A new release of RcppFastFloat just arrived on CRAN, and has been built for r2u. The package wraps fast_float, another nice library by Daniel Lemire. For details, see the arXiv preprint or published paper showing that one can convert character representations of ‘numbers’ into floating point at rates at or exceeding one gigabyte per second.

This release updates the underlying fast_float library version to the current version 8.3.0, and also updates a number of the standard packaging details.

Changes in version 0.0.6 (2026-09-29)

• Update to upstream release 8.3.0 (Daniel Lemire in #6)

• Standard package maintenace adding README badge, updating URL, updating continuous integration, and adding an aspell dictionary

• Completed help page for as_double example with @return tag

Courtesy of my CRANberries, there is also a diffstat report for this release. For questions, suggestions, or issues please use the issue tracker at the GitHub repo.

This post by Dirk Eddelbuettel originated on his Thinking inside the box blog. If you like this or other open-source work I do, you can now sponsor me at GitHub.

• Shared Albums now support full-resolution sharing, so you can relive every moment in stunning detail right in the app. Anyone, including users without an Apple device, can join and contribute.

• Image Playground now lets you create high quality backgrounds in pretty much any style, including photorealistic, so your invite captures exactly the vibe you have in mind.

• Guests who need to verify their email can now tap a link in their inbox instead of entering a code, making it even easier to get into an event.

• This update contains bug fixes and performance improvements.

• Apple's latest A20 Pro chip, manufactured with TSMC's advanced 2nm process. Expect up to around 1.5× faster CPU performance and up to around 2.5× faster GPU performance compared to the A17 Pro chip in the current iPad mini. A20 Pro also introduces a "dual 16-core Neural Engine" for a total of 32 cores.


• With the A20 Pro chip, the next iPad mini will have 12GB of RAM, up from 8GB of RAM in the current model. This means the device will support the ability to customize the pace and expressiveness of Siri AI's voice.


• OLED display with better overall image quality compared to the current LCD model, thanks to richer colors and higher contrast ratio with true blacks.


• Slimmer bezels around the display compared to the current model.


• Landscape front camera, meaning the camera will be in the right bezel instead of the top bezel when holding the device in an upright position.


• Apple's custom-designed N1 chip with Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 support.


• Apple's custom-designed C1X or C2 modem for cellular configurations.


• A redesigned speaker system with no speaker holes and potentially an iPhone earpiece-like speaker in the top bezel.


• IP-rated water resistance for the first time.

Thrilled to share that our new package myman reached CRAN a few days ago. The package offers sixteen hundred ninety four “My man …” posts by Kevin Kruse made on bsky during the summer of 2026. Each wave picked at one particular public persona. This package wrapse these up in the style of packages like fortunes or gaussfacts.

A sample usage illustration shows how to extract by pattern:

> library(myman)
> myman("maitre")
My man looks like he's inquiring with the maitre'd about the house curly fries.
     -- about Howard Lutnick on 2026-08-28

My man looks like a maitre'd who deeply doubts you have a reservation.
     -- about Scott Bessent on 2026-08-31

My man looks like he's asked the maitre'd to remove a party of four he finds visually
unpleasant.
     -- about Scott Bessent on 2026-08-31

My man looks like the maitre'd at a very exclusive restaurant called The Berghof.
     -- about JD Vance on 2026-09-13

> 

One can also subset by ‘target’, or simple sample randomly (which is the default).

As CRAN review for new package takes a little longer these days, the GitHub repo was updated once more with one (eighth !!) wave of posts since the submission was made. CRAN version 0.1.0 corresponds to the stock of messages from waves one to seven. We will update the CRAN version shortly but if you would like more posts right now consider installing from the repo.

We include the full NEWS file since the package was started, this also includes an entry for the eights wave we will bring to CRAN soon.

