Recent Posts

21

Off-Topic / Re: Meta sued over spying through smart glasses

« Last post by Titan on April 12, 2026, 09:03:12 AM »

So the company that has been sued before for privacy issues is in trouble again for privacy issues? Not shocked by this.

22

PS5 Discussion / Re: What does everyone think about Sony increasing the price of the PS5 consoles?

« Last post by Paul2 on April 05, 2026, 03:09:05 PM »

when i first read the headlines a few days ago on some other websites like one of its is a videogame website, and i also happened to see a forum headline on the front right side of the main videogame website where it said sony is rubbing its hand greedily on ps5 price increase or something like that.  i thought sony was being greedy increasing the prices of all the ps5 consoles until today i read titan's post giving out the reasons why.

so there is a story behind it after all.  cool.

I'm not surprised people are saying that. But people also don't really take the time to think about the macroeconomics on what's going on in the industry. Nor do they know the pricing history and strategy of game consoles throughout history. And think of it this way. Things are so expensive now with costs going up and wages staying stagnant that people can hardly afford luxury goods right now. I believe console sales were already slowing down so why would they increase prices to just make more money when people already can't afford the current prices? It makes no sense unless there is a reason to increase prices. And it's the drastic price increases in core components that is a correlation right now. I was on Dell's website recently (sometimes I like to price shop) and their computers are already up in price for a low-mid range computer. I think like 800 or 900 for a computer with an Ultra 5 processor and like 16 gigs of RAM. I paid a little over 1000 for my computer (I built it) a couple years ago with an i7, 32 gigs of ram and a 4060Ti graphics card. With current prices of RAM, graphics cards and SSDs/hard drives, I wouldn't be shocked if that computer now is between 2-3 grand. And phones. Don't be surprised if phones start going up in price with the next models.

If anybody is being greedy right now its these component manufacturers. They're making record profits right now (I own stock in some of these companies and I can see that reflected in the stock prices). Even Micron pulled completely out of the consumer market (their consumer brand was Crucial) because they can sell their entire RAM chips they manufacture to these AI companies and they are willing to pay super high prices for the RAM. Western Digital sold their entire 2026 stock of hard drives to AI companies so no consumers can buy WD hard drives this year (prices are already reflecting). It's bad. So yeah, soap box rant done, I don't blame Sony, Microsoft or Nintendo for these price increases. People who just throw the blame at the hardware manufacturers just don't know what's happening in the tech industry right now. I'm interested in AI so I follow it. There's a lot going on and prices probably won't start coming down until 2028 or 2029 (that's what analysts are predicting).

actually nearly a day later after i made that post, i realized i didn't make it clear when i said i read the headlines, i didn't make it clear that i didn't click on the hyperlinks of the headlines to read about it.  i just read the headlines title only so i don't know what the other members and journalists said about it though.  yesterday, i didn't have the time to reply back since i mostly sleep too much but i rather oversleep than under sleep anyday.

but i did frequently visit this forums and read this thread and Titan made a lot of good points about it though that i didn't know.  cool.

23

Happy Birthday board / Happy Birthday GmanJoe & (e)

« Last post by Paul2 on April 05, 2026, 02:57:18 PM »

Happy Birthday GmanJoe & (e).

sorry for the 1 day late birthday greetings as probably around yesterday evening, i did happened to see you guys birthday on the bottom of the psx5 central main forums but i forgot about it.  its not until around 11:55 p,m. was when i remembered, so i went through you guys old birthday threads and i gotten sleepy so i slept through it.  it was past midnight by then, probably around 12;20 a.m. there.

i woke up at around 12:20 p.m. and continued where i left off going through you guys old birthday threads.  then its time for me to go to the park to practice martial arts, lately i been practicing martial arts once session per a day for everyday but only 1 move for 10 sets and 30 times including the weekends like today which is sunday in hoping i can improve on that one move.

then i came home and continue where i left off going through you guys old birthday threads and after i finish going through the old birthday threads.  finally i made a new birthday threads with 3 songs in it.  i added another videogame music in it this time since there are 2 people having the same birthday even though (e) hasn't been here for about 17 1/2 years already but he has the same birthday as GmanJoe.

added: i would l like to add that on the 3rd song, the singer's voice range is somewhat limited so the singing isn't as good as i would like.

btw, 126 years old eh GmanJoe?

so what did you guys do and get on your birthday?  how are you guys doing btw?

