That was a great interview, thanks for doing it! And I bet the devs enjoy getting to talk about this kind of thing. There are plenty of blog posts about what new features are coming out in open source projects, but very few interviews like this one.
It’s cool how everything right now is still (mostly) focused on translating x86 to ARM, but how we’re starting to hear talk about native ARM. I’m guessing that there won’t enough of a push for that, though, until Linux ARM PCs become more popular. I’m definitely looking forward to that.
Thank you so much, I’m really glad you enjoyed this one. A few more are on the way, slowly. The team who make Decky Loader should be soon-ish. Also GameHub Lite (since emulating Steam games on Android is fascinating to me!), and a handful more planned.
After some thinking, I decided to pursue a revival for PS2 emulation on Android devices. A little side note, I don’t use Android, I’ve been an iPhone user since I’d received my first phone, my intentions were for the community remaining in Aether, as well as the overall Android community given how AetherSX2 went down. I first tried by recruiting new developers but come to find out it’s not an easy task whatsoever. I did manage to recruit two developers to the initial project, but busy schedules and a lack of progress led to stagnation, so I put my ambitions on hold for the time being.
Interesting that one of the lead devs of a PS2 Android emulator uses an iPhone. Nothing wrong with that, just peculiar.
I too have been looking for something like this, for quite a while actually, and have been unable to find anything that is suitable. The 8Bitdo Micro looked great except it didn’t have thumbsticks, and anything else was either way too big to be pocketable, or didn’t have the proper amount of controls. Also, I would especially prefer something that keeps the device horizontal.
I did look at the GameSir Aileron X4, which seemed like a decent option but it seems too big to fit in my pocket. Has anyone tried this controller before?
If you want to say what you want, go ahead. Nobody is required to host that speech or allow that speech to be hosted on their platform or software.
MS is attacking free speech here in the same way that a moderator attacks free speech blocking a Lemmy server. Nobody’s saying you can’t use a modded client to connect to their server if they self-host it, but they’re defederating on the main client because they want no association with it.
Minecraft servers are a unique case because they are hosted by the owners. Microsoft/Mojang does not host online servers; they just host the authentication server that the client pings to check the connecting account UUID (and pull the skin file). The whole way Mojang “bans” servers is by marking certain IPs to always be told the connecting account is invalid. Either way, server costs are paid by the owner. I recommend you look into Minecraft specifically because the model has its quirks.
Personally I agree with the MC servers here purely because of that fact. Also, Mojang/Microsoft should be seen as an enemy of the common people for many reasons - including their Copilot AI. If the Chat Reports feature (where purchased accounts are neutered because of automated chat reports) isn’t reason enough to dislike Microsoft, consider the following: The enemy of my enemy is my friend.
I recommend you look into Minecraft specifically because the model has its quirks.
I’m familiar. The first server I hosted was an alpha hmod server for some friends, and I’ve played a lot since then.
What MS is doing doesn’t prevent anyone from connecting to a server. It only puts a wall in the way, saying essentially to both the host and the players that this server violates MS’s terms for hosting, but not preventing them from doing so. Server owners can bypass this restriction in a few minutes with a single restart (assuming they aren’t using a modded server that can apply the change at runtime).
This isn’t unique to Minecraft. Games have supported custom servers for as long as I’ve been alive, and more recently as software became more and more internet-connected, restrictions on those servers have also been enforced. Being self-hosted or a custom lobby on a game doesn’t change this - the server software is still owned by MS and licensed to the users.
If anything, that it is so easy to bypass this shows that it’s nothing more than signaling. I would be much more concerned if the solution weren’t simply to change online mode to false. Sure moderation is another story, but there are alternative solutions, like IP banning.
Also, Mojang/Microsoft should be seen as an enemy of the common people for many reasons - including their Copilot AI. If the Chat Reports feature (where purchased accounts are neutered because of automated chat reports) isn’t reason enough to dislike Microsoft, consider the following: The enemy of my enemy is my friend.
There are many, many reasons to dislike Microsoft. They have made many terrible decisions in the past, ethically speaking. This does not implicitly mean that every decision they make is bad or harmful. It only raises the question of intent behind decisions, and here the intent seems clear to me: they do not want their brand associated with the kind of speech allowed on that server.
Microsoft can revoke service for any reason, so it’s legal. Yes, this is exactly how it is done internally. The only way to bypass Mojang’s blocking is to run a “Cracked” server, where accounts are never checked, but in that system anyone can log on as any name.
What I’m saying is that it sounds like lying. If you say “Hey, is KelvarCherry legit?” And they say “no” they’re lying, but if they say “you’re not allowed to verify users” that seems fine.
