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Tech News
A group of software researchers has published an essay arguing that modern computing tools trap users as passive consumers rather than letting them adapt software to their needs. Drawing on decades of research and commercial products, plus their own prototype testing, they propose 'malleable software'—systems users can reshape at the point of use instead of relying on distant engineering teams.
A solo developer working on a Minecraft-style voxel game called Block Game (working title) implemented a custom software occlusion culling system to improve rendering performance, particularly on weak integrated GPUs like the Radeon Vega 8. The developer reports the system runs in roughly half a frame at 60 FPS, culling 50-60% of chunks above ground and up to 95% underground, pushing framerates above 400 in cave scenes.
A humor piece styled as poetry appeared under the banner 'Poetry for Engineers,' presenting a UI designer's grandiose inner monologue about transforming code into beauty. The piece uses exaggerated, mock-epic language to parody the self-image of tech workers who see their design work as a form of transcendent art.
The Brick device blocks distracting apps via an NFC chip that users tap to start and stop blocking sessions, but this functionality can be replicated using blank NFC tags costing about a dollar or printed QR codes. Free apps such as Foqos for iOS, built by developer Ali Waseem, let users configure app-blocking profiles tied to NFC tags, QR codes, barcodes, or daily schedules, and can prevent users from disabling the block by deleting the app.
A hiring manager who says they have conducted more than a thousand interviews describes a practice of ending each session by offering the candidate direct, opinionated feedback rather than leaving the exchange one-sided. They ask permission first, then detail both strengths and concerns, and invite other interviewers on the panel to do the same, turning the interview into a two-way conversation.
Microsoft is introducing a feature allowing single cells in Excel to hold lists and arrays of data, rather than just individual values. The change marks a structural update to the spreadsheet program, which has not previously supported this kind of nested data within one cell.
A Haskell programmer has published an essay addressing anxieties about AI-driven burnout, job insecurity from LLM-assisted coding, and declining code quality. The author, writing entirely without AI assistance, argues that much of programming's satisfaction comes from the act of expressing thought in code itself, and warns that relying on LLMs to generate code risks eroding that enjoyment.
Secure file-sharing vendor Kiteworks emailed customers globally, urging a six-hour server shutdown this weekend after receiving threat intelligence from law enforcement about a possible imminent attack. The company confirmed to BleepingComputer that federal intelligence authorities warned a threat actor may target some customer systems, and recommended shutting down even systems not internet-facing. Kiteworks said it has no evidence of any actual compromise and described the move as precautionary.
Apple has confirmed pre-orders for its first foldable iPhone, the iPhone Duo, open October 16 with units shipping October 23 in over 70 countries and regions, expanding to 28 more by October 30. The device will launch running iOS 27.1, and Apple is also rumored to be preparing new Macs, Home products, and an updated iPad mini for release in October.
Engineering leader Sunil Sadasivan writes about re-reading Sunil Pai's essay on senior engineers feeling stuck as their fields evolve. Sadasivan argues that first principles thinking—asking why something is being built and how it helps users—is what separates the best engineers he's managed, regardless of their background. He connects this habit to Pai's advice about prioritizing momentum over fixed outcomes, especially as software development shifts toward agentic AI tools.
Apple released a new AirPods firmware update (build 9A350) alongside iOS 27 that adds a custom equalizer feature. Users can now adjust lows, mids, and highs for their AirPods sound via the Settings app, with the option to preview changes using an Apple Music track. The feature works on any AirPods with an H2 chip, including AirPods Pro 2, Pro 3, AirPods 4, and AirPods Max 2.
The creator of the AI coding app Nuanced has written that plan modes, once central to their product's approach, are losing relevance as AI models improve. They argue plan modes historically served two purposes: giving agents precise enough instructions, and helping humans understand what was being built, but that the first purpose is fading as models advance while the second still matters, just not through plan modes.