2025/12/12

1. Sick of smart TVs? Here are your best options from arstechnica.com
   510 by fleahunter 1d ago | | |

   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.

   Quality:
   The article provides a comprehensive guide with detailed information and recommendations, avoiding sensational language.

   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.

   • Smart TVs collect user data and are intrusive.
   • Dumb TVs offer better privacy control.
   • Apple TV can be a good alternative to smart TVs.

   Counterarguments:

   • Smart TVs provide convenience with built-in streaming services and apps.
   • Dumb TVs may not offer the same level of functionality or user experience.
   • Apple TV requires additional hardware (e.g., a media box) to achieve similar functionality.
   Consumer Electronics , Consumer Privacy
2. OpenAI are quietly adopting skills, now available in ChatGPT and Codex CLI from simonwillison.net
   496 by simonw 17h ago | | |

   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.

   Enhanced capabilities for AI platforms, potentially leading to more efficient and versatile applications in various industries.

   • Skills are now available in ChatGPT and Codex CLI.
   • OpenAI has adopted a similar approach to Anthropic's skills implementation.

   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.

   • Skills are a useful feature for managing tasks and augmenting AI capabilities.
   • The development of skills has been influenced by previous work in the field, particularly from OpenAI.

   Counterarguments:

   • Skills might not necessarily represent a significant innovation over existing methods.
   • There is concern about the complexity and potential security issues associated with skill implementation.
   Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning
3. macOS 26.2 enables fast AI clusters with RDMA over Thunderbolt from developer.apple.com
   488 by guiand 20h ago | | |

   Article:

   The article discusses how macOS 26.2 facilitates quick AI cluster setups through RDMA over Thunderbolt technology.

   • Enhanced performance in AI applications
   • Improved data transfer speed between devices

   Quality:
   The article provides factual information without bias.

   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.

   • HDR support on macOS is lacking compared to other operating systems.
   • macOS struggles with SDR content in HDR mode on non-Apple monitors.
   • AI is considered more important than gaming features mentioned in the thread.
   • MLX team's Twitter posts highlight AI tasks using MLX across multiple Macs.
   • Tensor parallelism can provide significant speedup for decoding tasks when used with pipeline parallelism.
   • Building clusters with commodity hardware faces challenges due to high latency and PCIe bottlenecks.
   • Exo-Labs' open-source project allows pipeline parallelism but performance scales linearly with requests.
   • macOS is considered easy to manage compared to Linux/BSD for sysadmins using Apple's MDM.
   • Apple's lack of official support for Linux and BSD on Mac OS could limit large-scale deployment in certain industries.
   • The AI appliance market is seen as a potential niche where Apple can dominate with its M-series chips.
   • Tensor Parallel test with RDMA over Thunderbolt shows scaling limits due to connectivity constraints.
   • Affordable home PCs are still available, making them suitable for many common software tasks.
   • RAM prices are expected to remain high until the summer, potentially affecting AI hardware costs.
   • The current RAM supply crisis is causing prices to be high for some time.
   • Apple's M-series chips offer good value, especially with upcoming M5 series.
   • There is uncertainty in predicting future RAM price trends due to economic challenges and oversupply concerns.

   Counterarguments:

   • HDR support on macOS has improved over time and works well with Apple's own displays.
   • AI tasks can also benefit from using pay-as-you-go services or APIs, offering flexibility and cost-efficiency.
   • The lifetime amortized cost of owning high-end AI hardware might be justified by the price of inference services over time.
   Computer Science Operating Systems, Computer Vision
4. Nokia N900 Necromancy from yaky.dev
   470 by yaky 1d ago | | |

   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.

   • The author received an old Nokia N900 with a faulty battery.
   • A makeshift battery was created using supercapacitors.
   • A USB-C port was added to replace the original USB port.
   • The smartphone was booted from an SD card after internal storage corruption.

   Quality:
   The article provides detailed, step-by-step instructions and avoids sensationalizing the process.

   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.

   • The N900 was ahead of its time with features like an FM transmitter and programmable infrared remote.

