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2024-08-31

Is my vision that bad? No, it's just a bug in Apple's Calculator

  • A bug in Apple's Calculator app on Mac causes digits in the binary display to appear off by one pixel, creating a wobbly effect.
  • The issue seems to stem from the app being open for many days, potentially leading to a rounding error in the UI coordinate system.
  • The author shares the bug online due to the lack of a feedback option from Apple, reassuring that the visual distortion is not a vision problem.

Reactions

  • Apple's Calculator app has a bug where quick button presses fail to register, causing user frustration and questioning Apple's focus on user interaction.
  • Users criticize Apple's UI design, citing issues like the iPhone 12 Mini's slow animations and CarPlay's poor design, which covers the map when answering calls.
  • Despite these issues, Apple's ecosystem and services maintain user loyalty, though the lack of a public bug tracker and slow feedback response remain concerns.

Crows are even smarter than we thought

  • Nautilus Magazine covers a wide range of topics, including anthropology, astronomy, technology, and psychology, offering diverse content for readers interested in science and culture.
  • Featured articles explore intriguing subjects such as AI intelligence compared to a 5-year-old, the healing power of trees, and the intelligence of crows, highlighting the magazine's commitment to thought-provoking and cutting-edge research.
  • Nautilus members benefit from an ad-free experience and unlimited access to articles for a subscription fee, enhancing the reading experience for dedicated followers.

Reactions

  • A user shared a story highlighting crows' intelligence and social behavior, where a crow's injury led to a coordinated response from other crows.
  • A study mentioned in the article shows that Hooded crows can manufacture tools, similar to New Caledonian crows, indicating widespread intelligence among crows.
  • The discussion expanded to broader themes of animal intelligence and human perception, with users sharing experiences and insights about crows' social lives and communication abilities.

EU ChatControl is back on the agenda

Reactions

  • EU ChatControl is being reconsidered, igniting debates about monitoring politicians' communications to prevent misuse versus ensuring government transparency.
  • Critics worry that these measures could lead to a surveillance state, infringing on privacy rights and impacting civil liberties.
  • The discussion underscores the ongoing tension between security and privacy in the digital age.

This month in Servo: tabbed browsing, Windows buffs, devtools, and more

  • Servo's latest nightly builds now enable Flexbox and WebXR by default, introducing several new features and upgrades.
  • Key updates include support for HTMLDialogElement show(), WAV audio playback, and the crypto.randomUUID() API, among others.
  • Significant improvements in performance and reliability, including a redesigned toolbar, tabbed browsing, and enhanced Windows performance.

Reactions

  • Servo, a web browser engine project, has introduced new features like tabbed browsing and RTL (Right-to-Left) support, sparking renewed interest.
  • Despite its potential, Servo struggles with funding, primarily relying on individual donations rather than large organizational support.
  • The Linux Foundation has taken over the project from Mozilla, indicating continued development and potential growth.

Researchers find Alzheimer's-like brain changes in long Covid patients

  • UK researchers at the University of Kentucky’s Sanders-Brown Center on Aging found cognitive impairments in long COVID patients similar to those in Alzheimer’s disease.
  • The study, published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia, suggests shared brain disorder mechanisms, potentially opening new research and treatment avenues.
  • The findings advocate for routine EEG exams to detect early brain changes in COVID-19 survivors, aiding early intervention and treatment.

Reactions

  • Researchers have identified Alzheimer's-like brain changes in long Covid patients, with many reporting severe cognitive issues such as brain fog and memory problems.
  • Patients also experience cardiovascular and respiratory symptoms, but often feel misunderstood and are misdiagnosed with conditions like depression.
  • The medical community is being urged to increase awareness and research into long Covid to improve understanding and treatment of these symptoms.

Rediscovering the Small Web (2020)

  • The post contrasts the commercial web, optimized for engagement and conversion, with the "small web," a creative space made by individuals sharing their interests and hobbies.
  • It highlights the history of the early web, which was democratized by free web hosts like Geocities, and how modern platforms and search engines prioritize commercial interests.
  • Projects like Wiby.me, Neocities.org, and Curlie are mentioned as efforts to keep the small web alive, encouraging readers to create their own websites using basic HTML and CSS.

Reactions

  • The "Small Web" movement is gaining traction, with projects like Kagi Small Web indexing and prioritizing small, independent blogs in search results.
  • The project recently celebrated its one thousandth commit, indicating active development and community engagement.
  • The resurgence of interest in the "Small Web" highlights a growing dissatisfaction with the dominance of large, commercial websites and a desire to rediscover more personal, less commercialized web experiences.

Brazilian court orders suspension of X

  • The Brazilian Supreme Court has ordered the suspension of Elon Musk's social media platform, X, for not appointing a legal representative in Brazil.
  • Justice Alexandre de Moraes mandated the "immediate, complete, and total suspension" of X's operations until compliance with court orders, payment of fines, and appointment of a legal representative.
  • The decision includes a daily fine for using X via VPN, and the bank accounts of Musk’s Starlink have been blocked to enforce fines against X, although Starlink remains operational and is seeking to unfreeze its accounts.

Reactions

  • A Brazilian court has ordered the suspension of X (formerly Twitter) in Brazil, with a daily fine of $8,900 for users accessing it via VPN.
  • The court also demanded Apple and Google remove VPN apps from their stores and delete them from users' phones, sparking significant debate.
  • The ruling, due to X's refusal to block accounts accused of spreading disinformation, has raised concerns about freedom of speech and the judiciary's power in Brazil.

