Hacker News Recap December 29th, 2025 | Kidnapped by Deutsche Bahn
Dec 30, 2025
A passenger shares a harrowing tale of being 'kidnapped' by Deutsche Bahn, shedding light on tech failures in transport. Discussions swirl around Google's diminishing influence and the rise of privacy-focused alternatives. GOG's acquisition by its co-founder hints at a return to its DRM-free roots. Developers explore creating custom HTML tags, while a compact AI model fits into a mere 40KB. The podcast also reviews censorship issues in Germany, Tesla's battery supply setbacks, and the importance of hands-on experience for software design.
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Deutsche Bahn Passenger Left Stranded
- A traveler recounts feeling trapped on a Deutsche Bahn train due to long delays and poor communication.
- The story highlights systemic customer-service and real-time communication failures that escalated passenger distress.
Google's Dominance Is Being Challenged
- The community sees Google's dominance as fragile amid new search paradigms and AI tools.
- This suggests developers must rethink strategies as search fragments across privacy and AI-driven options.
GOG Returned To Its Co-Founder
- GOG is reportedly being acquired by one of its original co-founders, prompting mixed reactions.
- The move may restore the platform's original DRM-free, indie-friendly vision but sparks cautious optimism.