Новости за 02.04.2021

Swedish Philosopher Nick Bostrom’s simulation argument says we might be living in a computer-generated reality. Maybe he’s right. There currently exists no known method by which we could investigate the parameters of our “programming,” so it’s up to each of us to decide whether to believe in The Matrix or not. Perhaps it’s a bit more nuanced than that though. Maybe he’s only half-wrong – or half-right, depending on your philosophical view. What if we are living in a simulation, but there’s no computer (in the traditional sense) running it? Читать дальше...

The Specialized Turbo Vado SL was one of my favorite ebikes I’ve reviewed to date, opting for less motor power, a more natural ride, and a lighter frame than the vast majority of ebikes out there. Now Specialized is bringing a similar pound-shaving design philosophy to the new Como SL, a cruiser-type ebike with a relaxed riding geometry and solid cargo capabilities. The upright riding position is something I appreciate for commuting in a city, making it easy to both see and be seen in traffic, and the bike is equipped with chunky 650B... Читать дальше...

Take me to your leader(s). Waymo CEO John Krafcik today stepped down from his leadership position at the Google sister company. According to an email posted to the company’s blog, he’ll maintain an advisory role. Replacing him will be not one, but two Waymo executives: former COO Tekedra Mawakana and former CTO Dmtri Dolgov. The timing of Krafcik’s departure is notable in that the company’s entering a new phase of development. Waymo was reportedly planning to expand its budding robo-taxi service before the pandemic struck. Читать дальше...

TLDR: The 2021 Complete Learn to Code by Making Games in Unity Bundle is a multi-course plan for learning the fundamentals of game creation by building your own cool games. Imitation really is the sincerest form of flattery. Even for the most creative of people, the way to learn how to build something new is to start by trying to recreate something that has already been done before. So if you want to learn how to build video games, you could learn a lot by building your own version of an already proven success. Читать дальше...

I’ve managed to go quite a few months without mentioning the goddamn coronavirus in an article. But here we are. Don’t worry though, I’m no longer succumbing to be a harbinger of doom and gloom. Instead, I’m bringing you a salve for your sore, worried mind, and it comes in the form of an electrified classic VW bus. Over the past year, I’ve watched more car restoration shows than I’ve watched in the preceding five years. There’s something cathartic and soothing about watching a pile of rust be transformed... Читать дальше...

The data brokers who’ve made fortunes from collecting and sharing millions of people’s personal information tend to fly under the radar. Names like LiveRamp or RELX might not be familiar to most Americans, but they’re making themselves known on Capitol Hill. Collectively, data broker spending on lobbying in 2020 rivaled the spending of individual Big Tech firms like Facebook and Google. The Markup searched lobbying disclosures in the U.S. Senate’s Lobbying Disclosure Act database and the watchdog... Читать дальше...

Earlier this week, Italian startups lost their right to register and incorporate online after the country’s lobby of notaries won its claim to have it removed. The news has understandably left the Italian startup ecosystem in a bit of a shock.  This decision is literally a step backward, as startups have been able to register online since 2016, so I’m afraid this will be a detriment to the economic development of the country and the development of its startup ecosystem. If Italy wants to step up its innovation game... Читать дальше...

Welcome to TNW Basics, a collection of tips, guides, and advice on how to easily get the most out of your gadgets, apps, and other stuff. Sometimes you’ve gotta work with what you’ve got — and that doesn’t just apply to the intelligence and skills you’ve respectively been given from nature or obtained from nurture. It can also apply to what has been referred to as the new oil: data. It’s what runs through the veins of the new economy, replacing the industrial with the digital. And just as crude oil... Читать дальше...

A new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine tackles a controversial question: Is solar geoengineering – an approach designed to cool the Earth by reflecting sunlight back into space or modifying clouds – a potential tool for countering climate change? The report, produced by a committee of 16 experts from diverse fields, does not take a position but concludes that the concept should be studied. It calls for creating a multidisciplinary research program, in coordination... Читать дальше...