Hacker News
1Everyone knows all the apps on your phone
- The article examines privacy concerns in Indian Android apps, revealing how many applications can access users' installed app lists. While Google implemented restrictions in 2022, many apps exploit loopholes or explicitly request permissions to view other installed apps, with companies like Swiggy, Zepto, and various lending apps collecting extensive data about users' app usage patterns.
Web apps vs native apps
Debate over whether native mobile apps are necessary, with some arguing most could be web apps. Proponents of native apps cite better UX, offline capability, and hardware access, while web app supporters emphasize privacy and platform independence.Android privacy loophole
Discussion of how Android apps can bypass package visibility restrictions to see all installed apps, with Google reportedly aware but not fixing the issue. Concerns raised about apps using this for profiling and privacy invasion.Windows app permissions
Exploration of Windows' looser security model allowing apps to see other apps' window titles and potentially monitor activity. Debate over risks and historical reasons for this "high-trust" approach.
2FBI raids home of prominent computer scientist who has gone incommunicado
- A prominent computer scientist and Indiana University professor, Xiaofeng Wang, has mysteriously gone silent while his university profiles were removed and his homes were raided by FBI agents. Wang had a distinguished 20-year career researching cryptography, privacy, and cybersecurity.
University's involvement
Discussion about IU's cooperation with investigation, data scrubbing of Wang's info weeks before FBI raid, and debate over whether university's actions suggest espionage vs immigration investigation.Government disappearances
Debate over whether Wang was "disappeared" by authorities, with some citing recent cases of government detentions while others argue evidence suggests he may have fled voluntarily.China initiative context
Discussion of case potentially being part of revived "China Initiative" program targeting Chinese-American academics, referencing past controversial prosecutions and low success rate catching actual spies.
3Utah becomes first US state to ban fluoride in its water
- Utah becomes the first US state to ban fluoride in public water, effective May 7, following health concerns raised by Robert F Kennedy. The ban faces criticism from dental experts who argue it will harm oral health, particularly for children, while supporters claim it gives citizens choice over fluoride consumption.
Effectiveness and safety
Debate over fluoride's dental benefits vs potential IQ impacts in children, with studies showing mixed results. Modern toothpaste may reduce need for water fluoridation, though evidence suggests benefits for low-income populations.Individual freedom vs public health
Discussion of whether fluoridation represents government overreach or a beneficial public health measure, with arguments about positive freedom (enabling health) versus negative freedom (freedom from intervention).Regional differences
Comparison of fluoridation practices across US states and internationally, noting that US is among minority of countries with widespread fluoridation while many European nations have different approaches.
4My TV started playing a video in full screen by itself. What happened?
- Scenic Mode is a free VIZIO TV feature that displays ambient content when the TV is idle. Users can control volume settings or disable it completely through the TV's settings menu. The feature includes relaxing nature content with ads and is available on most VIZIO Smart TVs from 2018 onwards.
Disabling smart features
Discussion of methods to prevent TVs from connecting to internet, including MAC blocking, removing WiFi modules, and using external devices like Apple TV, though some note TVs may require initial connection for features to work.Vizio's tracking history
Comments about Vizio's past privacy violations, including collecting viewing data and showing political ads, with users noting similar practices by other manufacturers and marking Vizio as "do not buy".Smart TV alternatives
Users discuss alternatives like monitors with mini PCs, projectors, commercial displays, and suggestions to maintain "dumb" TV setups, though noting increasing difficulty in finding non-smart options.
5Blue95: a desktop for your childhood home's computer room
- Blue95 is a modern desktop environment based on Fedora Atomic Xfce, designed to evoke nostalgia for vintage computing while maintaining modern usability. It features the Chicago95 theme and aims to balance retro aesthetics with contemporary functionality, focusing on core system components and user-friendly updates.
Modern UI/UX decline
Discussion of how modern OS interfaces have become worse by hiding functionality, adding distracting popups, and prioritizing branding over usability. Many argue Windows 95/2000 era had better UX with clearer, more functional designs.Parent tech support
Discussion about moving elderly parents from Windows to Linux/ChromeOS to protect them from malware and scams, while maintaining familiar interfaces through themes like Chicago95 to ease transition.Historical interface aesthetics
Debate about authentically recreating old interfaces, including challenges with modern high-res fonts vs original pixel fonts, CRT effects, and precise UI dimensions that affect the retro feel.
