TLDR 2025-03-05
Google Pixie π€, new iPad Air π±, trimodal tech compensation π°
Apple launches a new M3-powered iPad Air (2 minute read)
Apple has launched a new iPad Air with a spec bump over last year's device. The M3-powered device supports Apple Intelligence and is twice as fast as the M1-powered Air. It comes in four colors with 11- and 13-inch models starting at $599. A Magic Keyboard attachment is available at $269 for the smaller model.
Google's rumored new 'Pixie' assistant is finally coming to the Pixel 10 as Pixel Sense (3 minute read)
Google will launch a feature called Pixel Sense on the Pixel 10. Pixel Sense is an on-device assistant that can use data from other Google services to be a truly smart helper. It can also process media files, including text and images and associated metadata. The feature will run fully on-device so users' data stays private. The Pixel 10 series will be released later this year.
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Science & Futuristic Technology
NASA uses GPS on the moon for the first time (2 minute read)
Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost has successfully demonstrated the ability to use Earth-based GPS signals on the Moon. Accurate and reliable navigation will be vital for future missions to the Moon. NASA currently tracks spacecraft using a mix of onboard sensors and Earth-based tracking signals, which generally requires oversight from a team of engineers. Using GNSS could reduce the need for human operators as the signals can be autonomously picked up by spacecraft.
On a quest to revive the woolly mammoth, Colossal Biosciences has created a woolly mouse (2 minute read)
Colossal Biosciences has genetically engineered mice to have mammoth-like fur using CRISPR. The mices' fur is of a color, texture, and thickness that resembles a mammoth's fur. The woolly coat may enable the mice to survive in cold climates. While the company believes that it will be eventually possible to re-create the woolly mammoth, there are still a lot of technical hurdles ahead.
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Programming, Design & Data Science
Trimodal Nature of Tech Compensation in the US, UK, and India (28 minute read)
The US is unique in having a tier above Big Tech. Across the UK, India, and the Netherlands, the highest compensation is Big Tech, but in the US, hedge funds, quant firms, and top scaleups can pay more. However, these positions are usually reserved for workers already in Big Tech, and switching can be difficult. It's a lot harder now to get into top-tier companies in today's tough job market.
Arch Gateway (GitHub Repo)
Arch Gateway handles the critical but pesky tasks related to the handling and processing of prompts, including detecting and rejecting jailbreak attempts, intent-based routing for improved task accuracy, mapping user requests into 'backend' functions, and managing the observability of prompts and LLM API calls in a centralized way. Several demo apps, as well as a quick start guide, are available in the repository.
Automattic CEO Matt Mullenweg talks succession β βI don't want to pass it to a committee' (3 minute read)
Matt Mullenweg intends to stay as CEO at Automattic, but he's been thinking of a succession plan for the company. Mullenweg doesn't want to pass WordPress onto a committee but rather to another CEO who will continue to act as a steward to the WordPress community. He says the most 'iconic' companies are those where the executive has retained some majority in voting control, something he is considering in his succession planning. Automattic has helped boost the adoption of WordPress by introducing more than 100 million people to the software.
TLDR is hiring curators for our new TLDR Fintech newsletter (Fully Remote, $100/hr)
TLDR is hiring part time curators to launch our TLDR Fintech newsletter.
TLDR Fintech already has over 200,000 pre-registered subscribers, it's a great way to build a personal brand within the fintech community.
The ideal candidate would have deep experience working directly in the fintech space, and enjoy analyzing news and trends within the space.
Time commitment is ~2-3 hours/week paid at a rate of $100/hr. To apply please send your LinkedIn or resume to jobs@tldr.tech along with a couple sentences on why you'd be a good fit!
Waymo, Uber launch driverless ride-hailing in Austin (4 minute read)
Waymo has officially launched driverless taxis in Texas with the help of Uber. People in Austin can now take a driverless Waymo robotaxi using the Uber app. The launch comes as Tesla is expected to debut Unsupervised Full Self-Driving services in the city later this year. There will be no additional costs for accessing Waymo robotaxis. Riders will be able to use the Uber app to unlock the vehicle, open the trunk, and activate the trip.
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