[User] India’s plan to send a robotic rover to the south pole of the moon was delayed due to technical issues. Chandrayaan-2 will be the first ever space mission to the moon’s south pole. While India has hundreds of millions of people stuck in poverty, its universities produce some of the best software engineers and scientists in the world, making the country suited to space exploration. In 2008, an Indian space mission discovered water molecules on the moon. Many citizens are filled with a sense of national pride regarding the mission and children are learning about space exploration in special learning programs.

[Assistant] India’s Going to the Moon, and the Country Is Pumped


[User] Sodium-ion batteries operate well in colder temperatures and are energy dense, nonflammable, and made out of cheap and abundant materials. However, their performance has always been limited by poor durability. US-based researchers have developed a sodium-ion battery that can go through over 300 charging cycles while retaining over 90% of its capacity. The battery's temperature-change resistance, stability, and long cycle life could make it valuable for electric vehicles or energy storage applications.

[Assistant] A new sodium-ion battery breakthrough means they may one day power EVs


[User] Pinterest has launched a new iOS app called Shuffles that allows users to create collages using photos, images, cutouts, and other animated effects.

[Assistant] Pinterest debuts a new app, Shuffles, for collage-making and moodboards


[User] YouTube has started taking down robot combat videos, citing that the videos are in breach of its community guidelines. Each notice of removal was accompanied with a section of the guidelines which said that the videos displayed deliberate infliction of animal suffering or showed animals that were forced to fight. A spokesperson for YouTube stated that the videos were likely removed in error through a faulty algorithm. YouTubers who have had videos removed can appeal the decision in order for the content to be reinstated.

[Assistant] YouTube removes videos of robots fighting for 'animal cruelty'


[User] Google has applied a new color-mapping algorithmic technique to its satellite imagery to redesign the maps used in Google Maps. The new maps will make it easier to distinguish between natural features in the environment. Street features, such as roadways, sidewalks, crosswalks, and pedestrian islands, will also be included in maps of select cities. The new maps will start rolling out this week to all 220 countries and territories currently supported by Google Maps.

[Assistant] Google Maps is getting a lot more detail


[User] French startup Gourmey has produced foie gras in the lab and plans to set up a production facility in central Paris to produce it in large quantities. Farmed foie gras is controversial, with many countries banning the practice. However, it is still a prized delicacy, especially in France. There is a ready market for ethical foie gras alternatives. Gourmey plans to eventually produce a full range of lab-grown meats. It recently received $10 million in funding from a group of venture capital firms.

[Assistant] French startup promises cruelty-free foie gras, grown in a lab


[User] This repository contains a collection of malware source code for a variety of platforms in several programming languages. Not all of the code is commented. The programming languages include Java, PHP, Perl, Python, and Ruby.

[Assistant] Malware Source Code


[User] Researchers from China have developed a new drug cocktail that can convert cells into totipotent stem cells. Totipotent stem cells are able to become any cell in the body as well as supportive tissues. The drug cocktail contains a mix of three molecules: TTNPB, 1-Azakenpaullone, and WS6. This breakthrough could lead to the creation of living organisms straight from mature cells without the need for sperm and eggs.

[Assistant] Drug cocktail makes stem cells that could grow organisms from scratch


[User] Apple will be releasing a new app for the iPhone that will guide users through workout routines on their Apple Watches and iPhones. The app is codenamed 'Seymour' and is the brainchild of Jay Blahnik, a fitness instructor and author that joined Apple in 2013. Seymour will launch with iOS 14 and the next version of the Apple Watch software. Fitness has been a feature of the Apple Watch since its launch, and this move brings Apple into competition with companies like Peloton who offer digital content for fitness classes with a subscription. Apple's health-tracking features are currently free.

[Assistant] Apple is working on a new iPhone app with workout videos, code-named ‘Seymour’


[User] An upcoming change to CSS will bring new color models and new functions that map color models differently. This article discusses the new changes and how they will affect how colors are set and displayed. The new features include Display-P3, which allows developers to take advantage of modern monitors that can display more vibrant colors, relative color syntax, and the ability to define custom CSS color spaces.

[Assistant] A Whistle-Stop Tour of 4 New CSS Color Features


[User] Amazon has revealed images of its second headquarters in northern Virginia. It will hire 1,900 new employees at the site. Amazon plans to create 25,000 jobs in the area over the next decade. The campus will have space for retail shops and can serve as a place for public gatherings. Amazon hopes to begin construction in 2022 and finish in 2025. Renderings of the campus design are available in the article.

[Assistant] Amazon releases new images of HQ2 as it ramps up hiring in Virginia


[User] Researchers from the Vienna University of Technology have developed a new transistor design that can change its configuration according to workload requirements. The technology enables using up to 85% fewer transistors than current approaches, reducing power consumption and temperatures and allowing for higher frequency scaling and performance. The transistors can be made by existing tools using materials that are already used in the semiconductor industry. While production of the transistors can be rapidly scaled and deployed, initial adoption will likely be limited.

[Assistant] CPUs Could Use 85 Percent Fewer Transistors With New Adaptive Tech


[User] DraftKings has merged with Diamond Eagle Acquisition Corp and SBTech, becoming a public company while forgoing the typical IPO process. The deal is expected to close in the first half of 2020. Diamond Eagle will change its name to DraftKings. Its ticker symbol will also change. DraftKings offers fantasy sports products and also acts as a gambling bookmaker. Analysts estimate that the company could generate as much as $13 billion in annual revenue by 2023. DraftKings plans to use the money raised from the deal to expand to states that have recently legalized sports gambling.

[Assistant] Fantasy sports company and bookmaker DraftKings to become public company


[User] Many no-name brands are now selling tangle-free magnetic USB cables on Amazon and Alibaba. The cables feature magnetic beads that allow them to coil up or be attached to metal surfaces. Unfortunately, while the design is great, the quality of the cables is not. There are still many issues with charging and data transfer to be fixed before the cables are worth using. Pictures of the cables are available in the article.

[Assistant] Tangle-free magnetic USB cables are here


[User] This thread discusses projects that were developed but never became profitable. While we hear a lot about successful ventures, there is still a lot to learn from completed, yet unsuccessful, projects. The reasons for not becoming successful are many, but they include being too late to the market, a lack of monetization, and issues with project management.

[Assistant] Ask HN: What's a side project you built to make money that hasn't?


[User] The Apple Worldwide Developers Conference will be held online from June 7 to 11. There will be announcements, sessions, and labs at no cost. Students are now invited to submit their Swift playgrounds to this year's Swift Student Challenge for a chance to win exclusive WWDC21 outerwear and a customized pin set.

[Assistant] Announcing WWDC21


[User] The next Meta VR headset is a mixed reality-focused device that uses advanced cameras to pass color video through and blend VR into the feed. Currently called Project Cambria, the device is set to be released sometime this year. The headset will be marketed for professional, work, and fitness purposes. Meta is enabling the development of mixed reality apps through its Presence Platform. The Presence Platform will allow apps to be cross-developed for the Quest 2 and Project Cambria.

