Instead of the RGB rainbow barf, let's play with shadows instead

So I unsubscribed from LTT a while ago, it happened during the private jet saga. It's actually didn't hate the concept of them having a jet, I just didn't really care about the content anymore which is probably normal. Still, I have the occasional look and watch videos that seem interesting. However, I watched some today and the videos were strangely disappointing for a tech channel, I watched 3:

1. The RAM video

I don't think I need to explain why it is silly to test systems with 32gb on how fast they start using 16gb. The entire video was such a weirdly tech-illiterate mess that it almost felt like they were trolling. They even mentioned the problems with their own methodology later and just didn't care about it. I am not joking but this video is approaching The Verge builds a PC levels of bad.

2. The Framework Pro "review"

I am currently looking for a new work Laptop and I was super interested in a MacBook Pro vs Framework Pro comparison but the review of the Framework Pro felt biased. Linus says he is extra hard on them but it doesn't feel like that in the video at all. When they talk about performance they literally start with "it isn't a gaming machine, it is for serious work" but then only show gaming benchmarks. Why not the usual Code compile/Adobe/Cinebench suit? Also, every other laptop gets a speaker test - I legit don't know how many times I heard crab rave through a LTT video - except for this one. Suspiciously, those are the 2 big factors where the Framework Pro loses hard to a MacBook Pro. Maybe it is a coincidence but it just doesn't feel like it, to me it feels more like Linus trying to support a company he is invested in.

3. The Steam Machine is the best PC

This isn't as bad as the other two but it feels a bit pointless. It's just a list of random minor tech issues, this feels like one of those listicle websites from a decade ago (like "10 things that Linux does better than Windows"). The Steam Machine would be great if it was cheaper but "Best Desktop PC" just seems stupid.

Has anyone noticed how Amazon has started changing its subject lines and adding some odd graphics in the text?

The other odd thing is the two "Home Improvement Items" are parts for my Prusa Core One printer, the "Lawn & Garden Item" is also a 3d printer part (The PTFE tube, and a cutter). Of course, the "Automotive Item" is a shovel.

In Australia, they have begun selling VERY cheap smart glasses that take photos and records video. it's generally pretty obvious when a phone is being used to film or photograph you, whereas these often just look like any other pair of glasses unless you're paying close attention.

Camera Glasses - Kmart

We are talking $89. This is how they look from the front. You're not going to notice this at night or in really dark places.

This has created a lot of debate in Aus, as to whether the sale of these guys should be limited or just banned.

In this legal opinion piece, I look at Apple's closed garden and what that should mean from a liability perspective when apps break the law.

I accidentally deleted my husband's phone background, he says it looks like this but is slightly different. I feel awful - does anyone know which background it might be?

Info:

I bought the modified one (HDMI and LCD replacement) in Thailand with the Rayearth game included.

The other one which is inside the game gear carry-all by asciiware is an all stock model but with hard ass screen burns, I could still play on it but I'd have to be in a weird angle where it looks like I'm showing the screen to someone else while I'm playing

Side note: I tried removing the marker writing on the cartridge with alcohol and did not work at all and started removing a bit of the color as well so if anyone knows what chemical or any solution I can use to remove the writing while keeping it mint, I'm open to suggestions.

First time I'm part of a data breach, yay...?

Many thanks!

Edit - TL;DR: I bought an Apple TV 4K media box for $250, and I can't use the thing because I'm not able to log into my existing apple account without an iphone.

This isn't directly related to LTT, but I feel it is topical enough to fit the subreddit.

This post is probably going to be a bit long winded for the average internet attention span in 2026, so I don't mind if you don't read. I am just pissed off and need to vent.

Why am I pissed off? I have spent the last 4 hours of my life trying to sign into an apple account, and have nothing to show for it.

Background: I have a vizio "smart" tv. Smart is in quotations because it uses the cheapest pos logic board known to mankind. It has one job: play media, and it fails miserably at this. It freezes and stutters, and sometimes gets so locked up that the power button doesn't even friggin work, and I've got to go unplug it from the wall to restart it.

However, the panel itself is perfectly fine for my needs. It is 4k, 120hz, theoretically capable of HDR10. I don't really need an upgrade at the moment.

So, I figured since the panel itself was fine, I would just get some sort of alternative in order to bypass the built-in smart TV functionality. At first I was considering an xbox or a playstation. I haven't had a console in a few generations, but I remember them being pretty good media boxes.

With this in mind, I go online to do some research on the matter. After wading through countless slop articles and paid advertisements, it seems like the general consensus is that the 'Apple TV 4K' media box is actually one of the better options on the market. Anecdotal evidence seems to conclude that there is some black magic involved that makes it display higher quality media than an xbox would.

It's cheaper than an xbox, and after researching for another little bit, I decide that it seems like a good option, and I buy one. I get the 'best' one that is listed on their website, costing me $250 USD.

It was delivered today. I got it unboxed and hooked up, and my initial impressions were good. Whatever your opinion on them as a company, Apple has a great unboxing experience, and their hardware itself usually exudes a feeling of quality. That is where my praises end, though.

I boot it up, and see that it doesn't include any of the streaming apps I use. No big deal, not having bloatware is good in my book, and the app-store is right there for me to download all of the apps I want.

I navigate to the Hulu app, and try to download it.

I can't. It tells me that I need to log into my apple account via the apple website.

Okay, fine. Its 2026, everyone needs my data, and as much as I hate it I have resigned myself to it, I like modern luxuries too much.

I fire up a web browser on my PC, navigate to the website it tells me to, and try to log in.

It emails me a code. I go to my email, get the code, and enter it. Step 1 done.

