#iPad Battery Issue

[meshtechkarachipk]

Are you struggling with iPad battery issues? Our guide makes it simple to troubleshoot and fix! Shop iPads and accessories online in Pakistan at Mesh Tech.

[codgod]

insane thing happened where i tried to charge my pen by plugging it into my ipad and it seemed like it was charging fine and then i checked again and it had gone down by 20% from when i last checked. and then it was almost dead again out of nowhere . so um i guess i’m just gonna use the cord adapter from now on O.o

[stfu-im-thinking-abt-blorbo]

What if you wanted to draw but God said FUCK YOUR PENCIL

[the-sleepy-archivist]

Blocking Ads on Mobile Devices

Blocking ads on our phones is way harder than it should be so I figured I'd make some recommendations. These are not the only options out there, just the ones that I know and use.

Please note that browser-level and system-level adblocking are complementary; you'll have the best experience if you use both of them together as they each block different things in different places. If you want a basic idea of how effective your combined adblocking setup is, you can visit this website in your mobile browser.

Lastly, there is some additional advice/info under the readmore if you're curious (EDIT: updated June 2024 to add info about sideloading altered versions of social media apps that don't contain ads on Android and iOS).

Android

Browser-Level

uBlock Origin (for Firefox)

System-Level (works in all apps, not just browsers)

AdGuard

Blokada 5 (completely free version) OR Blokada 6 (has some newer features but they require a subscription)

iPhone/iPad

Browser-Level

AdGuard (Safari extension; free for basic browser-level blocking, requires a subscription for custom filters)

System-Level (works in all apps, not just browsers)

AdGuard (requires subscription for system-level blocking)

AdGuard DNS only (this is free and does not require the AdGuard app, BUT I would only recommend it for advanced users, as you can't easily turn it off like you can with the app. Credit to this Reddit thread for the DNS profile)

Some additional info: browser-level blocking is a browser addon or extension, like you might be used to from a desktop computer. This inspects the HTML code returned by websites and searches for patterns that identify the presence of an ad or other annoyance (popup videos, cookie agreements, etc.). System-level blocking is almost always DNS-based. Basically whenever an app asks your phone's OS to make a connection to a website that is known for serving ads, the system-level blocker replies "sorry, I don't know her 🤷‍♂️💅" and the ad doesn't get downloaded. This works in most places, not just a browser, but be warned that it might make your battery drain a little faster depending on the app/setup.

Each of those types of blocking has strengths and weaknesses. System-level DNS blocking blocks ads in all apps, but companies that own advertising networks AND the websites those ads are served on can combine their services into the same domain to render DNS blocking useless; you can’t block ads served by Facebook/Meta domains without also blocking all of Facebook and Instagram as well because they made sure their ads are served from the same domain as all the user posts you actually want to see. Similarly, browser-level blocking can recognize ads by appearance and content, regardless of what domain they’re served from, so it can block them on Instagram and Facebook. However, it needs to be able to inspect the content being loaded in order to look for ads, and there’s no way to do that in non-browser apps. That’s why using both together will get you the best results.

These limitations do mean that you can’t block ads in the Facebook or Instagram apps, unfortunately, only in the website versions of them visited in your browser. It also means ads served by meta’s/facebook’s ad network in other apps can’t be blocked either (unless you're one of the rare beasts who doesn't use facebook or instagram or threads, in which case feel free to blacklist all Meta/FB domains and watch your ads disappear 😍; I'm jealous and in awe of you lol).

One note: some apps may behave unpredictably when they can't download ads. For example, the Tumblr app has big black spaces where the ads are, and sometimes those spaces collapse as you scroll past them and it messes up scrolling for a few seconds (UPDATE: looks like the scrolling issue may have actually been a Tumblr bug that they have now fixed, at least on iOS). Still way less annoying than getting ads for Draco Malfoy seduction roleplay AI chatbots imo though. And honestly *most* apps handle this fairly gracefully, like a mobile game I play just throws error messages like "ad is not ready" and then continues like normal.

One final note: on Android, you may actually be able to find hacked versions of Meta’s apps that have the ad frameworks removed. In some cases they are a little janky (unsurprisingly, apps don’t always take kindly to having some of their innards ripped out by a third-party), and they are often out of date. BUT in return you get an Instagram app with no ads whatsoever, and some of them even add additional features like buttons for saving IG videos and photos to your phone. However, use these apps at your own risk, as there is functionally no way to validate the code that the third-parties have added or removed from the app. Example altered IG app (I have not vetted this altered app, it's just a popular option): link.

