Expect the amount of f*ckery to increase as the AI realities set in but the number has to go up either way.
It reminds me of the good old days of Visual Studio + .NET + SQL Server where they played these games too.
Windows Recall.
VS Code forcing Copilot.
Windows forcing Copilot.
Office forcing Copilot.
Azure forcing Copilot.
GitHub forcing Copilot.
Outlook forcing Copilot.
Edge forcing Copilot.
You folks are insane.
The next major Windows 11 update coming in 2026 will have full agentic AI with full control over your (your?) PC. And it will hard require a pretty recent processor with Neural Processor Unit to make it work (so a lot more e-waste is coming).
I fear for the future.
Am I right to understand that as people don't upgrade their hardware, they're safe from that, right? Sounds like a plus to me.
Why would it be any different than the Windows 7 -> Windows 10 debacle? Disabling entire processor families after it boots into installation and wiped the previous windows.
Likewise the Windows 11 (which is just a rebranded Windows 10, just look at the full build number which should start with 10.x) kernel could boot systems from ~2017 onwards. Maybe with some kernel features disabled which most (if not all) Windows 10 users would not miss anyway, but it could still boot without any issues. Those running a Rufus-patched Windows 11 are living proof of this.
This never was a technical issue, or one which could cost them money, but a cold blooded business decision which generated thousands upon thousands of kilos of e-waste.
And for what?
Because no one on the kernel team likes deleting code, specifically because someone will try to install it on their old ass work laptop from a decade ago.
Microsoft choosing not to support that old ass laptop is a company choice. There are costs involved with maintaining the support structure. Whereas Linux is primarily funded by enterprises who use it on servers, which may not be updated hardware wise in a longer period of time.
If Linus Torvalds or Miguel De Icaza introduce copilot, I swear I’m going to go all in on BSD.
They got a storm of criticism after that announcement, but Microsoft seemingly has not given a single fuck about that and has not backtracked on this decision.
(Just like they technically could have allowed Windows 11 to run on older PCs with some disabled features out of the box, but didn't)
They make this beautiful pasture (Windows XP wallpaper) and then lay mines all over the field. Put up signs that say “Free Lemonade” and charge for parking.
(I'm on an older server version, so I do not know)
He touts AI, services, agentic copilot, and all the other stuff customers are railing against.
Some Windows manager got crucified on X recently for an enthusiastic tweet about turning Windows into an agentic OS. People called for this persons firing. But, this was straight out of Nadella’s playbook.
I don't think it's wise for them to want stuff like Recall (data exfiltration) or current state of the art agents doing calculations or analysis for them -- at least without a qualified human closely reviewing it's output and conclusions.
I do see businesses wanting simpler, more reliable software with fluid and consistent interfaces, but MSFT isn't focusing on that.
AI is, currently, more of a culture than a product for businesses. At least, the ones that don't literally make the models. I'm sure a lot of business owners really do want all the AI stuff, and then their employees will just work around it, like they do with all sales or signaling driven decisions.
Even though I don't use it, and have disabled as much Copilot functionality as Microsoft will let me.
I can't wait for this AI bubble to burst.
Unfortunately both of them are back to their old selfs.
However lets not forget that those big corporations, are the same ones that keep the lights on across many FOSS projects that get talked daily on HN.
If you don't want WiFi you can still get a top rated washer. The LG WM3400CW, which is in a 3 way tie for high score, does not have WiFi (or Bluetooth, or any other radio).
Note: Consumer Reports says that it does have WiFi but they are mistaken. It does have LG's "SmartDiagnosis" which lets you view diagnostic data in their app which is probably what confused them. On models with WiFi the app gets the data via the network.
On the 3400 you press some buttons on the washer to tell it to send diagnostics, and then it sends them acoustically similar to the way analog modems sent data. You tell their app to use the mic to listen to that and decode the data.
The WM3470CW, #10 on the Consumer Reports list, also is radio free and uses sound for SmartDiagnosis. Consumer Reports correctly lists this one as not having WiFi.
That's the problem. Front-loading washers have generally been a terrible invention. Unbalancing and mold are among the widespread problems. The actually reliable washers are still top-load.
Top loaders are easier to load and unload, cheaper, and slightly easier to maintain.
With front loaders you should wipe the gasket after use because water left in its folds can promote mold and odors. With both you should leave the door open when not in use so air can circulate in the drum. With a front loader the open door can get in the way and is easier to accidentally close.
Front loaders are easier to stack.
As a "typical" British household, we don't use a dryer, don't even own one in fact, we just hang our clothes to dry, which always struck me as ironic for such a humid, cold country, with smaller (than the US) homes and thus less space to hang stuff to dry.
Didnt plan on making it also a TV with internet connection, now I darn sure as hell won't.
Its really sad state of things that the best course of action now for new hardware is to simply use it as it is, never update or plug online since for any chance of any minor issue being fixed there is 100x the risk it will go to shit in substantial ways (I have Samsung q990d - they soundbar literally dying for good after an official update, but that one you had to at least push yourself from phone or via usb).
Not possible with everything, or at least not without substantial hacking for many.
I have a slightly older WebOS LG TV, it has PS5, Switch 2, and FireStick 4K Max and an Onkyo receiver plugged in, and as an OLED TV it's incredible, LG would always be my first choice for picture. Don't care about built-in sound as I use a sound-system.
Right now I'm in the market for another TV at around 65inches and was looking at the 2025 model LG OLED, I likely won't connect it to the internet and will probably just hook up an Apple TV following some discussion in another comment section about how much I hate my Fire TV for being ad-ridden.
Really I wish LG or someone would just make a dumb TV with 4+ HDMI, ARC, perhaps DP and a remote and let us hook up what we want; but it'll never happen.
If you remember Palm/HP webOS, it had Preware homebrew that didn't require exploits to run, it was supported by default and was amazing. LG patched the one vuln that would have let me at least root the TV.
The Android TV devices I bought from reputable retailers are at least beefy enough to handle input without lag, and I can run whatever APK I want on them.
My Android TV on the other room is equally just good enough to run Android, also not going to win any benchmarks.
Agree that the overlay menus on WebOS take their time to come up, but I am not going into them all the time for them to get into my nerves.
Uhhh no? I’m good thanks
Than the .NET team acts surprised that despite going open source and cross platform, the non Microsoft shops still aren't rushing up to adopt it.
They have to thank upper management for shxxxx on their great accomplishments among the community.