For iOS devices the most up to date client is “Strongbox”. I don’t think it is FOSS, but is compliant with the standard. It’s sadly a freemium app, but is quite well made in my testing. It cannot sync with syncthing, but does support several cloud services, its own service (which uses iCloud), and local file transfer over LAN. They also have a version of the app with all network connectivity removed for security (if you prefer)

This is perhaps overkill, but you can also encrypt the contents of your online cloud storage with CryFS / Cryptomater. This is particularly useful if you wish to store sensitive documents (healthcare, finances etc) in a cloud environment in case of catastrophic destruction of property (destroying computers / on site backups of data).

In this case you can also backup your keepass file in this encrypted virtual storage medium, on top of the prexisting encryption of the database itself.

My personal choice right now is KeePassXC (PC) / KeePassDX (Android) + Syncthing And Aegis (Android) for 2FA codes, with a yubikey for services that support FIDO keys.

Overall I like this setup because it’s decentralized and does not rely on a third party server structure. The only “weak” point would be the Syncthing relay servers or the Tailscale VPN that I use, but this goes back to ensuring encryption of the database is adequate with a long password, and using an open source synchronization protocol that ideally has been vetted by a trusted third party (or yourself if you’re capable)

I used to use Bitwarden, and I highly recommend it. I really appreciated it’s ability to integrate with email aliasing solutions to generate new aliases from within the bitwarden UI itself. However, my main reasons for switching were the following

• I don’t have the money to pay for it (uni student)
• I prefer a more self-hosted approach (I will consider using vaultwarden in the future when I have more money)
• I wanted to move away from using a browser extension for password management on desktop. KeePass’ auto type feature is really good, and a more secure input method than a browser extension autofill.

The only additional advice I have for both recommendations is that I do not think it advisable to add Totp 2fa information to your password manager even if it supports it. I feel like this should be separate, on a single device, and backed up in ~2 locations (one preferably off site). This is really to avoid problems if a device is compromised and if your password manager is compromised, but this is definitely in the more unlikely category I feel.

My only major issues with keepass are the potential for sync conflicts and the some feature differences between platforms. A centralized server config like vault/bitwarden prevents the sync conflict issues, at the cost of having one point of failure. The feature differences problem isn’t too great, but autotype doesn’t work on Linux if you install with flatpak, and you can’t prevent screen capture of the app on Linux (only on Android and Windows from my understanding)

Edit: I also tried gopass, it’s really fun to have an entire CLI based password manager, but frankly the state of mobile companion apps are appalling. The Android option only is good if you use a dev version, and the iOS one I thought was just ok. I also dislike the metadata leaking that is inherent to the format, and that PGP is the main form of encryption for the time being (some clients were looking at using AGE at some point). Overall it’s a cool but flawed concept, and I feel my other two recommendations are superior.

I think it’s important to see these types of efforts, while I’ll never go out and buy a MacBook the effort isn’t wasted since it gives current users more freedom and future people buying used laptops more options for Linux compatible hardware.

Without a project like this, that hardware will end up being e-waste a lot sooner than it should be, when Apple drops support. At least to me I see an ethical and moral imperative for projects like this, but I also understand people’s grievances with Apple.

Quel est ton avis sur les médias franco-canadiens en termes de livres, de films et de séries? J’ai suffisamment de journaux canadiens francophones, mais j’ai eu plus de mal à trouver d’autres médias de qualité, même avec des amis franco 🫠

I don’t think denying American platforms / content creators their money is a real solution, the american content being an integral part of Anglo-Canadian culture is the real issue at hand.

I mean we do have can-con regulations, but arguably their implementation is lacking and at least for the film industry seemingly supports foreign films filming in Canada more than it supports domestic films.

There also even is a whole question of what even constitutes Canadian content, should we only include things that are substantially about Canada or Canadians? Or is it enough for it to be made in Canada / by Canadians.

I also know at least for some sectors it’s even harder than others. E.g anglo Canadian drama / théâtre is always going to have issues because we have grants for domestic non-profit grassroots productions, but the big anglo-theatre houses are expensive enough that it’s mostly going to be American stuff coming :/

It’s disheartening but I don’t see an easy solution, but I do hope we at least try to make steps in the right direction in the coming years.

I might make the plunge soon as my desktop is just slightly too old—but, at the same time, I need Windows for a few things for work so it’s a little frustrating 🫠

Gaming wise I’m completely able to use Linux, but I also don’t really play competitive games with anti-cheat so it is not exactly surprising.

I think you summed up my thoughts on the matter much better than I could have. In particular, the “digital” / “corporate” right to be forgotten is distinct and much more specific in its scope than a broader right, and is a rather important consumer protection in my opinion.