It is technically possible to install altered apps on iOS as well, but Apple makes it much, much harder to do (unless you are jailbroken, which is a whole different ballgame). I'm not going to cover sideloading or jailbreaking here because even I as a very techy person eventually grew tired of messing with it or having to pay for it. If you're interested you can read more about the different ways to do sideloading on iOS here.

[musicaldeductions]

I’ve also reached a point where I’ve sent my six year old AirPods through the gd wash for the first time. What the fuck is that also about

I can’t believe I’ve reached a point in my life where I desire to own a house and land. Like what the fuck is that all about

[sirfrogsworth]

I am so tired of this brand pissing contest.

All of the metal bricks do pretty much the exact same thing. There isn't a better one. Just a slightly different user experience.

It basically comes down to 3 things. UX preference, ecosystem, friends/family.

Some people like the UX of iOS, some prefer Android. Either will do almost all of the same things. Android allows for more customization and tinkering. iOS tends to keep things stock but has more reliable apps—though Android development has improved.

Some people have PCs. Android and Google services tend to work better with a PC.

Some people have MacBooks and iPads. You would be silly not to get an iPhone at that point, because the integration of Apple products is seamless and kind of amazing.

And finally, what is everyone else in your group using? If they are mostly on iPhones, you will find communicating a little easier if you also have an iPhone.

There is one thing Apple does better than other manufacturers that I should include. Longevity. They support their devices for pretty much their entire lifespan. They allow software updates for as long as your phone will tolerate them. And since their hardware design is unified, you can always count on getting a well made product no matter the price point. No need to research each model to see if it is prone to break or has an exploding battery. This point makes me a little frustrated because so many iPhone users will upgrade every year for some reason. Unless there is a new feature you absolutely need, this is wasteful.

Android flagship phones tend to have decent longevity and get continued software updates. But there has always been an issue with the more budget models being forgotten about after a year and receiving no more software. You need to do a lot more research to see if the manufacturer of a particular line of phones has a history of quality manufacturing and good support or if they abandon their phones once the warranty period is up. I tend to steer people toward Pixel phones if they don't feel like doing the research. Google has been decent about long term support so far.

You have to evaluate your circumstances and choose the platform that will serve you best. In all honesty, you can make either work regardless. And you will probably have a few frustrations no matter which you choose.

Brand loyalty is stupid.

Pick what suits you best.

[foreststranger]

VARIOUS - FORESTSTRANGER TRAIL MIX: I

ꜱᴛᴀʀʀɪɴɢ *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ

↳ 『honkai: star rail』blade, jing yuan, gepard, luocha, sampo x gn!reader (seperate)

ᴘʀᴏᴍᴘᴛ *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ

↳ how various HSR men feel/react being away from you for long periods of time.

𑁍 ᴡᴏʀᴅ ᴄᴏᴜɴᴛ: 0.7k

ɴᴏᴛᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴀᴜᴛʜᴏʀ *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ

↳ I DIDNT KNOW WHAT TO WRITE FOR SAMPO BC I DONT KNOW HOW TO WRITE HIM BUT I WANTED TO WRITE HIM 💔

ALSO, the texting part in this fic (sampo’s section) might be messed up on different screens (I know it works on an ipad bc that’s what i typed this on but i’m not sure about phones or browser/desktop)

ʙʟᴀᴅᴇ

𑁍 away a lot for Stellaron Hunter missions.

𑁍 he won’t call or text most of the time but will constantly have you on his mind.

𑁍 sometimes, he’ll just zone out while doing something because he’s thinking about you

↳ “Bladie? Are you in there?” Kafka snaps her fingers in front of his face, startling him slightly.

“What?” Blade’s eyes narrow at her. As if she’s woken him from a blissful dream.

“You were thinking about someone, weren’t you?” A knowing grin crosses her face.

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ ALSO

𑁍 in my (correct) opinion, Blade has a super low social battery and as much as he likes being around you and how you make him feel, it just becomes too much for him sometimes (not projecting at all).

𑁍 you just won’t see or have any contact with him for a week or so sometimes and then he’ll pop up again.