[Assistant] Mark Zuckerberg Just Showed How Meta's Next Mixed Reality VR Headset Will Work


[User] Expedia will fire about 12% of its workforce in an effort to streamline and focus its business. Executives sent a company-wide email saying that the company had been pursuing growth in an unhealthy and undisciplined way. Chairman Barry Diller said the company was aiming for $300 to $500 million in annual cost savings following the release of Expedia's fourth-quarter earnings report earlier this month. Expedia reported $12 billion in revenue in 2019. The company expects a $30 to $40 million in losses due to the coronavirus outbreak. Expedia has recently changed leadership after former CEO Mark Okerstrom and CFO Alan Pickerill abruptly resigned on December 4. Shortly after taking over as CEO, Diller said that Expedia was a 'bloated organization' and was too complex. He felt that employees lacked discipline and direction, and aims to bring focus back to the company.

[Assistant] Expedia cuts 3,000 jobs, including 500 at new Seattle HQ


[User] Google has fired two employees for allegedly accessing internal information. Two colleagues who participated in a rally protesting the suspension of those employees were also dismissed. A company-wide memo stated that the employees were fired for clear and repeated violations of Google's data security policies. Google has been accused of illegally retaliating against prospective union organizers. Employees have been protesting against Google regarding many issues for several months now, and the company seems to be pushing employee organizers out of its business. Google has recently hired a firm known for helping companies crackdown against employee dissent.

[Assistant] Google is accused of union busting after firing four employees


[User] This article follows the story of Kayode, an A-grade student that was studying at one of the country's most elite educational institutions who turned to cybercrime during the pandemic. The pandemic has pushed young Nigerians into online crime as many lose their jobs and are forced to go hungry. What little money people had is strained due to inflation. Cybercrime is a popular choice to turn to when legitimate avenues are exhausted, especially when it seems low risk.

[Assistant] How the pandemic pulled Nigerian university students into cybercrime


[User] Google Flights is offering a price guarantee for a limited time, between August 13 and September 2, 2019. Some flights will start showing a price guarantee badge, and if a booking is made and the price drops, Google will refund the difference in price if it's between $5 and $500. Using price estimating algorithms, Google is offering the guarantee on flights where it is confident that the prices shown are the lowest available before the flight departs. If prices drop, Google will alert the customer and deposit the difference back into their bank account.

[Assistant] Google Flights Offering Price Guarantee


[User] Paul Cormier, Red Hat's CEO and president since 2020, is stepping over to become chairman of the board and will be replaced by Matt Hicks, the company's head of products and technologies.

[Assistant] Red Hat names new CEO


[User] Circle has announced its intention to become a fully regulated bank. Its aim is to become a narrow bank that places all deposits on reserve at the central bank. If this were achieved, USDC would become a cryptocurrency fully backed by the Federal Reserve. Circle would profit off the interest that the Fed pays on bank reserves. Previous attempts by other companies to do narrow banking in the US have failed as the Fed doesn't like the idea. Circle has yet to initiate the process of applying to be a bank.

[Assistant] How Circle could create a U.S.-backed digital currency


[User] Python Handout is an alternative to Jupyter notebooks, which turns python scripts into handouts with Markdown comments and inline figures. It is used as a library inside a normal Python program. Users only need to run a script normally and it will output an HTML file for viewing.

[Assistant] Python Handout


[User] The Food and Drug Administration has authorized the first antiviral pill to treat Covid-19. Paxlovid curbs the risk of hospitalization and death in high-risk patients by 89%, but it has to be started within a few days of symptoms showing up. The treatment involves 30 pills taken at home over five days. As the pill targets proteins that help the coronavirus make copies of itself, it will likely remain effective against variants.

[Assistant] FDA authorizes first COVID-19 antiviral pill


[User] Facebook is in the early stages of developing a Clubhouse clone. The news comes just days after CEO Mark Zuckerberg appeared on a Clubhouse event as a guest. Facebook has cloned functionality from other social media sites before, so it is not surprising that it is now copying Clubhouse. Twitter is also working on its own version of the app.

[Assistant] Facebook is reportedly working on a Clubhouse copy


[User] rLoop, a Reddit-born hyperloop and engineering collective, has bought the intellectual property of Arrivo. Arrivo was a hyperloop startup founded by a former SpaceX engineer. The group will assess the progress Arrivo employees had made toward developing a type of hyperloop that relies on magnetic levitation. Arrivo had shut down in 2018 after running out of money. rLoop was founded in 2015 after SpaceX announced plans to hold a hyperloop competition where they won an innovation award.

[Assistant] Reddit-born engineering group buys leftovers of failed hyperloop startup Arrivo


[User] Herrenberg, a town in Germany, will soon be available via virtual reality. Tourists will be able to explore the town's historic houses and churches. The town currently uses super-computing and technologies typically deployed in advanced aerospace to visualize city data and citizen's emotional responses inside the digital twin. Citizens can use an app to share feedback on the town. The town will open up the digital copy for tourists to visit so they can explore it digitally before visiting it in person.

[Assistant] This German town replicated itself in VR to keep its tourism alive


[User] The N700S is a new record-breaking bullet train that can transport passengers to safety in the event of an earthquake. It can go up to 360 kilometers per hour but will be capped at 285 kilometers per hour during operation. The design is similar to previous versions of the train but with more focus on comfort and safety. It was entered into service on July 1 on the Tokaido Shinkansen line, which links Tokyo Station to Shin-Osaka Station in Osaka.

[Assistant] Japan debuts new bullet train that can run during an earthquake


[User] The Ultimate Typing Championship is an event where typists face off against each other for a $5,000 cash prize and other merchandise. Competitors at the event are required to type out short paragraphs and are rated on accuracy and speed. The winner, Anthony 'chak', typed at an average speed of 208.5 WPM, with a high speed of 233 WPM. A three-hour video of the event is available in the article.

[Assistant] Watch the Ultimate Typing Champion Reach 'Otherworldly' Speeds


[User] Facebook is testing a new feature that encourages users to post and share news in social networks focused on small geographical areas. Users will be able to share limited information with their neighbors, and Facebook will use the data it collects to serve more relevant ads. Neighborhoods is currently being tested in Calgary, Canada, and it will likely roll out more widely if the test is a success. Screenshots of the feature are available in the article.

[Assistant] Facebook is testing mini social networks focused on you and your neighbors


[User] This document explains the Apple Silicon Mac boot ecosystem and how open OSes operate with the platform.

