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Comments & Reviews
Reviewed HeliBoardEasy to use and privacy-respecting. The UI is customizable, and the default settings are very sensible. Includes a handy toolbar with actions (such as paste, select all, undo/redo, voice input, etc.) that you can add or remove.
To enable gesture typing, download Google's gesture typing library at https://github.com/erkserkserks/openboard/tree/master/app/src/main/jniLibs/arm64-v8a and then import it by opening the OpenBoard settings app, going to "Advanced", and then choosing "Load gesture...
Reviewed Techlore Plexus
Reviewed UnityIn January 2024, Unity is adding a new monthly fee per install, and it is awful. Switch to Godot Engine instead, which is open source and free of charge.
Commented on MongoDBMongoDB has not been open source ever since it switched to the Server Side Public License in 2018. A better option is FerretDB which offers MongoDB's query features on the much more reliable PostgreSQL.
Reviewed OpenBoardCurrently, the best version of OpenBoard to use is Helium314's fork, which is still being maintained: https://github.com/Helium314/openboard (Update: Helium314's fork of OpenBoard has been renamed to HeliBoard)
To enable gesture typing, download Google's gesture typing library at [https://github.com/erkserkserks/openboard/tree/master/app/src/main/jniLibs/arm64-v8a](https://github.com/erkserkserks/openboard/tree/master/app/src/main/jniLibs/arm64-v8a)...
Commented on Meta LlamaIt's nice that Meta released Llama 2, but it's not nice that Meta is calling it "open source" when it is not. Open source software doesn't put restrictions on what users can do with the software, while the license to Llama 2 has a restrictive Acceptable Use Policy (https://ai.meta.com/llama/use-policy/). Also, Meta doesn't let you use Llama 2 to improve other LLMs....
Reviewed LemmyThe software is faster than Reddit, and just as easy to use. The most active instances, however, are filled with the kind of political content that will turn off people looking for an alternative to Reddit.
2023 edit: Looks like the Reddit refugees are creating new Lemmy instances and are starting to outnumber the users on Lemmy's most politically charged instances (the ones ending in ".ml"). This is encouraging.
2024 edit: The largest community (lemmy.world) feels pretty similar to Reddit,...
- Reviewed Lemmy
The software is faster than Reddit, and just as easy to use. The most active instances, however, are filled with the kind of political content that will turn off people looking for an alternative to Reddit.
2023 edit: Looks like the Reddit refugees are creating new Lemmy instances and are starting to outnumber the users on Lemmy's most politically charged instances (the ones ending in ".ml"). This is encouraging.
2024 edit: The largest community (lemmy.world) feels pretty similar to Reddit,...
Reviewed Microsoft EdgeThe amount of ads, tracking, and other unwanted junk that is enabled in Microsoft Edge by default is absolutely intolerable. I don't want my browser to fill the new tab page with tabloid news, show me coupons while spying on my shopping habits, or cram other Microsoft products into the browser interface. The huge non-removable "B" button for Bing services in the browser bar is an eyesore. Firefox doesn't do this crap, and even Chromium is better than what Microsoft Edge is doing now.
Commented on Open GAppsKeep in mind that while the Open GApps service is open source, the Google Apps that are packaged by Open GApps are still closed source and proprietary.
- Commented on Open GApps
Keep in mind that while the Open GApps service is open source, the Google Apps that are packaged by Open GApps are still closed source and proprietary.
Reviewed App ManagerOne of the best apps for rooted Android devices. The one-click operation that blocks all trackers in all of the apps installed on the device is simply incredible. The app also provides a view of all of the services, receivers, trackers, and permissions in every installed app, and provides options to disable just about anything. Easily the best app manager on Android to date.
Reviewed Geometric WeatherThis is currently the only free and open source weather app that uses data from AccuWeather, one of the most reliable forecasters. Most open source weather apps use OpenWeatherMap, which tends to be less reliable in my experience.
Reviewed EteSyncEteSync is the most secure way to host your contacts, calendars, and notes. There is currently no other end-to-end encrypted solution for syncing this data that is also open source. EteSync has been easy to use and reliable on any platform except iOS. (iOS restrictions make it hard for EteSync to sync data reliably.)
Reviewed EpikPoor data security. The personal data of 15 million Epik users was leaked in September 2021. This included names, phone numbers, physical addresses, purchases and passwords. Find a registrar that does a better job protecting its users' private information. https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2021/09/epik-data-breach-impacts-15-million-users-including-non-customers/
Reviewed AmpMeAmpMe is a scam app that tried to trick users into paying for a $9.99/week (about $520/year) subscription. When this was reported in the media, AmpMe continued the deceptive subscriptions and lowered the price to $4.99/week (about $260/year), which is still an exorbitant price for such a simple app. AmpMe also pays consultants to write fake 5-star reviews for its listing in the App Store. The Verge has the details of AmpMe's fradulent practices:...
- Reviewed EteSync
EteSync is the most secure way to host your contacts, calendars, and notes. There is currently no other end-to-end encrypted solution for syncing this data that is also open source. EteSync has been easy to use and reliable on any platform except iOS. (iOS restrictions make it hard for EteSync to sync data reliably.)
Reviewed FlorisBoardBest free and open source keyboard on Android with gesture typing (swipe typing). Easy to use and settings are easy to understand.
Two gestures are very helpful. First, on the backspace key, swipe left to select text, then release the key to delete everything you selected. The farther you swipe, the more text gets deleted. If you go too far, you can move your finger to the right to select less text before releasing the key.
Second, swiping left/right on the spacebar moves the cursor...
Reviewed ERPNextEasily the most user-friendly ERP suite I have ever used. ERP software is complex by definition, but ERPNext includes a universal search bar at the top of every page, which lets me locate anything I'm looking for in a few seconds.
The application is fast, even when run on an inexpensive server. I don't use most of the modules, but the Accounting module by itself is already the best free and open source accounting software I've found, and makes ERPNext worth using.
Installation on your own...
