AI comparison
I made this for myself to test my AI setup and decided not to delete it straight away, but to share it in case it might be useful to someone.
I needed to convert a list of films from Russian into English with the correct titles, directors, and IMDb ratings. Of course, instead of doing it manually, I let several AIs handle it. I ran a small test across the main free AIs: ChatGPT, Grok, Gemini, and DeepSeek. The screenshot shows the results: green for correct, yellow for minor mistakes, and red for incorrect.
Conclusion: As of this month, Gemini and Grok are gradually surpassing ChatGPT based on this and other tests. DeepSeek still excels at out-of-the-box thinking and programming (in Deep Think mode) but, as we can see, isn’t as strong with routine tasks. ChatGPT still leads in proofreading.
PS: It’s a list of Quentin Tarantino’s best films of the century, by the way.
(Russian)
I made this for myself to test my AI setup and decided not to delete it straight away, but to share it in case it might be useful to someone.
I needed to convert a list of films from Russian into English with the correct titles, directors, and IMDb ratings. Of course, instead of doing it manually, I let several AIs handle it. I ran a small test across the main free AIs: ChatGPT, Grok, Gemini, and DeepSeek. The screenshot shows the results: green for correct, yellow for minor mistakes, and red for incorrect.
Conclusion: As of this month, Gemini and Grok are gradually surpassing ChatGPT based on this and other tests. DeepSeek still excels at out-of-the-box thinking and programming (in Deep Think mode) but, as we can see, isn’t as strong with routine tasks. ChatGPT still leads in proofreading.
PS: It’s a list of Quentin Tarantino’s best films of the century, by the way.
(Russian)
1👍52❤15🔥5
Sun in NZ
I wanted to write a post about how dangerous the sun is in New Zealand. The plan was to check a few other countries and cities in the Southern Hemisphere (since it's summer here now) and compare their UV indices with Auckland's to clearly show the difference.
I took screenshots of the weather forecasts for hot December days in Auckland, Johannesburg, Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, and Montevideo, and to my surprise, realised I was wrong.
The peak UV indices turned out to be the same (see images).
I was confused. My first thought was - the UV index doesn't fully reflect the situation. I checked, and it turns out it does. The UV index shows how much solar energy reaches your skin, and the same UV index in different cities means the risk to your skin is identical.
Then I checked...
(Continued in comments)
(Russian)
I wanted to write a post about how dangerous the sun is in New Zealand. The plan was to check a few other countries and cities in the Southern Hemisphere (since it's summer here now) and compare their UV indices with Auckland's to clearly show the difference.
I took screenshots of the weather forecasts for hot December days in Auckland, Johannesburg, Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, and Montevideo, and to my surprise, realised I was wrong.
The peak UV indices turned out to be the same (see images).
I was confused. My first thought was - the UV index doesn't fully reflect the situation. I checked, and it turns out it does. The UV index shows how much solar energy reaches your skin, and the same UV index in different cities means the risk to your skin is identical.
Then I checked...
(Continued in comments)
(Russian)
2👍63❤12👏11🔥1
Ikea is here
Yesterday, the first Ikea in New Zealand opened. I would like to take this opportunity to write about the company. This is not an ad, nobody paid me for writing this.
As you may know, I like to check, calculate, and compare things. When Ikea’s products featured in my comparisons (office chairs, mattresses, pillows, etc.), they consistently showed the best value for money. Their goods are neither the best nor the worst – they are fair. Ikea always sells items at the lowest possible price for the quality, labour, and materials involved, without trying to trick the customer. I respect this approach and use them as my default choice in any situation.
I also had the chance to work with Ikea's team and can say their internal culture is equally fair - they do practise what they preach. Unfortunately, I missed the opportunity to work with them on this store, but hopefully another chance will come.
Congratulations to Aucklanders. Ikea is here and will surely improve the market.
(Russian)
Yesterday, the first Ikea in New Zealand opened. I would like to take this opportunity to write about the company. This is not an ad, nobody paid me for writing this.
