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Ask HN: Any piece of hardware that was more of a game changer than you expected? (Hacker News Thread) | The original poster of the thread asks readers for things that helped them more than expected or in ways they wouldn't expect. This thread is full of recommendations on hardware with anecdotes on the usefulness of the items. Top replies and threads discuss monitors, SDD drives, iPads, and dishwashers. | 4Miscellaneous
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Super Tiny Icons (GitHub Repo) | This repository contains a library of popular logos in SVG. Every logo is under 1KB each, with the average size under 465 bytes. The logos have a 512x512 view box and can scale up and down. | 3Programming, Design & Data Science
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We Are Going (YouTube Video) | NASA is planning to go to the Moon, to stay, by 2024. They explain how in this 4 minute video. New rockets have been designed to be able to send heavier loads into space, capsules have been redesigned to safely take humans to space and back, surface data that has been captured over the years will be used to plan missions, and an orbiting outpost called Gateway will send capsules to and from the Moon. NASA continues to look past the Moon and will be using similar techniques and ideas to begin planning missions to Mars and beyond. | 2Science and Futuristic Technology
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The No-Code Generation is arriving | Over the past few years, no-code platforms have become more common, making it easier for users to harness the power of computing in their daily work. Projects that used to take a team of engineers hours to create can now be created in a few clicks through a user interface. These tools still require coding logic and other skills, but a generation of kids have now grown up with toys and games like Roblox and Minecraft, making these skills more prevalent. They also know how to use search engines to find answers to problems they are having. The generation that grew up with these technologies will likely further hone their skills in using them, raising the bar for how technology is used in the workplace. | 4Miscellaneous
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Uber sues to overturn New York City’s cap on new ride-hail drivers | In August, New York City imposed a cap on the number of ride-hail drivers that can operate in the city in order to reduce traffic congestion. As a result, new licenses could not be issued to drivers by Uber and other ride-sharing companies for 12 months. Uber has decided to sue the city to overturn the law, as it claims that the law restricts service, growth, and competition in the industry without any proof that it would lower traffic congestion. The ride-sharing company is also concerned that the cap restrictions would be permanent. | 1Big Tech & Startups
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Apple will reportedly fund Apple-exclusive podcasts | Apple has been focusing on providing services and original content recently and is now reportedly investing in exclusive shows for Apple Podcasts. In the past, Apple has been neutral with podcasts, allowing anyone to upload their podcast RSS feeds onto Apple’s platform for distribution. While there were curated lists, none of these shows were funded directly by Apple. Once Apple starts releasing its own podcasts, it may start promoting its own shows over others. Other podcast platforms have also been moving toward the same business model. | 1Big Tech & Startups
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Facebook is planning to rebrand the company with a new name | Facebook is planning to change its company name next week. The rebrand will reflect the company's focus on building the metaverse and will likely position Facebook and its current apps under a parent company. Facebook recently set up a dedicated metaverse team and plans to hire 10,000 more employees to work on the metaverse in Europe. The new company name is a closely guarded secret and not widely known even among the company's senior leadership. Other tech companies, such as Google and Snapchat, have also changed names as their ambitions expanded. | 1Big Tech & Startups
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How Amazon’s CamperForce program doubled this year, adding jobs for seasonal workers who live on the road | CamperForce is a program from Amazon that hires people living in caravans for seasonal jobs. It started in 2008 at just one location and this year it expanded to 26 sites across 14 states. Workers gain benefits after working for certain periods and have some of the cost of their campground fees reimbursed. Some workers are able to work for CamperForce over one season and live off casual jobs while traveling for the rest of the year. A 15-minute video following the lives of some of the workers in the program is available in the article. | 1Big Tech & Startups
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Largest canyon in the solar system revealed in stunning new images | Valles Marineris is a system of canyons that runs for more than 2,500 miles along the Martian equator. Spanning nearly a quarter of the planet's circumference, it is nearly 10 times as long as the Grand Canyon and three times deeper. It is the single largest canyon in the solar system. Scientists have been taking images of Valles Marineris since 2006 using an incredibly high-resolution camera aboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. It still isn't clear how the canyon formed. Photos of the canyon are available in the article. | 2Science and Futuristic Technology
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Zero-gravity space fridge could keep astronaut food fresh for years | Refrigerators aren't able to work in space as they rely on gravity to distribute oil through the compressor system that regulates temperature. Purdue University researchers and Air Squared are creating an oil-free version of the traditional fridge that can work independent of gravity. The project was funded by NASA and it tested its first flight-ready prototype last month. The prototype worked in simulated microgravity on a parabolic plane flight. While the test was limited, it was able to help work out an issue with the device. The next test could be a longer-term installation aboard the ISS. | 2Science and Futuristic Technology
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Use third-party data to simplify mobile app personalization (Sponsor) | In highly competitive sectors, it’s not enough to build user-friendly applications. As end-user savvy increases, so does the expectation for immediate and effortless personalization. Join this webinar to hear how industry thought leaders are successfully deploying Foursquare data with AWS solutions to stay up to date with customer demand and maintain the best app experiences. | 3Programming, Design & Data Science
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Ring Fired Employees for Watching Customer Videos | Ring has fired employees for improperly accessing Ring users' video data. There have been four incidents involving team members accessing Ring video data for reasons not related to their work. Ring promptly investigated each incident after they were made aware of the alleged conduct. The company has also taken steps to limit data access to a smaller number of people. Currently, only three employees can access stored customer videos. Ring has previously granted workers in Ukraine access to some user video for research purposes, but express consent was obtained from the users for the use of the videos. It has recently implemented new security features such as two-factor authentication. | 1Big Tech & Startups
