I still use The audios, and just got 5 more unopened from Japan (eBay) that are tested/setup for the second 6 zones of audio as we finish our basement :)
Hah, ya I had one of the ad free Kindle and even commented on it form a second thread in here
Oh, we're all in google here (because of me) except the two outcasts (even though I'm outnumbered)
We have 6, and about to have 12 chromecast audios that run speakers all through the house. All tv's have google TV dongles except the main tv that has Shield TV (still android) Google mini's in every room
You say "Pi" to mediate? What do you mean there? (Raspberry pi?). I run Pihole in our house for ads,trackers etc.
Ya I'm an android user but my wife/kid use iPhones and I actually have a MacBook. I hate iPhones, and don't love apple but I do really like my mbp :)
I sure would like the option to pay for the HW/profits up front and not have perpetual ads.
In this case, these are not TV's but small HDMI plug in devices. $30 device that I'd be surprised if they're selling at a loss https://store.google.com/us/product/chromecast_google_tv
And personally, If they are doing that, I want two versions, one I can pay the actual cost w/some profit for them, and no ads. The ads keep making them money long after they recoup any hw costs as they continue to profit off users. When I bought an amazon Kindle way back when, I chose the one without ads for the same reason. I'm ok paying for a product vs. being the product.
Ya, so... They didn't GIVE me the Google TV device, I had to buy it. Therefore they got their money from me for that hardware. I'm not using other 'free' google products that cost them money on that device so why would they be showing ads? What cost are the recouping?
For the record, I have not seen this and we do have a number of google TV's in our house. However our primary TV uses an Nvidia Shield.
Then there's this... Used to live in Florence so Y'all is pretty normal around there
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florence_Y%27all_Water_Tower
Haha, I mean I get it... Giving away money to uncle sam sucks but I agree with your sentiment. They are coming out ahead, that house was an investment that is paying dividends. I am hoping to have that problem some day!
Just like the civilian world, the military needs people to be Janitors as well as Nuke Operators... It takes all kinds to make the world go round. There are probably at least a few people with decent enough intelligence (aptitude) but with little or no direction, or ability to finish HS get a GED that this might open some doors for, or allow them to 'get out' of their current situation. Maybe learn a new skill, get some education where otherwise they may have just floundered. Or they could just be cannon fodder :-/
It will be interesting to see how this works out.
Garmin makes good watches, and the data capturing goes to Garmin connect without any subscription fee / pay wall to see all the data it tracks.
I've had a bunch of them (as a runner). I currently have a Fenix 6X partially because I was doing long runs and wanted the battery to last without worrying. I recently tried a pixel watch 2 for a few weeks and did really like the extra "smarts" but the battery life sucked.
Ah, I run Home Assistant (on a Pi) :)