The Technology Vent and Rant Thread

[Solitaire1]

Originally Posted by j.p.s

Web pages with floating buttons that obscure content regardless of window resizing, especially the ones whose sole purpose is to summon Artificial Idiot assistance.

Related: YouTube videos where links to other videos at the end of the video you are watching cover up part of the screen that you need to see (such as stories where there's text on the screen that you need to be able to see). Some YouTube viewing options (such as on my smartphone) have added a button to allow you to hide those links, while other viewing options (on my smart TV) don't have that button.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

Fuck AI companies for buying up all the RAM and making prices double.

AGREED!

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by j.p.s

Web pages with floating buttons that obscure content regardless of window resizing, especially the ones whose sole purpose is to summon Artificial Idiot assistance.

And web pages that play a video with sound that you don't want.

[BetterRed]

↑ ↑ ↑ ✔ - not just the audio, the video too, particularly on legacy newspaper and magazine sites!

[Cactus Chef]

I've been using uMatrix for a decade. I know it's abandoned at this point, but it still does its job, and it exposes more options than uBlock Origin's advanced mode does.

Well, I should say it mostly does its job. Unfortunately, Cloudflare Challenges seem to have finally beaten it. I can let everything through, even going as far as disabling uMatrix for the site, and the Cloudflare Challenge page just refreshes over and over, never completing.

uMatrix is inactive, and there are no active forks either, so I guess I'm just resigned that I won't be able to access sites behind a Cloudflare Challenge on my desktop.

[ratinox]

Originally Posted by Cactus Chef

uMatrix is inactive, and there are no active forks either, so I guess I'm just resigned that I won't be able to access sites behind a Cloudflare Challenge on my desktop.

uBlock Origin is the active branch.
Maybe you can enumerate what you are missing over in
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=369538
and I can see what I can find.

[Cactus Chef]

Originally Posted by ratinox

uBlock Origin is the active branch.

Yes, I'm aware. I run both. uMatrix just gives me more granular control over uBO's advanced mode when I'm trying to selectively enable just enough third-party domain scripts, XHRs, etc to get the website to load without having to give it full access.

[Quoth]

The new Firefox CEO wants to disable all "Ad Blockers" (though security minded people may use them purely for security not specifically to block ads). He also wants Firefox to be the leading "AI Browser".

I prefer the fine controls of uMatrix.

[Cactus Chef]

Originally Posted by Quoth

I prefer the fine controls of uMatrix.

Have you figured out how to get past Cloudflare Challenges in it? Even if I fully greenlight the website in uMatrix, the page gets into an infinite refresh loop.

Here's a SFW example:
https://www.romhacking.net/

Loaded on another machine I have with just uBO installed and not uMatrix, I don't even get the CF challenge page.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by Cactus Chef

Have you figured out how to get past Cloudflare Challenges in it? Even if I fully greenlight the website in uMatrix, the page gets into an infinite refresh loop.

Here's a SFW example:
https://www.romhacking.net/

Loaded on another machine I have with just uBO installed and not uMatrix, I don't even get the CF challenge page.

I've not seen that issue with Umatrix. There is the odd "must have" site (trusted) where I only have one tab open and disable in Extensions.

But https://www.romhacking.net/ is fine with my default uMatrix on Linux Mint 22.2, Mate Desktop, a modified Server 2003 theme and Firefox 146.0 (64-bit) via the Distro's deb install.

I've a load of annoying things changed in about:config.

ROM Hacks - NES
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This is the ‘purist’ version of Super Smallio Bros. It’s just USA SMB3, but you’re always small. Other versions will be released in the future.

The in-level mushroom/powerup boxes have been replaced by coin ? boxes. The hidden big ? boxes in secret areas now give three 1-ups (if you can get to them).

Powerups were also removed from chests and any other source of inventory items, like the matching card game. You get something else instead.

This one’s for all you Black Mages out there.

A number of Black Mage weapons (and stats!) have received well-earned love, along with something new - a major overhaul to boss magic resistance. Black Mage/Blue Rose will finally be able to play a greater role beyond buffing their colleagues during boss fights! Also, there are a few Dryad buffs…just to make sure she’s as spritely as can be.

[PeterT]

The "joys" of dealing with Amazon Support


This all started last night when I was trying to access my Prime subscription through my Rogers XFinity box. I was having issues with the password so thought I would just do a password reset. No big deal.. Right??

Well I followed the steps to change my password only to get caught in a circle of messages that either my Account was temporarily suspended or the password was invalid.

I tried using the website to get help; of course without being logged in it kept wanting me to login! (See the problem there?)

Finally found a phone number and descended into customer support hell. Finally managed to speak to a rep who escalated the issue to a second line person. We managed a password change but It they thought the issue was related to a TFA setting on the account. Sent me instructions on how to remove the TFA from the account; when I tried it I was told the account did not have TFA enabled!

Called back, reported what I saw and tried the procedure a second time. This time I had to supply copies of government issued IDs which I did and was told to wait for confirmation that TFA had been removed.

Eventually got an email confirming that so tried changing passwords again. Again it seemed to work but eventually ended up with the Account temporarily suspended message

Decided to wait until the morning when I saw no change so called back in. This time it transpires that there are actually TWO Amazon accounts with the same email address. Again was escalated and after working with the rep (which included validating recent orders) we seemed to get things straightened out.

Hung up, logged into Amazon and noticed I was being offered a Prime trial. Hmm.. I know I *AM* a prime subscriber. Checked my recent Orders and saw NONE!

Oh heck; I must be logged into the second account not the real one.

Back to Amazon support; an hour fifteen later and no closer to resolution. This time while the rep kept talking to her "support" at no point did she offer to transfer me to deal with the second-level support. Kept having me logout and change passwords; to no avail. While I could login I was still not seeing Prime status or recent orders. The rep however was still seeing the recent orders on the account.

Eventually we left it with my being told to wait a few hours and try again (and of course call back).

The thing that is so frustrating is having to explain each and every time what is going on, and what has been tried.

I should add that so far my calls to Amazon Customer support have been just under two hours!

[PeterT]

Finally; I *THINK* it is fixed!

The most recent CSR had me login using my associated phone number as the ID, as opposed to the eMail address, and then on the "My Account" page select the option to close my account! I was apprehensive but, it looks to have worked!

Now to see what happens when I logon to Prime Video.

Wish me luck

[Martinoptic]

What a nightmare! Hope it's sorted and good luck with Prime.

[PeterT]

Yep. All seems fine. Even managed to login to Amazon Music ok

If only one of the other reps or the second line support specialists had suggested deleting the account earlier!