124: The End of Ownership
1Digest
The episode begins with a discussion about the use of ARM processors in the desktop world, with the hosts expressing skepticism about their widespread adoption despite the success of Apple's M1 chip. They then move on to the upcoming Raspberry Pi IPO, noting the irony of the foundation going public as the popularity of the devices seems to be declining. The hosts also discuss the discontinuation of Spotify's Car Thing device, criticizing the company's decision to turn the device into e-waste and advocating for open-source hardware. The episode then delves into the benefits of self-hosting, highlighting the control and flexibility it offers over cloud-based services. The hosts discuss their experiences with various self-hosted applications, including Nextcloud, Tailscale, and Dashy, and share their thoughts on the challenges and advantages of each. The episode concludes with a discussion about the importance of independent content creation and the value for value model, which allows creators to receive direct support from their audience.
Outlines
Salty Pulled Pork and Apple's Server Backend
This Chapter discusses a recent dinner experience with salty pulled pork and a conversation with a person who works for Apple. The conversation reveals that Apple uses its own orchestrator and other proprietary technologies, highlighting the 'not invented here' syndrome prevalent in large companies. The hosts also speculate about the use of macOS and Apple Silicon in Apple's data centers.
The Rise of ARM and the Raspberry Pi IPO
This Chapter explores the recent shift towards ARM processors, particularly in the context of Apple's M1 chip and the increasing popularity of ARM-based devices like the Raspberry Pi. The hosts discuss the potential impact of ARM on the desktop and business worlds, as well as the upcoming Raspberry Pi IPO and the implications for the foundation and the commercial company.
Spotify's Car Thing Discontinuation and the Right to Repair
This Chapter focuses on Spotify's decision to discontinue its Car Thing device, which will become non-functional in December 2024. The hosts criticize this move, arguing that it turns the device into e-waste and highlights the issue of vendor lock-in. They advocate for open-source hardware and the right to repair, emphasizing the importance of user control over devices.
Self-Hosting and the Benefits of Local Control
This Chapter delves into the benefits of self-hosting, contrasting it with cloud-based services. The hosts discuss the control and flexibility that self-hosting offers, particularly in the context of media management and home automation. They highlight the importance of owning your data and devices, and the advantages of building a robust and reliable local infrastructure.
Home Automation and the Power of Smart Plugs
This Chapter explores the world of home automation, focusing on the use of smart plugs. The hosts share their experiences with smart plugs and discuss their potential applications, from controlling appliances to integrating with home assistant systems. They also discuss the use of stream decks for controlling home assistant functions and the benefits of physical buttons for home automation.
The Value for Value Model and the Future of Podcasting
This Chapter discusses the value for value model, which allows podcast listeners to directly support their favorite creators. The hosts highlight the importance of this model for independent content creators, particularly in the context of podcasting, where there is no reliance on algorithms or advertising platforms. They express their appreciation for the support they receive from their listeners through the value for value model.
Upcoming Meet-ups and Community Engagement
This Chapter announces upcoming meet-ups for the self-hosted community, with a focus on the Norwich, UK area. The hosts invite listeners to suggest locations for the meet-up and encourage community engagement. They also provide contact information for listeners to connect with them online.
Keywords
ARM
ARM (Advanced RISC Machine) is a family of reduced instruction set computing (RISC) architectures for computer processors, designed by ARM Holdings. ARM processors are known for their low power consumption, high performance, and efficiency, making them popular for mobile devices, embedded systems, and other applications where power consumption is a critical factor. Examples of ARM-based devices include smartphones, tablets, Raspberry Pi single-board computers, and some server systems. Related concepts include RISC architecture, instruction set, and processor design.
Raspberry Pi
Raspberry Pi is a series of small, low-cost single-board computers (SBCs) developed by the Raspberry Pi Foundation. These devices are popular for hobbyists, educators, and makers due to their affordability, versatility, and extensive software support. Raspberry Pi boards are typically used for projects such as home automation, robotics, media streaming, and educational purposes. Related concepts include single-board computer, embedded systems, Linux operating system, and maker culture.
Spotify Car Thing
Spotify Car Thing was a dedicated hardware device designed by Spotify to provide a hands-free experience for controlling Spotify playback in vehicles. It featured a small touchscreen, volume control, and connectivity to Spotify Connect. However, Spotify discontinued the device in 2024, making it non-functional and raising concerns about vendor lock-in and e-waste. Related concepts include streaming services, connected devices, and right to repair.
Self-hosting
Self-hosting refers to the practice of running software and services on your own hardware or infrastructure, rather than relying on cloud providers. This gives you greater control over your data, applications, and resources. Self-hosting is popular among individuals and organizations who value privacy, security, and flexibility. Related concepts include cloud computing, server management, open-source software, and home automation.
Nextcloud
Nextcloud is a self-hosted file syncing and collaboration platform that provides a secure and private alternative to cloud storage services like Dropbox and Google Drive. It allows users to store, share, and collaborate on files, calendars, contacts, and other data. Nextcloud is open-source and can be customized and extended to meet specific needs. Related concepts include file syncing, cloud storage, collaboration software, and open-source software.
