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Comment by rcarr | Hacker News Reader

Will be downvoted to oblivion, but I can't imagine what it's like having the brains, skills and resources this guy clearly has and then deciding to spend my time making usb-c airpods that are going to be released at some point within the next 22 months anyway. Plus the hours spent making an accompanying YouTube video. Seems like a colossal waste of time.

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Some people do things because "why not?" We tend to call this "having a hobby". And if you can monetize it in some way (post on Youtube and get the revenue from that), again, "why not?" It's weird to knock someone for enjoying doing something they've done and sharing it with the world.

It's not that I'm knocking him per say, it's just that he looks so immensely talented I feel with his skill set he could be making videos like "here's an open source hearing aid I made that only costs $10" that could be having a massive positive impact on the world rather than tutorials on how to swap out the usb port on expensive headphones that you'll be able to buy off the shelf next year anyway.

His skills may be more niche and nuanced than you may make it seem

Well I guess we better all tell you what we are working on in our free time so you can reassign us if there is something you think has higher social utility.

you should watch eli the computer guy.

For things like that, you really need to have a passion for working on it, and develop a fairly specific skillset, not only in the technology realm, but in the medical realm. Hearing aids aren't just stupid expensive earbuds.

This is the thing he's working on now. He's working on other things. He has hobbies and he has a job. He's going to do what he enjoys doing. Who cares if it's not useful to you or me.

There are other people working on those problems.

As a diabetic, I've been fascinated to watch the progress of things like AAPS, Loop, OpenInsulin, etc. But I'm not going to demand everyone working on "useless" things to jump on the thing that I will specifically benefit from.

It's the journey, not the destination. And some people do things solely to make YouTube videos showing off their skills, it's how you build an audience.

There is a business where you take picture, glue it to cardboard, cut it into pieces and then sell it to people who try to put it back together. Sometimes a puzzle is fun, and that’s all you need.

The youtube video alone will probably make him an easy 5 figures just in ad revenue over the next few years. Plus it helps build up his channel overall, which will get him exposure for his other videos (and more $$$ from ads and sponsors). Well worth the hours he put into it.

I thought you were exaggerating — "... an easy 5 figures..." — until I visited his YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@ExploringTheSimulation/videos and saw that his previous video, posted 6 months ago, has 2 million views.

Did you not see the article on here about a guy making a GUI to scroll through assembly instructions on a GameBoy? Writing assembly on the GameBoy, without a keyboard

Sometimes companies don't make changes until after hobbyists take matters into their own hands and make custom mods. Apple didn't consider many of the mods/software until people start jailbreaking their phones. The fact that this guy has the skills to fabricate his own cases, circuits, etc is massive. Any mods he'd desire to make would still require him to reverse engineer what Apple created so it's not time lost at all.

Its a catch 22. You get good at these things by basically doing them for free on your own time. It's like the best programmers will program just for the sake of it. The depth of skills comes from uninhibited exploration.

Everyone knows what AirPods are. They know they are magic. And here's this amazing wizard guy who can do the Apple magic better/faster/different. That's a huge audience there.

How do you think this person acquired these brains/skills?

No point complaining about downvotes. You might as well complain about carpet shocks. But honestly, what are the odds that someone with your attitude will fit in on a site called "Hacker News?"

Aren't you in danger of wasting your own time here, when you could be connecting with like-minded users on other venues?

It makes a lot of sense if you assume his main goal is the YouTube channel. Common device, common problem => thumbnail and title alone have a good chance of driving clicks. Anything even remotely close to "advanced" will require a lot of specialist knowledge that would limit the reach of the video.

So everyone who wants the new port should be forced to buy a new case? Have we really gotten to the point where we ridicule people for not participating in throw away culture?

People should have the tools to update and maintain their stuff. This is an awesome project that could help minimize e-waste for years to come.

That's like saying a doctor should never go on vacation because it is wasting their time not saving lives.

It's not though is it. It's like saying a doctor shouldn't spend their work hours looking after a 20 year old and otherwise healthy patient with the common cold.

Always good to have control group in that case, even. Not a very apt analogy.

It is more like saying a veterinary surgeon shouldn't spend their time installing antlers on juvenile deer.

I mean, if you insist on a medical equivalent.

This may be how this person chooses to keep their skills sharp. I program. I program mostly at work, but also choose to do side projects to keep certain skills sharp that I may not be using at work.

Criticizing someone hacking hardware for fun on Hacker News... bold move!

That is the essence of being a hacker.

Time enjoyed is never time wasted.

lol, plus the case has qi.

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