Samsung has decided to proceed with the Bootloader blocking also in Europe, a move that has caused a lot of discussion. Behind this choice is a European regulation that will come into force in August 2025 and which risks changing smartphone usage in Europe forever. This is why other manufacturers may soon follow suit.

From 1 August 2025, new provisions will come into force RED Directive (Radio Equipment Directive), which redefines the compliance requirements for all radio devices sold in Europe. This is a significant change, not so much for the amount of regulations introduced, but for the effect they will have on the entire Android ecosystem. The issue revolves around three articles that impose specific protections: against network interference, personal data compromise, and digital fraud. These are, in themselves, sacrosanct rules.

But the crux comes with the interpretation prevailingEach device must ensure full compliance not only with the hardware, but also with the software that controls the radio modules. This is where the bootloader comes in. Unlocking it essentially allows you to replace the original operating system with an alternative one, such as LineageOS or GrapheneOS.

But these systems, if they modify the radio drivers even minimally, invalidate the CE certification. An uncertified device can no longer be legally marketed or used, at least according to the most stringent reading of the law.

This scenario has therefore led Samsung to protect its devices. Not on a whim, but to avoid any software modifications falling under your legal liability. If a user installs a ROM that interferes with radio frequencies or compromises communications security, the manufacturer (and in some cases the importer) may be held directly liable.

RED does not explicitly talk about unlocking the Bootloader or custom ROM, but it opens one regulatory space in which the margins for maneuver are they narrow. And in doing so, it provides a solid argument for those who have been trying for years to close the loop between hardware, software, and services. After all, customizing the operating system also means breaking away from proprietary services and, therefore, from the model that ties the user to the brand.

Samsung is just the first to move, but it's hard to imagine it will be the only one. Starting in August 2025, it's very likely that other manufacturers will follow suit, at least for the European market.

cross-posted from: https://piefed.ca/post/122407

cross-posted from: https://endlesstalk.org/post/92618508

https://www.bassinesnonmerci.fr/non-classe/2025/08/01/j-6-avant-les-resistantes-et-1-an-apres-le-village-de-leau-des-temoignages-illustres-de-la-repression/

With Lidarr being not very functional due to the Unable to communicate with LidarrAPI - Lidarr API "Internal Server Error" 500 | Invalid response received from LidarrAPI | HTTP Request Timeout · Issue #5498 · Lidarr/Lidarr I have been thinking about getting rid of it altogether. I have only started using it recently and don't like it.

What I use Lidarr for:

• Find metadata for music
  • organize files in a consistent way base on metadata
  • obtain album art
  • create .nfo or other files
• Identify desired music and instruct download utility to get it (this is optional for me--- I can handle myself if needed)
• Do the above via a web interface which can be browsed nicely

I don't like about Lidarr:

• The not-really-open-source nature of it, e.g. this current problem, where you are reliant on their external server to run your own home server. I feel this might be a more pervasive issue in the Arrs but not sure of all the implications
• How unsupported it is to include work that the lidarr servers don't know about. There will never be a metadata database which includes all music. There is just too much music in the world!
• no audiobook/podcast support

I also have Jellyfin going for the actual serving/streaming of the music. Am not sure if it is able to fully manage the metadata and files?

Lots of options in the awesome-selfhosted list.

I could use a linux desktop app if it was better than a selfhosted server.

Thoughts?

UPDATE after 2 days and 16 total comments on the thread

As suggested by many people, I gave MusicBrainz Picard a try. It is actually quite straight forward functionality-wise. You do have to babysit it for sure, but it gets fairly close a lot of the time.

It would be very much improved by coming with more presets for file naming. Constructing them is obtuse python stuff. Something like how Trash Guides gives you naming schemes that account for many possibilities. No reason the user should need to do all that on their own from scratch.

Being native linux applications is a big plus, it is smooth to run. Would be nice to have some workflow aides like keyboard shortcuts available.

