Monthly Archives: October 2024

NUIO Flow Keyboard Will Blow Your Mind: Forget Everything You Knew About Typing!

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NUIO has launched a new vision for keyboards and peripherals, putting human comfort at the core of every design. Founded by Tom Wilson, a former Product Design Executive at Apple, and Greg Wilson, a former digital marketing leader at Digitas, NUIO is transforming ergonomic peripherals. Forget what you know about keyboards—the old designs are outdated. The Flow Keyboard reshapes the typing experience. It’s a reinvention designed to change how we interact with technology, focusing on comfort and usability. NUIO didn’t just update an old design; they started from scratch to create a tool that works with the natural movements of our hands and minds. This makes you wonder why all keyboards aren’t designed this way. Built around the human form, it breaks free from the conventions that have limited productivity for decades.

Designer: NUIO

The split design is the first indication that NUIO plays by different rules, literally tearing apart old conventions. Traditional keyboards force our hands into unnatural positions, often resulting in discomfort or even injury over time. By splitting the keyboard into two halves, NUIO allows users to set the layout as wide or narrow as they want, tailoring it to their individual body type. Each half arcs gently in a 3-D radial wave that contours perfectly to the natural positioning of the hands. This focuses on creating a natural design that integrates seamlessly into your workflow.

Immersive Flow Through Design

The 3-D wave shape changes the dynamics of typing entirely. Unlike flat keyboards, which demand that your fingers reach out and adjust constantly, this design brings every key to your fingertips, almost like the keyboard knows where your fingers will land next. The entire process becomes smoother—you don’t think about typing, you think, and the keyboard flows with you. It’s an experience similar to an artist using the perfect brush, where the tool becomes an extension of their creativity. This is what NUIO means by “finding your flow.” NUIO’s design aims to potentially transform the typing experience, making it feel seamless and natural.

The concave keycaps are another masterstroke. NUIO has given each key a gentle dip, which fits the natural curve of your fingertips and provides a feeling of certainty with every press. When you strike a key, it feels definitive, eliminating the ambiguity that often comes with traditional, flatter keycaps. These aren’t keys—they’re extensions of your thoughts, finely tuned to transmit intention into action without hesitation.

Bold Design Statements and Apple Ecosystem Integration

NUIO understands that form is just as important as function. It is designed to complement the Apple ecosystem perfectly. The backlit keys and the seven premium color combinations offer aesthetic appeal; they speak to a personalized experience, a kind of ownership over the tool that users engage with daily.

Whether choosing a sleek black design or a more colorful option, the keyboard is designed to fit into any space and enhance its visual appeal. It doesn’t just sit on the desk; it complements and elevates the entire workspace, adding an essential touch of personal style.

Accessories That Click—Literally and Figuratively

The NUIO Flow System, including the magnetic Deskpad, trackpad, and wristpads, is built to ensure seamless integration. The magnetic Deskpad serves as an extension of the Flow Keyboard, creating an ecosystem where each component—whether the keyboard halves, wristpads, or edge-to-edge glass trackpad—snaps into the ideal position.

This snapping mechanism eliminates fuss, prevents shifting, and saves time—resulting in an elegantly organized workspace that adapts to users rather than forcing adaptation. Each element has a designated place, and every movement is deliberate and precise.

Wristpads That Disappear Into the Experience

Comfort is a key aspect of the NUIO experience, most notably seen in the Wristpads. Made from an innovative cushioning material, these wristpads provide support while remaining unobtrusive.

They’re designed to be so comfortable that they “disappear” during use, allowing focus and productivity to flourish. This level of consideration elevates NUIO’s approach beyond mere ergonomics—ensuring that tools are as invisible as possible, with only the work left in focus.

Built For Today, Ready for Tomorrow

NUIO’s Flow Keyboard and its accompanying peripherals are designed for creative professionals, focusing on high-quality materials and flexible configurations. The product suite, which begins shipping on December 1st at a starting price of $399, is available for pre-order today at HelloNUIO.com. Every detail, down to the USB-C charging and Bluetooth multi-device pairing, is about maximizing flexibility. Whether switching between devices or shifting from a desk to a coffee shop, the Flow Keyboard is a tool that transforms with users. It’s an entirely new kind of typing experience; it’s the centerpiece of a modular productivity system that bends to their will. The adjustable stands make sure the keyboard can be tented or tilted for optimal comfort, while the mechanical click trackpad adds familiar tactile feedback that feels right.