   Counterarguments:

   • The N900 was not sold in major markets and its sales were estimated to be less than 1 million units.
   Repair & Upcycling Smartphone Repair, DIY Electronics
5. Google de-indexed Bear Blog and I don't know why from journal.james-zhan.com
   417 by nafnlj 1d ago | | |

   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.

   • The blog was de-indexed after an accidental attempt to validate the RSS feed URL in Google Search Console.
   • The author tried various troubleshooting methods, including creating a new subdomain with similar configurations but different results.
   • Other search engines indexed the blog properly, indicating no technical issues on the site level.

   Quality:
   The article is well-structured and provides a detailed account of the troubleshooting process.

   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.

   • Google's search results have gone downhill.
   • There is a lack of clarity on why websites are being de-indexed.

   Counterarguments:

   • Google might have implemented new AI features that affect search results.
   • The issue could be related to the quality or quantity of website content.
   Internet Web Development, SEO
6. Epic celebrates "the end of the Apple Tax" after court win in iOS payments case from arstechnica.com
   410 by nobody9999 1d ago | | |

   Article: 3 min

   Epic Games celebrates a court victory against Apple, marking the end of 'the Apple Tax' for iOS payments in the USA.

   • 9th Circuit Court ruling confirms the end of 'the Apple Tax'
   • Rapid adoption of outside payment processors expected
   • Fear of retaliation from Apple among developers

   Quality:
   The article presents factual information and quotes from a source, maintaining an objective tone.

   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.

   Counterarguments:

   • Some developers argue that Apple's platform tax is unfair and excessive.
   • There are concerns about how this will affect competition and consumer benefits.
   Legal Technology Law, Business Law
7. SQLite JSON at full index speed using generated columns from dbpro.app
   354 by upmostly 1d ago | | |

   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.

   This method offers a flexible and efficient way to work with JSON data in SQLite, potentially improving the performance of applications that rely on JSON storage.

   • Flexibility in indexing without upfront choices
   • Instantaneous computation of virtual columns
   • Schemaless data with relational database performance

   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.

   • SQLite's JSON support and generated columns can simplify complex data storage and querying
   • Indexing JSON expressions directly within the database improves query performance

   Counterarguments:

   • Normalization vs. storing data in JSON format
   • Potential overhead and complexity of managing large JSON datasets within a relational database
   Database SQLite
8. Rats Play DOOM from ratsplaydoom.com
   351 by ano-ther 21h ago | | |

   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.

   • Motion-tracked treadmill ball
   • Panoramic headset with 180° horizontal and 80° vertical FOV
   • Input trigger for in-game actions
   • Automated reward system

   Quality:
   The article provides detailed information about the project, including hardware and software components, but lacks a clear conclusion or future direction.

   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.

   • The project showcases innovative use of technology with animals

   Counterarguments:

   • Potential benefits of the project could outweigh ethical concerns
   Gaming VR/AR
9. The Tor Project is switching to Rust from itsfoss.com
   339 by giuliomagnifico 1d ago | | |

   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.

   • Memory safety in Rust
   • Addressing vulnerabilities in C codebase
   • New release features

   Quality:
   The article provides factual information and avoids sensationalism.

   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.

   • Rewriting code in Rust can improve security and reduce memory safety bugs.

   Counterarguments:

   • Some argue that Rust's adoption is driven by hype rather than genuine technical improvements.
   • Others question the practicality of rewriting large codebases in Rust, suggesting it may not always lead to significant performance gains.
   Security Cybersecurity, Open Source
10. Koralm Railway from infrastruktur.oebb.at
    310 by fzeindl 1d ago | | |

    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.

    The project will enhance regional connectivity, boost economic activities, and contribute to environmental sustainability by reducing carbon emissions.

    • Reduction in travel time from Graz to Klagenfurt
    • Strengthening the Baltic-Adriatic Corridor
    • Environmental benefits through reduced CO2 emissions

    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.

    • The Koralm Tunnel is a remarkable infrastructure project
    • Efforts to stay within budget are commendable

    Counterarguments:

    • There's a lack of transparency regarding the budget in the article title
    • Some argue that infrastructure projects should be faster, more cost-effective, or have better design
    Infrastructure Transportation, Engineering