Hacker News Reader

_xerxes_on Uber lays off 3700 employees via Zoom

That is one horrible website, I can't believe that garbage was posted on HN.

_xerxes_on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS’ snap obsession has snapped me off of it

My issue is that they still have not sorted out suspend and resume. Half the time when I reopen my laptop lid my keyboard no longer works. Had the same issue on 18.04.

_xerxes_on Show HN: A tool for your learning, like Anki and WorkFlowy in one

This is why I love HN. I get to see wonderful new ideas and great tools being developed and also feel a sense of community when the creators that enable the creators also get involved!

I know this is a low quality/value comment to the overall discussion, but I could not help myself!

_xerxes_on [dead]

https://outline.com/4RqSLw

Free version

_xerxes_on Report on the characteristics of Covid-19 positive deceased patients in Italy [pdf]

I think their holy grail would be to become part of our genome like many others have:

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/04/science/ancient-viruses-d...

_xerxes_on Apple delivers a new redesigned Maps for users in the United States

Google Maps has speed limits, police and other warnings. Been there for at least a few months now. Not sure how accurate they are as I doubt they have as much engagement/reporting as Waze.

_xerxes_on An Existential Crisis in Neuroscience

The article touched upon the C. elegans connectome. There are a few interesting projects attempting to simulate the creature.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenWorm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WormBase

_xerxes_on Apple has a secret team working on internet satellites

While from the articles Lynk is doing interesting and perhaps technically impressive work, I think they are going to struggle with competing with the deep pockets of the likes SpaceX, OneWeb, Blue Origin and now Apple and others.

I see from the articles linked and their site that their business model is different, but I doubt they could sell enough service to cover the cost of launching and maintaining their own constellation. Their best hope (and plan) might be to get absorbed by one of the bigger players.

It is hard to compete against a well-funded company that makes its own rockets and payloads and has access to hundreds of experienced engineers in their own and sister companies.

I am not even that convinced that Lynk's idea would work from a technological point of view. A quick look at Wikipedia states that: "A low Earth orbit (LEO) is an Earth-centered orbit with an altitude of 2,000 km (1,200 mi) "

I don't think you're getting a cell-signal to remain above the noise threshold/detectable level that far, especially under unfavorable atmospheric conditions. Yes, the satellite could have some impressive high-gain antenna, but the average cell phone is not going to transmit enough power to go more than 50 miles, let alone over a 1000. I'd genuinely love to see some data that contradicts me as I find the concept intriguing.

_xerxes_on Saudi Arabia oil facilities ablaze after drone strikes

No need to wipe anything if you build it yourself. Plenty of online guides show you how with cheap Chinese parts. This is for a racing drone, but you get the idea:

https://rotorbuilds.com/build/8778

_xerxes_on Ishkur's Guide to Electronic Music

From the stuff I like, he hates Trip Hop, is somewhat OK (but amusing) about Synthwave and seems to like Dark Ambient.

_xerxes_on Sony's mini air conditioner can fit in your pocket

I'm assuming it was leather soles, not wood. Wood sounds like a terrible sole material.

_xerxes_on Must watch: GE's smart light bulb reset process is a masterpiece

Maybe they didn't want people poking about inside a live lamp fitting with a pin. A small button would be nice though.

_xerxes_on Google Cloud Is Down

Nest is down too, not surprising given they are part of Google. What I don't understand is why I can't still control my devices over my local network. Why does the system even require access to Google servers?

_xerxes_on Should C Programmers Learn C++, Go or Rust? (2018)

I very much doubt Rust is going to get much traction in embedded. C++ is barely being used and even when it is, it is usually "C with classes" being written by C programmers forced to switch.

_xerxes_on Former student destroys 59 university computers using USB Killer device

*You're

_xerxes_on Amazon to offer broadband access from orbit with ‘Project Kuiper’ constellation

There are other companies trying to put cell towers in space so you can use a regular cell phone.

https://techcrunch.com/2019/02/25/ubiquitilink-advance-means...

I don't buy that a cell phone has the power transmit to LEO even with clear skies and line of sight, but seems interesting.

_xerxes_on [dead]

It would be nicer to link directly to the article in question without making me go through a Twitter page first.

_xerxes_on Ask HN: What VPN service are you currently using?

IVPN:

https://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-vpn-service/

_xerxes_on A380 cancellations by Qantas raise new questions about the superjumbo's future

They also already have a London-DC A380 flight almost daily.

_xerxes_on [dead]

My first instinct was that this was bad and designed to spread misinformation. However, on second thoughts, science is not religion and can stand up to sincere challenges and questions. In fact, if these people are serious and dedicated to truth, perhaps they will advance science by challenging assumptions and asking new questions.

I think we should welcome it.

_xerxes_on What I learned from reading over 100 weight loss studies

Every annual physical and every work-related health exam I have had here in the US has included some kind of fasting glucose test.

_xerxes_on U.S. proposes to allow drone operation at night, over people

Larger drones tend to be more quiet, or at the very least are perceived to be so due to the lower pitch sound made by larger, more slowly rotating propellers.

_xerxes_on Show HN: The worst ANSI renderer, except for all the others

ANSI what? They have overseen many many standards.