The post NUIO Flow Keyboard Will Blow Your Mind: Forget Everything You Knew About Typing! first appeared on Yanko Design.

NBA League Pass gets multiview just in time for the season to start

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NBA League Pass is getting some cool new features for the 2024-25 season. This includes multiview, which is an oft-requested tool. Multiview allows basketball fans to watch up to four games at once on the same screen.

The feature works on TVs, smartphones and tablets, and will likely be a mainstay of bookies everywhere. It’s actually available right now to subscribers, for those keeping track of preseason developments. The season officially starts on October 22, so that’ll be when multiview really starts to prove its worth.

Four basketball games.
NBA

There’s a new smart rewind tool that’ll automatically pick out key highlights and plays to check out. Subscribers will also be able to download full games for offline viewing, which could be a boon for flights and the like. Just stay away from spoilers.

NBA League Pass is an app that exists in the year 2024. That means it’s getting stuffed with a whole lot of AI. There’s something called NBA Insights, which features an algorithm trained on “deep basketball understanding.” The algo will use its knowledge to “identify key narratives, player performances and notable milestones, providing fans with a continuous feed of text-based updates that go beyond the box score.” Here’s hoping it keeps hallucinations to a minimum.

The league is also using generative AI to localize content, offering translations and automated recaps in French, Portuguese and Spanish. Finally, there’s something called the “Dunk Score.” As the name suggests, this is an AI-calculated grade for dunks. The calculations happen in real time based on a “player’s jumping distance, style and force at the rim and defensive efforts from the opposing team.”

For the uninitiated, NBA League Pass provides access to hundreds of out-of-market games throughout the season. The premium ad-free version costs $25 per month, or $160 per season. The standard ad-filled subscription costs $17 per month or $110 per season. NBA TV, which is a more limited service to watch out-of-market games, is still available via cable providers. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/nba-league-pass-gets-multiview-just-in-time-for-the-season-to-start-191016755.html?src=rss

Creators getting paid to post on Threads don’t understand its algorithm either

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An artist who was able to pay off credit card debt, a photographer making extra cash by replying to the most polarizing posts she can find, a food blogger trying to start interesting conversations. These are some of the creators Meta is paying to post on Threads.

Meta introduced the invitation-only program in April, but has only shared limited details about how it works. Engadget spoke with half a dozen creators who have joined the program over the last few months. They described their strategies for reaching the required engagement metrics, and the sometimes confusing nature of Threads’ recommendation algorithm.

Creators are sorted into different tiers of the program which determines how much their bonuses can be and what kinds of metrics their posts need to hit. None of the creators who spoke with Engadget knew how or why they had been selected for the bonus program, though they all had an established following on Instagram. (One of the known requirements is a professional account on Instagram.)

Audrey Woulard is a photographer with more than 25,000 followers on Instagram and about 5,500 followers on Threads. She uses her Facebook and Instagram accounts to promote her portrait photography business. But when she was invited to the Threads bonus program, she saw an opportunity to experiment with different types of content.

Her strategy, she says, is all about replies. She exclusively focuses on replying to other users’ posts rather than creating her own. “I'm not necessarily generating content on my own,” she explains. “I'm kind of activating other people's content.” By focusing on replies, she says she’s able to reach the required 60 Threads with at least 750 views each to qualify for a $500 monthly bonus.

This has helped her become particularly attuned to the types of subjects that are likely to attract a lot of views. “Polarizing content, anything that keeps people talking,” she explains. Specifically, she looks for topics that people tend to have strong opinions about, like marriage, parenting, aging and politics, though she tries to avoid replying to obvious engagement bait.

Woulard’s experience isn’t unique. Threads defaults to a “for you” timeline that relies heavily on recommended posts rather than posts from accounts you already follow. Meta has also said it doesn’t want to “encourage” users to post about news and politics. Perhaps as a consequence of this, Threads’ “for you” feed often feels a lot slower and less focused on current events than on X.

