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Xiaomi's Draconian Bootloader Unlock Policy Sparks Debate

2025-01-03

Xiaomi's Draconian Bootloader Unlock Policy Sparks Debate

Xiaomi has drastically tightened its bootloader unlock policy, limiting users to unlocking only one device per year. While this change minimally impacts average consumers, it could significantly hinder custom ROM development. This move has sparked a debate about device ownership and user freedom, with speculation focusing on Xiaomi's motivations, including preventing users from bypassing built-in ads and tracking, or thwarting scalpers reselling phones with modified software. Users see this as restricting choice, while developers worry about reduced efficiency in custom ROM creation.

(www.androidpolice.com)

Tech Custom ROM

Exbody2: High-Fidelity Whole-Body Motion Mimicry in Humanoid Robots

2024-12-18

Researchers have developed Exbody2, a generalized whole-body tracking framework enabling humanoid robots to perform expressive motions with human-like stability. Trained in simulation using Reinforcement Learning and then transferred to the real world, Exbody2 decouples keypoint tracking from velocity control. It leverages a privileged teacher policy to distill precise mimicry skills, achieving high-fidelity replication of dynamic movements such as running, crouching, and dancing. Experiments on two humanoid platforms demonstrate superior performance compared to state-of-the-art methods, providing practical guidelines for advanced whole-body control in humanoid robotics.

(exbody2.github.io)

AI Robotics Reinforcement Learning Whole-body Control

Tech's Misuse of the Pareto Principle: 80% Effort, 20% Product?

2025-01-23

Tech's Misuse of the Pareto Principle: 80% Effort, 20% Product?

In game development, the concept of a 'vertical slice' emphasizes completeness, while the tech industry's prevalent 'Minimum Viable Product' (MVP) prioritizes rapid iteration. The author argues that overemphasis on the Pareto Principle (80% of results from 20% effort) leads to many tech products remaining rough MVPs, lacking final polish and leaving users dissatisfied. This isn't just seen in apps and software but also impacts AI, like self-driving cars and image generation; these are promising but far from practical. The author calls for a shift in mindset, valuing completeness and user experience over rapid iteration and funding.

(bobbylox.com)

Development Pareto Principle

Ledger Co-founder Kidnapped: Massive Investigation Underway in France

2025-01-23

Ledger Co-founder Kidnapped: Massive Investigation Underway in France

David Balland, a co-founder of the cryptocurrency wallet company Ledger, has been kidnapped, prompting a large-scale investigation by French authorities. The incident unfolded in the Cher department of France, involving a significant police deployment including helicopters and searches of multiple locations. The motive behind the kidnapping remains unclear, and whether a ransom is involved has not been publicly disclosed. This event highlights the security risks within the cryptocurrency industry.

(www.leberry.fr)

Tech kidnapping

Century-Scale Digital Storage: A Race Against Time

2024-12-14

Century-Scale Digital Storage: A Race Against Time

This article explores the challenge of storing digital data for 100 years. From the invention of IBM's first hard drive-equipped computer, RAMAC, to the prevalence of cloud storage today, the author analyzes the advantages and disadvantages of various storage methods, including hard drives, cloud storage, removable media, and physical imprinting or printing. The article highlights the threats to long-term data preservation, such as physical damage to hardware, software updates, institutional changes, and market fluctuations. Ultimately, the author argues that the key to century-scale digital storage lies in establishing a culture that values maintenance and preservation, requiring a collective effort from all sectors of society to combat the erosion of time and safeguard humanity's digital heritage.

(lil.law.harvard.edu)

Tech data storage digital archive long-term preservation

Make Your QEMU 10 Times Faster: A Weird Trick

2024-12-17

While debugging NixOS tests, Linus Heckemann discovered painfully slow data copying times (over 2 hours) in a QEMU virtual machine. Performance analysis with `perf` revealed that QEMU's 9p server used an inefficient linked list (O(n) complexity) for file lookups. By switching to a hash table provided by glib (O(1) complexity), he reduced the test time to 7 minutes and successfully contributed the optimization to the QEMU project.