Changes in version 0.1.0 (2026-09-27)

• Initial CRAN version (minus the 0.0.8 changes which were made while CRAN reviewed the package)

• Add an aspell dictionary to aid DESCRIPTION text

Changes in version 0.0.8 (2026-09-18)

• Data set now comprises 1694 posts aiming at eight different 'men'

• The number of 'sample()' object returned can not be set with 'posts'

Changes in version 0.0.7 (2026-09-14)

• Data set now comprises 1494 posts aiming at seven different 'men'

Changes in version 0.0.6 (2026-09-07)

• Data set now comprises 1394 posts aiming at six different 'men'

Changes in version 0.0.5 (2026-09-01)

• Data set now comprises 1194 posts aiming at five different 'men'

• The myman() function can now now subset by target permitting more focussed randlom sampling

Changes in version 0.0.4 (2026-08-28)

• Data set now comprises 1040 posts aiming at four different 'men'

Changes in version 0.0.3 (2026-08-19)

• Data set now comprises 916 posts aiming at three different 'men'

• Csv file, processing and display extended to three columns also showing post creating date (in UTC) and 'man'

Changes in version 0.0.2 (2026-07-30)

• Updated with full week of posts leading to a corpus of 698 posts

• Added support for simple regular-expression lookup ability

Changes in version 0.0.1 (2026-07-19)

• Initial release

This post by Dirk Eddelbuettel originated on his Thinking inside the box blog. If you like this or other open-source work I do, you can sponsor me at GitHub.

I will compare this version of macOS with the previous one, Tahoe, which I presented in macOS Tahoe and smart cards status.

    $ grep -A 1 CFBundleShortVersionString /usr/libexec/SmartCardServices/drivers/ifd-ccid.bundle/Contents/Info.plist
            <key>CFBundleShortVersionString</key>
            <string>1.5.1</string>

$ defaults read /Library/Preferences/com.apple.security.smartcard.plist
{
        Logging = 0;
}

The hub is about as thick as an iPhone, and its display is surrounded by a quarter-inch, black bezel reminiscent of older iPads. It has rounded corners and no sharp edges. The device lacks a battery, so it has to be plugged in at all times, and there are no volume or power buttons.

The product comes in Apple's standard gray aluminum finish and includes a USB-C port for power. The screen sits above a metal, round base with multiple rings of perforated speaker holes and connects to it through a polished metal arm. Users can manually tilt the display forward or backward. And the base has a rubberized bottom to help it stay on a table.

The standard version looks reminiscent of the famous iMac G4 from 2002 that has a large display that sits on a half-dome-shaped base.

Apple has also developed a second version, code-named J491, designed to be mounted on a wall. It has a thin, square-shaped base beneath the display that houses the speakers and microphones. The base sits flat on the wall below the screen. This version also must remain connected to power through a USB-C cable.

The post appeared first on Windows Blog.

You can ask questions, explore ideas, and give feedback along the way; or you can simply hop on a voice call when you need to talk something out. The more you work together, the more your dot learns your preferences, how you think, and what good looks like to you.

• Start a conversation about screen time, with tips for parents to approach the topic and establish expectations in a way that helps kids feel included in the plan.


• Create a Child Account, which enables age-based safeguards and gives parents access to parental controls to manage their child's experience.


• Set safety settings for websites and apps, including Ask to Buy and Ask to Browse, so families can review new apps and websites together.


• Make a schedule for device use, using Time Allowances and Schedules to balance time online with sleep, schoolwork, physical activity, and time with family and friends.


• Manage communications, with parents deciding who their child can communicate with and Communication Safety, on by default for all users under 18, helping protect kids from viewing or sharing sensitive content.


• Continue the conversation as kids grow, with guidance on adjusting the family's plan over time.

Information provided to Apple by law enforcement shows that your app violates Guideline 1.1.1 because its purpose is to provide location information about law enforcement officers that can be used to harm such officers individually or as a group. For this reason, your app will be removed from the App Store.

Turn On the ChatGPT Extension

1. Open System Settings.


2. Click Siri in the sidebar.


3. Click ChatGPT under "Extension."
   
   
4. Turn on Use Extension.


5. Choose whether to sign in with a ChatGPT account.
   

Ask ChatGPT in Search or Ask

1. Press Command-Space to open the Search or Ask bar (formerly Spotlight Search).


2. Right-click (or Control-click) the field.


3. Choose Ask ➝ Use ChatGPT.


4. Type your question, then press Enter.