What the algorithm does prioritize, though, is posts that get a lot of replies, even if they are about a seemingly mundane topic. This has led to a bizarrely random quality to the feed, what blogger Max Read dubbed “the gas leak social network.” It’s not uncommon to see a recommended post from someone you’re totally unconnected to talking about a trivial inconvenience, or a medical condition or some other anodyne anecdote. What these posts do have in common, though, is lots of replies.

It’s also created an opportunity for people looking to game the app’s algorithm by posting spammy content, generic questions or polarizing takes meant to attract as many replies as possible. (Meta execs have said they’re trying to fix this issue after a surge in such posts, even as they acknowledge that posts with replies are most likely to be recommended.)

But for Woulard, Meta’s emphasis on “public conversations” has worked in her favor. She says that so far she’s been able to max out three months worth of bonuses simply by replying to Threads. Woulard generates more income from her Facebook page, but enjoys the simplicity of the Threads bonus program. “It's so easy for me to make this money, I can literally sit in my room and reply to a bunch in 30 minutes.”

For Meta, offering bonuses to Instagram creators to post on Threads is part of its strategy to use Instagram to grow the year-old service. The company has leaned heavily on Instagram to grow Threads, which has already drawn 200 million users. But there were also bound to be some growing pains, says social media consultant Matt Navarra.

“I think people find it harder to create for platforms like Threads,” Navarra tells Engadget. “Writing interesting, engaging posts for a text-based platform, like X, Twitter or Threads is a different set of skills. And I think it's slightly tricky for some sorts of creators.”

Josh Kirkham, an artist who specializes in Bob Ross-style painting videos, has experienced this firsthand. With nearly 800,000 followers on Instagram, he’s in the highest tier of the bonus program, which makes him eligible to earn up to $5,000 a month from his posts on Threads. He’s been able to max out his bonus by sharing painting videos clipped from his livestreams on Instagram and TikTok.

Despite the success, he hasn’t been able to detect any patterns about what types of videos are likely to take off. He has more than 150,000 followers on Threads but, like other creators in the bonus program, relies on the app’s recommendation algorithm for his posts to get noticed. “Initially, I was posting mountain videos, and those were doing the best compared to everything else,” he says, “And then a week later, every mountain video was just getting like, nothing. Some of the times the videos that I think are going to do well don't do well at all, and vice versa.”

Kirkham says that he almost never replies to Threads posts when he’s trying to hit a bonus because he worries it will dilute his chances of getting the 5,000 views per post necessary to earn the max payout. Still, he says he’s grateful for the program as a full-time artist and creator. “It’s enabled me to pay off my credit card debt and then raise my credit score immensely,” he says. “I’m hoping for at least a few more.”

Nearly all of the creators who spoke to Engadget also expressed some skepticism that Meta would continue the bonus program at its current level for very long. In the past, the company has offered creators generous bonuses when it’s trying to boost a new format like Instagram Reels or Facebook Live only for those payments to eventually dwindle as more people join and Meta inevitably shifts its strategy — and funds for creators — somewhere else.

Logan Reavis is a photographer with nearly 50,000 followers on Instagram and about 8,500 on Threads. Though she has a bigger following on Instagram, she says Threads’ algorithm feels more favorable to creators. “The [Threads] algorithm works entirely different, especially as a photographer,” she says. “I feel like it's been hard to share my photography on Instagram, but it's encouraged on Threads. I actually reach an entirely different audience.”

Even so, she says she’s had to grapple with the quirks of the Threads algorithm and its penchant for highlighting engagement bait. “Responding to threads that have a lot of comments or conversation is what brings in my bonus views more, which is frustrating too because there's a lot of clickbait,” she says. Reavis so far hasn’t been able to reach her maximum potential $500 monthly bonus on Threads.

While creators are part of Meta’s strategy to make Threads its next billion-person app, the company hasn’t always been able to explain what its newest app is actually for. So it shouldn’t be surprising that even the creators it’s paying to post there view it as something of an experiment.

