Skip Navigation
Microsoft is bringing Python to Excel
  • Unfortunately I already read the headline, is there anywhere I can offload this now unnecessary excitement?

    Python in Excel would be great, but nerfing it with some ridiculous cloud dependency is crazy. They could still paywall the feature if they really wanted while still running the Python interpretation locally.

    I suppose we should be grateful they hadn’t also stuck ChatGPT on to it too so it could (badly) write the Python for you. Tech by buzzword will be the death of us I’m sure.

  • Nearly two-fifths of robberies in London last year were for mobile phones
  • They both have security features to lock out unauthorised users. But there has been a cat and mouse game of hackers finding exploits to bypass the device locks, and platform developers patching them to secure the devices again. There have also been various schemes using rogue employees of phone companies to get illegitimate access to official tools that can unlock devices.

    So sometimes the phones can be unlocked. But failing that, there is also a thriving black market for phone parts salvaged for stolen phones.

  • Why Thread is Matter’s biggest problem right now
  • Nope, "Thread" and "Matter" are smart device protocols. "Threads" is a microblogging platform by "Meta", the owner of Facebook and Instagram. Tech companies suck at naming things.

    Neither are to confused with the delightfully grim 1984 movie "Threads" about a nuclear apocalypse, or maybe they should be considering the possibly doomed trajectory both may be headed for.

  • Even Zoom is making staff return to the office now
  • A company that builds tools for remote working, doesn't believe in remote working? That doesn't seem a great look.

  • Why Thread is Matter’s biggest problem right now
    www.theverge.com Why Thread is Matter’s biggest problem right now

    The fight for who will own your Thread mesh network is creating an even more fractured smart home.

    Why Thread is Matter’s biggest problem right now

    The fight for who will own your Thread mesh network is creating an even more fractured smart home.

    2
    Your Computer Should Say What You Tell It To Say - Google is adding code to Chrome that will send tamper-proof information about your operating system and other software, and share it with websites
  • With Google search results increasingly swamped with SEO-laden drivel, I've found the gap between Google and alternatives like Qwant and DDG has shrunk a lot recently. The little guys have improved a bit, but Google has also got worse.

  • Zoom orders workers back to the office
  • Yeah, you would think a company that would promote remote working would be company that creates tools for remote working.

  • 10 Hidden Easter Eggs in macOS
    www.macrumors.com 10 Hidden Easter Eggs in macOS

    In computing lore, an Easter egg typically refers to a secret message, image, or feature intentionally left in software, often (but not always)...

    10 Hidden Easter Eggs in macOS

    In computing lore, an Easter egg typically refers to a secret message, image, or feature intentionally left in software, often (but not always)...

    0
    Rail electrification plans fall far short of UK net zero targets, data shows
    www.theguardian.com Rail electrification plans fall far short of UK net zero targets, data shows

    Figures obtained by Lib Dems reveal need for eightfold increase to reach greenhouse gas emissions goal by 2050

    Rail electrification plans fall far short of UK net zero targets, data shows

    Figures obtained by Lib Dems reveal need for eightfold increase to reach greenhouse gas emissions goal by 2050

    2
    July 2023 set to be world’s hottest month on record
    www.theguardian.com July 2023 set to be world’s hottest month on record

    Head of global meteorological body warns ‘climate action is not a luxury but a must’ as temperatures soar

    July 2023 set to be world’s hottest month on record

    Head of global meteorological body warns ‘climate action is not a luxury but a must’ as temperatures soar

    7
    British Gas reports record £969m profit after price cap increase
    www.theguardian.com British Gas reports record £969m profit after price cap increase

    First-half results will anger consumer groups that have campaigned over treatment of vulnerable customers

    British Gas reports record £969m profit after price cap increase

    First-half results will anger consumer groups that have campaigned over treatment of vulnerable customers

    10
    How developers will test their apps before Vision Pro launches
    arstechnica.com How developers will test their apps before Vision Pro launches

    Apple opened up access to three ways to test apps on real hardware.

    How developers will test their apps before Vision Pro launches

    Apple opened up access to three ways to test apps on real hardware.

    0
    Plan to replace gas boilers with heat pumps should be reviewed, says Gove
    www.theguardian.com Plan to replace gas boilers with heat pumps should be reviewed, says Gove

    Levelling up secretary calls for scrutiny of green policy but says ban on sale of new petrol and diesel cars is ‘immovable’

    Plan to replace gas boilers with heat pumps should be reviewed, says Gove

    Levelling up secretary calls for scrutiny of green policy but says ban on sale of new petrol and diesel cars is ‘immovable’

    17
    Twitter is now X as the little blue bird disappears
  • Twitter is now X as the little blue bird disappears

    I thought the the new logo was the X11 logo at first, they are bit similar.

    Also a bit ironic seeing as Musk wants Twitter X to be an "everything app", while X11's cruft and bloated featureset have led to it being replaced by Wayland.

  • Are upvotes counting towards your reputation now?
  • Yes, if there is one lesson we should have learned from Reddit it's that internet points aren't great for fostering real discussion and debate.

    Still, with so many new link aggregation platforms appearing to fill the Reddit void, hopefully we still end up with something better.

  • Deleted
    What’s with social media companies trying to destroy themselves recently?
  • The internet used to be more decentralised. There were lots of smaller websites, blogs, forums etc, which people discovered via word of mouth, search engines, and forgotten things like webrings. It's only recently that big monolithic social media platforms took hold.

    Tech is often cyclical, we could now be swinging back to a more decentralised web, but with the benefit of newer technologies. Right now it's almost a new "wild west" as new platforms appear and new ideas like federation are experimented with. Some will rise, some will fall, some will go off in the corner and do their own thing. While all that happens it's going to be a bit messy, much like it was in the 90s with the initial rise of the web.

  • Twitter's latest user-unfriendly move requires an account just to read
  • I’ve noticed a lot of German language fediverse content too. Does anyone know why German speakers are so keen on the fediverse?

  • Japan to open up Apple and Google app stores to competition
    www.japantimes.co.jp Japan to open up Apple and Google app stores to competition

    The regulations will oblige Apple and Google to allow users to download from app stores other than the ones on their proprietary platforms.

    Japan to open up Apple and Google app stores to competition

    Japan is joining the EU in requiring mobile platforms open up for third party software, and allow third party payment processing.

    Perhaps the increasing global regulatory pressure will make Apple concede on blocking third party software sources in general.

    0
    Japan to open up Apple and Google app stores to competition
  • The article says the Japanese government is still working on the exact regulations to be implemented. Perhaps the Japanese government will require the platforms to promote other options somehow - similar to the browser choice screen the EU mandated Microsoft add to Windows to increase web browser competition.

    Google does not block 3rd party app stores, but most users do not use or even know of them, and 90%+ of all apps are still downloaded/purchased from the Play Store.

    It's still a bigger change for Apple though, who block any third party software from outside the App Store entirely. As the EU are also heading in the same direction, maybe Apple will eventually cave and allow third party software sources globally. There were rumours that they would do this for EU customers only at one point, but if more and more countries adopt similar laws it will cause a lot of fragmentation.

  • thehatfox thehatfox @kbin.social
    Posts 8
    Comments 11