24

PS5 Discussion / Re: What does everyone think about Sony increasing the price of the PS5 consoles?

« Last post by Titan on April 04, 2026, 07:35:09 AM »

when i first read the headlines a few days ago on some other websites like one of its is a videogame website, and i also happened to see a forum headline on the front right side of the main videogame website where it said sony is rubbing its hand greedily on ps5 price increase or something like that.  i thought sony was being greedy increasing the prices of all the ps5 consoles until today i read titan's post giving out the reasons why.

so there is a story behind it after all.  cool.

I'm not surprised people are saying that. But people also don't really take the time to think about the macroeconomics on what's going on in the industry. Nor do they know the pricing history and strategy of game consoles throughout history. And think of it this way. Things are so expensive now with costs going up and wages staying stagnant that people can hardly afford luxury goods right now. I believe console sales were already slowing down so why would they increase prices to just make more money when people already can't afford the current prices? It makes no sense unless there is a reason to increase prices. And it's the drastic price increases in core components that is a correlation right now. I was on Dell's website recently (sometimes I like to price shop) and their computers are already up in price for a low-mid range computer. I think like 800 or 900 for a computer with an Ultra 5 processor and like 16 gigs of RAM. I paid a little over 1000 for my computer (I built it) a couple years ago with an i7, 32 gigs of ram and a 4060Ti graphics card. With current prices of RAM, graphics cards and SSDs/hard drives, I wouldn't be shocked if that computer now is between 2-3 grand. And phones. Don't be surprised if phones start going up in price with the next models.

If anybody is being greedy right now its these component manufacturers. They're making record profits right now (I own stock in some of these companies and I can see that reflected in the stock prices). Even Micron pulled completely out of the consumer market (their consumer brand was Crucial) because they can sell their entire RAM chips they manufacture to these AI companies and they are willing to pay super high prices for the RAM. Western Digital sold their entire 2026 stock of hard drives to AI companies so no consumers can buy WD hard drives this year (prices are already reflecting). It's bad. So yeah, soap box rant done, I don't blame Sony, Microsoft or Nintendo for these price increases. People who just throw the blame at the hardware manufacturers just don't know what's happening in the tech industry right now. I'm interested in AI so I follow it. There's a lot going on and prices probably won't start coming down until 2028 or 2029 (that's what analysts are predicting).

25

PS5 Discussion / Re: What does everyone think about Sony increasing the price of the PS5 consoles?

« Last post by Paul2 on April 03, 2026, 08:55:49 PM »

when i first read the headlines a few days ago on some other websites like one of its is a videogame website, and i also happened to see a forum headline on the front right side of the main videogame website where it said sony is rubbing its hand greedily on ps5 price increase or something like that.  i thought sony was being greedy increasing the prices of all the ps5 consoles until today i read titan's post giving out the reasons why.

so there is a story behind it after all.  cool.

26

PS5 Discussion / Re: What does everyone think about Sony increasing the price of the PS5 consoles?

« Last post by Titan on April 03, 2026, 07:21:05 AM »

Yeah dude. This is the first time in history prices actually went up. Usually, consoles are sold at cost or at a loss. It's uncommon consoles are sold at a profit. If they are, it's very slim. I think their hand got forced here with the rise of RAM and SSD prices. I wouldn't be surprised even at the prices their charging now, they're losing money with each console. And it's not even just Sony. Nintendo Switch 2 prices are high for what it is. And Microsoft raised prices on the Series X. It's so bad that next gen consoles are even likely being delayed until this AI induced shortage plays out. But RAM prices for some reason are starting to drop. I don't think the same is happening with SSDs yet but we'll have to see if this is temporary.

Either way, I should learn how to fix these. People don't want to buy a new console now with these prices if theirs breaks and with these prices, there's going to be an uptick in demand for cheaper used consoles.

27

PS5 Discussion / What does everyone think about Sony increasing the price of the PS5 consoles?

« Last post by Kurt Angle on April 02, 2026, 10:00:27 AM »

I think its pretty crazy actually for a console of this age. Generally you would expect them to get cheaper! 

Here are the details on the price increases. For the record the disc version was £479 here in the UK and its now £569 so its a £90 increase!

U.S.

    PS5 – $649.99
    PS5 Digital Edition – $599.99
    PS5 Pro – $899.99

U.K.

