Version
1.58.0 of the Rust programming language is available.
Rust 1.58 brings captured identifiers in format strings, a change
to the Command search path on Windows, more
#[must_use] annotations in the standard library, and some
new library stabilizations.
More information on “captured identifiers” (the ability to use in-scope
variables directly in format strings) can be found on this page.
Source: LWN.net – Rust 1.58.0 released
Libre Arts has posted an
interview with four Inkscape developers.
From what I understand, what helped was finally porting the user
interface from GTK2 to GTK3. It was just a huge task and brought
many regressions, some of them are still in even after 2
years. Just to compare, 1.0 was in alpha state for 1.5 years; but
for 1.1, it was just 3 months. So if you want a faster release,
don’t port your app. Too late for us though! And we probably need
to port again to GTK4 now if we want to fix performance
regressions.
Source: LWN.net – Streamlining Inkscape for the masses (Libre Arts)
Humble is looking to streamline its gaming service, but some users will lose the ability to take advantage of it in the process. With a new launcher in the works, those on a Mac and those using Linux will not be invited to the party.
Gaming services offer a convenient way for gamers to find and access games. Recently fans of Fortnite were
Source: Hot Hardware – Humble Bundle Subscription Gaming Services Kicks Linux And Mac To The Curb
Facebook’s New Product Experimentation (NPE) team is often quick to abandon apps that don’t find traction, and a video speed-dating service it has tested over the last nine months is next for the chopping block. The company told Sparked users the experiment will shut down on January 20th.
“We started building Sparked in late 2020 to help people find love through an experience rooted in kindness. Since then, thanks to regular input and feedback from you, we improved where we could, learned a ton, and made connections between people,” Facebook wrote in the email, which TechCrunch obtained. “Like many good ideas, some take off and others, like Sparked, must come to an end.”
Users will be able to download their data before January 20th. After that date, Facebook will wipe their Sparked accounts.
Sparked was a blend of Chatroulette, the video chats other dating apps have introduced over the last few years and a speed dating event. At a predetermined time, users from a certain area or demographic would take part in dating events (there were a few global events too). They’d have four minutes to chat with a potential match, and if they both wanted to spend more time with each other, they could set up a second, 10-minute date and/or exchange contact details.
Although users needed a Facebook account to use Sparked, the service was distinct from both Facebook and Facebook Dating. It had no public profiles, messaging or matching features, like swiping on Tinder.
Facebook initially described Sparked as a small beta test to learn about video dating, so it might not truly have intended for the service to blow up in popularity. Both Sparked and Facebook Dating added audio chat features last year.
Sparked is joining a long list of NPE projects that Facebook has shut down, including Pinterest-style app for hobbyists Hobbi, TikTok clone Lasso and selfie app MSQRD. A few NPE apps remain on the App Store in the US: TikTok-esque app for rappers called BARS, an app for couples called Tuned and collaborative music video app Collab. Facebook said this week that Collab is also closing down on March 12th.
Source: Engadget – Facebook’s video speed-dating service is shutting down January 20th
Three months ago, engineering student Ken Pillonel successfully reverse-engineered and hacked an iPhone X with a working USB-C port: a useful feature Apple still refuses to deliver. Inspired by Pillonel’s ingenuity, Gernot Jöbstl has one-upped their creation with another iPhone X with a USB-C port, but with an …
Source: Gizmodo – World’s First Waterproof iPhone With a Working USB-C Port Is Going Up for Auction
Troy Baker, best known as the voice behind The Last Of Us Part II’s Joel Miller, made trouble for himself overnight when he announced his support for a new NFT venture around monetizing artists’ voice work. “You can hate. Or you can create. What’ll it be?” he standoffish-ly tweeted. It didn’t take fans long to decide.
