Apple has added the M1 range of laptops to its bare minimum "hey look we're doing something get off our arse!!" self-service repair program, joining the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 as devices you can theoretically repair yourself. I say theoretically as the only bits they sell parts for at the moment are the "display, top case with battery, and trackpad" and you need some special equipment/tools that Apple will loan you for US$49 if you don't want to buy them. More useful however, are official repair manuals you can obtain without having to pay, register or log-in to download. The repair program is still US only but will expand to additional countries by the end of the year. Hopefully Australia is one of them.
You've heard of Kiwi Farms, yeah? It's the internet's arsehole, a forum dedicated to harassing people both online and offline for no other reason than they don't like them. Kiwi Farms is the internet's school bully. The latest target is Twitch streamer and transgender rights activist Clara Sorrenti (aka Keffals). I have no idea who this person is, but there is an ongoing campaign by Clara's supporters to shame Cloudflare into ceasing services to Kiwi Farms, just like Cloudflare did for the Nazi clubhouse Daily Stormer a few years ago. Doing so would make life much more difficult for Kiwi Farms, having to use more expensive and crappier tools to make their website available, or even drive it to the Tor network.
Mobile Solar Power Made Easy does what it says it will - explain how to take advantage of the sun's energy to power things that are mobile. It goes through hooking up solar panels to a charge controller/inverter and storing the power for later with a battery. The site is centered around mobile homes and caravans and is US-based, but the basics are applicable to any off-grid power setup you might be investigating. This stuff has never been cheaper or easier, particularly with cheap and safe LiFePO4 batteries.
📻 Jebediah - In Orbit
😎 The Sizzle is curated by Anthony "@decryption" Agius and emailed every weekday afternoon.
💬 Checked out the paid subscriber only forum? It's a tidy little place to discuss tech with like minded Aussies.
👋 Forums not your thing? The Sizzle has a Slack group you can procrastinate in and chat with other nerds bored at work.
💳 Paid subscriber looking to manage your billing info or change email address? Visit the customer portal.
📚 Browse The Sizzle Archive. A few issues are missing and it's not searchable, but it's better than nothing.
🫂 Friends of The Sizzle is a small group of businesses or organisations operated by Sizzle subscribers. Support your fellow Sizzler!
The Sizzle is created on Wathaurong land and acknowledges the traditional owners of country throughout Australia, recognising their continuing connection to land, water and community. I pay my respect to them and their cultures and to elders both past and present.