Thanks, I use darktable, but will give it a try!

I’ve updated my OP with some interesting new details!

Thanks, I’ll give Digikam a try!

I’ve updated my OP with some interesting new details!

Thanks. I use Immich, but when I tagged a photo then saved it back to my computer, the geotagging was gone (but HDR was still intact). It’s as if it saves it to its own database, and I can’t find any settings to confirm.

Well, none of the phone’s I’ve owned in the last 5+ years have been very “root friendly”, so I haven’t rooted since then.

But it gives you a ton of (not risk-free) options to tweak your system. Shizuku is a cool alternative, but it is limited by comparison.

I actually really like TrackerControl, but use Adguard instead for the same purpose (can’t use them at the same time, unfortunately, since they both work through a local VPN).

The difference, though, is that Blocker stops apps from even loading the component that would “call home”, where TrackerControl and Adguard try to block those connections after they’ve been sent by the app.

Yes, you kind of accomplish the same thing, but I would love to be able to prevent apps from using these SDKs in the first place :)

I’m not looking to delete apps, just stop certain components within apps.

For example, my banking app uses the Google Ads, Google Firebase Analytics, and Adobe analytics, and I’d like to disable those from running without uninstalling the banking app.

Basically, it disables the bad parts of an app :)

I used to do this when I was into rooting and custom firmware, but I really don’t want to go full root with my current phone.

It’s not permissions that I want to block/stop, but actual receivers, services, SDKs… components within apps. So, something like the analytics services can be disabled, rather than “blocked” like using an adblocker.

I used to do this when I was rooted years ago, and it was great!

Well, shit. It’s strange how so many places recommend Blocker when using Shizuku, but it really needs Root to be useful.

Synology. Whatever is in your budget.

Yes, they’ve done things to piss off the community, and sure, a DIY build is going to give you more control and powerful hardware.

But you can get support (though Synology or the Internet communities of users), and if any family member ever needs to take it over, it’ll be easy for them to pick up and manage.

Yes, when you mount the external library (when setting up docker), you can set it as read-only. 👌

My use case:

I use a Synology NAS to backup my photos/videos. On mobile, I use the Synology Photos app for 100% of the backups, because it’s been 100% reliable for me over the years.

I basically run Immich in read-only mode, and specifically for searches. The contextual search is incredible, and after putting it side-by-side with a very expensive Windows software that uses local AI search, it came out on top… no contest.

So in that sense, I’m very happy!

Also no native Linux app so I could only use it on the app on my phone.

You can use their web interface to view/control certain models on your local network: https://support.reolink.com/hc/en-us/articles/360003981973-How-to-Remotely-Access-Reolink-Cameras-NVRs-via-a-Web-Browser/

I have the Reolink Home Hub (doesn’t support all my Reolink cameras, but enough), and I’m able to use the browser interface on Linux no problem. Of course, the app is more feature rich, but that depends on your needs, too.

I’m sure you can even access this interface through the net via remote proxy or something similar.

but in a recent firmware update they disabled the http and https capabilities

Yeah, they suck with their firmware. One of my cameras was locked out… literally unable to view, playback, or control it until I got in touch with Reolink tech support so they could force an update through. It took several days and a lot of effort to clear that up. Not cool!

I started using it last week, simply because other options weren’t playing nice with my self-hosted collection (they wanted local files…).

Seems to work well, but it is very basic.

mp3va.com has been listed in U.S. Trade Representative annual reports as being unauthorized to sell music. Legal experts have explicitly stated that while MP3VA claims to operate legally under Ukrainian copyright laws, “it is not legal for them to sell this music in the United States”.

I’ve never used the site, but there seems to be an argument here regarding moral law and legalities within the United States.

But the site claims that:

Service www.Mp3va.com pays full-scale author’s royalties to owners of pieces of music, trademarks, names, slogans and other copyright objects used on the site.

If that’s the case, I think the OP should feel good about it.

Buying off a site like them likely pays out more per user than listening to the same songs on a streaming platform.

Car dependency is a big problem in most of the US.

I agree, and that often ends up being the excuse why kids aren’t allowed to walk or bike to school, and it’s fucking terrible.

But when you look at stats from countries in Europe, you have some countries that have kids being fully independent (in regard to walking or biking or taking public transportation) by their time they’re 10 or 11 and able to do considerably more than North American teenagers, even at younger ages. It’s kind of disgraceful for us North Americans.

Now about 15 to 20 families in their South Portland neighborhood have installed a landline.

This is awesome.

Also, let kids walk to their friend’s home to see if they want to play or hang out. It will build independence, get them exercise, and it gives them an opportunity to physically connect with their neighbourhood.

I seriously only want to have options for sorting when I do a search. That’s the only thing that I need for it to be “perfect”.

I used to run software on an old phone that basically worked as a camera NVR.

At some point the battery swelled up and I’m glad my house didn’t burn to the ground. I only noticed it because the glass screen protector on that phone had popped off from the screen flexing under pressure 😮

As long as you have a way of monitoring your phones, or at least physically isolating them from important things, then you could probably do it without many risks.

Unfortunately, the only other alternative to “auto” under Profile is “main”, which I have no idea what it does.

And under level, it’s either “auto” or a bunch of numbers.

That said, I was under the impression that any manual settings would override the settings in the “auto” profile. Is that not the case?

I found my answer then! I appreciate that 👍