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Chrome Extension Store Flooded with Keyword-Stuffing Spam

2025-01-12
Chrome Extension Store Flooded with Keyword-Stuffing Spam

A security researcher uncovered a widespread abuse of Google's Chrome Web Store. Hundreds of extensions are manipulating search results by cramming tens of thousands of irrelevant keywords into their descriptions, often hidden within lesser-used language translations. This allows malicious or low-quality extensions to rank highly for popular searches, even pushing legitimate extensions down the results. The researcher highlighted the ease with which this manipulation is performed and the apparent lack of Google's monitoring efforts, raising concerns about the platform's security.

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(arstechnica.com)
Tech keyword stuffing web security

Microsoft's Windows 365 Link: A Cloud-Based Cage?

2025-01-06
Microsoft's Windows 365 Link: A Cloud-Based Cage?

Microsoft is about to release a new device called Windows 365 Link, essentially a locked-down cloud terminal with no local admin rights, data storage, or apps. The author expresses concern that this gives Microsoft complete control over users' computers, accompanied by hefty monthly fees. This exacerbates existing worries about loss of PC control and predicts mountains of e-waste after a few years of corporate use.

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(cheapskatesguide.org)
Tech

Decoding the Mario Logo: A Surprisingly Deep Dive into Color Schemes

2025-01-23

Blogger Louie Mantia embarked on a fascinating analysis of the color usage in Mario game logos. He discovered patterns in the seemingly random color choices across the franchise's various logo styles. By meticulously examining 40 game logos, he found green to be the most frequently used color, while red dominated the letter 'M'. His analysis culminated in a proposed 'most Mario' color scheme, sparking intriguing correlations with release dates, game genres, and even box art characters.

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(lmnt.me)
Game Mario

Framework Expands Beyond Laptops: Desktops and a Student-Focused Convertible Arrive

2025-02-26
Framework Expands Beyond Laptops: Desktops and a Student-Focused Convertible Arrive

Framework unveiled its second-generation products, including an updated Framework Laptop 13 with AMD Ryzen AI 300, a 4.5-liter Mini-ITX desktop powered by Ryzen AI Max and Radeon 8060S graphics, and a new 12-inch convertible laptop aimed at students. The desktop, a significant expansion into a new market, emphasizes customizability and boasts 1440p gaming capabilities. The company highlights the repairability and modularity characteristic of its previous laptops across its new lineup. Prices range from $899 to $1999.

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(www.tomshardware.com)
Hardware

Reverse-Engineering the Stone Age: An Experimental Archaeologist's Lab

2025-01-07
Reverse-Engineering the Stone Age: An Experimental Archaeologist's Lab

Metin Eren, an archaeologist at Kent State University, runs an experimental archaeology lab where he and his team recreate and test ancient technologies. Their work ranges from flint knapping and spear throwing to analyzing bullet ricochet marks and butchering bison with ancient tools. Eren emphasizes the rigorous scientific method behind his seemingly playful experiments, publishing numerous papers annually. His research highlights the limitations of traditional archaeology and the value of hands-on experimentation in understanding past cultures and technologies. The lab's focus is on using experimental archaeology to understand cultural evolution and the limitations of the archeological record.

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(arstechnica.com)
Tech Experimental Archaeology Stone Age Technology Cultural Evolution

ELKS: An Embeddable Linux Kernel Subset for 8086

2025-01-04
ELKS: An Embeddable Linux Kernel Subset for 8086

ELKS provides a Linux-like OS for Intel IA16 architecture-based systems (16-bit processors: 8086, 8088, etc.). It supports networking and HDD installation (MINIX and FAT filesystems), runs with as little as 256KB RAM, and works on old IBM PCs and modern SBCs, SoCs, and FPGAs. Downloadable disk images and build instructions are available, along with an online demo.

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(github.com)
Development

Realistic Terrain and Hydrology Generation with Particle-Based Hydraulic Erosion

2025-02-07

This article presents a particle-based hydraulic erosion simulation technique capable of generating realistic terrains with rivers, lakes, and other hydrological features. By extending a previous particle-based erosion model and introducing 'stream maps' and 'pool maps' to track water flow and accumulation, the system simulates river migration, waterfall formation, floodplains, and other geographical phenomena. The method is simple, efficient, and tightly coupled with the terrain, producing highly realistic landscapes that remain smooth even during real-time rendering.

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(nickmcd.me)
Development hydrology simulation particle system

Pitfall! Reimagined: A Modern Take on a Classic Platformer

2025-01-22

The 1982 Atari 2600 classic, Pitfall!, returns as a browser-based experience! This isn't a mere emulation; it's a TypeScript rebuild meticulously crafted from the original's 6507 assembly language source code. While faithfully preserving the sounds and graphics, the remake introduces side-scrolling, mid-air control, refined trap mechanics, and more. Easy, Normal, and Hard modes cater to all skill levels. Whether you're a nostalgic gamer or a newcomer, prepare for a thrilling jungle adventure!