As you may know, I like to check, calculate, and compare things. When Ikea’s products featured in my comparisons (office chairs, mattresses, pillows, etc.), they consistently showed the best value for money. Their goods are neither the best nor the worst – they are fair. Ikea always sells items at the lowest possible price for the quality, labour, and materials involved, without trying to trick the customer. I respect this approach and use them as my default choice in any situation.
I also had the chance to work with Ikea's team and can say their internal culture is equally fair - they do practise what they preach. Unfortunately, I missed the opportunity to work with them on this store, but hopefully another chance will come.
Congratulations to Aucklanders. Ikea is here and will surely improve the market.
(Russian)
2👍106🔥37❤🔥18❤11🎉2👀1🦄1
Relocatable homes
It turned out some houses in Auckland are movable. Entire houses can be lifted, placed on a track, and relocated to another plot. The number of houses that move like that isn't large (~3,700 per year), but it's still interesting that they exist.
There are companies that specialise in moving them. Sometimes houses are even cut in half for transport and reassembled on the new site. Installation on a new plot is straightforward - you just need to build a basic foundation (any type works), connect the house to utilities, and cover the exposed underfloor area. Fast and simple.
Auckland’s warm climate allows water and sewage pipes to be installed above ground (as in the photo). There is also no need to dig foundations below the frost line as in Russia. Everything is much simpler than in colder countries.
Prices for relocatable houses are surprisingly low and even comparable to cars, so anyone wanting to save a bit on building a new house can do so.
(Russian)
It turned out some houses in Auckland are movable. Entire houses can be lifted, placed on a track, and relocated to another plot. The number of houses that move like that isn't large (~3,700 per year), but it's still interesting that they exist.
There are companies that specialise in moving them. Sometimes houses are even cut in half for transport and reassembled on the new site. Installation on a new plot is straightforward - you just need to build a basic foundation (any type works), connect the house to utilities, and cover the exposed underfloor area. Fast and simple.
Auckland’s warm climate allows water and sewage pipes to be installed above ground (as in the photo). There is also no need to dig foundations below the frost line as in Russia. Everything is much simpler than in colder countries.
Prices for relocatable houses are surprisingly low and even comparable to cars, so anyone wanting to save a bit on building a new house can do so.
(Russian)
2👍52🔥20❤9❤🔥4👀2
How I moved my PC
As I mentioned in the video about my move to NZ, my PC made the trip as well. Here’s how we did it:
1. Bought the cheapest suitcase big enough to fit the PC.
2. Bought a few rolls of bubble wrap and some "Fragile" tape.
3. Removed all the internal dividers and plastic from the suitcase.
4. Packed bubble wrap inside the PC to keep the hardware gently secured.
5. Placed the PC in the suitcase and wrapped it a couple of times.
6. Wrapped the monitor and placed it next to the case.
7. Filled every remaining gap with bubble wrap.
8. Locked the suitcase and wrapped it with "Fragile" tape.
In this state, the PC travelled through a few countries without any issues. The loaders didn’t pay much attention to the "Fragile" tape, so the PC case ended up with one dent and a couple of scratches, but overall it was a great result.
Once in NZ, I bought new power cables so I could use it with local powerpoints without adaptors. They’re cheap, and all types are available at PB Tech.
(Russian)
As I mentioned in the video about my move to NZ, my PC made the trip as well. Here’s how we did it:
1. Bought the cheapest suitcase big enough to fit the PC.
2. Bought a few rolls of bubble wrap and some "Fragile" tape.
3. Removed all the internal dividers and plastic from the suitcase.
4. Packed bubble wrap inside the PC to keep the hardware gently secured.
5. Placed the PC in the suitcase and wrapped it a couple of times.
6. Wrapped the monitor and placed it next to the case.
7. Filled every remaining gap with bubble wrap.
8. Locked the suitcase and wrapped it with "Fragile" tape.
In this state, the PC travelled through a few countries without any issues. The loaders didn’t pay much attention to the "Fragile" tape, so the PC case ended up with one dent and a couple of scratches, but overall it was a great result.
Once in NZ, I bought new power cables so I could use it with local powerpoints without adaptors. They’re cheap, and all types are available at PB Tech.
