Daily Tech News 24 December 2023

Top Story

After spending a month fighting with Apple to try to keep its Android iMessage application operational, Beeper is throwing in the towel. (Tech Crunch)

Or at least throwing it in Apple's face. The company has open-sourced the application, and Apple's repeated efforts to shut it down have attracted the attention of antitrust regulators.

Tech News

Intel's Meteor Lake laptop chips now suck 10% less. (Tom's Hardware)

A bug in the pre-release version of the BIOS provided to laptop manufacturers reduced performance by about, well, 10%.

It has now been fixed.

None of the laptops have reached regular consumers so far, but if you do end up buying one make sure to update it.
Five laptop computers we'll still be talking about in 2024. (Ars Technica)

That's eight days away, guys.

Besides, those all suck.
Four clowns are suing Clowns.com over inadequate access to custard pies and undersized shoes or something. (404 Media)

The details are a lot less interesting than the headline.

Star Wars as You've Never Seen It Before Video of the Day

Don't say I never do anything to you.

For you. I mean, for you.

Disclaimer: No I don't.

Posted by: Pixy Misa at 04:00 AM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 BOING!

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at December 24, 2023 03:59 AM (ch/kO)

2 Indeed.

Posted by: Pixy Misa at December 24, 2023 04:03 AM (BLOW1)

3 https://youtu.be/dSQ40d8uoOI

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at December 24, 2023 04:04 AM (ch/kO)

4 w00t

Posted by: m at December 24, 2023 04:04 AM (x7m+Z)

5 Happy Christmas Eve, Pixy!

Posted by: JQ at December 24, 2023 04:05 AM (njWTi)

6 Don't say I never do anything to you.

For you. I mean, for you.

Disclaimer: No I don't.
Posted by: Pixy Misa at 04:00 AM
-

But I do - at least for the Rons. Schvitz a bissel! You can thank me later:

http://tinyurl.com/3k9pbnjc

(Nitter)

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at December 24, 2023 04:06 AM (ch/kO)

7 But I do - at least for the Rons. Schvitz a bissel! You can thank me later:

http://tinyurl.com/3k9pbnjc

(Nitter)
Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at December 24, 2023 04:06 AM (ch/kO)
-

Needs to be posted in the next Gainz thread.

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at December 24, 2023 04:07 AM (ch/kO)

8 I made it about three minutes into the video before bailing.

Posted by: m at December 24, 2023 04:10 AM (x7m+Z)

9 8 I made it about three minutes into the video before bailing.
Posted by: m at December 24, 2023 04:10 AM (x7m+Z)

... the Pixy-supplied Stars Wars video.

Posted by: m at December 24, 2023 04:11 AM (x7m+Z)

10 https://youtu.be/bsTQKcHC2qg?si=zBPQ46pdtGSPxJTs

Um, is the Israeli military trying to recruit me? I'm too old, a Gentile, and mostly not interested in travel, at least to the Middle East. I can post some cat videos though! This showed up in my YT feed and I thought it was odd.

Posted by: Puddleglum at work at December 24, 2023 04:12 AM (AdHga)

11 There is something to be said about a man's ..aroma..

After ExH went to boot camp, and I was doing that final laundry of his clothes... I lingered. He showered daily, so it wasn't a sweaty, stinky smell. Just-- it smelled like *him* and it was pleasant to me.

Posted by: JQ at December 24, 2023 04:12 AM (njWTi)

12 hiya

Posted by: JT at December 24, 2023 04:13 AM (T4tVD)

13 >>I made it about three minutes into the video before bailing.
Posted by: m

I got to 12 minutes! Lol.