[Assistant] Introduction to Apple Silicon


[User] Facebook's new content oversight board will focus on challenging content issues, including hate speech, harassment, and people's safety. The board consists of 20 members who have lived in 27 countries and speak at least 28 languages. Members include a former prime minister and a Nobel Peace Prize laureate. The board will eventually grow to 40 members. It will initially focus on cases where content was removed, and Facebook expects it will only take on dozens of cases to start. The board’s case decisions must be made and implemented within 90 days, though Facebook can ask for a 30-day review for exceptional cases.

[Assistant] Facebook names first members of oversight board that can overrule Zuckerberg


[User] A group called the Fellowship of Friends may be controlling the hiring at Google. The group believes that most people exist in a state of 'waking sleep' and its founder claims to have been contacted by angelic incarnations of deceased art figures. The group allegedly built its influence by running a hiring agency that hired contractors from the sect. A previous case in 2008 awarded an employee $6.5 million in damages for failing to be promoted for not being a Fellowship member.

[Assistant] Google Allegedly Infiltrated by "Cult-Like Religious Sect"


[User] Today marks Google’s official launch for AMP support for email, more than a year after they first announced their intentions of supporting the format. AMP will allow emails to become more interactive, so instead of having to complete work in a separate window, users can complete forms and questionnaires, RSVP to events, browse through a store’s inventory, or respond to comments right from a web-based email client itself. Many companies already support AMP emails, so users can expect to start seeing these kinds of emails in the coming weeks.

[Assistant] Google makes emails more dynamic with AMP for Email


[User] The US divorce rate dropped 18 percent from 2008 to 2016. Even controlling for factors such as age, the divorce rate still dropped 8 percent, so this isn't just about an aging population. "One of the reasons for the decline is that the married population is getting older and more highly educated," says Maryland sociology professor Philip Cohen, who conducted the study. Many poorer and less educated Americans are opting not to marry at all. They're living together, and often raising kids together, without tying the knot. And studies have shown these cohabiting relationships are less stable than they used to be. Other millenials are poor, single and write daily tech newsletters.

[Assistant] Millennials are causing US divorce rate to plummet


[User] After going through a series of serious life events it can be hard to continue on with work, and you might start thinking about making changes. During this period, it is important to remember that work provides an important level of structure in your life. It provides routine and social contact, and without it, it is easy to slide into bad habits, especially when going through rough periods in life. Finding good medical help is important in recovering from tough life events. Many suggest that if the stress is too much, moving to a less stressful job might be the best choice. However, unless it is financially feasible and it really is the best option, the least advised choice is to become unemployed, unless there is a plan around it. One of the best ways to get through tough periods is to keep yourself busy, so if it is possible, taking time off from work to travel is a good option.

[Assistant] Ask HN: I think I’ve burnt out. What should I do?


[User] An optical quantum computer built by Canadian startup Xanadu is able to sometimes perform operations with more than 200 qubits. Simulating one of the operations, which only takes a few-dozen milliseconds on the optical quantum computer, would take 9,000 years on a supercomputer. Xanadu's hardware uses a chip to put photons in a specific quantum state then it forces photon pairs to interact in ways that entangle them. More details about the technology are available in the article.

[Assistant] Manipulating photons for microseconds tops 9,000 years on a supercomputer


[User] This is a free course by OpenAI (a non-profit AI research lab founded by Elon Musk and Sam Altman) to help beginners learn about deep reinforcement learning. There's a quick crash course on terminology, algorithms, and basic theory, a well-documented repo with code examples, and some code exercises. Pretty short, but looks very well done.

[Assistant] Spinning Up


[User] Nvidia is preparing to abandon its $40 billion acquisition of chip designer Arm. Regulators have sued to block the transaction on antitrust grounds and there are multiple other regulatory obstacles to overcome. SoftBank, who currently owns Arm, is still optimistic that the sale will go through. Nvidia is not expecting regulators to allow the deal to be finalized.

[Assistant] Nvidia is reportedly preparing to abandon its $40 billion takeover of Arm


[User] This is a Github Repo from Microsoft, with tutorials and exercises for learning quantum computing and their new quantum computing language Q#.

[Assistant] Quantum Katas


[User] Moscow farmers strapped VR headsets to cows to see if it improved their mood and milk production. The cattle viewed simulated fields with pleasing landscapes via headsets that were adapted to the cows' heads. Tests showed that the headsets reduced the cows' anxiety and boosted their overall sentiment. Further study is still required to see whether the headsets affected the quality or volume of the cows' milk.

[Assistant] Cows wearing VR headsets might produce better milk


[User] Jetpack Compose is a UI toolkit designed for building responsive Android apps with less code. It is built to integrate with existing Android apps and Jetpack libraries. Compose is designed to work with Android Views. The beta features coroutines support, accessibility support for talkback, easy-to-use animations, and more. Resources for learning Compose are available in the article.

[Assistant] Announcing Jetpack Compose Beta!


[User] Kieran Setiya, an MIT philosophy professor, published a book that examines the problems of middle-aged happiness and how philosophy can help people find peace of mind.

[Assistant] How philosophy can solve your midlife crisis


[User] Tiny traces of what may be ancient sponges that date back around 890 million years have been discovered in Canada's northern McKenzie Mountains. It will still take a lot of work to confirm whether the rocks are really animal fossils, but it could be evidence that animals emerged before the Neoproterozoic Oxygenation Event that began around 700 million years ago. Scientists have long hypothesized that life had begun before the oxygenation event due to evidence from molecular clock data, but this is the first bit of physical evidence discovered that supports the idea.

[Assistant] Bizarre 890-Million-Year-Old Fossils May Be Earliest Known Animal Life


[User] Krafton, the developer behind PUBG, is using a virtual human to help establish its web3 ecosystem. Ana was built using the Unreal Engine. Krafton aims for Ana to become a celebrity to attract the interest of Gen Z. Ana will release an original music track and act as an influencer in entertainment and esports. More details on the character will be released later in the year. Pictures of Ana are available in the article.

[Assistant] The company behind PUBG shows off its ‘hyper-realistic’ virtual human


[User] A medical center in China has developed an AI system that was better than junior doctors in diagnosing a range of illnesses in children. The system was able to diagnose diseases with 90-97% accuracy. While junior doctors were less accurate in diagnosing illnesses than the AI system, senior doctors were able to to diagnoses illnesses at a much higher success rate. This technology, while still far from being able to replace actual doctors, can potentially be a useful tool in aiding doctors and nurses when performing triage, especially in emergency care situations.

[Assistant] An AI system can diagnose childhood diseases better than some doctors


[User] On August 5 last year, the Indian government revoked a law that granted Jammu and Kashmir a measure of autonomy, splitting the state into two territories. The government then shut down all communications and arrested thousands of activists and academics in order to quell public opposition to the move. Over the last six months, communications such as landline phones, texting, and some access to government-approved websites has been restored, but the rest of the internet is still off-limits to citizens. People are calling the internet shut down a human rights violation and that it is a move to break the will of the Kashmiri people. The shutdown has caused life in the area to come to a standstill and people are struggling.

