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Submission + - Firefox 153 was released today (firefox.com)

Submitted by williamyf
williamyf writes: FireFox 153 was released today. The most important user Facing Changes are changes in the Handling of PDFs (you can now merge PDF's and add images to them), and HDR video playback (on Windows, subjected to HDR being active system wide). Other changes under the hood include browser wide containers, and QWAC support. The full list is in the chage notes.

But the most important feature is that this version is an ESR, and therefore, defines the feature set of ESR for the next year. Why is being an ESR so important you ask?

1.) ESR, and not "normal (a.k.a. Rapid Release)" FireFox is the OotB browser for many important distros, like Debian, RHEL, Kali, TAILS, Suse Leap, Slackware and such.

2.) Many organizations large and small standarize on FireFox ESR as their default browser, regardless of the default browser that comes with their OS.

3.) FireFox ESR is the basis for many projects downstram, like WaterFox or KaiOS. All these projects will inherit for a year whatever ESR brings to the table today.

4.) Many ISVs and SaaS providers, if they certify their wares for FireFox at all, certify for the ESR version only.

Please notice that ESR 153 will NOT be offered as an automatic update until 2 months from now (ESR 140 will still be supported), If you want it now, you need to do a manual download and install.

Also of note, ESR 115 will be supported until march 2027. If you have unsupported versions of MacOS or Windows (like 7 or 8.x) this is the version to get, but even Mozilla themselves cautions about running a supported browser on top oh an unsupported OS:

"Note that Microsoft ended official support for Windows 7, 8, and 8.1 in January 2023. Unsupported operating systems receive no security updates and have known vulnerabilities. Without official support from Microsoft, maintaining Firefox for outdated operating systems becomes costly for Mozilla and risky for users. "

Submission + - Longtime web weirdness site Fark faces ad pinch (bsky.app)

Submitted by sandbagger
sandbagger writes: Fark.Com is ancient in internet terms. It's not social media. It's not quite a news site. It's a holdover of the dotcom era and invisible to Google, which makes its community great, but has necessitated begging.

Submission + - Sony PlayStation will stop releasing games on discs in 2028 (bbc.com)

Submitted by AmiMoJo
AmiMoJo writes: New PlayStation games will no longer be released on discs from January 2028, the gaming giant has announced. Sony said in a blog post new games would still be able to be bought in shops, but they would come with a digital code. It comes just days after Rockstar announced the hotly-anticipated Grand Theft Auto VI would similarly launch without a physical disc. It marks a significant moment for the gaming industry, which has in recent years begun to rely more and more on digital distribution. Sony said the move came "as consumer preferences and the broader entertainment industry continue to shift away from physical discs to digital". "This is a natural direction for Sony Interactive Entertainment to adapt to consumer trends as the general preference for digital media significantly outpaces physical discs," it added. But it has been met with some pushback online, with gaming journalist Vikki Blake calling it a "body blow to consumer rights".

Submission + - DOT announces "Return of Supersonic Flight" for commercial airlines (faa.gov)

Submitted by schwit1
schwit1 writes: Gemini summarized ...

The FAA’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), released on June 30, 2026, marks the first formal regulatory step toward lifting the 53-year-old ban on civil supersonic flight over the continental United States.

Core Objectives of the Proposal
  • Replacing Speed Limits with Noise Standards: The proposal would replace the current, blanket speed-based ban (dating to 1973) with a performance-based noise standard. Aircraft would be permitted to fly at speeds exceeding Mach 1 over land, provided they do not generate surface-level noise (sonic boom overpressure) exceeding a specific threshold of 0.11 pounds per square foot (psf).
  • En-Route Focus: This specific proposal addresses en-route cruise noise. It does not set standards for takeoff and landing, which the FAA plans to address in a separate proposal later this year.
  • Implementation of Executive Order 14304: This action fulfills part of the June 2025 Executive Order signed by President Trump, which directed the FAA to modernize aviation standards to ensure the U.S. remains a leader in aerospace innovation.

Why Now?
The FAA is citing significant technological advancements as the justification for this shift, specifically:

  • Aerodynamic Innovation: New airframe designs and propulsion systems—exemplified by testing of NASA’s X-59 "quiet" demonstrator—can now break the sound barrier while reducing the sonic boom to a low-intensity "thump" that is manageable for ground-level communities.
  • Operational Techniques: The use of "Mach cutoff" flight techniques, where speed, altitude, and atmospheric conditions are synchronized to ensure sonic booms refract back into the atmosphere rather than reaching the ground.

Next Steps

  • Public Comment: The proposal (Docket FAA-2026-6935) is now open for a 45-day public comment period.
  • Future Regulations: The FAA intends to finalize both the en-route noise standards and the upcoming takeoff/landing noise standards by mid-2027.
  • International Alignment: The FAA is working alongside the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and foreign aviation authorities to ensure that these domestic standards eventually align with global frameworks for international supersonic operations.

By establishing these metrics, the FAA aims to provide manufacturers—such as those developing next-generation supersonic transports—with the clear regulatory guidance needed to finalize aircraft designs and move toward commercial certification.

Submission + - Satellite Pay-TV Provider Dish DBS Prepares for Bankruptcy Filing (cordcuttersnews.com)

Submitted by schwit1
schwit1 writes: EchoStar Corporation’s satellite television subsidiary Dish DBS is set to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as early as Tuesday, marking a significant step in the company’s long-running effort to restructure its heavy debt load amid declining traditional pay-TV subscribers and ongoing regulatory challenges, according to the Wall Street Journal. The popular satellite TV service providing access to cable TV networks has struggled to find a way to be profitable in the world of cord-cutting. The move, which has been anticipated for months, would allow the Englewood, Colorado-based company to implement a pre-negotiated deleveraging plan while seeking to stabilize its operations in a rapidly evolving telecommunications landscape.

EchoStar, led by founder and chairman Charlie Ergen, has faced mounting financial pressure for years. The company carries approximately $25 billion in debt across its various entities, including its core satellite television businesses under the Dish Network and Sling TV brands, as well as its wireless operations through Boost Mobile. Subscriber losses in the traditional linear television segment have accelerated as consumers increasingly shift toward streaming services, cord-cutting trends, and alternative entertainment options. This erosion of the customer base has squeezed revenue and heightened the urgency for a comprehensive financial reset.

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