Source: Kotaku – Last Of Us Voice Actor Pisses Everyone Off With NFT Push
The upcoming Steam Deck is one of the most anticipated handheld systems in a long time, in part because it has the backing of Valve and its Steam digital distribution platform. But will it arrive on time? No, because it was originally scheduled to start shipping in December. However, after delaying shipments to February, Valve offered up
Source: Hot Hardware – Valve’s Steam Deck Handheld Gaming PC Is Definitely Shipping In February, Probably
The new Scream movie, like many recent franchise revivals, brings in a mix of familiar faces and new ones to confront a threat from the past. But it goes beyond just embracing that format so many part-reboot, part-continuation series returns from a narrative perspective—and dives into territory you’d never expect a …
Source: Gizmodo – The New Scream’s Surprising, Sneaky Link to Star Wars
Are you too good at Wordle? Of course you are. You know all the strategies: which words to guess first, which vowels to test right out of the gate. You’re probably sick of embarrassing everyone on Twitter with all your green squares. If Wordle feels too easy these days, you might want to try its twisted cousin, …
Source: LifeHacker – Try This Game If You’re Already Too Good at Wordle
An anonymous reader shares a report: As colleges around China approach their final few weeks before the winter break, frequent users of Douyin (TikTok’s Chinese version) may have noticed a new type of post in their feeds: students asking for likes and followers to pass their final exams. Xu Maomao, for example, posted a video hash-tagged “SOS,” where she pled for 10,000 followers in order to complete a course called “Self-Made Media Content Creation and Operation” that she is taking at the Communication University of Zhejiang (CUZ). “I am now an ordinary college student forced to become a social media influencer,” joked Xu Maomao. As influencers in Europe struggle to balance the weight of selling a brand and remaining âoeauthenticâ to their followers, their Chinese counterparts are taking college courses that will help them secure a career path towards the lucrative profession of social media influencers.
From China’s e-commerce hub Hangzhou, to the inland agricultural base of Henan Province, and even in far-off Tibet, vocational colleges across China are training young people to become professional influencers. Semesters are now spent on entry-level courses on topics such as short-video editing, social media marketing, e-commerce, and other aspects of the new “trade,” and are often taught in cooperation with industry players such as the social media platforms themselves. By offering these courses, the Chinese higher education system is now part of the driving force for the professionalization of Chinese social media influencers and is producing a large talent pool that is now pouring into the country’s flourishing digital economy. By December 16, two days before the deadline, Xu Maomao was still half way to go towards the goal of 10,000 followers. Her course instructor eventually agreed that anyone with 5,000 followers could get a 90 for the final exam, perhaps because too few had achieved the original target.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Source: Slashdot – In China, You Can Go To College To Become a Social Media Influencer
NASA is currently attempting to unclog the bit carousel that houses the core samples taken by the Mars Perseverance rover. It seems that pebble-sized debris is keeping the carousel from operating properly.
Just before the end of 2021, NASA shared a look back on its Mars Perseverance rover and all it had achieved during the year. From the
Source: Hot Hardware – NASA To Attempt First Mars Rover Debris Removal As Pebbles Clogged Up Perseverance
An anonymous reader writes: The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) said today that it has raided and shut down the operations of the REvil ransomware gang. Raids were conducted today at 25 residents owned by 14 members suspected to be part of the REvil team across Moscow, St. Petersburg, Leningrad, and the Lipetsk regions. Authorities said they seized more than 426 million rubles, $600,000, and 500,000 euro in cash, along with cryptocurrency wallets, computers, and 20 expensive cars. The REvil gang is responsible for ransomware attacks against Apple supplier Quanta, Kaseya, and JBS Foods.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Source: Slashdot – FSB Arrests 14 Members of REvil Ransomware Gang
Earlier this week, Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov said the country will renew its efforts to close the Gateway to Hell, a massive natural gas fire that’s been burning since 1971 in the middle of the desert.
Source: Gizmodo – Environmental Disaster Sites I Would Like to Visit
When it comes to tools of the trade, the kitchen might be the weirdest room in your home, stocked with a great number of bizarre gadgets. From rasps to dough hooks, each one serves at least one indispensable purpose, and some tools serve many. There’s almost nothing I love more than finding multiple uses for the…
Source: LifeHacker – How to Use a Springform Pan (and What to Do if You Don’t Have One)
For developers, in particular, one of the biggest advantages of the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) is that it runs on Windows. Cross-platform development has never been easier than running an actual Linux machine inside Windows 10 or Windows 11 with all the tools it opens up.