“I still don't think it has its own unique place in the social media ecosystem,” says Navarra. “It doesn't really have much of its own identity or personality, and I think that's one of its many problems at the moment.”

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/creators-getting-paid-to-post-on-threads-dont-understand-its-algorithm-either-065736099.html?src=rss

FCC launches a formal inquiry into why broadband data caps are terrible

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The Federal Communications Commission announced that it will open a renewed investigation into broadband data caps and how they impact both consumer experience and company competition. The FCC is soliciting stories from consumers about their experiences with capped broadband service. The agency also opened a formal Notice of Inquiry to collect public comment that will further inform its actions around broadband data caps.

"Restricting consumers' data can cut off small businesses from their customers, slap fees on low-income families and prevent people with disabilities from using the tools they rely on to communicate," FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said. "As the nation’s leading agency on communications, it’s our duty to dig deeper into these practices and make sure that consumers are put first."

This topic has been a hot one of late, and the FCC launched another notice of inquiry about the practice of capping Internet access last year. In April 2024, the agency successfully required that ISPs offer clear information labels on their service plans, detailing additional fees, discounts, and upload and download speeds. Data caps could also come under additional fire as the FCC attempts to restore net neutrality rules, which classify broadband as an essential service. Returning net neutrality has not been a simple journey, however, as the agency faces legal challenges from broadband providers.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/fcc-launches-a-formal-inquiry-into-why-broadband-data-caps-are-terrible-182129773.html?src=rss

The New York Times tells Perplexity to stop using its content

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One of the nation’s largest newspapers is targeting another AI firm for reusing its content without its permission. The Wall Street Journal reported that the New York Times sent a cease and desist letter to Perplexity, the AI startup funded by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. The letter states that Perplexity’s use of the New York Times’ content to create answers and summaries with its AI portal violates copyright law. The letter states that Perplexity and its backers “have been unjustly enriched by using, without authorizations, The Times’ expressive, carefully written and researched, and edited journalism without a license” and gave the startup until October 30 to respond before taking legal action.

Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas told the Journal that they aren’t ignoring the notice. He added they are “very much interested in working with every single publisher, including the New York Times.”

This isn’t the first time an AI company has earned the wrath of the New York Times’ legal team. The newspaper took OpenAI and Microsoft to court over claims that both used articles from its pages to train its AI software. The suit alleges both companies used more than 66 million records across its archives to train its AI modes representing “almost a century’s worth of copyrighted content.”

Amazon Web Services’ cloud division also started an investigation over the summer into Perplexity AI. Wired reported that a machine hosted on Amazon Web Services and operated by Perplexity visited hundreds of Condé Nast publications and properties hundreds of times to scan for content to use in its response and data collections.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/the-new-york-times-tells-perplexity-to-stop-using-its-content-175853131.html?src=rss

Embrace Calm With “Quietude”: HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams’ 2025 Color of the Year

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The 2025 Color Collection of the Year from HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams is “Naturally Refined,” with Quietude (HGSW6212) named the Color of the Year. The “Naturally Refined” palette offers a luxurious and cozy feel through 10 versatile shades that can be mixed and matched to create a harmonious design scheme within the interiors.

Designer: Sherwin-Williams

What is HGTV Home® by Sherwin-Williams?

Introduced in 2011, HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams merges HGTV’s design acumen with the renowned paint quality of Sherwin-Williams, which was established in 1866 and is based in Cleveland, Ohio. Sherwin-Williams is a leading name in the global paint and coatings industry while HGTV is known for its home design expertise, and collaborates to offer a range of premium paints and curated Color Collections for a harmonious home aesthetic. This exclusive collection is available solely at Lowe’s locations throughout the U.S. and Canada.

The “Naturally Refined” collection, with its 2025 Color of the Year “Quietude,” delivers a calming sage green and timeless elegance that is perfect for creating a tranquil atmosphere.

The different colors in the “Naturally Reined” collection include:

1. Snowbound (HGSW7004)

Snowbound is a warm, sophisticated white, that enhances natural light and works well on walls and ceilings. It is a versatile color that complements bold and subtle accents and creates a balanced atmosphere in any space.