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(meatfighter.com)
Game platformer

J.G.A. Pocock's 'The Machiavellian Moment': A History of Political Contention

2024-12-27
J.G.A. Pocock's 'The Machiavellian Moment': A History of Political Contention

This article explores the impact of J.G.A. Pocock's influential work, 'The Machiavellian Moment,' on historiography and political thought. Pocock challenged the purely liberal interpretation of the American founding myth, arguing for the enduring presence of classical republicanism, sparking intense debate. This controversy extended beyond differing historical interpretations, touching upon the core of American national identity. Pocock's central argument posits the inherent political nature of historical narratives and the crucial role of historians in shaping political identities, highlighting the inevitable political contestation surrounding historical interpretations.

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(aeon.co)
Misc Political Thought American Founding

Marshall Amplification Acquired by HSG in a €1.1 Billion Deal

2025-01-24
Marshall Amplification Acquired by HSG in a €1.1 Billion Deal

Funds managed by HSG have acquired a majority stake in Marshall Amplification, the iconic British audio brand, in a deal valuing the company at €1.1 billion. The Marshall family retains a significant minority stake, and will work with HSG to further expand the brand's global reach. HSG plans to leverage its expertise in digital channels and supply chain optimization to boost Marshall's growth. This acquisition follows a period of strong growth for Marshall, with revenue more than doubling between 2020 and 2024, reaching approximately €400 million.

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(news.cision.com)
Tech

MillenniumDB: A Novel Graph-Oriented Database Management System

2025-01-31
MillenniumDB: A Novel Graph-Oriented Database Management System

MillenniumDB is a graph-oriented database management system developed by the Millennium Institute for Foundational Research on Data (IMFD). It supports multiple graph models, offering fairly complete RDF/SPARQL support and a custom property graph query language. While still under active development and not yet production-ready, it provides substantial functionality and plans to add GQL support soon. Detailed installation, configuration, and usage instructions, including Docker deployment, are provided.

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(github.com)
Development graph database database management system

Benchmark: Bitwise vs. Modulo for Even Number Check

2025-01-14
Benchmark: Bitwise vs. Modulo for Even Number Check

This post benchmarks two methods for checking if a number is even in Pascal and C: modulo operation and bitwise operation. The bitwise approach (using the bitwise AND operator) proves significantly faster. A Pascal test iterating from 0 to MaxInt showed bitwise operations were nearly 15 times quicker than modulo. In C, while compiler optimization might translate modulo 2 to bitwise AND, the bitwise method still slightly outperformed modulo. This highlights the efficiency advantage of bitwise operations for even number checks in performance-critical scenarios.

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(ubuntuincident.wordpress.com)
Development bitwise operation modulo operation

The Underground Hydrogen Rush: A New Energy Race

2025-01-23
The Underground Hydrogen Rush: A New Energy Race

MIT Technology Review reports on an emerging energy race: the search for and exploitation of vast underground hydrogen reserves. Unlike traditional fossil fuel exploration, this race targets iron-rich rocks like olivine, which, under high temperature and pressure, undergo chemical reactions to produce hydrogen. Studies suggest that underground hydrogen deposits could reach a trillion tons, enough to meet humanity's needs for centuries. While challenges remain, such as hydrogen leakage and high transportation costs, the potential environmental benefits and positive impact on climate change make it a highly attractive energy option. This technology borrows from the oil and gas industry's expertise, but also faces the challenge of more efficient exploration and extraction methods.

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(www.technologyreview.com)
Tech hydrogen energy underground energy

Beyond Code Yellow: A Startup's Guide to Tackling Tough Problems

2024-12-19

This article, penned by a seasoned tech executive turned investor turned founder, shares insights from his experiences at Instacart and Beacon. He critiques the overuse of 'Code Yellow' – a crisis-mode problem-solving approach – noting its effectiveness but also its negative impact on team morale. He proposes a more sustainable alternative: 'Sweating the Problem.' This involves removing hidden constraints (e.g., the 'keep the lights on' fallacy), running multiple solutions in parallel, avoiding premature scaling concerns, and breaking down departmental silos. The core is building team resilience and problem-solving muscle, fostering a culture where proactively tackling tough challenges is the default.

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(nilam.ca)
Startup problem-solving team management

VLM Run Hub: Pre-defined Pydantic Schemas for Simplified Visual Data Extraction

2025-02-20
VLM Run Hub: Pre-defined Pydantic Schemas for Simplified Visual Data Extraction

VLM Run Hub is a comprehensive repository of pre-defined Pydantic schemas for extracting structured data from unstructured visual domains like images, videos, and documents. Designed for Vision Language Models (VLMs) and optimized for real-world use cases, it simplifies integrating visual ETL into your workflows. It offers various pre-defined schemas, such as an Invoice schema for extracting invoice metadata, and supports multiple VLMs including OpenAI's GPT-4o and Anthropic's Claude Vision. Using Pydantic schemas ensures accurate and reliable data extraction and simplifies downstream workflows.