[Assistant] No Email. No WhatsApp. No Internet. This Is Now Normal Life In Kashmir


[User] The Atlantic Ocean is growing 1.5 inches wider every year because the tectonic plates under the Americas are separating from those beneath Europe and Africa. This is due to the formation of a large underwater mountain range in the middle of the ocean called the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge separates the North American plate from the Eurasian plate, and the South American plate from the African plate. It sits on a convection hotspot on the Earth's crust. The process started about 200 million years ago.

[Assistant] The Atlantic Ocean is getting wider every year, pushing the Americas away from Europe and Africa. We may finally know why.


[User] TLDR: The iPhone 5C failed because it was literally just the parts from an iPhone 5 put into a new plastic shell. It was also pitched as a "budget" iPhone, and had a new unproven design. The iPhone XR can succeed where the iPhone 5C failed because it is actually a premium phone (it costs $749), it is meant for people who bought the iPhone 8 last year instead of the iPhone X (which introduced a sort of "super flagship" $999 price point). The iPhone XR looks like an iPhone X from the front and the iPhone 8 from the back, so it's a proven design, and given Apple's scale (they now sell over 220 million iPhones a year, whereas when the 5C came out they only sold about 150 million per year) it will be much easier for the iPhone XR to succeed.

[Assistant] 5 reasons the iPhone XR will succeed where iPhone 5c failed


[User] Petra, a San Francisco startup, has developed a semi-autonomous robotic system that can create 18-60 inch diameter tunnels through any rock. Swifty can drill through Sioux Quartzite, the hardest rock on Earth, at a rate of an inch a minute. It is the first microtunneling robot that can reverse out of its own tunnel. Swifty costs up to 90 percent less than conventional trenchless methods, making a lot of underground infrastructure projects economically feasible.

[Assistant] Petra's remarkable thermal bore cuts through undrillable rock


[User] People were quick to criticize Facebook when it first suggested the idea of putting a Facebook camera and microphone in their homes. Now, consumers have put those fears aside, and the Portal TV is completely sold out on Facebook's website and retailers such as Best Buy. Facebook Portal TV is a device that changes a TV into a big video chat screen. The other Facebook Portal gadgets are still available.

[Assistant] Facebook's Portal TV video chat device was mocked — now it's completely sold out


[User] China has started trials for its digital currency. The district of Suzhou will be paying half of its travel subsidies given to public sector workers in May using the digital currency. China plans to expand its pilot schemes to Shenzhen, Xiongan, and Chengdu. The 2022 Winter Olympic games may be used as a test for the currency. China has not yet announced an official timetable for releasing the digital yuan. However, reports indicate that the currency will be available to the public later this year.

[Assistant] China starts testing digital currency as Facebook's Libra faces setback


[User] This article discusses the new built-in FSMonitor added in Git version 2.37.0 and how it improves performance on very large worktrees. The Git file system monitor (FSMonitor) feature speeds up commands like git status and git add by reducing the size of the search. These commands are slow as they are searching the entire worktree looking for changes, which can be a problem for very large worktrees. FSMonitor continually watches worktrees to have a complete view of all file system changes.

[Assistant] Improve Git monorepo performance with a file system monitor


[User] The FTC filed a complaint to block Meta from acquiring Within, the company behind VR fitness app Supernatural.

[Assistant] FTC files to block Meta from buying VR fitness studio Within


[User] One of the largest cybersecurity companies in the US, FireEye, claims it was hacked by a foreign government. Internal tools used for testing clients' defenses were stolen in the attack. FireEye has an array of business contracts across the national security space in the US and around the world. The stolen kit targets a myriad of different vulnerabilities in popular software products. All of these vulnerabilities should already be public, but FireEye has not disclosed what systems may be affected. Typically, companies will release patches for known vulnerabilities, but users do not always download these patches.

[Assistant] US cybersecurity firm FireEye says it was hacked, probably by 'nation-state'


[User] Scientists from the University of Southern California have regrown lizard tails with spinal columns and nerves intact. Lizards can regrow their tails, but naturally regrown lizard tails usually feature a cartilage tube instead of a spinal column and nerves. The scientists used stem cells and gene editing tools to regenerate perfect tails. The study provides scientists with a blueprint for improving healing in wounds that don't naturally regenerate.

[Assistant] Aided by stem cells, a lizard regenerates a perfect tail for first time in more than 250 million years


[User] Not all data is created equal. Some data is special and requires better protection.In this webinar, we will discuss how leading companies like Netflix and Apple secure and protect sensitive data with zero-trust data privacy vaults. We will introduce and demo Skyflow, a data privacy vault delivered as an API, and answer live questions.Join Skyflow’s Head of Developer Relations, Sean Falconer, tomorrow April 13th at 10am PT for ‘Move Fast and Don’t Break Privacy’.Register now.

[Assistant] Webinar: Move Fast and Don’t Break Privacy


[User] Samsung Display and Intel are working on slidable PCs. The companies showed off a prototype PC that slides from a 13-inch tablet into a 17-inch display during Intel's Innovation keynote. Intel also showed off software that connects Intel-powered computers to smartphones. The slidable PC is still just a concept and there is no word on when it will become a reality. A GIF showing how the sliding PC concept works is available in the article.

[Assistant] Intel and Samsung are getting ready for ‘slidable’ PCs


[User] According to Pew Research, the shares of U.S. adults who say they use the internet, use social media, own a smartphone or own a tablet computer are all nearly identical to the shares who said so in 2016. 95% of people have cell phones, 89% have internet, and 69% use social media. The number of people who own a desktop or a laptop computer actually dropped from 78% in 2016 to 73% today, while the number of people with tablets increased from 51% in 2016 to 53% today. For better or worse, it appears that adoption of most of these internet technologies has plateaued in the United States.

[Assistant] Internet, social media use and device ownership in U.S. have plateaued after years of growth


[User] Twitter is laying off 30% of its talent-acquisition team. The company suspended hiring in May to shave costs. Twitter executives are restructuring the company to align with business needs. Elon Musk's deal to buy Twitter may be in trouble after Musk's team concluded that Twitter's figures on spam accounts were not verifiable.

[Assistant] Twitter lays off workers, report contends Elon Musk’s bid is in jeopardy


[User] While the code for machine learning models is publicly available, the datasets and computing power required to create working models are still kept locked away by almost all participants in the space.

[Assistant] GitHub Copilot and open source laundering


[User] Roadrunner is a new documentary about the life and death of Anthony Bourdain. The filmmaker used AI technology to digitally recreate Bourdain's voice for three audio quotes. There is a growing industry for AI voice replication. A sample of the AI-generated audio from the documentary is available in the article.

