1. SIMD-accelerated computer vision on a $2 microcontroller
Total comment counts : 10
Summary
error
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article suggests that silicon, which is cheaper than a cup of coffee, is impressive. It questions whether the issue lies in the chip being too cheap or the coffee being too expensive.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article promotes a product called Edge Impulse, which offers low-level optimization of deep learning, computer vision, and DSP workloads for various microcontrollers and CPUs, as well as exotic accelerators and edge GPUs. The product supports the ESP32 microcontroller. Users can upload TensorFlow, PyTorch, or JAX models and receive an optimized C++ library directly from their notebook with just a few lines of Python. The product also includes a Studio for training models, with architectures designed for embedded hardware and hardware-aware hyperparameter optimization.
2. Julian Assange has reached a plea deal with the U.S., allowing him to go free
Total comment counts : 139
Summary
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been released from a British prison and is on his way to a remote Pacific island to plead guilty to a conspiracy charge as part of a plea deal with the US Justice Department, according to court documents. The agreement will bring an end to the legal battle over the publication of classified documents. Assange was charged with conspiracy to obtain and disclose national defense information. He is expected to appear in court in the Northern Mariana Islands, a US-controlled territory, to plead guilty. After the proceedings, it is anticipated that he will return to Australia, his home country.
Top 1 Comment Summary
Julian Assange has been released from Belmarsh maximum security prison after spending 1901 days there. He was granted bail by the High Court in London and left the UK from Stanstead airport. This release is the result of a global campaign involving grass-roots organizers, press freedom campaigners, legislators, and leaders from around the world. There have been negotiations with the US Department of Justice, leading to a deal that is yet to be finalized. Assange will soon be reunited with his wife and children. WikiLeaks, which Assange was the editor-in-chief of, published stories exposing government corruption and human rights abuses. Assange has paid a heavy price for these revelations. As he returns to Australia, his supporters are thankful for those who fought for his freedom.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The author expresses mixed emotions about the release of someone, possibly Julian Assange, and their perception of the world. They lament the current state of society, believing that despite advancements in knowledge and technology, humanity is still engaged in terrible acts. The author feels a loss of control in leadership, expressing fear about this growing problem. They believe that humanity is gradually succumbing to evil and greedy forces. The author praises Assange for exposing corrupt behavior but criticizes the harsh treatment he received from powerful organizations. They argue that Assange should have been protected, praised, and studied in schools worldwide.
3. Wave activity on Titan strong enough to erode the coastlines of lakes and seas
Total comment counts : 5
Summary
error
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses the Dragonfly mission, a flying drone probe that is set to explore Titan, one of Saturn’s moons. The mission aims to provide a closer look at the moon’s surface and gather valuable data. For more information, you can visit the provided Wikipedia link.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses a study conducted by a team of scientists who mapped the shorelines of seas on Saturn’s moon Titan using radar images from the Cassini spacecraft. They then used modeling to determine which erosion mechanism was responsible for shaping the shores of each sea. The author expresses disappointment regarding the article’s content compared to its headline.
4. Twonkie: A USB-PD sniffer/injector/sink based on Google’s Twinkie open hardware
Total comment counts : 5
Summary
The article discusses “Twonkie,” a USB-PD sniffer/injector/sink device based on Google’s project Twinkie. Twonkie is a redesign of Twinkie that can be manufactured in smaller quantities by regular people. The original Twinkie design uses high-end components and a complex PCB, making it unsuitable for hobbyists. Twonkie, on the other hand, uses a simpler four-layer PCB and leaded parts for easier assembly. The article provides information on how to obtain the necessary materials and build the device. It also warns that Twonkie is not a beginner-friendly project and requires experience with soldering fine-pitch SMT parts. The hardware design of Twonkie is licensed under CC BY 4.0, and the source code for its firmware is licensed under the 3-clause BSD license.
Top 1 Comment Summary
This article discusses the use of a “sniffer” device to detect and analyze Power Delivery negotiations in USB ports. The sniffer can identify any device or cable that is not functioning properly by replicating the issue and observing the component that is not following specifications. It also emphasizes that even computers participating in Power Delivery cannot monitor their own PD traffic due to the low-level handling by ASIC chips, hence the need for a separate physical device.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses the HUSB238 USB-C breakout, which allows users to select the voltage and current for power delivery. It can be set using jumpers or I2C for dynamic querying and setting.