(linus.schreibt.jetzt)

Development 9p protocol

Danish Study Links Diabetes Drug Ozempic to Increased Risk of Severe Eye Condition

2024-12-17

Danish Study Links Diabetes Drug Ozempic to Increased Risk of Severe Eye Condition

Two independent studies from the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) reveal that patients with type 2 diabetes treated with Ozempic have a significantly higher risk of developing non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), a condition causing severe and permanent vision loss. These large-scale studies, based on Danish registries, found Ozempic more than doubles the risk of NAION. Researchers recommend doctors and patients discuss the benefits and risks of Ozempic, suggesting treatment cessation if NAION is detected in one eye.

(www.sdu.dk)

Tech Type 2 Diabetes NAION

Technical Debt vs. Technical Assets: A Wise Investment Strategy

2024-12-21

Technical Debt vs. Technical Assets: A Wise Investment Strategy

This article explores the difference between technical debt and technical assets. Technical debt, similar to financial debt, represents code issues that must be addressed, such as bugs and poor code readability, hindering development efficiency. Technical assets, on the other hand, are proactive investments in known problems, like building high-quality SDKs, reducing future maintenance costs and increasing development freedom. The article advises prioritizing the repayment of technical debt before investing in technical assets, leveraging proven processes and technologies to avoid accumulating technical debt and ultimately achieving higher development efficiency and product quality.

(liblab.com)

Development technical debt technical assets

SRCL: A Terminal-Aesthetic React Component Library

2025-01-20

SRCL: A Terminal-Aesthetic React Component Library

SRCL is an open-source React component and style repository that helps you build web applications, desktop applications, and static websites with terminal aesthetics. It boasts a comprehensive collection of components, including action bars, accordions, buttons, alert banners, avatars, badges, loaders, blog posts, breadcrumbs, cards, checkboxes, chessboards, code blocks, combo boxes, data tables, date pickers, dashboards, database examples, dropdown menus, empty states, input fields, forms, links, lists, messages, modals, navigation bars, popovers, progress bars, radio buttons, selects, sidebars, sliders, tables, text areas, tooltips, and tree views, all styled with a retro terminal look and feel.

(www.sacred.computer)

Development Component Library Terminal UI

Swift's New Forked Framework Simplifies Shared Data Management

2024-12-17

Swift's New Forked Framework Simplifies Shared Data Management

Developer Drew McCormack launched Forked, a new Swift framework for simplifying shared data management across single and multiple devices. Inspired by Git's merge mechanism, Forked supports branching and merging within a single file, achieving eventual consistency. It doesn't require a complete change history, only enough versions for three-way merging. Forked uses structs instead of classes, supports Codable, and seamlessly integrates with cloud services like iCloud. It even tackles race conditions from concurrent access and supports custom merge logic or built-in CRDT algorithms. CloudKit sync is achieved with just a few lines of code.

(appdecentral.com)

Development Data Synchronization Distributed Systems

ImPlot3D: A High-Performance Immediate Mode 3D Plotting Library Based on Dear ImGui

2024-12-18

ImPlot3D: A High-Performance Immediate Mode 3D Plotting Library Based on Dear ImGui

ImPlot3D is an open-source library built on top of Dear ImGui, offering developers an easy-to-use, high-performance way to create 3D plots. Independent of ImPlot, ImPlot3D supports various 3D plot types, including line plots, scatter plots, surface plots, and mesh plots, with interactive rotation, panning, and zooming. Its intuitive API, similar to Dear ImGui and ImPlot, allows for quick integration and customization of markers, lines, surfaces, and mesh styles, with options for built-in or custom colormaps. A comprehensive demo application aids users in learning and utilizing its features.

(github.com)

Development 3D plotting

Schrödinger: The Biotech Firm Trying to Crack the AI Drug Discovery Code

2025-01-25

Schrödinger: The Biotech Firm Trying to Crack the AI Drug Discovery Code

Schrödinger, a biotech company using quantum mechanics to design new medicines and materials, boasts all top 20 pharmaceutical companies as clients. Despite this, five years post-IPO, its stock price languishes near all-time lows. This article explores Schrödinger's unique business model—part biotech, part software—and its struggles with valuation. A pivotal dinner between Nvidia's Jensen Huang and Schrödinger's CEO highlighted a crucial turning point: embracing AI more fully. While initially hesitant, Schrödinger now leverages AI's power, particularly AlphaFold's protein structure predictions, and is preparing for crucial clinical data releases in 2025. The company's future hinges on successfully navigating the complex interplay of software sales, biotech pipeline development, and clear investor communication.

