Hacker News
1All Kindles can now be jailbroken
- WinterBreak is a jailbreak tool released on New Year's Day 2025 for Kindle devices. Created by HackerDude and based on Mesquito, it requires a PC and registered Kindle with WiFi connection. The tool was developed with help from multiple contributors and beta testers, though some Kindles were bricked during testing.
KOReader advantages
Praised for PDF reading features like landscape mode, auto-rotation, and margin control. Some users find it fiddly for ePubs despite configurable defaults. Discussion of its superiority over stock readers for features and customization.Kindle jailbreaking context
History of Kindle jailbreaks discussed, with focus on recent developments like LanguageBreak. Community notes Amazon's increasing DRM restrictions and debates necessity of jailbreaking for better functionality.Old Kindle repurposing
Users share experiences converting old Kindles into e-ink dashboards and discuss durability of older models. Many report satisfaction with decade-old devices, citing only minor advantages in newer versions.
2X users are unable to post “Signal.me” links
- X (formerly Twitter) is blocking users from sharing "Signal.me" links, which are used for direct contact through the encrypted messaging app Signal. The block affects DMs, posts, and profile bios, showing error messages about harmful content. While Signal.org links still work, only the direct contact URLs are affected.
Technical explanation
Discussion of how Twitter's automated system may have blocked signal.me links due to URL fragment handling, with debate over whether this was intentional censorship or an algorithmic errorPolitical implications
Debate over continued X/Twitter usage given Musk's ownership and political stance, with users split between those who left the platform and those who stay for its network effectsSignal usage context
Technical details of signal.me links' purpose, structure and security implications, including discussion of their use for sharing contact info and group invites
3Uchū – Color palette for internet lovers
- A developer shares their experience of creating a color scheme for a project that they became so fond of, they started using it universally and decided to make it publicly available through a repository for others to use.
Color system readability
Discussion about contrast ratios, accessibility standards, and whether strict adherence to readability guidelines helps or hurts overall user experience. Some argue high contrast causes eye strain while others emphasize accessibility needs.Japanese naming trend
Debate about the frequent use of Japanese words for naming products/tools, with some seeing it as overused while others defend it as practical due to pronounceability and cultural appeal.Color space implementation
Technical discussion about OKLCH color space, its advantages over RGB/HSL, and tools for visualizing and implementing it. Includes comparisons with other color systems and browser compatibility concerns.
4Homemade polarimetric synthetic aperture radar drone
- This article discusses the development of a lightweight synthetic aperture radar system for a small drone, focusing on design considerations, technical challenges, and the choice between FMCW and pulse radar architectures for optimal imaging performance while maintaining cost efficiency under 500 EUR.
Project complexity and expertise
Discussion of the impressive technical achievement, noting it's PhD-level work. Debate over whether creator is a hobbyist or professional, clarifying he's an RF design expert working as Senior Consultant.SAR algorithm explanation
Users share resources and discuss technical aspects of Synthetic Aperture Radar algorithms, including autofocusing, comparison with phased arrays, and links to educational materials.Drone warfare applications
Discussion of cheap FPV drones from China being used in Ukraine conflict, domestic production capabilities, and development of fiber-optic controlled drones to overcome jamming.
5I helped fix sleep-wake hangs on Linux with AMD GPUs
- A user documents their journey debugging Linux sleep mode crashes on a dual-boot system with an AMD GPU. After extensive investigation and collaboration with developers, they identified an amdgpu driver bug related to memory management during sleep states, which was eventually fixed in kernel 6.14.
Sleep issues on Linux
Widespread discussion about persistent sleep/suspend problems on Linux across different hardware configurations, with users sharing various workarounds and expressing frustration at lack of reliable solutions.AMD GPU bug fix
Technical discussion of AMD graphics driver issue where VRAM couldn't be properly saved during suspend due to swap being disabled too early. Fix coming in Linux 6.14 kernel.PCIe wakeup problems
Discussion of PCIe device sleep issues, particularly on Gigabyte motherboards, with users sharing udev rules and commands to disable problematic wakeup signals from PCIe ports.
