Gemini 2.5 Pro model, unveiled on Tuesday (March 25), is touted by Google as its “most intelligent AI model,” integrating advanced thinking capabilities. While currently in its “experimental” phase, it supports a range of features, including apps/Extensions, file uploads, and Canvas. “Gemini 2.5 Pro is taking off 🚀🚀🚀The team is sprinting, TPUs are running hot, and we want to get our most intelligent model into more people’s hands asap,” Google said in a post on X. “Which is why we decided to roll out Gemini 2.5 Pro (experimental) to all Gemini users, beginning today,” it added, saying users can try the latest model at no cost. — GeminiApp (@GeminiApp) It is to be noted that initially, Gemini 2.5 Pro was exclusively available to Gemini Advanced subscribers, as part of the Google One AI Premium plan priced at Rs 1,950 / month per month in India. According to a report by 9to5google, the rollout is already underway on gemini.google.com, and will soon be available on the Android and iOS apps, which recently improved their ability to remember user-selected models. 6/6/25, 11:32 PM Google Gemini 2.5, its ‘most intelligent AI model’, is now available for free to all users - Times of India https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/google-gemini-2-5-its-most-intelligent-ai-model-is-now-available-for-free-to-all-users/articleshowprint/119760807.cms?val=3728 1/2 Google Gemini 2.5 AI model: What’s new Google launched Gemini 2.5 with initial release as an experimental version of Gemini 2.5 Pro, which Google reports has achieved state-of-the-art results across various benchmarks and secured the top spot on the LMArena leaderboard, a platform measuring human preference for AI model responses. Company officials describe the new Gemini 2.5 models as “thinking models,” emphasising their enhanced capability for reasoning through complex problems before generating a response. This approach, Google claims, leads to improved performance and accuracy. “Our first 2.5 model, Gemini 2.5 Pro Experimental is a state-of-the-art thinking model, leading in a wide range of benchmarks – with impressive improvements in enhanced reasoning and coding and now #1 on @lmarena_ai by a significant margin. With a model this intelligent, we wanted to get it to people as quickly as possible,” Google CEO Sundar Pichai said in a post on X. “Find it on Google AI Studio and in the @geminiapp for Gemini Advanced users now – and in Vertex in the coming weeks. This is the start of a new era of thinking models – and we can’t wait to see where things go from here,” he added. The company stated that Gemini 2.5 achieves its performance gains through a combination of a significantly upgraded base model and improved post-training processes. Google plans to integrate these “thinking” capabilities directly into all future models.

[16naughts]

Dev Log May 30 - It's baaaaack (the WebKit issues, that is)

Last week we released the Sweet Bee update for Crescent Roll, which had some substantial changes both in terms of content and some of the inner organization. It was supposed to be a little bit bigger than it ended up being, but we decided to split up the changes into a couple of chunks to give it more polish and not have to re-do things for the public API release. (Which the PM in me wants to apologize to somebody for the delay, but I was the only one who set the time table anyway, so we'll have to work on breaking that "everything has to be done Yesterday" mentality.) As a quick recap - Crescent Roll is written in Javascript, which means it runs in a web browser. For Windows, Android, iOS, and practically every other platform, you can write your program to hook in to the OS native one and not have to install anything. For Linux (which Steam OS is a fork of), there is no native browser. Valve technically _did_ include Chromium as their front-end for their store, but they embedded it directly into their application and as such nobody else can reach it. Which is bad news, as if you want to embed it yourself, that's an extra 1GB of space. Which is bad for our 30MB game. So, in order to keep install size lower, we ended up opting for using WebKit instead. WebKit is what Safari is based on, just like how Chrome and Edge are based on Chromium. Fortunately, it's a lot smaller at around 200MB, which is technically still more than 5x bigger than the application, but it's better than the 30x. This, however, is proving to be a rather bad move. The Steam Deck uses a container system that runs self-contained little mini operating system runtimes that can just be stuck on pretty much any flavor of Linux with minimal compatibility issues. The unfortunate part for us is that it is Debian 11-based. Which is only 4 years old at the time of writing, but gcc and clang (C compilers) already dropped support for it, and thus WebKit also dropped support for _right_ before they did a major overhaul to a lot of important internal systems that fixed a lot of performance problems. When testing the newest update, apparently some of the libraries that were being provided by the OS received updates that have severely interfered with the game's performance. The startup now takes about 5-10 seconds on a black screen before anything shows up. Shutdown will keep playing the music and also requires you to press B to close for some unknown reason. The Main Menu had also dropped to 45FPS out of nowhere, and something with the audio playback got completely screwed over where it suddenly decides to stop playing music, and then every single sound that was attempted in rapid succession at faster speeds a few seconds later (In what world is that ever the expected behavior?! Just don't play it if it can't. This one is just stupid.) Fortunately, none of the issues actually affect gameplay all that much. Most levels still ran at 60FPS, and even when they dipped, we built the system specifically to support variable framerates, so the game speed is still exactly the same with no lag. The update was still published, as the issue was apparently caused by the OS changes and not our changes, so even old versions are still affected. As a result though, much of this week's work went in to optimizing the graphics system even more and attempting to play around whatever the heck is going on with that audio playback. We were able to hit 60FPS again, but at the time of writing, are still having the audio thing happen occasionally. So, what now? I think I've officially given up on WebKit. We're squeezing blood of out a stone at this point in terms of optimizations I can make to the game itself. It seems kind of silly that Windows is able to pull off 4k at 120Hz on 15-year old hardware, but the trimmed-down Linux port can't even handle sub-1080p at 60Hz. I've had an idea to try and use the Windows version of CEF specifically for the Steam Deck, which will keep it around 300MB and maybe solve some of our issues. It's going to take a bit, so fingers crossed.