(hntrbrk.com)

Tech Drug Discovery

The Secret Spy Satellite That Helped Win the Cold War

2025-01-22

The Secret Spy Satellite That Helped Win the Cold War

In the 1970s, the rise of the Soviet Navy posed a significant threat to the US. To counter the emergence of powerful new Soviet warships, the top-secret Parcae satellite program was launched. Developed by the US Naval Research Laboratory, Parcae provided real-time location data on Soviet vessels, drastically reducing the time between signal interception and intelligence reporting to mere minutes. This near-instantaneous intelligence was crucial for military decision-making. Employing multiple satellites working in concert and advanced computer systems to process massive amounts of data, Parcae helped maintain the strategic balance during the Cold War. Its technology continues to influence modern satellite signals intelligence systems.

(spectrum.ieee.org)

Tech spy satellite signals intelligence

From New Grad to Meta Staff Engineer in 3 Years: Evan King's Success Story

2024-12-14

From New Grad to Meta Staff Engineer in 3 Years: Evan King's Success Story

Evan King shares his journey of rapidly advancing from a new graduate to a Staff Engineer at Meta in just three years. His six key principles for success include: prioritizing speed and efficiency to free up time for growth; broadening perspective to think strategically like a higher-level engineer; embracing uncertainty and sharing ideas freely; focusing on problem-solving over technical complexity; building goodwill and strong relationships; and maintaining a positive attitude. While acknowledging the role of luck and timing, Evan emphasizes the importance of cultivating sustainable habits that compound over time, focusing on core competencies and strategically utilizing the extra bandwidth created by efficiency.

(www.developing.dev)

Development career growth promotion software engineering

Firenvim: Embed Neovim in Your Browser for Enhanced Editing

2024-12-19

Firenvim: Embed Neovim in Your Browser for Enhanced Editing

Firenvim is a browser extension that seamlessly integrates the Neovim editor into Chrome, Firefox, and other browsers. With a simple click on any textarea, you can instantly edit webpage content using Neovim's powerful features. Save changes with ':w' and close the editor with ':q'. Installation is straightforward, and extensive customization options allow you to fine-tune the plugin's behavior, including element selection, auto-takeover settings, command-line options, and more. Firenvim offers advanced features such as manual triggering, temporary disabling, custom configuration, special character handling, and webpage interaction. However, be aware that compatibility issues may arise with certain websites.

(github.com)

Development code editing

Using eSIMs on Devices with Only Physical SIM Slots: A 9eSIM Review

2025-01-20

Using eSIMs on Devices with Only Physical SIM Slots: A 9eSIM Review

This blog post details using a 9eSIM SIM card to enable eSIM functionality on devices that only accept physical SIM cards, tested on Android and Linux. The author purchased a 9eSIM bundle including the SIM, smartcard reader, and adapter. Initial setup proved slightly tricky, requiring the SIM card to be used within its original packaging for proper reader connection. Adding, switching, and deleting eSIM profiles was straightforward using an Android app or the Linux command-line tool lpac (and its GUI, EasyLPAC). Tests were conducted with free test eSIM profiles and a paid LycaMobile eSIM, successfully achieving eSIM connectivity on a Debian Linux laptop.

(neilzone.co.uk)

Hardware physical SIM

SimplexDocsPlaygroundRequest API: Code Execution Preview

2025-01-15

The SimplexDocsPlaygroundRequest API provides code execution and preview functionality. Users submit code to the server via this API, which executes the code and returns the results, along with a preview of the execution process. This is useful for developers debugging code, testing APIs, and rapidly prototyping. The API is currently loading; results will be available after code execution.