Source: LXer – Making the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) even better with Windows Hello
Every passing day seems to bring with it a new graphics card rumor, and given that NVIDIA recently added an upgraded GeForce RTX 3080 with more memory and CUDA cores to the mix, it’s worth paying attention to the leaks. And what do those leaks tell us now? That NVIDIA is likely to upgrade its GeForce RTX 3070 Ti as well.
This is not the
Source: Hot Hardware – ASUS And Gigabyte Seemingly Confirm An Upgraded GeForce RTX 3070 Ti With 16GB
Ukraine’s worst cyberattack in four years brought down the websites of scores of government agencies for hours. Authorities didn’t immediately identify the source of the hacks, which took place as tensions with Russia intensified over its troop buildup across the border. From a report: Seventy government agencies were were hit, including the Foreign and Agriculture Ministries, Viktor Zhora, the deputy head of the state agency in charge of special communication and information protection, said Friday. Authorities are investigating and will have their first conclusions later in the day, he said. “There was no leak of important data, the content of the websites was not damaged,” Ukraine Zhora said. “We are collecting digital evidence and analyzing data to understand the full chain of this attack.” Ukraine has previously accused Russia of mounting major cyberattacks against its digital infrastructure. Relations between the two former Soviet partners have worsened since the ouster of a Russian-backed president in 2014 and Moscow’s subsequent annexation of Crimea.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Source: Slashdot – Cyberattack Hits Ukrainian Websites as Russia Tensions Mount
A massive ice disk that first appeared in Maine in 2019, spinning slowly and ominously on the Presumpscot River in the town of Westbrook, is back. Personally, I welcome the return of our icy disk overlord and urge all my fellow mortals to rejoice in its dark return. The ice disk cometh once more!
Source: Gizmodo – I Will Surf to Frozen Hell and Back on This Giant Ice Disk
The most recommended programming language for creating Graphical Interfaces, better known as GUI, is C++, in addition to Games Development, embedded systems, and among several other forms of use that can be consulted here.
In this article, we are going to get to know the 7 most used and recommended C++ libraries for creating graphical interfaces. Each one with its specification and recommendation.
The post The 7 Best C++ Frameworks for Creating Graphical Interfaces appeared first on Linux Today.
Source: Linux Today – The 7 Best C++ Frameworks for Creating Graphical Interfaces
As more music streaming services introduce lossless or high-definition audio to their offerings, interest in DACs (digital-to-analog converters, or “headphone amplifiers”) has picked up pace — so much so we created this guide. What was once the reserve of audiophiles is slowly becoming a go-to gadget for those who want more than what their phone and AirPods can deliver. But they’re not without caveats. For one, they’re often expensive, and sometimes they aren’t much smaller than the phone you’re attaching them to. Enter the Tea DAC by Khadas.
Khadas started out making media-friendly single board computers (SBC – think… media-specific Raspberry Pi type things) before moving on to desktop DACs. Tea is the company’s first mobile DAC and it appears to be primarily targeted at iPhone users – though it’s also compatible with Android. The reason I suggest it’s more apt for Apple’s phones is that it’s MagSafe compatible. Combine that with the slim, iPhone-esque all-metal design and it solves one of the main problems with mobile DACs: Having something heavy hanging out the back of your phone.
With the Tea, it sticks to the back of your phone and the low profile makes it only a little more noticeable than Apple’s own MagSafe wallets. You can, of course, find MagSafe capable cases for Android, but your phone and budget will be a factor.
Beyond the slick form factor, the Tea doesn’t scrimp on its codec support. Over USB/Lightning, the Tea can handle audio right up to 32bit/384kHz. Given that most mainstream music services don’t offer anything above 192kHz, streamers will be more than covered. Similarly, the Tea can decode MQA (Tidal) along with DSD, AAC, FLAC, APE, OGG and all the standard formats (WAV/MP3 etc.). If you prefer to go wireless, the Tea also supports LDAC and AptX HD over Bluetooth.