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(github.com)
Development Vision Language Models

Microsoft Discontinues iMac Rival Surface Studio 2+

2024-12-13
Microsoft Discontinues iMac Rival Surface Studio 2+

Microsoft has discontinued its Surface Studio 2+, ending its only direct competitor to Apple's iMac. The high-end all-in-one PC, aimed at creative professionals, featured a unique tilting touchscreen display. However, its high price and lagging specs hampered its success. This leaves a gap in the Windows ecosystem for premium all-in-one devices and cements Apple's dominance in this market segment.

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(www.macrumors.com)
Hardware All-in-one PC

Building an LLM from Scratch: A Hobbyist's Journey

2025-02-19

An AI enthusiast meticulously worked through Sebastian Raschka's book, 'Building a Large Language Model (From Scratch)', hand-typing most of the code. Despite using underpowered hardware, they successfully built and fine-tuned an LLM, learning about tokenization, vocabulary creation, model training, text generation, and model weights. The experience highlighted the benefits of hand-typing code for deeper understanding and the value of supplementary exercises. The author reflects on preferred learning methods (paper vs. digital) and plans to delve deeper into lower-level AI/ML concepts.

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(brettgfitzgerald.com)
AI AI project

AppleCare+ Denies Claim for MacBook Pro Destroyed in Car Crash

2025-01-29
AppleCare+ Denies Claim for MacBook Pro Destroyed in Car Crash

A Redditor's MacBook Pro was totaled in a car accident. Despite having AppleCare+ for accidental damage, Apple denied the claim, citing the extent of the damage. While AppleCare+ covers accidental damage, vague clauses about "similar external causes" and "reckless conduct" allowed Apple to deny coverage. This raises questions about the scope of AppleCare+ protection and whether Apple is misinterpreting its own terms.

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(9to5mac.com)
Tech Accidental Damage

Halliday AR Glasses: A Unique Design with Significant Drawbacks

2025-01-27
Halliday AR Glasses: A Unique Design with Significant Drawbacks

Halliday's AR glasses, showcased at CES, boast a novel optical design that deviates from conventional waveguide-based approaches. Employing a monocular projector to directly project images onto the eye via a mirror optical system, they offer advantages in brightness and efficiency, and compatibility with standard prescription lenses. However, users must look upward to view the image, leading to discomfort and social awkwardness. Stray light also results in a halo effect, diminishing contrast. Despite successful marketing, the design may hinder resolution and image quality improvements, and the lack of a camera limits its AI potential. While innovative, its drawbacks significantly outweigh the benefits.

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(kguttag.com)
Hardware AR Glasses Optical Design

Diablo Speedrun Champion Exposed as Cheater

2025-02-15
Diablo Speedrun Champion Exposed as Cheater

Maciej "Groobo" Maselewski reigned supreme in Diablo speedrunning for years, his 3-minute, 12-second Sorceror run seemingly unbeatable. However, a team of speedrunners, attempting to replicate his seemingly lucky dungeon runs using external software, uncovered inconsistencies. An automated search through billions of legitimate Diablo dungeons proved Groobo's run impossible within the game's legitimate parameters. This revelation sparked controversy within the speedrunning community, exposing years of unearned praise and accolades based on fraudulent gameplay.

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(arstechnica.com)
Game game cheating speedrun diablo

Chinese Scientists Achieve Breakthrough in High-Temperature Superconductivity

2025-02-18
Chinese Scientists Achieve Breakthrough in High-Temperature Superconductivity

Scientists at Southern University of Science and Technology (Sustech) in China have observed high-temperature superconductivity in a thin film of nickel oxide crystals, achieving resistance-free electricity conduction at a relatively high temperature of 45 Kelvin (-228°C) without high pressure. Published in Nature, this research offers new hope for understanding the mechanism of high-temperature superconductivity and designing room-temperature superconductors. The discovery promises to make technologies like magnetic resonance imaging significantly cheaper and more efficient. While the critical temperature of nickel-based superconductors still needs improvement compared to copper-based ones, the team is actively exploring ways to optimize the material's growth and composition to further raise its critical temperature.

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(www.nature.com)
Tech high-temperature superconductivity nickel oxide

Akamai Decommissions China CDN Services, Partners with Tencent Cloud and Wangsu

2025-01-05

Akamai announced that it will decommission its China CDN services on June 30, 2026. To ensure a smooth transition, Akamai has partnered with Tencent Cloud and Wangsu Science & Technology to provide alternative solutions. Akamai will act as a reseller, offering migration services and support to help customers transition seamlessly to the new solutions and ensure compliance with evolving Chinese regulations. All existing China CDN customers must complete the transition by June 30, 2026.