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Instagram clones TikTok with new short-form ‘Reels’ video feature launching today | Reels is a new feature from Instagram that has rolled out in 50 countries. It focuses on entertaining short-form video just like TikTok. TikTok is currently facing a ban in the US. Reels offers creative tools, with a 15-second limit for each mini clip. Tools include adding audio, AR effects, setting a timer and countdown for recording, video alignment, and speed editing. Reels can be shared publicly or made private to followers. The new feature is still being tested and may change. | 1Big Tech & Startups
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Uber will now let users book rides 30 days in advance and pick a favorite driver | Uber riders in 20 US cities will soon be able to reserve rides up to 30 days in advance with their favorite driver. The feature will show up in the app from next week. Drivers will not be penalized for not accepting rides. The fare and driver will be shown to the user ahead of the trip. Riders are given a 15-minute grace period in case they are running late. If a driver is more than one minute late, the rider will receive $50 in Uber Cash as compensation. Drivers will receive the full fare of the trip if the Reserve ride is canceled within an hour of the trip. A list of the initial launch cities is provided at the end of the article. | 1Big Tech & Startups
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Hyundai purchases Boston Dynamics for $921M, makers of Spot dog robot | Hyundai has purchased Boston Dynamics for around $921 million. It is the first acquisition headed by Hyundai's new chairperson Chung Euisun since he took the job in October. Rumors of the acquisition have been circulating since early November. A gallery of Boston Dynamics' robots is available in the article. | 1Big Tech & Startups
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Moxie Marlinspike steps down as CEO of Signal | Moxie Marlinspike is stepping down as CEO of Signal, leaving executive chairman Brian Acton to serve as acting CEO until a replacement is found. Signal, founded in 2014, is one of the most trusted apps for encrypted messaging. It has more than 40 million monthly users and it is regularly recommended by security experts. The company is a nonprofit, so it relies on donations and a recently launched sustainer program. | 1Big Tech & Startups
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Data Diff (GitHub Repo) | Data Diff is a command-line tool and Python library to efficiently diff rows across two different databases. | 4Miscellaneous
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Read Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S8 press release two days before it’s live | Samsung's next Unpacked event is set for February 9, but details about the Galaxy Tab S8 have already leaked. Three new models are expected: an 11-inch Galaxy Tab S8, a 12.4-inch S8 Plus, and a 14.6-inch S8 Ultra. All models will support Wi-Fi 6E and 45-watt fast charging. The S8 Plus and Ultra will come with a new S Pen stylus and have OLED screens. Renders of the devices are available in the article. The Tab 8 lineup will launch on February 25 beginning with select markets. | 1Big Tech & Startups
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Former Star Google and Uber Engineer Charged With Theft of Trade Secrets | Anthony Levandowski, one of the pioneers in self-driving car technology, has been charged with 33 counts of theft and attempted theft of trade secrets from Google. He has posted a $2 million bail and is currently required to wear an ankle monitor as he is deemed a flight risk. Disputes between companies and former employees are common in Silicon Valley, but criminal charges against a senior executive for theft is unusual. It is alleged that Levandowski downloaded more than 14,000 files containing critical information about Google's autonomous vehicle research in 2016, including schematics for proprietary circuit boards and designs for Lidar. Levandowski is due in court on September 4, and if he is convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for every count of theft, plus additional restitution. His lawyers maintain that he did not steal anything in over a decade of being an industry-leading innovator in the field of self-driving car and truck technology. | 4Miscellaneous
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Watch a harpoon successfully spear a piece of space junk | A video is shown where a satellite panel is successfully harpooned by the RemoveDEBRIS satellite, created by a team at the University of Surrey. There is over 7,600 tons of space debris orbiting the planet, and the goal of the RemoveDEBRIS project is to collect the space junk and then at the end of the project, self-destruct by burning itself up in Earth’s atmosphere. Previous tests had the satellite successfully launch a net to capture another junk satellite. | 2Science and Futuristic Technology
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Heat Listed (19 minute read) | The Chicago Police Department is using an algorithm to predict whether citizens will be involved with a shooting incident. While the system identifies people who might be involved with an incident, it doesn't say on which side the citizen might be involved. This resulted in a citizen with no record of violence being continually contacted by the police, which caused the person to be targeted twice by violent crime. The system uses data from police stops and arrests to make educated guesses about what might happen. Using this kind of system could put entire populations at risk of over-policing. | 4Miscellaneous
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One of the World's Most Powerful Supercomputers Uses Light Instead of Electric Current | France's Jean Zay supercomputer is the first HPC to have a photonic coprocessor, meaning it transmits and processes information using light. The breakthrough was made through a collaboration by LightOn, GENCI, and IDRIS. The technology will be offered to select users of the Jean Zay research community over the next few months. The fastest supercomputer in June last year was Japan's Fugaku supercomputer. | 2Science and Futuristic Technology
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Cloned mice created from freeze dried skin cells in world first | Researchers have cloned mice from freeze-dried skin cells. Storing skin cells for cloning in liquid nitrogen can be expensive and risky. Freeze-drying the samples allows cells to be preserved cheaply and safely, even in developing countries. While the process can produce both males and females, it can be used to create only females to revive endangered species where only males survive. The resulting clones are fertile. | 2Science and Futuristic Technology
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Dark web dealers voluntarily ban deadly fentanyl | Dark web sites are voluntarily "delisting" fentanyl, the first instance of these dark web operators effectively banning a drug. In the past they have banned things like weapons and explosives. It appears to be a commercial decision, as drug deaths lead to increased law enforcement scrutiny. Fentanyl is now causing 29,000 deaths per year, up from 3,000 five years ago. | 2Science and Futuristic Technology
