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Mysterious `d4d4` Instructions in LLD: Not a Trap, But a Conditional Branch

2025-08-21

A programmer discovered numerous `d4d4` instructions in disassembled ARM code, always unreachable and identified by LLVM's objdump as a relative branch to -0x58. Experiments and analysis revealed these weren't added by the LLVM compiler, but by the LLD linker during object file boundary alignment. LLD uses `d4d4` as padding, intending it as a trap instruction. However, it's actually a conditional branch, acting as a relative jump in the Thumb instruction set. This seems like an LLD bug; it's not a true trap, potentially causing unpredictable jumps. The GNU linker uses zeros for padding, avoiding this issue.

(www.nmichaels.org)

Development

illumos Cafe: Another Cozy Corner for OS Diversity

2025-08-21

illumos Cafe: Another Cozy Corner for OS Diversity

Following the success of the BSD Cafe, the illumos Cafe project has launched. Similar in spirit to the BSD Cafe, illumos Cafe aims to provide services running on illumos-based operating systems, demonstrating their usability and promoting open-source OS diversity. Currently, it hosts Mastodon and snac instances, with plans to expand services. The project embraces a positive and inclusive philosophy, seeking to create a free and independent community, free from the control of large tech companies.

(it-notes.dragas.net)

Development

24/7 AI Sales Avatars Outsell Humans on Taobao

2025-08-21

24/7 AI Sales Avatars Outsell Humans on Taobao

A Shanghai marketing company, PLTFRM, has created AI avatars that are revolutionizing livestream ecommerce in China. These AI salespeople stream 24/7 on platforms like Taobao and Pinduoduo, consistently outperforming human counterparts. Brother printers, for example, reported a 30% increase in livestream sales after switching to an AI avatar. While platforms like Douyin remain cautious, the widespread adoption of these AI avatars raises concerns about potential job displacement for human livestreamers and affiliate marketers. The technology's accessibility and affordability are fueling this trend, hinting at a future dominated by AI-generated content and sales.

(www.wired.com)

Tech Livestream Ecommerce

Windows 11 September Update: Copilot Enhancements, Customizable Lock Screen Widgets

2025-08-21

Windows 11 September Update: Copilot Enhancements, Customizable Lock Screen Widgets

Microsoft is preparing a major feature drop for Windows 11 users in September. The update includes Copilot enhancements like improved Recall and Click To Do, alongside improvements for all users such as enhanced Windows Search (images displayed in a grid view), customizable lock screen widgets, and a redesigned Windows Hello interface. Additionally, the taskbar calendar flyout will once again display seconds, and Task Manager has been updated. Copilot+ PC users will get a new Recall landing page and a new Click To Do tutorial. Future updates include a more customizable Start menu and improved system-wide dark mode.

(www.windowscentral.com)

Tech

UAE's Ambitious Genomic Sequencing Project: Mapping the Nation's DNA

2025-08-21

UAE's Ambitious Genomic Sequencing Project: Mapping the Nation's DNA

Abu Dhabi is significantly expanding its national genomic sequencing project by collecting DNA from Emirati newborns, aiming to place the UAE at the forefront of healthcare. The project has already mapped the genomes of 68% of Emirati citizens, and voluntary at-birth sequencing is offered to detect over 800 treatable childhood genetic conditions. Addressing the global underrepresentation of Arab genomes (around 1% mapped), this initiative tackles public health challenges and expands personalized healthcare. M42, the state-backed AI firm running the project, is seeking collaborations with other nations and pharmaceutical companies to leverage its growing dataset.

(www.semafor.com)

Tech Genomic Sequencing Personalized Healthcare

Google Assistant Gets a Gemini Makeover for the Smart Home

2025-08-21

Google Assistant Gets a Gemini Makeover for the Smart Home

Google announced a major upgrade to its Google Home smart home ecosystem: 'Gemini for Home,' a new voice assistant powered by Google's Gemini AI, is launching later this year. Replacing the current Google Assistant, Gemini for Home will offer significantly improved natural language understanding and more intuitive interactions. It can handle complex requests like "turn off all the lights except in my bedroom," and seamlessly create lists, calendar entries, and reminders. The addition of Gemini Live enables more conversational, back-and-forth interactions. While pricing details for a potential premium tier haven't been released, this is arguably the most significant update to Google Home since its inception and likely foreshadows new hardware releases.