I have the GameSir X2 Pro and I love it. It doesn’t fit your criteria as it doesn’t fold into pocket size but maybe this is a recommendation for the brand?
I did this same controller search earlier this year, and I can’t really compare it to any similar controllers because it’s the only one I’ve used, but I ended up going with the Abxylute S9 and I’ve been happy with it. I really wanted usb-c power passthrough and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
It’s probably too big for what you’re considering, but I think they sacrifice too much of what makes it usable and comfortable to go much smaller.
I have a Razer Kishi and I love it, on mobile I use it with a pair of Hammerhead wireless buds to play xcloud. It is one of the most compact options and the USB connector supports power through to the phone. The small size also means the sticks, buttons and triggers are also small. If you use a case on your phone it will have to come off when you slot it into the pad, there’s no room unless the rubber holders are removed, when I did this the setup became wobbly. One last thing will be to check that your phone will fit, a Galaxy S23 Ultra is too big.
I don’t have any small form factor recommendations, but I can recommend - if you’re comfortable going AliBaba/AliExpress - the Ípega brand. It’s about £10, requires an app to configure, but extremely long-life battery and switchable modes. But the best controller for the rare few mobile games that support controller input natively is an Xbox One… one, and any other made after that point
Aside from my concerns about the kind of shit libertarians think counts as free speech, how the hell would Microsoft implement a ban on a Minecraft server that Microsoft doesn’t host?
Like I assume it’s just connecting to the server by hostname or IP. What are they gonna do, hardcode the server’s known IPs and hostnames and prevent connections??
how the hell would Microsoft implement a ban on a Minecraft server that Microsoft doesn’t host?
if a minecraft server wants to enforce verification of the game license, the server needs to be in contact with the authentication servers of microsoft. the server operator can turn this off, but then moderation becomes much harder, as usernane based banning becomes useless, and the paywall from ban evasion disappears.
other than that, in recent years there’s something with chat message verification that I think involves sending some of the messages to microsoft? I don’t remember exactly
but also the minecraft client could have a built in blacklist of servers. I don’t know if it has but it’s not much work.
a ban from the authentication server is probably easier though.
The chat message verification is the Chat Reporting system, which can be required on servers. That’s a whole rabbit hole to go down. TL;DR you can get banned from Minecraft if your messages get reported. (Use the NoChatReports mod like everyone does)
Yup, seems like they want to run a nazi bar. From their wiki (archive):
nothing that a player can type in public chat (aside from the exceptions given below) can result in a ban or any form of official reprimand. You will not be banned for anything you say, aside from spamming. This includes but is not limited to:
Swearing;
Personal attacks;
Racial or cultural insults;
Asking to be banned.
It’s worded a little confusingly, but there is a list of exceptions further down the page. The server is hosted in Germany so the expected symbols are removed if built in-game, but most of the other exceptions are to keep the game playable.
From another comment it sounds like there is pushback from users when someone behaves poorly, which is good, but I don’t see why anyone would want that experience to be the norm. Just libertarian things I guess
I was shooting heroin and reading “The Fountainhead” in the front seat of my privately owned police cruiser when a call came in. I put a quarter in the radio to activate it. It was the chief.
“Bad news, detective. We got a situation.”
“What? Is the mayor trying to ban trans fats again?”
“Worse. Somebody just stole four hundred and forty-seven million dollars’ worth of bitcoins.”
The heroin needle practically fell out of my arm. “What kind of monster would do something like that? Bitcoins are the ultimate currency: virtual, anonymous, stateless. They represent true economic freedom, not subject to arbitrary manipulation by any government. Do we have any leads?”
“Not yet. But mark my words: we’re going to figure out who did this and we’re going to take them down … provided someone pays us a fair market rate to do so.”
“Easy, chief,” I said. “Any rate the market offers is, by definition, fair.”
He laughed. “That’s why you’re the best I got, Lisowski. Now you get out there and find those bitcoins.”
“Don’t worry,” I said. “I’m on it.”
I put a quarter in the siren. Ten minutes later, I was on the scene. It was a normal office building, strangled on all sides by public sidewalks. I hopped over them and went inside.
“Home Depot™ Presents the Police!®” I said, flashing my badge and my gun and a small picture of Ron Paul. “Nobody move unless you want to!” They didn’t.
“Now, which one of you punks is going to pay me to investigate this crime?” No one spoke up.
“Come on,” I said. “Don’t you all understand that the protection of private property is the foundation of all personal liberty?”
It didn’t seem like they did.