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New hybrid embryos are the most thorough mixing of humans and mice yet | Scientists have created human-mouse chimera embryos. Human stem cells were added to growing mouse embryos, resulting in mouse embryos with 4 percent human cells. Human-mouse chimeras could be valuable for studying diseases that affect humans more than other animals. There have been attempts at creating other human-animal chimeras but the results have not been as successful. Human cells grow slowly compared to mouse cells, but the human stem cells in the study sped up development to match the pace of their host's cells. | 2Science and Futuristic Technology
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WeWork sells off social network Meetup to AlleyCorp and other investors | Meetup is a social networking platform designed to connect people in person. WeWork has sold Meetup to AlleyCorp and other private investors. Meetup currently serves 49 million registered members, with an average of 15,000 in-person events created per day. The company had been struggling before the COVID-19 pandemic and now it is trying to position itself as a place for groups to meet online during times of crisis. It is unclear what the future holds for Meetup but it is clear they will need to adapt their business strategy in the months to come. | 1Big Tech & Startups
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Google and DeepMind are using AI to predict the energy output of wind farms | Generating and storing wind energy can be complicated due to the variable nature of wind. Google has used AI software developed by its DeepMind subsidiary to predict energy output, which has resulted in a 20% increase in the value of the energy it produces in its wind farms. In 2018, Google reached its goal of offsetting their energy usage with 100% renewable energy. The software is able to predict wind power output 36 hours ahead so that the power grid can make optimizations ahead of time. | 2Science and Futuristic Technology
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Google’s Shadow Work Force: Temps Who Outnumber Full-Time Employees | As of March, Google works with around 121,000 temp workers and contractors, with only around 102,000 full-time employees. The growing number of temp workers brings into question the management practices at Google. Employees have reported being dismissed by their agencies after a Google manager had told the agency that they wanted them gone. Temp employees also receive fewer benefits and pay than their full-time counterparts, even though they work the same hours and have the same expectations. Google claims that it has processes and policies in place to make sure that temp workers and contractors have a good experience working for the company. | 1Big Tech & Startups
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Microsoft to launch xCloud streaming free with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate in September | Microsoft will launch xCloud free to its Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers in September. xCloud lets Xbox players play games on mobile devices, even allowing users to transfer sessions from console over to mobile. Subscribers will receive Xbox Live access, an Xbox Game Pass subscription, and xCloud game streaming for a single $14.99 monthly subscription. Over 100 Xbox Game Pass titles will be playable on xCloud on launch. | 1Big Tech & Startups
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A US firm is turning Arabian Desert air into bottled water | Zero Mass Water, an Arizona-based technology firm, is using renewable energy to harvest water from the air to create bottled water at a plant near Dubai. Its bottling plant runs on solar energy. The bottles that Zero Mass use are recyclable and the bottle caps are made from bamboo. Zero Mass will only be able to produce up to 2.3 million liters annually, selling the water at around $3.80 a liter. Gulf nations are finding ways to reduce their heavy dependence on food imports as it deals with the pandemic disrupting global supply chains. The technique that Zero Mass is using could be used to supply indoor farming setups with water in dry countries. | 4Miscellaneous
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Coinbase is testing a subscription service that waives trading fees | Coinbase is testing a subscription service where users will be able to trade digital currencies on the platform without a fee for each trade. Spread fees will still apply. The product is still in the early stages of testing. It will include features like additional account protection and prioritized phone support. | 1Big Tech & Startups
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whatthefuck.is (GitHub Repo) | whatthefuck.is is an opinionated glossary of computer science terms for front-end developers. It is currently a work in progress and open for question submissions. A curse-free mirror is available. | 3Programming, Design & Data Science
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First Microsoft, then Okta: New ransomware gang posts data from both | The Lapsus$ group claims that it stole data from Microsoft and Okta, a Single-Sign-On provider. It posted images showing proprietary data on its Telegram channel to prove that it gained privileged access to both companies' systems. The group released a 37GB file archive containing source code for Bing, Bing Maps, and Cortana. Okta says that the impact of its data breach is limited, but Lapsus$ claims that it can reset passwords and multifactor authentication for most of Okta's clients. | 1Big Tech & Startups
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SpaceX’s Starlink is in talks with ‘several’ airlines for in-flight Wi-Fi | SpaceX's Starlink team has been in talks with several airlines to connect aircraft to the internet. The company has an aviation product in development and it is hoping to release something soon. Starlink has launched nearly 1,800 satellites. It will need 4,400 to provide global coverage. The design for SpaceX's airline antennas will be similar to its consumer terminals. Starlink's satellites will require inter-satellite links to provide connectivity to airplanes flying over remote parts of the ocean. Competition is growing in the low-orbit satellite internet industry, but SpaceX appears confident that it can provide the best experience. | 1Big Tech & Startups
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Epic gives in to Google and releases Fortnite on the Play Store | Epic Games has finally released Fortnite in the official Android Play Store, 18 months after releasing the game as third-party software. Google displays a warning for third-party software outside of the Play Store, marking it as potential malware, which put Fortnite at a disadvantage according to Epic. Releasing the game through the Play Store means that Epic will now have to pay Google a 30% cut for all in-app purchases made through the platform. Epic has long protested App Store and Play Store platform fees. | 4Miscellaneous
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Toyota will transform a 175-acre site in Japan into a ‘prototype city of the future’ | Toyota plans to transform a 175-acre site of a former car factory into a prototype city of the future. The city will then be a place where it can test autonomous vehicles, innovative street design, smart home technology, robotics, and new mobility products. Toyota plans to build the city at the base of Mount Fuji in Japan. It will house 2,000 people, starting at the end of 2021. The city will be powered by Toyota's hydrogen fuel cell technology. It is unknown what Toyota's policies around access to data, privacy, or nondisclosure agreements will be. Google's similar Sidewalk Labs project in Toronto has faced constant criticism. | 2Science and Futuristic Technology
