April 06, 2021
Daily Tech News 6 April 2021
— Pixy Misa Cross-posted from my own blog, Ambient Irony, mostly to give the team here some examples of embedding videos and Tweets and such.
If you use Sailor Moon's trademark phrase In the name of the Moon, I will punish you - or any variation thereof - you will get banned. No appeal.
Note that our hosting provider is posting updates to Facebook and not to their own site, and you can't read Facebook without an account.
Disclaimer: <chorus>Because fuck you, that's why.</chorus>
— Pixy Misa Cross-posted from my own blog, Ambient Irony, mostly to give the team here some examples of embedding videos and Tweets and such.
Top Story
- Oracle has lost its copyright suit against Google over the latter's use of the Java API. (ZDNet)
This was a hugely important case; a win here for Oracle would have destroyed the US software industry, which has its problems but doesn't deserve to be wiped out.
Interesting to note that the 6-2 split had Thomas and Alito dissenting. I'll need to read their opinion because they are not idiots.
The full decision is here.
The decision doesn't sound particularly decisive according to commenters at Hacker News.
The fact that the Supreme Court decided not to overturn the decision of the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit that APIs are copyrightable means that binding precedent on every court except the Supreme is that they are. And for fair use, one of the statutory factors is the "effect" of the copying on the "market for or value of the copyrighted work."
That is, they handed the case to Google, but set no precedent for the lower courts. In short, they punted.
Not unfamiliar behaviour for SCOTUS watchers.
Tech News
- Microsoft Edge has grown its userbase by 1300% in the past year to become the second most popular browser. (Bleeping Computer)
Get wrecked, Mozilla. You pissed in your boat and tried to eat it too.
- The Erdős-Faber-Lovász conjecture has been settled after 50 years. (Quanta)
It's true. Which they don't mention until the sixth paragraph, because it's all about the clicks baby.
Pikamee offers her expert opinion.
- The new Razer Book 13 lacks the Four Essential Keys. (Thurrott.com)
It's not just me. Paul Thurrott specifically highlights this deficiency in an otherwise positive review.
- It was DNS. (ZDNet)
When a traditional datacenter goes offline, it's power.
When a cloud datacenter goes offline, it's DNS.
In this case it was Azure, and it was self-inflicted.
- Colorado has denied its people the right to repair devices they own. (Motherboard)
Stuck with a broken wheelchair and can't get an approved tech out to repair it for two months even though you have the parts and tools to do it yourself? You can sit at home and rot, says the Colorado state legislature.
- It's a bubble. (CNN)
No shit, Sherlock. There are real uses for NFTs, but none that are worth $69 million.
- Meanwhile the combined market cap of cryptocurrencies has passed $2 trillion. (Tom's Hardware)
That's not entirely a bubble; it's largely fueled by governments trying to shut them down. If it were still legal and easy to launch your own cryptocurrencies they wouldn't be nearly as valuable.
- Yahoo Answers is shutting down. (Motherboard)
We'll have to find new idiots to make fun of.
- Amazon acted illegally in firing commies, says the NLRB. (New York Times)
One would need a heart of stone not to gigglesnort.
- Lenovo is vendor-locking the Threadripper Pro parts used in their workstations. (Serve the Home)
This is sucky behaviour, but Lenovo did arrange to be the exclusive launch partner for Threadripper Pro, so maybe there was some reason behind it apart from just being annoying.
- The Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus can hit 6.6GBps on sequential writes, 7.1GBps on reads, and up to 700k IOPs. (Tom's Hardware)
Those used to be seriously high-end enterprise numbers, now they're available for $200 per terabyte.
- You can upgrade the RAM and storage in your Mac Mini M1. (Tom's Hardware)
All you need is a reflow station and a very steady hand, because it's all soldered-on surface-mount parts.
- The Asus ROG Strix does have the Four Essential Keys. (Tom's Hardware)
Also an eight-core Ryzen 5900HX and Radeon 6800M graphics with 12GB of GDDR6.
- Want a Core i9-11900K? Try $1100 on Amazon. (WCCFTech)
That's a high price for a CPU that reviewers have described thus:
Lower-end parts still seem to be selling at their recommended prices, but that might change.
- It's not just high-end brand name chips that are in short supply. (Bloomberg)
Display drivers, the chips found in everything with a display, are also hard to get.
And there are very few electronic devices these days that do not include a display. At least my washing machine only has a basic segmented LCD. I think it's an LCD.
- Kallithea is an open source alternative to GitHub. (Kallithea)
So is GitLab, more or less. But all of Kallithea is open source, and only parts of GitLab.
- I'm fine with this.