Do you have a separate computer that you can use to do a “test run” of using Linux? If not, I would at least play around with Linux in a virtual machine before committing to the bit (and I say this as someone who has been using Linux laptop / Windows desktop for 6-7 ish years now)

You have a few options on what you can do to limit your child’s usage of a device.

NextDNS has some interesting features for parental controls, as well as some options to try and prevent bypassing it (i have yet to try it though). On iOS it can be installed as a device profile and you can prevent them from being uninstalled, I’m not sure how to go about this on android but I’m sure there’s a way of limiting the child’s access to changing the settings.

Otherwise the built in parental control features on Android and iOS seem to be very useful as well, since you can limit what your child can install, set screen time limits, etc. I am pretty sure you’d want a more recent version of Android however to get all of the features here which may not be possible depending on the budget.

If you just want the ability to call / text then perhaps a dumb phone is a good first step? But a smart phone may be more useful if they’re older.

Some older consoles have very negligible size libraries in modern day terms, and who knows what sources of ROMs will be taken down by lawsuits in the next few decades. I feel like there is some sense in making a complete archive of a systems game library, but for my personal use I usually just download / dump / rip what I need specifically.

Whatever file format I use them in is also how I back them up, I backup my entire desktop’s and laptop’s data to an external hard drive and an online service provider. I’m sure a compressed format would be more space efficient but that would take much more time given my use case.

In the case of my laptop it runs Linux and the filesystem I use supports “transparent compression” (almost all contents of the drive are compressed with zstd), so I’m guessing any of the ROMs on there will have already been compressed as nuch as they can (but I’m not knowledgeable enough on the file format specs)

The foundation supports a bunch of other open source projects, after all there is a lot more to devices that run the Linux kernel then just the kernel.

Also, I found it a but funny that the foundation created the PDF using Adobe InDesign 19.4 (Windows), according to the metadata in file posted on their website. (original | archive of the PDF)

You and someone else have mentioned the deadman switch, does the other person need an account or can credentials be made for them? I haven’t used bitwarden in a while (since I migrated to gopass and then to keepass), so I’m guessing this is a new feature.

That is a very fascinating feature and I think I’ll look into it!

What exactly is the deadman setup? I did a quick search and found someone asking for a feature from last pass. Is this what you’re referring to?

I’ve debated on using a bank safe but I’m still unsure about the regulations in my country regarding them. Notably what can law enforcement do without a warrant etc etc.

In terms of self hosting I think that’ll likely be the route I go as well, where family can just “shut it down” upon my death. I’m sure my partner might want to keep a few things (e.g. my kodi setup) but the things they would want to keep aren’t too difficult I feel.

It doesn’t add anything unless you have the muscle memory for the dpad movement over joystick for 8 direction input. I just find it awkward, and can’t switch directions as fast. The corner zones also feel a little off compared to the cardinal directions, but this is likely just my muscle memory hampering me and not the game itself.

I feel like my issues with it are definitely nit-picky, and I can definitely see others enjoying the game and not caring whatsoever. I guess I just find it frustrating that a $79.99 CAD remake doesn’t allow for both input methods.

For example I know my partner enjoyed playing with the joystick. And in other games like cuphead that give you the option he still played with the joystick instead of the dpad. Perhaps I’m just a little stubborn :p

About the only rationale I can think of is the joystick being better then the joycons dpad for movement, particularly when inputting two directions at once. I personally use a pro controller so I don’t personally suffer from that in games where I use dpad, but I assume most people just stuck with joycons outside of the more “hardcore” switch owners.

I mostly play rogue likes with controller and would like a XBox/Playstation style controller

I’m assuming you dont need gyro or touchpad that you’ll get with PlayStation / Nintendo compatible controllers, however if you do want those features the Switch Pro controller & the DualSense (PS5) play nicely on my Linux computer (with steam)

Out of the two I’d probably recommend the dual sense since you’re used to Xbox / Western PS layout rather then Nintendo / Japanese PS layout.

I’ve heard good things about the 8bitdo controllers, but can’t comment on their compatibility or quality. The contemporary xbox wireless controllers I don’t personally like, the current ones have this extra grippy texture on the back and thumbsticks that doesn’t sit well with me and the lack of rechargeability ootb is disappointing for the price.

Assuming the NAT type is one that supports peer to peer connectivity, you could try using Ethernet instead of wireless (of course this only helps when docked). This would alleviate issues with WiFi signal not being strong enough, potentially increase bandwidth, and reduce latency. Ethernet can’t improve the connection beyond the incoming connection from the ISP, it only will improve issues that stem from wireless connectivity.

I live in the countryside with my family, so maybe that’s why my Internet is so wonky?

it could very well be this, when I visit my parents in the countryside the internet is sometimes not good enough, and other times it is adequate (satellite internet, so weather can impact it).