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Barnes & Noble introduces a cheap e-reader to compete with the Kindle | Barnes & Noble has announced a new Nook e-reader. The Nook GlowLight 4e features USB-C, 8GB of storage, a 6-inch 212 PPI E Ink display with illumination, and page-turning buttons. It won't have any ads and users will be able to easily sideload content on the device. The Nook GlowLight 4e is now available for preorder for $119.99 and it will start shipping on June 7. | 4Miscellaneous
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Upgraded Google Glass Helps Autistic Kids “See” Emotions (10 minute read) | A special kind of Google Glass allows children with autism to see emotions. When users wear the glasses, they can see a code that lets them know the emotions displayed on the faces around them. Studies have shown that using this technology increases kids' eye contact and social engagement, as well as improving their recognition of emotions in others. The device has yet to gain approval by the FDA and treatment is not covered by health insurance plans. | 1Big Tech & Startups
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Virgin Galactic unveils 'VSS Imagine,' the first of its next-generation spaceship series | Virgin Galactic unveiled the VSS Imagine on Tuesday, the first of its next-generation SpaceShip III class of vehicles. It is the third spacecraft the company has built to date. The VSS Imagine was designed with lessons taken from flight testing on VSS Unity in mind. SpaceShip III class spacecraft can be manufactured faster and take less time to maintain between each flight compared to SpaceShipTwo class spacecraft due to their modular design. Virgin Galactic is on track for a test flight in May, after a delay in December. | 2Science and Futuristic Technology
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Facebook Helped the FBI Hack a Child Predator (15 minute read) | Buster Hernandez is a Californian man that systematically harassed and terrorized young girls using chat apps, email, and Facebook. Facebook worked with a third-party company to develop an exploit to hack Hernandez in order to provide evidence to the FBI to arrest and convict him. It is unclear whether the FBI knew of Facebook's involvement. The exploit targeted a vulnerability in Tails related to its traffic routing through the Tor anonymity network. This incident highlights the technical capabilities of Facebook, a third-party hacking firm, and law enforcement, and raises questions about whether it is appropriate for private companies to assist in the hacking of their users. In this case, there were no other privacy risks and the human impact was so large that many employees felt like Facebook had no choice but to act. | 4Miscellaneous
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Amazon launches CodeWhisperer, a GitHub Copilot-like AI pair programming tool | Amazon has launched an AI pair programming tool similar to GitHub's Copilot. CodeWhisperer can autocomplete entire functions based on comments or a few keystrokes. It currently supports Java, JavaScript, and Python. The tool can scan code for potential security issues. CodeWhisperer is available in preview as part of the AWS IDE Toolkit. It works for developers outside of the AWS ecosystem. | 1Big Tech & Startups
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Yelp now offers personalized results based on your diet and lifestyle | Users will be able to start selecting specific interests for restaurants and businesses in the Yelp app on iOS and Android. The feature will roll out over the course of the next year. Yelp will categorize businesses based on information from user-generated reviews, photos, questions, and answers. The Yelp app will provide personalized search results using a machine learning algorithm. This is the first time Yelp has offered personalization options, and it shows how the company is expanding its focus beyond food. Businesses won't have to do anything on their side. | 1Big Tech & Startups
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Instagram Is Rushing To Roll Out A Memorial Account Feature Because Of COVID-19 Deaths | Instagram has sped up plans for a new account memorialization feature that will add a 'Remembering' banner under a username to signal that the person has died. This feature has been in the pipeline for some time, but the project has been accelerated due to the COVID-19 crisis. Currently, family members can ask for accounts to be memorialized through a form on the Instagram site. The memorialized accounts remain active and unaltered, so users can still see and message the account. Give feedback by replying here or messaging me on Twitter @tldrdan! If you don't want to receive future editions of TLDR, please click here. | 4Miscellaneous
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React v18.0 (15 minute read) | React 18 is now available on npm. This article gives an overview of what's new in React 18. React 18 features automatic batching, new APIs, streaming server-side rendering, Concurrent Rendering, and more. | 3Programming, Design & Data Science
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Programmer has two guesses left to access £175m bitcoin wallet | Stefan Thomas, a San Francisco-based programmer, was given 7,000 bitcoins for making a video about cryptocurrencies a decade ago. They were worth $2-$6 each at the time. He stored the bitcoins on an IronKey hard drive, a storage device that only allows its users 10 attempts at entering the right password before it locks the data permanently. Thomas has already entered 8 incorrect guesses. Security professionals have offered help for a percentage of the stash. | 4Miscellaneous
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Tricking the tricksters with a next level fork bomb | Some people try to trick others into running destructive shell commands by obscuring them. This article describes how someone decided to fight back by creating an obscured command which attacked anyone who tried to decode it. Only people familiar with the attack would try to decode the command, which would result in their systems slowing to a crawl until they rebooted. The examples in the article can be dangerous, do not copy-paste anything from it into your own shell. | 3Programming, Design & Data Science
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Minecraft API (Beta) | Minecraft is a really popular computer game where players build stuff with blocks (sort of like the digital version of Legos). The Minecraft Scripting API is now in public beta, it allows you to write scripts in JavaScript to listen and respond to in game events and modify parts of the game. I feel like Minecraft is the perfect game to allow user scripts on, I bet people are going to build crazy stuff with this. | 3Programming, Design & Data Science
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Startup School (Website) | Startup School is a free 10-week online course that teaches how to start a startup. Participants have access to a global network of entrepreneurs, mentorship, exclusive deals, and a chance at receiving funding. The deadline to sign up is July 21, and the course begins on July 22. | 3Programming, Design & Data Science