(www.theverge.com)

Tech

Trump's U-Turn: Turning CHIPs Act Grants into Equity Stakes

2025-08-21

Trump's U-Turn: Turning CHIPs Act Grants into Equity Stakes

Trump, who previously vowed to kill the CHIPS Act, is now reportedly planning to transform its grant funding into equity investments in US chipmakers. This surprising move has sparked considerable debate. The plan involves converting already-approved (but mostly undisbursed) grants from the Biden administration into equity stakes in companies like Intel, giving American taxpayers a share in the profits. This strategy is seen as a potential balance between fiscal responsibility and securing US semiconductor dominance, but it may also introduce uncertainty for other companies seeking federal grants and potentially impact their operational efficiency.

(arstechnica.com)

Tech CHIPS Act Equity Investment

Pixel Watch 4: Google's 'Essential Companion' Evolves

2025-08-21

Pixel Watch 4: Google's 'Essential Companion' Evolves

Google's Pixel Watch 4 boasts significant hardware and software upgrades. The new watch features thinner bezels, a brighter display, and improved battery life. It also sports an innovative side-mounted charger and offers replaceable and repairable display and battery. Software-wise, the Pixel Watch 4 integrates Gemini AI for a more powerful voice assistant and a personalized health coach, alongside a Satellite SOS emergency call feature. In essence, the Pixel Watch 4 represents a bold step forward for Google in the smartwatch arena, striving to deliver a durable and feature-rich "essential companion."

(www.theverge.com)

Tech

Masimo Sues US Customs to Block Apple's Restored Blood Oxygen Feature on Apple Watch

2025-08-21

Masimo Sues US Customs to Block Apple's Restored Blood Oxygen Feature on Apple Watch

Following a patent infringement lawsuit by Masimo, Apple's blood oxygen feature on the Apple Watch was initially banned. While Apple disabled the feature via software, it recently re-enabled it, calling it a "redesigned" feature. Masimo now alleges that US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) overstepped its authority and violated due process by allowing Apple to restore the functionality. The lawsuit seeks to prevent CBP's decision and reinstate the original ban. The central issue is whether CBP violated due process and whether Apple's 'redesigned' feature still constitutes patent infringement.

(9to5mac.com)

Tech Patent Lawsuit

Portable Air Cleaners: Hype vs. Reality

2025-08-21

Portable Air Cleaners: Hype vs. Reality

A review of nearly 700 studies reveals that many portable air cleaners marketed to curb indoor infection spread lack human testing to support their efficacy claims. Most studies tested device performance in unoccupied spaces, neglecting the impact on human infection rates and potential harmful byproducts. Technologies like photocatalytic oxidation and plasma-based methods show promise in clearing microbes from the air, but lack human trial data to confirm their effectiveness in preventing infections. Researchers call for rigorous testing of both efficacy and safety to protect consumers and public health.

(theconversation.com)

Tech air purifiers tech safety

Pure CSS 3D Engine: Building Realistic 3D Worlds with HTML Elements

2025-08-21

Pure CSS 3D Engine: Building Realistic 3D Worlds with HTML Elements

A developer spent months creating a stunning 3D environment demo using only CSS 3D transforms, HTML elements, and JavaScript. The demo features complex models, realistic lighting and shadows, and even collision detection. The article details the technical aspects, including creating 3D objects from rectangular elements, cleverly using gradients and canvas for lighting and shadow effects, and heightmap-based collision detection. This is not just a technical showcase; it demonstrates the immense potential of CSS in the field of 3D graphics.

(keithclark.co.uk)

Development 3D Engine

Deep Dive into Bluesky's Architecture: A Decentralized Social Network Under the Hood

2025-08-21

Deep Dive into Bluesky's Architecture: A Decentralized Social Network Under the Hood

This article provides a deep dive into the architecture of the ATProto protocol powering the decentralized social network Bluesky. It thoroughly explains core concepts like Records, Blobs, Lexicons, DIDs, and Handles, and details how server components such as PDS (Personal Data Server), Relay, AppView, Labellers, and Feed Generators work together. The author contrasts ATProto with the Fediverse and provides an overview of relevant SDKs, documentation, and community resources, offering developers a comprehensive guide to understanding and contributing to the Bluesky ecosystem.