6Convert Linux to Windows
- A proposal to create a Linux distribution that natively runs Windows binaries through Wine, addressing Linux's binary compatibility issues while providing an alternative to increasingly restrictive commercial operating systems. This would offer Windows users an easier path to Linux adoption.
Wine implementation approaches
Discussion of different methods to run Windows apps on Linux, focusing on containerization (bottles, Flatpak) vs system-wide Wine integration, with emphasis on achieving consistent configuration and isolation between applications.Binary compatibility challenges
Debate about Linux vs Windows binary compatibility, exploring how dynamic linking, shared libraries, and ABI stability affect long-term software execution. Windows bundles dependencies while Linux relies on package managers.Backwards compatibility reality
Real-world experiences with running old software, questioning the narrative of Windows' perfect backwards compatibility, with examples of both Windows and Linux systems requiring specific versions for legacy applications.
7Veloren – Voxel action-adventure role-playing
- Veloren is a fantasy action-adventure role-playing game featuring vast open worlds, dynamic combat, crafting, and multiplayer capabilities. Players can explore diverse environments, battle monsters, mine resources, tame creatures, and interact with NPCs. The game encourages community participation and offers regular development updates.
Technical details
Discussion of how Veloren generates terrain using tectonic uplift and fluvial erosion, its use of wgpu for rendering, and development stack including MagicaVoxel and ECSGame design challenges
Debate about Veloren's gameplay limitations, with contributors noting it has interesting features but lacks coherent game design, highlighting challenges of open-source game developmentVoxel aesthetics
Discussion of why voxel games still use blocky graphics, with examples of non-cubic voxel games like Enshrouded, suggesting the blocky style is now an aesthetic choice rather than technical limitation
8Self-contained Python scripts with uv
- The article explains how to make Python scripts self-contained and executable using uv, a package manager. By adding uv to the shebang line and including dependency specifications in script headers, users can run Python scripts without managing virtual environments or installing dependencies globally, making script distribution and execution more streamlined.
Self-contained claims
Discussion questions whether UV scripts are truly "self-contained" since they require UV installation and create virtual environments. Some argue true self-containment would be like AppImage or py2exe executables.Comments vs code
Debate about using comments for dependency metadata vs embedding it in Python code structures. References PEP 723 standard. Some prefer code-based config while others defend comment-based approach as similar to shebangs.Windows compatibility
Users discuss challenges of using UV script shebangs on Windows, sharing workarounds like using py launcher or file associations. Some suggest alternatives like PyInstaller for Windows deployment.
9Paged Out #6 [pdf]
PDF format limitations
Discussion about readability challenges of PDF format, including scrolling issues, screen reader compatibility, and suggestions for alternatives like HTML/CSS while maintaining creative layout flexibilitySecurity concerns
Identification of XSS vulnerability in Django/JavaScript example code and discussion of proper encoding methods for template variables, with recommendations for using escapejs filterArtistic contributions
Debate about using illustrations from Russian artists, touching on ethical implications of supporting creators from certain countries, and discussion of human vs AI-generated art
10The average college student today
- A professor with over 30 years of experience describes concerning trends in modern college students, noting widespread functional illiteracy, poor writing skills, resistance to reading, excessive absences, and reliance on AI for assignments. The average student struggles with basic academic tasks and shows diminishing engagement in learning.
College as transaction
Students view college primarily as a means to get a job permit, not for learning. The system encourages this by making degrees requirements for white-collar work, while colleges struggle to balance credential value vs student demands.Screen addiction impact
Phone/social media use severely impacts student attention and learning. Many argue for restricting devices in K-12, citing major differences in students whose parents limit screen time vs those who don't.Lecture slides sharing
Widespread disagreement with professor refusing to share slides. Most argue slides should be provided to help students focus on understanding vs frantically taking notes, noting this was common practice pre-COVID.