2. Quietude (HGSW6212)

Quietude, a soft green with subtle blue undertones, is ideal for creating a tranquil and soothing environment. It can be used to enhance relaxation or achieve a calming effect. This shade works well on accent walls, as well as in textiles and decor.

3. Convivial Yellow (HGSW6393)

Convivial Yellow is a pale yellow hue with warm undertones, which adds a bright and welcoming touch to your home. Perfect for kitchens, breakfast areas, and living spaces, it infuses warmth into the common areas and children’s rooms.

4. Spiced Cider (HGSW7702)

Spiced Cider is a rust-inspired hue that adds warmth and depth to home decor. It can be used on accent walls, furniture, or textiles to create a cozy atmosphere and pairs well with neutral tones for a balanced look in living areas, dining rooms, and home offices.

5. Nomadic Desert (HGSW6107)

Nomadic Desert is a warm tan hue with blushed undertones that create a cozy atmosphere. It can be used on the walls in living rooms and bedrooms, providing a warm backdrop that complements furniture and textiles

6. Stucco (HGSW7569)

Stucco, with its elegant linen-like neutrality, creates a polished look on the walls throughout your home. This shade can be used to enhance architectural elements such as trim and molding while adding a classic touch to both furniture and textiles.

7. Delft (HGSW9134)

Delft is a mid-tone blue with a neutral undertone, making it an interesting choice for both traditional and contemporary interiors. It works well on accent walls and harmonizes with warm and cool hues, making it ideal for furniture, upholstery, and accessories.

8. Rocky River (HGSW6215)

Rocky River integrates a deep green blend of moss and emerald, creating a dramatic and calming effect when used on accent walls. This color elevates the look of the furniture and textiles, adding a natural, elegant touch to your decor.

9. Sequin (HGSW6394)

Sequin adds a warm, uplifting glow with its goldenrod undertones to accent walls, living cum dining areas, and kitchens, and creates a cheerful environment in children’s rooms.

10. Nutshell (HGSW6040)

Nutshell is a warm chocolate brown color that, enhances spaces with its cozy tone when used on accent walls, furniture, and flooring. Additionally, it pairs well with light hues for a balanced aesthetic and is suitable for trims and moldings.

Introducing Quietude (HGSW6212) as the 2025 Color of the Year

Quietude combines a cool sage green with a touch of blue to craft a soothing and serene space. Suitable for indoor and outdoor areas, its timeless charm inspires us to embrace a slower lifestyle and appreciate the simple moments in life.

Explore some cutting-edge products that embody the essence of Quietude.

• Earphones cum Earrings

Designers: Rick Kim & Milmul Studio

The YoonJy Earphones blend style and functionality by integrating earphones with jewelry. Featuring a sleek metal hoop that doubles as an earring, these earphones merge minimalistic design with a harmonious color scheme, allowing users to enjoy both accessories without compromise.

• Travel Suitcases

Designer: Monos

For dedicated travelers, Mono offers top-notch suitcases inspired by the Japanese concept of ‘Mono no aware.’ Their luggage combines style and functionality, featuring designs like the cupcake-inspired Monos x Magnolia Bakery and the sophisticated Terrazzo. Constructed with aerospace-grade polycarbonate and 360° spinner wheels, Monos suitcases include anti-microbial, recycled polyester linings, TSA-approved locks, and adjustable handles. The Carry-On Pro models add a fold-out compartment for convenient storage of electronics and essentials.

• Eco-Friendly Furniture

Designer: Philippe Starck and Kartell (and A.I.)

The A.I. Collection by Kartell and Philippe Starck combines artificial intelligence with design to produce eco-friendly furniture in earthy colors. The line features the versatile A.I. Lounge, the regal H.H.H Her Highest Highness chair, and the minimalist A.I. Console, all optimized for sustainability and reduced waste through A.I.-driven prototyping and planning.