[Assistant] New Anthony Bourdain documentary deepfakes his voice


[User] This article teaches the reader how to create a CSS typewriter effect that reveals text gradually as if it is being typed. Adding typewriter effects can help engage readers and keep them interested in reading further. The effect is best used on small portions of non-critical text. Practical examples of use cases are provided.

[Assistant] How to Create a CSS Typewriter Effect for your Website


[User] The Allen Institute of Artificial Intelligence (AI2) today released an online Pictionary-style game called Iconary. Iconary is designed as a tool to help computers learn common sense by interpreting pictures that users draw, based on phrases that the computer hasn’t seen before. Users will draw scenes based on a text description, and the algorithm will have to identify what objects are in the picture, figure out how these objects relate to each other, and translate the image into text that humans can understand.

[Assistant] Playing Pictionary against computers could help AI learn common sense


[User] Spotify claims that Apple’s App Store introduced rules that purposely limited choice and stifled innovation at the expense of the user experience, and has filed a complaint with the European Commission accusing the company of anti-competitive behavior. Apple is a direct competitor to Spotify through its Apple Music service, and Spotify sees several of its rules as unfair. Spotify is required to pay a 30% tax to Apple on subscriptions to its services, which increases the subscription cost so that it is more expensive than Apple Music. If they avoid this tax by using a direct subscription model, their communication with customers is contractually restricted. Upgrades to their app are also routinely blocked, and they have been locked out of using Apple services such as Siri, HomePod, and the Apple Watch.

[Assistant] Spotify files complaint with European Commission against Apple


[User] A new privacy-focused cryptocurrency has become popular recently, and not only because of its Harry Potter theme. Grin promises to create a cryptocurrency that is both ‘light’ and completely anonymous. Currently, Bitcoin requires over 200GB of data to run a miner and its large energy consumption is a problem. Grin aims to solve these issues. There are a few criticisms for Grin, including its lack of a supply cap.

[Assistant] A new Harry Potter–themed cryptocurrency is like a more private version of Bitcoin


[User] Researchers in Europe have created the world's first light-emitting tattoos based on OLED screen technology. While tattoos can be a form of self-expression, they are also useful as medical tools. The tattoos are made from an extremely thin layer of an electroluminescent polymer that glows when a charge is applied. They can be applied to surfaces using the same wet transfer process used in temporary tattoos and can be easily washed off when no longer needed. When combined with other wearable technologies, these tattoos could start flashing whenever certain body signals are triggered. A lot more research is required before the technology can be used on human skin.

[Assistant] Scientists Have Invented Light-Up OLED Tattoos


[User] This is a project that lets you revert back to the old Gmail layout before the recent redesign. The project includes not only the original CSS, but also a handy Chrome extension that will apply the CSS automatically.

[Assistant] Gmail Classic


[User] This op-ed by Tim Cook calls for US Congress to pass comprehensive federal privacy legislation. Companies should avoid collecting identifying information if possible, tell people what data is collected and why, and allow people to delete their personal data. This legislation should also target online data brokers, who buy your purchasing data from online retailers and sells it to other buyers, all without your knowledge. Cook wants the FTC to shine a light on this practice.

[Assistant] You Deserve Privacy Online. Here's How You Could Actually Get It


[User] Drata says there’s an easier way to achieve continuous SOC 2 compliance (also ISO 27001, PCI DSS, HIPAA, GDPR and CCPA). Instead of screenshots, spreadsheets, and endless back-and-forth emails with auditors, Drata offers an autopilot layer that gathers evidence 24/7, with 75+ integrations for the most common SaaS services.Users seem to be impressed: Drata is the highest rated compliance software on G2. The CISO of Lemonade says: “Drata applies a level of integration and automation that I’ve not seen before. I reviewed a number of players in this space. Drata is the clear winner.”Check Drata out: TLDR readers get 10% off and waived implementation fees

[Assistant] SOC 2 is a resource drain. Can Drata’s auto-compliance tool make it quicker?


[User] Sony unveiled its new Airpeak drone at CES 2021. It is the smallest drone capable of carrying an Alpha camera. The drone was designed for video content creation and professional photography. It has a quadcopter design that features two retractable landing gear extensions. A video that shows off its capabilities as a chase camera is available in the article.

[Assistant] This is Sony’s Airpeak drone


[User] Google has updated its Google Earth View collection with 1,000 new images of some of Earth's most stunning landscapes as seen from space. The collection now boasts over 2,500 landscapes from across the globe with images optimized for 4K screens. Google Earth View images can be used as wallpapers and screensavers for a range of devices. A link to Google Earth View is available in the article.

[Assistant] Google just released 1,000 new images of the most gorgeous landscapes in Google Earth View


[User] Researchers from the University of Cambridge have successfully altered the blood type of three donor kidneys. They flushed the kidneys with blood infused with an enzyme that removed blood type markers from the blood vessels of the kidneys, converting them to blood type O. The technology could significantly increase the number of kidneys available for patients who need them. One of the biggest restrictions to kidney transplantations is blood-type compatibility.

[Assistant] Researchers change blood type of kidney in transplant breakthrough


[User] Twitter has told its employees around the world to work from home in response to the recent coronavirus outbreak. Facebook has also given its employees permission to work from home if they choose to. Twitter’s US offices will still be open if employees need to come to work in person. The virus has affected the tech industry heavily, with dropping values in stocks, canceled conferences and events, and some employees falling ill. Twitter has already banned non-critical business travel within the company.

[Assistant] Twitter told its 5,000 employees to work from home because of the coronavirus


[User] Activate your free Stream Chat trial to start building today. Qualifying small teams and personal dev projects can also apply for the free-forever Stream Maker Account.

[Assistant] Build In-App Chat + Feeds, Faster


[User] The US Digital Service Academy is a federal initiative to train a new generation of tech workers for the government. It is set to rival Stanford and MIT. Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt will lead the project. The school will offer degrees for digital skills such as cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. The National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence has voted unanimously to recommend the university to Congress.

[Assistant] Ex-Google CEO Eric Schmidt is working to launch a university that would rival Stanford and MIT and funnel tech workers into government work


[User] Future Crunch is a once every other week newsletter full of optimistic news and breakthroughs in science and technology.

[Assistant] Future Crunch


[User] The InSight lander has provided valuable data on Mars' activities. It has observed marsquakes, swirling vortices, weather, and the changing of seasons. Despite its successes, it has so far been unable to dig into the ground. A new plan has been developed to push the probe into the planet in order to track its temperature variations. It is likely that martian soil is too dense for the probe to dig through as designed. The probe only needs a small adjustment in order to dig through the ground, so NASA scientists have been trying to use the scoop at the end of InSight's robotic arm to readjust the probe. After failing to readjust the probe, the scientists decided to use the scoop to dig directly into the dirt. This was a risky decision as the scoop was not designed for digging and could break, but the current maneuver appears to be working.

