Hacker News
1YouTube's new anti-adblock measures
- YouTube has implemented new anti-adblock measures including fake buffering delays equal to 80% of normal ad length. A filter solution was developed for uBlock Origin and Brave browser that helps avoid these delays by setting a specific parameter that prevents ads from being served in the first place.
Nature of advertising annoyance
Discussion centers on whether ads are disliked due to irrelevance or intrinsic characteristics, with many arguing ads are inherently disruptive regardless of targeting, while others note contextual ads can be usefulPaying for YouTube Premium
Debate about whether paying for YouTube Premium is worthwhile, with supporters saying it's good value and helps creators, while critics argue it rewards Google's aggressive tactics and fear ads will eventually come to PremiumAd blocking ethics
Discussion of whether blocking ads is morally justified given content isn't free to create, with some defending user autonomy and safety from malicious ads, while others argue it's wrong to consume content while blocking revenue
2Samsung embeds IronSource spyware app on phones across WANA
- An open letter to Samsung expresses concerns about AppCloud, a pre-installed bloatware on A and M series smartphones in West Asia and North Africa. The letter demands transparency about data collection practices and removal options, highlighting privacy risks and the app's connection to ironSource.
Privacy and surveillance concerns
Discussion of how mass surveillance and data collection by corporations enables targeting of individuals, with concerns about national security implications and calls for stronger privacy protectionsRoot access debate
Debate over whether users should have root access to their devices, balancing security risks with device ownership rights, and criticism of manufacturers' restrictions on device controlSamsung's AppCloud controversy
Discussion of Samsung's pre-installed AppCloud software across different regions, its unremovable nature, and alternative phone options like iPhones or other Android manufacturers
3Harper – an open-source alternative to Grammarly
- Harper is a grammar checking tool that is available at no cost and provides open-source access to its codebase, allowing users to freely use and modify the software for their grammar checking needs.
Grammarly vs rule-based systems
Users criticize Grammarly's shift to LLMs, noting deteriorating quality and inconsistent suggestions. Many prefer Harper's rule-based approach, though some find Harper's current capabilities limited compared to Grammarly.Natural language processing evolution
Discussion of how LLMs have overshadowed traditional NLP methods, with debate about whether Harper truly leverages "decades of research" or simply uses basic rules. Some argue older NLP methods still have value.Language tool alternatives
Users share and compare other grammar checking options like LanguageTool, Vale, and DeepL Write, discussing their features, customizability, and ability to run locally.
4Microsoft suspended the email account of an ICC prosecutor at The Hague
- Microsoft disabled the email account of Karim Khan, chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, in compliance with Trump's executive order after the ICC investigated Israel for war crimes. The move sparked concerns about U.S. tech companies being used to penalize opponents in allied nations.
European digital sovereignty
Discussion of Europe's need to move away from US tech dependence, with focus on Denmark's plans to switch from Microsoft and development of open source alternatives. Concerns about US control over EU's digital infrastructure.Microsoft's compliance
Debate about Microsoft's decision to comply with executive order without resistance, exploring corporate motivations and legal framework behind sanctions. Questions about long-term business impact in Europe.ICC investigation context
Discussion of broader geopolitical implications, particularly regarding US actions to protect Israel from ICC investigations and impact on US soft power internationally.
5AbsenceBench: Language models can't tell what's missing
- This paper introduces AbsenceBench, a test that evaluates how well large language models can detect deliberately removed information in texts. Despite excelling at finding specific information, models struggle to identify missing content, with even advanced models achieving only moderate success, revealing limitations in their attention mechanisms.
Detection of missing content
LLMs struggle to identify removed information when comparing original and edited texts, possibly due to attention mechanism limitations. Some argue it's a tuning issue while others see it as fundamental architectural constraint.Image recognition limitations
Discussion of how LLMs struggle with rotated images and counting objects, suggesting they rely more on memorization than true understanding. Data augmentation like rotation during training proposed as solution.Training methodology
Debate about how LLMs learn through memorization vs understanding, with suggestions to improve training by including explanations of wrong answers and focusing on comprehension rather than pattern matching.
6Show HN: Nxtscape – an open-source agentic browser
- Twin brothers Nithin and Nikhil are building Nxtscape, an open-source AI-powered browser that aims to revolutionize web browsing. Their browser features AI automation for tasks, tab management, and a privacy-first approach, offering users more control through local AI integration and open-source accessibility.
