Enlarge / These kinds of sharing names are fun to shout across the house (I have first-hand knowledge of this). (credit: Kevin Purdy)

I like AirDrop just fine for sending files between devices, but I'm the only one of two humans in my household that regularly uses Apple devices. I cannot, to paraphrase the Apple CEO's litigation-influencing quip, simply buy my spouse an iPhone. And a MacBook. And sell our household Chromebook. And give up entirely on Windows-based PC gaming.

Instead, I've come to use two apps to send files between operating systems on the same Wi-Fi, whether they're systems from Cupertino, Redmond, Mountain View, or elsewhere. One is LocalSend, a cross-platform app with an open source client and protocol that I install wherever I can. The other lower-friction tool that's especially handy for guests and rarely used devices is SnapDrop, a website or web app you open on both devices and then send files through, entirely on your local network. It, too, has its code out there for anybody to view.

Neither of these apps is new, which is good. They've been around long enough to garner good reviews and trust from their users. Beyond sharing files between two humans, I've also leaned on them when setting up headless systems or other quirky devices.

Snapdrop, for one-off transfers or quirky systems

I don't always have the patience to install the Flatpak or App Store version of LocalSend on every Raspberry Pi, Linux partition, or tablet in my house. If I need to send an image, a torrent file, or even just a long text string or web address across my home, and if both systems are technically capable of opening a browser, I use Snapdrop.

You open the browser on each device, head to Snapdrop.net, and then, almost always, you see both computers on your network. Each gets an icon and a quirky but memorable name, like "Purple Salamander" or "Green Rodent." Click on the other computer's icon to then pick a file and send it. Right-click (or tap-and-hold on mobile) to send a text message. There are icons in the upper-right corner if you want to install Snapdrop as a PWA (web app), switch between light and dark modes, or get links to the app's GitHub repo or social channels.

That's it—that's the app. You could host your own instance on Docker if you want. And you can and should donate if you find it useful. A few key things from the FAQ:

• Snapdrop is peer-to-peer through WebRTC and only uses SnapDrop's hosting for a Signaling Server.
• Because it's using WebRTC, files and messages are encrypted on transit. Snapdrop doesn't see the files; "Snapdrop doesn't even use a database," the author writes.
• The developer only ever intends to keep this project as a way to send files instantly over local networks and willfully rejects new feature ideas.

Once in a while, the Snapdrop site has failed to load on a device, but I'm not the kind of person who can confidently blame that on the device, local network, ISP, regional network, global DNS quirks, sunspots, or whatever else. I'm glad when it works. If it doesn't work, I can fall back to LocalSend.

LocalSend, the belt-and-suspenders local transfer system

LocalSend is nearly as simple and focused as SnapDrop, but it doesn't rely on the wider global web for anything and can more ably get around the occasional can't-see-you quirks.

The client is available for just about all the major systems, usually in both app store and unofficial channels (Homebrew, Android side-loading, Flathub, etc.). You can send more kinds of things with one click than on Snapdrop, including folders and photos from a phone's library. If a device doesn't show up, you can manually enter its local IP address to find it (which has worked for me a few times). You can favorite a device, send to multiple devices, send multiple files, send via link, choose to have files automatically accepted and saved to a folder of your choice, and otherwise set up things to your liking. And because it's a locally installed app, you can send files to it through your system's share/send dialogues.

LocalSend says it relies on HTTPS connections and a REST API to send between devices, with a TLS/SSL certificate generated on the fly on each device. As with Snapdrop, you can compile and run LocalSend yourself.

I'll welcome any other suggestions for same-network file sharing in the comments. Both of these apps save me from having to log into web-based file-sharing systems every time I just want to show a funny photo or share a PDF, and for that, I thank them.

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The TV show is bringing new players to basically the entire franchise

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In 2015, Thandiwe Muriu (previously) began CAMO, a series that takes a kaleidoscopic view of the lives of contemporary African women. Nearly a decade later, hundreds of self-portraits and photos are gathered in a new book from Chronicle Chroma that celebrates the project’s striking visual impact and the nuanced, multi-faceted stories hidden in each image.

Muriu first picked up her father’s Nikon camera at age 14, experimenting with photography by recreating fashion spreads in magazines like Vogue. By 17, she started to work with large brands on advertising campaigns, and her clients have included Apple and the United Nations. These foundational experiences shine through in CAMO, which harnesses Muriu’s impeccable style to communicate larger messages about beauty, resourcefulness, women’s visibility, and the ways different cultures entwine.

 

In each photo, the photographer either positions a small group or stands against a boldly patterned Ankara backdrop. Also known as African wax prints, these colorful textiles were first introduced to the continent by the Dutch in the 19th century and are still common for garments and accessories today. Muriu and her subjects always wear clothing identical to their surroundings, literally camouflaging their bodies into a backdrop loaded with cultural and colonial history.