[Assistant] At long last, NASA’s probe finally digs in on Mars


[User] Google CEO Sundar Pichai answered questions about cost cuts, managing productivity, and potential layoffs at the company's all-hands meeting this week. Pichai pointed to tough macroeconomic conditions as the reason for more cost-cutting measures. He also blamed increasing bureaucracy at Google for causing some of the company's challenges. Pichai discussed how the company could be more efficient, for example, by removing unnecessary processes that it may have developed over the years. More details about what was discussed in the meeting are available in the article.

[Assistant] Google CEO Pichai tells employees not to 'equate fun with money' in heated all-hands meeting


[User] A cool newsletter about game development sent out every Friday by Andrzej Mazur of Enclave Games. Definitely worth a look for anyone interested in video games!

[Assistant] Gamedev.js Weekly


[User] Ford unveiled its Mustang Mach-E last week, the company's first battery-powered SUV. Elon Musk had tweeted out his congratulations, but then later in the week he tweeted a video of the Cybertruck pulling an F-150 uphill. The clip has been viewed almost 13 million times. Critics have pointed out that the F-150 is a rear-wheel drive and that there was no payload to put more weight on its rear wheels to give it more traction. Sundeep Madra, the vice president at Ford X has tweeted back at Musk, saying that Ford would complete a real comparison if Musk would send him a Cybertruck. Musk has accepted the challenge.

[Assistant] Elon Musk doesn’t back down after Ford challenges Tesla to an ‘apples to apples’ tug-of-war rematch


[User] First Round Capital surveyed 529 founders about the tech industry. 89% believe there is ageism in tech, and on average they believe it starts at 46 years old. They were most bullish on Stripe, followed by SpaceX, Coinbase, Slack and Airbnb. 39% believe China will be the center of tech by 2028, while 57% believe it will be the US. 77% say tech giants are perceived as evil, 50% believe they actually are evil. 87% are blockchain skeptics.

[Assistant] State of Startups 2018


[User] Telegram will start sending out its Gram currency to investors within two months. The 200 to 300 million global users of Telegram's messaging app will soon have access to a Gram digital wallet. Regulators are concerned that cryptocurrencies could be useful for unlawful activities and have started to shut down smaller cryptocurrency projects, citing them for violations of securities law. Telegram has developed its Cryptocurrency mostly in secret. The company has always operated with a degree of disregard for the opinions of government authorities. Its messaging app is designed to make it easy to encrypt messages between phones, making it unpopular among governments. Once Gram is released, it will be a decentralized currency, meaning that it will be controlled by a network of peers and not any one central authority. There will be no currency backing Gram, and like Bitcoin, its value will be determined by the market.

[Assistant] Telegram Pushes Ahead With Plans for ‘Gram’ Cryptocurrency


[User] Zomato has acquired the Indian operations of Uber Eats for around $350 million. The deal will give Uber about 10 percent shareholding in Zomato. Uber Eats customers will be redirected to Zomato, and it will cease to exist as a separate brand locally. The Uber Eats team will not be absorbed, and executives will either be reallocated to Uber's other divisions or laid off. Zomato is now expected to corner more than 50 percent of the Indian market. Uber Eats was the third biggest player in the market, behind Zomato and Swiggy. It was underperforming in the market, operating on losses throughout last year.

[Assistant] Zomato buys Uber Eats in an all-stock deal


[User] The Linac Coherent Light Source II (LCLS-II) will be the second world-class X-ray laser at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. It will be capable of firing up to 1 million light pulses per second, with beams 10,000 times brighter than its predecessor. The beams are run through a series of alternating magnets to produce X-rays, which are then used to create molecular movies. LCLS-II will allow scientists to answer questions regarding energy transfer, possibly leading to the improvement of technologies like solar power. A video that shows what it is like inside the more than 2-mile long tunnel that houses LCLS-II is available in the article.

[Assistant] Building the world's brightest X-ray laser


[User] Yahoo! Answers started in 2005. It will be shut down on May 4. This article is a collection of the best questions and answers from the site throughout the years. The questions cover topics such as ant killing, music, space travel, vampires, and more.

[Assistant] The best of Yahoo! Answers


[User] The information browsers send to the backend are just HTTP requests. There's no way for the backend to tell that a request isn't sent by a browser unless too many headers are removed. This article shows how anyone can access undocumented APIs by sending requests to endpoints authenticated with cookies. It uses Google Hangouts as an example and then points out some of the issues with the technique.

[Assistant] How to use undocumented web APIs


[User] Many of the predictions about what 2020 would be like for families didn't pan out, but things have definitely changed in the last couple of decades. Women are working more, the number of people choosing not to have children is increasing, and same-sex and transsexual parents are becoming more common. As reproductive technology develops, the definition of a typical family is likely to change significantly. Science will soon be able to create artificial sperm and eggs, as well as wombs. A change in the process of reproduction may mean that women can continue to work while being 'pregnant', and people who could not produce their own children previously (eg. single men, transgender and same-sex couples) can have their own children. Genetically modified designer babies will also likely become a reality. Many other factors such as an aging population, increased travel, and economic inequality will also affect the future of the family unit.

[Assistant] The family in 2050: artificial wombs, robot carers and the rise of single fathers by choice


[User] Huawei's Mate 50 series devices can send texts via satellite communication.

[Assistant] The first phone maker to add satellite texting to its devices is... Huawei


[User] Apple has revealed its over-ear wireless headphones, AirPods Max. AirPods Max feature a custom acoustic design, H1 chips, and advanced software. It comes in five colors and will be shipped from December 15. The H1 chip in each ear allows AirPods Max to deliver a listening experience that includes Adaptive EQ, Active Noise Cancellation, Transparency Mode, and spatial audio. The batteries can last up to 20 hours while playing high-fidelity audio with Active Noise Cancellation and spatial audio enabled. AirPods Max are available to order now for $549.

[Assistant] Apple introduces AirPods Max, the magic of AirPods in a stunning over-ear design


[User] When the Uber app's payment system was rewritten, it had to replace two existing payment systems and be deployed and used by millions of people every day without any business impact. The software was designed without using any of the standard software architecture planning tools. There were no software architects or references to common architecture problems used. The team followed a simple approach to the design by defining the problem, brainstorming and whiteboarding solutions, writing simple documentation and diagrams, discussing tradeoffs and alternatives, and then getting feedback within the team and organization. As an engineer, it is better to solve solutions and learn through them rather than picking a particular architecture pattern hoping it will solve the problem. The goal should be to make everything as simple as possible.

[Assistant] Software Architecture is Overrated, Clear and Simple Design is Underrated


[User] Google has identified TikTok as a possible existential threat to its search engine. Almost 40% of young people use TikTok or Instagram to discover places rather than using Google Maps or Search. This article looks at TikTok as a search engine and how it performs against Google Search. While TikTok excels at showing content related to searches, it isn't able to provide quick access to other sites or answer questions like Google.