(mackuba.eu)

Development

Tech Nonprofits: Why Are They So Bad at Fundraising?

2025-08-21

The author, a regular philanthropist, observes that tech nonprofits are significantly worse at attracting donors than other types of charities. This post analyzes the shortcomings, highlighting the need for tech nonprofits to simplify donation processes (offering diverse methods like credit cards, DAFs, etc.), clearly communicate the impact of donations (detailing organizational goals, finances, project progress, and fund usage), and foster stronger human connection (proactively engaging with donors and building relationships). The author advocates for tech nonprofits to learn from successful models in other sectors to improve their fundraising efforts and achieve their missions.

(mitchellh.com)

Startup nonprofit donation

Bay Area AI Engineer: Building the AI-First Fraud Detection System

2025-08-21

Bay Area AI Engineer: Building the AI-First Fraud Detection System

Coris is hiring experienced AI Engineers to build an AI-first fraud detection system for global commerce. Responsibilities include fine-tuning and optimizing LLMs for fraud detection, building high-performance Django backend services, and handling massive data volumes from payment processors like Stripe and Adyen. The ideal candidate has 3+ years of Python/Django experience, expertise in LLM optimization and fraud detection, and the ability to ensure low latency and cost in high-concurrency environments.

(www.ycombinator.com)

AI Fraud Detection

Zedless: A Privacy-Friendly, Local-First Fork of Zed

2025-08-21

Zedless: A Privacy-Friendly, Local-First Fork of Zed

Zedless is a work-in-progress fork of Zed designed to prioritize privacy and local-first principles. It removes reliance on proprietary cloud services, telemetry, and automatic crash reporting. It emphasizes bring-your-own-infrastructure, allowing users to configure providers for network services (with no defaults and disabled by default). Importantly, it avoids contributor license agreements and ensures proper licensing for all third-party dependencies.

(github.com)

Development

Formalizing Fermat's Last Theorem in Lean: A Collaborative Open Source Project

2025-08-21

An international collaboration led by Kevin Buzzard is undertaking the ambitious task of formally proving Fermat's Last Theorem using the Lean theorem prover. Funded by the UK's Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and hosted at Imperial College London, this project pushes the boundaries of mathematical proof verification. By using a computer to verify the proof, the project explores the potential of formalization and automated verification in mathematics, with implications for future research.

(imperialcollegelondon.github.io)

Development Lean theorem prover

Gouach's Infinite Battery: Cracking Bosch Encryption and Reimagining E-bike Power

2025-08-21

Gouach's Infinite Battery: Cracking Bosch Encryption and Reimagining E-bike Power

After overcoming initial setbacks, Gouach developed the IP67-rated Infinite Battery, securing over $3.7 million in funding through Indiegogo and venture capital. This modular battery pack boasts compatibility with various e-bikes, notably conquering the challenge of encrypted communication with Bosch mid-drive motors. EU backers are slated to receive their kits in June, with US deliveries and an open online store to follow. Gouach's innovative approach, treating e-bike batteries as modular components rather than monolithic units, signifies a potential paradigm shift in the industry.

(arstechnica.com)

Hardware e-bike

SimpleIDE: Bringing Professional VB.NET Development to Linux

2025-08-21

SimpleIDE: Bringing Professional VB.NET Development to Linux

SimpleIDE is a lightweight, professional VB.NET IDE built with GTK# 3 on Linux using .NET 8.0. It provides a modern development environment for VB.NET projects, featuring multi-file tabbed editing, syntax highlighting, intelligent code completion, an integrated build system, debugging capabilities, and Claude AI assistance. SimpleIDE also boasts Git integration, customizable themes, and extensive keyboard shortcuts. This open-source project welcomes contributions.