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World Builders Put Happy Face On Superintelligent AI | The Future of Life Institute has organized a world-building competition where teams are asked to imagine a positive future with superintelligent AI. There is a prize of up to $140,000 that will be divided up among multiple winners. The contest aims to counter the common dystopian narrative of artificial intelligence. Many scientists in the field believe that it is essential to begin work on AI safety now before superintelligence is achieved. The winners of the contest will be announced on June 15. Examples of entries are available in the article. | 4Miscellaneous
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New Algorithm Removes Underwater Distortions for Clear Colorful Pictures | Light behaves differently in water, which is why photos taken underwater usually come out in hues of green and blue. This effect has been an issue for scientists as it means they aren't able to take accurate pictures of sea life. A new algorithm has been developed that is able to allow pictures to be captured underwater as if they were taken on dry land. Once a distance map has been calculated, the Sea-thru system estimates all the necessary parameters for removing water distortion and restores colors. It is able to work on videos, not just images. Sea-thru only works on images taken under natural light. Future research will extend its abilities so it works with artificial light as that is how the majority of the ocean is explored. | 2Science and Futuristic Technology
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Every Single Patient in This Small Experimental Drug Trial Saw Their Cancer Disappear | Every patient in a small trial for a drug that treats rectal cancer had their cancer successfully go into remission. The drug is an immunotherapy drug already used in the treatment of endometrial cancer. It may be the first time that successful cancer remission was seen in every trial patient. The trial is still ongoing, so the success rate may be lower when the final results are tallied. The success of the trial may mean that an immunotherapy approach could be a viable option for treating other types of cancer. | 2Science and Futuristic Technology
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Disney is developing planned communities for fans who never want to leave its clutches | Storyliving by Disney is a new part of the company's theme park division that plans to develop a series of communities for residential living. Its first location will be a community of 1,900 housing units in California's Coachella Valley. Disney is partnering with third-party developers on the project and will not own, build, or sell the homes. It will only manage the branding and marketing of the communities. A video with concept art of the communities is available in the article. | 1Big Tech & Startups
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Apple developing new 'Apple Studio Display' with 7K resolution | Apple is reportedly developing an Apple Studio Display with 7K resolution. It is unclear if the display will be a successor to the Pro Display XDR or if it will be a higher-resolution option in the same range. The display could feature a built-in A13 processor. No pricing details have been reported, but it will likely be less than the Pro Display XDR's $4,999 price tag. | 1Big Tech & Startups
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Intel buys into an AI chip that can transfer data 1,000 times faster | Untether AI raised $13 million from investors, including Intel, as it works on developing a chip that can perform neural network processing at warp speed. The current design can transfer data to different parts of the chip 1,000 times faster than a conventional AI chip. Performance speed in most chips is usually slowed down by the movement of data between the chip and memory. Untether AI's chip uses near-memory computing to overcome this problem. Unlike the types of chips that are used in data centers to train large neural networks, Untether AI's chip will be an ‘interference chip’, similar to those found in mobile phones. | 2Science and Futuristic Technology
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Google Maps Live Traffic Showed the Russian Invasion of Ukraine | Google Maps Live Traffic showed a traffic jam in Belgorod, Russia, just before the invasion of Ukraine. Vladimir Putin had announced a special military operation in a region in Eastern Ukraine hours before, but the traffic data showed movement in a different region. The researchers that spotted the movement combined other optical and radar data to conclude that the invasion was about to happen. While the data could have come from Russian soldiers that left their phones on, it more likely came from civilians who were stuck due to Russian military movement. | 4Miscellaneous
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Did you know JavaScript is the most popular programming language, with nearly 16.5M developers using it globally? (Sponsor) | Take the Developer Nation survey, share your views on the most important coding skills, tools or platforms for 2022. You will get a virtual goody bag with free resources such as discount codes, vouchers, data, & insights! And this is on top of the prize draws! Start now. | 3Programming, Design & Data Science
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Waymo to Start First Driverless Car Service Next Month | Waymo (Google's self-driving car division) is launching the world's first driverless car service in early December. It will use a separate name and will compete directly with Uber and Lyft. The service will launch only in the suburbs of Phoenix at first, but it shows how far ahead of the competition Waymo is. GM (who acquired self-driving startup Cruise) is probably in second place and analysts believe they're at least a year away from launching something like this. When the program launches there will be backup drivers in the cars to ease customers in, but they will be phased out eventually. The pricing will be competitive with Uber and Lyft. | 1Big Tech & Startups
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Google Engineers Are Organizing A Walk Out To Protest The Company's Protection Of An Alleged Sexual Harasser | More than 200 Google employees are organizing a "women's walk" to protest against Google paying out $90 million to alleged sexual harasser and Android creator Andy Rubin. The company found the allegations credible enough to dismiss Andy Rubin, but employees felt that he got away with just a slap on the wrist. Andy Rubin maintains that he is innocent. One anonymous employee said "Personally, I'm furious. I feel like there's a pattern of powerful men getting away with awful behavior towards women at Google‚ or if they don't get away with it, they get a slap on the wrist, or they get sent away with a golden parachute." | 1Big Tech & Startups
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The U.S. Army is Creating Robots With Synthetically Grown Muscle | The US Army has been researching a technological approach that uses robotics and biohybrid muscle elements. Biohybrid robotics incorporates living organisms into mechanical systems, delivering a new level of agility and flexibility. The research could show the biohybrid engineering community how to grow strong muscular tissue. Muscle tissue is excellent at generating a specific amount of mechanical power at a given moment. By using biological components, the US Army hopes to develop robots capable of going anywhere soldiers can and more. | 2Science and Futuristic Technology
