July 2024 was yet another crazy month for the history books that future generations will study centuries from now. However, the future won’t care about the CrowdStrike disaster, bloody ears, or broken Intel chips. Instead, they’ll ponder the meaning of these strange two words: Hawk Tuaw. This viral meme forever changed the direction of the world’s culture. But it’s not the only TUAW that was hawked recently. If you’re an Apple fan, you might remember the unofficial Apple website that bears a similar name. This website was so popular that it was acquired by AOL, who of course ruined it and shut it down in 2015. Everyone forgot about it, but then it mysteriously reappeared this month with all the same authors from its early iPhone glory days. However, if we look closely, the website is actually a zombie. Apparently, some company in Hong Kong squatted on the domain and is now using it to pollute the internet with AI-generated slog. But this is not the only example of the world going down the toilet. In today’s article, we’ll look at a ton of other crazy tech stories that you missed this month.

Hawk Tuaw: A Viral Sensation

The Meme that Changed the World

Hawk Tuaw. These two words might seem nonsensical, but they’ve created a ripple effect in the cultural landscape. Originating as a simple meme, it captured the collective imagination, sparking countless discussions, debates, and creative offshoots.

Historical Impact

From TikTok videos to political commentary, Hawk Tuaw has become a symbol of the unpredictable nature of internet culture. Future historians might scratch their heads trying to decode its significance, but for us, it’s a reminder of how quickly things can go viral and influence global trends.

The Resurgence of TUAW

The Unofficial Apple Website

If you were an Apple enthusiast in the early 2000s, you probably frequented TUAW (The Unofficial Apple Weblog). It was the go-to site for all things Apple, from product reviews to industry news.

AOL Acquisition and Downfall

In its prime, TUAW was so influential that AOL decided to acquire it. Unfortunately, as with many AOL acquisitions, it didn’t end well. The site was shut down in 2015, much to the dismay of its loyal followers.

The Mysterious Reappearance

Fast forward to July 2024, and TUAW is back! Or is it? The site has reappeared with its original authors, but something feels off. It turns out that a company in Hong Kong has taken over the domain, filling it with AI-generated content that lacks the soul of the original.

Zombie Websites

Domain Squatting

TUAW’s case is a classic example of domain squatting, where companies or individuals buy expired domains of popular websites to capitalize on their former glory. It’s a shady practice that often leads to disappointing results for nostalgic visitors.

The Rise of AI-Generated Content

The internet is becoming increasingly populated with AI-generated content. While this can be useful for some applications, it often results in low-quality, soulless articles that pollute the web. TUAW is just one victim of this trend.

Node.js Embraces TypeScript

The Evolution of JavaScript Runtimes

Node.js has been a staple for server-side JavaScript for years. However, competitors like Deno and Bun have been gaining traction by offering TypeScript support out of the box. Not to be outdone, Node.js has now officially integrated TypeScript.

How TypeScript Integration Works

So, how does this integration work? The trick behind this magic is that it doesn’t actually do any type checking. Instead, it strips the types from the source code and executes the JavaScript parts. In other words, it works like type annotations in Python, giving you better IntelliSense and helping to catch bugs early.

Introducing Fast HTML

A New Python-Based Web Framework

A new, blazingly fast, game-changing next-generation web framework just dropped: Fast HTML. Before you roll your eyes, it’s not another JavaScript framework. This time, it’s a Python framework sprinkled with HTMX, aimed at scaling down web complexity.

Simplifying Web Development

What makes Fast HTML unique compared to Django or Flask is that you can author interactive components with straight-up Python code. You can then make those components interactive with HTMX, leveraging HTML instead of JavaScript. This simplifies web development, making it more accessible and less convoluted.

The Zed Editor

From macOS to Linux

Previously, Zed was only available to macOS users, but now it’s also available on Linux. This is great news for developers who prefer open-source environments.

Advantages of Zed

Zed is fast, open-source, and most importantly, written in Rust. It’s designed to be efficient and user-friendly, making it a strong contender in the world of code editors.

Intel’s CPU Issues

Problems with Raptor Lake Chips

Intel recently faced significant issues with its 13th and 14th gen Raptor Lake chips. These problems were causing instability and potentially permanent damage to the CPUs.

