Zipshare offers seamless Android screen sharing, perfect for internal help desks supporting retail staff or field employees. No signup or meeting IDs are needed for the screen sharer – just instant sharing, with the option to add your own voice or video chat. Created by Miso Software, Zipshare is a simple yet powerful tool for team collaboration.
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Railway shares its journey of shifting from traditional sales to automated revenue growth. Initial attempts at traditional sales proved ineffective. They pivoted to a product-led growth (PLG) model and developed a regression model to predict customer upgrades or churn. This model uses factors like successful/failed builds, configured regions, support requests, and feature adoption to score customers, identifying those needing assistance. Proactive support and this targeted approach boosted revenue and customer satisfaction, leading to sustainable business growth.
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New research shows that automotive chips are aging significantly faster than expected in hot climates, shortening the lifespan of electric vehicles and potentially creating new safety issues. In areas like Phoenix, Arizona, where high temperatures can persist for weeks, cabin temperatures can reach 93°C, severely impacting chip longevity. Studies reveal that for a chip designed for a 30-year lifespan, high temperatures reduce life expectancy by an additional 10% annually. Chipmakers are working to address this, requiring new materials, design redundancy, and active cooling solutions. Increased chip utilization due to autonomous driving exacerbates the problem. Proactive monitoring and predictive failure analysis will become crucial, impacting both vehicle reliability and safety.
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The article visualizes the spherical harmonic function Y₄₂. Spherical harmonics are special functions defined on the sphere and are widely used in fields such as computer graphics and quantum mechanics. Visualization helps to better understand their complex mathematical properties and spatial distribution.
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A telecom hardware engineer decoded the telephony signals in a scene from Pink Floyd's 'The Wall'. The audio clip, featuring dial tones, rapid tone combinations, and an answer tone, was analyzed using spectrograms. By comparing the frequencies to known standards (DTMF, CAS R2, SS5), the engineer identified the signaling as SS5 and decoded the number as 044 1831. This analysis not only showcases the engineer's expertise but also reveals insights into the film's sound design and suggests a possible connection to a real-life London number.
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Two programmers spent two weeks developing Droste's Lair, a whimsical programming environment game. Players build and count mathematical structures through intuitive drag-and-drop interactions, using an "amb" mechanism for branching execution and recursion. The game, themed around swords and sorcery, presents challenges such as reversing list elements, generating all face card combinations, and counting ways to cover a checkerboard with dominoes. Droste's Lair cleverly blends programming and game elements, offering a novel and engaging way to learn programming and mathematical concepts.
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A recent survey reveals that while AI is a significant factor for iPhone buyers, Apple's current AI features (like writing tools and notification summaries) haven't impressed most users. The majority find them of little to no value. However, the addition of Genmoji and ChatGPT integration in iOS 18.2 could potentially change this perception.
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Archaeologists unearthed a groundbreaking artifact in a 3rd-century Roman grave near Frankfurt, Germany: a silver amulet, the "Frankfurt Silver Inscription." Dating back to 230-270 CE, this amulet predates previously known Christian artifacts in the region by almost 50 years. Its inscription, deciphered using advanced technology, contains exclusively Christian content, including invocations to Jesus Christ and biblical quotations. This discovery significantly pushes back the timeline of Christianity's presence north of the Alps, shedding light on its early spread and influence in Roman Germania. The find has major implications for archaeology, theology, and Roman history.
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Google strongly disagrees with and will appeal the Department of Justice's (DOJ) ruling in the search distribution lawsuit. Ahead of an April 2025 hearing, Google submitted its own remedies proposal, focusing on contracts with browser and Android device makers. The proposal aims to give browser companies and device makers more flexibility in choosing default search engines, while ensuring compliance with the court's order and avoiding harm to consumer privacy and US tech leadership. In contrast, the DOJ's proposal is seen as overly interventionist and potentially harmful to consumers and US tech competitiveness.
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Dr. W. Edwards Deming's 'Red Beads Experiment' vividly illustrates the impact of systems on individual performance. Employees pick beads from a mix containing mostly red beads, with performance measured by the number of red beads. Results show that despite employee effort, system flaws (high proportion of red beads) lead to huge performance differences, with management wrongly blaming individuals. The experiment highlights the importance of systemic issues, emphasizing management's focus on system improvement, not individual assessment, for true efficiency gains.