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We are the SpaceX software team, ask us anything! (Reddit Thread) | A few of the SpaceX team members who worked on the software that flew Dragon answer questions from Reddit users. SpaceX writes all of its autonomous software in C++, using only extremely high-quality open source libraries when possible and writing custom libraries when it needs to control code quality. There are many facets to error handling, with multiple levels of sensors and backups to ensure all errors are recorded and handled. The same source on Falcon is used every mission, though the software is updated fairly regularly. Configs change every mission according to variables specific to the launch. More questions and in-depth answers are available in the thread. | 3Programming, Design & Data Science
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Apple discontinues the iPod after 20 years | Apple is discontinuing the iPod Touch. It will still sell the current Touch while supplies last. The first iPod Touch was introduced over 20 years ago. The current seventh-gen model was introduced in 2019. It was popular with those who wanted an iPhone-like experience but didn't actually need a phone. | 1Big Tech & Startups
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The Kidney Project successfully tests a prototype bioartificial kidney | The Kidney Project earned a $650,000 prize from KidneyX for its first-ever demonstration of a functional prototype of its implantable artificial kidney. The artificial kidney consists of a hemofilter that removes waste products and toxins from blood and a bioreactor that replicates other kidney functions. It is powered by blood pressure alone and there is no need for blood thinning or immunosuppressant drugs. The team will now focus on upscaling the technology for larger tests and clinical trials. A 3-minute video that shows the device and explains how it works is available in the article. | 2Science and Futuristic Technology
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Web security company Cloudflare files to go public | Cloudflare filed for its initial public offering on Thursday. The company has 74,873 customers, 408 who contribute more than $100,000 each in annual bills. It reported a $36.8 million loss in the first half of 2019, with a revenue increase of 48 percent since the first half of 2018. Cloudflare helps companies distribute content and keep it available online, and it provides services to companies such as DigitalOcean, IBM, and Discord. Its competition includes Cisco, Akamai, Amazon, and Microsoft. In 2017, Cloudflare stopped providing services to clients with certain ideologies, which caused some losses with potential clients who elected not to subscribe to its services as a result. | 1Big Tech & Startups
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Apple is resurrecting its high-end HomePod smart speaker | Apple is releasing a new version of its HomePod smart speaker in 2023. The new HomePod will feature an S8 processor, an updated display, and possibly even multi-touch functionality. Apple discontinued the HomePod last year to focus on the HomePod Mini, leaving a hole in Apple's speaker lineup. It is unclear why Apple is bringing back the HomePod after officially announcing its discontinuation. | 1Big Tech & Startups
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A novel lithium-air battery could pave the way for electric passenger planes | Researchers from Japan's National Institute for Materials Science have developed a lithium-air battery with nearly double the energy density of the battery used in a Tesla Model 3. The battery can be charged and discharged at room temperature, making it suitable for use in mobile phones, electric cars, and electric passenger planes. Lithium-air batteries are difficult to manufacture as a considerable fraction of the batteries are comprised of heavy inactive components that do not directly participate in the battery process. The technology has now reached a level where it could make regional electric passenger aircraft feasible. | 2Science and Futuristic Technology
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Harvard Scientists Invent Materials That Can Remember Their Shape | Scientists at Harvard have developed a material that can always return to its original shape no matter what stimuli is applied to it. The biocompatible material can be 3D-printed into any shape and further pre-programmed with reversible shape memory. It is made with keratin from recycled wool. A 1-minute video is available at the end of the article demonstrating the properties of the material. | 2Science and Futuristic Technology
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The Seniority Roller Coaster and Down-Leveling in Tech (14 minute read) | Switching jobs in tech usually comes with either a financial or title upside, but not always both. There can be many reasons for receiving a lower title while getting an increase in compensation. This article discusses down-leveling when changing jobs, the reasons this can happen, and what to do when it happens. | 3Programming, Design & Data Science
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Huawei enters China's electric car race in competition with Tesla | Huawei recently released details on a vehicle with specs it claims beats Tesla's Model Y. The Aito M5 will use both electricity and fuel. It will run Huawei's HarmonyOS operating system. Deliveries will begin after the Lunar New Year, with prices starting at around $39,063. A picture of the vehicle is available in the article. | 1Big Tech & Startups
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The World’s Most Powerful Camera Took 3,200-Megapixel Photos | The Legacy Survey of Space and Time Camera works by converting visible light reflected by objects into electrical signals, but at an enormous scale, with a high level of detail. It is designed to collect images of far-away galaxies. In tests to assess the functioning of the sensing array, the LSST Camera was able to produce images of 3,200 megapixels. The full LSST Camera will be deployed in 2021. Two of the photos taken by the LSST Camera during testing are available in the article. | 4Miscellaneous
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Britain intervenes in Nvidia's $40 billion Arm takeover on national security concerns | The UK government has issued a Public Interest Intervention Notice on Nvidia's proposed takeover of Arm. A report on the competition and national security aspects of the deal will be compiled before July 30. While the UK government wants to support the tech industry and welcomes foreign investment, it has to consider the national security implications of a transaction of this nature. Nvidia does not believe that the transaction poses any material national security issues. | 4Miscellaneous
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Darling (Website) | Darling can run macOS software directly on Linux without using a hardware emulator. It implements a complete Darwin environment and attempts to fully integrate apps so they run like native Linux apps. Darling currently only has experimental support for simple graphical applications. It does not violate Apple's EULA. | 3Programming, Design & Data Science
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OneFuzz (GitHub Repo) | OneFuzz is a self-hosted Fuzzing-As-A-Service platform that enables continuous developer-driven fuzzing to proactively harden software before release. Developers can launch fuzz jobs that use thousands of cores using just a single command, which can be baked into CICD. | 3Programming, Design & Data Science
