Tech Stuff

Imagen: Text-to-Image Diffusion Models Impressive! "A text-to-image diffusion model with an unprecedented degree of photorealism and a deep level of language". And there's an open-source Pytorch implementation being worked on over here.

Aran Komatsuzaki Interesting. We trained ML to provide better results when we ask it to explain itself. This strategy also works on people.

Large Language Models are Zero-Shot Reasoners

Simply adding “Let’s think step by step” before each answer increases the accuracy on MultiArith from 17.7% to 78.7% and GSM8K from 10.4% to 40.7% with GPT-3.

Austen Allred

Today I learned Apple has a plant identifier built in to photos (???)

  • Take a picture of a plant
  • Tap the ⓘ icon that appears at the bottom of the screen
  • Tap Look up — plant

Announcing TypeScript 4.7 Now with proper support for ESM, which means that you can use import/export just like you did before, but you have to use the .js extension to load TypeScript files because of course.

Apple shipped us a 79-pound iPhone repair kit to fix a 1.1-ounce battery I prefer to buy stuff that can be repaired and not just thrown away when a tiny piece cracks. Or so I tell myself, because I like my phone to be small, powerful, and impervious to dust, falls, and the occasional drowning. So that's the most expensive thing I carry on me, that I'm never going to repair myself. If you're curious about what it's like to repair your iPhone at home, check this article.

The original Pong The schematics for the original Pong video game. All the logic is implemented with electronics. And here we are, complaining about the complexity of JavaScript frameworks.

𝚐𝚒𝚗&𝚝𝚘𝚗𝚒𝚌 Shot / Chaser

Eye for Design

Paper at 10 A story about one of the most interesting iPad apps, and how constraints lead to better design.

We embraced constraints that removed unnecessary decisions and focused your creative energy on expression. To us, this meant no fiddly settings for brush size or sliders to dial in a specific color. Paper had 5 preset brushes and 9 colors. On a digital device that could do anything, we found the constraints felt strangely liberating. Plus, it meant we could lean into something new—using speed and direction to create expressive inks that were dialed in for specific creative activities.

Dana Sibera

The Power Macintosh G3 Sphere was roundly criticised after customers complained about how easily they rolled off badly-levelled desks. Apple's response was to offer users a limited edition, stylish, but slightly concave desk.

Peoples

Andy Budd A thread on why most PMs are really PMs:

Here’s the rub. At many companies they have a job that needs to be done. That job is delivering a series of product improvements which have been set by the management. They need somebody to manage that process.
…
Making design and product decisions is a lot of fun, so it’s no surprise that not only do the execs want to do this, but they expect to do it as the core part of their job.

That point rings true. A lot of how software gets made is structured by people getting their dopamine fix. Everything from business strategy to design to engineering.

That cuts both ways. What when the PM wants to make "all decisions, all day, every day" because it's more fun than the mechanics of shipping products?

40% of recent job switchers are looking for a new job again Grass isn’t always greener on the other side:

According to a survey of 5,000 employees conducted by consulting firm Grant Thornton, 21% of American workers took a new gig in the last year. But 40% of that group is actively looking for another job, compared to 29% of all full-time employees—revealing some significant buyer’s remorse among job jumpers.

Seth Trueger “did left handedness become trendy or did we stop punishing left handed people for being left handed”

Everything Else

pubity on TikTok

He was so fancy for no reason 😭 #fyp #animals #pets #alpaca #dogs #petsoftiktok #pubity

What in the ADHD? This tweet got a lot of attention. Bionic Reading (not a typeface) is bonkers good for speed reading through long texts.

It's included in Reeder, my preferred RSS reading app, and there's a Chrome extension you can use. Next time you hit a wall of text, give if a try.

OutHorse Your Email Disconnect from work, go on vacation, and let these horses reply to your emails.