Facebook Stans Sailor V Video of the Day
If you use Sailor Moon's trademark phrase In the name of the Moon, I will punish you - or any variation thereof - you will get banned. No appeal.
Note that our hosting provider is posting updates to Facebook and not to their own site, and you can't read Facebook without an account.
Disclaimer: <chorus>Because fuck you, that's why.</chorus>
Posted by: Pixy Misa at
09:29 AM
| Comments (44)
Post contains 819 words, total size 9 kb.
2
Well, this isn't the mid morning art thread.
Posted by: dantesed at April 06, 2021 09:36 AM (88xKn)
6
John Deere - as is mentioned in the article - is absolutely legendary (or is the correct word perhaps "infamous?") in this respect.
Colorado’s proposed right-to-repair law was simple and clear. At 11 pages, the legislation spent most of its word count defining terms, but the gist was simple: It would let people fix their own stuff without needing to resort to the manufacturer and force said manufacturer to support people who want to fix stuff.It's rent-seeking and nothing but rent-seeking and everyone knows it. Those who defeated this hid behind an excuse of safety ("what if you do it wrong and hurt yourself?!?!?!"), but that is bullshit. It's about the manufacturer retaining rights over *hardware* that you buy.
John Deere - as is mentioned in the article - is absolutely legendary (or is the correct word perhaps "infamous?") in this respect.
Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at April 06, 2021 09:38 AM (Jsjd7)
8
I don't know, but I'm sort of pining for the old blog format.
I'm reminded of the phrase: With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility!
I'm reminded of the phrase: With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility!
Posted by: Thomas Bender at April 06, 2021 09:39 AM (FVrDO)
9
Pixy - are you giving us all these examples because this is going to be the permanent layout of the blog? Are we going back to how it was before, or are we going this way forward? Thanks!
Posted by: grammie winger at April 06, 2021 09:40 AM (45fpk)
11
@9
I think the blog now exists in some sort of dystopian Jacob's Ladder world, and in two weeks we will be plunged back into the old blog and find out we all died in Nam.
I think the blog now exists in some sort of dystopian Jacob's Ladder world, and in two weeks we will be plunged back into the old blog and find out we all died in Nam.
Posted by: Thomas Bender at April 06, 2021 09:42 AM (FVrDO)
12
#9 Grammie winger
We can adjust the format to look more like the old site, but we may stay with the new software. I'll leave that decision up to Ace.
We can adjust the format to look more like the old site, but we may stay with the new software. I'll leave that decision up to Ace.
Posted by: Pixy Misa at April 06, 2021 09:42 AM (PiXy!)
14
Allowing user embeds is bad mojo.
Posted by: G'rump928(c) notes that everyday is now Saturday, except Sunday at April 06, 2021 09:43 AM (yQpMk)
15
Pixy, you are aware of the Ghost Comments issue, yes?
Posted by: G'rump928(c) notes that everyday is now Saturday, except Sunday at April 06, 2021 09:45 AM (yQpMk)
16
There were some very nice bits in this posting. Thank you.
Posted by: French Jeton at April 06, 2021 09:45 AM (85zsD)
17
Thanks Pixy for all your hard work. I do think the old style of gray boxes made it easier to read and follow along. I hope that's a possibility for the new layout. Either way, I appreciate what you're doing for us.
Posted by: grammie winger at April 06, 2021 09:49 AM (45fpk)
18
#15 Yes, I've seen a ghost comment myself, and will track it down and fix it.
I'm running on little sleep right now because we have servers in the same datacenter for my day job and half our stuff went offline there as well, so it might not get fixed until tomorrow (my time) or later today (your time).
I'm running on little sleep right now because we have servers in the same datacenter for my day job and half our stuff went offline there as well, so it might not get fixed until tomorrow (my time) or later today (your time).
Posted by: Pixy Misa at April 06, 2021 09:50 AM (PiXy!)
19
I really dig the new site, actually. Great job!
Posted by: Handshakes at April 06, 2021 09:51 AM (DFp95)
20
This is the tech post I've been waiting for. Well done, Pixy. More please.
Posted by: mrp at April 06, 2021 09:56 AM (Pqytn)
21
#20 mrp
Thanks! There's a couple of years worth at my site if you're interested. If Ace is okay with it I'm happy to continue cross-posting these.
Thanks! There's a couple of years worth at my site if you're interested. If Ace is okay with it I'm happy to continue cross-posting these.
Posted by: Pixy Misa at April 06, 2021 10:00 AM (PiXy!)
23
I have no idea what any of the relevant computer lingo even means. I can barely turn the thing on but it's clear to me that there are a shtload of geeks on this site who would love to geek out about computer stuff
Have at it. I can't imagine that Ace would mind at all.
Have at it. I can't imagine that Ace would mind at all.
