Wow, I remember this. My Dad won a Apple Newton MessagePad 100 and I loved using it as a kid to draw. While I appreciated the ability to write notes, I found having to enter letters one using the special character input was too much friction for regular use. You basically had to learn some of your ABCs when writing letter by letter. Sadly the device was not really used by either my Dad or I because it was too much hassle to relearn how to write.
Would really like to know what makes a person (or group of people) invest the time and energy to do this? Is there a group of hobbyist gamers who work on titles they love? Is it about digital conservation?
Yes, I had the first version and loved it. Back then searching for local files took forever. I was upset when it was discontinued. Even today on a high spec Windows 11 Pro machine search isn't as good as what it was with Google Desktop back then.
I'm really glad there was an effort by streamers and influencers (shout-out to Asmongold and Penguinz0) to back Ross up and push back on PirateSoftware's incorrect take on this initiative. For a while it looked like the UK wasn't going to get 100k votes and that the EU initiative wasn't going to hit the million mark. Then about a week ago content got uploaded and this initiative got a much needed boost.
The console wars are no longer company vs company, it is company vs consumer. So much anti consumer shenanigans are going on in the video game industry a message needs to be sent.
If you care about video games, even in passing as a complete casual, please sign the petitions. I've done my dash for the UK.
As a parent I worry about this technology being used on children. While one way of preventing this from happening is to limit photos of children on social media it's extremely difficult to maintain this once they hit high school/secondary school. That approach also doesn't stop someone taking source photos or video using their phone.
You can get Gemini 2.5 Pro to help you with infra and deploymnet, code quality and ownership, testing, CI/CD and automation, as well as Documentation... as long as you know to ask for it.
You also don't necessarily need all of that to hack together an MVP. I think a lot of people are not acknowledging that and they are negatively looking down on people embracing a new way of 'writing' code. Users don't care how you make a thing, they just want the thing to work.
Before ChatGPT made a breakthrough in LLMs, code was leverage. Now, LLMs are leverage. I think people suddenly finding that their leverage has been significantly eroded is the source of the negativity towards a "vibe coder".
So while anyone can write a book (the technology has existed since about 500 CE), few do, and there are fewer really good books. No matter the medium it's how you leverage the tool(s) you got.
I think this is a Prometheus moment, LLMs are giving coding to humanity, and it's getting adopted right now by people brave enough to try and embrace it even though 'software development' might be way outside of their comfort zone. I think it's worth cheering those people on even if they fail their way forward.
I think AI is just leverage for whatever you want to do. How you use that leverage, and what you apply it to is what matters. It's just another tool for humanity.
I don't really understand where this fits in the market? It's not as intelligent as the pack leaders and is about onpar with GPT-4o mini. When comparing it to GPT-4o mini further, while it is a bit faster, GPT-4o mini is a lot more cheaper [Source: https://artificialanalysis.ai/models/nova-pro/providers].
In terms of value for money, I would probably go with GPT-4o mini and not Nova Pro. Maybe Amazon feels that it needs to have their own offering to stay relevant?
Where exactly is the Apple Intelligence that was advertised? Siri absolutely cannot go into your phone's calendar and see who you bumped into at some bar or café. I've been using the Pixel 9 Pro as my daily driver and while I really wanted to install CalyxOS on it, I've found Gemini to be actually useful (and I'm generally biased against Google).
Apple is behind the curve like Google was prior to Gemini 2.5 Pro, but unlike Google, I cannot see Apple having the talent to catch up unless they make some expensive acquisitions and even then they will still be behind. I was shocked at how good Gemini 2.5 Pro is. The cost and value for money difference is so big that I'm considering switching away from my API usage of Claude Sonnet 3.7 to Gemini 2.5 Pro.
I somewhat agree. For me Dune: Part One (2021) and Dune: Part Two (2024) had the visual, sound and acting talent, but felt like it was missing something. I'd almost say it was soulless. I think the problem was in the dialogue or how scenes we acted, I don't know. I didn't think Dune (1984) was any good, but I think that had a lot to do with the technology and film making techniques at that time.
I think the only good Dune media besides the books was the video game Dune II: The Building of a Dynasty by Westwood Studios (RIP). Without it, I think there would be no Command & Conquer and no heyday for the real-time strategy (RTS) genre.
I think it was objectively terrible, certainly I found it almost entirely unredeemable except for very few CGI scenes (the wizard magic wand training sequence if I remember correctly) and a very golden set piece at the end.
Disney then canned it and I'm pretty sure they removed it from Disney+ for a tax write off.
I need to rewatch in light of your criticisms. I focused on the film taking on the theme of what makes a human. In light of the AI developments since the film's release in 2017, and Her in 2013, I wonder a lot about the ethical issues around a slave class of intelligence.
I'm gutted it's cancelled! Thanks for letting me know. What a pity, it was amazing. I haven't liked a sci-fi animated series that much since Final Space.
Yeah I was upset at Altered Carbon being cancelled. It was very good. I've been hoping a video game studio picks up the rights and makes a good AA or AAA game. I sadly didn't find Altered Carbon: Resleeved as good as the main series.
If you're a sci-fi and/or a fantasy fan I really recommend watching the original film and the prequel in that order and make your own mind up.
I was young when the original came out so I found it good but scary. I felt the prequel was excellent and it left me wanting more.
These days I feel a lot of my youthful nostalgia has been vandalised for a quick corporate buck. Probably the worst has been Willow on Disney+.
There are so few examples of good follow-ups to nostalgic media. The only other example I can think of is Blade Runner (1982) and Blade Runner 2049 (2017).
I think Studio Ghibli's 'secret sauce' is the "Kishōtenketsu" or four act structure that makes Studio Ghibli special:
1. Ki (Introduction) - Sets up characters and situation.
2. Shō (Development) - Expands the characters and fleshes them out.
3. Ten (Twist) - Introduces a new element or change.
4. Ketsu (Conclusion) - Shows the outcome and connections between elements.
In contrast Western films usually follow a three act structure:
1. Setup - Introduces the hero, often stepping into the unknown, and establishes the initial conflict and sets the stage for the story.
2. Confrontation - The hero faces mounting challenges and conflicts, often involving threats to innocent people or community. Stakes are raised and the story progresses to a conclusion.
3. Resolution - The story culminates in a climatic confrontation between the hero and the villain. Some sacrifice is usually paid, the hero triumphs, justice is served and order returns to the community.
I grew up on Disney and the three act structure, so when I experienced Studio Ghibli for the first time with Princess Mononoke it felt very different, fresh and more mature. While I don't necessarily love all of Studio Ghibli's catalogue, I do treasure Princess Mononoke, Kiki's Delivery Service, and Porco Rosso.
In the case of Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, I highly recommend reading the manga over watching the Studio Ghibli anime.