(www.simplex.sh)

Development Code Execution Preview

Getting LLMs to Generate Funny Memes: Surprisingly Hard

2025-01-06

Getting LLMs to Generate Funny Memes: Surprisingly Hard

A University of Waterloo intern attempted to build an app using LLMs and the Greptile API to generate memes that roast GitHub repositories. The process proved unexpectedly challenging. Directly prompting the LLM for roasts yielded generic results. The solution involved separating the task into code analysis (using Greptile to pinpoint specific issues) and roast generation (using the LLM to create targeted humor). Image generation proved difficult due to limitations in handling text, leading to the use of pre-built meme templates and node-canvas for text insertion. Despite the hurdles, the project culminated in reporoast.com, a website capable of generating custom code-roasting memes.

(www.greptile.com)

Development Meme Generation

Data Branching for Batch Job Systems: A Git-like Approach

2025-01-24

This blog post explores the application of Git-like branching strategies for managing data within batch job systems. The author proposes using the 'main' branch as the canonical production data version. Each job execution creates a new branch for processing and metadata recording; successful jobs merge back into 'main'. The post also covers branching strategies for test execution, experiments, and multi-step jobs, achieving efficient version control and experimental management, mirroring aspects of database transaction ACID properties.

(isaacjordan.me)

Development data version control batch jobs

The Graphics Codex: Your Ultimate Guide to Computer Graphics

2025-01-26

The Graphics Codex is an interactive learning resource for computer graphics, featuring 400+ cross-referenced equations and diagrams, 14 chapters on physically-based shading and rendering, and multi-platform programming projects with links to external API documentation. It serves as a reference, textbook supplement, or standalone learning guide, updated monthly. Topics range from ray tracing and shadow map shaders to the rendering equation and Fresnel equations, making it ideal for students and professionals alike.

(graphicscodex.com)

Development 3D rendering programming tutorial

Google Fiber Launches Construction in Las Vegas

2025-01-22

Google Fiber Launches Construction in Las Vegas

Google Fiber has officially begun network construction in Las Vegas, starting on the west side of the city with expansion to other parts of Clark County in the coming months. This follows agreements reached in 2024 with the City of Las Vegas and Clark County. Google Fiber is committed to minimizing disruption during construction and plans to offer service in parts of the metro area later this year. Nevada residents and businesses will have access to Google Fiber's plans, boasting speeds up to 8 gigabits and prices unchanged since 2012.

(fiber.googleblog.com)

Tech Google Fiber Las Vegas Network Construction

Meta Launches 'Edits' Video Editing App to Capitalize on CapCut's Absence

2025-01-20

Meta Launches 'Edits' Video Editing App to Capitalize on CapCut's Absence

Following the removal of ByteDance's CapCut video editing app from app stores, Meta announced its new video editing app, Edits, on Sunday. Instagram head Adam Mosseri revealed the app will launch on iOS next month, with Android to follow. Edits boasts a suite of creative tools, including inspiration and idea tracking tabs, and a high-quality camera, along with draft sharing capabilities. Meta's move is seen as capitalizing on the market gap left by CapCut's absence, mirroring previous strategic launches like Instagram Reels and Threads.

(techcrunch.com)

Development Video Editing

EmacsConf 2024: A Smoothly Run Online Conference

2024-12-28

EmacsConf 2024 successfully concluded! This post, written by Sacha Chua, reflects on the conference's preparation, execution, and lessons learned. From the call for proposals to the final presentations, organizers cleverly used automation tools (Org mode, emacsconf-mail.el, Ansible, etc.) to boost efficiency and leveraged technologies like BigBlueButton and WhisperX for a smooth experience. While technical challenges (BBB server configuration, audio syncing) arose, they were effectively addressed. Sacha shares insights into time management, volunteer coordination, and future improvements, showcasing dedication to the open-source community.