[Assistant] I tried replacing Google with TikTok, and it worked better than I thought


[User] Brandless is shutting down, just two and a half years after it launched. It had an original idea designed to disrupt the traditional grocery industry, but it could not perform under the pressure of its investors. Brandless blames the crowded e-commerce market, as the competition in the direct-to-consumer market is fierce. SoftBank poured $240 million into the company in mid-2018, a year after it launched. After it received the cash infusion, Brandless underwent major leadership changes, partly due to the fact that SoftBank was pushing Brandless to quickly turn a profit and meet steep financial targets. The company board decided to shut down the company while there was still enough money to provide severance packages to employees.

[Assistant] Brandless, the pioneering Amazon alternative, shuts down


[User] This article is a collection of thoughts on maintaining React component libraries as part of existing design systems used by large numbers of frontend applications. It focuses more on the software and social challenges of building a large-scale component library rather than on design. It was written by the primary maintainer of DigitalOcean's internal React component library.

[Assistant] Notes on maintaining an internal React component library


[User] Unusual signals have been detected coming from the direction of the center of the Milky Way. The radio waves fit no currently understood pattern of variable radio source, suggesting that it comes from a new class of stellar object. It has a very high polarization, with its light oscillating in only one direction that rotates with time. The brightness of the object varies dramatically and the signal switches on and off seemingly at random. Scientists hope to learn more about the object when the transcontinental Square Kilometer Array radio telescope comes online sometime in the next decade.

[Assistant] Strange radio waves emerge from the direction of the galactic center


[User] Application programming interfaces, or APIs, are bridges that connect two or more programs. They make it possible for companies to interact. This article outlines ten steps for creating and maintaining a safe API. It focuses on APIs through Web services.

[Assistant] Designing a secure API


[User] Scientists have discovered 16 species of deep-sea fish that camouflage themselves with skin that reflects less than 0.5 percent of the light that hits it. Their darkness is caused by a distinct arrangement of melanin, a pigment also found in human skin, creating a structural light trap. Capturing these fish has proven difficult due to their low visibility and the depths that they live in. The darkest material known to man is still a material created by engineers from MIT which absorbs more than 99.96 percent of light.

[Assistant] In the deep sea, scientists discover one of the blackest materials ever known


[User] The new rules will force open source developers to adhere to guidelines for risk management, data governance, technical documentation, transparency, and standards of accuracy and cybersecurity.

[Assistant] The EU’s AI Act could have a chilling effect on open source efforts, experts warn


[User] Apple's HomePod mini smart speaker has a secret temperature and humidity sensor in its casing. It isn't currently usable by owners of the device yet, but Apple has previously included hardware in its devices before that were activated after release. New HomePod firmware tends to release in the fall of each year.

[Assistant] Apple’s HomePod mini reportedly has a secret temperature and humidity sensor


[User] The next Apple Watch will have a blood sugar sensor, according to reports. More than 10% of Americans have type 1 diabetes, with an estimated over 26 million undiagnosed cases in the country. Adding a blood sugar sensor would play a valuable role in prompting formal testing, diagnosis, and treatment. Non-invasive blood sugar detection can be achieved using infrared sensors. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 will likely have the same feature when it is released later this year.

[Assistant] Apple Watch blood sugar sensor 'coming in Series 7'


[User] Studies have shown that open floor office plans decrease face-to-face time and increase the number of email interactions. Employees experience increased stress levels, conflict, blood pressure, and higher turnover rates when working in an open floor office. Companies such as ROOM and ZenBooth have started offering office pods, personal cubicles which are minimal in design, containing a chair, a table, outlets, a skylight, glass doors, and soundproofed walls. Pods can vary in sizes and accommodate individual users or small groups of people. ZenBooth was started due to the founder finding it difficult to work in an office with an open floor plan. Pods can be delivered to an office within 10-15 business days and set up in under an hour while constructing office walls can take more than three months. Some pods are already tested to meet fire regulations, and the costs are less than renting traditional sectioned offices.

[Assistant] The Often-Hated Open Floor Plan Gets a New Savior: The Office Pod


[User] Meta's AI lab has created a new language model similar to GPT-3. The Open Pretrained Transformer will be available to any researcher who wants to study it. It has been audited by Meta to remove some harmful behaviors, but the company believes that researchers should have access to a more complete model as it would be better for science. The move to more transparency in AI research was driven largely by Joelle Pineau, the managing director at Meta AI.

[Assistant] Meta has built a massive new language AI—and it’s giving it away for free


[User] Elon Musk now has a net worth of more than $185 billion, surpassing Jeff Bezos, who is currently worth about $184 billion. Musk's wealth surge was the fastest rise to the top of the rich list in history. Tesla's share price increased more than ninefold in 2020, while Amazon's share price has remained more subdued due to the potential for increased regulation.

[Assistant] Elon Musk is now the richest person in the world, passing Jeff Bezos


[User] Google is testing a feature that allows users to launch game titles directly from Google Search. The feature works with Amazon Luna, Xbox Cloud Gaming, Nvidia GeForce Now, and Google Stadia. It is unknown if or when Google will fully roll out this feature. Screenshots of the feature are available in the article.

[Assistant] Google is letting some people launch cloud games directly from search results


[User] 2,400 WeWork employees will be laid off as the company cuts costs and resizes its business. WeWork is aiming to create a more efficient and focused organization. This layoff represents 19 percent of WeWork's total workforce. Former employees will receive severance, continued benefits, and other forms of assistance. The job cuts have been rumored for some time now. WeWork pulled its IPO filing after investors expressed concerns over the company's mounting losses and unusual corporate governance structure. Adam Neumann, one of WeWork's cofounders, has since stepped down from his role as CEO. WeWork almost ran out of money but secured a bailout from SoftBank, its biggest investor. It continues to bleed cash, with $1.25 billion in reported losses for the third quarter.

[Assistant] WeWork lays off 2,400 employees


[User] Brilliant Planet is a company that has a carbon capture and sequestration model that can scale up to billions of tons per year. The method involves pumping seawater into low-cost coastal desert land and then using the pools of seawater to grow algae. It could potentially capture two billion tons of carbon per year, about 5.5% of humanity's annual global carbon emissions. The company is aiming for a cost of around $50-$100 per ton, which is significantly cheaper than other current options.

[Assistant] Brilliant Planet plans cheap, gigaton-scale carbon capture using algae


[User] The potential for AI tools to significantly help humans on an everyday basis is more tangible than ever. AI could be the foundational platform from which numerous advancements across all industries will be made. This article features a transcript from an interview with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. The interview discusses the current state of AI and what to expect at Greylock's Intelligent Future event, a summit that features experts and entrepreneurs from some of today's leading artificial intelligence organizations.

