Amazon has halted its drone delivery operations in College Station, Texas, less than two years after launching the service there. While Amazon claims the pause is temporary and part of a "normal business operations" evolution, the move raises questions about the viability and scalability of the company's drone delivery ambitions. The company states it remains committed to drone delivery and plans to resume service in College Station at some point, but has not provided a timeline. This pause follows a similar shutdown in California earlier this year and comes amidst broader cost-cutting measures at Amazon.
Amazon is shutting down its Appstore for Android devices on August 20, 2025. Users will no longer be able to download or update apps from the Appstore after this date, and some services associated with existing apps may also cease functioning. Amazon will refund any remaining Amazon Coins balance. Developers will continue to be paid royalties for existing apps until the shutdown date. While Amazon states they're shifting focus to Fire tablets and Fire TV, the actual Android Appstore listing has been pulled from the Google Play Store, and development of new Android apps for submission is now discouraged.
Hacker News users react to the Amazon Appstore shutdown with a mixture of apathy and mild surprise. Many point out the store's general irrelevance, citing its limited selection and lack of discoverability compared to the Google Play Store. Some speculate about Amazon's motivations, suggesting they're refocusing resources on more profitable ventures or admitting defeat in the mobile app market. A few users express disappointment, having used the store for specific apps unavailable elsewhere or to take advantage of Amazon Coins promotions. The overall sentiment suggests the closure won't significantly impact the Android ecosystem.
Augurs is a demo showcasing a decentralized prediction market platform built on the Solana blockchain. It allows users to create and participate in prediction markets on various topics, using play money. The platform demonstrates features like creating binary (yes/no) markets, buying and selling shares representing outcomes, and visualizing probability distributions based on market activity. It aims to highlight the potential of decentralized prediction markets for aggregating information and forecasting future events in a transparent and trustless manner.
HN users discussed Augurs' demo, with several expressing skepticism about the claimed accuracy and generalizability of the model. Some questioned the choice of examples, suggesting they were cherry-picked and lacked complexity. Others pointed out potential biases in the training data and the inherent difficulty of accurately predicting geopolitical events. The lack of transparency regarding the model's inner workings and the limited scope of the demo also drew criticism. Some commenters expressed interest in the potential of such a system but emphasized the need for more rigorous evaluation and open-sourcing to build trust. A few users offered alternative approaches to geopolitical forecasting, including prediction markets and leveraging existing expert analysis.
Bookshop.org, the online platform supporting independent bookstores, has launched its own e-book store and reading app, offering a direct competitor to Amazon's Kindle ecosystem. This allows customers to purchase e-books while still financially supporting their chosen local bookstore. The app provides basic e-reader functionality, including customizable fonts and backgrounds, and purchases are fulfilled by Ingram Content Group, a major book distributor. Bookshop.org aims to provide an ethical alternative for digitally-minded readers who want to support local businesses.
Hacker News commenters generally expressed skepticism about Bookshop.org's e-reader and ebook app. Several questioned its viability against the entrenched Amazon Kindle ecosystem, citing the lack of device integration and limited ebook selection. Some doubted the profitability for independent bookstores, given the small percentage they receive per sale. Others pointed to existing alternatives like Kobo and library ebook programs. A few commenters were more positive, viewing the move as a principled stand against Amazon, but even they acknowledged the uphill battle Bookshop.org faces. There was also discussion of the technical challenges involved in DRM and ebook formats, with some suggesting an open platform would be more appealing. The overall sentiment seemed to be that while the initiative is laudable, its success is far from guaranteed.
Shein and Temu exploit a US customs rule called the "de minimis" threshold, which exempts packages valued under $800 from import duties and taxes. This allows them to ship massive quantities of low-priced goods directly to consumers without the added costs normally associated with international trade. This practice, combined with potentially undervalued shipments, is under increasing scrutiny from US lawmakers who argue it gives Chinese retailers an unfair advantage, hurts American businesses, and facilitates the import of counterfeit or unsafe products. Proposed legislation seeks to close this loophole and level the playing field for domestic retailers.
