Daily Archives: 2025-10-07

Qualcomm gobbles up Arduino

Posted on 2025-10-07 by pappp

Source: OSNews

Article note: This is probably not good. Qualcomm's record with sustained community engagement is not good, with open source is not good, etc. Just on the basis of the Arduino platform targeting a large variety of target micros from a large variety of vendors, and having one of that set of vendors in control of the platform is likely to introduce unfortunate biases in compatibility and resource decisions.

It was good while it lasted, I guess.

Arduino will retain its independent brand, tools, and mission, while continuing to support a wide range of microcontrollers and microprocessors from multiple semiconductor providers as it enters this next chapter within the Qualcomm family. Following this acquisition, the 33M+ active users in the Arduino community will gain access to Qualcomm Technologies’ powerful technology stack and global reach. Entrepreneurs, businesses, tech professionals, students, educators, and hobbyists will be empowered to rapidly prototype and test new solutions, with a clear path to commercialization supported by Qualcomm Technologies’ advanced technologies and extensive partner ecosystem.

↫ Qualcomm’s press release

Qualcomm’s track record when it comes to community engagement, open source, and long-term support are absolutely atrocious, and there’s no way Arduino will be able to withstand the pressures from management. We’ve seen this exact story play out a million times, and it always begins with lofty promises, and always ends with all of them being broken. I have absolutely zero faith Arduino will be able to continue to do its thing like it has.

Arduino devices are incredibly popular, and it makes sense for Qualcomm to acquire them. If I were using Arduino’s for my open source projects, I’d be a bit on edge right now.

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Denmark Aims To Ban Social Media For Children Under 15, PM Says

Posted on 2025-10-07 by pappp

Source: Slashdot

Article note: We really need to start making some distinctions separating algorithmic feeds (which are pure brainrot and propaganda) and participating in society. It's _really good_ for young people to encounter enthusiast communities and professions and communicating-like-adults online. Algorithmic feeds are almost certainly bad for ...all of us.

The Danish government wants to introduce a ban on several social media platforms for children under the age of 15, as Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen announced Tuesday. From a report: "Mobile phones and social media are stealing our children's childhood," she said in her opening speech to the Danish parliament, the Folketing. "We have unleashed a monster," Frederiksen said, noting that almost all Danish seventh graders, where pupils are typically 13 or 14 years old, own a cellphone. "I hope that you here in the chamber will help tighten the law so that we take better care of our children here in Denmark," she added. However, Frederiksen did not give further details on what such a ban would entail, nor does a bill on an age limit appear in the government's legislative program for the upcoming parliamentary year.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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