(github.com)

Development

Python f-string Cheat Sheet: Mastering String Formatting

2025-08-21

This blog post presents a cheat sheet for Python's f-string formatting, covering various formatting options for numbers, integers, and strings, including fill, width, grouping, precision, and type. It also explores modifiers common to all objects, such as !s, !r, !a, and how to mix and match these modifiers with other format specifications. Whether you're working with numbers, integers, or strings, this cheat sheet empowers you to easily harness the power of Python f-strings, enhancing code readability and efficiency.

(fstring.help)

Development string formatting

Denmark Scraps Book Tax to Combat 'Reading Crisis'

2025-08-21

Denmark Scraps Book Tax to Combat 'Reading Crisis'

Facing a growing 'reading crisis', Denmark will eliminate its 25% book sales tax – the highest in Europe. This move, costing the state an estimated $51 million annually, aims to boost book sales and reading rates. The decision follows an OECD report revealing that 24% of 15-year-old Danes struggle with basic reading comprehension, a four-percentage-point increase over a decade. The Danish publishing industry had advocated for the tax cut, emphasizing the need for accessible physical books for all.

(www.rte.ie)

Misc reading crisis book tax

UTCP 1.0.1: A Flexible and Extensible Universal Tool Calling Protocol

2025-08-21

UTCP 1.0.1: A Flexible and Extensible Universal Tool Calling Protocol

The Universal Tool Calling Protocol (UTCP) 1.0.1 is a modern, flexible, and scalable standard for defining and interacting with tools across various communication protocols. Its modular core and plugin-based architecture enhance extensibility, testability, and packaging. UTCP emphasizes scalability, interoperability, and ease of use, offering plugins for HTTP, SSE, CLI, and more. The new version features a refactored architecture separating the core library from optional plugins, along with an improved search strategy and variable substitution mechanism.

(github.com)

Development Tool Calling Protocol Plugin Architecture

Anime Catgirls and the Linux Kernel: A Cost Analysis of an Anti-Crawler Mechanism

2025-08-21

Recently, more websites are using Anubis, an anti-crawler system that uses a mining-like process to verify visitor identity, requiring users to perform SHA-256 operations to gain access. The author questions the effectiveness of Anubis because it's trivial for AI crawlers with powerful computing capabilities but inconvenient for ordinary users. Through calculations, the author finds that even with tens of thousands of websites deploying Anubis, the cost of cracking its verification mechanism is virtually zero. The author finally provides a simple C program to bypass Anubis's restrictions and points out a vulnerability in the Anubis system.

(lock.cmpxchg8b.com)

Tech

SK Hynix Overtakes Samsung as World's Top DRAM Maker After 30+ Years

2025-08-21

SK Hynix Overtakes Samsung as World's Top DRAM Maker After 30+ Years

For the first time in over three decades, SK Hynix has surpassed Samsung Electronics as the world's largest DRAM manufacturer. Fueled by booming demand for AI memory chips and an exclusive supply deal with Nvidia, SK Hynix's market share soared. Samsung's share plummeted by 8.8 percentage points in the first half of 2025, its steepest decline since 1999. SK Hynix's success is largely attributed to its strong US market performance, particularly its supply of HBM3E chips to Nvidia, accounting for 54% of its Q1 DRAM operating profit. Analysts predict SK Hynix will maintain its lead in the near term.

(koreajoongangdaily.joins.com)

Tech SK Hynix

The Fundamental Flaw of Programming Languages: The Data vs. Object Debate

2025-08-21

The Fundamental Flaw of Programming Languages: The Data vs. Object Debate

The author argues that existing programming languages have a fundamental flaw in how they handle data and objects. They point out that languages need to distinguish between data (e.g., the integer 1) and objects (entities with identity and mutability). Many languages fail to clearly differentiate between the two, leading to code bloat and design challenges. The author believes ideal languages should allow developers to explicitly choose data or object representations and provide appropriate support. The article uses Java and Haskell as examples to contrast object-oriented and functional languages' approaches to data and objects, analyzing Erlang's advantages in this regard. The conclusion advocates for clearer distinctions between data and objects in programming language design to improve efficiency and code quality.