Mornin', all

Posted by: My Life is Insanity at December 24, 2023 04:18 AM (kRaWf)

14 There is a cameo of a very Ewok-looking character in those first minutes.

Posted by: m at December 24, 2023 04:22 AM (x7m+Z)

15 Morning, 'rons and 'ettes.

Posted by: olddog in mo at December 24, 2023 04:24 AM (ju2Fy)

16 https://youtu.be/bsTQKcHC2qg?si=zBPQ46pdtGSPxJTs

Um, is the Israeli military trying to recruit me?
Posted by: Puddleglum at work at December 24, 2023 04:12 AM (AdHga)
-

No English. Just a for-local purposes morale video. The singer's name is Yehoram Ga'on. He's somewhere in his upper 80's or thereabouts. He's well known to kids and their grandparents because he popularized many songs. The one he's singing in the clip is "לא מנצחים אותי", which means "They Can't Defeat Me." Ancient hit.

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at December 24, 2023 04:27 AM (ch/kO)

17 16 https://youtu.be/bsTQKcHC2qg?si=zBPQ46pdtGSPxJTs

Um, is the Israeli military trying to recruit me?
Posted by: Puddleglum at work at December 24, 2023 04:12 AM (AdHga)
-

No English. Just a for-local purposes morale video. The singer's name is Yehoram Ga'on. He's somewhere in his upper 80's or thereabouts. He's well known to kids and their grandparents because he popularized many songs. The one he's singing in the clip is "לא מנצחים אותי", which means "They Can't Defeat Me." Ancient hit.
Posted by: Biden's Dog

Yea, that's the other thing. My Hebrew is non existent. I've read the Book of Hebrews a few times, in English. The Israeli gals were pretty cute, so the video had that going for it.

Posted by: Puddleglum at work at December 24, 2023 04:29 AM (AdHga)

18 The Christmas Star- A devotional based on the Gospel of Matthew:

http://tinyurl.com/3byxa7tx

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 24, 2023 04:31 AM (RSbhh)

19 Five laptop computers we'll still be talking about in 2024.

Some pretty weird ones. My favorite weirdest one was the laptop with no display screen. Just a pair of glasses that's like having a 100" screen.

Posted by: olddog in mo at December 24, 2023 04:37 AM (ju2Fy)

20 Uber driver in Al returns large amount of money after someone left it behind:

http://tinyurl.com/y9jdkbcp

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 24, 2023 04:38 AM (RSbhh)

21
Happy Summer to you Pixy as well as Merry Christmas. Being upside down, to Pixy, the winter solstice is the summer solstice and all that.

For Pixy, it really is Christmas in June/July, as least weather wise.

Posted by: publius, Rascally Mr. Miley at December 24, 2023 04:40 AM (Mzdiz)

22 A generous elderly, neighbor and a young girl:

http://tinyurl.com/2s4zpf6f

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 24, 2023 04:41 AM (RSbhh)

23 The Israeli gals were pretty cute, so the video had that going for it.
Posted by: Puddleglum at work at December 24, 2023 04:29 AM (AdHga)
-

And now we know why Google's YouTube selected it for you, based on your prior viewing preferences.

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at December 24, 2023 04:42 AM (ch/kO)

24 My sister went to university in Australia where her then boyfriend was playing professional soccer. She loved it there, but could never get used to seeing Santas in short sleeves.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 24, 2023 04:43 AM (RSbhh)

25 Some pretty weird ones. My favorite weirdest one was the laptop with no display screen. Just a pair of glasses that's like having a 100" screen.
Posted by: olddog in mo at December 24, 2023 04:37 AM (ju2Fy)

That's a cramped as hell keyboard too. If you are going to take away the screen, at least give a nice spread out keyboard with all the fun stuff.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at December 24, 2023 04:47 AM (di6C2)

26 23 The Israeli gals were pretty cute, so the video had that going for it.
Posted by: Puddleglum at work at December 24, 2023 04:29 AM (AdHga)
-

And now we know why Google's YouTube selected it for you, based on your prior viewing preferences.
Posted by: Biden's Dog

Cat videos, sportscar races, and Handel's Messiah? Google is weird and intrusive.

