TheNote
Daring Fireball By John Gruber Note
GooglePlay AppStore

Daring Fireball By John Gruber

Daring Fireball is a long-running and influential blog primarily focused on Apple products, technology, and related news. It is written and maintained by John Gruber, a well-respected voice in the Apple community. Known for its insightful analysis, strong opinions, and in-depth articles, Daring Fireball is a popular destination for Apple enthusiasts and industry insiders alike. Gruber's writing often delves into the design and philosophy behind Apple's products, offering a unique perspective on the company's decisions and direction. The site also features Gruber's "Linked List" section, a curated collection of links to articles and content from around the web, often with Gruber's brief commentary. Daring Fireball remains a significant voice in the tech world, shaping opinions and sparking discussions about Apple and the broader tech landscape.
Daring Fireball daringfireball.net
RSS daringfireball.net
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Aug 19, 2024

Thread Of Notes

Cooper Sharp Proves That American Cheese Can Be Great Cheese

Anthropic announced it would watermark AI-generated text to distinguish it from human content. This involves subtly altering word selection randomness. John Gruber strongly opposed this change, comparing it to an unwelcome alteration of a beloved item. A significant portion of this opposition likely stems from Anthropic ostensibly complying with an EU mandate. However, it's suggested Anthropic might be watermarking to prevent retraining its own output, thus avoiding model degradation. The company might also want to identify and exploit competitors' watermarks while keeping their own secret. The author's disapproval of Anthropic's plan is independent of any EU regulation. They believe the EU regulation itself is flawed and already outdated. The author thinks the EU regulation is a distraction from the core issue of detectable word choice watermarking. The author suspects Anthropic and Google are primarily motivated by self-serving reasons related to model training. Blaming the EU regulation is seen as scapegoating by Anthropic. John Moltz also offered a notable critique of MacStories' return to Twitter/X.
https://sixcolors.com/member/2026/08/this-week-in-apple-lets-fight/ sixcolors.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Yesterday

Mark Carney on the U.S. Under Trump: ‘Sometimes, Its Signature Is Written in Pencil’

Ian Austen, reporting for The New York Times (gift link):The morning after he pulled negotiators from trade talks in Washington and set off a new round of American tariffs, Prime Minister Mark Carney on Saturday explained to Canadians why he walked away, calling the U.S. proposal “a bad deal.”“We’ve recognized from the start that America has changed,” Mr. Carney said. “We recognize that sometimes, its signature is written in pencil.”“We cannot accept what they offered and we will not give what they asked,” he added. “We were not prepared to compromise Canada’s sovereignty or undermine our key industries.”If only Sharpie made pencils.Carney is rising to the moment and showing the rest of the world how to deal with the Trump administration. Trump is erratic, emotionally unstable, ignorant, and dishonest. Carney is consistent, steadfast, knowledgeable, and honest. The only correct way to deal with a con man is to cut him off and call him out for what he is.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/22/world/canada/carney-tariffs-trade-trump.html?unlocked_article_code=1.7VA.r3Ue.GTc_tOhX0qSn nytimes.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Aug 22

WorkOS: Agents Can Now Sign Up for Your App

My thanks to WorkOS for sponsoring the Daring Fireball weekly newsletter this week to promote their Agent Registration. Agents are hitting your signup flow and they’re bouncing off a browser login that was designed for humans. Every one that gives up is a signup you never see.WorkOS Agent Registration turns that traffic into signups. Enroll via the dashboard and AuthKit publishes an auth.md file that agents read to register for scoped, short-lived credentials you control.Make your app agent-ready today.
https://workos.com/auth-md workos.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Aug 22

Dutch Regulator Fines Uber $1 Billion for Suspending Dishonest Drivers

The Dutch Data Protection Authority has fined Uber €825 million for improperly deactivating driver accounts. This penalty, reviewed by Reuters, is the second-largest under Europe's General Data Protection Regulation. Uber intends to appeal the decision. The Dutch authority stated that Uber committed serious infringements by deactivating drivers without warning or human involvement. Removing a driver's income source without human review was deemed a critical issue. GDPR prohibits automated decisions with significant human impact without human oversight or appeal options. Uber's system had suspended accounts suspected of fraud, like inflating fares or accepting trips without completion. The Dutch agency claimed permanent deactivations due to low ratings were sometimes automated. Uber disputes this, asserting no permanent deactivations were solely automated. The company argues the fine is disproportionate, citing only 126 European drivers affected by low ratings in 2021. The author questions the EU regulation's exclusion of customer impact, highlighting that drivers were scamming customers.
https://www.reuters.com/world/dutch-regulator-fines-uber-966-million-automating-driver-suspensions-document-2026-08-21/ reuters.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Aug 22