(Russian)
5👍75🔥32❤9😨4✍2👏1😁1👨💻1
Pohutukawa
It's stronger than me. I can’t stop photographing trees in NZ, and it seems I’m slowly turning into a naturalist.
These pictures show the Pohutukawa, also known as the New Zealand Christmas tree. In summer (December), they bloom everywhere - in parks, along beaches, and in house gardens.
They’re not just beautiful, they’re also incredibly tough - they cling to cliffs, tolerate salt spray, harsh sun, and strong winds, and their thick bark can even protect them from moderate fires. Pohutukawas can live for several centuries.
They are endemic, growing naturally in the wild only in New Zealand, so it’s quite hard to find them anywhere else.
(Russian)
It's stronger than me. I can’t stop photographing trees in NZ, and it seems I’m slowly turning into a naturalist.
These pictures show the Pohutukawa, also known as the New Zealand Christmas tree. In summer (December), they bloom everywhere - in parks, along beaches, and in house gardens.
They’re not just beautiful, they’re also incredibly tough - they cling to cliffs, tolerate salt spray, harsh sun, and strong winds, and their thick bark can even protect them from moderate fires. Pohutukawas can live for several centuries.
They are endemic, growing naturally in the wild only in New Zealand, so it’s quite hard to find them anywhere else.
(Russian)
2🔥99❤48👍24🤩5
NZ housing
NZ cities work very differently from the high-density cities I was used to. They’re far more car-centric, and most people live in houses rather than apartments.
This changes what city living feels like - you start to value different things and see different types of housing in a new light. In this post, I'll list the main types of dwellings in NZ, along with my entirely subjective take on their pros and cons.
Standalone houses
About 69% of all dwellings in NZ. Typically 1-2 storey houses on a small section.
➕ Parking: You can park on your own section or on nearby streets. There’s usually space for multiple cars, which matters because most families have at least two.
➕ Car nearby: You park in your garage or just a few steps from the house. It’s very convenient and something you get used to quickly. Hopping in the car is fast, even for short trips, which is why you don’t see many pedestrians in Auckland suburbs.
➕ Space: Plenty of indoor and outdoor space for barbecues, tools, vehicles, and children’s activities.
➕ Privacy: Well separated from neighbours, so it feels private and relaxed.
➕ Flexibility: You can modify or rebuild the house. Major changes require Building Consent, but it is manageable.
➕ Nature: Suburbs have plenty of greenery, and most houses have pleasant natural views.
➕ Safety: Most suburbs (except for a few lower-income suburbs) feel very safe - people leave parcels on their porches for hours, children walk to and from school alone, there are no homeless people, little traffic, and so on.
➖ Price: Houses vary a lot; however, they are usually more expensive than apartments and townhouses of a similar size in similar areas.
➖ Maintenance: You will have to mow lawns, prune trees, remove weeds and leaves, and do repairs. It is quite a lot of work if you do it yourself, or costly if you hire someone.
➖ Public transport: Bus stops are usually within a 5-15 minute walk, but most routes go to the CBD (Central Business District, or city centre). If your destination is elsewhere, you will have to change buses or trains there and spend much longer than if you used a car.
➖ City vibe: There isn't much of a city atmosphere in the suburbs. It feels more like a village - very tidy, wealthy, and developed, but it still feels more like a village than a city.
➖ Stores nearby: There are some local shops and small centres with cafes and services, but in general you will have to use a car or public transport to access the full range of shops and services.
Townhouses, units, and flats
About 17% of all dwellings. They are a middle ground between houses and apartments, offering a mix of both.
➕ Parking: Similar to houses.
➕ Car nearby: Similar to houses.
➕ Space: Not all townhouses are spacious, but generally they have garages and small yards or terraces. You usually have enough space for a barbecue and the kids to play.
➕ Privacy: Neighbours are closer than in standalone houses, as you are separated from them by “intertenancy walls.” However, the separation is regulated. These walls must be sound-insulated, so you won’t hear your neighbours. Yards are separate as well.
➕ Nature: The same green suburbs, with even better views if you live in a two- or three-storey townhouse.
