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2024-09-23

I designed a Dieter Rams-inspired iPhone dock

  • The author designed a Dieter Rams-inspired iPhone dock, drawing inspiration from vintage Braun alarm clocks and modern BC21 clocks.
  • After several iterations and feedback, the final design combines a tray, charger, and clock into one unit, reminiscent of Braun's 550 Hair Dryer.
  • The 3D model is shared for free, with an option for contributions on Gumroad.

Reactions

  • A Dieter Rams-inspired iPhone dock was designed and shared by a user, with the model available for free download on Gumroad.
  • The dock features a MagSafe charger and has holes for easy phone removal, but each iPhone size requires a custom redesign due to the static MagSafe portion.
  • The designer used a Bambulab X1C 3D printer with eSun PLA+ filament, and the dock can charge the phone while in use.

Brainfuck Enterprise Solutions

  • Brainfuck Enterprise Solutions (BES) specializes in modern software development using the Brainfuck programming language.
  • Key products include OS.bf (operating system), ed.bf (text editor), meta.bf (metacircular evaluator), and str.bf (string manipulation library).
  • Upcoming products feature an asynchronous web server, a reliable key-value store, and a machine learning framework, indicating a significant expansion in their offerings.

Reactions

  • Brainfuck, often seen as a joke, is valued in certain research for its simplicity, as highlighted in a recent paper on arXiv.
  • Discussions include various humorous and serious takes on integrating Brainfuck into enterprise solutions, with some suggesting alternative names to avoid legal issues.
  • The post has garnered significant interest due to its blend of technical discussion and light-hearted banter, reflecting the unique culture of the programming community.

What's inside the QR code menu at this cafe?

Reactions

  • A vulnerability in a cafe's QR code menu system allowed unauthorized access to customer and financial data, sparking a debate on ethical disclosure practices.
  • The author publicly disclosed the vulnerability without informing the company first, leading to discussions on whether private or public disclosure is more appropriate.
  • The post has been taken down, likely due to legal concerns, and the discussion also highlighted the pros and cons of digital menus versus traditional paper menus.

Uber charges more if you have credits in your account

  • Users have reported that Uber fares appear higher when using credits, such as those from American Express or Uber gift cards, compared to paying out-of-pocket.
  • Instances include a $20 ride increasing to $30 when credits are applied, while the same ride remains $20 on a different phone without credits.
  • This suggests Uber might be experimenting with higher pricing for users with credits, raising concerns about potential overcharging.

Reactions

  • Claims have surfaced that Uber charges more if users have credits in their accounts, sparking significant discussion and debate.
  • Anecdotal evidence suggests that users with credits may see higher prices compared to those without, though this remains unverified and controversial.
  • The topic has gained traction due to its potential implications on Uber's pricing algorithms and user trust, highlighting concerns over transparency and fairness in ride-sharing services.

How the iPhone 16's electrically-released adhesive works

  • The iPhone 16 introduces significant repairability improvements, including a new battery adhesive that debonds with an electrical current, a hard steel battery case for the Pro model, and a dual-entry design for easier repairs.
  • iOS 18’s Repair Assistant aims to eliminate parts pairing software barriers, making component pairing and calibration seamless.
  • The iPhone 16 earns a repairability score of 7 out of 10, an improvement from last year, due to better repair manuals, the new battery procedure, and the dual-entry design.

Reactions

  • The iPhone 16 introduces an electrically-released adhesive, making battery removal easier and simplifying repairs, as praised by iFixit.
  • Despite this innovation, some users argue Apple's repairability score of 7/10 is misleading due to high part costs and restrictions on third-party components.
  • The broader implications of repairability include economic and practical challenges for DIY repairs, with ongoing debates about the need for more accessible and affordable repair options.

London saw a surprising benefit to ultra-low emissions zone: More active kids

  • Restricting high-emitting vehicles in cities leads to cleaner air and quieter streets, prompting the creation of clean air zones in over 300 areas across Europe.
  • London's ultra-low emissions zone resulted in 2 out of 5 students switching to walking or biking to school, positively impacting children's health and academic performance, according to a study by the University of Cambridge and Queen Mary University.
  • Replicating such zones in the U.S. faces legal challenges, but improving infrastructure for walking and biking, along with discouraging car travel, can be effective strategies.

Reactions

  • London's ultra-low emissions zone (ULEZ) has resulted in more active children due to safer walking and cycling conditions from reduced car traffic.
  • The initiative is part of broader urban planning efforts to improve road safety and reduce car usage, inspired by successful models in the Netherlands.
  • Despite criticism for disproportionately affecting lower-income residents, ULEZ has contributed to cleaner air and increased physical activity among children, emphasizing the value of thoughtful urban design.

The war on remote work has nothing to do with productivity

  • CEOs and mainstream media advocate for a return to office work, citing productivity concerns, but the underlying issue is the debt on empty office buildings.
  • Remote work has shown to be equally productive, offering employees fewer distractions and better work-life balance.
  • The push to return to offices is driven by a financial crisis in commercial real estate, with $1.2 trillion in loans on office towers at risk, potentially leading to broader financial instability.

Reactions

  • The debate over remote work extends beyond productivity, involving factors like real estate values, employee attrition, and psychological dynamics.
  • Companies like Amazon advocate for office returns due to concerns over control, influence, and maintaining urban center vibrancy.
  • The motivations for return-to-office policies differ significantly among various companies and leaders.

Cloudflare's new marketplace lets websites charge AI bots for scraping

  • Cloudflare is launching a marketplace next year for website owners to sell AI model providers access to scrape their content, giving publishers more control over AI bots.
  • The initiative includes AI Audit, a free tool for monitoring and blocking AI bots, helping website owners manage unauthorized scraping.
  • This marketplace aims to help small publishers monetize their content by striking deals with AI providers, addressing concerns about uncompensated content scraping impacting traffic and revenue.