𑁍 he usually just wanders around the Luofu when he wants to be alone.

𑁍 comes up with ideas for what he might do to make it up to you for disappearing again when he’s ready to talk to you.

↳ “Blade, you know you don’t have to do that for me! I get that you just want to be alone. You dont have to ‘make it up to me’ or anything. Maybe tell me next time, though, please?”

“…I understand.” He nods with his eyes shut.

ᴊɪɴɢ ʏᴜᴀɴ

𑁍 off doing General things because he’s the General (surprise).

𑁍 texts you almost every day to check up on you and sometimes invites you into the Seat of Divine Foresight just to hang out (“hang out” as in you sit on his lap while he blankly stares at scrolls on his table).

𑁍 literally only wants to be with you all the time (“be with you all the time” as in napping and snuggling with you when he’s supposed to be working) but you tell him that he has to do his work because it’s important and people depend on him and blah blah.

𑁍 but almost every time, you can’t resist when he begs you to stay with him in his office for just a little longer.

↳ “Jing Yuan, I should really get going. You have stuff to do and-“

“[name], please, humour me. Would you stay for just another minute?” He pouts slightly, looking at you with pleading eyes just as you were about to head to the door. The look he gives… how could you say no? You wouldn’t be there for long, anyway. Just another minute, he said.

“…Fine.”

ɢᴇᴘᴀʀᴅ

𑁍 the Captain of the Silvermane Guards is a busy man but he always makes time for you.

𑁍 will come find you on his lunch breaks so he can take you out to eat.

𑁍 if he’s been away for especially long, he often can’t focus on his work because of how much he wants to see you again.

𑁍 he knows that as the captain, he should be setting a good example to his subordinates, but he can’t help but always think of you. it’s getting to the point where it’s embarrassing.

↳ “Captain! You’re here!” At the sound of Dunn’s voice, Gepard quickly jumps up from his seat, his face completely red as if caught doing something he shouldn’t be (daydreaming about you).

“Uh… Captain? Are you okay?” Dunn approaches, worried that something’s wrong.

“Y-yeah. Yes, yes, I’m fine. What’s the issue?” Gepard’s voice is shaky as he tries to get ahold of himself.

ʟᴜᴏᴄʜᴀ

𑁍 definitely sends you letters while away on business. he finds them more heartfelt than a text message and you find them endearing.

𑁍 he collects trinkets/things he’ll think you like and give them to you when he comes back (akduanaisuahka I love him).

↳ “To my dear [name],

I hope you’re doing well. Work has been difficult and I miss you so much.

Don’t worry though. I’ll be back as soon as I can. Yesterday, I found a collection of books I thought you’d like on sale. I cannot wait to give them to you when I return.

I’ll write again soon, [name]. I love you.

𝐿𝓊𝑜𝒸𝒽𝒶”

ꜱᴀᴍᴘᴏ

𑁍 spam texts you like a hundred times a day just for the sake of interacting with you.

𑁍 accidentally sends you “business offers” instead of sending them to his clients lmaoo.

𑁍 never tells you when he’ll be back so he can surprise you.

↳

Sampo: Heyyyy fam

So

I was wondering

Do you wanna make an investment?

No?? :You

Sampo: ???

Oh

sorry

wrong person

Ignore what I said

Why? :You

Wait!!!!

What if I want to make the investment?

Sampo has gone offline

ask before translating, taking inspo from (not copy), reposting, etc. my work. remember to credit me and if you’re taking inspo from it, please @ me as I’d like to see what you do with my ideas!

[ghostingpen]

what's in my bag

i saw a tumblr post asking people who carry bags what items are there to bring other than “chapstick, keys, phone and maybe a tampon” and tbh that stuck with me. so here is everything i keep in my bag because i like to be That Backpack Person who has everything for any common occurrence.

after years of experimenting with my everyday carry, trying out trendy backpacks such as the fjällräven kanken and the doughnut macaroon, i surprisingly now find myself reaching for the jansport right pack backpack the most.

look at it in all its glory decked out in pins, buttons, and charms. i recently wore it going apple picking at an orchard and had no issues.

