Samsung SmartThings and all related apps/frameworks.

Any kind of app that will let me interact with my “Samsung” branded accessories without using a Samsung Device; without the limitations caused by not using a Samsung device

Your mobile device cannot sleep like your desktop can.

It can however, sleep it’s own way. Typically this involves CPU throttling. Android does enter a “Deep Sleep” state, minimizing all power consumption, and even switching it’s CPU to a completely idle state where it only periodically “wakes” to handle synchronization and other needed tasks.

https://developer.android.com/training/monitoring-device-state/doze-standby

The trouble with Rooting is trust. You are placing trust in a number of apps and software components to not abuse that access.

If you limit apps that are granted root access and make sure only safe apps are granted access; then all should be well. But don’t blame anyone if you damage your device.

This is why Rooting your device should ideally only be done after any manufacturer, OEM and carrier warranty has expired. It has benefits; but so too do the guardrails we program into modern operating systems. Rooting your device can be akin to bowling without the bumpers preventing your ball from falling into the gutter.

“Rooting” is literally the act of taking control of the “root” user profile. This is the same as SYSTEM on Windows and even “root” on a Macintosh. As the names imply; the “root” user is the first user. When you are “root”; there are no rules about what you can run. You are essentially as powerful as the operating system itself.

But that omnipotent power does come with a great responsibility. With root access you can literally order the Operating System or even the hardware to kill itself; deleting important files or altering core code is not going to be met with resistance. Sometimes it will even comply with your commands without even checking if they are valid.

Without appropriate understanding of what you are commanding your device to do…Yes, rooting can be dangerous. However; if you do know exactly what you are doing, or are following instructions that are well known to work exactly how you intended them to that were written by someone who does know what they are doing…then Yes, Rooting can be Safe

I would condemn Google; but it clearly states that a record label is targeting NewPipe; and not Google.

Is this a very chilling action for Google to take? You bet your ass it is! While I won’t blame them outright for this; it is now blatantly evident that Google has stopped spending legal money to defend against DMCA actions against things that they or their parent company Alphabet clearly do not like.

This is a blatant violation of Google and by extension Alphabet’s founding ethos; which is to “Do No Evil.” The ‘Enshittification of Alphabet’ has reared it’s ugly head again and it’s evident that is running through the company unchecked.

I recommend people continue to use projects like NewPipe, Invidious and Piped as well as federated alternates such as PeerTube. I would also urge all large creators to begin archival of their footage on PeerTube itself if possible and to look into spinning up a PeerTube instance for their content to be hosted ON…so that their content does not vanish with Youtube as it steadily “Enshitifies” itself to death. Do this now while the Youtube monetization train is still chugging so that you can get your fans onboard and willing to fund the instance so they don’t lose your content.

A note to creators: It will be easier to run off of Patreon and sponsors when on PeerTube; once Youtube has fallen.

Hold your 'Maters!

I genuinely enjoy GBoard. Now; I get it. It’s not for everyone and it hasn’t got the best…track record.

It does actually surprisingly work very well; and I have yet to see anyone on the FLOSS/F-Droid side of things manage to create a keyboard with similar functionalities. I get that it may be an impossible ask, but it seems like nobody on F-Droid is interested in creating a keyboard inspired by GBoard that actually has all the similar QoL features that GBoard offers.