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Virgin Galactic to launch Richard Branson on July 11, aiming to beat Jeff Bezos to space | Virgin Galactic will launch its next test flight on July 11. Founder Sir Richard Branson will be on board, beating Jeff Bezos to space by nine days. The test will be Virgin Galactic's fourth test space flight. Its most recent test flight had two pilots on board. There will be three Virgin Galactic mission specialists alongside Branson. The flight will be live-streamed on Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook. | 4Miscellaneous
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systemd playground (Website) | This playground contains a basic systemd setup for developers to learn about systemd interactively in the browser. It hosts a stripped down version of systemd with everything that is not strictly necessary removed. A blog series with examples on how to use systemd is available. | 3Programming, Design & Data Science
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The easiest way to start meditating is now in... Snapchat? | Snap Minis are small apps that are designed to be used through Snapchat's chat function. Headspace Minis went live on Monday, allowing users to use Snapchat for guided meditations. The app allows users to join meditation sessions together. Users will see their friend's Bitmojis on their screen when doing group meditation sessions. The app can also be used alone. A 49-second presentation from Snapchat and some screenshots from the Headspace Minis app is available in the article. | 1Big Tech & Startups
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Today’s Robotic Surgery Turns Surgical Trainees Into Spectators (10 minute read) | Surgeons are reluctant to give trainees control during robotic surgeries because the procedure would take longer and it increases risk to the patient. | 4Miscellaneous
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Apple rejects Facebook’s Gaming platform from the iOS App Store | Facebook Gaming has been rejected again from the iOS App Store. App Store rules do not allow third-party apps to distribute games as a separate platform. Facebook Gaming is a gaming platform, offering its own games inside the app, with a dedicated social network and the ability to live stream gameplay. Apple has been accused of anti-competitive behavior due to the App Store's restrictive business model. Other apps have been banned for offering external subscription services, bypassing Apple's 30% fee. | 1Big Tech & Startups
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Researchers Have Developed A Way To Wirelessly Charge Vehicles On The Road | Electric Vehicle charging is a hassle, causing one-fifth of all EV buyers to go back to gas vehicles. Researchers at Cornell University have developed a technology that can charge vehicles on the road while in motion. The technology can be installed on highways, creating charging lanes so that there would be no need to stop to charge or fuel up. It will be a while before the technology will be seen on roads, if ever. Toyota is working with the research team to use the system to charge electric forklifts. | 2Science and Futuristic Technology
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'Biosolar leaf' project targets air pollution on London campus | A new ‘Biosolar leaf’ is able to clean up carbon dioxide and release oxygen to the air more efficiently than normal trees. The invention uses minute plant life on solar panel structures that can be built almost anywhere. It also produces nutritious plant proteins. While other air-processing technologies require high pressures, this technique can clean air even in low-pressure environments. Council members in the UK are excited to be the first to roll out the technology. | 2Science and Futuristic Technology
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Elon Musk’s SpaceX is literally launching a Dogecoin-funded satellite to the Moon | SpaceX is now accepting Dogecoin. It plans to launch a satellite named DOGE-1 to the moon in the first quarter of 2022. The satellite is being sent by Geometric Energy Corporation, who will pay for it using Dogecoin. Dogecoin will be used for all lunar business between the two companies. The price of Dogecoin crashed over the weekend after Elon Musk appeared on Saturday Night Live and joked about the cryptocurrency being a hustle. A clip of the SNL segment is available in the article. | 1Big Tech & Startups
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In Argentina, cheap government-issued netbooks sparked a musical renaissance | Tech in Argentina has always been inaccessible due to the country's traditionally protectionist policies. Even when the government decided to distribute free netbooks to students, it was under the condition that the netbooks be made in Argentina. More than four million students received a computer between 2011 and 2015. The netbooks brought a new generation of artists to the spotlight. While the netbooks weren't particularly powerful, they opened up a world of creative ability for young artists. The netbook program was slated to end in 2018, but it has continued to run under a new government. | 4Miscellaneous
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Blue Origin to begin space tourism ticket sales Wednesday | Blue Origin will soon open up ticket sales for suborbital sightseeing trips on its New Shepard spacecraft. It is aiming to launch its first flight on July 20. One of the tickets on the first flight will be sold through an online auction. The New Shepard rocket is designed to fly six passengers into suborbital space. Ticket prices are still a closely guarded secret. | 2Science and Futuristic Technology
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Chinese Scientists Create System to Care For Embryos in Artificial Womb | Scientists from China have developed an AI system that can monitor and care for embryos as they grow inside artificial wombs. It has already been used to care for a number of animal embryos. Experimentation on human embryos is forbidden under international law, but the scientists claim that the system would be safer than natural childbearing. Despite its potential ethical issues, the technology could one day help couples that are struggling to have children finally become parents. | 2Science and Futuristic Technology
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Google cancels ‘physical’ I/O 2020 due to coronavirus concerns | Google will not host an in-person I/O 2020 due to coronavirus concerns and will look into an alternative format for the conference. The event was to be held at the Shoreline Amphitheatre across the street from the Googleplex headquarters. Tickets will be fully refunded by March 13 and those who bought tickets will be automatically eligible to purchase passes for I/O 2021. Google may not commit to the original May 12-14 timeframe. It will be providing $1 million to local Mountain View organizations to raise awareness about the coronavirus, aid small businesses, increase STEM education, and support organizations working with the homeless. The Google for Games Developer Summit and Cloud Next '20 have also been changed to online-only events. | 1Big Tech & Startups
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Single Tool for Full Stack Monitoring (Sponsor) | Monitoring made easy with a unified view of your metrics, traces, and logs. Try monitoring with Datadog today. | 3Programming, Design & Data Science
