Daily Tech News 28 July 2026

Top Story

The best time to buy an Nvidia graphics card is never. The second best time is also never. (WCCFTech)

Nvidia has just raised card prices by another 30%. A minor inconvenience for me, as I do have four perfectly adequate graphics cards and two kind of crappy ones already. If you were waiting for prices to come down, well, keep on waiting I guess.

Tech News

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei says he doesn't support dropping space colonies on competing Chinese AI firms but if a colony were somehow to drop would that really be such a bad thing? (Tech Crunch)

I mean, really?
Speaking of Anthropic, shocking news from Claude where it turns out that sharing a chat session means... You share your chat session. (Notebook Check)

And it ends up in Google.
ChatGPT now refuses to write in the style of famous authors, even mostly dead ones like Charles Dickens. (Ars Technica)

Since even college English majors these days struggle to understand Dickens, maybe shoot a little lower.
Who will be the last man standing when the cookie crumbles, and why will it be Apple? (MacRumors)

Because while Apple's Vision Pro headset was a resounding flop, it was at least a product you could buy. Make it smaller and lighter and cheaper and it might not fail so hard next time. And the entire project cost less than some AI companies are burning in a week.

Musical Interlude

Disclaimer: People are people! You're peopling people!

Posted by: Pixy Misa at 04:40 AM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Morning all

Posted by: Tuna at July 28, 2026 04:38 AM (lJ0H4)

2 G'Day everyone

Posted by: Skip at July 28, 2026 04:40 AM (Ia/+0)

3 Finally a day not too far from home, little later start but don't have to leave in 10 minutes at least

Posted by: Skip at July 28, 2026 04:41 AM (Ia/+0)

4 Called the others

Posted by: SciVo at July 28, 2026 04:45 AM (Sy6m/)

5 BOING!

Back from shopping with Mrs. BD. Expecting to host over 20 pups and grandpups this coming weekend.

Lotta grilling will be done.

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at July 28, 2026 04:46 AM (1o8D5)

6 Called the others

Posted by: SciVo at July 28, 2026 04:45 AM (Sy6m/)
-

My phone was on mute. Sorry.

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at July 28, 2026 04:46 AM (1o8D5)

7 Where's our w00t?

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at July 28, 2026 04:47 AM (1o8D5)

8 Mornin'

Posted by: Puddleglum, cheer up for the worst is yet to come. at July 28, 2026 04:48 AM (sAmhv)

9 I opened the door and the 2.5 ball of fluff was here ready to purr in my ear. I had to put him in another room because I don't want him to think that breakfast will be served at 4:00.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at July 28, 2026 04:51 AM (W90Ou)

10 Make that 2.5 "lb" ball of fluff.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at July 28, 2026 04:51 AM (W90Ou)

11 I had such a nice morning yesterday. Spouse and I went to the RCC in the town over . It is such a lovely place with the stained glass windows, and I appreciate the people of various nationalities there to worship the Lord, There were some young guys there ( maybe they go before work ) but I appreciate young, devout people and I wonder whether some of them might be discerning whether they wish to enter the priesthood. I was there to pray for a special intention, and no, I do not take the Eucharist.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at July 28, 2026 04:56 AM (W90Ou)

12 Pixy never really answered my investment question.

But based what he says, I exchanged my Nvidia shares for Bitcoin

Posted by: Miklos gonna be RICH at July 28, 2026 04:57 AM (A764u)

13 Time for sausages and French Toast

Posted by: Skip at July 28, 2026 04:57 AM (Ia/+0)

14 I don't want him to think that breakfast will be served at 4:00.
Posted by: FenelonSpoke

Please explain this same thing to Miss Dixie.

She is a girl, but more importantly she is a dog, and food demands are 24/7, if I go into the kitchen.

Posted by: Miklos does right by doggie at July 28, 2026 05:00 AM (A764u)

15 Time for sausages and French Toast
Posted by: Skip

There are muffins on the table.