The Fourth Horseman of the File-Format-Hegemony Apocalypse

Microsoft’s iPhone app for OneDrive has long supported creating three new document types via a big “+” button right in its file viewer: Excel, Word, PowerPoint. It recently came to my attention that they’ve added a fourth document type, and they even gave it real Microsoft-style “they just have no taste” file icon. Just look at it. The whole world’s coming to an end, Mallory.
https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/onedriveblog/introducing-markdown-support-in-sharepoint-and-onedrive/4512174 techcommunity.microsoft.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Aug 21

Walmart Finally Caves, Will Soon Support Apple Pay

Walmart:When we think about convenience, we think about a lot of things, but making shopping feel simpler and more seamless from start to finish is a big part. And one of the moments where that matters most is at checkout.We want customers and members to have choice in how they pay, so they can check out in the way that works best for them. Now, beginning Aug. 24, we will be adding Tap to Pay to our payment options at select Walmart stores and Sam’s Club locations, with plans to roll it out to all U.S. stores and clubs by the end of 2026 and to fuel stations by mid-2027.When I think about convenience, I think about CurrentC, scanning stupid-ass QR codes, and waiting 12 years to adopt Apple Pay.
https://corporate.walmart.com/news/2026/08/21/more-ways-to-pay-tap-to-pay-is-coming-to-walmart-and-sams-club corporate.walmart.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Aug 21

Bluesky’s Active User Base Is Shrinking, and Remains Tiny Compared to Threads and Twitter/X

Bluesky, a decentralized social network, initially benefited from users leaving Elon Musk's X after the 2024 U.S. elections. However, nearly two years later, the platform is experiencing a decline in user engagement. Data from Similarweb indicates a significant year-over-year drop in both monthly and daily active users for Bluesky's mobile app. While third-party analytics should be viewed with caution, the trend suggests Bluesky's user base is considerably smaller than competitors like Threads and X. Even accounting for potential inaccuracies in the data, Bluesky's user numbers are estimated to be an order of magnitude less than these larger platforms. In contrast, Mastodon, another decentralized network, is now rarely mentioned in comparisons due to its even smaller user base. The author personally favors Mastodon for its smaller, less dramatic community. Nevertheless, a small user base inherently limits a platform's mainstream cultural relevance. Therefore, despite its initial surge, Bluesky is struggling to maintain its momentum and achieve widespread cultural impact.
https://techcrunch.com/2026/08/11/blueskys-active-user-base-is-shrinking-as-its-focus-expands-beyond-the-app/ techcrunch.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Aug 21

Bluesky Is Full of Anti-AI Zealots

Several individuals familiar with Mike Masnick have expressed a desire for Bluesky's success but find themselves gravitating towards X. This shift is primarily due to the prevalence and utility of agentic tools for their work on X, a topic that reportedly invites ridicule on Bluesky. These users feel uncomfortable on Bluesky because their interest in AI-related tools is often met with mockery and attacks. Masnick observes that this sentiment extends beyond a few individuals, indicating a broader issue with the platform's culture regarding AI discussions. He notes that even his attempts to foster positive conversations about productive AI usage on Bluesky have been overshadowed by the community's reputation for dismissing lived experiences. Masnick recently published arguments against text watermarking for AI-generated content, positing that it degrades prose quality or is a bad idea regardless. While his specific arguments have generated reasonable debate on other platforms, the reaction on Bluesky has been notably different. Instead of engaging with his points, some Bluesky users have baselessly accused him of opposing watermarking because he uses AI for his own writing and fears detection. Masnick reiterates a previous sentiment that most people are too extreme in their views on AI, either excessively against or for it. He concludes that expressing AI skepticism is far less contentious on X than simply stating AI's potential usefulness on Bluesky. The negative reactions to his thread, including complaints about turning off replies, further solidified his decision as reinforcing the very reasons he silenced them.
https://bsky.app/profile/masnick.com/post/3mtk7cuvbok2x bsky.app
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Aug 21

How Bluesky and Threads Sneak Their Logos Into iOS Screenshots

Bluesky and Threads employ a deceptive tactic when users screenshot individual posts on iOS. They replace the "Follow" button with their logo in such screenshots. This mechanism was discovered by Tim Marinin in the Bluesky app's source code. The technique involves a file named GrowthHack.tsx, which uses a dependency called expo-privacy-sensitive. This package creates a secure text entry field, rendering the actual content within it. When a screenshot is taken, iOS blanks out this secure field, allowing a pre-existing logo to be visible. This masking only occurs on iOS, with other platforms displaying content normally. The author criticizes this practice, arguing that screenshots should be exact representations of what is on screen. They compare it to apps that alter clipboard content, but note this screenshot alteration cannot be undone by the user. The author expresses surprise that Bluesky, unlike Threads, engages in such a "sneaky" maneuver.
https://timmarinin.net/2026/bluesky-screenshots/ timmarinin.net
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Aug 21

