How I Compute: an Opinionated Nerd Post for Computer Nerds

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Antonin describes his transition from Apple and Google ecosystems to a fully Linux-based computing setup, driven by growing concerns over developer restrictions, privacy, and vendor lock-in. He now uses a Lenovo Yoga laptop running Fedora 44, favors European services like Hetzner and Proton Drive, and prefers open-source tools such as neovim, Podman, and self-hosted git servers over corporate platforms. Emphasizing digital autonomy, he also integrates physical tools like paper and pen for focus and advocates for ethical software and data practices while distancing himself from mainstream AI services.

https://carette.xyz/posts/how_do_i_compute/

Deeper Dive: Keyboard Differences Between Windows and Macs

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The article details numerous differences between Windows and Mac keyboards, highlighting distinctions in key naming, modifier keys, symbol usage, shortcut conventions, and specialized functions. It emphasizes that Macs use more symbols and offer extra modifier keys like Command and Option, with unique behaviors in text fields and function keys, while Windows relies more on word labels and has different shortcut standards such as Ctrl vs. Command. These differences impact software development and user experience, especially for web apps supporting both platforms with the same codebase.

https://unsung.aresluna.org/deeper-dive-keyboard-differences-between-windows-and-macs/

Make Tmux the OS

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The article explores reimagining desktop window management by making tmux-style tiling and session persistence the core OS experience, aiming to address problems like dynamic screen changes, varied user window habits, and browsers functioning as mini operating systems. It proposes a task-oriented, infinite canvas desktop with scrollable tiled windows, privacy flags, and local AI assistance to organize tasks and windows, but acknowledges challenges such as privacy trade-offs, spatial memory conflicts, and complexity in implementation. Despite the difficulties, the author encourages radical experimentation beyond traditional desktop metaphors to innovate window management for modern computing workflows.

https://matduggan.com/what-does-my-dream-os-ui-look-like/

Welcome to Linux From Scratch!

Linux From Scratch (LFS) is a project offering detailed instructions to build a custom Linux system entirely from source code. The organization includes various subprojects like BLFS for extending LFS installations, ALFS for automation, MLFS for multilib support, and GLFS for gaming-related software, among others, providing users tools to customize and enhance their Linux environments.

https://www.linuxfromscratch.org/

Cloud in a Bottle: Your Corner of the Cloud

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Cloud in a Bottle is an open-source platform that lets users run personal cloud servers with one-click app installations on hardware they control, including old laptops, VPS, or rented servers. It features a catalog of privacy-respecting, self-hosted apps and supports deploying any containerized app via Git, offering secure sandboxing and easy data export. Users can self-host or choose managed hosting from Imbue, combining ease of use with full control over their cloud environment.

https://cloudinabottle.org/

Microsoft Paint and Photos Embed Server-Issued GUIDs as Invisible Watermarks in Locally-Generated Images

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Microsoft Paint and Photos embed a server-issued GUID as an invisible watermark into AI-generated images created locally on Windows devices. These GUIDs, returned by Microsoft’s remote prompt moderation service, are embedded pixel-wise via a specialized watermarking DLL and are also included in the image’s C2PA metadata for provenance, linking prompt moderation to the final image content. This system ensures AI-generated images carry a unique, machine-readable identifier even when generated locally, combining remote moderation with local watermarking and signed metadata.

https://xusheng.dev/posts/reversing/mspaint_invisible_watermark/main/

“As a Windows User, It’s a Very Surreal Way to Install a Program.”

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Mac applications are often installed by opening a .dmg disk image file, which mounts as a virtual drive containing the app icon alongside a link to the Applications folder. Many developers customize this Finder window using layout, icon arrangement, arrows, and backgrounds to instruct users to drag the app into Applications, creating a unique but sometimes confusing installation experience compared to Windows. This design approach has become a creative playground with diverse visual styles and instructions, showcasing a distinctive aspect of macOS’s software installation workflow.

https://unsung.aresluna.org/as-a-windows-user-its-a-very-surreal-way-to-install-a-program/

Windows 11 Is Quietly Installing OneDrive Photos, and It Wants to Scan Your Photos for Faces if You Allow It

