You could switch to Firefox for Android, which has support for a limited number of Firefox extensions including Ublock Origin, with all of the desktop functionality.
If you really want to stick with a chromium based browser for some reason, you could try kiwi browser (chromium based browser for Android with chrome extension support) combined with Ublock Origin.
Ublock Origin has a few ways to do what you want. The most straightforward way is to click on the extension icon, click open dashboard, go to filter lists, scroll to annoyances, and try to enable some or all of those.
Ublock Origin also has a "nuclear" option called disabling JavaScript (extension icon -> JavaScript and reload), which happens to break video playback on just about every modern website :) .
I wish microcenter opened more locations. From what I've seen it's essentially a modern day radio shack, but they have only 25 locations (in only 16 states!), and none of them are in my state. They do sell things online I guess, but they just aren't as competitive online compared to their physical stores.
I can kind of see why keyboard manufacturers do this with their nicer models. Another issue with shine through keycaps is that they have to be very thin for the shine through to work properly, which makes them feel cheap to enthusiasts, who usually prefer thicker, higher quality keycaps. Therefore, most enthusiasts do not care about shinethrough (and, as a result, the orientation of the LEDs) and would rather trade shinethrough compatibility for keycap profile compatibility.
On the other hand, it is still annoying. For a hobby that puts pReFeReNcE on a pedestal, it can be hard to find a perfect endgame. It's already basically impossible to find the pudding keycaps with Mac legends like you said, but it would be even more challenging to find those same keycaps in an obscure format like ISO Nordic or something. It's why so many folks in the EU use ANSI keycaps even though they're inconvenient for them to use.
Both of those keyboards have barebones versions (ie everything included except keycaps and switches), so you could buy switches and keycaps separately and install them yourself.
The only issue being both of these keyboards utilize south facing LEDs, which are known to not work well with conventional shine through keycaps (legends appear dim compared to north facing). The reason south facing is popular with enthusiasts is due to keycap compatibility (south facing LEDs mean that the switch is "right side up" and cherry profile keycaps fit properly). Thankfully, there are one or two keycap sets that are shine through and work with south facing LEDs. On this set, it is done by placing the legends on the side of the keycaps instead of the top: https://drop.com/buy/npkc-gradient-pbt-doubleshot-side-lit-keycap-set?defaultSelectionIds=971604. If you don't like these keycaps and/or can't find any like this that you do like, read on.
The main issue with finding keyboards with north facing LEDs is that there are very few that are up to "enthusiast" standards. Most boards that ship with north facing LEDs do not have nice features that keychron (and other enthusiast) boards have like QMK/VIA support, screw in stabilizers, properly prelubed switches/stabilizers, etc. In short, they might be okish, but you will be compromising other things like sound, feel, and functionality for conventional shine through keycaps that look right.
If you are ok with lots of compromises you can try:
*royal kludge rk87
+Cheap ($55)
+TKL+Wireless+north facing+shine thru keycaps
-no hot swap or qmk/via support
-plastic housing
-Needs mods to sound and feel good (see https://youtu.be/Yrnjf_QbA3M for a similar keyboard with mods)
-bad stabilizers most likely
-weird software/firmware of unknown quality
*Redragon K596 Vishnu
+TKL+wireless+north facing+shine thru keycaps
-higher price ($75)
-no qmk/via support
-macro/media keys are non standard (no keycap set will have them)
-""""hot-swap"""" with only outemu switches (pins/sockets are thinner and regular switches don't fit)
-will also need mods probably
-bad stabilizers most likely
-weird software/firmware of unknown quality
I might just use QMK then because QMK support is already built into my keyboard by default (along with via, but I don't want to use it). Plus, I will be able to take advantage of every option that QMK based firmware has to offer in the future.
However, I will probably stick to their GUI based tools like QMK toolbox and the QMK configurator for now. Something strange I noticed in the GUI for QMK toolbox was the MCU selection. It has a dropdown that says MCU (AVR only), and the listed ones are only Atmel MCUs. Do I just ignore this menu if I have a STM32L432 MCU in my keyboard? Keychron's guide doesn't mention this dropdown at all.
I typically don't like using closed source software when I can avoid it. To my knowledge, QMK is open source, but VIA is not (as convenient as it is to use). It also requires your browser to use the WebHID API, which is problematic computer-security wise IMO.
Because of this, I was considering trying an open source version of VIA called vial. Does anyone have any experience with using it? How does it compare to VIA?
I think I could also try using QMK configurator to remap my keyboard/create new firmware, and to use QMK Toolbox to flash the firmware onto the keyboard. However, I was reading this keychron blog post: https://www.keychron.com/blogs/archived/how-to-factory-reset-or-flash-your-qmk-via-enabled-keychron-v6-keyboard. It says that "If everything works fine with your keyboard. Please don’t flash the firmware. There is a chance it can damage your keyboard". I am aware that if I unplugged during a firmware update it could brick it, but otherwise it would work out fine, right? Would the reset button underneath the spacebar save me in that situation? It is hard to tell whether this is just keychron trying to go the safest route to avoid tech support calls or if this is actually a valid recommendation.
Overall, what software should I use to remap keys and program macros on my keychron v6 (encoder version)?
I coincidentally received my V6 in the mail today - it feels and sounds great stock and I bet it would sound even better than it already does if I tape modded it. The stock stabilizers are quite a bit better than my old AliExpress keyboard, and I can't hear any ticking or rattle. I am still deciding whether to swap out the stock keycaps, but the switches are nice. I thought that they were keychron's own custom switches though? Unless they partnered with gateron to manufacture them?
I have been using a cheap TKL AliExpress hot swap board for a little while, and I want to upgrade because:
- I miss the numpad
- Build quality is better than the average membrane keyboard, but still not great
I'm planning to get the keychron V6 because it is is one of the few keyboards that are:
- Not ultra expensive
- Full size
- Has a knob for volume control
- Reasonable build quality
- Hot swap
- QMK/VIA support is nice
The only issue is that I am not sure what switches and keycaps to get. I was considering saving my money and going with stock switches (keychron k pro reds) and keycaps (in-house "OSA" profile), but I do not know if I will like this keycap profile. My current board has OEM profile keycaps, and those are fine, but I want to try more "spherical" rather than "cylindrical" profiles, and it doesn't seem like the stock keychron keycaps are particularly spherical, at least in photos. If they are more spherical in person, I might go this route.
My other plan I was considering was to try keychron's other in-house profile, "KSA", which seems more spherical to me (https://www.keychron.com/products/double-shot-ksa-pbt-keycap-full-keycap-set), or maybe a mt3 set (but I'm not sure about getting an abs set, my current keycaps are getting shiny). For switches, I was thinking of buying the tried-and-true gateron milky yellows, but I am not sure if there are better bang for the buck options out there for smooth linear switches.
TL;DR: Should I go with stock switches and keycaps to start out? Or should I get the bare bones keychron V6, a spherical keycap set (KSA or mt3), and budget linears like gateron milky yellows?