HN commenters discuss the potential abuse of the de minimis threshold by Shein and Temu, allowing them to avoid import duties and taxes. Some argue that this gives these companies an unfair advantage over US businesses and hurts American jobs. Others point out that this "loophole" is not new, has existed for decades, and is used by many international retailers. Some also suggest the focus should be on simplifying the US tax code and reducing tariffs rather than targeting specific companies. The impact on consumer prices and potential benefits of lower prices are also debated, with some commenters suggesting that addressing the loophole could raise prices. There is skepticism about whether Congress will effectively close the loophole due to lobbying from various interests. Some also highlight the complexity of international trade and customs procedures.
Alexey Starobinskiy's blog post, "Goodbye, Slopify," details his decision to discontinue Slopify, a side project offering simplified Spotify playlists. He explains that maintaining the service became too time-consuming and costly, especially with the increasing complexity of handling Spotify's API and data updates. Despite initial success and positive user feedback, the project's unsustainability, combined with Starobinskiy's desire to focus on other ventures, ultimately led to its shutdown. He expresses gratitude to his users and reflects on the valuable lessons learned throughout the project's lifespan.
Hacker News users generally agreed with the author's criticisms of Slopify, echoing frustrations with the app's user experience, bugs, and lack of responsiveness from the developers. Several commenters shared similar experiences with the app crashing, losing data, and encountering unhelpful or non-existent support. Some speculated on technical reasons for the app's poor performance, suggesting issues with Electron or database choices. Others pointed to alternative note-taking apps like Obsidian and Logseq as preferred replacements. A few users expressed disappointment with the apparent abandonment of the project, having previously enjoyed its unique features. The overall sentiment was one of resignation and a search for better alternatives.
Summary of Comments ( 199 )
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43241212
HN commenters discuss the abrupt halt of Amazon's drone delivery program in College Station, expressing skepticism about the viability of drone delivery in general. Some suggest the technology isn't mature enough, citing concerns about noise, safety, and scalability. Others speculate about behind-the-scenes issues like regulatory hurdles, cost-effectiveness problems, or even technical failures. A few commenters point out the limited scope of the program and question whether it was ever intended to be more than a pilot project. The overall sentiment seems to be one of disappointment mixed with a belief that drone delivery still faces significant obstacles.
The Hacker News post titled "Amazon’s delivery drones are grounded in College Station, Texas" has generated several comments discussing the Wired article about the halted drone delivery program. Several commenters focus on the apparent disconnect between the initial hype surrounding drone delivery and the current reality of limited, grounded programs.
One commenter points out the stark contrast between Amazon's ambitious promises of widespread drone delivery and the current situation in College Station, where the service is unavailable. They highlight the feeling of being "over-promised and under-delivered," expressing skepticism about the technology's viability in the near future. This sentiment is echoed by other comments that suggest the technology isn't mature enough for widespread deployment.
Another commenter delves into the potential reasons behind the program's grounding, speculating about regulatory hurdles, technical challenges, or a combination of factors. They suggest the complexities of operating drones in a safe and reliable manner might be more significant than initially anticipated, leading to delays and setbacks. This aligns with other comments that question the overall efficiency and cost-effectiveness of drone delivery compared to traditional methods.
Some commenters discuss the specific challenges of operating drones in suburban environments, such as navigating power lines, trees, and unpredictable weather conditions. They also raise concerns about noise pollution and privacy implications, suggesting these factors might contribute to public resistance and regulatory scrutiny.
A few comments mention alternative delivery methods, like autonomous ground vehicles, as potentially more viable solutions for last-mile delivery. These commenters argue that ground-based robots might face fewer regulatory and logistical obstacles compared to aerial drones.
Finally, some comments express disappointment in the slow progress of drone delivery technology, contrasting it with the rapid advancements in other areas of technology. They suggest that the initial hype surrounding drone delivery might have been premature, and that significant technological breakthroughs are still needed before it becomes a mainstream reality. However, some maintain a more optimistic outlook, believing that drone delivery will eventually overcome these challenges and become a viable option in the future, albeit at a slower pace than initially projected.