[atplblog]

Price: [price_with_discount] (as of [price_update_date] - Details) [ad_1] Product Description Product Name lightning to USB Adapter, OTG Adapter, USB Camera Adapter, OTG Data Sync Converter Lightning to USB Camera Adapter OTG Data Sync Converter Compatible iPhone 12/11/X/8/7/6/iPad, Support Camera, Card Reader, USB Flash Drive, Mouse, Keyboard, Hubs, MIDI Silver. 1 OTG Connector Available With This pack. A Store having Choices In Connectors And Mobile Chargers plug and play, share your photos and videos from your camera to your social network freely, no need to use PC or take out the camera's memory card anymore. You can easily play movie or view file which are in your U-Disk, easy to use. Having Data Transfer problem from a pendrive to your Iphone ????? CROSSVOLT has got the solution to your problem, with this lightning to usb OTG Adapter Small and portable, with only 5 grams weight and a lanyard design, you can carry it with you, whether you are on business or traveling, you can use it at any time. This Pacakage Includes: 1 X Lightning OTG Adapter Support Peripherals Plug your PC keyboard or wired or wireless mouse straight into your iPad, improve your typing speed and work efficient; Support iOS devices connecting to MIDI keyboard, electric piano, Drum, Audio Interface, Mixer, Microphone and so on. Plug and Play Plug and play, You can easily play movie or view file which are in your U-Disk. Efficient transmission, no stuck. to social media immediately. Easy to Use, No App needed and no need to take out the camera's memory card. Data Transmission With the USB Camera Adapter, connect the camera to transfer speed from 16MB/S~18MB/S, transfer data and photo video in two devices at 3.0 speed, you can directly transfer photos and videos from your high-resolution digital camera to your iPhone & iPad, With your family shares the beauty of life. Wide Compatibility The OTG USB adapter supports standard photo formats like JPEG and RAW, along with SD and HD video formats including H.264 and MPEG-4; Compatible with iPhone 12/12Pro/12Pro Max/11/11Pro/11Pro Max/Xs/Xs Max/X/8/8 Plus/7/7Plus/6/6 Plus/5/5S/SE and iPad Air /Mini /Pro.etc.

COMPATIBILITY:The i phone OTG adapter support iOS 13 and later,compatible with iPhone 12/12ProMax/12Mini/11/11 Pro / 11 Pro Max / Xs / Xs Max / X / 8/8 Plus / 7 / 7Plus / 6/6 Plus / 5 / 5S / SE and Air / Mini / Pro etc. No App needed and no need to take out the camera's memory card. Connect the USB 3.0 camera adapter, you can read the picture or video of the camera directly on your iOS device. WORKS FOR USB DEVICES:Upgraded USB camera adapter extend more function for your iPhone.This USB OTG USB adapter support digital camera,USB flash drive, keyboard, mouse and gamepad, microphones, mixers, sound cards, electronic drums etc MORE EFFICIENTLY AND SAVE MORE TIME: Upgraded USB 3.0 Female adapter. The theoretical speed of USB 3.0 can reach 5Gbps/s, which is about 625MB/s. Use your iPhone to connect a keyboard or mouse to make your home office more efficient MINI SIZE AND DURABLE: This USB adapter has no cable, it can be carried like a key. The metal aluminum case makes it more durable and not as easily damaged as the plastic case adapter. [ad_2]