The "bit at the end" definitely is an issue though. Thats where the interconnectedness between devices can happen. If you have to have the same end on one side, but a different on the other, its the same as having completely different ones. The problem being solved, is that now ALL cables will be used for ALL devices, not just charging blocks.

Commenting to agree. The green bubble is very literally a deliberate choice on the side of Apple. The infrastructure is already in place to merge with every other phone manufacturer.

Addendum: Apple products as status symbols has been their project from the start. "Sent from my iPhone" as default on emails, being the most emminent example.

Sent from my fairphone3

Thank you for opening yourself up to the discourse!

First of all: I don't use any apple products, because I strongly disagree with the company on an ideological level.

My opinion on apple products, personal opinion that is, is that the walled garden approach has pros and cons. Meaning, they control everything within their ecosystem. You can't install a third party app without it being approved on the appstore first. This is good in the sense, that there is virtually zero risk of bad actors being able to access your systems. This is bad, because it allows apple to dictatorially allow/reject apps, and ideas that they don't agree with. I don't know if they have done this, but it would not surprise me.

Another large issue I have, as a nerd, with apple's approach. Is that having everything easily accessible and controlled by the company (here I mean things like, its more difficult to make changes to your computer as compared to linux, where you have full control) makes for a tech-illiterate public. Anecdotally, I have friends who are very skilled at tech, one is a space-tech student, the other a high-level games programmer, and both feel they can't switch to another phone than Iphone, because it is such a specific way of interconnectedness that exists when you have all apple products. It is so easy to airdrop, or screen share, cloud save etc etc. That it is a fundamentally different experience to use anything else. Now, that might seem like a pro for apple, but my issue is that this interconnectedness should be a priority between ecosystems too. Ideally I would like to have these features as a given on any system, like email can talk to email (fediverse hype), instead of being locked to a single ecosystem.

In conclusion: Apple is known for keeping their information under lock and key, and not allowing any interference with their systems. I think this is bad.

Thanks for bringing it up! And remember there is no right/wrong, except what you personally feel good about.

Guy was nutty for sure. No saving grace there.

Be mindful, though, that Kaczynski was subjected to a three-year mind control experiment, tentatively linked to the infamous MK Ultra. I don't think evil is inherent in most people, and this might be the reason for his growing misanthropy over his life. Regardless, he got the punishment fit for his terrible crimes.

Recently I've delved into Dredge, by Black Salt Game. Its a tiny little fishing game, you play as a fisherman and have to go out, fish, come back and sell before it goes bad.

Nothing out of the ordinary, nope, nothing at IA! IA! RLYEH FHTAGN

It IS a fishing game, I didn't lie, but with very distinct lovecraftian undertones. Its got it all, unknown deep horrors, esoteric magic, and ancient lore. I managed to work my way through it in 7 hours. At times it felt a little long, but its a beautiful ride with a small, but interesting cast of characters.

Wholeheartedly recommend it.

My two cents on the topic. Basebuilding to me, in order to be reaaally good, needs to have a mix of necessity and aesthetics. The emminent example to me being Satisfactory. Basically, the entire game is basebuilding, and you could easily "win" by overrunning the whole map with buildings with very little order to it. But its more efficient to plan well, and keep optimising the material order.

Having a system where you can easily place things according to a planned idea, as well as having the ability to just go nuts, is part of it.

All said, however, the most fun in building games is the moment when you're 'done' with a big section, or new unlock building, and you get that short moment of blizz when a plan comes together.

It has a big community on discord and reddit. The devs recently released Darkest Dungeon 2, so a lot of attention is paid there.

Their discord is: https://discord.gg/darkestdungeon

Funny you should say stressful haha. Cause its only stressful in the sense that your heroes will be stressed out, and you might be when a plan falls through. Hope you have fun if you check it out!

Red Dead is incredibly taxing. No way to play that on onboard graphics unfortunately. But its a great recommendation!

If you're into horror and lovecraftian imagery, the first Darkest Dungeon might be a great fit.

In essence, you have to recruit teams of characters to send on missions, in order to get resources to upgrade these characters and build up the dilapidated hamlet your ancestor left behind.

It doesn't require quick reactions. Its turn based, and you have all the time in the world to make your next choice. It is a great example of turn based RPG that isn't in the JRPG style. Built around a creative approach to Lovecraftian horror, its also deeply punishing. So expect to lose. A lot.

I don't know if it can run on your computer, but as far as I know it is not the most taxing game. Wholehearted recommendation.

Been grinding out CS:GO again. The news of counter-strike 2 has put my friends and me back on the hook!

To an extent I agree. The wowkiller dream is just that, a dream. When wow Classic came out, I felt it captured the parts of old game design that I have been missing. Of course, its impossible to make a new game like old wow, particularly because the reason the gameplay is so "good" (in my personal opinion) is because its so dumb. Tedium is a key ingredient. Taking ages to do anything, and waiting tick for tick to do auto attack damage? People would lose their minds.

But I don't think its actually impossible. I still have (some) faith in the video games industry to innovate and find the formula that'd become a new phenomenon. Nothing can be the same as the first time, the rpg cat is out of the mmo bag in that regard, but I do think there is some mix of gameplay, world design, lore construction, and community interaction, that can bring a new game to the same heights as old wow.

I used to be a big time WoW player. 15 years I managed to squeeze out of it before I got tired of the new style they made. Got a big ol' Kirin Tor sorcerer tattoo to commemorate it.

Still looking for a new good "wowkiller" mmorpg, but everything nowadays seems to be too bland for my tastes. What're your favs?