A very trippy VisionOS 2 experience, the new ChatGPT passed my coding tests, and AI scripting in Excel
A very trippy VisionOS 2 experience, the new ChatGPT passed my coding tests, and AI scripting in Excel
Plus, Mrs. Roper is back, a really big trebuchet, the dangers of ultra-processed food, a Pixel pic, and everything you need to know about the PS5 Pro.
The Advanced Geekery newsletter is completely free and has no advertising. Please help it grow this month by sharing it with your friends and colleagues. Thanks!
I’m David Gewirtz. Welcome to this week’s Advanced Geekery newsletter. It’s been an exciting week. Let’s dive in.
My articles
Let’s kick it off with a quick recap of the articles I published in the last week on ZDNET.
How well can OpenAI's o1-preview code? It aced my 4 tests - and showed its work in surprising detail: Can OpenAI's most advanced AI model can help you program? Here's what I found when I put it to the test.
Why natural language AI scripting in Microsoft Excel could be a game changer: What if you could run advanced Excel analyses with no coding skills? Here's how Microsoft's Copilot in Excel could use Python to allow you to do just that.
I thought this new VisionOS 2 feature was just a gimmick - until it made me cry into my Vision Pro: Apple Vision Pro's 3D photo conversion 'realified' my old snapshots in a way I was completely unprepared for. Here's how it could transform the way you view your old memories.
Must-watch YouTube
Moving on, let’s queue up some interesting YouTube videos for your entertainment and edification.
Interesting CBS report on the rise of ultra-processed food. It’s technology, but is it technology we want? Plus, it has a Bernie Sanders cameo.
Want to see a world-record trebuchet? It’s at Warwick Castle in central England.
Remember Mrs. Roper from reruns of the 70s show Three’s Company? Apparently, she’s at the center of a hot new trend.
Interesting reads
And now, some good stuff from around the Internet, well worth reading.
Here’s a story of a rare early copy of the US Constitution. It’s being auctioned for millions of dollars.
A New York Times writer wrote about switching from iPhone to Android. The switch was easy. Living with it wasn’t as much.
ZDNET has everything you might want to know about the $700 Playstation 5 Pro.
Pixel pic of the week
It’s been a while since our very good boy was featured here in the pages of the Advanced Geekery substack. Here, he’s cozy under his blankey, semi-patiently waiting for a treat from Mommy or Daddy.
Send in your projects
I’d like to regularly spotlight a reader project or two here. Your project doesn’t have to be a big Kickstarter launch. If you’ve built something cool, it has some pretty pictures, and you’re proud of it, I might be able to share it here.
If you have a photogenic reader project, send an email to me at david@zatz.com with the subject “READER PROJECT,” a few pictures, and a short one-paragraph description. If you have a social media link or a link to the project, include that, too.
Both my EPs are now streaming
Available on all your favorite streaming services.
More clicky
I’ve got a lot happening all over the web. Here are links to my various stuff:
House of the Head: home for my published music
ZATZ Labs: where I host my published software projects
Feel free to dig around, visit, and say hey!
Leave some comments
Substack supports comments, so feel free to leave some. I promise to read them. Just, please, let’s keep our personal politics out of any discussion.
That should do it for this week. This newsletter is really starting to pick up subscribers. Please help it out by sharing links on all your socials.
Have a great week!