#switch to firefox!

[trivalentlinks]

random unsolicited linux-related advice for other technophobes like me:

if you're getting a new laptop and planning to wipe windows and replace it with linux, try to get a laptop that has manufacturer support for linux, and failing that, try to use windows on it for at least a little bit before switching, to make sure everything works and/or try to go for a dual-boot even though that's more technical and harder to do

linux supports (has firmware for) pretty much all laptops, so if you look up 'can i use linux on X computer' as long as X is not a mac, people will say 'sure, no problem!' (and possibly even if it's a mac? i haven't really thought about apple in a long time, but 15 years ago, it was considered difficult to install linux on a mac)

but the problem is that sure, you can install and run linux, but if you have any issues that can be attributed to firmware (but are probably hardware issues) and you try to call the manufacturer (because your computer is still in warranty) they'll be like, "linux? not our problem. should've bought one of our laptops that supports linux"

(i should have! but i got this laptop as a gift from my mom, which btw, is also not a great idea; she did ask which computers i wanted, and i emailed her ones that have manufacturer linux support, but unfortunately my inability to read/follow instructions is something i probably inherited from her (or both my parents), lol, so the computer i got was not one on my list)

[intelligentchristianlady]

Yet another reason to switch to Firefox--you'll be warned if the review you're reading is fake.

[porcupine-girl]

Does anyone know of alternatives to google docs/sheets that allow super-easy sharing and collaboration like they do? I do use LibreOffice as well as Pages on my Mac, but if I want something that's instantly accessible from my phone anywhere, or that I want to be instantly accessible to other people, especially for collaboration but also just for viewing (but that I can keep editing, so not a PDF), I put it in a gdoc or sheet. I would love to stop using them but I just do not know of other alternatives for these things.

I know, for things I want to access myself there's always dropbox and other cloud services. But generally in my experience you have to then open the files in some other app and then get them back into Dropbox, which tbh is enough extra steps to be a pain. Apple's own apps work with iCloud, but a) Numbers is simply not a true spreadsheet app and never will be, it's not even meant to be b) I filled up my free icloud space with my phone/ipad backups years ago. At least it's only $1/month for 50 more gb, but I would still have to constantly battle with my phone/ipad backups to not fill up that 50gb. And Numbers not being a real spreadsheet is a big problem.

And I just have no idea what there is out there that offers a fraction of the ease of sharing that gdocs do when you want to collaborate.

Tl;dr: I would LOVE to leave gdocs/sheets behind, so please rec anything that allows me to easily access docs and real spreadsheets from mobile and desktop, and does collaboration, and does all of it with at least something approaching the seamlessness of google's tools.

Google is going to start scraping all of their platforms to use for AI training. So, here are some alternatives for common Google tools!

Google Chrome -> Firefox

If you’re on tumblr, you’ve probably already been told this a thousand times. But FireFox is an open-source browser which is safe, fast and secure. Basically all other browsers are Chrome reskins. Try Firefox Profilemaker, Arkenfox and Librewolf! Alternatively, vanilla Firefox is alright, but get Ublock Origin, turn off pocket, and get Tabliss.

Google Search -> DuckDuckGo

DuckDuckGo very rarely tracks or stores your browsing data (though they have only been known to sell this info to Microsoft). Don’t use their browser; only their search engine. Domain visits in their browser get shared. Alternatively, you can also use Ecosia, which is a safe search engine that uses its income to plant trees! 🌲

Google Reverse Image Search -> Tineye

Tineye uses image identification tech rather than keywords, metadata or watermarks to find you the source of your image!

Gmail -> ProtonMail

All data stored on ProtonMail is encrypted, and it boasts self-destructing emails, text search, and a commitment to user privacy. Tutanota is also a good alternative!

Google Docs -> LibreOffice

LibreOffice is free and open-source software, which includes functions like writing, spreadsheets, presentations, graphics, formula editing and more.

Google Translate -> DeepL

DeepL is notable for its accuracy of translation, and is much better that Google Translate in this regard. It does cost money for unlimited usage, but it will let you translate 500,000 characters per month for free. If this is a dealbreaker, consider checking out the iTranslate app.