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Windows 11 is now automatically installing a new app called OneDrive Photos, which functions as an additional photo viewer and editor integrated with OneDrive. The app scans local storage for images and can group faces using facial recognition if the user permits, raising privacy concerns since it is installed without explicit user consent and can only be removed by uninstalling OneDrive entirely. While the app offers features like AI-powered search and photo management similar to Microsoft Photos, its silent installation and integration with OneDrive have sparked criticism.

https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/07/29/windows-11-is-quietly-installing-onedrive-photos-another-image-viewer-that-nobody-asked-for/

GDID Windows – Cut the Tracker That Follows You Even Through a VPN

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Windows assigns a unique 64-bit identifier called GDID to each user account, which Microsoft stores on its servers and continuously links to that user—even when using a VPN. Attempts to delete or disable the GDID locally fail because the system re-downloads it from Microsoft, and disabling telemetry services does not stop its reporting. A solution involves disabling related Windows services and blocking specific Microsoft endpoints via the hosts file, which prevents the GDID from being reported while keeping the Microsoft account functional, but does not erase previously collected identifiers or ensure full anonymity.

https://korben.info/en/gdid-windows-cut-tracker-vpn.html

You Can’t Fully Disable Microsoft’s GDID Windows 11 Tracker, but These Settings Limit What It Captures

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Microsoft has acknowledged that Windows 11 includes a Global Device Identifier (GDID), a persistent, device-level tracker tied to a user’s Microsoft Account with no option to disable it outright. The GDID played a key role in an FBI case by allowing authorities to trace a hacker’s device across VPNs and countries, but its presence raises privacy concerns since it automatically links online activities to a single Windows installation without explicit user consent. While reinstalling Windows generates a new GDID, signing back into the same Microsoft Account allows Microsoft to correlate activity across installations, limiting user control over this identifier.

https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/07/10/you-cant-fully-disable-microsofts-gdid-windows-11-tracker-but-these-settings-limit-what-it-captures/

How to Set Up Windows 11 Without a Microsoft Account in 2026

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In 2026, to set up Windows 11 without using a Microsoft account, users can bypass the mandatory sign-in by pressing Shift + F10 at the account setup screen to open Command Prompt, then entering “start ms-cxh:localonly”. This command closes the Microsoft account prompt and allows the creation of a local user account, enabling setup to continue without a Microsoft account.

https://www.jamesleighton.com/how-to-set-up-windows-11-without-a-microsoft-account-in-2026/

How UI Degrades Over Time

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The article critiques the progressive decline in user interface clarity from Windows 95 to modern Windows 11 versions, highlighting how earlier interfaces offered high contrast and intuitive shapes that made features like the Run dialog instantly readable. In contrast, the latest designs suffer from poor contrast, unclear elements, redundant labels, and lack of visual cues, rendering the interface confusing and less functional for users. The author emphasizes that while older interfaces prioritized usability and adherence to system conventions, newer ones appear more like puzzles or art objects that fail to facilitate user tasks effectively.

https://grumpy.website/1723

Understanding Windows Monthly Updates

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Windows monthly updates include regular security releases on the second Tuesday of each month, designed to maintain device security and health through cumulative fixes. Optional non-security preview updates, typically released later in the month, allow IT teams and users to test upcoming features and fixes before they are broadly deployed in the next security update. Microsoft also issues out-of-band updates for urgent fixes and delivers new Windows 11 features gradually through various update channels, encouraging organizations to install updates promptly to ensure device protection and productivity.

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/windows-itpro-blog/understanding-windows-monthly-updates-servicing-explained/4532290

I Argued with a Security Expert About Guest Wi-Fi… and Won

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A PCWorld editor debated a security expert about the value of guest Wi-Fi networks in home setups, ultimately finding that while not perfectly secure, guest networks provide practical isolation that reduces risk from vulnerable smart devices and visitors. The expert agreed that guest Wi-Fi can offer some protection if devices require connectivity but cannot be fully trusted, especially when using routers like Ubiquiti’s Dream Router which clearly document and implement effective network isolation features. The article emphasizes guest Wi-Fi as a useful risk reduction measure rather than a foolproof security solution for typical consumer environments.

https://www.pcworld.com/article/3186610/i-argued-with-a-security-expert-about-guest-wi-fi-and-won.html

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