• Mobile Phones

Designer: HONOR

At MWC 2024, HONOR unveiled the Magic6 Pro smartphone and the MagicBook Pro 16 AI PC. The Magic6 Pro features advanced AI-driven photography with a 180MP Telephoto Camera, a 50MP Ultra-Wide Camera, and a variable aperture 50MP main camera. It integrates a 6.8-inch LTPO Eye Comfort Display, a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, and a long-lasting Silicon-carbon Battery with rapid charging. The MagicBook Pro 16 enhances cross-OS compatibility with AI.

• Headphones

Designer: Fairphone

The Fairbuds XL wireless headphones from Fairphone feature a modular design that allows users to replace parts for extended use. They offer active noise cancellation, transparency mode, and up to 30 hours of playback with advanced 40 mm dynamic drivers for high-quality sound. Made from recycled materials, including vegan cushions, they come in Green or Black and support both wired and wireless connections.

• Industrial Furniture

Designer: Lockengloet

Lockengeloet, a Hamburg-based studio, transforms discarded oil barrels into unique, urban-industrial furniture. Sourced from the Port of Hamburg and never used for oil, these barrels are upcycled into coffee tables, nightstands, and minibars, with scrap metal repurposed into wall clocks. The studio uses recycled materials for about 80% of its products and operates with renewable energy from Greenpeace.

• Recycled Materials

Designer: POLIMAIR

The Beluga Chair, designed by Arthur Gaudenz and crafted from recycled French fishing nets, is a groundbreaking sustainable furniture piece. Its mono-material design eliminates the need for additional components, reducing waste and CO2 emissions.

• Accessories

Click Here to Buy Now: Jewel Vase Mirror Stand ($59)

This versatile mirror serves as both an accessory stand and a vase, adding natural beauty to your space. Its minimalist, polyhedron design enhances any item placed before it, from a single flower to other small treasures, and pouring water into the vase becomes a calming ritual. Crafted from durable bioplastic with a significant amount of rice husks, this unique piece brings elegance and eco-friendly charm to any desk, table, or shelf.

In addition, HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams now offers an easier way to choose paint colors through a partnership with Palazzo, an AI visualization tool co-founded by Venus Williams. All you need to do is upload a photo to see how colors from the 2025 Color Collection of the Year look in your space.

The post Embrace Calm With “Quietude”: HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams’ 2025 Color of the Year first appeared on Yanko Design.

Apple may be adding digital car key support for specific Volvo, Polestar and Audi vehicles

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Apple is reportedly going to add digital car key support in the Wallet app for some Volvo, Polestar and Audi vehicles. Currently, Apple’s digital car key support list includes vehicles from Kia, BMW, Lotus and several other manufacturers.

The digital car key function allows iPhone and Apple Watch owners to access, lock or start vehicles just by holding the device near the vehicle’s NFC reader. The Wallet app must also run in the background or in the foreground, but it’s not necessary to push any buttons.

MacRumors first discovered this possible future update in the Apple Wallet app’s backend. However, the publication hasn’t revealed any affected models or further details.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/apple-may-be-adding-digital-car-key-support-for-specific-volvo-polestar-and-audi-vehicles-163625563.html?src=rss

Hilton and Be My Eyes team up to make hotels more accessible for blind and low-vision users

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Hilton has teamed up with Be My Eyes to make hotel stays more accessible for blind and low-vision guests. The free app links users with sighted volunteers and companies who can help them navigate spaces and complete tasks using video calls. 

By going to the app's service directory, selecting the "hotels" option then the name of the Hilton brand they're staying at, Be My Eyes users will be connected to dedicated teams at the chain. Hilton staff members can talk users through actions such as finding and adjusting the thermostat in the room, making coffee, adjusting window coverings and moving to different areas of the hotel. The partnership covers brands including Waldorf Astoria, Conrad, DoubleTree by Hilton and Hampton by Hilton, though only in the US and Canada for now.

Hilton and Be My Eyes first got together last year to help train the latter's Be My AI language model, which uses GPT-4. The aim was to improve the model's ability to recognize objects in Hilton hotel rooms and how to traverse the spaces. Be My Eyes also uses AI to capture text from things like menus and toiletry bottles to help users understand what's written on them.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/hilton-and-be-my-eyes-team-up-to-make-hotels-more-accessible-for-blind-and-low-vision-users-162522626.html?src=rss