Posted by: Puddleglum at work at December 24, 2023 04:50 AM (AdHga)

27
I think Australia uses meteorological seasons (shifted 180 degrees as appropriate for their upside down nature).

Thus Summer is officially Dec, Jan, Feb, and so forth.

Posted by: publius, Rascally Mr. Miley at December 24, 2023 04:50 AM (Mzdiz)

28
Meteorological seasons is more accurate in my area of the country. If I look at historical records of the coldest day every winter, it's usually in early January. So 45 days before that date, and 45 days after has winter starting in late November and over by late February.

Posted by: Divide by Zero at December 24, 2023 04:58 AM (enJYY)

29
Because perihelion occurs near the Dec. Solstice, this causes and interesting effect. Here in the northern hemisphere, the longest apparent solar days occur during the shortest "days" in terms of daylight, sunrise to sunset times.

Because we're late in the leap year cycle, the solstice came late, Dec 22nd in UTC/Zulu. The longest true solar say thus occurred on Dec 23rd, yesterday, at 24h + 29.85s.

For Pixy, thus both "longest days" in both senses occur at the same time.

Posted by: publius, Rascally Mr. Miley at December 24, 2023 04:59 AM (Mzdiz)

30 This gCaptain, a major maritime news site:

https://x.com/gCaptain

Here's gCaptain's CEO with a report on how the US political and military echelons are failing on the big blue wet thing, thanks to Brandon's string pullers:

http://tinyurl.com/7mpc3jnr

(Nitter)

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at December 24, 2023 05:02 AM (ch/kO)

31 Nice version of "God rest ye merry, gentleman"

http://tinyurl.com/498y9zzu

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 24, 2023 05:12 AM (RSbhh)

32
As far as "hot" and "cold" go, meteorological seasons make the most sense in general. Local conditions can quibble with that a bit, but in general that works out.

Winter here in the northen hemisphere is thus Dec, Jan, Feb. Here (Greenville, SC) area that works out nicely in terms of normals.

Jan is the coldest month, in terms of normal temperatures and heating degree days. There is a lot of interesting behavior in comparing normal temperatures vs the HDD (and cooling degree days). In desert areas, the average temp for a day might be middling, but you have wide swings between day and night. The HDD and CDD values tell the story there.

Posted by: publius, Rascally Mr. Miley at December 24, 2023 05:14 AM (Mzdiz)

33
There is a difference between resting merry, and resting, merry gentlemen.

The song is about gentlemen who rest merry, not merry gentlemen resting.

Posted by: publius, Rascally Mr. Miley at December 24, 2023 05:14 AM (Mzdiz)

34 Posted by: publius, Rascally Mr. Miley at December 24, 2023 05:14 AM (Mzdiz

Yes.

That's why the comma is there .Merry, joyful about Jesus' birth. We sang that last week at church and I explained the difference. Many people don't know that it has quite a few verses.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 24, 2023 05:19 AM (RSbhh)

35 youtube.com/watch?v=Wit-jGD4wCw

Posted by: JQ at December 24, 2023 05:20 AM (njWTi)

36
That's similar to the difference, from that famous poem, of "going gentle into that good night" vs. "going gently".

That poem came to mind when my father passed Sept 5. Publius, Sr. went gently, but not gentle into the good night.

Posted by: publius, Rascally Mr. Miley at December 24, 2023 05:21 AM (Mzdiz)

37
There was some young idiot, writing about that poem, who chided the author for his grammatical "error" of saying "Do not go gentle".

That's how little grammar is taught nowadays.