[Assistant] AI for the Next Era


[User] It is easy to waste time and energy when building your own bootstrap business. In order to avoid hassle, it is best to have customers pay upfront on a monthly subscription for some kind of software as a service. This way, you will have recurring revenue to continue development, locked-in customers, and no customers owing on payments. It's important to set realistic expectations, and use reliable technology. Automate as much as you can and follow the best practices of other businesses - choose a big bank, choose a simple corporate structure, and find a good accountant. When you first start your project, it is best to keep as much control over it as you can. If you take on investors or partners, there will be significantly more pressure to perform and it usually brings on more problems than it solves. Smart marketing is better than just spending on marketing. Don't respond to unsolicited requests until it is time that you need a particular product or service for your business.

[Assistant] 23 rules to run a software startup with minimum hassle


[User] Apple plans to remove apps on its App Store that haven't been recently updated. Developers have 30 days to submit an update for approval. The policy is intended to make it easier for customers to find apps that fit their needs. Apps that are removed from the App Store due to this policy will remain fully functional for users who already have the app installed. Google has also announced similar plans.

[Assistant] Apple will delist App Store apps that haven’t been updated recently


[User] Amazon is very close to making Crystal City, Virginia, an urban neighborhood south of downtown Washington DC, their second headquarters. Things are far enough along that Amazon has had internal discussions about how quickly it can move employees there and Crystal City's top real estate developer has pulled some buildings off of the leasing market. Amazon says it plans to make $5 billion in capital investments in whatever city it chooses for its second headquarters, and while most cities' offers to entice Amazon to come have been secret, we know Maryland has offered an incentive package worth $8.5 billion and Newark has offered an incentive package worth $7 billion. The ultimate decision is likely to rest with Jeff Bezos, but it really looks like Washington, DC is going to be the site of Amazon's HQ2.

[Assistant] Amazon in advanced talks about putting HQ2 in Northern Virginia, those close to process say


[User] SpaceX has successfully fired up Super Heavy, the largest rocket booster in the world. Booster 3 was completed around July 1 and it passed its first cryogenic proof test on July 12. It successfully ignited three Raptor engines on its first go on July 19. This is the first Starship prototype that completed its cryogenic and static fire tests on its first attempt. The success makes it clear that SpaceX's Starship launch vehicle design, production, and operations are rapidly maturing.

[Assistant] SpaceX fires up world’s largest rocket booster on the first try


[User] Amazon Care is rolling out its telehealth service nationwide. It will also expand in-person care to 20 cities. Amazon Care provides virtual care visits, free telehealth consults, and in-home visits for a fee. The virtual care market is becoming increasingly crowded as insurers are also trying to enter the market. Amazon has already signed up several employers to the service.

[Assistant] Amazon rolls out its telehealth service nationwide


[User] Google has officially released details on its Stadia game service. Stadia will be released in November in 14 different territories, including the US, UK, and Canada. At least 31 games from 21 publishers will be launched with the service. A $130 ‘Founder’s Edition’ hardware kit will launch with Stadia, which includes a Chromecast Ultra and a limited-edition dark blue version of the Stadia controller. The subscription service will be $10 a month after a 3 month included subscription with the Founder’s Edition kit. A free tier will be launching in 2020. Google eventually intends to have a backlog of free games that comes with the subscription service, but Stadia is not primarily a subscription service for games. Customers will still have to purchase games to play on the platform. A list of the countries Stadia will be launched in and the games that will be available at launch is available in the article.

[Assistant] Google’s Stadia Game Service is Officially Coming November: Everything You Need to Know


[User] Apple and Google are creating a technology to alert people if they have come into contact with someone diagnosed with the coronavirus. Initially, the companies will help third-party contact-tracing apps run efficiently, but they will eventually do away with the need to download dedicated apps. The companies' approach will keep users anonymous, addressing privacy concerns. It will use Bluetooth signals to determine if a person was in close contact for long enough to have potentially transmitted the virus. If a person is later diagnosed with COVID-19, a warning will be sent to those affected.

[Assistant] Coronavirus: Apple and Google team up to contact trace Covid-19


[User] 70 companies and over 3,300 employees in the UK are part of a pilot program to trial four-day work arrangements for the next six months. The initiative will investigate how the four-day week impacts workers in terms of stress, burnout, job and life satisfaction, health, sleep, energy use, travel, and many other aspects of life. Pilot tests are also being conducted in Australia and New Zealand, and an upcoming trial is expected to start in the US and Canada in October. Other four-day week trials have shown massive increases in engagement and staff satisfaction without any drops in productivity.

[Assistant] Huge 4-Day Work Week Experiment Begins in The UK: The Largest Ever Conducted


[User] Enterprise-grade performance and scalability. With built-in K/V, SQL, & full-text search. Flexible JSON docs align to your code. Build faster with in-memory performance & automatic replication & scaling. Try free today. No credit card required.

[Assistant] Couchbase Capella DBaaS: Store in JSON, access with SQL


[User] A security researcher has publicly disclosed a new zero-day exploit that gives admin privileges in Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server 2022. The researcher released the exploit publicly out of frustration over Microsoft's decreasing payouts in their bug bounty program. The payout for a zero-day exploit has dropped from $10,000 to $1,000. Microsoft will likely fix the vulnerability in a future Patch Tuesday update.

[Assistant] New Windows zero-day with public exploit lets you become an admin


[User] Flutter is a cross-platform platform that compiles apps that take full advantage of hardware graphics into machine code. Windows support is now available. The Windows version can work with Windows modalities for internationalization and communicate with the Win32, COM, and Windows Runtime APIs. Several common plugins have been adapted to include Windows support, and community packages that add support for various Windows features are available. More details about Flutter Windows support, along with screenshots of Windows apps built with Flutter, are available in the article.

[Assistant] Announcing Flutter for Windows


[User] Over the past two years, workers have shifted from living in traditional technology capitals like San Francisco, Seattle, or New York to other regions in the US, such as Miami. This article analyzes geographic shifts based on Stack Overflow traffic throughout the pandemic to see which regions people are moving to and which are losing their prominence. The tech industry is seeing a gradual evening out in geographic diversity. It is too soon to see if the trend is permanent.

[Assistant] The Great Decentralization? Geographic shifts and where tech talent is moving next


[User] It has been rumored for months that Apple is planning to release VR and AR glasses. Some clues point to a 2022 release. NextVR allows users to watch events through VR glasses. Apple has acquired NextVR for $100 million. NextVR employees will have to move after the purchase is completed.

[Assistant] Apple to Buy NextVR from Best Virtual Reality Platforms


[User] Tesla's Full Self Driving package is now available for $199 a month, except for Tesla owners who purchased the Enhanced Autopilot package, who can get it for $99 a month. The package can be canceled at any time. Tesla owners who don't have the required hardware for the package can upgrade their vehicles for $1,500 to make them FSD-ready. The FSD software still requires active driver supervision.

[Assistant] Tesla Full Self Driving subscriptions are now available for $199 a month