Windows
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Quill: Open Source Writing Assistant with Prompt Control
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Quill is a streamlined open-source background writing assistant designed for users who want more control over prompt engineering. Inspired by Writing Tools, Quill removes certain features like screen capture and a separate chat window to focus on selected text processing, making it compatible with local language models. It allows users to configure parameters and inference settings, and supports any OpenAI-compatible API, such as Ollama and llama.cpp. The user interface is kept simple and readable, though some features from Writing Tools are omitted, which might be missed by some users. Currently, Quill is available only for Windows, and feedback is encouraged to improve its functionality. This matters as it provides writers with a customizable tool that enhances their writing process by integrating local language models and offering greater control over how prompts are managed.
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Building an Intel Arc Rig: Challenges and Insights
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Building an Intel Arc rig proved to be a complex and time-consuming endeavor, involving multiple changes in frameworks from Proxmox to Windows, and then to Ubuntu, with potential plans to revert back to Proxmox. The setup includes powerful hardware: dual Intel Xeon e5 v3 processors, 128GB DDR4 RAM, and 4 Intel Arc B580 GPUs connected via PCIe 3.0 x8, all housed in an Aaawave mining case. Despite the challenges, assistance from the Open Arc Discord community has been invaluable in resolving driver and library issues. Once the setup is fully operational, further updates with benchmarks will be provided. This matters because it highlights the complexities and community support involved in setting up advanced computing rigs with new technologies like Intel Arc GPUs.
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Windows on Arm: A Year of Progress
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In 2024, Qualcomm's Snapdragon X chips significantly improved the viability of Arm-based Windows laptops, offering solid performance and impressive battery life, especially in Microsoft's Surface Laptop and Surface Pro models. Despite these advancements, inconsistent app compatibility remained a challenge, particularly for creative applications and gaming. However, by 2025, software improvements and better emulation support have made Arm laptops more appealing, with native versions of apps like Adobe Premiere Pro and improved gaming capabilities. The competition between Arm and x86 architectures is intensifying, with upcoming releases from Qualcomm, Intel, and AMD promising further advancements. Additionally, rumors of Nvidia's entry into the Arm space could enhance graphics performance, making Arm laptops even more attractive to gamers. As the gap between Arm and x86 narrows, the choice of platform may increasingly depend on specific user needs and preferences. This matters because it highlights the evolving landscape of laptop technology, offering consumers more options and potentially shifting market dynamics.
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TensorFlow 2.16 Release Highlights
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TensorFlow 2.16 introduces several key updates, including the use of Clang as the default compiler for building TensorFlow CPU wheels on Windows and the adoption of Keras 3 as the default version. The release also supports Python 3.12 and marks the removal of the tf.estimator API, requiring users to revert to TensorFlow 2.15 or earlier if they need this functionality. Additionally, for Apple Silicon users, future updates will be available through the standard TensorFlow package rather than tensorflow-macos. These changes are significant as they streamline development processes and ensure compatibility with the latest software environments.