The photographer also fashions playful eyewear for each portrait. She designs these wearables from ubiquitous, found waste materials like bottle caps, sponges, and hinges that directly reference the Kenyan ethos of repair and repurposing. She writes in the introduction:

This habit of combining and remodeling materials is very much the Kenyan way. It is commonplace for a population often lacking in means but not in ingenuity. It goes a step further than achieving a do-it-yourself objective. We call it jua kali: a Swahili phrase to mean
“hot or fierce sun.” The term is used to refer to our informal, blue-collar economy and the ways in which these workers labour—often outside in the blazing sun—to handcraft items through methods such as welding or carpentry.

“CAMO 44,” for example, spotlights brilliant orange eyewear made of plumbing tape and bangles and is an ode to handymen, while “CAMO 5” recycles cupcake wrappers, an autobiographical nod to her childhood excitement for baked goods. Similarly pointing to labor and the economy, “The Crown of Curiosity” features glasses outfitted with bright red coffee berries, which are typically harvested by women and continue to be one of Kenya’s major exports.

 

The other considerable component of Muriu’s portraits is the architectural hairstyles and headwraps. Drawing on the traditions of J.D. ‘Okhai Ojeikere, a renowned photographer best known for documenting Nigerian women’s elaborate arrangements, she explores the cultural importance of sprawling, sculptural hairstyles traditional to African beauty standards. In the section titled Material Culture, Muriu writes, “Every time a woman puts on a headwrap, she adorns herself with the African equivalent of a regal coronet, transforming a humble piece of fabric into a beautiful piece of art that crowns her head like that of a queen.”

CAMO will be released on April 16 and is available in the Colossal Shop.

 

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article Thandiwe Muriu’s New Book Celebrates the Multi-Faceted Beauty of Kenyan Culture appeared first on Colossal.

All eyes remain on the Tesla Cybertruck. It hasn’t been all smooth sailing for the silvery wedge since finally making its long-overdue debut on the market, with glitches including videos depicting difficulty in dealing with snow, corrosion worries despite its stainless-steel skin, and sidewall-eating wheel covers marring its positive press.

The latest Cyber-bug, however, could be a showstopper – and literally a sales-stopper, as Tesla has allegedly halted deliveries of the pickup as customer complaints about scary stuck-throttle incidents have begun to appear.

News of halted deliveries hit the Cybertruck Owners Forum this past weekend. Reservation holders have reported being told their deliveries had been canceled due to an “unexpected delay.” Affected customers weren’t directly notified as to the reason for the cancellations.

At this time, it’s widely believed that an accelerator-pedal issue is behind Tesla’s decision to temporarily halt deliveries. Supporting this is a TikTok video from Cybertruck owner @el.chepito1985. He describes what happened when his truck’s accelerator pedal came apart in a way that prevented the pedal from lifting and disengaging the throttle. Thankfully the driver’s quick reactions allowed him to avoid a crash.

@el.chepito1985

serious problem with my Cybertruck and potential all Cybertrucks #tesla #cyberbeast #cybertruck #stopsale #recall

♬ original sound – el.chepito

The cause of the issue appears to be the accelerator pedal’s cover. As seen in the video, the metal-trimmed plastic cover separated from the plastic pedal underneath. The cover slid up the pedal and caught in the edge of the lower dash panel, jamming the accelerator pedal in its maximum-throttle position. The driver was able to stop the Cybetruck by hitting the brake, which overrode the signal from the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was safely brought to a stop and put in park, at which point the issue became obvious.

It’s a simple problem, but one that could absolutely explain why Tesla has stopped delivering Cybertrucks. In the video, we can see the cover appears to merely clip onto the actual pedal. There’s no obvious adhesives or other fasteners helping to hold it in place.

As we’ve seen in previous cases of unintended acceleration, all it takes is a poorly designed floor mat or piece of trim to jam the throttle wide open. In such a situation, a driver can easily lose control of the vehicle. Outcomes are typically worse if the driver panics due to sudden acceleration. Thus, rectifying the issue before more trucks ship out to customers makes perfect sense. Failure to do so could lead to dangerous crashes, injuries, or worse.

This could be an easy fix for Tesla. The company could arrange for manual rework of existing trucks by riveting or gluing the accelerator pedal covers in place if they are, indeed, not already glued or riveted together. A good epoxy would do the job well, though Tesla may elect to install a fastener for additional peace of mind.

At this stage, we can’t be 100% certain that the accelerator pedal cover is the root cause behind the delivery halt or even if deliveries are halted. In part, this is because Tesla does not provide a press contact to advise us on these issues. The Autopian has contacted the NHTSA for comment on whether a stop-sale order is in place, and we will update this story as more information becomes available.