➕ Safety: The same as houses - generally good.
➕ Price: Cheaper than houses but more expensive than apartments. This is an upside for me.
➕ Maintenance: Much less than in a house. You maintain only your own part, while shared areas are maintained by service providers. The cost is lower because it is shared among a few townhouses.
➖ Flexibility: Harder than with a house. Any major changes usually require additional consent from neighbours.
➖ Public transport: Townhouses are in the same areas as houses, so the situation is similar. Going to the CBD is manageable, but travelling elsewhere can take two to three times longer than by car.
➖ City vibe: Not much.
➖ Stores nearby: The same as houses - not many.
Lifestyle blocks...
(Continued in comments)
NZ cities work very differently from the high-density cities I was used to. They’re far more car-centric, and most people live in houses rather than apartments.
This changes what city living feels like - you start to value different things and see different types of housing in a new light. In this post, I'll list the main types of dwellings in NZ, along with my entirely subjective take on their pros and cons.
Standalone houses
About 69% of all dwellings in NZ. Typically 1-2 storey houses on a small section.
➕ Parking: You can park on your own section or on nearby streets. There’s usually space for multiple cars, which matters because most families have at least two.
➕ Car nearby: You park in your garage or just a few steps from the house. It’s very convenient and something you get used to quickly. Hopping in the car is fast, even for short trips, which is why you don’t see many pedestrians in Auckland suburbs.
➕ Space: Plenty of indoor and outdoor space for barbecues, tools, vehicles, and children’s activities.
➕ Privacy: Well separated from neighbours, so it feels private and relaxed.
➕ Flexibility: You can modify or rebuild the house. Major changes require Building Consent, but it is manageable.
➕ Nature: Suburbs have plenty of greenery, and most houses have pleasant natural views.
➕ Safety: Most suburbs (except for a few lower-income suburbs) feel very safe - people leave parcels on their porches for hours, children walk to and from school alone, there are no homeless people, little traffic, and so on.
➖ Price: Houses vary a lot; however, they are usually more expensive than apartments and townhouses of a similar size in similar areas.
➖ Maintenance: You will have to mow lawns, prune trees, remove weeds and leaves, and do repairs. It is quite a lot of work if you do it yourself, or costly if you hire someone.
➖ Public transport: Bus stops are usually within a 5-15 minute walk, but most routes go to the CBD (Central Business District, or city centre). If your destination is elsewhere, you will have to change buses or trains there and spend much longer than if you used a car.
➖ City vibe: There isn't much of a city atmosphere in the suburbs. It feels more like a village - very tidy, wealthy, and developed, but it still feels more like a village than a city.
➖ Stores nearby: There are some local shops and small centres with cafes and services, but in general you will have to use a car or public transport to access the full range of shops and services.
Townhouses, units, and flats
About 17% of all dwellings. They are a middle ground between houses and apartments, offering a mix of both.
➕ Parking: Similar to houses.
➕ Car nearby: Similar to houses.
➕ Space: Not all townhouses are spacious, but generally they have garages and small yards or terraces. You usually have enough space for a barbecue and the kids to play.
➕ Privacy: Neighbours are closer than in standalone houses, as you are separated from them by “intertenancy walls.” However, the separation is regulated. These walls must be sound-insulated, so you won’t hear your neighbours. Yards are separate as well.
➕ Nature: The same green suburbs, with even better views if you live in a two- or three-storey townhouse.
➕ Safety: The same as houses - generally good.
➕ Price: Cheaper than houses but more expensive than apartments. This is an upside for me.
➕ Maintenance: Much less than in a house. You maintain only your own part, while shared areas are maintained by service providers. The cost is lower because it is shared among a few townhouses.
➖ Flexibility: Harder than with a house. Any major changes usually require additional consent from neighbours.
➖ Public transport: Townhouses are in the same areas as houses, so the situation is similar. Going to the CBD is manageable, but travelling elsewhere can take two to three times longer than by car.
➖ City vibe: Not much.
➖ Stores nearby: The same as houses - not many.
Lifestyle blocks...