Solutions and Replacements

Intel has identified the problem as related to the microcode algorithm that regulates voltage. If you own one of these chips, make sure your BIOS is up to date and that you run it with Intel’s default settings. If your chip is damaged, you’ll likely need to replace it under warranty.

Stripe Acquires Lemon Squeezy

The Impact on Indie Hackers

In a surprising move, Stripe has acquired its competitor Lemon Squeezy. This acquisition has significant implications for indie hackers who favored Lemon Squeezy for its user-friendly interface and features.

Future of Payment Processing

Stripe’s acquisition strategy indicates its intent to dominate the payment processing industry. With Lemon Squeezy under its belt, Stripe is poised to offer even more comprehensive solutions for online transactions.

Developer Job Satisfaction

Insights from Stack Overflow Survey

According to the latest Stack Overflow survey, being a professional developer might not be as glamorous as it seems. Developers are 50% more likely to be unhappy at work than happy.

Comparing Professions

Interestingly, those who work in farming report higher job satisfaction than developers. This might be a wake-up call for those considering a career in tech, highlighting the importance of finding work that is fulfilling and enjoyable.

The International Mathematical Olympiad

Team USA’s Victory Over China

In a thrilling turn of events, Team USA achieved a rare win over the nearly unstoppable Chinese team at the International Mathematical Olympiad. This victory is a testament to the hard work and brilliance of the American high school students who competed.

Google AlphaProof’s Capabilities

But there’s a new competitor in town: Google AlphaProof. Combining a large language model like Gemini with a reinforcement network called AlphaZero, AlphaProof can tackle complex mathematical problems with impressive accuracy.

AI and Robotics

Google’s Virtual Rat Brain

Google has teamed up with Harvard to create a virtual rat brain using an inverse dynamics model. This AI, trained on a plethora of rat videos, aims to improve the dexterity and movement of robots.

OpenAI’s Search GPT

OpenAI has announced a preview of their own search engine, Search GPT. This move poses a significant threat to Google’s ad-based business model, potentially revolutionising how we search the web.

The Battle of AI Models

Zuck’s LLaMA and Mistral Large 2

In the world of AI, competition is fierce. Mark Zuckerberg’s new model, LLaMA, and the newly released Mistral Large 2 are both vying for dominance, each with performance nearing that of GPT-4 and Claude.

Financial Challenges of AI Development

Despite raising over $11 billion, OpenAI faces financial challenges, with projections of spending at least $7 billion this year. The high costs of developing and maintaining AI models are putting significant pressure on the company.

Data Scraping and Privacy

Reddit’s New Policy

Reddit has updated its robots.txt file to prevent scraping, unless companies pay a fee. So far, Google is the only search engine to comply, making it the sole source for the latest Reddit content.

Content Authenticity Initiative

Big Tech is increasingly focused on combating disinformation through initiatives like the Content Authenticity Initiative. This project embeds data into media to track its origins and alterations, raising concerns about privacy and surveillance.

The COPIED Act

Implications for Digital Media

The government has introduced the COPIED Act, which could make it illegal to remove provenance data from media. This act aims to combat disinformation but also poses a threat to online anonymity and free expression.

Tools for Countering Surveillance

In response, tools like Hideagem are emerging to counter these watermarking schemes. These tools help protect user privacy by obfuscating the data embedded in digital media.

CrowdStrike Disaster

Impact on Millions of Devices

One of the biggest stories in July was the CrowdStrike disaster, which took out 8.5 million Windows machines. This incident caused widespread disruption, including missed flights and delayed medical procedures.

Compensation Offers

If you were affected, you might be entitled to compensation in the form of a $10 Uber Eats gift card from CrowdStrike. While it’s a small consolation, it’s at least something for those who experienced significant inconvenience.

Conclusion

July 2024 was a whirlwind of technological advancements, setbacks, and cultural shifts. From the viral Hawk Tuaw meme to the resurgence of TUAW, the rise of AI-generated content, and the ongoing battles in the world of AI, this month has been anything but dull. As we move forward, it’s crucial to stay informed and adaptable, embracing the positive developments while remaining vigilant about the challenges and ethical considerations they bring.