Gurman Says No Camera-Equipped AirPods Until 2027

Mark Gurman, Bloomberg:Earlier this week, a developer version of a Mac computer software update accidentally included references to several upcoming Apple products, including a video of the AirPods with cameras in action. [...]But the product challenges are still being resolved, and the camera AirPods remain off the company’s 2026 release schedule. Apple continues to believe the earbuds will launch in 2027, said the people, who asked not to be identified when discussing unannounced products.If true, it makes that video even stranger. If not, we can file this along the flat-sided Series 7 Apple Watch.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-08-19/apple-s-camera-equipped-ai-airpods-remain-on-track-for-2027-despite-video-leak bloomberg.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Aug 20

★ Apple Screwed Up the TestFlight App’s Sort Order a Month Ago, and It’s Still Screwed Up, but the More I Think About It, the More Clear It Is They Started Screwing This Up 15 Years Ago

It’s 2026 and an important, much-used app from Apple doesn’t offer basic list sorting controls that would have been a glaring omission 40 years ago. This was a completely solved problem decades ago, when computer RAM was measured in kilobytes.
https://daringfireball.net/2026/08/apple_testflight_list_sort_order daringfireball.net
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Aug 19

NBC News Strikes Ad Sales Deal With Taboola for Programmatic Display Ads

Sara Fischer, Axios:Ad tech giant Taboola has struck a deal with NBC News to exclusively power all of its programmatic, or automated, display advertising sales, CEO Adam Singolda tells Axios.Worked out great for Apple with Apple News. They struck a deal with Taboola two years ago and the ads in Apple News today are super premium and something the company can be really proud of.
https://www.axios.com/2026/08/18/nbc-news-taboola-programmatic-display-ads axios.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Aug 19

Disney’s ABC Sues Trump’s FCC Over Challenge to Its Broadcast License

Walt Disney's ABC has filed a lawsuit against the Federal Communications Commission. The lawsuit alleges that the FCC's actions to challenge ABC's broadcast licenses and regulate "The View" are unlawful. ABC claims these actions are an attempt by the Trump administration to suppress speech it finds objectionable. The complaint was filed in federal court in Washington, D.C. ABC states that the administration has repeatedly attacked its reporting and programming viewpoints. These attacks have escalated to demands that ABC lose its broadcast licenses due to its speech. The text presents this as a strong stance against perceived bullying. The local Philadelphia affiliate, 6ABC, is highlighted as a prominent station targeted by the FCC for a license review. 6ABC is described as having a dominant media presence in Philadelphia. The "Action News" theme song is depicted as integral to the city's identity.
https://www.wsj.com/business/media/disneys-abc-sues-fcc-over-challenge-to-its-broadcast-licenses-64e8f794?st=XTL4tA wsj.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Aug 18

Apple Gives Legal Middle Finger to DOJ Challenge on Apple’s July Discovery Win

Marcus Mendes at 9to5Mac has a fun update on U.S. v. Apple, the ill-considered antitrust case started by the Biden administration. A bunch of what the DOJ argues are anticompetitive features in Apple’s platforms, Apple argues are in fact privacy and security related.Back in July Apple won a big discovery ruling — Apple asked for documents from 14 federal agencies — including the CIA, FBI, Department of Defense, NSA, and State Department — to see the reasons why those agencies purchase iPhones, iPads, and Macintosh computers. And in July, Apple won. They get to see what these federal agencies say about those features.The DOJ filed a longshot “Hey, no fair” complaint trying to overrule that discovery ruling. Now Apple has filed a retort saying the July order should stand, and the DOJ should get ready to argue in court that it’s unlawful for Apple to implement the sort of features that are the very reason why security-minded federal agencies purchase Apple devices.
https://9to5mac.com/2026/08/17/apple-dojs-latest-challenge-in-antitrust-case-fails-at-every-level/ 9to5mac.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Aug 18

Organized Thieves Are Targeting AI Server Chips With Violent Highway Hijackings

Two separate incidents involving high-value technology shipments from Silicon Valley to Southern California resulted in theft. Both trucks were accompanied by unmarked escort vehicles driven by private security. In one instance, the escort vehicle was rear-ended in a hit-and-run, forcing it to stop. The other escort was immobilized by a deliberate PIT maneuver, causing it to spin out. Pachuca, who learned of the thefts from law enforcement, states that everyone believes these "accidents" were intentional. After losing their escorts, the semitrucks continued their journeys, but not to their intended destinations. The trucks and their contents, millions of dollars in data center gear, were never recovered. These events highlight a growing vulnerability in the transport of valuable tech. The author previously noted the increasing value and susceptibility of RAM, likening it to bearer bonds.
https://www.wired.com/story/the-worst-ive-ever-seen-cargo-thieves-are-turning-violent-in-pursuit-of-ai-hardware/ wired.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Aug 18