Posted by: weirdflunky at April 06, 2021 10:05 AM (YlPX8)
24
#22 dantesed
Because (1) it needed a name that wasn't already taken and (2) one of my regular points is that the five fundamental forces are gravity, electromagnetic, weak, strong, and irony.
#23 weirdfliunky
What I'll probably do is drop it into the drafts and let the regular cobs schedule it so I don't stomp on anyone else's threads.
Because (1) it needed a name that wasn't already taken and (2) one of my regular points is that the five fundamental forces are gravity, electromagnetic, weak, strong, and irony.
#23 weirdfliunky
What I'll probably do is drop it into the drafts and let the regular cobs schedule it so I don't stomp on anyone else's threads.
Posted by: Pixy Misa at April 06, 2021 10:12 AM (PiXy!)
25
So I'm only partway through the dissent. But so far, I find myself agreeing with it more then the Opinion.
While I work in IT I don't write code for my job (except some really barebones scripting very occasionally) but the implications aren't over my head. When you have examples of other companies putting in the work to build their own branches of the Java environment simply so they wouldn't have to get a license for the methoods, and Google saying 'nah man, we'll just take someone elses's work'....
And Computer code being called out specifically in copyright - weather the law is good, or not is perhaps questionable, but the law itself is pretty clear.
I think I would have found with Thomas, and have required Google to pay the back costs of the license they would have needed to have to operate their software as they did.
I'd probably also not allow Oracle to be overly punitive about it. I don't want to destroy the modern software industry, but I do want to make sure the law is applied properly.
Finding what Google did as Fair Use is probably a bad decision. Its probably not surprising that's the decision they went with, as it lets the can be kicked down the road - but I can see some of the possible knock on effects (negative and positive) down the road are going to be interesting with this one.
While I work in IT I don't write code for my job (except some really barebones scripting very occasionally) but the implications aren't over my head. When you have examples of other companies putting in the work to build their own branches of the Java environment simply so they wouldn't have to get a license for the methoods, and Google saying 'nah man, we'll just take someone elses's work'....
And Computer code being called out specifically in copyright - weather the law is good, or not is perhaps questionable, but the law itself is pretty clear.
I think I would have found with Thomas, and have required Google to pay the back costs of the license they would have needed to have to operate their software as they did.
I'd probably also not allow Oracle to be overly punitive about it. I don't want to destroy the modern software industry, but I do want to make sure the law is applied properly.
Finding what Google did as Fair Use is probably a bad decision. Its probably not surprising that's the decision they went with, as it lets the can be kicked down the road - but I can see some of the possible knock on effects (negative and positive) down the road are going to be interesting with this one.
Posted by: FrozenTech at April 06, 2021 10:17 AM (Fd4mT)
26
1. Thanks for the tech news. I've been reading them over at Ambient Irony for the past year or so, but it's nice to read it here. Especially because a lot of the sites I used to rely on for tech news are basicallySilicon Valley Bourgeoisieshevik Masturbation Sessions these days.
2. The new site looks nice.
3. I want to start blogging by myself again, and I have two mee.nu sites I could do it with. I can only remember one password, though. Chromium seems to sometimes remember passwords and sometimes _not_ in an unpredictable fashion. It drives me crazy.
"If it were still legal and easy to launch your own cryptocurrencies they wouldn't be nearly as valuable."
Also, it would help if they'd stop trying to destroy the real economy with such vigilance. I'm tired of reading the diatribes against cryptocurrencies from all the people who drove manufacturing in the US to China with whips and fire... they're all tapping away on their iphones made in a country that added a Texas Power Grid-sized amount of coal generation last year.
2. The new site looks nice.
3. I want to start blogging by myself again, and I have two mee.nu sites I could do it with. I can only remember one password, though. Chromium seems to sometimes remember passwords and sometimes _not_ in an unpredictable fashion. It drives me crazy.
"If it were still legal and easy to launch your own cryptocurrencies they wouldn't be nearly as valuable."
Also, it would help if they'd stop trying to destroy the real economy with such vigilance. I'm tired of reading the diatribes against cryptocurrencies from all the people who drove manufacturing in the US to China with whips and fire... they're all tapping away on their iphones made in a country that added a Texas Power Grid-sized amount of coal generation last year.
Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain at April 06, 2021 10:21 AM (Clxcy)
27
And I look at that comment and suddenly I want to edit it to insert carriage returns. Oh well, can't have everything. That feature would need another password that I'd forget and chromium wouldn't remember.
Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain at April 06, 2021 10:23 AM (Clxcy)
28
Same here for my comment right above it.
Posted by: FrozenTech at April 06, 2021 10:26 AM (Fd4mT)
29
I'll get that line break issue fixed soon. It's a pain; it used to work just as you'd expect and then it got broken in different ways by all of the major browsers.
