Daily Tech News 6 May 2026

Tech News

The latest version of Google Chrome has a neat new feature: It installs a 4GB local AI model on your computer without asking or even telling you. (That Privacy Guy)

Now that you know about it, can you delete it?

Yes, if you jump through seven flaming hoops.

Does it stay deleted?

No.

Not only is this a generally bad move, it is probably illegal in the UK and Europe.

Also, on my PC it's only 2.7GB for whatever reason.
Notepad++ is not out for the Mac. (Ars Technica)

The notepad is a lie.

Tech News

Lenovo's 5th generation Legion Tab is out now for $849. (Liliputing)

That's with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, which is not expandable.

I have the 3rd generation model with the same memory and storage capacity and a slightly lower display resolution. It cost me around $450, making the new model not a bargain I am in a hurry to pick up.
Microsoft is automatically adding Copilot as an author to Git commits if it occupied the same continental plate as your code at any point. (Heise)

Thanks, Microsoft!
Moving your systems to a mainframe is now cheaper than using VMWare. (The Register)

And it's not even IBM saying this.
Google Deep Mind staff in Britain are about to suddenly be laid off due to economic conditions. (Wired) (archive site)

I can see the future. And sometimes even the past. Present is cloudy though.

Musical Interlude

Disclaimer: Not.

Posted by: Pixy Misa at 04:30 AM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 BOING!

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at May 06, 2026 04:32 AM (lgmVC)

2 G'Day everyone

Posted by: Skip at May 06, 2026 04:33 AM (Ia/+0)

3 You want tech news????

I'll give you tech news!!!!

Stop buying HP printers!

https://tinyurl.com/5sf9cvjs

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at May 06, 2026 04:33 AM (lgmVC)

4 Mornin'

Posted by: Puddleglum, cheer up for the worst is yet to come at May 06, 2026 04:34 AM (sAmhv)

5 The latest version of Google Chrome has a neat new feature: It installs a 4GB local AI model on your computer without asking or even telling you.
-

I try to avoid anything Google. However, still stuck with my Android phone.

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at May 06, 2026 04:35 AM (lgmVC)

6 Musical Interlude

Something something.
-

Well here's something:

https://youtu.be/UelDrZ1aFeY

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at May 06, 2026 04:38 AM (lgmVC)

7 Steve at Hardware Unboxed lowered the boom on NVIDIA and "ray tracing" in his latest video on YT. Essentially, "ray tracing" is worthless for gaming, because serious gamers prefer FPS to image enhancement.

Posted by: mrp at May 06, 2026 04:39 AM (rj6Yv)

8 Now that you know about it, can you delete it?

Yes, if you jump through seven flaming hoops.

Haha, Pixy. Sounds like an Olympic sport for techies- "flaming hoop jumping"

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 06, 2026 04:39 AM (Yl2Ob)

9 No music interlude?

youtu.be/lsZG7n7ries

Posted by: Puddleglum, cheer up for the worst is yet to come at May 06, 2026 04:44 AM (sAmhv)

10 "A time to let go." Rabbi's daughter from the International fellowship of Christians and Jews. Writes on Leviticus 25:3-4:

https://tinyurl.com/bdhzpv7x

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 06, 2026 04:45 AM (Yl2Ob)

11 Ah, there it is. Fine Young Cannibals. They were a thing, and then, they weren't. They just disappeared.

Posted by: Puddleglum, cheer up for the worst is yet to come at May 06, 2026 04:45 AM (sAmhv)

12 Ah, there it is. Fine Young Cannibals. They were a thing, and then, they weren't. They just disappeared.

Posted by: Puddleglum, cheer up for the worst is yet to come at May 06, 2026 04:45 AM
-

Drop in consumer interest?

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at May 06, 2026 04:50 AM (lgmVC)

13 The last HP Printer (ink jet) was garbage and I vowed never to get another. Next one I get will be a laser printer. Maybe a Brother or Epson. No more HP. They used to be not terrible.

Posted by: Puddleglum, cheer up for the worst is yet to come at May 06, 2026 04:52 AM (sAmhv)

14 O.k for the insomniacs I have a suggestion. I've been drinking a tea about half an hour before I go to sleep and it's really helped me not wake up in the middle of the night. It has a dumb name but it works. It's called "Nighty Night Extra" from "traditional medicinals ". I got it a the supermarket in the tea section.. it has valerian and passion flowers and some other things. I think it's more effective-for me anyway, than taking a valerian tablet.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 06, 2026 04:52 AM (2sfNr)

15 Drop in consumer interest?

I guess. Or aliens. I don't know. British band. I was stationed over in the UK when they hit it big. They were all over the place and then, they weren't. I have no idea what ever happened to them. It's fascinating to read about these bands that hit it BIG and are all over the place, and then, gone, like a vapor in a hurricane. The music business is a harsh mistress.