Google Forms -> ClickUp

ClickUp comes with a built-in form view, and also has a documents feature, which could make it a good option to take out two birds with one stone.

Google Drive -> Mega

Mega offers a better encryption method than Google Drive, which means it’s more secure.

YouTube -> PeerTube

YouTube is the most difficult to account for, because it has a functional monopoly on long-form video-sharing. That being said, PeerTube is open-source and decentralized. The Internet Archive also has a video section!

However, if you still want access to YouTube’s library, check out NewPipe and LibreTube! NewPipe scrapes YouTube’s API so you can watch YouTube videos without Google collecting your info. LibreTube does the same thing, but instead of using YouTube servers, it uses piped servers, so Google doesn’t even get your IP address. Both of these are free, don’t require sign-ins, and are open source!

Please feel free to drop your favorite alternatives to Google-owned products, too! And, if this topic interests you, consider checking out Glaze as well! It alters your artwork and photos so that it’s more difficult to use to train AI with! ⭐️

[parme-tan]

PSA

[etirabys]

more-ethical-but-less-pleasant/convenient-alternatives advocates stop lying challenge

[fixing-bad-posts]

[Image description: A screenshot made to look like a Google Chrome browser notification. Transcript is below.]

---

We at Google think you're fucking stupid

We're launching new privacy features. You are cattle to us. Soon you will have more choice over the ads you see.

Our services are free to use because you are the product we sell. Chrome notes topics of interest based on your recent browsing history. Chrome wants to make you a fatter hog for our advertisers. Sites you visit can determine what you like. If we don't know what you like, we can't strangle you for money. Sites can ask for this information to show you personalized ads. This is a privacy feature. Yeah, of course it is. What are you talking about? Just believe us, you idiot.

We know most of you will not even stop to read this. Thank god.

Did you know we removed "Don't be evil" from our code of conduct in 2015?

[surrexi]

i just updated firefox and Y'ALL

it has tab groups now!!!

[lexosaurus]

Okay, the "Youtube blocking everyone who uses adblocks from viewing their videos" thing was the final straw that made me finally switch to Firefox. And...I get it now. I get why I should have done this ages ago.

Thank you, Tumblr peer pressure, for helping me to better my online experience and safety.

[artyphex]

Chrome turned off ublock today. And with that watch its user base PLUMMET

[beespaceprogram]

The coolest thing abt using the Xkit Rewritten addon for firefox (probably for other, worse browsers too, i dunno), is the option to theme all the posts on ur dash with the chosen colours of the blog they're from. Very cool for more of ppl's self-expression to come thru to my feed! I really like it, some ppl have great colour choices

[mildmayfoxe]

finally wondered if maybe adobe express giving me issues is because of whatever is also making it so i can’t look at my fucking store dashboard on firefox so i opened chrome and after fighting through it being fucking laggy as shit adobe express opened and loaded all the fonts (big issue on firefox) no problem. which is SOOOO irritating. also my shop dashboard opened no problem too 😑 why doesn’t my shit work on firefox. i can’t watch dailymotion on firefox anymore either it straight up doesn’t load

[eightglass]

If you're still using chrome (please please please please please switch to firefox if you can) for whatever reason and you're mad that Google got rid of uBlock Origin, you can still use it. Like there's nothing stopping you from still using uBlock Origin. There's just some ✨hidden buttons✨ to press.

First, go to the github page and download the latest chromium release.

Then, go to your extensions settings:

Turn on developer mode:

And then unpack the .zip file you downloaded from github, click "Load unpacked," select the folder you just unzipped, and...

boom, working uBlock on Chrome. That's all there is to it.

[undertale-fic-librarby]

Do you have any anti harem fic recs?

Howdy, thanks for asking! Here are some fics that might fit what you're looking for!