5. Resilient Sync for Local First
Total comment counts : 7
Summary
The article discusses the local-first movement, which aims to bring data back to the user while retaining the advantages of the internet. It proposes a data exchange format that works both in the file system and on the internet. The format involves clients writing a simple, continuous log of changes, referred to as the “index”, which is linked to a unique identifier for each client. The article also suggests treating larger data files separately from the changes and storing them according to the client ID and index. An example format for the data sets is provided. The article highlights the advantages of this method, including always knowing where the next data will appear. The implementation can be done as a database or in a file system, with metadata stored in a JSON file. The article concludes by mentioning that online services can choose a suitable mix of the database or file system approach.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The author of the article, who worked with a Dropbox competitor, discusses several thoughts on the use of Conflict-Free Replicated Data Types (CRDTs) for file synchronization. They highlight that the Git protocol already has some similarities to CRDTs as it allows syncing repositories without the need for GitHub or a Git server. However, they note that rewriting software to be CRDT-based and convincing the general public to adopt it would be challenging. The author also mentions that resolving conflicts when computers are disconnected from the network remains a problem for end users, as CRDTs can only identify merge conflicts but not determine the correct result. They suggest considering replicating desired workflows with Git or a similar tool, developing a “Git aware” word processor, and exploring the feasibility of incorporating a synchronization protocol or Git into software such as LibreOffice.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses ideas that are similar to what SSB implemented. It highlights the main problems with having a log, such as its size growing with every change and questions about data retention and rewriting. The article also mentions that log entries could be CRDTs, but states that if this is the case, a log is not needed as all the necessary information to sync between peers is already within the CRDT itself. A link is provided for more information on calculating diffs using CRDTs.
6. Researchers invent 100% biodegradable ‘barley plastic’
Total comment counts : 25
Summary
error
Top 1 Comment Summary
This article discusses the focus on biodegradable materials for packaging. It mentions that biodegradable plastic made from corn is already available, but it is more expensive and has a rough finish. The article also mentions efforts in Michigan to find a use for sugar beet waste, and suggests that barley could be grown if it proves competitive with regular plastic. The author also questions why paper bags, which are easily biodegradable, are not used more frequently due to their lower cost.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article expresses the desire to never hear about a particular subject again.
7. The First Hedge Fund
Total comment counts : 9
Summary
This article discusses the journey of Alfred Winslow Jones, the founder of the world’s first hedge fund. Jones, who had a diverse background as a journalist, sociologist, and author, improvised his way to developing an investment style that has persisted for over half a century. Born in Australia to wealthy American parents, Jones eventually joined the crew of a tramp steamer after finishing college at Harvard. He later worked various odd jobs and joined the State Department, where he was sent to Berlin as America’s vice-consul. Jones became interested in Germany’s social and political troubles and secretly married a left-wing anti-Nazi activist. After resigning from the foreign service, he worked undercover for a Leninist organization in Berlin and London. As Hitler’s influence grew, Jones returned to America and pursued a graduate degree in sociology at Columbia University. Inspired by the stock market crash and economic turmoil, he wrote a thesis on the link between Americans’ economic status and their attitudes about property. Jones leveraged the success of his thesis to land a job as a journalist at Fortune magazine. After World War 2 ended, he wrote an essay that proposed a new model for predicting stock market changes based on investor psychology. This essay prompted Jones to start the world’s first hedge fund in 1949.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses how the type of client a hedge fund attracts depends on the fund’s size. Small funds often start with friends and family investing, while some larger funds are started by former proprietary traders. The Volker Rule stopped traders from working for banks, but those with a good track record could leave and start their own funds, taking their clients with them. Funds under $100 million usually do not attract institutional clients, such as pension funds. Fund of Funds (FOF) used to be prevalent in the industry, but it is less common today. Funds under $10 million mainly rely on the manager’s own money and friends and family investments. Once a fund reaches $100 million, it may start attracting interest from institutional investors. Once a fund surpasses $500 million, it is considered part of the institutional category. Institutions prefer to invest in larger managers, but they also don’t want to be the fund’s sole investors. The article concludes by stating that the type of client a hedge fund has depends more on its size than its returns.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses the misconception that the first hedge fund was started by Alfred W. Jones. While Jones is often credited with starting the first hedge fund, the article claims that Benjamin Graham actually started a fund in the 1920s that would be considered a hedge fund by today’s standards.
