Amazon and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center are working together to develop personalized vaccines for breast and skin cancers. They are currently recruiting patients to join the clinical trial. The trial is expected to end in November 2023. Amazon is contributing scientific and machine learning expertise to the project. The project came out of Amazon's secretive moonshot lab called Grand Challenge.
Apple has released the first beta builds of this year's iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, and HomePod software updates. Users with supported devices can now download the updates from Apple's beta program website. The process for rolling back to a previous version involves wiping all data, so users are advised to keep backups and install the software on spare devices. It is not possible to roll back the update on the Apple Watch and most Apple TV models.
Researchers have invented a fundamentally new kind of problem that a quantum computer should be able to solve exponentially faster than a classical one. It involves calculating the inputs to a complicated mathematical process based solely on its jumbled outputs. The problem is still too advanced for existing quantum computers to solve. A detailed explanation of the problem is available in the article.
SpaceX has successfully launched a new batch of Starlink satellites to polar orbit. The polar launches will enable complete coverage of Earth. There are currently over 2,300 active Starlink satellites in orbit. SpaceX is expecting more than 4,200 active satellites within 18 months. Starlink is available in 32 countries. SpaceX plans to vastly expand availability later this year and in 2023.
The Postgres 15 beta 2 was recently released. This article looks at an improvement to UNIQUE constraints on columns with NULL values. Users are now able to create constraints and indexes using UNIQUE NULLS NOT DISTINCT. The new feature adds an additional level of quality control to Postgres.
lldap is a lightweight authentication server that provides an opinionated, simplified LDAP interface for authentication. It is a user management system that is simple to set up and manage. lldap features a frontend that allows users to edit their own details or reset their passwords. It can be integrated with many backends.
A recently published report includes details about the physical appearance of the Apple Car. The latest design features four seats that face inwards and a curved ceiling. Apple's designers are experimenting with a trunk compartment that rises for easy access and large seat-back screens. Apple's former design chief Jony Ive has remained involved with the project as a consultant. The vehicle is still years away from release, but Apple is now discussing how to disguise vehicle prototypes during testing in the public.
Tesla laid off thousands of employees over the last month. While Elon Musk claimed that the layoffs would only affect salaried employees, hourly employees in service, sales, and delivery were also affected. The layoffs presented a real opportunity for companies to snap up top talent. Most of the former employees have been snapped up by Rivian, Apple, and Amazon. Lucid Motors, Redwood Materials, and Aurora have also hired former Tesla employees.