Reactions

  • Cloudflare has introduced a marketplace enabling websites to charge AI bots for scraping, addressing resource consumption without compensation.
  • This initiative raises concerns about the future of web access, potentially limiting content access to those who can pay, affecting both bots and humans.
  • Users are experiencing more difficulties with captchas and access restrictions, particularly when using privacy tools or non-standard browsers, which could disadvantage smaller entities and individual users.

Low Cost CO2 Sensors Comparison: Photo-Acoustic vs. NDIR

  • The article compares two main types of CO2 sensors: NDIR (Non-Dispersive Infrared) and photo-acoustic sensors, highlighting their performance differences.
  • NDIR sensors, like the SenseAir S8, are accurate and perform well both indoors and outdoors, while photo-acoustic sensors, such as the Sensirion SCD40/41, are smaller but struggle with outdoor measurements due to environmental variations.
  • The conclusion suggests that the SenseAir S8 is reliable for all conditions, whereas the Sensirion SCD4x is best suited for indoor use only.

Reactions

  • The discussion compares low-cost CO2 sensors, specifically Photo-Acoustic and NDIR (Non-Dispersive Infrared) technologies, for monitoring indoor air quality.
  • Users share experiences with sensors like Aranet4 and AirGradient, and some suggest DIY options using components like the Senseair S8.
  • The conversation highlights the importance of accurate CO2 monitoring for cognitive function and as a proxy for COVID-19 risk, with a preference for open-source models and long battery life.

Reactions

  • Valve is testing ARM64 support for popular games, potentially for their standalone VR headset, Deckard, which could enhance compatibility with existing Steam libraries.
  • This move might also be in preparation for future ARM-based devices, such as a new Steam Deck, and to support ARM Chromebooks and ARM-based Macs.
  • The broader objective appears to be reducing reliance on x86 architecture, aiming for more versatile gaming hardware.

Coffee Stats – Maximize Caffeine Intake and Get to Bed at Night

  • This project helps users determine if they should have another cup of coffee by providing statistics on caffeine levels at bedtime.
  • It allows custom input for caffeine amounts and sleep times, and is compatible with Python 3.12.5.
  • The compiled Windows release is available for download, assuming users are healthy, have typical genetics, and know their caffeine tolerance.

Reactions

  • To determine your caffeine metabolizer type, you can sequence your genome through Nebula.org and analyze the data using Genetic Life Hacks.
  • Nebula.org offers anonymous genome sequencing, and Genetic Life Hacks provides local analysis to check your metabolizer type via the CYP1A2 gene.
  • Alternatively, 23andMe offers a "Caffeine Consumption" report, and a practical test involves measuring blood pressure before and after caffeine intake to observe how quickly it returns to baseline.

Tesla Transport Protocol over Ethernet (TTPoE)

  • At HotChips 2024, Tesla announced the open-sourcing of the Tesla Transport Protocol over Ethernet (TTPoE) and its membership in the Ultra Ethernet Consortium (UEC) to standardize a new high-speed/low-latency fabric for AI, ML, and datacenters.
  • TTPoE, akin to TCP, ensures complete data transmission despite packet loss and replays, and operates entirely in hardware without requiring a CPU or OS, initially deployed for Tesla Dojo v1.
  • The GitHub repository includes the TTPoE Transport Header, specification details, a Linux kernel software model, unit tests, a packet generation utility, and example sessions demonstrating the protocol's functionality.

Reactions

  • Tesla Transport Protocol over Ethernet (TTPoE) aims to replace TCP for low-latency applications in AI, machine learning, and datacenters, promising high performance and distributed congestion control.
  • Critics argue that TTPoE lacks innovation and seriousness, especially since it uses IPv4, and some view it as more of a marketing move than a revolutionary change.
  • TTPoE competes with established protocols like Infiniband and RoCE, and while it is available on GitHub, its documentation and practical benefits are under scrutiny.

The Intelligence Age

  • Advancements in AI, driven by deep learning, will enable unprecedented problem-solving and opportunities, enhancing various aspects of life, including healthcare and scientific discovery.
  • Future generations will benefit from AI tools like personal virtual experts and tutors, leading to global prosperity and improved quality of life.
  • Ensuring AI benefits everyone requires making compute resources abundant and affordable, navigating risks wisely to transform labor markets and amplify human creativity.

Reactions

  • Sam Altman's blog post has ignited a debate on AI's future, with opinions ranging from optimistic to critical.
  • Critics argue that AI applications are unimaginative, focusing on tasks like coordinating medical care rather than addressing systemic issues.
  • Concerns include AI's potential to displace jobs, concentrate benefits among the wealthy, and require significant energy and compute resources for widespread accessibility.

Alan Turing's 1950 manual for the Mark I electronic computer [pdf]

Reactions

  • Alan Turing's 1950 manual for the Mark I electronic computer detailed an instruction set with four instructions now common in modern Instruction Set Architectures (ISAs): LZCNT, POPCNT, RDRAND, and RDTSC.
  • These instructions were largely absent in later computers, except for supercomputers by CDC and Cray, and have been reintroduced in modern CPUs.
  • The manual also included an instruction for producing an audible beep, humorously called "The hooter," showcasing the historical context and evolution of these instructions.

A terrible way to jump into colocating your own stuff

Reactions

  • The post discusses best practices and personal experiences for setting up and managing colocated servers, emphasizing security and cost-efficiency.
  • Key recommendations include disabling password access for SSH, using dedicated server providers like Hetzner, and ensuring proper remote management tools like IPMI/BMC are in place.
  • The conversation highlights the importance of finding reliable datacenters, the benefits of renting hardware over cloud services, and practical tips for physical server management.