Uncle Raymond sent some "grits" from Myrtle Beach, but there are no instructions on how to cook them

Posted by: Auntie Miklos at July 28, 2026 05:02 AM (A764u)

16 Beer here - NOT!

https://tinyurl.com/4rn5w948

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at July 28, 2026 05:03 AM (1o8D5)

17 Posted by: Miklos does right by doggie at July 28, 2026 05:00 AM (A764u

LOL. I understand

I think Millard probably thinks he should be fed 24/7 but I just shut the door and leave. 😉

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at July 28, 2026 05:03 AM (W90Ou)

18 Pixy never really answered my investment question.

But based what he says, I exchanged my Nvidia shares for Bitcoin

Posted by: Miklos gonna be RICH at July 28, 2026 04:57 AM (A764u)
-

https://tinyurl.com/4yvz3bvf

I wish I had more money to invest right now!

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at July 28, 2026 05:04 AM (1o8D5)

19 "The small things". Deuteronomy 7:11-12
International Fellowship of Christians and Jews:

https://tinyurl.com/33veb5de

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at July 28, 2026 05:07 AM (rHgXV)

20
g'mornin', 'rons

Posted by: AltonJackson at July 28, 2026 05:11 AM (AMvSw)

21 I wish I had more money to invest right now!
Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs

My Fund Manager is Mr. Haney over in Pixley.

He's always got some hot money maker ideas

Posted by: Miklos at Green Acres (of the Bug Tussle Mikloses) at July 28, 2026 05:11 AM (A764u)

22 Fen, it sounds like the fluff ball has begun the takeover.

Posted by: NR Pax at July 28, 2026 05:13 AM (RjOoY)

23 Mallard Fastway has taken calvinball to a new level

https://autos.yahoo.com/scofflaw-duc k-keeps-triggering-speed-1830 00102.html

It's technology and how to fuck with it

Posted by: The Ballots at July 28, 2026 05:14 AM (LOZbR)

24 Disclaimer: People are people!

Except when they're lizard people wearing skin suits.

Posted by: ask me about sleestaks at July 28, 2026 05:23 AM (quOHo)

25 Miklos I do need to go to Myrtle Beach in near future

Posted by: Skip at July 28, 2026 05:23 AM (Ia/+0)

26 @23/The Ballots:

So from the article, these cameras aren't hooked to the internet, and are stand-alone. Someone should take one off the pole, put it in the back of a truck pointing out to either side, and take it for a drive on the M1 motorway (70 MPH) and then return it to its pole. Let them figure THAT one out from the thousands of pictures it'll take of speeding buildings and trees.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at July 28, 2026 05:27 AM (O7YUW)

27 Solvent Green is people.

Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at July 28, 2026 05:28 AM (tBH5l)

28 Dar al Islam, state by state:

https://tinyurl.com/93kjwrvk

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at July 28, 2026 05:28 AM (1o8D5)

29 I do need to go to Myrtle Beach in near future
Posted by: Skip

I will buy you and the missus breakfast at Mammy's Kitchen.

Get there early, because always a line

Posted by: Miklos in younger than Mammy's Kitchen at July 28, 2026 05:29 AM (A764u)

30 Dar al Islam, state by state:

https://tinyurl.com/93kjwrvk

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at July 28, 2026 05:28 AM (1o8D5)
-

Sigh of relief. Signs of resistance:

https://tinyurl.com/2nw9fzh7

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at July 28, 2026 05:32 AM (1o8D5)

31 I've always regarded the late night ONT as a kind of containment board for Miklos. To see him frolicking and capering about free and feral in the tech thread is alarming. He's not to be fed after midnight. No good will come of this.

Posted by: even mugwumps get the blues at July 28, 2026 05:35 AM (+sI/O)

32 This is sad. Advertising has always made use of unrealistic models and fake, scripted video with all the same editing tricks as any TV drama. But, influencers give the act an air of verisimilitude, which mixes with generative AI (there's your tech hook) like oil and fire.

Before, health and beauty advertising used people with impossibly good genetics, made up by pros, and younger than as portrayed. Now, they don't even exist.

The Woman Who Wasn’t There
battleswarmblog.com/?p=72520

I'm practically immune to this, because for one thing, I don't make the kind of purchases where the pitchman's skin is a testimony; and I also just don't like people much, so "parasocial relationship" content doesn't appeal. But I understand I'm in a minority.