‘Dickover’ Makes It Into The Guardian

Stuart Heritage, writing for The Guardian, coined new words to describe modern technology annoyances. The "dickover" is a prevalent issue, defined as a modal panel that frustrates users by obscuring content. This includes cookie acceptance boxes, notification prompts, and sign-in requests, which users must dismiss to access desired content. The article argues that dickovers are just one problem in the current "tech hellscape," but a lack of specific vocabulary for such issues has hindered discussion. Heritage offered several new terms to address this gap in language.Other proposed terms include "baggravation" for frustrating self-checkout kiosks. "Schrödinger’s Wi-Fi" refers to public Wi-Fi that is ambiguously present, often found on trains and planes. The author of the source material expressed satisfaction with the "dickover" definition, hoping for its inclusion in the Oxford English Dictionary.
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/aug/18/dickovers-baggravation-botiquette-18-new-words-tech-hellscape theguardian.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Aug 18

OpenAI Pot Complains That Google Kettle Is Black

Thibault Sottiaux, an OpenAI lead, criticized Gmail's constant addition of new UI elements. He noted that every time he opens Gmail, there's a new button in the top right corner. The author points out the irony, suggesting Sottiaux's team applies a similar "cramming shit in" approach to ChatGPT. Gmail, which debuted in 2004, was initially simple and focused solely on email. It has since become overly complex and difficult to explain. Similarly, ChatGPT's initial version was minimalist and wonderfully simple, serving purely as an AI chat. However, it has also evolved into a complex system that is hard to explain. The author likens this evolution to Google's past move of adding a "classic" view to Gmail, which was eventually removed. A simpler version of ChatGPT still exists, dubbed "Coke ChatGPT Classic," but it's hard to find. The core argument is that both platforms have strayed from their original, simple designs. They have become bloated with features, making them less user-friendly. This trend reflects a broader issue of over-complication in popular web applications.
https://x.com/thsottiaux/status/2083373529081291076?s=12 x.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Aug 18

Nature Is Healing: MacOS 27 Golden Gate Beta 6 Adds Redesigned Traffic Light Window Controls

Zac Hall, 9to5Mac:macOS 27 Golden Gate beta 6 introduces redesigned traffic light window controls. The new look resembles older Mac OS X systems with more detail in each button.Nice. But these changes can’t improve fast enough for me — I am impatient. The MacOS user interface had been in a slow, steady, sad, no-fun decline for years, and then, a year ago, the bottom fell out with the disaster of 26 Tahoe.But all the changes in 27 Golden Gate are in the right direction. Golden Gate is not a mixed bag. Designers with taste and talent are clearly back at the helm. And I love that they’re still pushing UI and icon changes in mid-August, entering the home stretch of the .0 beta cycle.
https://9to5mac.com/2026/08/17/macos-27-golden-gate-beta-6-features-redesigned-traffic-light-window-controls/ 9to5mac.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Aug 18

Apple TV Still Has No Start Date for ‘The Savant’

The Savant is a political thriller series starring Jessica Chastain that was supposed to debut a year ago. Apple “postponed” it, apparently out of fear of upsetting extremist right-wing nut jobs because the show is about an undercover investigator (Chastain) hunting down extremist right-wing nut jobs. Chastain was not happy about the show being delayed.Last we heard about the show was back in April, when Marc Malkin reported this for Variety:“Before it was like, ‘I don’t know if we’re going to see it,’ but now I can say, ‘We’re going to see it,’” Chastain told me exclusively on Saturday at the Breakthrough Prize ceremony in Santa Monica.As for when, sources tell me that Apple is planning for a July release.Given that it’s now the middle of August, I think that a July release is looking less and less likely by the day.
https://daringfireball.net/linked/2026/04/19/chastain-says-the-savant-will-be-released daringfireball.net
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Aug 17

No Update Since Early July Regarding Siri AI Coming to the EU, Ever

Tim Cook and EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen held constructive talks regarding Apple's new Siri AI. The virtual meeting aimed to resolve a dispute over Apple's compliance with EU competition rules. Apple seeks to launch its updated Siri in Europe without facing significant fines. Discussions covered how to achieve this while adhering to the bloc's Digital Markets Act (DMA). The dispute had led to public backlash against the European Commission, with many consumers feeling deprived of new technology. Some officials reported receiving abusive messages, including death threats. Apple had proposed a "Trusted System Agent" as a technical fix to allow rival AI assistants access to device data. This agent would act as a software layer, preventing full data access by third parties. However, Apple has not yet built the agent, awaiting EU assurances of compliance. The commission stated its contact with Apple on the agent idea was limited and lacked concrete details. They claim Apple is primarily seeking approval to delay compliance. Apple argues they presented a detailed proposal for the agent, seeking upfront confirmation of DMA compliance. The commission's stance, however, was to review the agent after it's built and after consulting competitors. This lack of clarity prevents Apple from committing resources to develop the EU-specific system. The demands for third-party AI on Android, like unrestricted background execution, are seen as potentially unworkable for Apple's iOS.
https://www.ft.com/content/807d25c3-f4ac-4402-b815-3aa91018237d ft.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Aug 17