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Pluto’s dark side spills its secrets — including hints of a hidden ocean (11 minute read) | Images from Pluto taken by NASA's New Horizons spacecraft reveal an icy and cracked landscape and what could be signs of a hidden ocean. It has cracks deeper than the Grand Canyon scar at the surface and icy volcanoes taller than Mount Everest. New images of Pluto won't be available for at least another 30-40 years, assuming a spacecraft is sent soon. A selection of the images, as well as a 2-minute video showing a virtual reconstruction of the dwarf planet, is available in the article. The article discusses the structures on Pluto, such as its icy bladed terrain and underground ocean, and how they may have formed. | 2Science and Futuristic Technology
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How to Learn Web Development in 2021 - a Web Developer Roadmap (12 minute read) | This is a guide for learning Web Development in 2021. It covers essential tools, programming languages, libraries/frameworks, and example projects. An 11-minute video version is available. | 3Programming, Design & Data Science
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GoFrame (GitHub Repo) | GoFrame is an application development framework for Golang. It provides core components and modules, such as logging, file/memory lock, database ORM, https, and more. A diagram of its architecture is available. | 3Programming, Design & Data Science
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So, you want to be a darknet drug lord... | This article is about how to be a darknet drug lord. It covers topics such as international law, what technologies to learn, and operational security. A common mistake is to only rely on Tor for security. A list of resources is available. | 4Miscellaneous
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Nuklear (GitHub Repo) | Nuklear is an immediate-mode cross-platform graphical user interface toolkit written in ANSI C. It focuses on portability, efficiency, and simplicity. Nuklear has a small codebase and no dependencies, and it is fully customizable. Examples are available in the repository. | 3Programming, Design & Data Science
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World's fastest camera captures 70 trillion frames per second | The new record holder for the world's fastest camera boasts a rate of 70 trillion frames per second, fast enough to capture light waves in motion. Compressed Ultrafast Spectral Photography uses extremely short pulses of laser light combined with a system of optics and a specialized sensor. The technology could be used to study fundamental physics and help create smaller and more sensitive electronics. | 2Science and Futuristic Technology
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Roku Stock Rebounds 20% Amid Reports of Possible Acquisition by Netflix | Roku employees have discussed the possibility of the company being acquired by Netflix in recent weeks. The company is preventing its employees from selling vested stock. This strategy is usually employed shortly before a company makes an announcement that will impact its share price to prevent potential insider trading. Roku's experience in streaming advertisement technology could be valuable to Netflix as it prepares to deliver its own ad-supported subscription tier. | 1Big Tech & Startups
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Laid-off chefs are using Instagram for income during the pandemic | Some chefs who were laid off because of the pandemic have been able to start their own businesses by directly dealing with customers through Instagram. The accounts display the foods on offer and customers can call, text, or DM to place orders. Depending on the region, this practice might not be completely legal, but enforcement of the relevant laws can vary. Using the social media platform, chefs can connect directly with people who are interested in their style of food. | 4Miscellaneous
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Sblack (Desktop Tool) | Sblack is an ultra-lightweight Mac client for Slack that comes with a light mode and dark mode. This is a native (non-Electron) app, so it's only 20MB instead of 180MB like the official Slack client. If you use Slack on a Macbook and want the desktop client to be a bit snappier, this is definitely worth a look. | 2Science and Futuristic Technology
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How to mentor software engineers | We're rarely taught how to mentor. Mentoring is different from coaching. While both involve improving skills, a coach's role is to assess and not just to advise. Mentors give advice that is usually not just tied to day-to-day work, with conversations usually centering around goals, situations, and skills. This article discusses mentoring and gives tips on how to become a better mentor. | 3Programming, Design & Data Science
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The scientist making Florida strawberries bigger, sweeter and sometimes grape-flavored | FL 16.78-109 is a type of strawberry that is white with red seeds that has appeared recently on random store shelves. It has a sweet flavor, sometimes tasting similar to grapes. The berries are a result of cross-breeding with a type of berry from Japan. It has taken years of work and hundreds of thousands of dollars to develop. Today’s berries are significantly sweeter and larger than what they used to be due to scientific farming. While there are many different types of strawberries, most supermarkets lump them into the same label. New types are being continually developed to improve taste, health, and appearance. Most farmers use cross-breeding techniques, rather than direct genetic modification. This means that the process is usually significantly slower. Only one in about 30,000 seedlings will become a new variety of strawberry. | 4Miscellaneous
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Jets of bacteria carry microscopic cargo | Scientists have found a way to control bacteria to transport microscopic cargo. The method involved using a liquid crystal to control bacterial movement. It essentially creates a track for the bacteria to follow. The bacteria can move through the track without any external force, essentially creating a self-pumping fluid. | 2Science and Futuristic Technology
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Heroicons (GitHub Repo) | Heroicons is a set of free, MIT-licensed, high-quality SVG icons. There are outline and solid styles, with 140 icons per style currently. Developers can just copy the source code for the icon and paste it directly into their HTML. | 3Programming, Design & Data Science
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Chinese database details 2.4 million influential people, their kids, addresses, and how to press their buttons | A US academic has uncovered a database used by Shenzhen Zhenhua, a Chinese company known to work with intelligence, military, and security agencies. The database contains information that could be used to conduct influence operations against prominent and influential people outside China. It contains information on influential individuals and institutions across a variety of industries. The data allows Chinese analysts to track key influencers and how news and opinions move through social media platforms. Using the information, China can craft messages to target individuals to manipulate them. | 4Miscellaneous
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USGS releases first complete geologic map of the Moon | The United States Geological Survey has published the first complete geologic map of the Moon at a scale of 1:5,000,000. The map is color-coded with in order to quickly identify geological features. It was created using a mix of Apollo-era maps and data from recent satellite missions. | 4Miscellaneous
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