A spider in a graveyard by Rubypasha (Explicit, Incomplete)

You've fought for years for people who hate and humiliate you, see you as more of a nuisance than a hero. A menace to society, just like your mentor. But you keep going, keep fighting. Keep pushing your limits to save innocent's who get tangled in the cruel web of life that you walk as a shadow. As someone who expects nothing but gives their all. But you keep going You'll deal with whatever and whoever threatens the lives and safety of innocents (both monsters and humans) because you are a spider. And spiders will never go down without a fight. Tired and injured you go to deal with one of your greatest enemies, a skeleton who like you loves puns but is dangerous. More so than anyone could ever imagine. But instead of wrapping the night up quickly like you want you're faced with something neither of you can understand. A machine that goes haywire leaving you injured and in the mercy of the two skeleton brother's and their clones But you won't back down. You will fight even if your hope isn't what it used to be. Maybe this 'other mansion' of skeletons will finally break the walls you were forced to put up in order to survive. Maybe, just maybe- You'll finally realise how amazing you are

Full Deck by Sons_of_Sirens (Teen And Up, Incomplete)

You’re just a shy young woman who works at a small bookstore in Ebott City, who has never attempted to climb out of her introverted shell before. Or maybe you’re a sassy young woman who lost her job after sticking up for monster rights in front of your racist boss. Or possibly you’re a traumatized young woman, with a painful past full of abuse and a broken body full of secret scars. You might even be an ordinary-looking young woman, who nevertheless possesses magical abilities and a SOUL far different from a regular human’s. But this is not a story about you. It's about ten skeletons in one tacky suburban McMansion, trying to live together without burning down their own house. It’s an unreasonable convergence of the Undertale AU gang as they go about their lives in a house full of volatile personalities, while trying not to get dragged into a reverse-harem trope. Alliances will be made, bake sales will be ruined and the HomeOwner's Association will be armed and dangerous.

I Like Me More by LambCHOWDER (Mature, Incomplete)

You love pancakes. They're so easy to make. Let's ignore the 7 monsters glaring at you and watching your every move. With obvious red flags, you choose to move in with your ex friend and her harem… for your own benefit, of course. Despite the situations that arise, you push through. Though it may be kind of worth it, you really didn’t expect all the secrets to come loose...

Bleeding Green [Rewrite] [On Hiatus] by pyromaniac_mage (Teen And Up, Incomplete)

[Y/N] [L/N] is a powerful mage with a bloodline well-known throughout the ages and her family have always been celebrated. They, however, despise how their bloodline trapped monsters beneath the ground. But, that is for another day. In not being able to afford basic accommodation for university, they had to rely on an old (and terrible) friend named Bethany. For some reason, most of Bethany's skeleton mates despise [Y/N] but why is that? Apart from the fact she is a mage? Just because she has a kindness soul, it doesn't mean she will stand for their bullshit.

Home for lost souls by SketchyDyslexic (Not Rated, Incomplete)

Sans was so in his head that the resets would start back again, he didn't want to even try. Papyrus put in work to convince Sans that he needed to come to the surface with him, and not continue staying in the underground. Sans agreed to pick out a home with his brother, and began packing his things. With only a week left, Sans decided to try pulling his older brother back with the machine one last time, only to have to watch it sputter and stop. Sans gave up and packed his stuff, ready and moving out to stay with undyne until their new home was bought. His life and a few others really went out of whack because of the machines malfunction, with his sudden influx of brothers and the soulmate bonds that were slowly making themselfs known. Even after settling the chaos, shit still hits the fan every time he gets done untangling one mess. And the woman that is helping his strange family isn't making anything easier by making things easier!

[haze-of-hyperfixations]

made the playlist! :)

i'll reblog this with specific lyrics in a minute! because i have. thoughts. about everything ever.

(also listen it's very important to me that Iscariot by Walk The Moon is about both of their perspectives. like. the lyrics match them both but the meaning is different depending on which one of them you're thinking of. do you see my vision.)

[tiredandoptimistic]

I have an extension that automatically skips sponsored segments in youtube videos, and while it's great when it cuts out the sponsorship so smoothly that I don't even realize anything happened, it's perhaps funnier when the youtuber is able to say "this video was brought to you by-" before getting immediately cut off. Silence them and their snake oil.

[rorydrawsandwrites]

So Google's been trying to smother uBlock in their browser. Had to go into my extensions' settings to turn it back on, I thought I couldn't

Wow. Scummy