The Information Profiles Cami Clark — Dario Amodei’s Wife, Ivanka Trump’s Friend, One-Time Would-Be Pornographer, and Anthropic’s ‘First Lady’

Paola Clark is a significant, though informal, figure within the AI company Anthropic. She is described as the emotional support for Anthropic CEO, Dario Amodei, and often accompanies him on his global travels. Clark is seen as a key advisor during the company's expansion and AI policy discussions. Before her involvement with Anthropic, Clark attempted to launch a pornographic film company called Eddice. This venture aimed for high production values and featured female protagonists. Eddice also planned to incorporate online shopping features. In 2011, Clark reached out to Jeffrey Epstein for funding for Eddice. She sent him a script for a planned film titled "American Girl in Paris." Clark's attempts to secure investment from Epstein did not result in a deal. Despite Anthropic's prominence in the AI field, Clark has maintained a low public profile.
https://www.theinformation.com/articles/anthropics-first-lady-took-winding-road-top?rc=jfy0lk theinformation.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Aug 16

★ Anthropic’s ‘Watermark’ Text Adulteration in Claude Is a Perversion of Writing

It’s unacceptable for a tool to sacrifice an iota of clarity, coherence, meaning, quality, etc. for the purpose of embedding hidden clues within the text to suggest its provenance. The idea that anything other than my needs should factor into the generation of text for me is patently offensive.
https://daringfireball.net/2026/08/anthropics_watermark_text_adulteration_in_claude_is_a_perversion_of_writing daringfireball.net
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Aug 16

‘Anthropic’s Weak Watermarks Appease a Weak Law’

The rationale for a law requiring AI text watermarking could have been applied to calculators, but thankfully, human and calculator output are currently treated similarly. Similarly, spellcheckers are not scrutinized for their assistance. Singling out AI assistance only when it can compose entire sentences is not a principled distinction but a misplaced value on difficulty. Anthropic's broad, model-level watermarking implementation exceeds the law's minimum requirements. This approach disregards distinctions the law intended to maintain. The resulting watermark is sufficiently wide to affect innocent and helpful uses. However, it can be easily removed by determined individuals through significant rephrasing. This risks unfairly targeting everyday and assistive users while being least effective against deliberate cheating. James Padolsey, creator of Declaude, highlights this issue, with his app capable of removing Claude's distinctive style and potentially these new watermarks. Padolsey's work demonstrates the poorly conceived nature of this EU regulation, as Anthropic and Google Gemini adopt similar watermarking techniques.
https://blog.j11y.io/2026-08-12_Anthropics-weak-watermarks-appease-a-weak-law/ blog.j11y.io
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Aug 16

Trump Administration ‘Not in Favor’ of Apple Using Chinese RAM

Apple is reportedly considering using Chinese manufacturers to address its supply chain issues. This potential move has drawn criticism from figures like Howard Lutnick, who believes American companies should avoid using Chinese memory. Lutnick has directly communicated his disapproval to Apple regarding this approach.However, U.S. government regulations complicate direct collaboration, as American companies need licenses to share product information for customized chips. Apple remains free to purchase off-the-shelf components from Chinese manufacturers and negotiate pricing. Apple’s COO, Sabih Khan, did not confirm testing Chinese memory chips but emphasized the need to explore all options due to the severe supply shortage. These options include working with current suppliers to boost U.S. production.
https://www.wsj.com/tech/apple-china-memory-chip-plan-57773a83?st=vfe1SA wsj.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Aug 16

XCancel — An Unofficial Twitter/X Mirror

XCancel is an instance of Nitter, a privacy-focused, open-source alternative front-end for Twitter. Nitter allows users to browse Twitter without JavaScript, enhancing privacy and performance. It is significantly lighter than Twitter, loading pages much faster. The author uses XCancel as a way to share content from the rebranded X, especially for those who dislike or have issues with the platform under its current ownership. However, XCancel is not without its flaws, as demonstrated by a recent issue with cached tweet animations not displaying correctly for all users. The author acknowledges the tediousness of manually providing XCancel links for every Twitter/X post. To address this, users can automate the redirection of x.com links to xcancel.com using browser extensions like XCancel Redirect, RedirectWeb, or StopTheMadness. The author sympathizes with those who prefer not to visit X directly. Despite the preference to avoid linking to X, the author finds it impractical to do so entirely. Many individuals and organizations, including high-profile figures, post exclusive content on X. When content is available elsewhere, the author links to that alternative. However, if content is unique to X and deemed interesting, a direct link to X is provided. Linking to exclusive X content, rather than just any content, is what contributes to the platform's influence.
https://xcancel.com/about xcancel.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Aug 16

