Mastodawn

"AI can make mistakes, always check the results"

I fucking loathe this phrase and everything that goes into it. It's not advice. It's a threat.

You probably read it as "AI is _capable_ of making mistakes; you _should_ check the results".

What it actually says is "AI is _permitted_ to make mistakes; _you are liable_ for the results, whether you check them or not".

Except "you" is generally not even the person building, installing, or even using the AI. It's the person the AI is used on:
https://thepit.social/@peter/116205452673914720

Jack Wellborn Mar 9

Casey Liss Mar 9

App Intents people: I have an intent that I’d like to take one of two things:

• Tuple of (enum, int)
OR
• An object that was created by a different of my intents

Is there any way to do this cleanly? It sure seems like this should do it, but it doesn’t:

Jack Wellborn Mar 7

https://mastodon.online/@jon_alper/116188666560195747

Jack Wellborn Mar 4

I’ve been wondering how many of the things that make us nerds grimace (8 GB of RAM, USB 2) are a function of what is supported by the A18. I think it’s fair to assume Apple wanted these lowcost laptops on a more recent SOC that they also didn’t have to fab specifically (because they’re lowcost.) I am very curious if the this is basically the same SOC that ends up in the base iPad.

Jack Wellborn Mar 3

Here you go @atpfm.

Jack Wellborn Feb 11

Really fun @atpfm member episode. I couldn't help but feel a little validated when the conversation repeatedly touched on ideas I’ve mentioned in my own writing.

On Windows 95 being the first usable version of the OS because CGA and EGA were unsuitable for GUIs.
https://wormsandviruses.com/2023/08/minimum-viable-pixels/

On Microsoft shipping the Surface specifically to fill a “good PC laptop” vacuum.
https://wormsandviruses.com/2023/08/minimum-viable-pixels/

On The Verge's current infatuation with Linux infecting their writing.
https://wormsandviruses.com/2026/01/kid-gloves-linux-edition/

Minimum Viable Pixels – Worms and Viruses

Jack Wellborn Jan 28

https://wormsandviruses.com/2026/01/the-greatest-trick-the-devil-ever-pulled/

Jack Wellborn Jan 26

I almost called this something like “no one cares about the black bars anymore", but decided people might read it the wrong way.

https://wormsandviruses.com/2026/01/the-mysterious-case-of-columbos-missing-clue/

The Mysterious Case of Columbo’s Missing Clue – Worms and Viruses

Jack Wellborn Jan 8

My awesome in-laws bought me the Return of Columbo on Blu-Ray for Christmas. The original series Blu-Rays are good, but these unfortunately crop from 4:3 to 16:9. My best guess that KL Studio classics’ hands were tied on the later series since they did both. Still though, I truly don't get why anything is cropped these days given how large TVs are and how accustomed audiences are with black bars in letterbox, let alone to classic TV. Just look that they've done to my boy.

Show thread

Jack Wellborn Jan 2

@atpfm Finally, I'll add that the other benefit of this hybrid approach is that I don't have to worry about the Wi-Fi support for the devices that are wired into the nodes. This is especially valuable for the Apple TV, which lags on standards and has seemingly the worst Wi-Fi antennae possible.