Discussions, summarized

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• Hacker News1Show HN: Kitten TTS – 25MB CPU-Only, Open-Source TTS ModelKitten TTS introduces a compact, open-source text-to-speech model under 25MB, supporting eight English voices. The model runs efficiently on basic devices without GPU requirements, making advanced speech synthesis accessible for edge computing applications.Model quality and comparisons:While impressive for its size, quality is seen as inferior to larger models like fish-speech and f5-tts. Some note the demo sounds better than local testing. Developers indicate this is an early preview with better versions coming.Python dependency issues:Users report problems with Python version compatibility and numerous dependencies, making "works everywhere" claim questionable. Discussion around using virtual environments and UV package manager as solutions.Performance benchmarks:Initial latency ~315ms, generates audio at ~5x realtime speed on CPU. Model loads in ~710ms. Performance consistent across voices. Some find this slower than alternatives like Piper on similar hardware.
• Reddit science1Using scented products indoors changes the chemistry of the air, producing as much air pollution as car exhaust does outside, according to a new study. Researchers say that breathing in these nanosized particles could have serious health implications.Using scented products indoors, such as flame-free candles and wax melts, can create significant indoor air pollution comparable to car exhaust. Research by Purdue University found these products release nanosized particles that can penetrate deep into lungs and potentially enter the bloodstream, posing serious respiratory health risks.Misleading title scope:Discussion about how study only focused on wax melts but title suggests all scented products, with debate about whether findings could logically extend to other scented itemsHealth concerns from chemist:A chemist's perspective against using scented products leads to sharing of personal health impact stories, from COPD to cancer cases, and debate about necessity of artificial scentsAir purification solutions:Discussion of HEPA filters and other air purification methods as solutions, with debate about effectiveness against different types of pollutants like VOCs and nanoparticles
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