Posted by: SciVo at July 28, 2026 05:36 AM (Sy6m/)

33
well, great. I just learned about something else I have to fear: open-weight AIs. And first, I have to learn what they are.

Posted by: Blonde Mortixtl at July 28, 2026 05:37 AM (mmrXZ)

34 w00t late

Posted by: m at July 28, 2026 05:39 AM (faghi)

35 No good will come of this.
Posted by: even mugwumps get the blues

It's OK

Bojangles opened 10 minutes ago

Senator Darline got interns to go fetch it too

Posted by: Miklos feels like some "consulting" work is in order at July 28, 2026 05:42 AM (A764u)

36 w00t late
Posted by: m

ex post woot facto

Posted by: Miklosius Caroliniensis the Elder at July 28, 2026 05:43 AM (A764u)

37 post woot ergo propter woot?

Posted by: Warai-otoko at July 28, 2026 05:45 AM (Ot/FD)

38 I'm practically immune to this, because for one thing, I don't make the kind of purchases where the pitchman's skin is a testimony; and I also just don't like people much, so "parasocial relationship" content doesn't appeal. But I understand I'm in a minority.
Posted by: SciVo at July 28, 2026 05:36 AM (Sy6m/)

The "influencer" style of ad already backfires horribly with a lot of people, including me. Replacing the fake person with a fake fake person doesn't really change things for us.

Posted by: Warai-otoko at July 28, 2026 05:48 AM (Ot/FD)

39 I guess it is the way I was taught. My mom would put a plate of food and a bowl of water on the floor for the cat and the cat would eat and drink as it pleases over the course of the day.

Cats are not like dogs. They are not going to wolf it all down in one sitting.

My cat always seemed to be worried about where her next was coming from. She would cry with the plate was half empty. LOL.

Posted by: no one of any consequence at July 28, 2026 05:51 AM (qFwJc)

40 post woot ergo propter woot?
Posted by: Warai-otoko

I was just discussing Descartes with my dog the other day...

She suggested "woof" instead

Posted by: Le Mikleuse at July 28, 2026 05:52 AM (A764u)

41 >>>even college English majors these days struggle to understand Dickens

"What the Dickens!"

--college English majors these days

Posted by: m at July 28, 2026 05:55 AM (faghi)

42 This is a nice prayer by Elizabeth Goudge, ( 1900-1984) who was a wonderful novelist- and I didn't recall this-the daughter of an Anglican priest:

O Everlasting Mercy, who once in time came from the height of heaven to the depth of our need, come again in power to forgive us and renew us and set us on fire, that through the labours and prayers of broken- hearted sinners your mercy may banish the darkness and bring new life upon the earth.
--------
She also has a collection of prayers called "A Diary of Prayer."

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at July 28, 2026 05:59 AM (xSAlF)

43 Morning, 'rons and 'ettes.

Posted by: olddog in mo at July 28, 2026 05:59 AM (Hbeqj)

44 w00t late

Posted by: m at July 28, 2026 05:39 AM (faghi)
-

w00t hang.

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at July 28, 2026 06:00 AM (1o8D5)

45 Have a great day horde

Posted by: Skip at July 28, 2026 06:03 AM (Ia/+0)

46 If Dickens were an English professor today, he'd just be Ens.

Posted by: Warai-otoko at July 28, 2026 06:04 AM (Ot/FD)

47 still faghi after all these w00ts

Posted by: m at July 28, 2026 06:08 AM (faghi)

48 Good morning, All.

Waiting for graphics card prices to come down...
Come to think of it, I never played Zork II and Zork III

Posted by: JM in Illinois at July 28, 2026 06:08 AM (O/BY1)

49 Old time hymn by a Welshman who lived in the 1700's- William Williams- "Guide Me, Thou Great Jehovah":

https://tinyurl.com/yc653a9h

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at July 28, 2026 06:13 AM (W90Ou)

50 The "(fake word)" style of ad already backfires horribly with a lot of people, including me. Replacing the fake person with a fake fake person doesn't really change things for us.
Posted by: Warai-otoko at July 28, 2026 05:48 AM (Ot/FD)

The sooner that word dies, the better.

