The first full reviews of the Vision Pro are coming out, and gotta say the use case for a go-anywhere-monitor-that-can-also-put-up-a-privacy-screen-but-also-doesn’t-require-you-to-bring-along-other-peripherals is pretty compelling.

One thing I’ve noticed from watching some of the review videos is how everyone’s gestures are very deliberate and precise right now. It reminds me of the early days of the iPhone, where everyone had to learn a new way of typing: with their thumbs.

EDIT: Got around to watching The Verge’s review. That’s some serious production value.

The new old hotness

Was reading “The ’80s Are Back, Baby” via Eye on Design, and gotta say: I love that this aesthetic is coming back.

I noticed Apple Maps has been inaccurately directed me on a longer route home due to a one-way street misidentification. Discovered the error while driving, reported it, and it was recently fixed, saving 5 minutes every time I head that way.

It does make me wonder about how widespread errors are in Apple Maps data. I wonder if there would be a benefit in supporting user contributions to address such issues efficiently. Maybe some sort of opt-in feature for Maps capturing detailed data to enhance routing and updates?

I’ve been talking about the idea of AI taking the role of a personal assistant in people’s lives with friends and coworkers since the boom of AI in recent months. This looks like the first practical application I’ve seen of that idea, have a watch if you haven’t already:

Edit:
Okay, so what’s so cool about this idea? Let’s break it down:

• I agree with moving away from the app model
  • If anything, I see apps as just their core function, everything else is extraneous
  • I’d actually be happier if every app was just a series of APIs I can plug into
• This is the first application I’ve seen of an OS that moves to simply a command:reponse function
• The camera looking at what you’re looking at fits directly into my future vision of phones: phone as a translation layer.

via Ryan Jones on Twitter:

IAC just sold 17 apps to Bending Spoons.

• $100M deal
• All 330 employees fired
• Robokiller and PDF Hero appear to be the biggest

Sneak peak at the playbook: ultra scammy tactics, no new features, sell user data, more ads, and other lovely things.

And so the Bending Spoons cancer continues to spread.

Microsoft design team strikes again.

EDIT: Ah yes, but why?

Finally got full interactivity working on the home page. Entirely coded using ChatGPT, figure that. 🤖

Why is the button to view a Stack in the Finder (making the content more easily searchable, sortable, scannable, etc.) the last item in the grid?

If it were the first item, at least then the user could easily decide between the stack view or the Finder view, but as the last item you’re always forced to scroll through the entire list (in some cases, a VERY long list).

Hell, even better? Put it as a floating object fixed to top of the panel.

Recently finished reading The State of UX in 2024: Enter late-stage UX, and had a few thoughts:

Automation
AI automates an increasing part of our jobs and reduces demand for designers in certain markets.

This evolution has been a long time in the making. Hard skills, traditionally deemed future-proof, are now facing challenges. The current opportunity lies in designers embracing AI-driven design generation to facilitate faster iterations and expedite the turnaround of concepts.

Saturation
Supply of designers outstrips demand. Market is still uncertain.

This was evident even in the early 2010s when the market was saturated with “designers” from bootcamps who made negligible contributions to the industry at large.

Commoditization
Focus on scalability and standardization over differentiation and delight.

Much like the industrialization of physical products, it is only logical that the next evolutionary step in digital design involves seeking ways to componentize and streamline the overall process. While there is still value in craftsmanship, (particularly when users anticipate a premium experience) the majority of products are utilitarian in nature and do not necessarily benefit from overly crafted experiences.

Financialization
Greater influence of financial health, shareholders interests, and business metrics in design decisions.

First and foremost you are a designer, not an artist; you are hired to solve business problems through design.

Disintegration
Lack of trust in digital products makes users either skeptical, complacent, or susceptible to exploitation.

An industry that heavily relied on dark patterns and manipulation to maintain user engagement results in a lack of trust? What a surprise.