(www.tedinski.com)

Development objects

DiffMem: Git-Based Differential Memory for Smarter AI Agents

2025-08-21

DiffMem: Git-Based Differential Memory for Smarter AI Agents

DiffMem is a lightweight, Git-based memory system designed for AI agents and conversational systems. It leverages Markdown for human-readable storage, Git for version control and tracking memory evolution, and an in-memory BM25 index for fast retrieval. This proof-of-concept demonstrates how version control can create efficient, scalable memory for AI. DiffMem treats memory as a versioned repository, separating the current state from historical changes. This allows for efficient queries on the current knowledge while preserving the full history for deeper analysis. It addresses challenges in traditional AI memory systems like scalability and query efficiency, offering a human-readable, easily portable, and auditable solution. The system is composed of a writer agent, context manager, searcher agent, and an API layer. While currently a prototype, DiffMem showcases a promising approach to long-term AI memory management.

(github.com)

Development

Relive the 80s: Epson MX-80 Font Pack Released

2025-08-21

Michael Walden has recreated the fonts from the iconic Epson MX-80 dot matrix printer, popular in the 1980s. Manually transcribing the font data, he's expanded the character set to include Windows-1252 characters and offers the fonts in various formats (.fon, .ttf, .otf, .woff, .woff2). Perfect for retro printing simulations or displaying program listings on web pages and in documentation.

(mw.rat.bz)

Design retro font

Failed Experiment: A Git-Based Code Review Tool

2025-08-21

Failed Experiment: A Git-Based Code Review Tool

The author experimented with a tool called `git-review` to improve GitHub's code review process. The core idea was to treat code review as a commit stored within the repository, using in-code comments for review. However, the experiment was not successful. While adding comments directly to the code was highly efficient, modifying code under review proved tricky, especially dealing with conflicts and the friction of using `git push --force-with-lease`. The author ultimately abandoned the project but believes the core idea—in-code review—is valuable, and looks forward to future possibilities of improving code review through Git improvements.

(tigerbeetle.com)

Development

Learning GPU Architecture Through Memory Bandwidth Microbenchmarks

2025-08-21

Learning GPU Architecture Through Memory Bandwidth Microbenchmarks

Traverse Research delved deep into GPU architecture by measuring memory bandwidth across various GPUs using custom microbenchmarks. The article explores the complexities of GPU memory access, including descriptors, buffer types (byte address, structured, typed), and texture units. It also covers GPU memory hierarchy, cache policies (write-through, write-back, write-around), and latency hiding techniques. Experiments revealed significant differences in cache and VRAM bandwidth across architectures: the Meta Quest 3's Adreno 740 showed a dramatic bandwidth improvement using textures; the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT exhibited differences between floating-point and integer loads; the Intel Arc B580 displayed unique patterns with varying data types; and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti experienced bottlenecks with many writes to the same small memory area. These findings offer insights for optimizing GPU software performance, particularly in hardware-specific projects.

(www.evolvebenchmark.com)

Tech Memory Bandwidth Microbenchmark

PlutoPrint: Lightweight Python Library for Generating PDFs and Images from HTML/XML

2025-08-21

PlutoPrint: Lightweight Python Library for Generating PDFs and Images from HTML/XML

PlutoPrint is a lightweight Python library for generating high-quality PDFs and images directly from HTML or XML. Based on PlutoBook's rendering engine, it offers a simple API for creating reports, invoices, or visual snapshots. Use it via command line or Python API; pre-built binaries are available for Windows and Linux 64-bit. It even integrates with Matplotlib for generating and embedding charts.

(github.com)

Development PDF generation Image generation

FTC Sues LA Fitness Over Impossible-to-Cancel Memberships

2025-08-20

FTC Sues LA Fitness Over Impossible-to-Cancel Memberships

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is suing LA Fitness and other gym chains for allegedly making it nearly impossible for consumers to cancel memberships. The FTC's complaint highlights numerous obstacles, including restricted cancellation hours, requiring in-person cancellation with specific employees, and unclear instructions for mail cancellations. The FTC seeks a court order to stop these practices and provide refunds to affected consumers. This action underscores the FTC's commitment to protecting consumers from unfair business practices.

(www.ftc.gov)

Misc

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