Passport Photos
The linked article is about a project by Max Siedentopf called "Passport Photos", where he creates unique and humorous passport-style photos for people. The article showcases various examples of these playful and unconventional passport photos, featuring subjects in unusual poses, settings, or with creative props. The project aims to challenge the traditional, formal approach to passport photography and encourage people to embrace their individuality and creativity in this context.
Private Cloud Compute Security Guide
The linked article is about Apple's Private Cloud Compute, a security-focused cloud computing service designed to provide customers with a secure and private infrastructure for their cloud-based workloads. The article outlines the key features and benefits of the service, including end-to-end encryption, compliance with industry standards, and the ability to maintain full control over data and infrastructure. The article also provides technical details about the service's architecture and deployment options, making it a valuable resource for organizations interested in leveraging a secure cloud computing solution.
131M American Buildings
The linked article is about an innovative project by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to develop affordable, high-performance prefabricated emergency shelters. The shelters are designed to be rapidly deployed in the aftermath of natural disasters, providing durable and energy-efficient housing options for displaced individuals. The article highlights the key features of these shelters, including their thermal efficiency, modular design, and potential for rapid deployment, showcasing how this collaboration between ORNL and FEMA aims to improve disaster response and long-term resilience.
Trudeau government bans TikTok from operating in Canada
The linked article is about the Canadian government's decision to review the use of TikTok on government devices and networks. The review is prompted by security concerns raised by national security agencies, who are concerned about the potential for data collection and influence by the Chinese-owned platform. The government is considering a ban on the app, following similar moves by the European Union, the United States, and other countries.
Show HN: Hacker News frontpage as a print newspaper that you can personalize
The linked article is about the latest cybersecurity news and updates. It covers a range of topics, including data breaches, hacking incidents, security vulnerabilities, and emerging cybersecurity trends. The website provides in-depth analysis and expert commentary on the most significant cybersecurity developments, helping readers stay informed about the evolving digital threat landscape and the measures needed to protect against cyber attacks.
Guy gives a negative review to Battlezone after playing 8k hours; He's right
Launch HN: Midship (YC S24) – Turn PDFs, docs, and images into usable data
Hey HN, we are Max, Kieran, and Aahel from Midship (https://midship.ai). Midship makes it easy to extract data from unstructured documents like pdfs and images.
Here’s a video showing it in action: https://www.loom.com/share/ae43b6abfcc24e5b82c87104339f2625?..., and a demo playground (no signup required!) to test it out: https://app.midship.ai/demo
We started 5 months ago initially trying to make an AI natural language workflow builder that would be a simpler alternative to Zapier or Make.com. However, most of our users seemed to be much more interested in the basic (and not very good) document extraction feature we had. Seeing how people were spending hours a day manually extracting data from pdfs inspired us to build what has become Midship!
The problem is that despite all our progress in software, huge amounts of business data still lives in PDFs and images. Sure, you can OCR them, but getting clean, structured data out is still painful. Most existing tools just give you a blob of markdown - leaving you to figure out which parts matter and how they relate.
We've found that combining OCR with language models lets us do something more useful: extract specific fields and tables that users actually care about. The LLMs help correct OCR mistakes and understand context (like knowing that "Inv#" and "Invoice Number" mean the same thing).
We have two main kinds of users today, non-technical users that extract data via our web app and developers who use our extraction api. We were initially focused on the first one as they seemed like an underserved part of the market, but we’ve received a lot of interest from developers who face the same issues.
For pricing, we currently charge a monthly Saas fee per seat for the web app and a volume based pricing for the API.
We’re really excited to share what we’ve built so far and look forward to any feedback from the community!
Show HN: SuperSplat – open-source 3D Gaussian Splat Editor
The linked article is about a 3D model of a toy cat, hosted on the PlayCanvas platform. The article provides a link to the 3D model, which can be viewed and explored in the PlayCanvas editor. The model appears to be a detailed representation of a small, whimsical cat figurine, suitable for use in various 3D projects or game development.
New images of Jupiter
The linked article is about the processing of images captured by the JunoCam camera on the Juno spacecraft during its Perijove 66 flyby of Jupiter. The article provides access to the raw images captured during this flyby, allowing users to explore and process the data further. The article covers the time period from October 1, 2024, to November 1, 2024, and allows users to filter the images by the Perijove 66 phase.
Useful built-in macOS command-line utilities
The linked article is about a collection of useful macOS command-line utilities. It covers various tools such as `trash`, `osx-cpu-temp`, `battery-life`, `meminfo`, and `pngpaste`, among others. These utilities can help users perform various tasks more efficiently, such as managing files, monitoring system performance, and interacting with the clipboard. The article provides brief descriptions of each tool and explains how they can be installed and used.
Physicists spot quantum tornadoes twirling in a 'supersolid'
The linked article is about the discovery of quantum tornadoes, or quantized vortices, in a supersolid state of matter. Supersolids exhibit properties of both a solid and a superfluid, and the researchers have observed these vortices swirling within the supersolid. This discovery provides insights into the complex quantum phenomena occurring in this unique state of matter, which could have implications for understanding the fundamental physics of superfluidity and superconductivity.
The decline of the working musician
The linked article is about the book "Band People" by Franz Nicolay, which examines the lives and experiences of musicians who are not the lead singers or headliners of their bands. It explores the challenges, sacrifices, and joys of being a supporting member of a musical group, and how these individuals navigate the industry and their own artistic aspirations. The review provides insight into the book's themes and Nicolay's approach to capturing the diverse narratives of these "band people" who often operate in the shadows of more prominent band members.