    PS5 – £569.99
    PS5 Digital Edition – £519.99
    PS5 Pro – £789.99

Europe

    PS5 – €649.99
    PS5 Digital Edition – €599.99
    PS5 Pro – €899.99

Japan

    PS5 – ¥97,980
    PS5 Digital Edition – ¥89,980
    PS5 Pro – ¥137,980

28

Happy Birthday board / Happy Birthday fastson and Luke

« Last post by Paul2 on March 30, 2026, 02:02:08 PM »

Happy Birthday fastson and Luke.

since there are 2 people having the same birthday, might as well add another videogame music here.  i wish Luke a happy birthday too even though he hasn't been here for over 16 years already but because he has the same birthday as fastson.

on the 2nd videogame music video, i think it could sounds better if it plays one key higher and/or wider range.  i am just guessing there.  i could be wrong so don't kill me if i am wrong.  maybe same thing with the first videogame music too i think.

anyway, so what did you guys do and get on your birthday?  how are you two doing btw?

29

Happy Birthday board / Happy Birthday CHIZZY

« Last post by Paul2 on March 24, 2026, 02:42:14 PM »

Happy Birthday CHIZZY. 

starting from today, i am going to post 2 music videos.  one videogame music and one music video that is not related to videogames.

so, what did you do and get on your birthday?  how are you btw?

30

Off-Topic / Meta sued over spying through smart glasses

« Last post by Paul2 on March 23, 2026, 08:49:20 PM »

Meta sued over spying through smart glasses

If you have been thinking about buying Meta's Ray-Ban glasses, you might want to reconsider. The company has been caught viewing users' footage, including people naked, having sex and using the toilet.

The shocking case was uncovered by Sweden's Svenska Dagbladet and Göteborgs-Posten, who spoke with more than 30 employees at Sama in Kenya, a company hired by Meta (Facebook) to review recordings from the glasses and tag objects like flowers and cars.

The problem is that they see far more than that, all without users' knowledge.

- "In some videos you can see someone going to the toilet, or getting undressed. I don't think they know, because if they knew they wouldn't be recording," a Sama employee told the Swedish newspapers.

A spy in your home
Meta claims to have sold 7 million smart glasses in 2025, but even if customers are buying hardware from one of the world's most privacy-intrusive companies, they likely did not expect to bring a spy into their own home.

- "I saw a video where a man puts the glasses on the bedside table and leaves the room. Shortly afterwards his wife comes in and changes her clothes," another employee said.

Employees say they can see people on the toilet, having sex and even credit card details. Practically everything users look at can be sent to Sama and Meta's servers. Faces are supposed to be blurred, but that does not always happen, and it is unclear why footage of naked people is reviewed to begin with.

- "We see everything – from living rooms to naked bodies. Meta has that type of content in its databases. People can record themselves in the wrong way and not even know what they are recording. They are real people like you and me."


The spy is listening too
It is not just video from inside the home that Meta reviews. Audio recordings are also accessed to evaluate how its AI assistant responds to users.

- "It can be about any topics at all. We see chats where someone talks about crimes or protests. It is not just greetings, it can be very dark things as well."

There is no way to opt out of this kind of data sharing if you want to use the features of Meta's glasses. Even recordings collected in the EU, which are subject to GDPR, can be shared, according to Meta, which has declined to answer specific questions from the newspapers.

Under investigation, lawsuits
The revelations have already triggered a state investigation in the UK and a lawsuit in New Jersey, USA, where two customers allege that Meta is misleading consumers by claiming the glasses are "designed for privacy, controlled by you".

A Swedish security expert at the Swedish Authority for Privacy Protection, Petter Flink, points out that the data collected through the glasses is more valuable than the hardware itself – the user is the product.

The issue runs deeper, however, because it is not the wearer who is being surveilled, but the people around them. These individuals have never agreed to Meta's terms.

- "When people share content with Meta AI, we sometimes use contractors to review this data for the purpose of improving people's experience, as many other companies do. We take steps to filter this data to protect people's privacy and to help prevent identifying information from being reviewed," Meta said in a written statement to TechCrunch.

Meta also sells the Quest VR headset, which is subject to the same general privacy terms.

https://www.flatpanelshd.com/news.php?subaction=showfull&id=1774247985

wow.  that is scary and good to know.  very, very intrusive of other people's piracy there.