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In the fall of 2021, Newton Public Schools in Massachusetts implemented a complex initiative called "multilevel classrooms" aimed at improving educational equity. This model mixed students of varying academic abilities into single classrooms with one teacher. Three years later, the results are troubling. Teachers report the model fails to meet the needs of diverse learners; high-achieving students are stifled, while lower-achieving students are hesitant to ask questions. Lack of adequate training and support for teachers led to poor outcomes, with students in multilevel classes often underperforming their single-level counterparts. The school lacked metrics for success, and no data supported the model's efficacy. A teacher's council petitioned to roll back multilevel classes in STEM and world languages, urging the district to find better solutions for addressing educational equity. The failure highlights the need for data-driven approaches and a focus on student needs in educational reform.
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Langfuse is an open-source LLM engineering platform designed to simplify the development and deployment of large language model (LLM) applications. It offers features such as LLM observability, metrics, evaluations, prompt management, a playground, and datasets, integrating seamlessly with tools like LlamaIndex, Langchain, OpenAI SDK, and LiteLLM. Developers can use Langfuse to monitor LLM performance, manage prompts, evaluate model effectiveness, and ultimately accelerate LLM application development.
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Framework has released a new Dual M.2 Adapter for upgrading the Framework Laptop 16. This adapter allows users to add two additional M.2 modules (sizes 2230 to 2280), potentially adding up to 16TB of storage. Installation requires a Graphics Module Interposer and a BIOS update (3.05 or later). The adapter costs $39 and is currently out of stock.
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The demolition of Oahu's iconic Haiku Stairs is facing legal challenges. Friends of Haiku Stairs filed a lawsuit, arguing the city and state agencies failed to comply with historic preservation regulations, citing a 1999 covenant protecting the stairs' existence. The city counters that proper procedures were followed, and the demolition was necessary due to safety concerns and resident complaints. A judge will soon issue a ruling, leaving the stairs' fate uncertain.
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In Spring 2020, the MIT Rocket team launched rockets at the FAR site in the Mojave desert. A second-stage rocket crashed without deploying its parachutes, burying itself 3 meters underground. Despite significant damage to the avionics, the team successfully recovered data from a damaged flash chip. Using a salt solution to create temporary electrical contact, they were able to read the flash memory and determine the cause of the crash.
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This paper explores the nature of intelligence in AI, particularly large language models (LLMs). It argues that the apparent intelligence of LLMs isn't due to independent reasoning but rather emerges from interaction with users. Drawing parallels between Socratic questioning, the Clever Hans effect, and iterative prompting of LLMs, the author demonstrates that intelligence is a relational phenomenon arising from collaboration, not isolated cognition. LLMs generate responses based on probabilistic relationships within their training data, responding to user prompts like Clever Hans responded to his handler's cues. The value of AI, therefore, lies not in its inherent 'knowledge' but in its ability to facilitate insightful questions and collaborative exploration, ultimately augmenting human creativity and problem-solving.
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This essay reflects on a decade of dating in the Bay Area, challenging the notion that polyamory is inherently liberating or monogamy inherently protective. Drawing on personal experiences and anecdotes from friends, the author argues that neither relationship style guarantees emotional fulfillment or prevents heartbreak. Statistical data on polyamory is analyzed, revealing complexities and contradictions. The author concludes that the key to successful relationships lies in self-awareness, communication, and addressing personal attachment issues, rather than solely relying on a specific relationship structure.
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The US Department of Justice's proposed remedies in its antitrust case against Google could inadvertently harm independent browsers like Firefox by jeopardizing their revenue streams. This isn't just about one company; it threatens the future of the open web. While Google is Firefox's default search engine in the US, this is a non-exclusive agreement, and Firefox has always supported multiple search engine choices. Reducing the number of independent browsers diminishes search engine competition and harms consumer choice and innovation. The article urges the court to consider remedies that don't damage independent browsers and the open web.
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Homescreen is an app designed to revolutionize the home screen experience on your phone. Breaking free from the limitations of traditional phone desktops, it offers users a more personalized, efficient, and convenient way to interact with their devices. Users can customize widgets, themes, and layouts to create a unique home screen, boosting productivity and enjoyment. Homescreen isn't just a simple desktop replacement; it's a refreshing approach to how we use our phones.
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This article recounts the author's interactions with Luigi Mangione, the alleged assassin of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Luigi, a bright young man from a wealthy family, purchased a premium membership to the author's blog, leading to a two-hour video call. During their conversation, Luigi expressed concerns about the erosion of human agency in modern society, likening many to unthinking 'NPCs' manipulated by technology. He voiced frustration with high US healthcare costs. The author's shock at Luigi's subsequent arrest for murder forms the crux of the article, exploring the complexities of motivation, the coexistence of kindness and cruelty, and the multifaceted nature of human behavior. The article raises questions about free will and societal influences on individual actions.