so here are its contents:

front small pocket:

mini emergency kit (i’m reusing an old gum container to keep small things i find myself needing often: bandaids, painkillers, hair ties, loose cash to give to the local homeless, four quarters in case i go to ALDI or want a gumball) + pocket tissues (this is what i run low on the most) + mini UNO cards (waiting in line with friends? play UNO) + tide to go pen + 2-in-1 battery bank/plug-in charger + phone charging cable + d20 dice (stimmy)

front medium pocket:

wallet + coin purse (to collect loose change) + disposable pens + e-reader + car keys + work ID + vape

water bottle pocket: 

the 24-oz owala water bottle is, and i’m not sponsored when i say this, the best water bottle i’ve ever used. the design is genius.

laptop pocket:

reusable shopping bag (i impulse buy a lot so this is useful) + one “big” tech thing and its charger for entertainment purposes. i like to have multiple entertainment options because i’m mentally ill. i’m currently carrying my steam deck OLED with me but i may sometimes instead bring one of these:

ipad: for web browsing, drawing, word processing.

freewrite alpha: my current way to write fiction. think a modern alphasmart that lets you transfer files locally or sync to the cloud if you prefer that.

work laptop: for work.

main pocket: 

mini tote (i use this to easily transfer whatever’s in the main pocket to another bag) + journal (a traveler’s notebook) + large emergency kit (sanitary pads, herbal oil for aches, eczema hand cream, earplugs, makeup wipes) + noise-canceling headphones + electric fan + hobonichi drawer pouch (other charging cables, wig caps, bobby pins, gorilla glue, facial wipes) + compact umbrella + pencil case

pencil case:

mechanical pencil + pencil lead + mini sticky notes + multi-ruler + white gel pen + glue stick + eraser + scissors + highlighter + brush pen + metal pen (it works like an 8 ball where you roll it and it shows you an 8ball-esque answer)

what you put in your bag is a very personal thing! i am always fascinated by the different ways people hold their things and what they find worth carrying around.

[pleucas]

hello! may i ask what device are you using to draw? You mentioned using Procreate, so i think it's an iPad, but i was wondering what model it is and if you'd recommend it for painting

hey there!

thanks for sending in an ask. i’m pretty sure i have the iPad Pro 2020, 12.9in. i use a gen 2 apple pencil with it :)

and abt digital painting etc…

i’d def recommend it for digital painting! since it’s an old model you’d prob be able to get a discount for it, or find a used one in good condition 👍👍 the screen size is sometimes excessive for me, i think the 11in model or anything smaller would work fine. only concern there would be functionality and memory, bc digital painting is very storage taxing

i’ve been using this guy for four years and she’s holding up very well. i’ve noticed that the battery is less effective (draining quicker, charging slower, etc) but it hasn’t severely inebriated my painting practice

i used to have a paper feel screen protector for it, but for the past year i’ve taken it off. i think there was just an adjustment period from traditional to digital and i hated the slippery screen, but i noticed it wore down my pen nib really quickly lol. now i use a nib with a metal tip (kinda looks like a mechanical pencil tip) and the smoothness doesn’t bother me as much. just took some time getting used to

smth abt digital painting on procreate/ipad that i both hate and love is the color display. apple color display is super good, almost too good… laptop/phone screens don’t match up and i find myself editing things for posts or printing lol. important to note, apple specifically functions in their own RGB scale, so exporting files from procreate preserves that color profile. it’s not compatible with printing, sharing, or anything LOL so be careful to convert things to sRGB (learned this the very hard way…)

i do hate procreate sometimes because their DPI is just. SOOOO low. if you transform or rotate anything then it pixelates 😭 i enabled all the hacks and nothing helped. nowadays i set up my canvas to be 3k+ pixels on at least one axis and 600dpi, it’s marginally better but i def do adjust my process to avoid any transformations 😞 maybe its just particularly bad for my style bc i like my details n Things all over the place but yeaaa prolly the biggest pitfall for ipad/procreate

another note (not rlly digital art related), i pretty much just use my ipad for digital painting, gaming sometimes (i had a crazy genshin/hsr phase), note taking on pdfs whtv. it prolly averages to ~2.5 hours per day, which isn’t a lot. so idk if you plan to use an ipad more intensively (ik some pals who deck out their ipad and basically use it as a laptop), then aforementioned problems might be a much larger issue

this got suuuuper long i apologize but all in all, ipad is def good for digital painting! it’s accessible, customizable, transportable (even with my massive 13in screen LOOOOL), and worth :) but at the end of the day, it’s a tool and its utility is what you make of it. hope i could help!

