A second beta of Android 15 is out and I can kinda understand why Google shoved this to day 2 of I/O, there's not much that exciting going on. The headline features are Private Space and Theft Detection Lock. Private Space "allows users to create a separate space on their device where they can keep sensitive apps away from prying eyes, under an additional layer of authentication". Theft Detection Lock uses AI to "automatically detect when they have been snatched from your hand and lock themselves", which sounds like a good idea (not just for theft!) if it actually works. Stuff like satellite connectivity, partial screen recording and improved PDF handling were previously announced in the first beta of Android 15, which is due to leave beta later this year.
Raspberry Pi has told the London Stock Exchange of their "expected intention to float". Dunno when that will happen exactly, or how much each share will be, but yeah, soon you'll be able to buy shares in Raspberry Pi. The not-for-profit Raspberry Pi Foundation (which tries to focus on STEM education) will own a big chunk of the for-profit Raspberry Pi Ltd (the business floating on the LSE that makes the hardware) and will continue to get dividends as the business it's invested in grows. Contained in the intention document, CEO Eben Upton says that "the industrial and embedded market accounts for 72% of units sold", giving us a sense of how it makes money - a far cry from their initial mission statement of an educational computer. Ah well, it seems to be going well for them, hope they don't fuck it up now that they'll have shareholders riding their arse to perpetually make more money.
Apple is taking advantage of Global Accessibility Awareness Day to promote a bunch of new and genuinely useful features coming soon (iOS 18 I think?) to a range of their products. "Eye Tracking, a way for users with physical disabilities to control iPad or iPhone with their eyes", "Music Haptics will offer a new way for users who are deaf or hard of hearing to experience music using the Taptic Engine in iPhone", "Vocal Shortcuts will allow users to perform tasks by making a custom sound", "Vehicle Motion Cues can help reduce motion sickness when using iPhone or iPad in a moving vehicle" and some stuff for CarPlay, live captions for Vision Pro, improvements to VoiceOver, "HoverTyping" to show larger text when typing in a text field and more.
The excellent RetroArch is now on the App Store for tvOS (and iOS). It supports a wide range of consoles like the PlayStation 1, PSP, NES, SNES, N64, Commodore 64 and shitloads more. RetroArch even supports MFi controllers, so you can connect an Xbox/PlayStation controller to the Apple TV over Bluetooth. It's also available on iPad & iPhone. Getting ROMs loaded into RetroArch looks like a bit of a ballache though - gotta use a web interface to load the ROMs and due to tvOS app restrictions, you can't store them on the Apple TV itself? I don't have an Apple TV to test. If you've got an Apple TV, some ROMs and a controller, you should post on the Sizzle forums what using RetroArch on tvOS is like.
Artist Francine LeClercq transforms images captured by surveillance cameras into intricate hand-embroidered artworks. In an era dominated by surveillance culture, the work challenges the conventional perceptions of surveillance by reimagining its visual language through the intricate art of hand embroidery. Each piece represents a nuanced translation of surveillance footage, bridging the realms of security technology and traditional handiwork. Through this artistic endeavor, the artist evokes themes of privacy, observation, and societal norms surrounding constant surveillance. (Designboom)
📻 Pacific 231 - Burning Airlines
😎 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.