6YouTube asks channel owner to verify phone, permanently overwrites personal info
- A UK VTuber named Ebi faces monetization issues on YouTube after Google automatically changed her account name to her mother's due to phone bill verification. Despite having used her own ID for monetization for 4 years, YouTube refuses to revert the change, affecting her earnings and potentially forcing her to disable monetization.
Phone numbers as identifiers
Discussion about problems with companies using phone numbers for identity verification, with many arguing against this practice due to privacy concerns and issues like number recycling and shared family plans.Google support issues
Experiences with Google's poor customer support, including suggestions to visit offices in person, use legal channels, or get attention through social media as workarounds for automated systems.Reddit accessibility
Discussion of Reddit's increasing login requirements and various workarounds like using old.reddit.com or proxy services to access content without restrictions.
7San Francisco homelessness: Park ranger helps one person at a time
- The story follows Kaine, who lived in Golden Gate Park for over 20 years. Through the persistent efforts of park ranger Amanda Barrows, who took a compassionate approach instead of forceful removal, Kaine eventually transitioned to housing at a navigation center after years of refusing assistance.
Personal engagement vs systemic solutions
Debate between individual-focused outreach like Amanda Barrows' work versus need for broader systemic changes, with some arguing personal engagement is essential while others say it's inefficient and unsustainable.San Francisco's homeless spending
Discussion of SF's $1B annual homeless budget and its effectiveness, with many arguing the money is poorly spent while others defend the need for comprehensive services despite high costs.Public space conflicts
Tension between compassion for homeless individuals and maintaining public spaces for general use, with focus on park safety, cleanliness, and balancing rights of different community members.
8Kindle is removing download and transfer option on Feb 26th
- Amazon announced they will remove the "Download & Transfer via USB" option for Kindle devices starting February 26, 2025. Users will still be able to send Kindle books to Wi-Fi enabled devices using the "Deliver or Remove from Device" option, but will no longer have the ability to transfer books via USB connection.
Download and transfer impact
Clarification that Amazon is removing the "Download and Transfer" option for Kindle books, while USB transfers and Send to Kindle remain functional. Users express concerns about losing ability to download purchased books to PC.Alternative e-readers
Discussion of Kobo and other e-readers as alternatives to Kindle, with debates about features, usability, and store integration. Some prefer Kobo's openness while others value Kindle's ecosystem and convenience.DRM and piracy
Debate around DRM's role in e-book ecosystem, with some arguing for supporting DRM-free alternatives while others discuss removing DRM from purchased books or turning to piracy as last resort.
9Flea-Scope: $18 Source Available USB Oscilloscope, Logic Analyzer and More [pdf]
Price and accessibility debate
Discussions around $300 professional scopes vs $18 Flea-scope, with focus on affordability in different countries and contexts. Some argue cheap scopes suffice for learning while others emphasize investment in quality tools.Educational value
Creator's goal of making electronics accessible in classrooms with one scope per student. Discussion of its value for teaching basics despite limitations, and potential classroom applications including BASIC programming.Technical capabilities
Debate around specifications like sampling rate, resolution, and safety features. Comments focus on limitations vs professional scopes but acknowledge utility within intended use cases.
10Javier Milei backtracks on $4.4B memecoin after 'insiders' pocket $87M
- Argentina's President Milei deleted a tweet promoting Libra memecoin after it caused a market frenzy, rising to $4.4B before crashing 95%. He later admitted he wasn't aware of the project's details, causing ripple effects across the memecoin market, including TRUMP token losses.
Insider trading concerns
Discussion of suspicious trading patterns, with 80% of tokens concentrated in 10 accounts that traded seconds after Milei's tweet, suggesting potential insider involvement and ethical violationsMilei's competence
Debate over whether Milei's promotion of the memecoin reflects incompetence or intentional fraud, with arguments about his economic credentials and leadership capabilityCryptocurrency scams
Analysis of how the incident fits into broader pattern of cryptocurrency-based scams targeting regular people, with politicians and celebrities increasingly involved in promoting questionable tokens