8. The Sun Ra Arkestra’s Maestro Hits One Hundred
Total comment counts : 15
Summary
The Sun Ra Arkestra, a musical collective founded in the mid-fifties, relocated to Philadelphia in 1968 and established the Sun Ra Arkestral Institute. Sun Ra believed that a voice from another dimension would speak to Earth, so the Arkestra diligently practiced for this event. After Sun Ra’s death, saxophone players took over as directors, including Marshall Allen, who recently turned a hundred. Allen reminisces about growing up in Louisville, serving in the Army during World War II, and playing with Sun Ra in Chicago. The Arkestra continues to tour and create music, with recent celebrations including a site-specific video installation at the Venice Biennale. Allen believes that music has guided his life and that creating better music can lead to a better world.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The author recounts their experience seeing Sun Ra and his Arkestra in a jazz concert in the mid-70s. The Arkestra was seated in a row of chairs facing the audience, with two female dancers circling them. Sun Ra directed the performance, possibly playing the keys at one point. The most remarkable part of the concert was the solos, with each player taking turns to deliver intense and uninterrupted solos for about 5 minutes each. The music had a spacey and excellent quality.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article describes an encounter with Sun Ra, a musician, in the late 1980s. After a small venue show, the author’s friend witnessed Sun Ra arguing with the owner about payment. This incident convinced the friend to give up on pursuing a professional music career, as they realized that even a famous artist like Sun Ra had to struggle to get paid.
9. From 0/10 to 8/10: Microsoft Puts Repair Front and Center
Total comment counts : 20
Summary
Microsoft’s Surface Laptop 7 and Surface Pro 11 have received high praise for their repairability. The devices have made significant improvements compared to their predecessors, with easy access to components and the availability of service manuals. Both devices have QR codes and symbols to aid in the disassembly process, making repairs less challenging. While the Surface Pro 11 is more difficult to repair due to its tablet form factor, it still holds up well relative to other tablets. Overall, Microsoft’s commitment to repairability is evident, and the devices have received a score of 8/10 for repairability. This transition from unrepairable to repairable devices reflects the increasing importance of designing products for repair.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses Hacker News and how it is a platform where Americans learn about current and future EU legislation, but it emphasizes that this information is often filtered through the lens of propaganda from American corporations.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article suggests that the decision made by a manufacturer to make repairs easier for users may be due to factors such as convenience or targeting the enterprise market. The author does not believe this is a result of Right to Repair (RtR) advocacy and legislation. They also mention that Microsoft (MS) has previously opposed RtR and it is unlikely that their stance has changed.
10. Local First, Forever
Total comment counts : 61
Summary
The author discusses the concept of local-first software, which aims to prioritize user control and ownership of data. While local-first software works offline and stores data on a user’s device, it still requires an online component for syncing between devices. The author suggests using widely available sync servers, such as Dropbox or iCloud Drive, to facilitate syncing. However, file syncing protocols like Dropbox are limited in functionality and lack features like conflict resolution. To overcome this, the author proposes using Conflict-Free Replicated Data Types (CRDTs), a collection of data types that can be merged without conflicts. By using CRDTs, conflicts can be resolved by merging file states and saving them back to the synchronized state. The author demonstrates this concept using a proof-of-concept demo that utilizes CRDTs for merging text edits.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article highlights the importance of making the backend sync server available for local self-hosting in order to achieve a “forever” aspect of local-first technology. This is necessary because simply syncing flat files may not be sufficient for certain features like real-time collaboration and permission controls. The article mentions an example of a local-first multiplayer IDE for tasks and notes, where users are allowed to “eject” by saving their workspace as a zip file and switching to self-hosting the backend if desired.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses the challenge of monetizing truly local-first applications and mentions the author’s struggle to find a solution. The author’s product is mostly local-first, but requires a server for live collaboration and image hosting. The author mentions considering a model similar to Obsidian, where the base app is free and payment is required for networked features like sync and publishing. However, there is limited data available on the effectiveness of this model and the necessary market size for sustainability. The author also recommends Yjs for building robust local-first and collaborative apps, as it offers interesting technical and design challenges.