The FTC has introduced a "click-to-cancel" rule to simplify the process of canceling subscriptions, making it as easy as signing up.
This rule addresses issues with companies that make cancellations difficult and is part of broader efforts to protect consumers from predatory practices.
Although some believe this should be legislated by Congress, the rule is expected to face legal challenges, with states like California already having similar laws in place.
A new 2D design and image editing tool is being developed to compete with Adobe, with significant progress made in the recent Q3 update.
The project participated in Google Summer of Code (GSoC), a program that supports open-source development, and is seeking Rust developers for future participation.
Interested developers are encouraged to review the Q3 progress report and consider applying for an internship in the next GSoC cycle.
Graphite is a 2D procedural design application inspired by Blender, developed in Rust, and aims to offer an alternative to Adobe's 2D design tools.
The project, open-source and seeking contributions from Rust developers, has been in development for three years and recently participated in Google Summer of Code.
Currently focused on vector editing, Graphite plans to expand into raster editing next year, emphasizing a programmatic data processing pipeline with custom code and node-based editing.
MacOS updates can cause traffic leaks, particularly on Apple devices, as they may bypass VPNs for certain services like the App Store.- Updates can reset settings, including firewalls, and may require internet access, potentially sending data to AI servers, prompting some users to disable routers during updates.- Despite these concerns, MacOS is still favored by some for its hardware and features, while others recommend modern Linux as an alternative.
CapibaraZero is introduced as a cost-effective alternative to the FlipperZero™, utilizing Espressif boards, which are known for their wireless communication capabilities.
The project offers documentation and firmware downloads, indicating active development and support for users interested in exploring this alternative.
This release is significant for tech enthusiasts seeking budget-friendly options for similar functionalities provided by the FlipperZero™ device.
CapibaraZero is introduced as a cost-effective alternative to FlipperZero, utilizing the ESP32-S3 chip to overcome limitations like high price and lack of built-in WiFi.
The project gains interest due to its potential when combined with a single-board computer and powered by a lipo battery, with discussions on integrating LoRa for off-grid capabilities.
Enthusiasm surrounds CapibaraZero, supported by available PCB designs and STL files for 3D printing, though FlipperZero's robust software community is still a notable advantage.
Zerodha's CTO, Kailash Nadh, announced the launch of FLOSS/fund, a $1M annual fund to support Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) projects worldwide.
The fund will provide between $10,000 to $100,000 per recipient, with a total of $1M distributed annually, aiming to sustain FOSS projects and inspire other businesses to contribute.
A new funding.json file will be used to help projects communicate their financial needs, and applications are open globally, managed by a dedicated team.
FLOSS/fund provides financial support for free and open source projects, with a straightforward application process requiring a funding.json file in the project's repository.- The fund offers up to $100,000 per project annually, prioritizing projects that are widely used and have significant impact.- The initiative is supported by Zerodha, a prominent Indian investment platform, and has sparked discussions on the sustainability of funding and innovative models to support open source projects and contributors.
Awnings were historically used to block solar heat gain, providing passive heating in winter and cooling in summer, but fell out of favor with the advent of air conditioning in the mid-20th century.
The decline in awning use was due to low energy costs and a focus on insulation, leading to their current use primarily for signage and patio coverings.
Rising energy prices may lead to a resurgence in awning popularity as a cost-effective method to reduce heating and cooling expenses.
Awnings have become less popular due to the prevalence of air conditioning and advancements in window technologies such as low-emissivity (low-e) glass.
They are often seen as requiring maintenance and having an outdated appearance, prompting many to choose alternatives like blinds or curtains.
Despite these trends, awnings remain beneficial for energy efficiency and are still utilized in regions where natural cooling is a priority.
The Internet Archive's Wayback Machine is back online in a read-only mode after being taken down by DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attacks.
Founder Brewster Kahle stated that while the Wayback Machine is operational, it may require additional maintenance, and other services, including the "Save Page Now" feature, remain offline.
The Internet Archive, which has archived 916 billion web pages since 1996, is focusing on data security following a data breach affecting 31 million user records.
The Internet Archive has resumed operations following a hacker attack, highlighting its significance and sparking discussions on decentralization to prevent future disruptions.
Users debated the challenges of decentralization, such as the lack of seeders, and the legal risks associated with hosting content.
The incident prompted discussions on Cloudflare's involvement and the potential for decentralized technology to bolster the Archive, with some users expressing increased support through donations.
Redbox's failure to remove personal information from decommissioned machines has ignited a debate on overengineering in software development, focusing on simplicity versus abstraction.
The discussion underscores the importance of balancing practical coding with the need for testable and scalable systems.
