Intenty is an app that encourages users to develop healthier phone habits through awareness prompts when unlocking their devices.- The app emphasizes privacy by operating entirely locally without ads or tracking, and it uses Android permissions solely for functionality without data collection.- With a minimalist design and smart customization, Intenty has a 4.4-star rating and over 10,000 downloads, appealing to users aiming to reduce mindless phone usage.
An app that prompts users with "why?" upon unlocking their phone is gaining attention on Hacker News for its potential to reduce distractions.
Users find the app helpful but sometimes inconvenient for quick tasks, leading to suggestions for improvements like randomizing prompts or allowing app-specific bypasses.
The developer is considering user feedback for updates, including a one-time purchase option instead of a subscription model.
Doug Brown highlights a manufacturing error in Apple's Macintosh LC III, where a capacitor was installed backwards, potentially causing issues.
The Macintosh LC III, produced between 1993 and 1994 for the education market, did not undergo a major recall despite this error.
Brown advises caution when replacing capacitors, especially with modern tantalum capacitors, and recommends installing them correctly, contrary to the PCB's silkscreen instructions.
Apple mistakenly installed a capacitor in reverse on a 34-year-old computer, highlighting the importance of correct capacitor orientation, especially for electrolytic capacitors, which have polarity and can fail if installed incorrectly.
This incident has sparked discussions about product longevity and planned obsolescence, with some suggesting that modern electronics are intentionally designed to have shorter lifespans to boost sales.
The situation is reminiscent of past manufacturing errors by other companies, such as Commodore, indicating a recurring issue in the tech industry.
The author transitioned from Kubernetes to Google Cloud Run, citing Kubernetes's complexity, cost, and slow autoscaling as drawbacks.- Google Cloud Run is highlighted as a simpler, cost-effective alternative, charging only for actual CPU and memory usage, and offering quick scaling without Kubernetes's management overhead.- The author uses GitHub Actions for continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD), managed databases, and pub-sub messaging, emphasizing Cloud Run's suitability for projects needing simplicity and efficiency over Kubernetes's extensive features.
The article critiques Kubernetes for being overly complex and often unnecessary for smaller projects, suggesting simpler solutions like a single virtual machine (VM) or server might be more efficient.
It highlights the challenges of managing Kubernetes, including the added complexity from various add-ons and the tendency for some engineers to complicate systems.
The consensus is that while Kubernetes is valuable, it is not always the best choice for smaller-scale operations, where simplicity can be more beneficial.
Two individuals were arrested for data theft from companies using Snowflake, while a third suspect, known as "Kiberphant0m," is still at large and believed to be a U.S. Army soldier in South Korea.
The group has been involved in selling stolen data and extorting companies, with AT&T reportedly paying $370,000 to have stolen records deleted.
Canadian authorities have arrested Alexander Moucka, and John Erin Binns is jailed in Turkey, both linked to the breaches, while Kiberphant0m remains active in cybercrime forums.
A hacker involved in extorting Snowflake, identified as Kiberphant0m, is under investigation, with speculation about possible ties to the U.S. military.
Kiberphant0m denies any military connection, suggesting it was a deceptive tactic, though analysts doubt this would be effective in misleading investigators.
The hacker's careless actions, such as posting a photo in army fatigues, underscore the difficulties in maintaining operational security and avoiding digital traces.
ZetaOffice Web introduces LibreOffice to web browsers, enabling access from any device with options for self-hosting or using a Content Delivery Network (CDN) for data control.- The suite includes Writer, Calc, and Impress for word processing, spreadsheets, and presentations, and is available for both web and desktop on Linux and Windows, ensuring document compatibility.- ZetaOffice offers open-source software with paid options for CDN use and support, and integrates with existing systems via the LibreOffice UNO API, functioning efficiently in modern browsers.
ZetaOffice, a browser-based version of LibreOffice, faces criticism for performance and usability issues, including broken input and text rendering.
There is an ongoing debate about whether using a canvas or targeting the DOM (Document Object Model) is better for rendering document layouts in web-based office suites.
Despite challenges, ZetaOffice aims to provide a consistent cross-platform experience and is also available as a native desktop application.
D-Link has announced it will not provide security patches for 60,000 older modems that have reached end-of-life status, urging users to upgrade to newer models instead.
The unpatched security vulnerabilities could potentially allow hackers to take control of these devices, posing a significant risk.
Most of the affected modems are located in Taiwan, and for users unable to upgrade, D-Link recommends restricting remote access and using secure passwords as precautionary measures.
D-Link has decided not to patch vulnerabilities in 60,000 older modems, exposing them to security risks, which raises concerns about device security and manufacturer responsibility.
The announcement has sparked discussions on the importance of long-term support and the potential benefits of open-source solutions like OpenWRT for maintaining device security.
There are suggestions for legal mandates requiring manufacturers to provide security updates or release firmware to the public when devices reach end-of-life, highlighting a broader industry issue.
NC State professor Marshall Brain, founder of HowStuffWorks.com, was found deceased in his office on November 20, after alleging retaliation from university officials.
Brain claimed he was forced into retirement following ethics complaints, but the university has not commented on these allegations or his death.
