Elevation Lab explains that it created and launched a tool designed to silence AirTag alerts because the team wanted a way to prevent nuisance notifications for AirTags mounted on bicycles; several employees own bikes they consider more valuable than their cars. The device was developed in keeping with the company’s usual approach of making products they personally need and shipping a finished product for that niche use.
After reflection the company recognized the product also made it easier for someone with malicious intent to track a person without the phone-based warnings that normally alert potential victims. Elevation Lab has removed the silencer from sale and states it will use its patent to block others from producing similar devices in the future. The message closes with an apology and a commitment to prevent the tool’s further distribution, framing the decision as a response to the safety risk the product could enable.
Summary generated by AI from the linked article. hn.today is not affiliated with Hacker News or Y Combinator.
Asian chip stocks declined sharply due to fears of further Federal Reserve interest rate hikes and concerns over AI investment funding. SK Hynix dropped over 10%, and Samsung Electronics fell 7.1%, amid broader declines in the tech hardware sector. (cnbc.com)
A DIY project demonstrates a fully functional 16-bit magnetic core memory. The project showcases the construction and operation of this vintage memory technology. (youtube.com)
Chip companies largely avoid open source contributions, despite open source playing a crucial role in AI development. Zero ASIC has significantly contributed to open source hardware, ranking first on GitHub, while industry giants remain mostly proprietary. (zeroasic.com)
Nvidia has reportedly stopped the production of the GeForce RTX 5090 graphics card. The company is shifting focus to AI, data center, and professional GPUs amid an expected supply shortage. (tomshardware.com)
ASML reports strong orders that suggest continued demand for semiconductor manufacturing equipment. This alleviates fears that the AI chip spending boom is slowing down, with projections extending into 2026. (reuters.com)
A lightweight 40-gram drone is being developed to target and eliminate mosquitoes. The drone aims to improve mosquito control efforts through aerial intervention. (tornyol.com)
Today's best Hacker News stories, summarized and screenshotted, one email a day.