Posted by: Puddleglum, cheer up for the worst is yet to come at May 06, 2026 04:55 AM (sAmhv)

16 Woman pulls man from burning car before it explodes. Faithpot site:

https://tinyurl.com/3dvvywnz

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 06, 2026 04:56 AM (2sfNr)

17 I don't think Donna from the ONT learned her lesson.

Posted by: no one of any consequence at May 06, 2026 04:57 AM (qFwJc)

18 Still need a new GPS, driving by phone isn't bad but can't watch any map on it

Posted by: Skip at May 06, 2026 05:02 AM (Ia/+0)

19 Drop in consumer interest?
-

I guess.

Posted by: Puddleglum, cheer up for the worst is yet to come at May 06, 2026 04:55 AM (sAmhv)
-

Pun lost.

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at May 06, 2026 05:03 AM (lgmVC)

20 Still need a new GPS, driving by phone isn't bad but can't watch any map on it

Posted by: Skip at May 06, 2026 05:02 AM (Ia/+0)
-

Why can't you watch maps on the phone?

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at May 06, 2026 05:04 AM (lgmVC)

21 "Strength is overrated" Reflection from a person on
2nd Corinthians 12:1-10. For those that have an interest, following the devotional and prayer are some study questions:

https://tinyurl.com/es4hveyb

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 06, 2026 05:04 AM (2sfNr)

22 Some peppy music for getting moving in your morning:

The Asteroids Galaxy Tour - The Golden Age (4K Official Video)
https://youtu.be/x5h-LAvQDCQ

Or to really wake you up for that commute, some "noise art":
Beck - Devils Haircut (Official Music Video)
https://youtu.be/aa3rBVb3v4g

Posted by: SciVo at May 06, 2026 05:06 AM (Sy6m/)

23 IIRC, the lead singer of Fine Young Cannibals was beheaded by Duncan MacLeod.

Posted by: Button-Pushing-Monkey at May 06, 2026 05:07 AM (EcHpA)

24 It's like a whacky cartoon out there in Turkey:

https://tinyurl.com/bds8frbz

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at May 06, 2026 05:11 AM (lgmVC)

25
g'mornin', 'rons

Posted by: AltonJackson at May 06, 2026 05:12 AM (8iYDv)

26 Pun lost.
Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey,

I'll go look for it.

Posted by: Puddleglum, cheer up for the worst is yet to come at May 06, 2026 05:18 AM (sAmhv)

27 >>>The last HP Printer (ink jet) was garbage and I vowed never to get another. Next one I get will be a laser printer. Maybe a Brother or Epson. No more HP. They used to be not terrible.

Posted by: Puddleglum, cheer up for the worst is yet to come

>All inkjet and liquid printers suck donkey balls. I'm surprised they still make them. I got a color laser and never looked back.

Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at May 06, 2026 05:19 AM (D1E+2)

28 20 Still need a new GPS, driving by phone isn't bad but can't watch any map on it
[snip]
Why can't you watch maps on the phone?
_-_
I still think you should learn to ride a horse. What do you think they're gonna do, pave the whole world just so you can drive that newfangled velocipede around everywhere?
Oh, sorry, wrong century.
paper maps. Paper Maps PAPER MAPS!

Oh, you can't find thiose, huh?

I think you should stop and ask for directions.

Posted by: Doni n SoCo at May 06, 2026 05:29 AM (48Lzp)

29 Duo sings old time hymn, "Great is thy faithfulness":

https://tinyurl.com/4xvk8rtw

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 06, 2026 05:33 AM (Yl2Ob)

30 Eventually companies like HP are going to do this stupid subscription crap enough that some programmers are going to band together and create an open-source firmware project to take back our hardware devices.

One of these already exists for routers: OpenWRT.

Yeah. Something like that.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at May 06, 2026 05:33 AM (O7YUW)

31 Switched to Brother inkjets about a decade ago after frustrations with HP and its drivers.

Need just B&W, scanning and copying. Use cheap Chinese ink cartridges. Works for me!

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at May 06, 2026 05:35 AM (lR5Ug)

32 I'm now waiting for someone to write a program that can permanently remove the AI garbage from Chrome and keep it uninstalled.

All they have to do is charge about $5 for it and within a week, they don't have to work any more.

Posted by: NR Pax at May 06, 2026 05:40 AM (BpO1e)

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