2026/02/06

1. I now assume that all ads on Apple news are scams from kirkville.com
   1065 by cdrnsf 23h ago | | |

   Article: 4 min

   The article discusses concerns over scammy ads appearing on Apple News, suggesting that recent registrations of domains associated with these ads may indicate fraudulent activities. The author questions whether Apple and Taboola are aware of this issue and if they care about the presence of such ads in their premium news service.

   Scam ads on premium news services may erode consumer trust in technology companies, particularly those offering subscription-based content.

   • Ads in Apple News are similar to chumbox Taboola ads.
   • Recent registrations of domains associated with scam ads suggest potential fraud.
   • Some ads feature AI-generated content, such as images of elderly women claiming the company is retiring.
   • The Better Business Bureau warns about fake 'going out of business' ads.

   Quality:
   The article presents factual information and opinions without sensationalism.

   Discussion (446): 2 hr 2 min

   The comment thread discusses various criticisms of Apple's recent products and services, particularly focusing on ads being considered scams or misleading, a decline in hardware quality compared to software/services, dissatisfaction with News+ integration issues, and concerns over privacy and user experience. There is a general sentiment that Apple has shifted towards a less customer-centric strategy, prioritizing services revenue at the expense of product integrity and user satisfaction.

   • Ads are scams or misleading
   • News+ is a failure due to poor integration with publishers' content
   • Apple News app has low-quality PDFs, unclear layout, and poor user experience
   • Apple's shift towards services strategy is detrimental to the company's core values
   • Apple TV+ has high-quality shows but lacks promotion and investment
   • News organizations prioritize subscriptions over News+ integration, leading to a messy user experience
   • Apple's ad network is ineffective or poorly managed

   Counterarguments:

   • Some users find value in certain ads or services
   • Apple's hardware improvements are acknowledged
   • Arguments for the benefits of Apple's services strategy
   • Counterpoints on the quality and reach of Apple TV+ content
   • Skepticism about the effectiveness of blocking ads
   News Technology, Advertising
2. The Waymo World Model from waymo.com
   947 by xnx 19h ago | | |

   Article: 16 min

   The Waymo World Model is an advanced generative model that enables the creation of hyper-realistic autonomous driving simulations, enhancing safety and scalability of Waymo's AI ecosystem. It leverages Google DeepMind's Genie 3 to simulate a wide range of scenarios, including extreme weather conditions, rare events, and long-tail objects, providing detailed multi-sensor outputs like camera and lidar data.

   The advanced simulation capabilities of the Waymo World Model could lead to safer autonomous vehicles, reducing accidents and improving road safety.

   • The model is built upon Genie 3, Google DeepMind's advanced world model.
   • Strong simulation controllability allows for responsive simulations with specific driving inputs, scene layouts, and language control.

   Discussion (550): 1 hr 57 min

   The discussion revolves around Waymo's World Model and its capabilities in converting videos into simulations, comparing it with Tesla's approach to depth map generation using LIDAR data. The conversation also highlights the challenges autonomous cars face in dense urban environments and the role of human-in-the-loop systems like remote operators used by Waymo.

   • Waymo's World Model can convert videos into simulations
   • Tesla uses LIDAR data for depth map generation
   Automotive Advanced Materials, Artificial Intelligence
3. OpenCiv3: Open-source, cross-platform reimagining of Civilization III from openciv3.org
   661 by klaussilveira 14h ago | | |

   Article: 10 min

   OpenCiv3 is an open-source, cross-platform reimagining of Civilization III that aims to modernize the game with new features inspired by the best of the 4X genre. It's currently in early development and can be downloaded from GitHub for Windows, Linux, or Mac OS.

   Enables a community-driven evolution of an older game, fostering innovation and accessibility in the gaming industry.

   • Built with the Godot Engine and C#
   • Inspired by 4X genre lessons
   • Aims to remove arbitrary limits, fix broken features, expand mod capabilities
   • Supports modern graphics and platforms

   Discussion (197): 33 min

   The comment thread discusses the preference for different Civilization versions, with Civ 3 being favored by some players due to nostalgia and gameplay simplicity. The conversation also touches on the technical aspects of game development, such as using Godot engine, accessibility issues, and the impact of graphical complexity on gameplay.