“Seriously, guys. Without a strong economic motivator, I’m just going to stand here and not solve this case. Cash is fine, but I prefer being paid in gold bullion or autographed Penn Jillette posters.”
Nothing. These people were stonewalling me. It almost seemed like they didn’t care that a fortune in computer money invented to buy drugs was missing.
I figured I could wait them out. I lit several cigarettes indoors. A pregnant lady coughed, and I told her that secondhand smoke is a myth. Just then, a man in glasses made a break for it.
“Subway™ Eat Fresh and Freeze, Scumbag!®” I yelled.
Too late. He was already out the front door. I went after him.
“Stop right there!” I yelled as I ran. He was faster than me because I always try to avoid stepping on public sidewalks. Our country needs a private-sidewalk voucher system, but, thanks to the incestuous interplay between our corrupt federal government and the public-sidewalk lobby, it will never happen.
I was losing him. “Listen, I’ll pay you to stop!” I yelled. “What would you consider an appropriate price point for stopping? I’ll offer you a thirteenth of an ounce of gold and a gently worn ‘Bob Barr ‘08’ extra-large long-sleeved men’s T-shirt!”
He turned. In his hand was a revolver that the Constitution said he had every right to own. He fired at me and missed. I pulled my own gun, put a quarter in it, and fired back. The bullet lodged in a U.S.P.S. mailbox less than a foot from his head. I shot the mailbox again, on purpose.
“All right, all right!” the man yelled, throwing down his weapon. “I give up, cop! I confess: I took the bitcoins.”
“Why’d you do it?” I asked, as I slapped a pair of Oikos™ Greek Yogurt Presents Handcuffs® on the guy.
“Because I was afraid.”
“Afraid?”
“Afraid of an economic future free from the pernicious meddling of central bankers,” he said. “I’m a central banker.”
I wanted to coldcock the guy. Years ago, a central banker killed my partner. Instead, I shook my head.
“Let this be a message to all your central-banker friends out on the street,” I said. “No matter how many bitcoins you steal, you’ll never take away the dream of an open society based on the principles of personal and economic freedom.”
He nodded, because he knew I was right. Then he swiped his credit card to pay me for arresting him.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion about bigotry and slurs, but having soulless American mega-corporations enforcing the current lowest common denominator about what is acceptable is not the win some people might think it is. Sure, they might seem like they’re on your side, and thus the right side, now, but this can change quickly and radically.
I’m of two minds on this. I agree that fewer safe spaces for bigots is fantastic and pushes back against the normalization of some really vile things as “just an opinion”, “just joking”, “voicing all sides”, “making up funny stories about famous people”, “just boys being boys”, or other means of “criticizing” those in power.
However, we are ACTIVELY sliding down the slippery slope that people have been calling a fallacy for over a decade, and watching the same arguments used to create spaces free from the most hateful people on the internet get twisted and co-opted by those same people to ban and punish genuine criticism of atrocities and voices against abuses of power.
There are sacrifices with either choice more akin to a check in chess than an opportunity to choose a truly better outcome. Seeing all the good other Minecraft communities have done in making libraries and humanitarian resources available in creative ways gives me hope, but watching a government bedbuddy of a company like Microsoft start with the easy win of banning Nazis and bigots makes me really hope that thats truly their focus and not an opening to take out some of the amazing and creative workarounds people have done to combat censorship and human rights abuses in their own Minecraft way.
What you’re making is a slippery slope argument that doesn’t really hold water.
Is it though? Like, really, is it? In the US the government is possibly doing shit like labeling transgender people as nihilistic violent extremists. The Project 2025 shit is coming fast. I really don’t like people using racial slurs either. But the idea that it could be very soon that things like speaking about some LGBTQ topics gets policed more and corporations go along with it is not as far fetched as it seems. A year ago I’d probably have a different opinion.
And I wanna be clear, I’m not defending people using slurs. I think it’s fine for Microsoft to not host that server on a public list of servers, I guess. I’m really just saying the slope is more slippery than previously thanks to the MAGA crowd. I’m not really sure how I feel about it all, I’m still in the cognitive dissonance phase as my mind works out where I really stand. I’ve been lucky enough that speech I consider acceptable has been what speech others considered acceptable for my whole life, but the idea that queer topics come under fire isn’t crazy.
I’ve seen peaceful protestors in the USA, UK and Germany get charged as rioters and terrorists for opposing the Israeli genocide against Palestinians. Also, the media lost its shit at criticism of Charlie Kirk. cronenthal’s argument absolutely holds water.
bin.pol.social
Aktywne