Google’s ‘Material 3’ Design Write-Up Is 93.3 Percent Embarrassing

The author recently came across a page from Google Design about their Material 3 UI language, which they believe is a few years old. The page caught their attention after Google bragged about a new to-do app on Twitter. One of the features that stood out to the author was the replacement of the traditional I-beam cursor for text selection with a circle in desktop browsers. The author thinks this change makes precise character selection more difficult and is a poor design choice. The author is surprised that the UI design team at Google would make such a change. The page also includes a paragraph that discusses the benefits of expressive design, including a 32% increase in subculture perception and a 34% boost in modernity. The author finds it humorous that the designers are assigning precise percentages to subjective qualities like rebelliousness and modernity. The author questions the sincerity of the paragraph, wondering if it is a prank, but believes it is genuine. The author's skepticism is further reinforced by the fact that the designers are using data to support their claims of increased rebelliousness and modernity. The author notes that there is a video of the Google Design team putting this research together, which they find worth watching.
https://design.google/library/expressive-material-design-google-research design.google
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Aug 14

Ceramic Shield 2 Is the Real Deal

JerryRigEverything's torture tests of the iPhone 17 Pro demonstrate the durability of Ceramic Shield 2. The screen proved highly resistant to scratching, with only minor marks appearing at level 7 on the Mohs hardness scale. This is a significant improvement compared to typical glass, which scratches at levels 5 or 6. JerryRigEverything praised Ceramic Shield 2 as the best they have encountered. Apple's own promotional video also showcased the material's resilience against a mineral tip. The residue left in Apple's video was from the tip itself and wiped away easily. The author shared their personal experience with an almost year-old iPhone 17 Pro. This device shows no visible scratches on its front glass, not even micro abrasions. The author attributes this excellent condition largely to Apple's Ceramic Shield 2. This technology is designed to offer superior scratch resistance, supporting the claims of its effectiveness.
https://www.tomsguide.com/phones/iphones/iphone-17-and-iphone-air-durability-testing-heres-how-the-new-iphones-stand-up-to-bending-scratching-and-dropping tomsguide.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Aug 13

Google Design Pisses Its Pants on Twitter/X

A few years ago I’d have looked at this post and maybe leaned toward the idea that a precocious 8th grader somewhere hacked into the @GoogleDesign Twitter account and tried to pass off their little to-do app as having come from Google’s design team. But this is apparently real. I almost hope it’s AI slop and that there aren’t any human designers there who think anything in this app has appropriate proportions or is aesthetically pleasing.(Here’s an XCancel link for the x.com averse. You can just change any x.com/* URL to xcancel.com/*. But, alas, the XCancel mirror of the original tweet loses the animation showing the UI in motion.)
https://x.com/googledesign/status/2087195277094695096 x.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Aug 13

Joanna Stern on the Pixel 11 ‘HiLight’ Notification Light

The author reminisces about the satisfying blinking notification lights on older BlackBerry and Droid phones. Google's new HiLight feature aims to revive this by assigning custom notification colors to VIP contacts. This allows users to identify callers even when their phone is face down. However, a significant drawback is that HiLight currently only supports phone call notifications at launch. This is surprising, given the inclusion of various colors for Gemini's AI states. The author personally stopped placing their iPhone face down to avoid scratches. They find it odd that such a basic feature, a notification light, is launching with limited functionality. It seems peculiar that messaging notifications are not included from the start. The author expresses disappointment that Google struggles to implement even a simple blinking light feature correctly on their Pixel phones.
https://thenewthings.com/p/the-new-pixel-feature-i-want-on-my-iphone?gift_content=e9bf3ebd-db33-4ee5-91b0-84d7acac3263 thenewthings.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Aug 12

Google Introduces ‘Camera Looks’ With Pixel 11 Phones

Modern smartphone photography faces a challenge as users increasingly desire authentic and traditional image styles over flawless ones. Google's Pixel team is addressing this with Camera Looks on the Pixel 11 series, a new approach to image processing. Unlike filters, Camera Looks alters image data at the sensor level to achieve desired aesthetics. This is similar to Apple's Photographic Styles, but with added control over grain and sharpness. The reviewer appreciates Google's move away from an over-sharpened, over-smoothed look, favoring a more natural approach. However, the reviewer has found greater satisfaction using third-party apps that offer advanced control and RAW shooting capabilities. These apps allow for immediate point-and-shoot results with desired looks, while also preserving original data for post-processing. The author recalls a time when Pixel phones were considered top camera phones, known for their unique processing philosophies compared to Apple. This era coincided with Marc Levoy's leadership of Google's camera team. Levoy's departure in 2020 marked a shift in the perception of Pixel's camera innovation. Since then, Pixel cameras have received less attention for their unique computational photography advancements.
https://www.theverge.com/tech/978084/google-camera-looks-interview-computational-photography theverge.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Aug 12