   • Civ 3 has a dedicated fanbase
   • Civ 4's modernization detracts from gameplay for some players
   • Civ 5 is the most popular among hardcore fans
   • Civ 2 and 3 are preferred for their simplicity and building focus

   Counterarguments:

   • Civ 4's modability is highlighted as a positive feature by some players.
   • Civ 1 is praised for its charm and simplicity by certain players.
   Software Development Open Source, Game Development
4. TikTok's 'addictive design' found to be illegal in Europe from nytimes.com
   637 by thm 23h ago | | |

   Article:

   European Union regulators have found TikTok's design to be potentially illegal under EU laws for online safety due to its addictive features, including an infinite scroll, auto-play functions, and recommendation algorithm. This could lead to major fines if the platform does not make changes.

   • TikTok's infinite scroll and auto-play features are considered illegal under EU laws.
   • Regulators believe these features pose harm to users' physical and mental well-being.

   Quality:
   The article provides factual information without expressing personal opinions.

   Discussion (462): 2 hr 18 min

   The comment thread discusses the EU's decision regarding TikTok and the addictive design patterns in social media platforms. Opinions vary on whether regulation is necessary to protect users from exploitation by companies, with some arguing for personal responsibility while others advocate for government intervention. The conversation also touches on the psychological impact of short-form video content and the balance between freedom and protection.

   • Companies intentionally exploit user addiction for profit, and should be held accountable.
   • Adults should have the freedom to manage their own media consumption without government intervention.

   Counterarguments:

   • Regulation should focus on protecting minors rather than adults due to their vulnerability.
   • Adults have the responsibility to manage their own consumption of addictive content.
   • Short-form video platforms offer valuable educational and entertainment value that outweighs potential harms.
   Regulations Internet Regulations, Social Media
5. A new bill in New York would require disclaimers on AI-generated news content from niemanlab.org
   541 by giuliomagnifico 1d ago | | |

   Article: 17 min

   A new bill in New York would require disclaimers on AI-generated news content to protect the public's trust in accurate reporting.

   This bill could set a precedent for AI regulation in journalism, potentially influencing other states or countries to adopt similar legislation. It may also lead to increased transparency and accountability within news organizations regarding the use of AI.

   • New York state legislature bill requires disclaimers on AI-generated material and human review before publication.
   • Bill aims to protect public trust in journalism by addressing potential inaccuracies and plagiarism issues with AI content.
   • News organizations must disclose AI usage, create safeguards for confidential information, and ensure human editorial control.

   Quality:
   The article provides factual information and avoids sensationalism.

   Discussion (224): 54 min

   The comment thread discusses various opinions on the necessity and implementation of AI disclaimer requirements for content, particularly in journalism and publishing. There is a consensus on labeling AI-generated content but disagreement over its enforceability and potential economic impacts.

   • AI disclaimer should be mandatory
   • Regulations on AI use are necessary

   Counterarguments:

   • The economic value of AI makes regulation unnecessary.
   • Regulations could harm the industry more than help.
   Legal Regulation, Technology Law
6. Hackers (1995) Animated Experience from hackers-1995.vercel.app
   490 by todsacerdoti 22h ago | | |

   Article:

   The article discusses preventive measures against malware and suggests running an antivirus scan on personal devices or asking network administrators to check for misconfigurations in shared networks.

   • Run antivirus scans on personal devices
   • Ask network administrators to check for misconfigured or infected devices in shared networks

   Discussion (242): 42 min

   The comment thread discusses a beloved movie, 'Hackers,' with viewers expressing nostalgia and appreciation for its soundtrack. The film's portrayal of hacker culture is debated, with some praising its artistic representation while others criticize its accuracy. There is a sense of community among viewers who share personal experiences related to the film.

   • The movie has a strong emotional impact on its audience
   • It captures aspects of hacker culture that resonate with viewers

   Counterarguments:

   • Some find the technical aspects unrealistic or cheesy
   • There is a debate about the movie's accuracy in representing hacker culture and technology
   Cybersecurity Computer Security, Network Security
7. An Update on Heroku from heroku.com
   411 by lstoll 20h ago | | |

   Article: 3 min

   Heroku, a cloud platform, is shifting its focus towards stability, security, and reliability. This change does not affect current customers using Heroku via credit card in the dashboard, as pricing, billing, service, and day-to-day usage remain unchanged. Enterprise Account contracts will no longer be offered to new customers.

