Tech News
← Home  ·  All topics

Formats

6 GoKawiil briefs on this topic

Opinion: Markdown files still lack native rendering across operating systems

A tech writer argues that despite Markdown being over 20 years old and widely used for documentation and publishing, most computers and phones still cannot open a .md file and display it as formatted text without extra software. The author contrasts this with how operating systems natively handle images, video, and PDFs, and describes relying on Markdown for personal writing because of its portability and independence from any single application.

Writer adopts WebP after Pixelmator Pro adds native support

A longtime holdout who stuck with JPEGs, PNGs and SVGs says he has now started using WebP images, crediting better tooling in Pixelmator Pro after switching away from Photoshop. He reports WebP consistently produced smaller files than JPEG or PNG at similar visual quality in recent projects, though he notes Photoshop still lacks WebP support in its Save for Web and Export As tools.

Plain text files remain a reliable and enduring technology in computing

Plain text files, defined by the Unicode Standard as simple sequences of character codes, continue to be widely used across various computing domains such as source code, configuration, and log files. Their simplicity ensures compatibility across different systems and applications, making them a fundamental part of modern digital infrastructure. Despite advances in file formats, plain text's durability and ease of use keep it relevant today.

Photoc introduces command-line tools for photo review and organization

Photoc is a new set of command-line utilities designed for photographers to review, organize, and prepare images directly from the terminal. It supports JPEG and Sony ARW RAW files, offering features like metadata reading, duplicate detection, renaming, and folder sorting without altering original files unless explicitly instructed. Installation is available via Homebrew, and the tools are compatible with Unix-like systems, excluding Windows at this stage.

Cassette tapes can last 30+ years, but proper storage is the key factor

Cassette tapes, the dominant music format before CDs and streaming, are generally expected to last around 30 years even under ideal conditions, since their magnetic coating gradually loses lubrication and can detach over time. However, actual longevity depends heavily on how tapes were stored, with many well-kept cassettes from the 1970s and 80s still playable today.

Google's NotebookLM Adds Support for Uploading and Referencing Full Books

Google has updated NotebookLM, its AI-powered research and note-taking tool, to let users upload books and reference their content directly within the app. The update also allows users to convert book material into different formats, such as summaries or study guides, using the tool's AI capabilities.