TechCrunch on Google’s Pixel 11 Lineup

Ivan Mehta, TechCrunch:With this year’s Pixel 11 series launch, Google is thinking more agentic AI to complete your tasks. With Gemini, U.S.-based users will be able to order groceries, book rides, or get coffee, for instance. Plus, Gemini can call businesses on users’ behalf for table reservations or appointments. Google said that users can take over or stop tasks at any point in time and also review transcripts for AI-operated calls.Over the next few weeks, a new slate of connected apps will be able to work with Gemini to get things done, including Granola, Otter.ai, Wix, Fever, Get Your Guide, Localiza, OpenTable (U.K.), Ticketmaster, iHeartRadio, Pandora, Angi, Thumbtack, and Zocdoc.I’ve never heard of most of those apps, or, if I have heard of them, I thought they went defunct years ago. The one app amongst those I do use, OpenTable, apparently only supports this Gemini integration in the U.K.?Another knockout year for the Pixel phones and Android.
https://techcrunch.com/2026/08/12/pixel-11-has-few-hardware-changes-and-more-gemini/ techcrunch.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Aug 12

Hands-On With Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold

The P11 Pro Fold retains IP68 dust and water resistance, surpassing the Z Fold 8. However, it hasn't lost the weight and thickness expected from a foldable phone. Instead, Google has reinforced its sturdiness with a new, crack-resistant glass fiber rear panel. This focus on durability, while positive, was not tested for its ultimate resilience. The author expresses doubt about seeing many Pixel foldables in public. Previously, a Pixel Fold's display felt so plasticky it resembled a prop. This initial impression contrasted with the product's real nature and high starting price. The reviewer's experience at a Google Store, akin to a library or museum, highlighted the unique presentation. Ultimately, despite its robust build, the device's significant weight and thickness remain a concern. The material enhancements aim for durability, but practical real-world usage remains a question.
https://www.engadget.com/2235294/google-pixel-11-pro-fold-hands-on/ engadget.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Aug 12

Google’s Pixel Watch 5

The $399 Google Pixel Watch 5 focuses on software improvements rather than significant hardware changes. It features a new satin pyrite case finish, fresh strap colors, and a Steph Curry Special Edition. Internally, it includes a slightly faster Qualcomm processor and a minor battery capacity increase. This year's model also sees a $50 price increase due to rising component costs. Visually, the watch remains largely the same as its predecessor. The most notable advancements this year are concentrated in its software features. Google is also introducing AI-generated watch faces, allowing users to create custom designs. The author tested this feature, requesting "fat cats and an elegant font," which resulted in a watch face with plump, cat-shaped clock numbers. While this AI feature might be seen as a novelty, it offers a unique customization option for those who enjoy it. The author anticipates seeing more Pixel Watches in public following these updates.
https://www.theverge.com/tech/978094/pixel-watch-5-hands-on-made-by-google-gemini-wearables-smartwatch theverge.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Aug 12

Amazon Is Spiting Customers With Unhelpful Order Confirmation Emails

Amazon customers have recently received order confirmation emails that lack specific item details. Instead of listing exact products, these emails now only mention general categories like "Beauty item" or "Hardware item." Shoppers must visit Amazon's website or app to see the actual items purchased. This change, noted by customers since July, contrasts with earlier emails that included item thumbnails and names.Amazon attributes the simplified emails to a desire to direct customers to their app and website for the most up-to-date order information. They also claim this change enhances customer privacy by reducing information shared outside their platforms. However, critics argue this simplification is not about convenience but Amazon's attempt to prevent competitors, particularly email providers like Google, from accessing purchasing data.Amazon seems to view the data gleaned by email services as a competitive threat, rather than a privacy concern for users. By limiting detailed order information to its own controlled channels, Amazon aims to keep its customer purchasing habits within its ecosystem. This move, according to the article, is a competitive tactic that negatively impacts the customer experience. Customers often rely on email notifications for convenient order tracking, as they don't frequently check their order pages. The shift deprives them of useful, immediate information in their inbox.
https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/977733/amazon-order-emails-google-gmail-ai-agents-data theverge.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Aug 12

App Store Scam of the Week: ‘TabControl Extension’ for Safari

The author, Jeff Johnson, presents several pieces of evidence suggesting that the reviews for the TabControl Extension are fake. He notes that all but one review is five stars and that they are all in English. However, he could not find these reviews in the US, Australian, or Canadian App Stores. The format of the reviewer names, a first name followed by a last initial, is considered unusual for App Store reviews. Typically, users employ unique usernames without spaces, often with added numbers. The most compelling evidence of fabrication is that the review dates, such as "Mar 12," precede the actual release date of the TabControl Extension in the App Store. Johnson suspects the reviews were generated by an AI. He expresses concern about what the extension is doing with user data from Safari tabs. Despite these concerns, the TabControl Extension is currently ranked as one of the most popular Safari extensions.
https://lapcatsoftware.com/articles/2026/8/4.html lapcatsoftware.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Aug 12

The Economist: ‘How to Spot AI Writing’