   • Transition to a sustaining engineering model
   • Continued support and quality maintenance
   • No impact on existing Enterprise Account contracts

   Discussion (278): 48 min

   The comment thread discusses Heroku's transition to a sustaining engineering model, indicating that the platform will no longer introduce new features. Users express nostalgia for Heroku and disappointment in its current state under Salesforce ownership, while also recommending alternatives like Render, Fly.io, or self-hosted options. The conversation highlights the evolution of PaaS offerings and the impact of corporate acquisitions on product development.

   • Heroku is transitioning to a sustaining engineering model

   Counterarguments:

   • Some users are disappointed with the lack of innovation under Salesforce ownership
   • Others see this as a natural progression for Heroku, given its acquisition by Salesforce years ago
   Cloud Computing Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS)
8. Sheldon Brown's Bicycle Technical Info from sheldonbrown.com
   379 by ostacke 20h ago | | |

   Article: 3 min

   This article provides an overview of Sheldon Brown's comprehensive bicycle technical information website, including articles on various topics such as what's new, beginner guides, bicycle glossary, and personal pages about Sheldon Brown.

   • Topics include maintenance, repair, culture, and history

   Discussion (94): 15 min

   The comment thread discusses the value and influence of Sheldon Brown's website on bicycle maintenance, repair, and building. Users share personal stories about how the site helped them learn essential skills, build their own wheels, and inspired a sense of community within the cycling community. The tone is overwhelmingly positive, with users expressing gratitude for the resources provided by the site.

   • Sheldon Brown's website is a valuable resource for bicycle maintenance and repair
   Bicycles Bicycle Maintenance & Repair, Bicycle Culture & History
9. GitHub Actions is slowly killing engineering teams from iankduncan.com
   375 by codesuki 1d ago | | |

   Article: 39 min

   The article discusses the perceived shortcomings of GitHub Actions in comparison to other CI systems, focusing on issues like slow log viewer performance, complex YAML configuration, and lack of control over compute resources.

   CI systems that are easier to start using but not necessarily the best for maintaining long-term efficiency and developer satisfaction may lead to suboptimal development practices if not critically evaluated.

   • Difficult debugging process
   • Inadequate control over compute resources

   Quality:
   The article presents a personal opinion and experience-based critique of GitHub Actions, focusing on specific issues rather than providing comprehensive comparisons or data-driven analysis.

   Discussion (198): 1 hr 3 min

   The comment thread discusses various opinions on CI/CD systems, with a focus on GitHub Actions and Buildkite. Common criticisms of GitHub Actions include issues like dependency deadlocks, slow performance, and complex integration processes. Users appreciate the simplicity and integration within GitHub for personal projects but find it lacking in reliability and efficiency for larger teams or more complex workflows. Buildkite is praised for its dynamic pipelines feature, which allows for more flexible workflow management based on specific conditions or changes in the codebase.

   • GitHub Actions is not good
   • Buildkite has dynamic pipelines which are useful
   Software Development DevOps, CI/CD
10. Microsoft open-sources LiteBox, a security-focused library OS from github.com/microsoft
    359 by aktau 20h ago | | |

    Article: 2 min

    Microsoft has released LiteBox, an open-source security-focused library OS that aims to reduce the attack surface by limiting access to the host system and facilitating easy interop between various platforms.

    LiteBox could enhance security practices in software development, particularly for cross-platform applications and environments with sensitive data.

    • LiteBox is a sandboxing library OS that provides an interface to the host system.
    • It supports easy interop between different platforms and use-cases such as running Linux programs on Windows or sandboxing Linux applications on Linux.

    Discussion (181): 33 min

    The discussion revolves around the LiteBox project, which is described as a sandboxing library OS aiming to reduce attack surface and facilitate interoperability between different platforms. Users express concerns about Microsoft's security track record and the lack of documentation for LiteBox. There are also debates on whether LiteBox can replace tools like Wine for running Windows applications on Linux.

    • LiteBox aims to reduce the attack surface by providing an easy interop of various 'North' shims and 'South' platforms.
    • The project has potential for integration with different platforms, including Linux, Windows, SEV SNP, OP-TEE, and LVBS.

    Counterarguments:

    • The lack of documentation and examples for LiteBox raises questions about its usability and intended use cases.
    Software Development Open Source, Security