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Birchtree
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Microsoft vs. their robot on what “freeware” is

Sean Endicott: Ever Put Content on the Web? Microsoft Says That It's Okay for Them to Steal It Because It's 'Freeware.'

"With respect to content that is already on the open web, the social contract of that content since the 90s has been that it is fair use. Anyone can copy it, recreate with it, reproduce with it. That has been freeware, if you like. That's been the understanding," said Suleyman.

I just asked ChatGPT if it agreed, and it did not, so that that for what you will.

Disagree. The understanding and legal framework around content on the web have generally required permission for copying, recreating, and reproducing content unless it is explicitly marked as free to use or falls under specific fair use exceptions.

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iPhone Duo owners thrilled to get this Samsung feature

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Pro workflows benefit from touch too

Jason Snell: Quick thoughts about the new MacBook Pro one portion of Apple’s intro video showed a developer using Xcode to test an iOS app, and they were touching the app in the iOS simulator. That… is a really cool use case. For the first time, developers will be able to touch their apps

The computer did what we told it to do. Eek!

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Boost more cool shit

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Passkeys are a trap. No they're not!

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X has all the jerks

Lex Friedman (on what has to be the best new tech blog of 2026) writes I can’t believe we’re still arguing over whether X is for jerks, which you should just go read: People can post wherever they want to post. I’m not trying to dictate where John spends his time online.