(Continued in comments)
3👍47❤13❤🔥7🔥3👏2🤔1💘1
Christmas mood
I’ve seen a few Christmas decorations here and there around Auckland, but, honestly, not many. To me, it feels like people here decorate their houses more for Halloween than for Christmas.
Maybe the summer weather dampens people’s enthusiasm for celebrating Christmas and New Year. That’s the only explanation I can think of.
It could also be that I’ve just been unlucky and haven’t seen the best examples of decorations. Please prove me wrong and share beautiful Christmas and New Year’s decorations in the comments, both from New Zealand and overseas.
(Russian)
I’ve seen a few Christmas decorations here and there around Auckland, but, honestly, not many. To me, it feels like people here decorate their houses more for Halloween than for Christmas.
Maybe the summer weather dampens people’s enthusiasm for celebrating Christmas and New Year. That’s the only explanation I can think of.
It could also be that I’ve just been unlucky and haven’t seen the best examples of decorations. Please prove me wrong and share beautiful Christmas and New Year’s decorations in the comments, both from New Zealand and overseas.
(Russian)
2👍46❤25🎄13😢1
YouTube
Сравнение цифровизации Окленда и Москвы
Сравниваю цифровые сервисы и услуги в Окленде (Новая Зеландия) и Москве (Россия).
MP3-версия - https://t.me/OutsidersInsight/217
*Chapters*
00:00 Интро
00:47 Методика сравнения
01:36 Открытие банковского счёта
02:26 Цифровые платежи
02:51 Денежные переводы…
MP3-версия - https://t.me/OutsidersInsight/217
*Chapters*
00:00 Интро
00:47 Методика сравнения
01:36 Открытие банковского счёта
02:26 Цифровые платежи
02:51 Денежные переводы…
Video version of the post about digitalisation in NZ and in RF.
2👍45🔥10❤6❤🔥2
Nano Banana
Just a quick tip in case you don’t know this yet. You can take any photo - for example, a black-and-white, damaged old picture of your great-grandfather. Upload it to Google’s free Nano Banana image AI with a prompt asking it to restore, colourise, and adjust it if needed.
After a few iterations, you can get an excellent result. My prompt for the image was:
By the way, Bob was in NZ in 1979 - he gave a gig in Auckland and a short interview (great for practising accent comprehension) to local journalists. His music is one of those that fit New Zealand really well.
(Russian)
Just a quick tip in case you don’t know this yet. You can take any photo - for example, a black-and-white, damaged old picture of your great-grandfather. Upload it to Google’s free Nano Banana image AI with a prompt asking it to restore, colourise, and adjust it if needed.
After a few iterations, you can get an excellent result. My prompt for the image was:
1. Colourise.
2. Change the background to a strongly blurred evening beach.
3. Make it look like a real, modern photo - HD quality with no grain.
4. Apply evening beach lighting to Bob.
By the way, Bob was in NZ in 1979 - he gave a gig in Auckland and a short interview (great for practising accent comprehension) to local journalists. His music is one of those that fit New Zealand really well.
(Russian)
2👍58❤20🆒3🔥1
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Happy New Year!
It’s already 2026 here - everything happens here first, then the rest of the world catches up.
It’s already 2026 here - everything happens here first, then the rest of the world catches up.
4❤143🎉74🔥34👍3✍1👏1
Tracks in NZ
One of the best ways to spend a day in NZ is to go for a walk on a track. There are thousands of them across the country. I go on tracks a lot, and most of my videos are filmed there.
The photo shows the Donald McLean to Whatipu Caves track, one of my favourites. This video was filmed on this track. A bonus hi-res photo is in the comments.
A few notes about tracks:
- the best place to choose a track is alltrails.com (they also have an app, the free version is fine)
- there are lots of filters for what you want to see (waterfalls, mountains, rivers, lakes, dams, etc) and how challenging you want the track to be
- there are also dedicated bike tracks
- all tracks are free
- there are usually car parks, toilets, water, etc at key points of the tracks
- tracks are maintained by the government, and unless it’s very rainy, you won’t even get your shoes too dirty
- there are no dangerous animals in NZ, so you can walk pretty much anywhere without worrying
(Russian)
One of the best ways to spend a day in NZ is to go for a walk on a track. There are thousands of them across the country. I go on tracks a lot, and most of my videos are filmed there.