Tailscale
Tailscale is a secure and easy-to-use networking solution that allows you to connect devices directly to each other over the internet, regardless of their location or network configuration. It uses WireGuard, a modern and efficient VPN protocol, to create a private and secure network between your devices. Tailscale is popular for remote access, connecting servers, and building secure networks for teams and organizations. Related concepts include VPN, WireGuard, network security, and remote access.
Dashy
Dashy is a self-hosted dashboard application that allows you to create a custom interface for monitoring and controlling your self-hosted services and applications. It provides a flexible and customizable way to display information from various sources, including system metrics, application status, and external data feeds. Dashy is open-source and can be integrated with other self-hosted tools and services. Related concepts include dashboards, monitoring tools, self-hosting, and open-source software.
Value for Value
Value for Value (V4V) is a decentralized model for supporting content creators directly, without relying on advertising or centralized platforms. It allows listeners or viewers to directly contribute to creators through micropayments, often using cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin or Lightning Network. V4V is gaining popularity in the podcasting and online content creation space as a way to foster independent content creation and empower creators. Related concepts include micropayments, cryptocurrency, decentralized platforms, and independent content creation.
Q&A
What are the pros and cons of using ARM processors in the desktop world?
While ARM processors offer advantages like low power consumption and efficiency, their widespread adoption in the desktop world is still uncertain. While Apple's M1 chip has been successful, the hosts express skepticism about ARM's ability to fully replace x86 processors in the desktop and business markets.
What are the implications of the upcoming Raspberry Pi IPO?
The Raspberry Pi Foundation's decision to go public comes at a time when the popularity of Raspberry Pi devices seems to be declining. The IPO will likely benefit the foundation by providing funding for expansion, but it also raises questions about the future of the commercial company and the impact on the Raspberry Pi ecosystem.
Why is Spotify's decision to discontinue the Car Thing device problematic?
The hosts criticize Spotify's decision to discontinue the Car Thing device, arguing that it turns the device into e-waste and highlights the issue of vendor lock-in. They advocate for open-source hardware and the right to repair, emphasizing the importance of user control over devices.
What are the benefits of self-hosting?
Self-hosting offers greater control over your data, applications, and resources, allowing you to customize and manage your infrastructure according to your specific needs. It also provides greater privacy and security compared to cloud-based services.
What are some popular self-hosted applications discussed in the episode?
The hosts discuss their experiences with various self-hosted applications, including Nextcloud for file syncing and collaboration, Tailscale for secure networking, and Dashy for creating custom dashboards.
What is the value for value model and how does it benefit podcast creators?
The value for value model allows listeners to directly support their favorite podcast creators through micropayments, often using cryptocurrencies. This model provides a sustainable alternative to advertising and allows creators to maintain their independence.
What are some upcoming meet-ups for the self-hosted community?
The hosts announce upcoming meet-ups for the self-hosted community, with a focus on the Norwich, UK area. They invite listeners to suggest locations for the meet-up and encourage community engagement.
What are some of the key takeaways from this episode?
This episode highlights the ongoing debate about the future of computing, with ARM processors gaining traction but facing challenges in the desktop world. It also emphasizes the importance of self-hosting for those who value control, privacy, and flexibility. The episode also underscores the importance of independent content creation and the value for value model, which allows creators to receive direct support from their audience.
Show Notes
The "you'll own nothing" trend got worse this week, our thoughts about the Raspberry Pi IPO, poor Nextcloud performance, and Alex's new high-fiber obsession.
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Links:
- ⚡ Grab Sats with Strike Around the World — Strike is a lightning-powered app that lets you quickly and cheaply grab sats in over 36 countries.
- 🎉 Boost with Fountain FM — Fountain 1.0 has a new UI, upgrades, and super simple Strike integration for easy Boosts.
- Raspberry Pi IPO set for June 2024 — $40 million to be raised for engineering and sorting out the supply chain
- Spotify to Brick Its Own “Car Thing” Device, Won’t Offer Refund — The physical product, announced in 2021 and made available the next year, will be completely nonfunctional in December
- “Unacceptable”: Spotify bricking Car Thing devices in Dec. without refunds
- Average Age of U.S. Vehicles Continues to Rise, Now at 12.6 Years — The average age of passenger cars continues to trend higher at 14 years compared with light trucks at 11.9 years.
- FUTO funds Immich with 3 year commitment: the best image gallery software - YouTube — Louis Rossmann talks about Nextcloud performance issues.
- Nextcloud.nix at main · JupiterBroadcasting/nixconfigs — The JB Nix config for Nextcloud has the best performance we have seen yet.
- Nextcloud module-services-nextcloud
- Dash — The Ultimate Homepage for your Homelab
- SSH 124 Boost Barn — Thank you, Boosters and members! 🚀
- servethehome.com - SFF router build thread — @mobilenvidia has done a great job with their thread on the whole Project TMM ecosystem; but I'm now almost two and a half years down the Lenovo Tiny rabbit hole so I thought I would gather some reference material specific to them together in one spot so that it can perhaps save others some time. I'll try to keep this updated as more information comes in, for the moment it only covers last four generations because I'm most familiar with those.
Table of contents
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