Highlights

 

Mutiny on Dynamic Island 🏝

09/08/2022 • #250

Rather than minimizing its camera punch, The iPhone 14 Pro comes with a new user interface option to draw attention to it. Eh, here’s a hater’s take.

Certainly, there’s no reason why Apple has to do things exactly the same way as any other phone maker. It is an island unto itself. But I have to say, sometimes I sure wish the company toned the “Apple-ness” of some of its decision-making… Read More

09/06/2022

Assessing CloudFlare’s Hand ⛈ : 

CloudFlare lost the PR battle in the Kiwi Farms situation, in large part because it mostly ignored the legitimate concerns that led to the campaign in the first place.

#249

09/05/2022

Shrinkage 📱 : 

Understanding the odd status of the small phone, which Apple is moving away from and Android seems to finally be embracing once again. Carriers might be getting in the way of your next one-handed device.

#248

09/01/2022

Regulation Without Regulation ⛈ : 

If CloudFlare wants to stay out of content debates, it needs to reconsider its relationship with the government. Being a pseudo-governmental body is no longer enough.

#247

08/30/2022

An Optimization Too Far 🖼 : 

There is a genuine risk that search engine professionals will attempt to use AI images as an SEO tactic. We should prevent this from happening now, before it turns Google Image Search into mush.

#246

08/29/2022

Off-Grid Nerdery 🤓 : 

An interesting thing I’ve noticed about small talk in recent years: The more niche your interests are, the harder it is to have it. This one’s for the nerds not into Marvel.

#245

08/25/2022

The Other Slippery Slope 🛝 : 

Companies like CloudFlare often avoid trying to get involved in content issues out of a concern of setting off a slippery slope. But looking at their recent actions in the context of their original stated goals, it feels like they let something else more fundamental slide.

#244

08/23/2022

Don’t Mess With Mudge 🔓 : 

A shocking whistleblower report on Twitter’s security issues—from a legendary whistleblower—paints a company disinterested in repairing its significant infrastructure challenges.

#243

08/22/2022

Gimme Stelter 🗞️ : 

If CNN doesn’t want Brian Stelter, fine, whatever. But I think Brian Stelter is an important voice and our culture needs a place for a journalist who reports effectively on journalism.

#242

08/18/2022

Pizza Punchline 🍕 : 

The pizza chain Papa John’s sets itself up as a source of mockery by launching a new product while implying pizza is somehow in decline.

#241

08/16/2022

If You Love a Newsletter, Set It Free 🕊 : 

A suggestion to Substack, which seems to get upset whenever a popular paid newsletter leaves its platform for outside pastures: Don’t get mad when people leave.

#240

08/15/2022

We Can Harness AI to Create New Things 🖼 : 

A lot of ink has been spilled on the potential destructive effects of AI-based art. But in the hands of the right kind of creator, it can actually expand their reach—rather than shrink it.

#239

08/11/2022

4 Minutes, 54 Seconds, 798 Milliseconds ⏱ : 

A speedrunner breaks the Super Mario Bros. record at a time where it seems like there may not be many more records to squeeze out of it.

#238

08/09/2022

Toys, Take Two 🚂 : 

Toys “R” Us gets a second lease on life in Macy’s locations across the country. It may not match the chain’s former glory, but at least they held on somehow.

#237

08/08/2022

Avoiding the Copyright Trap 🪤 : 

Creators are getting nailed by photographers for simply wanting to celebrate the creative works of another person. This is backwards, and collectively, we should solve for it. Here’s one idea.

#236

08/04/2022

Minimizing HBO Max 📺 : 

For some reason, the incredibly popular HBO Max service appears to be going through some things—and it feels like creators are left holding the bag once again.

#235

08/02/2022

Return to Sender 📬 : 

A recent GOP political campaign around email deliverability could force spammy political messages into your inbox—despite strong evidence that user error and ineffective marketing might be the real issue.

#234

08/01/2022

Niche Problem Solving 🍰 : 

Showcasing my deep respect for a food writer who decided to take a layer cake on a plane for some reason. Surprisingly, it went off without a hitch.

#233

07/28/2022

Facebook Broke the Contract 💔 : 

Ultimately, we signed up for specific experiences when joining a social network. When we no longer get those experiences, even in a small way, we should not be expected to stick around.

#232

07/26/2022

Where the Paths Diverge 🧭 : 

Ten years ago this month, I started a new job, where I’m still at—and a well-known creator in the retro community quit his. To me, the diverging paths are too interesting to ignore.

#231