hackernews

1. FTC bans TurboTax from advertising ‘free’ services, calls deceptive advertising Total comment counts : 20 Summary The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has ruled that TurboTax, a popular tax filing software, engaged in deceptive advertising and has banned the company from advertising its services as free unless it is free for all customers. The FTC found that TurboTax’s ads for “free” tax services misled customers who did not qualify for the free service, such as those with gig economy income or farm income....

1. U.S. National Park Service API Total comment counts : 18 Summary The NPS Data API is accessible to all developers who want to use National Park Service (NPS) data in their projects. This API allows official data to be used in apps, maps, and websites. The API documentation provides information on the available data, and developers can register for an API key and review API resources on the NPS Data API website....

1. Nightshade: An offensive tool for artists against AI art generators Total comment counts : 71 Summary The article discusses the development of a tool called Nightshade, which transforms images into “poison” samples to deter model trainers from using unauthorized data for training generative AI models. Unlike opt-out lists, Nightshade imposes a cost on trainers who scrape and train on unlicensed data. It distorts feature representations in AI image models, making them learn unpredictable behaviors....

1. What’s that touchscreen in my room? Total comment counts : 71 Summary The author of the article recounts their experience with a touchscreen device in their new apartment that they couldn’t figure out the purpose of. After finding a manual, they discover that it is part of an energy monitoring system. They also find another device in a communal cupboard that is connected to the electricity meter. The devices communicate using WiFi, which the author finds surprising....

1. Dave Mills has died Total comment counts : 28 Summary The article announces the passing of Dave Mills, who was known for his contributions to the early Internet. He was involved in projects such as the Network Time Protocol and the Fuzzball routers of the early NSFNET. Mills was also a part of the INARG task force, worked at COMSAT Labs and the University of Delaware. The message expresses condolences and acknowledges Mills as an iconic figure in the history of the Internet....

1. Losing my son Total comment counts : 116 Summary The author’s seven-year-old son suffered cardiac arrest during a medical procedure, resulting in catastrophic brain damage. The son is alive but has lost all higher mental functions. The author acknowledges the rarity of recovery in such cases and describes the grief and loss they have experienced. They also address common statements and inquiries from others and express that tragic loss is something that happens to you, similar to falling off a cliff....

1. US developers can offer non-app store purchasing, Apple still collect commission Total comment counts : 112 Summary Apple is making changes to its U.S. iOS App Store policies, allowing developers to direct customers to a non-App Store purchasing option for digital goods. Developers can now feature a single link to their website that leads to an in-app purchase alternative. However, Apple will continue to collect a commission on content bought through these links, ranging from 12 to 27 percent....

1. Modeless Vim Total comment counts : 72 Summary The article discusses the importance of user feedback and its impact on improving the product. It also mentions the availability of qualifiers and documentation to assist users. Additionally, it mentions the availability of configuration files that can be used to transform vim into a modeless editor. Top 1 Comment Summary The article discusses the benefits of adding features like syntax highlighting to the text editor Vim....

1. Penrose – Create diagrams by typing notation in plain text Total comment counts : 29 Summary Penrose is a platform that allows people to create visually appealing diagrams by simply typing notation in plain text. Its goal is to make it simple for non-experts to produce high-quality diagrams and gain a better understanding of complex technical concepts. The platform aims to make the creation of visual intuition accessible to everyone....

1. Show HN: #!/usr/bin/env docker run Total comment counts : 27 Summary The article discusses the use of the Unix convention called #! (pronounced shebang) in order to package applications in a cross-distro and cross-platform way. It explains that this example Dockerfile is a fullstack server that includes a backend, a database, and a UI all in a single file. The article also mentions some comments and reactions from users, including their experiences with using shebang lines in Dockerfiles and alternative methods for building Docker images....