The Economist conducted a study to distinguish AI-generated writing from human writing. They used their own articles as a human baseline, recognizing the familiarity for their readers. Top Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Grok were tasked with rewriting article summaries without web access. These AI-generated texts were then compared against a vast corpus of over 55,000 sentences and 1.2 million words. To isolate AI-specific traits, the AI texts were also cross-referenced with journalism from CNN, the New York Times, and the Washington Post. Additionally, excerpts from novels published between 1950 and 2022 served as another point of comparison. The study revealed that AI prose can be identified through distinct choices in words, punctuation, and structural patterns. However, these AI hallmarks are not entirely predictable, partly due to evolving software. Despite advancements, AI writing still lacks lucidity and elegance, often appearing formulaic. Therefore, human storytellers aiming for impressive prose should steer clear of these identified AI writing peculiarities.
https://www.economist.com/culture/2026/07/30/how-to-spot-ai-writing?giftId=NzBlNTc2OGItMDgxNS00N2EzLWE4NmUtZDgzZmE4Y2FkM2Mw economist.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Aug 11

Alex Micek on BMW’s iDrive ‘Special Surprises’

Alex Micek:In the future, I will feel angry if my car strands me on the side of the road. I will feel angry if the motor brushes fail expectedly. I will feel angry if it leaks water.By contrast, I don’t feel anger when the car tricks me into seeing an advertisement. Instead, I feel a deep, smothering, let-down at the promise of futurism. Bottomless despair is probably inappropriate; a symptom of the misanthropy I should grow out of. But. In the meantime, I feel helpless, discouraged, deeply sad.Such a good take. I should not let 19 years pass again between linking to his writing.
https://tumbledry.org/2026/08/07/idrive_ads tumbledry.org
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Aug 11

BMW Probably Paid Sony for the Spider-Man Dashboard Ads, Not the Other Way Around

This didn’t occur to me but should have — BMW paid Sony to place BMWs throughout the new Spider-Man: Brand New Day movie. They’re not just in the movie but part of the story. So it’s probably the case not that Sony paid BMW to put Spider-Man animations in the dashboards of every late model BMW on the road, but that BMW offered to do it as part of the promotional deal they paid Sony. So BMW probably paid Sony for something that ultimately infuriated a bunch of BMW’s own customers. Geniuses.
https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/global/article/detail/T0459622EN/bmw-brings-modern-mobility-to-the-sony-pictures-film-%E2%80%9Cspider-man%E2%84%A2:-brand-new-day%E2%80%9D?language=en press.bmwgroup.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Aug 11

Mark Zuckerberg Posts 6,500-Word AI Essay

Mark Zuckerberg released an expanded version of his essay on the future of AI. Despite its length, the expanded essay offers little new substance beyond the original. However, one notable example details Meta's positive impact in Richland Parish, Louisiana. Meta's data center investment there has generated increased tax revenue. This revenue allowed teachers to receive significant bonuses, reportedly $50,000 each. A local superintendent believes this will attract teachers nationwide, potentially making the district exceptional. The author contrasts this with concerns about knowledge work displacement. Instead, the demand for infrastructure buildout creates a shortage of skilled tradespeople. Meta has established the America's Workforce Academy to train these workers for high-paying jobs. While these bonuses could improve public opinion on data centers, that shift has not yet occurred.
https://www.meta.com/thefutureisforeveryone/ meta.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Aug 11

The Talk Show: ‘Getting the Snack Right’

Chance Miller returns to the show. Topics include iOS 27’s progress over summer, live baseball in Vision Pro, the RAM crisis, Apple’s trade secret lawsuit against OpenAI and io, and the EU/DMA situation.Sponsored by:Squarespace: Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code TALKSHOW. Factor: Healthy eating, made easy. Get 50% off and one free breakfast item per box for one year, with code talkshow50off. Notion: The collaborative AI workspace where teams and agents work side by side, with a Developer Platform teams can build on.
https://daringfireball.net/thetalkshow/2026/08/10/ep-454 daringfireball.net
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Aug 11

Netflix Has Peaked

Andrew Sharp questions if Netflix has reached its peak as a cultural and business force. While not predicting immediate collapse, he notes that Netflix's massive subscriber base and reach in America indicate growth is naturally slowing. He argues that even if Netflix struggles with original content, it can still license content and spread costs across its subscribers. The author suggests Netflix's current valuation is too high compared to its business model. He contrasts Netflix with Disney, highlighting Disney's diversified assets like theme parks, cruise lines, and extensive intellectual property. Sharp points out Disney's significant IP, including Mickey Mouse and Star Wars, which he deems more valuable and enduring than Netflix's. He acknowledges Netflix's leading position in streaming but notes Disney+ and Hulu combined are a strong second. Financially, Netflix generates more profit on less revenue, but Disney's diverse operations explain its lower margins. Sharp expresses confidence in Disney's long-term business prospects and the durability of its IP. He believes Netflix's original content quality is declining, making its subscription price questionable. Ultimately, Sharp wonders about Netflix's competitive moat, suggesting content quality is not it.
https://sharptext.net/2026/is-netflix-washed-now/ sharptext.net
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Aug 11