[mekkyz-dubz]

!! PLEASE SHARE AND REBLOG THIS POST ASAP !!

Update: 7/9/2023 (I will update the listings if they are added to the stores.)

Drawing Tablet Buyer's Guide 2023

Are you looking for help to get into digital art? Are you confused for what models would you pick? Do you want success in your art career? Then this blog is for you. These are the buyer's guide for artists who wanted to take approach on digital art. As always, you don't need a latest and greatest tools just to make good art. Your handy mouse and a trusty old tablet can do fine art at the time. My Intuos 4 L still works today, even if it was released on 2009.

Here are the basic categories you'll fit into: Beginner, Intermediate and Professional.

Beginner - This is where you start making digital art for the first time.

Intermediate - These are experienced artists who are on mid-range level at a greater value.

Professional - These are same as intermediate but who are on to take approach an high-end level to mimic the meaning art.

There are three types of pen tablets for you to decide. These have pros and cons on these tablets.

Pen Tablet - A pen tablet doesn't require a screen and can benefit for a user experience such as good posture, portability and pricing, but this requires hand-eye coordination as this type of tablet has a steep learning curve and drawing on it feels unnatural to use.

Pen Display - A pen display is a monitor that can be drawn into. It is easier to learn how to use pen displays and can mimic a sketchbook you were drawing. However, there are issues such as bad posture, expensive pricing and limited portability. Sometimes, your hand gets in the way through pinpoint cursor while drawing.

Pen Computer - These are pen tablets that can be used by themselves and don't require a computer, it can be portable for travel use. However, they are very expensive, limited to none upgradability, difficult and costly repairs and have a short battery life. As such, I do not recommend getting these pen computers for these reasons above and instead look for other mobile tablet alternatives such as iPad Pro, Surface Pro 8 or Samsung Galaxy Tab.

Here are the list of drawing tablet recommendations based on three categories.

NOTE: Prices may vary due to sale discounts so I only put links to the official store from drawing tablet brands so I'm gonna keep the original price for future references. However, Amazon is safer for returns and good units and eBay is the way to go for second hand offers.

If you're an osu! player looking for a pen tablet, I'd suggest getting an Intuos Pen and Touch Small 2013 (PTH-480) on eBay. One by Wacom Small (CTL-472) has the same performance yet cheaper. The only good alternative that doesn't suck is Gaomon S620. I recommend getting OpenTabletDriver for that purpose.

If you want to invest digital art, I highly recommend getting a medium size tablet for larger hand gestures.

Beginner

Pen Tablet: $30-100 Range

Wacom:

One by Wacom Small (CTL-472) - $49.95

One by Wacom Medium (CTL-672) - $99.95

Huion:

Huion HS611 - $79.99

Huion Inspiroy H1161 - $89.99

Huion Inspiroy 2 S/M/L - $49.99 - $89.99

Huion Inspiroy H640P - $49.99

Huion Inspiroy H950P - $59.99

XP-Pen:

XP-Pen Deco Fun XS/S/L - $29.99- $49.99

XP-Pen Deco 01 V2 - $59.99

XP-Pen Deco M/MW - $49.99 - $69.99

XP-Pen Deco L/LW - $69.99 - $89.99

Pen Display: $170-420 Range

Wacom:

Wacom One (DTC-133) - $399.95

Huion:

Huion Kamvas 12 - $239.99 w/ stand

Huion Kamvas 13 - $264.99 w/ stand

Huion Kamvas 16 (2021) - $419 w/ stand

XP-Pen:

XP-Pen Artist 10 (Gen 2) - $169.99

XP-Pen Artist 12 (Gen 2) - $249.99

XP-Pen Artist 13 (Gen 2) - $299.99

XP-Pen Artist 16 (Gen 2) - $399.99

Intermediate

Pen Tablet: $100-200 Range

Wacom:

Wacom Intuos Small Wireless (4100WL) - $59.95

Wacom Intuos Medium Wireless (6100WL) - $199.95

Huion:

Huion Inspiroy Dial 2 - $139.99

Huion Inspiroy Giano - $199.99

Huion Inspiroy Q11K V2 - $139.99

XP-Pen:

XP-Pen Deco Pro S/SW - $99.99 - $129.99

XP-Pen Deco Pro M/MW - $129.99 - $159.99

Pen Display: $260-1300 Range

Wacom:

Wacom Cintiq 16 (DTK-1660) - $799.95 ($649.95 on Amazon)

Wacom Cintiq 22 (DTK-2260) - $1299.95

Huion:

Huion Kamvas Pro 13 2.5K - $399.99

Huion Kamvas Pro 16 2.5K - $599.99

Huion Kamvas 22 Plus - $549

Huion Kamvas 24 Plus - $899

XP-Pen:

XP-Pen Artist 12 Pro (2019) - $259.99

XP-Pen Artist 13.3 Pro (2019) - $279.99

XP-Pen Artist 15.6 Pro (2019) - $369.99

XP-Pen Artist Pro 16 (2021) - $449.99

XP-Pen Artist 22R Pro (2020) - $599.99

XP-Pen Artist 22 (Gen 2) (2021) - $499.99

XP-Pen Artist 24 Pro (2020) - $899.99

XP-Pen Artist 24 (2021) - $799.99

Professional

Pen Tablet: $140-500 Range

Wacom:

Wacom Intuos Pro Small (PTH-461) - $249.95

Wacom Intuos Pro Medium (PTH-661) - $379.95

Wacom Intuos Pro Large (PTH-861) - $499.95

XP-Pen:

XP-Pen Deco Pro MW (Gen 2) - $139.99

XP-Pen Deco Pro LW (Gen 2) - $179.99

XP-Pen Deco Pro XLW (Gen 2) - $199.99

Xencelabs:

Xencelabs Pen Tablet Small - $199.99

Xencelabs Pen Tablet Medium - $279.99 for standard, $359.99 for bundle, $379.99 for special edition

Pen Display: $800-3500 Range

Wacom:

Wacom Cintiq Pro 13 (DTH-1320) - Formerly $799.95 but less than $379.99 on eBay

Wacom Cintiq Pro 16 (2021) (DTH-167) - $1599.95 ($1529.99 on B&H Photo Video and Amazon)

Wacom Cintiq Pro 24 (DTK-2420) - $2199.95

Wacom Cintiq Pro 24 Touch (DTH-2420) - $2699.95

Wacom Cintiq Pro 27 (DTH-271) - $3499.95

Huion:

Huion Kamvas Pro 16 4K Plus - $899

Huion Kamvas Pro 24 4K - $1299

XP-Pen:

XP-Pen Artist Pro 14 (Gen 2) - $419.99

XP-Pen Artist Pro 16TP - $899.99

Xencelabs:

Xencelabs Pen Display 24 - $1899

Resources:

Brad Colbow: YouTube | Brad.site

Teoh Yi Chie: YouTube | 2nd Channel | Parka Blogs

The Seven Pens: YouTube | Website

[iraprince]

Hoya I'm currently saving up for a tablet aswell, because I'm drawing on my school's ipad that I have kept well past the due date, but have to give back now that I'm moving out of my boarding school that I'm sponsored to be in, and i wanted to ask for tips/recommendations what to get, because I have literally no money, and am scared to blow it on a tablet that sucks or something

advice on what to get can vary, but i am VERY opinionated on what not to get: fuck wacom lol. this from someone who's been on an intuos pro for years, but while they at least have longevity going for them, mine has had constant driver issues and a major hardware failing -- years ago the port for connecting it to the comp AND FOR CHARGING IT via usb failed for no reason, which is apparently a common issue for my model, so for years i have been forced to 1. only use it via wireless connection, which makes the driver fussiness WORSE and 2. buy a separate universal camera battery charger, bc w the port failing that was the only way to charge the thing. wacoms are fucking EXPENSIVE, and they're lovely to draw on, but imo for the price they should be massaging my balls as a bonus, not breaking constantly and making me tear my hair out. they are just not worth it unless you have the cash to burn and you're a HUUUUUUGE stickler on all the really technical stuff.

rant aside. i have heard nothing but lovely things about huion, which is why it's what i'm switching to now; here and there i've seen ppl say the drivers can be fussy on mac, but it doesn't seem like a dealbreaker. huions are also pretty damn affordable if you're looking at a standard tablet rather than a screen one.