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This is the first post in a series detailing the Raft distributed consensus algorithm and its Go implementation. Raft solves the problem of replicating a deterministic state machine across multiple servers, ensuring service availability even with server failures. The post introduces core Raft components: the state machine, log, consensus module, leader/follower roles, and client interaction. It discusses Raft's fault tolerance, the CAP theorem, and the choice of Go as the implementation language. Subsequent posts will delve into the algorithm's implementation.
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This article explores why large language models (LLMs) are being used for calculation. While LLMs excel at natural language processing, researchers are attempting to make them perform mathematical operations, from simple addition to complex theorem proving. This isn't to replace calculators, but to explore the reasoning capabilities of LLMs and ultimately achieve artificial general intelligence (AGI). The article points out that humans have always tried to use new technology for computation, and testing the mathematical abilities of LLMs is a way to test their reasoning abilities. However, the process of LLMs performing calculations is drastically different from that of calculators; the former relies on vast knowledge bases and probabilistic models, while the latter is based on deterministic algorithms. Therefore, LLM calculation results are not always accurate and reliable, highlighting the trade-off between practicality and research.
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Framework has released the first new module for the Framework Laptop 16's Expansion Bay system: the Dual M.2 Adapter, allowing users to add extra storage drives or other high-speed devices. They've also updated the Framework Laptop 16's CPU thermal solution, introduced 'Mystery Boxes' containing random parts to reduce e-waste, added 48GB DDR5 memory modules, new merchandise, and expanded shipping to more regions. These updates enhance both the product line and user experience.
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OpenAI has released the openai-realtime-embedded-sdk, enabling developers to utilize its Realtime API on microcontrollers such as the ESP32. Supporting Linux and ESP32S3, the SDK allows for testing on Linux without physical hardware. After installing protobufc, setting the target platform, and configuring WiFi and OpenAI API keys, developers can build and deploy applications. This expands OpenAI's AI capabilities to embedded devices, opening doors for innovative IoT and edge computing applications.
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ScyllaDB announced a strategic shift to focus on a single release stream: ScyllaDB Enterprise, ending its AGPL-licensed open-source offering. A free tier of ScyllaDB Enterprise will be available to the community, including all performance, efficiency, and security features previously reserved for the Enterprise edition. The free tier is limited to 50 vCPUs and 10TB of total storage. This simplifies the product line while providing a powerful free option for users.
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Scientists have developed an automated system for assembling insect-computer hybrid robots. The system uses a vision-guided robotic arm to precisely implant custom-designed bipolar electrodes onto the backs of Madagascar hissing cockroaches. The entire process takes only 68 seconds, and the assembled robots achieve steering and deceleration control comparable to manually assembled systems. A multi-agent system of 4 robots successfully navigated an obstacle course, demonstrating the feasibility of mass production and real-world applications. This research paves the way for scalable production and deployment of insect robots.
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Scientists have discovered a new function of the molecular motors that shape our chromosomes: SMC proteins not only form long loops in DNA but also significantly twist the DNA during loop formation. Published in Science Advances, the research reveals that SMC proteins introduce a left-handed twist of 0.6 turns in each DNA loop extrusion step. This twisting action is conserved across species, observed in both human and yeast cells, highlighting its evolutionary importance. This finding enhances our understanding of chromosome structure and function and provides insights into developmental diseases like cohesinopathies.
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MarkItDown is a free online tool that converts various file formats (like Word, PDF, HTML, etc.) into standard Markdown. Powered by Microsoft's open-source Markitdown project, it offers fast and reliable conversions, perfect for bloggers, note-takers, and technical writers. No downloads or installations are required; simply upload your file and get clean, organized Markdown output. It's a secure and efficient way to manage your content.
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Researchers at the University of Nottingham have discovered a new class of magnetism called 'altermagnetism,' where magnetic building blocks align antiparallel but with a rotated structure. Published in Nature, this finding could revolutionize digital devices. Altermagnets promise a thousand-fold increase in the speed of microelectronic components and digital memory, while offering improved robustness and energy efficiency, and reducing reliance on rare and toxic heavy elements. The team used X-ray imaging at the MAX IV facility in Sweden to confirm the existence and controllability of this new magnetic order.
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This article critiques the shortcomings of F#'s Result type in error handling, highlighting inconsistencies in error types and the problems stemming from using strings as error types. The author proposes FaultReport as an alternative, using an IFault interface to standardize error types and a Report<'Pass', 'Fail> type to represent operation outcomes, where 'Fail must implement IFault. This ensures consistent and type-safe error handling, avoiding the inconveniences of string-based errors. FaultReport further provides Report.generalize for upcasting and a FailAs active pattern for downcasting, facilitating handling of diverse error types. While replacing FSharp.Core's Result is a significant undertaking, the author argues that FaultReport's design offers a valuable improvement to F#'s error handling.
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