Posted by: publius, Rascally Mr. Miley at December 24, 2023 05:25 AM (Mzdiz)

38 Posted by: JQ at December 24, 2023 05:20 AM (njWTi)

Very nice version and beautiful setting. Thanks. That was one of my mother's favorite carols.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 24, 2023 05:27 AM (RSbhh)

39
And there is a difference between resting merrily and resting merry.

Posted by: publius, Rascally Mr. Miley at December 24, 2023 05:32 AM (Mzdiz)

40 Merry Christmas, FenelonSpoke! Glad you liked it!

Posted by: JQ at December 24, 2023 05:32 AM (njWTi)

41 I think Australia uses meteorological seasons (shifted 180 degrees as appropriate for their upside down nature).
Thus Summer is officially Dec, Jan, Feb, and so forth.
Posted by: publius, Rascally Mr. Miley at December 24, 2023 04:50

I'm just glad the daylight is getting longer here a bit at a time. Too many dreary grey days. The other sunlit day was nice.

How is your Dad doing Publius? OK in his new surroundings?

Posted by: Farmer at December 24, 2023 05:37 AM (55Qr6)

42 The Force holding my balls in suspended animation is both Itchy and scratchy.

Chewy, fetch grandpa another beverage, - there's a good lad!

Posted by: Dr. Bone at December 24, 2023 05:37 AM (9v1kn)

43 youtube.com/watch?v=QN3KWbpBsvg

Posted by: JQ at December 24, 2023 05:39 AM (njWTi)

44 Posted by: JQ at December 24, 2023 05:32 AM (njWTi

Merry Christmas to you, dear.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 24, 2023 05:40 AM (RSbhh)

45 >> How is your Dad doing Publius? OK in his new surroundings?

Farmer, you may not remember, but he passed away on Sept. 5th.

It's okay, don't worry. :-) Just so you know.

Posted by: publius, Rascally Mr. Miley at December 24, 2023 05:41 AM (Mzdiz)

46 42 The Force holding my balls in suspended animation is both Itchy and scratchy.

Chewy, fetch grandpa another beverage, - there's a good lad!
Posted by: Dr. Bone at December 24, 2023 05:37 AM (9v1kn)

Perhaps that was in a later part than I watched of the Star Wars video posted up top!

Posted by: m at December 24, 2023 05:43 AM (x7m+Z)

47
This is adverb vs adjective thing can be subtle. I remember something about a 9/11 text, for some memorial that read "n hijackers boarded the flight unsuspected".

Some questioned the grammar of that, saying it should be "boarded unsuspectedly". No.

A simple example. Ponder the difference between "The sun shines bright" vs "The suns shines brightly".

Either two of those simple sentences ultimately mean about the same thing. But if you can parse the difference between them, you will see the difference between "boarded unsuspected" and "boarded unsuspectedly".

Posted by: publius, Rascally Mr. Miley at December 24, 2023 05:46 AM (Mzdiz)

48 Five laptop computers we'll still be talking about in 2024. (Ars Technica)

Five laptop computers
Four calling birds
Three French hens
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree

Posted by: m at December 24, 2023 05:47 AM (x7m+Z)

49 >>>Perhaps that was in a later part than I watched of the Star Wars video posted up top!

Posted by: m

>Hah! You couldn't make it thru the whole thing, could you? Those few moments of your life will be cherished for an eternity.

Posted by: Dr. Bone at December 24, 2023 05:55 AM (9v1kn)

50 Corny tech joke

What did one computer device say to the other?

Are you syching what I'm syching?

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 24, 2023 05:56 AM (RSbhh)

51 up with the new puppy, fun! not! Supposed to be another rainy day so outside time will be limited again. I love walking dogs at zero dark thirty in the rain, in my nightgown.

Posted by: lin-duh at December 24, 2023 06:00 AM (C39D0)

52 Krak is awake

Posted by: San Franpsycho at December 24, 2023 06:02 AM (RIvkX)

53 Beats cleaning up the mess if you don't take them out, lin-duh!

Posted by: JQ at December 24, 2023 06:02 AM (njWTi)

54 None of those laptops interest me.

Give me one that lasts a few days on battery. Then we'll talk. Oh, and excellent keyboard.

Those are the non-negotiables.

Posted by: WinLinBSDAdmin at December 24, 2023 07:38 PM (Hh3y4)

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