Former students and colleagues have expressed disappointment over the university's silence, highlighting the ongoing nature of this developing story.
The author has released a free online book titled "Janet for Mortals," focusing on the Janet programming language, which took 20 weeks to write.- The book includes 44,000 words and is accompanied by a website featuring a REPL (Read-Eval-Print Loop) for interactive learning.- The book and related projects, such as C++ library bindings and a testing framework, have gained positive attention on platforms like Hacker News.
"Janet for Mortals" is a book that offers an interactive REPL (Read-Eval-Print Loop) accessible via the escape key, enabling users to experiment with the Janet programming language directly in their browser without installation.
Janet is recognized for its ease of embedding and creating Domain-Specific Languages (DSLs), though some users note that its documentation could be improved.
The book's engaging style and the language's unique features have generated interest and positive feedback, despite some debate over the book's title.
The Raspberry Pi Compute Module 5 (CM5) is a significant upgrade from the CM4, offering 2-3 times faster performance, USB 3, and PCIe Gen 3 compatibility while maintaining the same form factor.
The CM5 is priced similarly to the CM4, with the 8GB model starting at $75, and includes a faster CPU, RAM, and improved graphics, though it uses more power at full capacity.
An updated IO board is also released for $20, featuring USB-C power and other enhancements, highlighting the CM5's support and modularity despite competition from other single-board computers (SBCs).
The Raspberry Pi CM5 offers a significant performance boost over the CM4, with 2-3 times the speed, and includes a USB 3 upgrade.
While the 8GB version retains its price, other versions are more costly, and some users note that other boards might have better specifications.
Despite hardware improvements, the CM5 lacks hardware encode support but can decode H.265, and the Raspberry Pi's strong community and support remain key advantages.
ISP lobby groups argue that competition ensures high customer service standards, making additional regulations unnecessary, as poor service would drive customers to switch providers.
Regulators in California and Oregon report widespread customer dissatisfaction, highlighting issues such as long hold times and billing problems, contradicting ISP claims.
The FCC is reviewing customer service practices, but with Brendan Carr's leadership, appointed by President-elect Trump, new regulations are unlikely, as the focus shifts towards reducing regulatory burdens.
ISPs attribute customer retention to their "excellent customer service," but many believe it's due to a lack of competition in certain areas.
In regions with limited ISP options, users often remain with their current provider despite dissatisfaction with service quality.
Efforts in countries like Australia and Canada to regulate the market and boost competition face ongoing challenges, with users calling for genuine competition and improved regulation.
The user is actively seeking reliable sources for the latest updates in Artificial Intelligence (AI), particularly through tech blogs similar to Hacker News (HN).
They have experience using ChatGPT and the OpenAI API, specifically version 3.5, indicating a practical interest in AI tools.
The user found Simon Willison's blog but feels it lacks cohesion, suggesting a need for more structured and comprehensive AI information sources.
Software engineers can enhance their AI skills by participating in Kaggle competitions, which offer practical, hands-on learning experiences.
Staying informed through tech blogs, newsletters, and YouTube channels like Simon Willison's, AI Supremacy, and 3Blue1Brown can provide foundational and current AI knowledge.
Engaging with AI communities on platforms like Reddit and Twitter, as well as exploring educational resources such as books and online courses from MIT xPRO, can deepen understanding and keep engineers updated on the latest AI trends.
OpenAI paused its video model Sora after artists leaked access in protest over unpaid participation, despite no promise of compensation.- The protest raises concerns about AI potentially replacing artists and highlights ethical issues related to unpaid labor in AI development.- Some view the protest as a strategic effort to bring attention to these broader issues within the industry.
The U.S. Postal Service is introducing new electric mail trucks as part of a $9.6 billion modernization plan, offering features like air-conditioning, increased cargo space, and enhanced safety.
Originally intended to be mostly gas-powered, 75% of the fleet will now be electric due to legal challenges, marking a significant shift towards sustainability.
Despite their unconventional design, the trucks have been positively received for their comfort and efficiency, incorporating input from postal carriers and including features like nonslip surfaces, airbags, and a collision-avoidance system.
The new USPS mail truck design emphasizes visibility and safety, featuring a low hood and large bumpers to enhance pedestrian safety and driver comfort, particularly in urban settings.
While its unconventional appearance has sparked debate, the truck is engineered for durability, akin to the long-serving Grumman LLV.
The design also focuses on improving postal workers' conditions and includes options for electric vehicles to meet modern delivery demands.
"htmy" is a pure-Python rendering engine that supports asynchronous and synchronous function components, React-like context management, and built-in HTML tags, making it versatile for various web development needs.- It offers features like Markdown support, JSON-based internationalization, and easy integration with any backend or frontend frameworks, enhancing its adaptability and customization.- The library is open-sourced under the MIT license, encouraging community contributions, and can be installed via PyPI using pip install htmy.
Htmy is an asynchronous, pure-Python HTML rendering engine, sparking debate over its verbosity compared to Jinja and the necessity of async in HTML rendering.
The discussion highlights the potential benefits of async for dynamic data fetching in component-based designs, though opinions vary on whether it complicates code.
Htmy aims to provide a flexible rendering solution, but its advantages over established tools like Jinja are still under discussion.