if a huion is outside your budget, i think i can recommend a monoprice -- my first tablet ever was a tiny wacom bamboo, but my first "serious" tablet that i used constantly/daily was a monoprice. it was dirt cheap and it worked absolutely fine and it lasted me for ages. i haven't used one in a very long time, so i can't speak to if the quality is the same as when i used one, but i always think fondly of the one i had. i remember the first-time driver setup being awful, but once it got working i don't remember ever having issues with it again.

in terms of just general tips: get the biggest one you can afford. it's better for your wrist, and even though it's scary to invest in something when you're not sure you'll like it, it's usually worse to pay for something crappy that you'll end up wanting to replace eventually anyway. even when i've had really cramped workspaces or no real workspace at all, i've never found that the compact-ness of a tiny tablet has made up for how ergonomically shit it is to draw on one; i would rather awkwardly wrangle a slightly-too-big tablet any day.

good luck, i hope this is helpful!

[hufflepuffxmrdrs]

Modern Marauders Headcanons (boys version)

Remus:

needs glasses for reading (won't admit it tho)

phone in dark mode

extremely interested in politics

never goes anywhere without his phone

goes to climate demos with Lily

gives online study sessions

the type to text HAHAHAHA when sitting there like •_•

skater.

James:

wears contact lenses for important occasions

phone in light mode

always wears a watch

spams the groupchat with Sirius and Marlene

refuses to get tiktok but watches insta reels

secretly loves disney movies

makes playlists for Lily

collects patterned socks and wears them unirconically

Sirius:

phone in dark mode

lives at concerts/festivals (always drags the others along)

phone is always at 1%

no license, drives anyway

listens to artic monkeys

loves playing lasertag

communicates in memes

can't resist challenging Regulus in Mario kart even though he always loses

Peter:

is tiktok famous for always trying the newest food trends

never let's his phone battery drop under 20%

phone in light mode

always forgets where he put it tho

volunteers at the the local animal shelter

spends too much time on powerpoints

uses duolingo to learn the most random language

wins online chess against the ai

Frank:

makes Alice watch cute romance movies with him

let's his hair air dry after a shower

loves texting this face every chance he gets :D

was the first to have a driver's license out of the friendgroup and involuntarily became a personal chauffeur

phone in light mode

secretly a swiftie

prefers to walk most places if they're close enough

always carries sunscreen around

Regulus:

gamer.

phone in dark mode

probably joint a cult at some time because he got asked on the street and couldn't say no

has a locked folder in his notes app that is actually a journal, no one knows about it

drinks energy drinks like water

actually really tidy handwriting (uses goodnotes for studying)

writes poetry and posts it on tumblr

Barty:

plays electric guitar

has his own cinema room in his parents basement (they watch movies together there a lot)

is in therapy for anger issues

listens to punk

phone in dark mode

competes in undergound boxing as a hobby

junk food addict

calls everyone "bro" no matter who he's talking to

Evan:

tatoo artist

has to wear braces

is a natural dark-blonde but bleaches his hair to make it even lighter

the only one to know about Regs Journal

only uses over ear headphones because the others hurt his ears

creates digital art on his ipad and carries it around everywhere

phone in light mode

is secretly into skincare

[hyperbali]

My iPad is starting to have bad battery issues, so I need to start looking into replacing it soon for another drawing tablet. Obviously it's been a few years since I was on the market for one, and I don't necessarily trust the various business articles, SO ARTIST FRIENDS:

What tablet are you using that works for you? Preferably I'd be able to use it on its own without needing to be hooked up to a computer, and display is a must.

[dragongirltail]

I hear that you like Microsoft Surface tablets. I'm currently setting one up for my friend, and I'm wondering what it is that draws you to them? I know it's Microsoft's "answer" to the iPad but haven't paid much attention to it since it's release

Oooo, loaded question that one! In truth, it's less that I like Surface tablets and more that there's nothing that does it like them.

The windows tablet market is a hellscape where most of what people use them for is lightweight chromebook note block stuff that requires little to no computing power, so most of what's available from most companies is just kinda meh.

You have tons of Lenovo/Thinkpad stuff that tends to run on pentiums and low power i3s and whatnot, it'll be able to play a youtube video but that's about it.

For higher performance there's like two or three models by lenovo, Dell has a few good ones, you can go the gamer route and buy an asus ROG thingie that looks gaudy and like it's made for 15 year olds, but either way you're gonna be running short on something if you just want something basic.