Here I should mention that, for all its iPhone friendliness, Apple doesn’t offer either LDAC or AptX HD support in its flagship phones. You can still use the Bluetooth functionality in Tea, but you won’t be able to enjoy the higher-quality formats. Though it does at least mean you can charge your phone while still using the DAC or you can wander around with the smaller Tea connected to your headphones rather than your mobile. There are plenty of Android phones that do support LDAC/AptX HD, but you’ll need to check the manufacturer website to confirm (most Pixels, Samsung flagships and OnePlus phones offer LDAC/AptX HD decoding).
There are a few things you won’t find here, but most of those fall into the higher end of audio. For example, there’s only a regular 3.5mm headphone jack – no option for 2.5 or 4.4mm balanced cans at this point (though rumor has it that a “Pro” version with that might be on the way). There’s also limited feedback about what codec/audio quality you’re currently receiving, with just a simple color-changing LED indicating the format, which you can’t see unless the phone is face down. Inputs are limited to USB-C, so it’ll work with your phone and PC, but no line in.
This puts the Tea in an interesting category. It’s perfectly capable for people that want the most out of their streaming service and even should appeal to audiophiles looking for a discreet option that covers most bases. But at $199 it’s a reasonable spend. Perhaps its most obvious competitor is the BTR5 from Fiio. That’s also a portable DAC with high-res Bluetooth support along with a similar selection of cabled formats (also up to 32bit/384kHz with MQA support). Oh, and the Fiio offers a balanced headphone option, too (2.5mm). When you factor in that the BTR5 also typically retails for $159, you have to really want that slim, MagSafe design.
That’s not to undersell it though. I tested the BTR5 and the Tea side by side, and the sheer convenience of the Tea was obvious. With the Fiio, your phone feels tethered, almost weighed down by the DAC. With the Tea, it’s similar to using one of those iPhone cases with a battery in it – a little more thickness, but you can still operate the phone as you normally would.
The Tea also has a much bigger battery capacity – 1,160 mAh compared to the Fiio’s 550 mAh. This obviously isn’t an audio benefit, but it soon becomes one if you plan on listening for extended periods or being away from a charging option for more than a few hours. Which, given the mobile nature of these devices feels like a reasonable possibility.
I am, however, not a huge fan of the user interface. The Tea has three buttons: One on the left and two on the right. The single button works as a power switch or to summon your virtual assistant. The two buttons on the other side will either control volume or skip tracks. You toggle between volume and skip mode with a dual press of the power button and the top button on the other side. It works… fine, but it’s not very elegant. Also, if you leave it in track skip mode and go to adjust the volume, you’re going to be on the next track before you know it. A minor, but frustrating thing.
In wired mode, the Tea pumps out robust, loud, clear audio. It’s maybe not quite as loud as some other DACs. Even the diminutive Firefly gives the Tea a run for its money there. But, the sound you do get is clean and full of gain, and that’s the goal here: Take a good signal and let it be heard without colorization.
Beyond its primary function as a DAC, it also won’t get in the way of taking calls. A pair of mics on the base of the Tea allow you to talk without having to fall back to the mic on your phone. What’s more, the mics on the Tea are several leagues better than the one on the iPhone, especially when speaking to it while it’s resting on the desk. You can also set the Tea to charge via your phone if you’re running low on juice, or disable this feature to not tax the battery on your handset if you prefer.
All in all, the Tea is a welcome addition to a growing category. At $199 it’s not the cheapest for the feature set, but its well-thought-out design and aesthetic also make it pretty convenient and discreet. Unfortunately, if this all sounds up your alley, then you’ll have to wait a little longer. While Khadas clearly is production-ready, the company is choosing to go the Indiegogo route, with the campaign slated to go live in the coming weeks.
Source: Engadget – Khadas’ Tea DAC is a compelling MagSafe accessory