The incident raises significant concerns about data security and the responsible decommissioning of technology assets, particularly in scenarios involving company bankruptcy.
Azad's blog reviews the Apple Vision Pro for travel, noting its immersive movie experience and expanded MacBook workspace as key benefits.- The Vision Pro's Travel Mode addresses tracking issues in moving vehicles, and its battery life is manageable with external power sources.- Despite ergonomic and social comfort challenges, Azad sees potential in future Vision Pro iterations for frequent travelers, emphasizing its discreet UI interaction and functionality in darkness.
The Apple Vision Pro offers a unique travel experience but is considered bulky, expensive, and has limited battery life, making it less practical for travel compared to alternatives like Xreal Air glasses.
Some travelers prefer traditional devices, such as iPads, for in-flight entertainment due to their practicality and social acceptability.
The Vision Pro's potential for future improvements is acknowledged, but its current form is not widely accepted for travel purposes.
ArchiveBox is undergoing significant development to improve self-hosted internet archives, focusing on sustainability and reliability.
The project is exploring the formation of a development organization or foundation and is considering hiring more team members to enhance support.
New features, such as cryptographic signing of archives and a plugin system for better site compatibility, are in the pipeline, with community input encouraged for further resilience.
The post describes a guide for self-hosting Next.js apps and running Llama 3.2 using Ollama on a home server, motivated by the trend of migrating from Vercel due to pricing.- Key components of the setup include using Coolify for deployment, GPU acceleration with the CUDA toolkit, and configuring a Cloudflare Tunnel for domain management.- The guide highlights significant improvements in inference times and provides a detailed step-by-step process for setting up AI applications with GPU support on a home server.
The post discusses self-hosting Llama 3.2, a language model, on a home server using Coolify, highlighting the benefits of control and privacy over third-party services.
Cloudflare is recommended for hosting static websites due to its fast response times, but users should be aware of its strict media serving rules and consider secure connection options like Cloudflare Tunnels or Tailscale.
Coolify is noted as a useful tool for application deployment, with its upcoming v4 beta showing promise for future developments.
Lisp, developed by John McCarthy in the late 1950s, is a programming language central to AI research, known for its elegance, flexibility, and interactive nature.- Unlike other languages, Lisp allows for immediate feedback and incremental program development, using a unique Polish notation and focusing on the manipulation of lists and atoms.- Douglas Hofstadter's introduction to Lisp in Scientific American highlights its power and versatility, featuring exercises and examples that showcase its core features, such as functions like car and cdr, and the ability to define new functions.
Hofstadter's 1983 article on Lisp emphasizes its timeless nature and its omission from his book "Gödel, Escher, Bach" (GEB), sparking discussions on Lisp's mathematical elegance and application in artificial intelligence (AI).
The article and subsequent discussions explore Lisp's evolution, its unique features like homoiconicity (code as data) and symbolic processing, and its relevance in modern programming, including AI, computer-aided design (CAD), and web services.
Readers also reflect on the decline of in-depth scientific writing in contemporary publications, contrasting it with the detailed discussions found in older works.
A lighthearted thread on Hacker News humorously explores the writing styles of famous authors and programmers, including Dan Brown, Terry Pratchett, and Stephen King.
Users contribute witty observations on how programmers like Linus Torvalds and Grace Hopper approach coding, blending literary tropes with programming humor.
The discussion features jokes about programming languages and social network quirks, with participants adding comedic insights and references to other humorous content.
Winamp removed its GitHub source code repository following backlash over unclear licensing terms, which included restrictions on forking and distributing modified versions.
The community's negative response to these licensing issues led to the repository's deletion, illustrating the difficulties in open-sourcing legacy software.
This incident highlights the complexities of licensing and community engagement in open-source projects, with some arguing that the community's reaction may deter future open-source initiatives.
Google is phasing out older "Manifest V2" extensions, which may cause uBlock Origin to stop working on Chrome, as the transition to the more secure Manifest V3 framework begins.
Developer Raymond Hill confirmed the deprecation, and users are receiving notifications to remove the ad blocker, although some can still download it.
While Google asserts that Manifest V3 supports ad blockers like uBlock Origin Lite, it lacks the full capabilities of the original, prompting some users to consider switching to alternative browsers such as Brave or Firefox.
Google's Chrome browser is disabling uBlock Origin due to its transition from Manifest V2 to V3, which restricts ad-blocking capabilities.
This decision has sparked debate about Google's motives, with critics suggesting it is influenced by its ad revenue interests.
Users are discussing alternatives, such as switching to Firefox, to preserve ad-blocking functionality and address concerns about internet privacy and Google's market dominance.