Vision for an AI-enhanced browser
Discussion of potential for AI browser to act as personal assistant - remembering history, filtering content, automating tasks, and managing information overload, all while keeping data local and private.Security concerns
Debate about security risks of AI agents having access to sensitive browser data, with focus on prompt injection threats and need for proper safeguards. Project team emphasizes local-first, open source approach.Local search vs AI
Arguments that detailed local history and deterministic search functionality may be more valuable than AI features, with some suggesting LLMs are unnecessary for personal data management.
7EU Eyes Ditching Microsoft Azure for France's OVHcloud
- The European Commission is in talks with OVHcloud to shift its cloud services away from Microsoft, aiming to boost European digital sovereignty. The move follows concerns about US tech dependence and could set a precedent for national administrations to favor European cloud providers.
Support for EU tech sovereignty
Broad agreement that EU should reduce dependence on US tech, though debate about whether EU providers like OVH can match US cloud quality. Discussion of how EU can build competitive tech ecosystem through investment and policy.OVH's reliability concerns
Mixed experiences with OVH - some cite reliable service while others point to major incidents like datacenter fire. Debate over whether OVH can match AWS/Azure/GCP quality, though acknowledgment they're improving.US tech political risks
Growing worries about US tech companies' political alignment and potential for US government control/interference. This drives EU desire for sovereignty, though challenges remain in fully replacing US tech infrastructure.
8Learn Makefiles
- This guide aims to demystify Makefiles by breaking down their core concepts and providing practical examples. It explains how Makefiles help manage program compilation by determining which parts need to be recompiled based on file changes, primarily focusing on C/C++ compilation. The guide covers essential syntax, variables, targets, rules, and prerequisites with clear, self-contained examples that readers can try themselves.
Make flags and features
Discussion of useful but lesser-known Make flags like output synchronization, load average limiting, and dependency shuffling, with debate about their portability and proper documentation in manuals.Make alternatives
Various Make alternatives like Just, Task, and Rake were discussed, with many arguing these tools are command runners rather than true build systems and lack Make's core dependency tracking functionality.Make best practices
Debate about proper Makefile conventions like marking targets as .PHONY, following style guides, handling dependencies, and whether Make should still be used for modern projects vs newer build systems.
9We moved from AWS to Hetzner, saved 90%, kept ISO 27001 with Ansible
- Company migrated from AWS to European cloud providers (Hetzner + OVHcloud), reducing costs by 90% while maintaining GDPR compliance. They rebuilt essential features using Terraform and Ansible, implementing comprehensive monitoring, security, and deployment systems.
Cost comparison and TCO
Debate around true costs of cloud vs self-hosted, including hidden costs like staffing. While 90% cost reduction sounds impressive, some argue TCO including operational overhead may be higher. Others say cloud providers exaggerate support benefits.European sovereignty
Discussion of European companies wanting to avoid US cloud providers due to data sovereignty concerns. AWS/Azure's "sovereign cloud" offerings viewed skeptically. Recent Microsoft/ICC incident cited as example of US control risks.Technical implementation
Details of implementing cloud-like features with Hetzner/OVH using tools like Terraform, Ansible, Prometheus. Focus on monitoring, logging, high availability. Some debate around necessity of complex setups for smaller workloads.
10Visualizing environmental costs of war in Hayao Miyazaki's Nausicaä
- The paper explores how visual storytelling in Miyazaki's "Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind" contributes to its anti-war and environmental themes. Through analysis of color, lighting, and visuals, it examines how the film reflects real-world war technologies and their impact on both humanity and nature, encouraging viewers to pursue peace and environmental consciousness.
Manga vs movie adaptation
Multiple commenters highlight that the manga is superior to the film, offering a more complete and philosophically rich story. The manga, drawn by Miyazaki himself, continues far beyond the movie's plot and explores deeper themes.Personal impact and nostalgia
Users share emotional stories of discovering Nausicaa in their youth, particularly during the 1980s, with several describing how they rediscovered the film years later after only having vague memories of it.Environmental and war themes
Discussion of the film's messaging about warfare's impact on nature, with debates about Nausicaa as a Christ-like figure and comparisons to real-world environmental destruction in war zones.