Posted by: Cow Demon at July 28, 2026 06:13 AM (pDKdk)

51 Posted by: NR Pax at July 28, 2026 05:13 AM (RjOoY)

LOL. Not quite yet, only because he got moved out during our prayer time.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at July 28, 2026 06:15 AM (W90Ou)

52
Good morning, Hordians. Up, dressed, morning prayers said, dogs run out, coffee prepared. Now sitting in the Command Center at Schloss Hadrian running journal article DOIs, one by one, through Google Scholar to see if there are online copies.

The Great Computer Saga continues. I pulled the hard drive yesterday and ordered a replacement. Since the damn thing passed its memory test, I reckon I can just swap disks for $75 instead of getting a new computer for $750.

Meanwhile I also ordered a SATA adapter to try to read the old hard drive and pull files therefrom. Upon consultation with competent authority, if it's not the boot disk, it may be readable.

I have no idea what I'm doing, of course.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at July 28, 2026 06:17 AM (O0L8i)

53 Evening and morning for the last Tiu's Day of a nasty hot July, all!

I dreamed last night that Miss Linda and I stayed at a hotel -- some kind of car trip -- and the room they gave us was a suite. Uh-huh. "Suite" as in "dorm room." No separate bedrooms, narrow beds and lounge chairs to sleep on, one bathroom, and three or four other guests were already in there. (At first glance one resembled Shirley Booth, the Hazel TV actress, but then I realized it wasn't her.) The people were nice enough, but --! I glanced at Linda, said, "This isn't working," and she murmured, "No."

I was heading downstairs to get us a real room -- or check us out -- when I woke up. Scary stuff.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at July 28, 2026 06:18 AM (wzUl9)

54 Birdbath status?

Posted by: Just Wondering at July 28, 2026 06:20 AM (2Ez/1)

55 @39/no one of any consequence: "My cat always seemed to be worried about where her next was coming from. She would cry with the plate was half empty. LOL."

Let me sing you the song of our starving peoples...

(Cats everywhere)

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at July 28, 2026 06:21 AM (O7YUW)

56 Dr. Fauci scheduled for Senate hearing tomorrow. I'm getting the popcorn ready, but I am not expecting much.

Posted by: JM in Illinois at July 28, 2026 06:21 AM (O/BY1)

57 38 The "influencer" style of ad already backfires horribly with a lot of people, including me. Replacing the fake person with a fake fake person doesn't really change things for us.
Posted by: Warai-otoko at July 28, 2026 05:48 AM (Ot/FD)

Agreed.

Posted by: m at July 28, 2026 06:22 AM (faghi)

58 I opened the door and the 2.5 ball of fluff was here ready to purr in my ear. I had to put him in another room because I don't want him to think that breakfast will be served at 4:00.
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at July 28, 2026

***
Not unusual. When he was a little kitten (which did not last long -- soon he was a *big* kitten), Stirling wanted to leap on the bed to milk-tread my arm as soon as I woke up. Or earlier. I had to lock him out of the bedroom until I got up for work, and leave a few extra minutes so that he could do his "Are you my mother???" thing. Or he'd have been on me at two a.m.

As for cat eating habits, yes, they do tend to eat small portions. But Stirling likes to inhale 90% of his chow at one time, breakfast or dinner, and then trot over to eat some of Dagny's. She leaves some and comes back later. I have to take up her bowl to protect it from him, then put it back down for her.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at July 28, 2026 06:27 AM (wzUl9)

59 mornin yall. $20k to replace 90 feet of concrete driveway? I don't think so.

Posted by: fd at July 28, 2026 06:29 AM (MWfyi)

60 Anyway! I am up with coffee and a pipe. My right knee is still bothering me, preventing serious exercise, so I'm taking it easy for a few days. Might hit the library today, and Thursday I have my haircut in the morning, but I'm trying to move as lightly as possible. How 'bout choo?

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at July 28, 2026 06:30 AM (wzUl9)

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