The photo shows the Donald McLean to Whatipu Caves track, one of my favourites. This video was filmed on this track. A bonus hi-res photo is in the comments.
A few notes about tracks:
- the best place to choose a track is alltrails.com (they also have an app, the free version is fine)
- there are lots of filters for what you want to see (waterfalls, mountains, rivers, lakes, dams, etc) and how challenging you want the track to be
- there are also dedicated bike tracks
- all tracks are free
- there are usually car parks, toilets, water, etc at key points of the tracks
- tracks are maintained by the government, and unless it’s very rainy, you won’t even get your shoes too dirty
- there are no dangerous animals in NZ, so you can walk pretty much anywhere without worrying
(Russian)
4👍81❤48🔥21
Media is too big
VIEW IN TELEGRAM
Snorkeling
Thanks to friends, we discovered a great snorkeling spot near Auckland called Goat Island.
The fish, mostly snapper, are fearless and hardly notice people. The water is calm, and everyone’s out scuba diving, snorkeling, paddleboarding, etc. NZ is not tropics, so the water isn’t warm - more like summer lakes around Moscow - quite refreshing.
There’s also a small museum nearby where you can explore marine life under microscopes, see fish skeletons, and interact with a few species in a small touch tank.
PS The spot is very popular, so parking can be tricky after 9 am.
PPS A hi-res photo is in the comments.
(Russian)
Thanks to friends, we discovered a great snorkeling spot near Auckland called Goat Island.
The fish, mostly snapper, are fearless and hardly notice people. The water is calm, and everyone’s out scuba diving, snorkeling, paddleboarding, etc. NZ is not tropics, so the water isn’t warm - more like summer lakes around Moscow - quite refreshing.
There’s also a small museum nearby where you can explore marine life under microscopes, see fish skeletons, and interact with a few species in a small touch tank.
PS The spot is very popular, so parking can be tricky after 9 am.
PPS A hi-res photo is in the comments.
(Russian)
5❤68🔥26👍21🐳3
Pick your own (PYO)
PYO farms are popular in NZ. The photos show the strawberry and blueberry farms we visited over the New Year break.
It works the same way as in Russia - you get a bucket, pick berries, eat some (the owners are usually fine with it), then weigh and pay. There are lots of these farms in NZ: strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, boysenberries, cherries, mandarins, plums, apricots, peaches, nectarines, apples and pears. I’ve even seen sunflower and corn farms.
There are a few heavily advertised ones (can be gooled by “PYO”), which usually offer extra services - fruit ice cream, pools, playgrounds, etc. And there are dozens of smaller ones on Google Maps. Some have Facebook pages, others just a roadside “PYO” sign. Smaller farms have their advantages - no crowds, family-owned, tidy, cozy and better prices.
Prices are usually (but not always!) cheaper than in shops. We picked strawberries for $10/kg and blueberries for $16.5/kg. Pretty good prices.
(Russian)
PYO farms are popular in NZ. The photos show the strawberry and blueberry farms we visited over the New Year break.
It works the same way as in Russia - you get a bucket, pick berries, eat some (the owners are usually fine with it), then weigh and pay. There are lots of these farms in NZ: strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, boysenberries, cherries, mandarins, plums, apricots, peaches, nectarines, apples and pears. I’ve even seen sunflower and corn farms.
There are a few heavily advertised ones (can be gooled by “PYO”), which usually offer extra services - fruit ice cream, pools, playgrounds, etc. And there are dozens of smaller ones on Google Maps. Some have Facebook pages, others just a roadside “PYO” sign. Smaller farms have their advantages - no crowds, family-owned, tidy, cozy and better prices.
Prices are usually (but not always!) cheaper than in shops. We picked strawberries for $10/kg and blueberries for $16.5/kg. Pretty good prices.
(Russian)
3❤103👍41🍓23🔥1