Posts tagged with “marketing”
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How to Change from a Microsoft Account to a Local Account in Windows 11

I bought a PC, not an MS account! Get MS off your back, switch to a local login instead of the MS account Windows pushes. I have done this and I hope it will be the last I get nagged to use more MS services and stuff I do not want.

After a storm last night my PC would not let me get past the MS login. I have tried to get rid of this MS login requirement for years. Different suggestions about how to do this and that have not really worked. I did not know about the idea of a local login. The local login is what we had years ago before MS decided to push all its marketing on everyone who bought a PC (personal computer).

I really hope this stays working. I do not use anything from MS (Microsoft) other than Windows itself and the Notepad it comes with. Even Notepad they have added muck to, over complicated it and now it doesn't work well any more. All this just to gather information and push marketing. The original product, which was good, is suffering from bloat and complete garbage no one really wants.

I would switch back to Linux but I still can't get MS to let me install only Linux as an OS (operating system). Why does one software company have complete control of computers made by other companies. Why don't computers come with OS options, let you pick which OS you want? MS must give them huge kickbacks. But, we just get marketing garbage. How much smaller would MS Windows be if it were ONLY an OS?

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The Dead Internet Theory

FakeGamerGirl - The Internet is DEAD

In her video post she talks about more than I had thought or known. Particularly about job searches now. I did know businesses use AI, or other software, to scan applications for keywords rather than bothering to actually read any resumes or applications. This turns finding employees into who uses the right keywords most often rather than finding someone actually competent and capable of doing whatever the job is. So, what kind of people are being employed? How many engineers does it take to build a bridge or building that doesn't fall down if none of them really know what they are doing - but they are just great at keywords.

Think about self driving cars. People feel they can't trust an AI or software to drive a car. How do you feel about having a human driver if they were hired without knowing whether or not they have a valid diver's license or have been charged as a drunk driver, or worse. That's just one career/ job. There are so many more!

Dead Internet Theory - Wikipedia • The dead Internet theory is a conspiracy theory that asserts that, since around 2016, the Internet has consisted primarily of bot activity and automated content manipulated by algorithmic curation. This alleged coordinated effort aims to control the population and reduce genuine human interaction.

I haven't heard of this theory by name. But, I've been online since 1996 and this is something I have thought for many years and it is just getting worse. I do not use a mobile phone and I find more and more Internet things are trying to force people to use a mobile phone and take their information. Its all about marketing, marketing is a predator. It is very much NOT human friendly.

Does it matter any more if the marketing even makes any money when they just want to collect information to sell to some other company? Who cares if the data is correct, as long as there is a lot of it. Phony built on top of phony.

Why does so much need to be online now? Really, it wasn't that long ago that the Internet hardly existed outside of science/ technology. I know many young people now don't know life without the Internet, but its just another tool, a means of communication. It's really weird how people have become so obsessed, addicted and reliant on it. Do you ever wonder who decided everything had to be online?

Why is it so hard now to manage without having/ using a mobile phone? I don't use one and I struggle to deal with things like banking, verification of your personal information. Passwords were abandoned because they don't provide information which can be collected and sold.

So much is pushed online and why? Really? Why are people being led so easily and so stupidly. People do not seem to really think for themselves any more. What does Google say.... Turn up the music Alexa... Cashiers can't even count change to the point of 5 - 2 is 3. (Don't bother to say I'm mean to cashiers or some other politically correct cancel culture nonsense - I was a cashier for a long time myself. I could do basic math without a calculator, or phone).

AI is taking over the jobs people would like to have and leaving you to wash your own dishes, cut your own grass, shovel your own you know what. It already has gone too far. But, its still going.

I wonder where the money is going to keep coming from if most people are unemployed and can't keep buying stuff/junk. Or pay bills. Who will keep the lights on, literally?

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Is the Smart TV Telling You What to Think?

The first time I thought about this, I had a much better description half written in my head. But, I didn't get here to post it until a few days later. So I've lost some of my train of thought. This is the best I could do today, with what I remember.

I've noticed, if I leave the TV (Smart TV) on after awhile it will ask if I'm still watching whatever it is. This isn't to save energy/ power. The power is still on. It is to make sure you are there to watch, or at least hear, the ads.

I've been wondering if anyone would notice if their Smart TV, or other screens, could do more than that. I think it could. Do you have one of those Alexa type things? I've tried to avoid them. If you can ask Alexa to turn down the lights, turn on the radio, and so on. It has to know several things and be connected to what you are doing and who you are. People have written/ talked about those digital home invaders, but have they thought about how far it could go? Now with AI too. I don't know how much AI can do but it is intended to mimic and predict people.

To some people this will sound silly, like a crackpot theory. When I think about it, mainly its just interesting.

Next time you have the Smart TV on, take note. Does it know when you stop watching TV? I have had the TV on and noticed that it sometimes stops working right at the time it breaks for ads - if I'm out of the room. It goes to that blank, black loading screen awhile and then says there is an error.

When I come back, if I do, it always runs several ads before restarting the show which it couldn't find before. Of course, it runs ads first. Advertising is the point of the whole thing for the businesses. But, does it lie (or whatever word you would use for digital/ virtual/ software that fibs).

I have no doubt the technology is there to keep track of what we watch and if we actually are watching at the time. Can it listen to what we do when we leave the room? Sure, it sounds like not much to think of, how many times you go for snacks, go to the bathroom, fall asleep. But, its all information about you. It can all be used to understand you, predict you, and scrape money out of you.

Kind of interesting. I'm not sure about the Smart TV tracking if I'm watching or not. It doesn't happen every time. It doesn't happen with every streaming service. I suspect some can't afford the extra software to make it work. Yet.

What I've been wondering about more since then, is what does the Smart TV do as far as subliminal messages. Banned in the 1970's (I think that was the right decade) I don't think anyone is watching for it now. Business controls government more now. As much as religion was once the big influencer. That does creep me out more. We look at so many screens now and there are no controls over what marketers can do. Not really. Not enough.

When your TV or other screen is in sleep mode and showing random images, screensavers, is that all that is there? It is a very useful marketing scheme, if it exists. The idea is not new. Can all this Smart technology not just watch you but also tell you what to think, what to believe, and of course, what to buy?

One more little technology/ marketing thing to consider.

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Privacy Badger - Privacy is Still an Issue Online

EFF - Cover Your Tracks

Test your web browser, how well does it work protecting you from marketing, tracking and having your digital fingerprint collected online? I use Opera. It passed on 2 out of 3. Good, but its just not enough any more to have 2/3 of online junk blocked.

A lot of people like to think it doesn't matter. I did for awhile. Then I found out more. A lot more. If you think privacy online doesn't matter do some research about it. Not just skimming the surface or thinking there isn't much to find interesting/ marketable about you. It isn't that simple.

Global Privacy Control

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Don't Like Ads with your Smart Technology?

Honestly, what did you think Smart technology was really? It's all about marketing. Not only will you get ads, they spy/watch you so they can target you better. Also, the Smart products you buy are designed to be flawed, to make you jump through hoops to get and keep them working. Smart technology is not supposed to make your life better. It just wants to sell you out.

Smart home technology loves your credit card. What will happen when you run out of money?