Piracy in Germany often uses direct downloads via one click hosters(you get an url and download from there, people use services like rapidgator.net). These often get hit with copy right strikes and are slow to unusable for free users. Would downloading for example a TV show via this route and then creating a public torrent "good piracy"? (If anyone has a guide on how to create a torrent, pls share)

Reasons why I think it might be not so good:

• the groups/people need a motivation to provide the content. Distributing it without their consent might reduce their motivation. They also probably paid for some subscription to get the content
• in german context direct download links are often considered safer for people who just want to download, torrenting done wrong can get you pretty high legal fees (500+ €)
• it feels like stealing somebody elses effort

Why I think about doing it:

• this gives people another way to get the content
• torrents are free to use and way faster than those one click hosters (which often give you less than 100kB/s)
• the uploader usually profits via affiliate programs, so when someone buys a premium subscription of a one click hoster, they get a share. I think piracy shouldnt be done for profit
• people (especially outside germany) might have it easier to access torrents instead oneclick hoster solutions
• torrents have no captchas lol

Hello. I got a walkpad a month or so ago (it's a small treadmill) and I try to walk 1hr per day daily for health.

As far as making the most of this otherwise boring workout I have found it helps to play relaxing games on my CRT. I have a PC but lean more towards pre 2005 games (it's not a limit though).

I mention the treadmill because the games have to be engaging but not require 100% of your attention. For example I finished Resident Evil 1 the other day. It was a wonderful game although it had a lot of backtracking which was annoying.

A bad example would be Megaman 1 (too strenuous and attention requiring, also brutal)

A good example would be civ2 on the PS1.

In terms of what games I can play, I can pretty much play everything up to 2005 either handheld or console up to that time. I have a PC/ 3DS/ Analogue Pocket.

I lean towards pre 2005 games but not limited to that. I don't really have any specific genres in mind so you can recommend whatever you want and enjoy.

I'm trying to improve my spanish by watching my favorite films with spanish dubs.

Im having trouble finding these with the current trackers I'm on. I'd appreciate any help finding or joining a private tracker that does spanish language dubs.

cross-posted from: https://sh.itjust.works/post/43285035

What a time to announce all 4 horseman of the apocalypse (Is that now GenAI, Climate Change, Genocide and Technofacism?) are coming in the close future.

From the companies press release:

_“The legendary saga of the Four Horsemen continues in Darksiders 4, an all-new action-adventure set in an apocalyptic version of earth and continues where the original Darksiders game left off.

Darksiders 4 is a 3rd person action adventure game featuring combat, traversal and puzzle solving in a lore rich post apocalyptic world.”_

Steam Page

Editorial

I have some level of excitement for this. Darksiders ability to never fully die is a sign of industry health to me. I have made multiple attempts to jump in to the first 2 from PS3 to PC to the remasters on X Series, PS4 and Switch (also stadia in keeping with my post history). The most recent switch attempt lasted the longest.

Not exactly sure what my completion percent was when I finally wandered off to something else that sparkled and caught my eye (probably a stressful day at work and whatever CoD was on the Xbox front page) but I remember feeling like it had finally clicked. The puzzles seemed engaging enough, I was vibing with the upgrade grind and the whole thing was ridiculous enough I’d give it a recommend finally.

Darksiders is a video game ass video game and it sort of knows it. It also has a side that feels like someone had a vhs of the Dolph Lundgren Masters of the Universe movie they watched a little too much growing up and that was their embodiment of dark fantasy. Mike Mignolas artwork was great as always and it just kind of worked. The series is straight B grade gaming and that’s my sweet spot. I also had a problem with the Beastmaster and the USA channel growing up so take my opinion with that context.

All that aside, it’s a goddamn miracle we’re getting the (hopefully) final game in a series that never really stood a chance of a 3rd mainline release not far after it was initially launched.

Best of luck Gunfire, let’s hope you can fight the tide of the live service, post game content, line goes up dev cycle and put out something you’re all proud of.

cross-posted from: https://endlesstalk.org/post/92550159

Supposedly, they're rolling back the price increase for all holiday releases.

"We’re focused on bringing players incredible worlds to explore, and will keep our full priced holiday releases, including The Outer Worlds 2, at $69.99 – in line with current market conditions," an Xbox spokesperson explained in a statement to Windows Central.

If you've already pre-ordered The Outer Worlds 2 at the $79.99 price point, you will have to grab refunds at the point of purchase if you've already paid up. Microsoft says some retailers will light up with refunds today, but some will start accepting refunds from tomorrow. Then, you can pre-order again at the new $69.99 price tier.