So many different questions here. However…

A knife can be used to kill but also cook a nice meal.

Done

Is it worth stating which companies own which vpns? I saw a TIL that mentions a select few companies own most VPNs

I think they mean powerline adapters

I have joplin but personally found myself using Nextcloud Notes 100% of the time. I just need very basic, quick markdown notes

Ticks all your boxes

Raspberry Pi:

1. Install wireguard (as a server)
2. Set up a peer/client config
3. Open wireguard port on the router

MiniPC:

1. Install wireguard (as a client)
2. Add server config and connect to server
3. Verify connection
4. Ensure connect on boot

Points to note:

• Configure them both locally and ensure you have a connection before you move the pi to another country

• If you’re behind a CGNAT on one network, that’ll change some things. That network will have to be the client. (If both are behind CGNAT, you’re out of luck and cant use this - will have to be tailscale or other method)

• If using a domain name make sure its always pointing to your ip (in case it’s not static)

• I think if you set allowed ip as 0.0.0.0/0 on the client it’ll route all traffic.

Edit:

Saw your comment about just having qbt use the vpn. Check this guide out

Does it grant “backdoor” access?

Found this annoying too but didn’t think to do anything about it until I read this post…

Anyway looking it up, maybe try

about:config > tabs.group > browser.tabs.group.dragOverThresholdPercent

I guess turn it to 0?

Edit: nevermind this isnt an option anymore on my end.

Could also disable via browser.tabs.groups.enabled

They do? I dont recalling having needed to pay for it and dont need to log in. I even have a degoogled phone… maybe it used to be free

My experience has been OSMAnd feels “heavy”. It is a large app but i guess there’s so much it just feels sluggish. But it has the most features which I use as my go to reference.

Organic maps (and CoMaps) feels sleeker and quicker but when im on the road I want traffic updates.

For the last few years my go to is Magic Earth for the traffic data.

My issues with OSM is a lot of missing information and incorrect roads. I have contributed updates but when I’m driving and I come across something wrong there’s no way for me to flag it so i can revisit it later.

All in all I’m still torn between them all and still waiting for the day one ticks all the boxes.

More often than not I find I end up using Google Maps to get me out of a wrong or missing turn or to the final destination because finding places on OSM isn’t there yet. If OSM gets something wrong when I’m driving I don’t have time to faff around trying to fix it so GMaps takes over the rest of the way and I dislike having to do so

Where’s West Bank?

They’ve divided and are conquering but West Bank and Gaza are Palestinian states

Wger maybe?

Its got a self hosted back end but i cant recall if the app works standalone

There’s also Simple that might do it

Both on fdroid

Reckon it was because of the UK supplying over 500 RAF spy flights over gaza?

Checking if it got that web developer gig

Syncthing or rsync?

Alovoa is free and opensource.

Its the only one i know that isn’t out to make money

Good suggestions in the chat. Ill throw in my setup for your consideration.

I have several cameras, specifically with Ingenic SOCs on which ive flashed Thingino firmware (foss) so thats a bit of security on the camera side. Some others like hikvision ive picked up but not gotten around to setting up yet. But itll be plug and play as youll see next.

Next i have a router flashed with freshtomato but openwrt is also an option. On that ive set up a vlan for the cameras that do not have internet or inter vlan access. So even if i didnt have custom camera firmware, they still wouldnt be able to send it anywhere.

Next my home vlan has one way access in to the “camera vlan” so i can view from my network.

Finally wireguard server (on the home vlan so it has internet access) so i can monitor remotely

I just pull the rtsp streams. Havent gotten round to feed analysis yet but i used to use zoneminder. But i hear frigate and another software (cant remember off my head) supports for coral tpu quite well even after it has been dropped from support

Step 1. Spend stupid money on a supercar rental

Step 2. Drive up and down the high street. Getting stuck in standstill traffic is a plus so i can rev my engine next to the ears of the shoppers

Step 3. Profit??

Actually nevermind, i never actually do this and walked past a lot of this recently and it makes me wonder

Slowly we get ever closer to the Nokia Morph and it makes me so happy