Most of us in Lemmy know the importance of privacy and owning your devices in a big tech owned world (me included) but for once I thought to make the opposite question and ask if there are products by them that you actually use and enjoy them.
Important to say, I mean products you use even though there are alternatives, not monopolies like YouTube.
Steam or anything from Valve
Agreed, but the prices on Steam are fucking ridiculous nowadays so they can occasionally put things on “sale”
I just opened it and it was trying to sell me Half Life Alyx for sixty fuckin quid
Thats fair but steam is such a blessing imo:
- Its so convenient
- linux support is huge and better than windows with some games
- family sharing, etc…
Seems like a regional issue? Steam has the same price as any other store here in the US. Excluding subscriptions.
Android. Sure the main branch is open source, but I use the Google version Ann’s don’t bother flashing a new version.
I’ve got to say that I’ve enjoyed having Echo speakers around the house and the things that they can do. I know Amazon may be listening in on me, but they’re bored to tears if they are! But I enjoy having the Echo speakers turn lights on & off around the house, set the Nest thermostat without having to get up, play music, answer questions, etc.
Google Chrome cast dongle, I try to avoid Google products but this one for the kids has saved me on rain days countless times.
I pack one any time I travel
No one product, but more of a collection of technologies underlying the Apple ecosystem. For example, AirDrop or Continuity (drafting something on one device and continuing/finishing on another).
Not sure if it’s big tech but anyways… The Stream Deck (not to be confused with the Steam Deck portable gaming console). This macro keyboard brought my productivity through the roof and now I don’t understand how I went so long without it.
Samsung TV.
I’m glad you’ve had good luck with your Samsung TV. We have a Q60 and I absolutely despise it. I can’t wait to get rid of it. Apple TV had made it useable, so I’ll probably stick with it until it dies. My problem with it is the OS. It’s absolutely garbage in my opinion, and slow as hell.
Wishing a good future for yours!
My TV is very old, it only has 1080p with 50 hertz. I don’t usw the OS of the TV itself very offen, but what I can say is that, when switching sources it’s a real pain, especially with HDMI-CEC.
I have Google smart speakers in every room except the children’s rooms. the fact that the music can be played synchronously in every room alone is worth my data to me.
Important to say, I mean products you use even though there are alternatives, not monopolies like YouTube.
I don’t think this is quite true when it comes to YouTube. There are plenty of alternatives that content creators could use (and some do), from Vimeo to Nebula to PeerTube.
The reason content creators prefer to upload on YouTube are the user base and monetization opportunities. They’re not forced to do so, and in fact YouTube is facing competition from e.g. Twitch and TikTok.