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(content.akamai.com)
Tech

Rust Library Upgrade Challenges: A Clever Way to Avoid Version Conflicts

2024-12-26
Rust Library Upgrade Challenges: A Clever Way to Avoid Version Conflicts

Upgrading libraries in the Rust ecosystem often causes cascading effects and significant trouble. This article introduces a technique called the "semver trick", which cleverly solves the problem of upgrading less frequently used APIs without changing commonly used ones by having a library depend on its future version. This method is particularly useful for avoiding the need for large-scale coordinated upgrades across the entire dependency chain due to breaking changes in a single library, greatly simplifying the upgrade process.

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(github.com)
Development version upgrade library upgrades

Do It in Jeans First: A Startup's Guide to Iterative Progress

2025-01-08
Do It in Jeans First: A Startup's Guide to Iterative Progress

This article advocates for a pragmatic approach to tackling projects, dubbed the "jeans first" method. The author, drawing on years of hiking and startup experience, argues for starting with readily available, simple solutions before investing in expensive or time-consuming upgrades. This approach minimizes upfront costs and risk, allowing for iterative improvements based on gained experience. Examples include using basic tools for product testing and customer feedback instead of immediately deploying sophisticated solutions.

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(www.gkogan.co)
Startup Efficiency Methodology

Blinkenlights: A Glimpse into Hacker Culture

2025-01-20
Blinkenlights: A Glimpse into Hacker Culture

Blinkenlights, a term originating from a deliberately misspelled German warning sign in hacker culture, refers to the diagnostic blinking lights on the front panels of old mainframe computers. As CPUs sped up, interpreting these lights became impossible in real-time. However, they persist as status indicators on modern network hardware and remain a unique symbol of tech culture, a nostalgic nod to the past.

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(en.wikipedia.org)
Tech hacker culture indicator lights

UK Launches Digital Driving Licence and GOV.UK Wallet App

2025-01-21
UK Launches Digital Driving Licence and GOV.UK Wallet App

The UK government is launching a GOV.UK Wallet and App to simplify access to government services and documents. A digital driver's licence will be among the first features, allowing users to show their licence on their phone for age verification or driving proof online and offline. The wallet will also include other government-issued documents like Veteran Cards. Alongside this, the government plans to save £45 billion through public sector technology improvements and leverage technology to boost economic growth. The GOV.UK App, launching this summer, will offer personalized services and features like an AI-powered chatbot.

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(www.gov.uk)
Tech digital driving licence GOV.UK Wallet digital government

Sea Turtles' Secret Navigation: It's All in the Dance

2025-02-14
Sea Turtles' Secret Navigation: It's All in the Dance

Scientists have discovered that sea turtles use Earth's magnetic field for navigation, expressing memories of food locations through a unique "dancing" behavior. Researchers trained turtles to associate specific magnetic fields with food, and the turtles responded by excitedly "dancing" when they sensed the familiar field. Published in Nature, this study reveals that turtles possess two distinct magnetoreception mechanisms: a magnetic compass and a magnetic map, suggesting these mechanisms may have evolved separately. This provides crucial insights into understanding animal magnetoreception.

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(www.unc.edu)
Tech animal navigation magnetoreception sea turtles

Malicious NPM Packages Targeting Cursor.com Deployed by Snyk Researcher

2025-01-14
Malicious NPM Packages Targeting Cursor.com Deployed by Snyk Researcher

A Snyk security researcher deployed several malicious NPM packages targeting Cursor.com, a popular AI coding company. These packages, named things like "cursor-retreival" and "cursor-always-local", collect system data and send it to an attacker-controlled server upon installation. The attack leverages dependency confusion, aiming to trick Cursor employees into installing these public packages. While the OpenSSF package analysis scanner flagged and reported these malicious packages, NPM hasn't yet marked them as such. This highlights limitations in software supply chain security tools and emphasizes the importance of careful NPM package installation.

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(sourcecodered.com)
Tech software supply chain security

Elixir/Erlang Hot Code Swapping: Zero-Downtime Deployments

2024-12-13

This article delves into Elixir/Erlang's hot code swapping capabilities, enabling the loading and unloading of code at runtime without requiring system restarts for application upgrades. A simple KV module example demonstrates manual hot swapping, while iex's c/1 and r/1 commands, and the Relups tool, are introduced for easier application and release upgrade management. The article explains Erlang applications, releases, appups, and relups, detailing the use of the Distillery tool to generate application releases and upgrade releases, ultimately achieving zero-downtime deployments and preventing service interruptions.

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(kennyballou.com)
Development hot code swapping
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