Exposure to phthalate compromises brain function in adult vertebrates
The linked article is about a study that examined the impact of microplastics on the growth and reproduction of the freshwater snail Physa acuta. The researchers found that exposure to microplastics significantly reduced the growth and reproduction of the snails, with higher concentrations causing more severe effects. The study highlights the potential for microplastics to have negative impacts on freshwater ecosystems and the importance of addressing the problem of plastic pollution.
Sin taxes are suffering from a shortage of sinners
Title drops in movies
The linked article is about a website called TitleDrops.net, which is a database of famous book, movie, and TV show titles that have been referenced in other works. The website allows users to search for titles and see where they have been mentioned, providing examples and context. The goal of the site is to help people discover new books, movies, and shows by tracking literary and cultural references.
Forget CDK and AWS's insane costs. Pulumi and DigitalOcean to the rescue
The linked article is about the Stoix Cloud Saver, a web-based tool that allows users to save and organize their GitHub repositories and projects. The tool provides a user-friendly interface to easily manage and back up your GitHub data, ensuring that your valuable code is securely stored and accessible from any device.
Caring for yourself while caring for others
The linked article is about the importance of self-care for caregivers. It highlights the challenges that caregivers often face, such as burnout, stress, and emotional exhaustion, and emphasizes the need for them to prioritize their own well-being. The article provides practical tips, including setting boundaries, taking breaks, and seeking support, to help caregivers maintain their physical and mental health while caring for others.
Monorepo – Our Experience
The linked article is about the author's experience with using a monorepo approach in their software development workflow. The article discusses the benefits of a monorepo, such as improved code sharing, simplified dependency management, and better cross-project coordination. It also touches on the challenges they faced, including the complexity of managing a large codebase and the need for robust tooling and processes. The article provides a balanced perspective on the pros and cons of the monorepo approach and offers insights for others considering adopting a similar approach in their own projects.
Model Predictive Control in the Browser with WebAssembly
The linked article is about the implementation of a Model Predictive Control (MPC) algorithm to solve the cart-pole balancing problem, a classic control system challenge. The article walks through the mathematical formulation of the problem, the design of the MPC controller, and the simulation results demonstrating the effectiveness of the approach. The author provides a detailed explanation of the optimization problem and the constraints involved, as well as the choice of a quadratic cost function to stabilize the system.
Hacking cars in JavaScript (Replay attacks in the browser with the HackRF)
Visualizing binary files with ImHex's DSL, the "pattern language"
98.css – A design system for building faithful recreations of old UIs
The linked article is about a CSS framework called "98.css" that is designed to recreate the aesthetic and functionality of Windows 98 user interfaces. The framework provides a range of pre-built components, such as buttons, menus, and windows, that developers can use to build web applications with a retro Windows 98 look and feel. The article showcases the framework's features, provides installation instructions, and includes examples of how to use the various components.
Trump wins presidency for second time
The linked article is about former US President Donald Trump's win in the 2016 presidential election. It discusses the surprise victory, as Trump was considered an outsider candidate, and the reactions from both his supporters and critics. The article also touches on the implications of his win for the Republican party and the future of US politics.
Kernel optimization with BOLT (binary optimization and layout tool)
The linked article is about the recent release of the Linux kernel version 6.3, which introduces several notable improvements and new features. The article highlights the inclusion of support for the upcoming Ryzen 8000 series CPUs, improvements to the kernel's memory management system, and enhancements to the networking stack, among other changes. The article also discusses the ongoing development efforts and the impact of these updates on the broader Linux ecosystem.
Ollama 0.4 is released with support for Meta's Llama 3.2 Vision models locally
The linked article is about the latest version of the LLaMA language model, version 3.2, which includes a new vision component. The article discusses the improvements in the model's ability to understand and generate visual content, including the ability to generate images from text prompts. It also highlights the model's potential applications in various fields, such as visual content creation, image recognition, and multimodal AI systems.
Show HN: Term-Lisp – A Lisp, based on pattern matching and term rewriting
The linked article is about Termlisp, a Lisp-based programming language designed to be used in terminal-based environments. Termlisp aims to provide a powerful and flexible scripting language that can be easily integrated into command-line workflows. The article discusses the key features of Termlisp, such as its syntax, data structures, and built-in functions, as well as its potential use cases and future development plans.
Learning not to trust the All-In podcast
The linked article is about the importance of not fully trusting the "all-in" mentality when investing. It discusses the risks associated with going all-in on a single investment or strategy, highlighting the need for diversification and prudent risk management. The article emphasizes the value of maintaining a balanced approach, being cautious of hype and emotion-driven decision-making, and recognizing that successful investing often requires patience, discipline, and a willingness to adapt to changing market conditions.
Switch 2 will be backwards compatible with Switch
The linked article is about Nintendo's confirmation that the successor to the Nintendo Switch will be backward compatible with the current Switch console. This means that players will be able to use their existing Switch games and accessories with the new console. The article also mentions that Nintendo is committed to continuing the Switch's success and supporting the platform, indicating that the company is focused on providing a seamless transition for its customers.
Only 5.3% of US welders are women. After years as a professor, I became one
The linked article is about the gender imbalance in the welding profession, with only 5.3% of welders in the US being women. The author, a former writing professor, shares her personal journey of becoming a welder and the insights she gained from this experience. The article highlights the challenges faced by women in this male-dominated field and the importance of breaking down stereotypes and encouraging more women to pursue careers in welding.
WebSockets cost us $1M on our AWS bill
The linked article is about how the use of WebSockets in a company's infrastructure led to unexpected and significant AWS costs. The article discusses the technical details of how WebSockets can generate high data transfer charges, especially when used in a serverless architecture. It also shares the lessons the company learned, such as the importance of monitoring usage and costs, as well as the need to carefully design and optimize WebSocket-based systems to avoid such financial pitfalls.