Apple's design decisions are guided by improving user experience, incorporating both practical features and enjoyable interactions, with a focus on collaboration between designers and engineers, and a willingness to add playful details.
TECHNOLOGY
iPhone Duo Reviewers Really Miss Face ID
Reviewers of the iPhone Duo find Touch ID slow and frustrating, especially after using Face ID, with some experiencing accidental presses and haptic errors when trying to unlock the device.
Editor's noteTouch ID's intentional delay is a design misstep, slowing down what should be a seamless unlock experience. The pause creates friction, especially for those accustomed to Face ID's instant unlocks. Watch whether Apple tweaks the delay in future software updates, or if users find workarounds to mitigate the issue.
How to track what a company keeps talking about on earnings calls with Claude, and the spelling trap at Microsoft
Microsoft's mentions of 'agents' on earnings calls increased sharply from October 2024, with 10-21 mentions per call, according to Equibles data. The trend is driven by management, with a significant spike in mentions from October 2024 onwards.
MARKETING & DESIGN
Apple showcases upcycled found furniture and banana palm-paper lantern at Designers of Tomorrow show
Apple's Designers of Tomorrow exhibition in Paris showcases upcycled furniture and a lantern made from banana palm paper, created by four emerging designers selected by curator Rodman Primack and a jury.
Dezeen launches "richer and more versatile" new website
Dezeen has updated its website after 10 years, with a new design and improved user interface, developed in collaboration with Made by On, to enhance the user experience and address technical issues.
How They Pulled It Off: A Former Spiritual Retreat Becomes a Family Home That Waves at Its Past
Denver chef Justin Cucci and his wife renovated a former spiritual retreat in Santa Fe, incorporating original Tibetan motifs and architectural salvage into the design, while maintaining the property's unique energy and layout.
Editor's noteA renovation that preserves a building's past is a demonstration of how much money and time can be spent on a home's 'energy', rather than its actual needs. Watch whether the property's unique layout and features hold up to the demands of a family home, rather than a spiritual retreat.
ADVERTISING & PR
Chick-fil-A draws an AI line in the sand. Have you drawn yours?
Chick-fil-A's CEO Andrew Cathy stated the company will not use AI for voice ordering in drive-thru lanes, prioritising human interaction. This decision highlights the importance of defining where AI and human interaction will be used in organisations.
Curiosity in Action: My Time at Hoffman
A recent intern at Hoffman reflects on their experience, highlighting the value of curiosity and learning in PR, and the supportive environment at the agency, where they gained new skills and confidence.
Editor's noteCuriosity in Action: My Time at Hoffman is a recruitment brochure, not a genuine reflection on agency life. Watch whether the agency's training programs are accredited and whether the interns are paid a living wage, because that would settle whether the 'learning' is genuine or just a perk for cheap labor.
Indie agencies want The Trade Desk and Amazon DSP to acknowledge their buying power with negotiating leverage
Indie agencies are seeking negotiating power with The Trade Desk and Amazon DSP, citing high fees and limited flexibility to switch to direct deals, despite reaching spend thresholds and clearing monthly spend bars.
HUMAN RESOURCES
Linux Foundation Analyst Summit: “Total Cost Of AI” Is The New Economics Of AI
The Linux Foundation's analyst summit discussed the 'Total Cost Of AI', examining how enterprises can link AI costs to business value. Seven key themes emerged from the discussion, focusing on AI economics.
Beyond personalized learning: Capability development requires more than AI recommendations
Learning technology has focused on personalizing content, but organizations need evidence of learners' ability to apply skills in real situations, beyond just completing a course. This requires a shift from just knowledge and content pathways to also considering practice and performance. AI can facilitate this shift.
Editor's notePersonalized learning has become a proxy for capability development, but it's a flawed metric. The real test of readiness lies in performance, not just completing a course or practicing in a safe environment. Watch whether organizations start measuring the impact of their learning programs on actual job performance metrics, such as project completion rates or customer satisfaction scores.
How AI Contract Data Extraction Helps HR Manage Employment Contracts
HR teams struggle to locate specific clauses in large numbers of employment contracts stored in PDFs, leading to wasted time and resources, according to research from World Commerce & Contracting.
PUBLIC POLICY
What’s new in Homeland Security’s updated AI policy
DHS has updated its AI policy, prohibiting internal use for mass surveillance or predicting individual behavior, but allowing the agency's AI lead to override these restrictions with minimal oversight. The policy took effect in September and is largely in line with the 2025 version. The agency's AI lead can waive requirements with minimal review.
France Is Learning the Hard Way What Happens When the Socialist Bill Comes Due
Protests in France have turned violent, with rioters setting fire to buildings, vandalizing property, and looting stores, particularly in cities with socialist governments, such as Marseille and Paris. The unrest is linked to student and retiree grievances over education and pension reform. Many cities are affected.
Editor's noteFrance's protests are not just about reform, but a reckoning with the consequences of a socialist bill that promised too much and delivered too little. The violence is a symptom of a deeper crisis of governance and a society struggling to balance competing demands. Watch the government's response to the unrest, particularly its handling of the 'Casseurs'.
Pen Pushers Help Engineers Keep Ukraine’s Lights On
Ukraine is transitioning to a decentralized energy system with smaller power sources and backup systems to reduce reliance on traditional infrastructure vulnerable to Russian attacks and strikes. This shift involves expanding distributed generation and storage. Funding has been allocated for regional resilience plans.
