2025/12/12
Article: 38 min
The article provides a guide to finding non-smart TVs or alternative methods to watch TV without smart features. It highlights the benefits of using an Apple TV box for privacy and reliability, discusses the scarcity of dumb TVs due to industry trends, and offers recommendations on various options like Emerson, Westinghouse, Sceptre, projectors, computer monitors, digital signage displays, phones, laptops, home theater PCs, antennas, and NAS devices. The guide also covers considerations when connecting these alternatives to a TV.
Discussion (406): 1 hr 29 min
The comment thread discusses concerns over privacy, user control, and functionality of smart TVs. Users express dissatisfaction with ads, tracking, and nagging notifications on smart TVs, advocating for dumb TVs or alternative devices like Apple TV as better options for privacy and a more controlled media experience.
Article: 7 min
OpenAI has integrated skills functionality into both ChatGPT and Codex CLI, enabling users to access various tools such as spreadsheet manipulation, document conversion, and PDF summarization.
Discussion (292): 1 hr 6 min
The discussion revolves around the concept of 'skills' within artificial intelligence systems. Participants discuss their utility in managing tasks, organizing procedures, and augmenting AI capabilities through context-specific instructions. The conversation highlights both positive aspects, such as improved workflow efficiency, and concerns regarding complexity and potential security issues. There is a consensus on skills being an evolution rather than a groundbreaking innovation, with comparisons to previous work in the field.
Article:
The article discusses how macOS 26.2 facilitates quick AI cluster setups through RDMA over Thunderbolt technology.
Discussion (242): 57 min
The comment thread discusses various aspects related to macOS, AI hardware, and computing trends. Key points include HDR support limitations on non-Apple monitors, the importance of AI over gaming features, RAM price fluctuations, and the potential for Apple's M-series chips in the AI appliance market. The community shows moderate agreement with some debate intensity, focusing on contentious topics like HDR compatibility, affordability comparisons between home PCs and specialized AI hardware, and the impact of RAM prices on technology costs.
Article: 12 min
The article discusses the author's process of reviving an old Nokia N900 smartphone by building a makeshift battery, adding a USB-C port, and booting from an SD card.
Discussion (185): 49 min
The comment thread discusses nostalgia for older mobile devices like the Nokia N900 and N950, highlighting their unique features such as Linux-based OS, slide-out keyboards, and advanced functionalities. The conversation also explores potential successors to these devices, with some users expressing interest in modern pocket cyberdecks or DIY modifications. There is a mix of opinions on the reasons behind the failure of these devices, with some attributing it to market positioning and others focusing on technological advancements that surpassed their capabilities.
Article: 16 min
The author discusses the de-indexing of their Bear Blog by Google and the troubleshooting process they underwent to identify potential causes.
Discussion (178): 51 min
The comment thread discusses various issues related to Google's search results and website de-indexing, with a focus on perceived degradation in quality, lack of transparency from Google, and potential reasons for de-indexing such as algorithmic changes or content-related factors. There is a notable debate about the role of Google as a gatekeeper and utility, along with suggestions for alternative strategies to cope with de-indexing issues.
Article: 3 min
Epic Games celebrates a court victory against Apple, marking the end of 'the Apple Tax' for iOS payments in the USA.
Discussion (303): 1 hr 16 min
The discussion revolves around a court ruling that allows Apple to charge a 'reasonable' commission on external links within its App Store. The ruling excludes costs associated with security and privacy features provided by Apple. There is debate over whether Apple should be able to charge for external payments, with concerns about the impact on competition and consumer benefits.
Article: 7 min
The article discusses an innovative method for utilizing SQLite's JSON functions and operators by storing raw JSON documents, generating virtual columns using json_extract, indexing these columns for fast querying, and adding new columns as needed without data migration or schema rewrite.
Discussion (105): 22 min
The comment thread discusses various techniques for optimizing database queries involving JSON data using SQLite and related features such as generated columns, indexing on expressions, and direct indexing on JSONB columns in PostgreSQL. The conversation also touches upon the trade-offs between storing data in JSON format versus normalized relational tables and compares SQLite with other databases like MySQL, Postgres, MongoDB, and alternatives such as DuckDB and Rkyv.
Article: 11 min
A team of researchers has developed a VR setup for rats to play DOOM, featuring open-source hardware and software components. The project includes a motion-tracked treadmill ball, panoramic headset, input trigger, and reward circuit designed for rat interaction with the game.
Discussion (128): 19 min
The comment thread discusses an innovative project involving rats playing Doom using a VR setup, with appreciation for its design and potential applications. Ethical concerns are raised regarding animal testing, leading to discussions on alternatives and implications of such experiments.
Article: 8 min
The Tor Project is transitioning from C to Rust in its Arti rewrite, aiming to improve security and address vulnerabilities. The 1.8.0 release introduces circuit timeout rework for better anonymity and an experimental command for onion service operators to migrate restricted discovery keys.
Discussion (250): 1 hr 11 min
The discussion revolves around the Tor project's decision to rewrite parts of its codebase in Rust, focusing on enhancing security and reducing memory safety bugs. Participants highlight the benefits of Rust for applications requiring high levels of security, while also discussing challenges such as tooling complexity and potential trade-offs between performance and security. The conversation touches on trends like Rust adoption in privacy tools and the debate around whether rewriting large codebases is always beneficial.
Article: 2 min
The article discusses the opening of the 6th longest railway tunnel in Austria, part of the new Southern Line project. This tunnel will significantly reduce travel time between Styria and Carinthia, benefiting both the economy and environment by improving train transportation infrastructure.
Discussion (190): 39 min
The Koralm Tunnel project in Austria is discussed with various opinions on its efficiency, budget management, and international comparisons. There are debates about the accuracy of the article title regarding budget information and concerns over the pace and cost-effectiveness compared to other regions.