Orphaning bcachefs-tools in Debian

  • The author decided to orphan the bcachefs-tools package in Debian due to maintenance challenges, particularly with Rust dependencies and the upstream author's insistence on bundling dependencies.
  • Bcachefs, an evolution of the bcache block cache system, offers features like built-in compression, encryption, checksumming, and RAID but lacks a dkms module, complicating its integration.
  • The package is now available in Debian's experimental repository but has been removed from unstable and stable versions to avoid potential issues, highlighting concerns about its long-term supportability and stability.

Reactions

  • Debian is orphaning bcachefs-tools due to dependency management issues and conflicts with the upstream developer, Kent Overstreet.
  • This situation underscores the challenges of integrating fast-moving, dependency-heavy projects into stable distributions like Debian.
  • The broader discussion involves managing dependencies in modern software ecosystems, particularly with languages like Rust that promote vendoring, balancing stability, security, and the need for up-to-date software.

To Nerves from Elixir

  • Underjord, a small team offering Elixir consulting, has a new member on the Nerves core team aiming to help integrate hardware with reliable, concurrent software.
  • The post provides a detailed guide on getting started with Nerves, including installation steps for dependencies, setting up a Raspberry Pi, and configuring Wi-Fi.
  • Nerves offers unique features like VintageNet for networking, NervesTime for time management, and A/B firmware partitions, with additional tools like NervesHub for firmware updates and NervesKey for hardware encryption.

Reactions

  • Nerves boots with a minimal Linux and the OTP/BEAM VM, transforming Elixir into an embedded operating system.
  • The GRiSP project allows the BEAM VM to boot directly on hardware, expanding its use in embedded systems.
  • AtomVM is a mini version of the BEAM VM designed for microcontrollers, offering a solution for running Erlang and Elixir on devices like Arduino or Raspberry Pi Pico.

Expect – Linux tool for automating interactive programs

Reactions

  • Expect is a robust Linux tool for automating interactive programs, created by Don Libes in 1990, even before Linux existed.
  • Users have successfully used Expect for automating tasks like hardware configurations, SSH logins, and serial-port communications.
  • Despite its age, Expect remains relevant due to its versatility and reliability, with alternatives like pexpect for Python and sshpass also available.

Rust in Linux Revisited

  • The author revisits their previous skepticism about integrating Rust into the Linux kernel, now with a more compassionate perspective.
  • They acknowledge the burnout experienced by developers in the Rust-for-Linux project and propose an alternative: creating a new Linux-compatible kernel from scratch using Rust.
  • This new project could avoid the political challenges of the Linux community, attract contributors, and mentor new kernel developers, offering a potential solution to developer burnout.

Reactions

  • Drew DeVault proposes that Rust-for-Linux developers should build a new Linux-compatible kernel from scratch rather than rewriting parts of the existing Linux kernel in Rust.
  • He argues that the main issue lies in Linux's architecture, where drivers run with the rest of the kernel, and suggests a new microkernel like Helios, which allows drivers to run in user-space, as a better solution.
  • This approach could circumvent the political challenges and burnout associated with integrating Rust into the existing Linux kernel, despite critics highlighting Rust's superior memory safety over C.

Harder Drive: hard drives we didn't want, or need [video] (2022)

  • The paper "Harder Drive: Hard drives we didn't want or need" was presented at SIGBOVIK 2022, a conference known for its humorous and satirical take on computer science.
  • An app for exploring the IPv4 address space is available for 64-bit Windows machines with 32 GB RAM, accessible via a specific torrent until April 2022.
  • Additional content, including related videos and ringtones, can be found on the author's YouTube channel and blog.

Reactions

  • Tom7's video on "Harder Drive" explores unconventional methods of data storage, sparking renewed interest in his creative work.
  • The concept involves partitioning secret data and sending it to non-existing email addresses to retrieve it later, reminiscent of older data storage techniques like delay-line memory.
  • The discussion highlights Tom7's meticulous approach to typesetting and his engaging video presentations, drawing attention from both new and long-time followers.

Rust solves the problem of incomplete Kernel Linux API docs

Reactions

  • Rust improves Linux Kernel API documentation by using a strong type system, reducing ambiguity and enhancing code safety.
  • The type system in Rust ensures thread safety and mutation safety, simplifying code review and lessening the need for extensive documentation.
  • While not unique to the Linux kernel, Rust's approach benefits any codebase by allowing developers to focus more on business logic rather than maintaining invariants.

Cassette Tape Archive

  • Tapedeck.org is a project celebrating the nostalgia and history of analog audio tape cassettes, featuring a collection of various brands and designs from the 60s to the 90s.
  • The Compact Cassette, introduced by Philips in 1963, gained significant popularity with the advent of the Sony Walkman in the 1980s and remains popular in some regions despite modern technologies.
  • Users are encouraged to explore the collection, learn about tape history, and contribute by sending pictures of their tapes.

Reactions

  • The post evokes nostalgia for cassette tapes, highlighting personal experiences and the culture of creating mix tapes and recording songs from the radio.
  • There is a mention of a robust cassette hacking culture, including circuit bending walkmans and creating loops, with resources like courses and discussions provided.
  • Users share memories of tape trading, the social aspects of organizing tape trees, and the unique sound qualities of different tapes.

Three questions to turn the table during technical interviews

  • The moment when an interviewer asks, "Do you have any questions for me?" is crucial for candidates to gauge the work environment and company culture.
  • Interviews should not only assess a candidate's skills but also convince the candidate why the organization is a good fit, especially important for those early in their careers.
  • Preparing a standard set of questions to ask interviewers at each stage of the interview process can help candidates gather valuable insights.

Reactions

  • Three key questions to ask during technical interviews include: handling new ideas from individual contributors (ICs), experiences with major migrations, and changes expected after six months of employment.
  • These questions help assess company culture, project management practices, and the potential impact of the role.
  • Asking about a typical day or week in the role can provide insights into the actual job versus the job description, emphasizing the importance of interviews as a mutual evaluation process.