Posted by: Pixy Misa at April 06, 2021 10:26 AM (PiXy!)
30
Pixy, any chance on disabling images and gifs in the comments?
Posted by: Buzzion at April 06, 2021 10:31 AM (G2zl5)
31
Pixy Misa,
You probably missed my (and others') comments yesterday in the middle of the switch over, but I wanted to say that as much as we may bitch 'n moan, we really do appreciate all the work you put into this place.
Posted by: Oddbob at April 06, 2021 10:32 AM (qc+VF)
32
...And I just realized I was using an email address that didn't exist. Name from one and domain name from another provider. Sort of corrected now.
Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain at April 06, 2021 10:41 AM (Clxcy)
33
Or maybe corrected now. Drain Brammage!
Anyway, thanks for everything, btw.
Anyway, thanks for everything, btw.
Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain at April 06, 2021 10:41 AM (Clxcy)
34
Pixy, thanks for the efoorts you and your team have been busy making.
I would love a switch to turn off display of images, gifs and videos. Sure, people may want to post those but I find them intensely annoying, so much so that I am already cutting back on my blog views (as some folks just cannot stop themselves).
How can I do this?
I would love a switch to turn off display of images, gifs and videos. Sure, people may want to post those but I find them intensely annoying, so much so that I am already cutting back on my blog views (as some folks just cannot stop themselves).
How can I do this?
Posted by: Huck Follywood at April 06, 2021 10:46 AM (WLsV/)
35
34 I would love a switch to turn off display of images, gifs and videos
Posted by: Huck Follywood at April 06, 2021 09:46 AM (WLsV/)
I would like that.
Posted by: Huck Follywood at April 06, 2021 09:46 AM (WLsV/)
I would like that.
Posted by: m at April 06, 2021 10:49 AM (6dJKT)
36
How can I do this?
Posted by: Huck Follywood at April 06, 2021 09:46 AM (
Shoot the sht poster?
Just a suggestion
Shoot the sht poster?
Just a suggestion
Posted by: weirdflunky at April 06, 2021 10:50 AM (YlPX8)
37
I mean, not to defend Justice Roberts but I wonder if this isn't his version of trying to rein in the Supreme Court which has been wildly out of control for decades: make their decisions less profound and wide-reaching.
Posted by: Christopher Taylor at April 06, 2021 10:55 AM (KZzsI)
39
We don't have such a switch right now, but I can do that with CSS, a snippet of JavaScript, and a cookie. I've done something similar for another site.
So the comments page can have a hide/show images button that (a) only affects images in the comments, and (b) remembers your preferences automatically.
So the comments page can have a hide/show images button that (a) only affects images in the comments, and (b) remembers your preferences automatically.
Posted by: Pixy Misa at April 06, 2021 10:56 AM (PiXy!)
40
I could get on board with Pixy’s daily tech news.
Posted by: Cashin at April 06, 2021 11:02 AM (jNPJW)
41
Hope Pixy's tech threads continue. Was wondering about that API case and the noise was about. Thanks!
Posted by: runner at April 06, 2021 11:04 AM (/UMsK)
42
I guess it's a good thing I never watched Sailor moon.
Yow.
Posted by: Erebus- Ex-Killer Whale at April 06, 2021 11:13 AM (X8XYH)
43
You just brought a ray of sunshine into my day! Thanks for taking on the extra work.
We don't have such a switch right now, but I can do that with CSS, a snippet of JavaScript, and a cookie. I've done something similar for another site.
You just brought a ray of sunshine into my day! Thanks for taking on the extra work.
Posted by: Huck Follywood at April 06, 2021 11:51 AM (WLsV/)
44
Many thanks to Pixy! I recall IM'ing you at Ars, right before the Nazi's there banned me for not agreeing with the far left fascism they preach there.
I do hope the blog archives here are recoverable. Are you going to find another datacenter that doesn't store its generators next to the servers?
If you need to fly to Utah to have it out with them, I think I can loan you a tire iron to help make your arguments a bit more... persuasively.
And I hope you keep up with the tech thread as well... there is very precious little tech news from a conservative point of view out there.
I do hope the blog archives here are recoverable. Are you going to find another datacenter that doesn't store its generators next to the servers?
If you need to fly to Utah to have it out with them, I think I can loan you a tire iron to help make your arguments a bit more... persuasively.
And I hope you keep up with the tech thread as well... there is very precious little tech news from a conservative point of view out there.
Posted by: Vance at April 06, 2021 11:53 AM (DN0pc)
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How about this...
Posted by: Thomas Bender at April 06, 2021 09:35 AM (FVrDO)