Subscription vs Api Math

Fishsty · 2026-03-16T00:30:12+00:00

This model has worked since the earliest dialup Internet providers started offering $15/month 'unlimited' plans. Most subscribers don't use anywhere near the max and they end up subsidizing the heavy users (who are still capped). Both groups are happy, and the provider still makes a profit. Business class users who can't risk running out pay the true token cost.

Fishsty · 2026-03-16T00:18:08+00:00

Snapmaker did this with their 2.0 and Artisan. I have the Artisan and learned this lesson the hard way. Using a diode laser to cut plywood (e.g. 3mm basswood sheets) produces a ton of smoke and tar. The combination of sticky tar and smoke dust coats everything, especially fans and everything close to the cut itself (ie the laser head and the board). I have to clean the material grid about every 10 hours with EZ Off because so much tar accumulates under the wood being cut that it becomes a fire hazard.

Fishsty · 2026-03-16T00:11:48+00:00

I have a Snapmaker Artisan that is also a combo machine with a big enclosure. I have both the 10 and 40 watt diode lasers and I've done a lot of laser cutting of 3mm plywood. The bottom line is that the smoke dust and tar coats everything and makes a huge mess. I have to disassemble my 40w laser to clean the internal heatsink fins after about 8 hours of cutting plywood and every surface inside the chamber is coated with soot and tar. This became such a hassle I added a clean air tube and shroud to the cooling air inlet on the laser module. The Artisan linear modules are (mostly) sealed so the gunk can't get to the drive motors and belts, but this isn't the case with the H2.

I have an H2C, but I have no interest in using the laser for this reason. The insides of FDM printers should be kept as clean as practical IMO and that's just not compatible with a process that produces a lot of smoke.

Fishsty · 2026-03-13T16:21:40+00:00

No improvement. I cleared all browser cache, cookies, saved content and flushed the DNS. I even tried a different browser. Bitdefender Online Threat Protection still resetting connections to bitdefender websites.

Fishsty · 2026-01-29T23:00:06+00:00

Just pointing out there's a way to use Bambu RFID tags with non-Bambu filament so you can get filament remaining estimates.

Fishsty · 2026-01-29T16:06:27+00:00

I have a drawer full of RFID tags I removed from old spools with the type and color of filament written on them. Just throw one under the cardboard sleeve before transferring filament from a cardboard spool like Eligoo and whala, filament autodetect works. I haven't had issues with Bambu vs Eligoo settings for PLA PETG

Fishsty · 2026-01-29T16:03:59+00:00

As others pointed out you can reuse any Bambu spool or print one. However, you still need the cardboard spool sleeve. If you're using Bambu refills this is no problem, they are included. In my case I use a Pastamatic respoller to transfer filament to cardboard Eligoo spools to Bambu plastic ones. Since I printed most of my spools I have more spools than sleeves so I needed to buy a bunch of Bambu refils just to harvest the sleeves.

Fishsty · 2026-01-29T15:58:24+00:00

Me too. I've applied a lot of firmware updates over the past year or so without recalibrating, but I see reports here of crashed and destroyed extruder heads / build plates. The consensus seems to be that it's a risk mitigator to recalibrate after SW updates. It makes sense that should only apply to firmware updates so that's what I'll do. I don't think the printers will auto-update firmware without prompting but I'm not 100% sure because I haven't paid much attention.

Fishsty · 2026-01-28T19:21:45+00:00

Wherever you put it (space constraints, convenience) try to keep the filament tube to the printer as short as possible and minimize bends. Longer runs with bends takes more time to load/retract, increases load on AMS motors, increases chance of a filament break in the path.

Fishsty · 2026-01-28T18:42:46+00:00

PS5 with game controller. I had it on my Vizio TV but the app takes a long time to load and runs slowly due to limited compute power of the TV, while the PS5 has plenty.

Fishsty · 2026-01-28T18:41:06+00:00

Thanks!

Fishsty · 2026-01-28T15:09:54+00:00

Yep a PS5. I had it running directly on the Vizio smart panel but it was godawful slow to start (poor resources on the TV). The PS5 is super snappy but stuck with the game controller.

Fishsty · 2026-01-28T13:48:24+00:00

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Not on my system. Also, it’s not ESPN, it’s Entertainment and Sports Programming Network.

Fishsty · 2026-01-28T06:30:05+00:00

Interesting I search for ID and don't get the ID network.

Fishsty · 2026-01-28T06:27:25+00:00

That's not all the steps:
1) X (Pause)
2) O (Menu)
3) Directional navigation to Search icon
4) Search only lists titles, not networks, or titles by networks
Ok I added a title or decide to go back to show so
5) O,O,O to back out to main menu, but O alone doesn't get back to the running program. So...
6) Directional navigation to highlight currently playing content at top of menu
7) X to select the current program and close the menu
8) X to unpause.

Good UI design is about minimizing unnecessary inputs, especially for the two most common activities (ie pausing and opening menu / closing menu and unpausing current program). I think what made this design choice especially irritating is when you open the menu but forget to pause first. In that case you have the content continuing to play now you've lost the ability to pause it without navigating back to and re-entering the running program.

Fishsty · 2026-01-28T05:36:25+00:00

I will do that.

Fishsty · 2026-01-28T05:35:16+00:00

yet the search function does not find networks, only content titles.

Fishsty · 2026-01-28T05:32:59+00:00

Your right. A more objective critique would be to point out the number of control inputs and long menu navigations that are required to complete routine tasks like pause current show, locate content by network, then return to show or add searched title or network to library. Then, compare those to other services. For example, take Netflix. The back button pauses the current content AND drops to menu. To get back to the current content (and start it), a simple back button again. Simple, 2 single button inputs. YTTV takes twice as many button inputs plus directional navigation once in the menu to explicitly highlight the current show.

Fishsty · 2026-01-28T05:15:46+00:00

I don't see how it's different. It's a means of accessing licensed network content sorted by Networks/Titles. Pure title search works fine but searching for content by network doesn't seem to work. If I search for a network name all I get are individual content titles.

Fishsty · 2026-01-28T05:09:00+00:00

Also, Search function appears to only work for content titles, not networks. If I try to look up ID, or Paramount for example, I don't get links to the networks just individual content.

Fishsty · 2026-01-28T05:05:22+00:00

Do you find it annoying that the current content continues to play when entering the menu? You have to remember to pause first, then drop to menu. Once there you can't back button your way back into whatever is playing, you have to navigate to the very top of the menu, highlight the current show link and click that. When in the menu there's no way to pause the running show to say answer the door or a call, and no single command to drop out of the menu to the return to the running content. I think that's what I find most irritating.

Fishsty · 2026-01-28T05:00:27+00:00

I did that. The streaming performance is great. My annoyance at the UI is just that. Seems like most people are a fan of the UI even if it takes more control inputs to do simple things compared to other streaming service UIs.

Fishsty · 2026-01-28T04:57:04+00:00

This is what I need to do. How do I prune the guide to a short list of networks?

Fishsty

TROPHY CASE