(sachachua.com)

Development online conference

Apple Secretly Enables AI Photo Analysis, Sparking Privacy Concerns

2025-01-03

Apple Secretly Enables AI Photo Analysis, Sparking Privacy Concerns

Apple silently enabled a feature called "Enhanced Visual Search" in iOS 18.1 and macOS 15.1, which analyzes photos for landmarks without explicit user consent. While Apple claims to use homomorphic encryption and differential privacy to protect user privacy, the lack of transparency and opt-in choice has sparked concern. Developers criticize Apple's lack of explanation and user notification, arguing the approach is even more intrusive than its abandoned CSAM scanning plan. Although no evidence suggests Apple violated its privacy statements, the lack of communication is the core of user discontent.

(www.theregister.com)

Tech

Building a Simple Object System from Scratch in Ruby

2024-12-15

This blog post details building a basic object system in Ruby without using classes. The author cleverly uses anonymous functions and hash tables to implement core OOP concepts like method lookup, prototypal inheritance, mixins, and metaprogramming. Starting with a constructor function, the post demonstrates simulating private variables and public interfaces, effectively recreating class-like behavior and inheritance. Through clear code examples, readers learn to create objects, define methods, implement inheritance and mixins, and even build a rudimentary `attr_accessor`-like metaprogramming feature. It's a practical guide to understanding object system fundamentals.

(metacircu1ar.github.io)

Development Object-Oriented Programming Metaprogramming

Mastodon Web App Requires JavaScript

2025-01-01

Eric Hellman's tilde.zone post reveals a long-term project update: using the Mastodon web application requires enabling JavaScript, or alternatively, using a native Mastodon app. This suggests work on improving the web client or user experience for Mastodon.

(tilde.zone)

Development Web App

Lossless Compression of Vector IDs Boosts Approximate Nearest Neighbor Search

2025-01-23

Researchers introduce a lossless compression scheme for vector IDs to address the high storage cost of indexes in approximate nearest neighbor search. Leveraging the fact that the order of IDs is irrelevant in many index structures, and utilizing asymmetric numeral systems or wavelet trees, the method achieves up to 7x compression of vector IDs without impacting accuracy or search runtime. This translates to a 30% reduction in index size for billion-scale datasets. Furthermore, the approach can also losslessly compress quantized vector codes by exploiting sub-optimalities in the original quantization algorithm.

(arxiv.org)

AI Approximate Nearest Neighbor Search Vector Compression Lossless Compression

UK Watchdog to Issue New Guidance on Smart Device Data Privacy

2024-12-16

UK Watchdog to Issue New Guidance on Smart Device Data Privacy

The UK's Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) will issue new guidance addressing data privacy concerns surrounding smart home devices. A Which? report revealed that some air fryers and other smart devices sent user data to servers in China. The ICO stated that consumers feel overwhelmed by the amount of data collected and lack control over its use. New guidelines, launching Spring 2025, will cover consent procedures, privacy information provision, and tools enabling users to exercise their rights.

(news.sky.com)

Tech data privacy information security

Redis UNLINK vs DEL: A Deep Dive into Internal Mechanics

2025-01-21

Redis UNLINK vs DEL: A Deep Dive into Internal Mechanics

Both Redis' UNLINK and DEL commands remove keys, but their internal implementations differ. DEL synchronously deletes keys and frees memory, while UNLINK asynchronously queues the deletion for background processing. UNLINK's 'non-blocking' nature isn't absolute; it calculates the cost of deleting an object: if the cost is less than 64, it deletes synchronously; otherwise, asynchronously. The article delves into the Redis source code, explaining the implementation details of UNLINK and DEL, including key slot calculation, two-phase unlinking, and asynchronous deletion, and discusses the role of LAZYFREE_THRESHOLD.

(www.pankajtanwar.in)

Development

Bio-Inspired Adaptive Shading: Energy-Autonomous & Sustainable

2025-01-21

Researchers at the Universities of Stuttgart and Freiburg have developed a novel energy-autonomous building facade shading system, "Solar Gate," inspired by pine cones. Using bio-based cellulose materials and 4D printing, the system passively adjusts shading based on humidity and temperature changes, requiring no electricity. It closes in summer to minimize solar radiation and opens in winter to maximize sunlight for natural heating, offering a sustainable and efficient solution for climate control in buildings.

(www.uni-stuttgart.de)

Tech biomimicry 4D printing sustainable building

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