Issue 2136 - Tuesday 23rd July, 2024

In Today's Issue

The News

Google cancels plan to block 3rd party cookies in Chrome

Safari and Firefox already block third party cookies by default - because they're incredibly invasive and allow tracking across the web - but Chrome has backtracked on plans to join the rest of the browser industry in blocking them. Google decided that "instead of deprecating third-party cookies, we would introduce a new experience in Chrome that lets people make an informed choice that applies across their web browsing, and they'd be able to adjust that choice at any time. We're discussing this new path with regulators, and will engage with the industry as we roll this out". The data Google and its advertisers can glean via a 3rd party cookie is just too juicy to let go of.

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Intel confirms stability issues with desktop Raptor Lake (13th/14th-gen) CPUs

Anecdotes of Intel's 13th and 14th-gen desktop CPUs being unreliable have bubbled around the internet for a few months, but today Intel's confirmed it - "based on extensive analysis of Intel Core 13th/14th Gen desktop processors returned to us due to instability issues, we have determined that elevated operating voltage is causing instability issues in some 13th/14th Gen desktop processors. Our analysis of returned processors confirms that the elevated operating voltage is stemming from a microcode algorithm resulting in incorrect voltage requests to the processor". So yeah, if your Raptor Lake CPU has been giving you the shits, this is probably why. A microcode update is coming mid-August.

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Optus introduces 7-day free trial, xAI powers up largest GPU cluster ever, FTC cracks it with Microsoft over Game Pass price bump

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Something I Saw On The Internet

Settings to disable or tweak that'll make your TV way nicer to look at

Wirecutter (remember them?? The NYT sure did fuck that up) has a useful post with 5 simple things you can do to make your new TV suck less. Change the picture mode to Movie/Cinema, or Filmmaker Mode if you're in a dark room. Disable motion smoothing, which could also be referred to as Trumotion, Auto Motion Plus, CineMotion, Motion Enhancement, Picture Clarity or a dozen other bullshit names for this bullshit feature. Disable ambient light detection, adjust the brightness properly and pick a proper sound mode.

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Bargains

Image Of The Day

The work below was coded in p5.js and plotted using an AxiDraw V3/A3 — using Winsor & Newton fineliner pens. The act of turning digital art into something tangible has felt really rewarding. (Adam Fuhrer)

The End

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