Another heads up for paid subscribers that your Sizzle subscriptions will be going up in price as of tomorrow (01/02/2023). Your next renewal will be $6/m or $60/yr instead of $5/m or $50/yr.
As I explained a few weeks ago, this is due to having to start collecting 10% GST as I've crossed the $75,000 threshold plus general cost of living expenses as I've never increased the price of The Sizzle since it began in 2015.
Mercedes-Benz has received permission from the US state of Nevada to sell cars with Drive Pilot - the first commercially available level 3 autonomous driving feature. Mercedes reckons "the car does all the driving but the driver needs to stand by to take control at a moment's notice" and will only operate at a max of 40mph (~65km/h) on "suitable freeway sections and where there is high traffic density". Meanwhile, San Francisco's government wants Waymo and Cruise to ease up on expanding their robotaxi service in the city as there's too many incidents of unattended cars causing traffic chaos and dangerous interactions with emergency vehicles.
Apple got busted by the USA's National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) over an email sent in 2021 where Tim Cook said people leaking confidential info about Apple "do not belong" and that they are "doing everything in our power to identify those who leaked", in response to news about Apple employees upset about pay equity, working from home and other non-product related HR issues. According to the NLRB, "various work rules, handbook rules, and confidentiality rules" imposed by Apple "tend to interfere with, restrain or coerce employees" from exercising their rights to collective action. The NLRB can't fine Apple or punish them, but it can force Apple to change their policies.
SpeedcamAnywhere is an Android app that purports to "accurately and verifiably measure vehicle speeds using a mobile phone camera" in the UK. It takes a "short video clip of a passing vehicle which is uploaded to the AI server. The server can measure the vehicle speed from the video, check vehicle speeds against speed limits, and provide a report showing evidence of the vehicle speed". It can even do licence plate recognition to look up the make and model of the vehicle and work out the extra pollution and traffic noise the car is generated by going over the speed limit. What a cheeky little ratbag of an app.
IBM Toronto Data Center, King Street, 1963 (IBM 1401 Demo Lab and Restoration Project)
📻 The Jones - Pile
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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.