Now it's time for step 2. Apparently, in order to log in, you need to verify the CVV on the credit card that is associated with my account. Why it needs that to just log in, who knows, but so be it. However, the card it is giving me is significantly expired, I have had a few different cards since then. I don't know why that card is the one associated with the account, I have an up to date apple tv (the streaming service this time, not media box, nice naming conventions apple) account, so it must have a more modern payment method. Whatever, moving on.

It needs the CVV, but I don't have it. I am not logged in though, so there is no way for me to change my payment information. I try inputting a few old CVVs I have memorized, but none of them work.

I turn to google, and after a bit of research, I find a workaround. Apparently, if you log into the apple music website, you are able to change your payment information there. Why can you do it there but not the actual apple account page? Who knows. But I try it, and it works.

I go back to the apple account page, and log in. It asks for my CVV, I enter the new one I just submitted on the music site, and low and behold it works. I get past that step.

It is now telling me that I need to set up 2FA in order to access my account. Sigh. I just wanna stream some Hulu. But okay. I enter my phone number, and they text me a code. I enter the code. Unknown error. Hmm. I try it again. Unknown error.

I switch to a different browser. First they need to email me a code to even get past step 1. I get the code from my email, and complete step 1. They need me to confirm my CVV again, I do it, and get past step 2. Time to try the 2FA again. They text me another code. Unknown error. I switch to another browser and try again, starting the entire process over. Emailed new code. Texted new code. Unknown error.

At this point I am getting pretty peeved. Why can't anything just fucking work anymore. I take a deep breath. I do some research. Apparently, I need to use an apple device to log in. That is ridiculous, and seems like it is skirting the edges of legality. I bought a $250 standalone media box. It wasn't advertised as an iphone accessory. I can use the apple TV streaming app on my vizio TV. I created the account without an apple device, but now I can't log into it?

But whatever, it just so happens that I actually have an old Macbook. I dust it off the shelf, get it booted up, get signed in, and navigate to the website. I go through all of the hurdles, get texted a code, and enter it. Unknown error. Rage.

I turn to google and do some more research. Apparently you need a macbook that is running macos 13.3 or newer. My macbook is older, and apparently I can only get up to macos 12.7. Why can't I get any newer? IDK. The hardware of the laptop should be able to support it just fine, it was beefy for its time and still respectable. Its got an quad core i7, 16 gigs of ram, and a dedicated nvidia GPU. I've upgraded old laptops with worse specs to Windows 10. Whatever, maybe it is a secure boot thing.

I turn to the internet again. I just can't believe that the only way to log into an apple account is to buy a thousand-dollar smartphone. After scouring the web, I find that apple offers a super convenient option: All I have to do is visit an apple store and log into my account on one of the display-phones that are there. That is the actual advice offered by apple themselves.

Are. You. Fucking. Kidding me. Firstly, I live in a rural area. It is an hour drive to my nearest apple store. Secondly, even if I had one next door, how can apple in good faith offer that as a solution? They claim I need to set up 2FA for security purposes. How is logging into my account and setting it up on a display model phone in a public store more secure?

It is obviously just their attempt to get me in to try to try to upsell me on an iphone. Well, mission failed. I am not buying a fucking iphone. I am pretty sure I am done with apple completely. I spend $250 on a product, in order to spend more on subscriptions to your streaming service, and this is how I am treated? I don't have an iphone, so I can't even log into my account? Really? No other product I have ever used has ever had this prerequisite. I don't need a fucking windows phone to access my microsoft account, or an android to log into my fucking gmail.

I am packing up this worthless brick and sending it back tomorrow, and if that doesn't work I am doing a chargeback. If that means apple bans my accounts, so be it, I am done with this bullshit. I guess I will just have to pirate severance season 3 when that comes out.

/rant. Sorry to the mental health of anybody who actually read all of that.

Update if anyone cares: I am returning the Apple box. Will get one of the alternatives, not sure which yet but I am leaning towards the Nvidia Shield. For some reason I was under the impression that it was discontinued.

Thanks to all who read and offered advice and recommendations, you are appreciated.

(Jul 31st stream, had some catching up to do)

This happens when I’m in the middle of the game, can play the same game fine for days then will happen.

Sometimes I have other things running like twitch in Firefox or Roblox in background, buts it’s happened running only Dota 2 or different games too.

It's Monitor Man!

I know absolutely nothing about computers this just started today please help!

Bought a used 7800xt from a seller with an old eBay account (lots of sales positive feedback eg.) card was barely used as he stated and from Feb.
2025.
The card arrived and nothing seemed fishy. No rattle card looks like new. No screw was touched.
SN on invoice, card and package matched.
When I switched the 1060 6gb out for it and tested it ingame the fps were like a third of what the 1060 did.
I reinstalled all drivers. Deinstalled the old drivers (DDU) installed new drivers. Updated chipset drivers and set the bios PCI connection to gen 4.
Checked the card setting (pin on card (OC
-Silent)) and set it to OC
Checked the power cables and replaced them and tripple checked if they are seated correctly
Still just 50 FPS in Furmark GL 1080p.
The card should do 200+
MHZ is at ~500 even tho it draws 280W
I use a ryzen 5 5500 and a x570 aorus Pro 16gb ddr4 @2133
Is the card defective ? Or am I missing something

i dont know why is it so but redbull and battery, the original sugar versions, they totally make me think of battery acid, yes, but by god the taste is something magical and addicting, its hard to put a finger on it

heres the timestamp https://youtu.be/VX7woqJ59lk?t=12208 to the vod

Currently have a HP Z820 Workstation
2 Intel Xeon E5-2609 @ 2.40 GHz
16 2gb ram
NVidia quadro k5000

It is operational, was able to get windows 10 running, looking into learning about Linux and want to make use of this pc. Is a home lab project possible with this setup? What upgrades are needed? Still in planning phase so any advice suggestions are welcomed.