TLDR 2021-04-30

A new update for the Spotify app brings a redesigned Your Library tab, with a new Grid view, dynamic filters, improved sorting, and more. The changes should help users spend less time looking for content and organizing their collections. There is a 49-second video in the article that previews the new features.

Blue Origin announced on Thursday that the company will soon be selling tickets for seats on its New Shepard rocket. People can now register their interest on the Blue Origin website. A link is available in the article. The company will announce more details on May 5.

Jetoptera's J-2000 VTOL aircraft uses a fluidic propulsion system that is similar to the technology that powers bladeless fans. The system uses fluid dynamics to use a small flow of compressed air to suck in much larger flows of ambient air at ludicrous speeds. It can suck up 15 times the volume of air pulled through by the compressor. The design is lighter and uses significantly less fuel compared to small turbojets. Images of the design are available in the article.

If robot startups shared information, they would be capable of much more than they currently are. There are more than 150 robotics companies in Odense, Denmark. 30 years ago, several companies and groups in the area started working together, resulting in Blue Ocean Robotics, the world's first robotics venture factory. Each robot at the factory adds to the core of software that all member companies have access to.

Next is a React web framework that is perfectly suited for larger production apps. It features server-side rendering, easy page routing, API routes, static site generation, easy deployment, and out-of-the-box TypeScript and Sass, no special packages required. This article is a guide on how to use Next to set up a simple app.

Some people try to trick others into running destructive shell commands by obscuring them. This article describes how someone decided to fight back by creating an obscured command which attacked anyone who tried to decode it. Only people familiar with the attack would try to decode the command, which would result in their systems slowing to a crawl until they rebooted. The examples in the article can be dangerous, do not copy-paste anything from it into your own shell.

Cryptocurrency can be stored on small physical drives securely, unconnected to the internet. The IRS is now looking for contractors to come up with solutions to hack into wallets that would be of interest to investigations. While the agency may be in possession of a hardware wallet as part of a case, they may not be able to access it without the suspect's cooperation. The IRS is looking for tools it can reliably use in multiple cases.

Case numbers for the common influenza have dropped to minuscule levels since Covid-19 began its global spread. The influenza virus is transmitted in the same way as Covid-19, but it is less effective at jumping from host to host. There were 600 deaths from influenza during the 2020-2021 flu season, compared to 22,000 deaths in the prior season. The US has seen over 574,000 deaths from Covid-19 so far.