We have entered the Acropalypse - a range of bugs that allow someone to "uncrop" images that have been cropped, potentially revealing information not intended to be seen. It started off with the work of security researchers Simon Aarons and David Buchanan who discovered this flaw in images cropped on Pixel smartphones. Inspired by that work, Chris Blume realised Windows Snipping Tool has the same problem if you overwrite the un-cropped original with the cropped version. The way it works on the Pixel devices and the Windows Snipping Tool aren't exactly the same, but both has untruncated data in the image that when restored, provides enough information for the original image to be reconstructed. Nothing is sacred, folks.
Amazon owned (yeah, I didn't know Amazon owned them either) photography website and community, DPReview, is closing down April 10th after 25 years of providing some of the internet's most comprehensive reviews of camera gear. DPReview also had more than just great reviews, there's a huge database of digital cameras that I've used regularly to compare specs, a massive forum filled with expertise, and test images from a wide range of cameras. I don't know how DPReview was going financially, but it's sad to see an institution like DPReview end up as collateral damage of Amazon's financial pants pissing. Couldn't they spin it out as an independent business or sell it to a media company instead?
It's AI-day at the world's biggest technology businesses! (again):
There's loads of noise out there about banning TikTok, but this post on TechDirt is a great explanation of why taking all our anger out on TikTok is misguided and futile. The problem isn't necessarily TikTok, but all the apps and services and platforms that indiscriminately suck up data, sell it to nefarious brokers who then package it up into neat little bundles for sale while turning a blind eye to what is being done with that data. By singling out TikTok, the government has acknowledged data collection is a problem - address the issue properly and regulate all data collection and brokerage services, not just the Chinese ones.
create an image featuring the north melbourne kangaroos AFL team winning the premiership at the MCG surrounded by confetti and happy players with the trophy (Bing Image Creator)
📻 All My Ghosts - Frank Black & The Catholics
😎 The Sizzle is curated by Anthony "decryption" Agius and emailed every weekday afternoon.
💬 Checked out the paid subscriber only forum? It's a tidy little place to discuss tech with like minded Aussies.
👋 Forums not your thing? The Sizzle has a Slack group you can procrastinate in and chat with other nerds bored at work.
💳 Paid subscriber looking to manage your billing info, change email address or cancel your subscription? Visit the customer portal.
🎁 Make someone's day and buy them a 12 month gift subscription to The Sizzle.
📚 Browse The Sizzle Archive. A few issues are missing and it's not searchable, but it's better than nothing.
🫂 Friends of The Sizzle is a small group of businesses or organisations operated by Sizzle subscribers. Support your fellow Sizzler!
💔 Tired of my bullshit? Unsubscribe and I'll never speak to you again.
The Sizzle is created on Wathaurong land and acknowledges the traditional owners of country throughout Australia, recognising their continuing connection to land, water and community. I pay my respect to them and their cultures and to elders both past and present.