Gaming tablets are high in power but at that point you might aswell buy a laptop since the battery life is atrocious, the lenovo ones are alright but quite new and hard to get used, and I just dislike dell out of principle because they're a terrible company.

So that means generally the only real answer lies in Microsoft's lineup since they offer sleek but pleasant designs, and their performance isn't so through the roof that you can't use them without wall power, but still good enough to do general tasks and basic gaming which is exactly the sweet spot I'm looking for!

The personal answer here is that the surface Pro series specifically covers a large area of specific things I'd like in my secondary device: Portable, decently long battery life, good performance for how long it lasts.

The main purpose for wanting one is so I can use it to watch videos in bed before sleep on a larger screen, to be able to play basic games when I'm away from home, and as an auxilliary screen to put somewhere on my desk when I need it for other stuff like reference pictures or whatnot.

Having a touchscreen is a godsend there since it's so much easier to operate something with just bapping it with your fingers instead of operating a trackpad, keyboard, or mouse so it's the easiest choice for that kind of "no brain" use to me.

The other issue is price, since most of the other companies only recently jumped on the windows tablet bandwagon they're hard to get used, but surfaces are available online for cheap the further back in generation you go.

Currently I've got a Pro 7+ with an i7-1165G7, 16GB of ram, and 512GB of storage + a 128GB micro sd card installed. The i7 is an 11th gen intel model which means it has the blazing fast iris Xe integrated graphics and anything I can really see myself playing on this thing it handles swimmingly (minecraft, warframe, any game from like 6+ years ago).

Bought it for about 500€ last winter, which is extremely good value for what it is, seriously!

TL;DR: Surfaces are the least bad choice in the tablet/convertible market, they're expensive but previous gen models will still do all you'd ask from one without much issue.

[fallenrockstars]

I’m not asking for handouts, this is just a visualization of my progress towards raising funds via adopts, comms etc, but:

I made a Ko-Fi goal for saving up towards a new iPad, as I am quite sick of all the tech issues I keep having with my current one that I use for all my art. The whole “basically won’t/can’t charge while I’m actively drawing and using it” thing is already a headache since Procreate eats my battery really fast and I usually gotta have it plugged in while I draw…

I’m gonna look into having it repaired and hopefully the cost to do so won’t be anything too crazy. This particular iPad was already a few years old and secondhand when I got it, so I’m not surprised Apple planned obsolescence is kicking in, but I’m nonetheless very annoyed lol

[sirfrogsworth]

Today's Uber was also my first time riding in a Tesla.

A quick review…

I had no idea how to open the frickin' doors. I know making them flush to the door reduced the drag by a percent or two, but those handles were not intuitive and probably not very ergonomic for people with hand or finger disabilities.

The interior was fine. But it was extremely plain. It reminded me of those bachelor pads of rich tech bros who are super into minimalism.

The giant iPad-like screen to control EVERYTHING seemed silly. And I hate that so many car makers are copying that. Real knobs and buttons can be memorized through muscle memory and are much less of a distraction. With the touchscreen, any change you need to make requires taking your attention off the road and going through menus or even submenus. There is no way to feel the controls without distraction.

The ride was pretty bumpy and uncomfortable. Not sure if that is a suspension issue or if the weight of the batteries causes that. But my car from 2008 has a much smoother ride.

The seatbelt felt cheap and it was extremely difficult to buckle. I kept having to reset it as it would lock up on me before I had enough slack.

Everything in the interior felt cheap. The seat upholstery was this fake leather and felt a bit tacky. And the little A/C vent for the rear seats was very cheap plastic. I felt like I was going to break it when I adjusted the airflow direction.

The good stuff is pretty much the reason people buy Teslas. The acceleration is effortless. Even at slow speeds you could tell. it is very quiet--no blaring engine noise. They have an excellent battery system with industry-leading range and an impressive drivetrain that goes fast and stops fast. I'm sure it is very fun to drive. Just like my brother's muscle cars.

But they put little effort into fit and finish. They did almost nothing to make sure the car was comfortable for passengers. It's like their entire design philosophy was, "As long as it goes fast and has excellent battery life, we can do the bare minimum with everything else."

And that strategy has worked so far. But as I see actual auto manufacturers with decades of experience start to design EVs, I don't think a zippy car will be sufficient for Tesla to stay competitive. Once other companies figure out the charging network dilemma, I think Tesla is going to have some major problems.