Since we’re talking about it, this is also a great time to educate yourself on what to do in a stuck-throttle situation. It’s good to remember that modern vehicles have powerful brakes which are often capable of stopping the vehicle even under such conditions. Some modern drive-by-wire vehicles will also cancel the throttle command when the brake is applied. You can also shift into neutral to disconnect the engine from the transmission in an ICE-powered vehicle. In vehicles with a pushbutton starter, holding the engine start button down will kill the engine or cut drive power. In a key-start vehicle, you can use the key to turn the engine off, but you may lose power steering and power braking, and you may lock the steering wheel if you’re not careful.

Fundamentally, though, the video above is a bad look for Tesla. A vehicle’s basic controls should be stout and properly manufactured. It’s poor form to see pedals falling apart on a brand-new vehicle. Here’s hoping the problem can be sorted quickly and no injuries or crashes result from this flaw.

Image credits: Tesla, el.chepito1985 via TikTok screenshot

The post Tesla Allegedly Pauses Cybertruck Deliveries As Owner Complains Accelerator Pedal Fell Apart appeared first on The Autopian.

This past week was April Fools Day, a 24-hour period in which companies break out their best material and get to work joshin’, goofin’, ribbin’, and all other forms of joking around. Some of it’s mildly chuck-worthy, some a massive eye-roll. Though, occasionally, some of it is actually a really good idea.

“This would ironically sell,” my buddy Nick said when he sent me this Instagram post by Subaru of New England: A lifted BRZ sporting all-wheel drive and done up in the company’s more off-road-centric Wilderness spec.

Well, somebody already made their own—sans all-wheel drive—and it’s exactly how you’d imagine it: Just begging to be drifted down a snowy road. Here’s why the owner did it, and why it’s such a categorically Good Idea.

Wyoming Livin’

Reddit user j_mosk is no stranger to less-than-ideal traction, in fact his former whips were a 2018 Volkswagen Golf R and 2006 Toyota 4Runner to deal with his home state of Wyoming’s deep snowfall. He wanted something fun, as well as to no longer have a car payment, so he sold them and got into the sprightly, rear-wheel drive Subie.

You’d think reducing drive wheels would reduce capability, but after some simple-yet-effective modifications, the opposite has proven true. “The BRZ is currently my only car and I ask a lot of it. This car is full of surprises and consistently exceeds expectations with whatever I throw at it,” he told me via Reddit.

The build is pretty simple straightforward: Anderson Design and Fabrication 1.5″ Strut spacers with multi-link spacers so as not to upset the suspension’s geometry, then 16X7 Sparco Terra wheels, 205/60/16 Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10 studded tires, RokBlokz mud flaps … and that’s about it besides an upgraded clutch spring and pulling the plug on the BRZ’s active sound. For non-deep-snow duty, he’s got a set of OEM 16-inch Subaru WRX wheels wrapped in 205/60/16 Falken Wildpeak ATs.

Then, to be more prepared out there, he packs 120 lbs worth of sand bags, a spare tire, MaxTrax Minis, a kinetic recovery rope with soft shackles, water, food, a high-visibility vest, and an assortment of tools.

“With the Nokians, it climbed Teton Pass with ease, during a blizzard, and with level 1 chain law in effect … the only thing that will stop it is deep snow.” he said of its capability. Not bad, not bad at all. Then, if he ever wants to return it to stock, it’s quite easy to do so.

Solidifying the Basics

It really says something when someone so accustomed to snow and off-road driving is continually impressed by a vehicle lacking all-or-four-wheel drive, lockers, advanced off-road traction control, and so on. It’s a testament to driver skill, as well as getting the basics down right: A little more ride height to clear obstacles, and the right tire compound for the task at hand. Being on the right quality tires makes such a difference, and I bet a lot of people don’t put as much focus on this concept as they ought to.

The BRZ does sport a limited-slip rear differential—good for both grip and drift—but it’s still quite cool that it’s proven to be so potent across the powder.

It looks so incredibly fun to drive, too, in fact, j_mosk’s proven this on his YouTube channel and Instagram. For folks who are in the market for either a little rear-wheel drive sports car, or something a lil’ more stilted that can tackle tricky traction: Do both! 

Subaru should also consider something like this as an actual new trim addition that fits the bill, rear- or all-wheel drive. Not just an April Fools Joke. We bet it’d sell well, and will happily volunteer to wheel one all-day-long for review’s sake.

The post Would You Rather Have An AWD Subaru On All-Season Tires Or This Lifted Subaru BRZ On Snow Tires? appeared first on The Autopian.

The mission to stop cheaters has unintended consequences for legitimate players

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