WEEKLY REVIEW  |  May 3, 2017

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TECH

Samsung joins the self-driving car race.

If you’re around San Francisco or Silicon Valley like we are, you know self-driving cars are being tested all over. And now, they’re being tested in South Korea. The country just gave Samsung the go-ahead to test the cars on the road, not just test courses. But they’re not creating the cars—just the sensors and computer parts. As long as it doesn’t explode, right?

Facebook’s newest network is not a social one.

Facebook just created a network called Express Backbone (EBB). Though it’s not for cat pictures or political rants, it’ll help you post them without lag. EBB extracts machine-to-machine traffic so that the user experience on Instagram, Facebook, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, and Oculus is never sluggish or interrupted.

MARKETING

Heineken shows Pepsi how to take on politics.

ICYMI, Pepsi completely bombed their politically focused ad. Heineken promptly made a more honest attempt: opposed people finding common ground over a beer. This ad uses a common faux–focus group approach. Would it be as good without the awful precedent? Maybe not. But it does show there’s hope for our future—a hope that doesn’t look like Coachella.

How we can make martech fun.

It’s no surprise that creatives like to be, well, creative. Marketing technologies (martech) can sometimes feel oppositional to creativity. So how can we make it fun? Martech Today has some tips. Hint: don’t get bogged down with jargon and focus on personalization and smart new tactics, not numbers.

DESIGN

Fitbit iterates.

The fitness wearables company is no newcomer to trackers. Last year they released their first “smart” fitness watch, the Blaze, and it seems they’ve spent the calendar year in awe of it. Leaked photos of their newest smartwatch show what amounts to the Blaze’s sleeker cousin. While we have quite a few Fitbit wearers around here, we’re not holding our breath for a smartwatch revolution this round.

For when your stand-up desk gets tiring.

We’re kind of proud of our desk chairs. But if you’re lacking a fancy stand-up desk or don’t already have Herman Millers like us, take a look through this gallery of beautifully designed (and comfortable) desk chairs.

INFLUENCERS

A founding father of information architecture talks UX.

“Peter Morville is one of the founding fathers of information architecture,” writes Paul Bryan. “But, lately, he has been writing and teaching workshops on the topic of UX strategy and planning.” To us, this makes sense. UX is a part of information architecture, and Morville has evolved just like his topic of choice. Read Bryan’s article to learn more about the evolution of information.

EVENTS

The weekend report.

Transport yourself to bourbon country with Willie Nelson and Family at The Fillmore Thursday, Friday, or Saturday. Or get the inside look into product design this Friday at Timbuk2’s free tour. If you miss it this month, they happen the first Friday of every month! But don’t miss out on Free Comic Book Day this Saturday, because it only comes once a year. Finally, experience the How Weird Street Faire on Sunday. How weird is it? You’ll have to find out for yourself.

AND JUST FOR FUN

The saga of Frappucinos-that-shouldn’t-exist continues.

Last week we discussed how much Starbucks baristas hated making the unicorn Frappucino. But apparently some couldn’t get enough of the brightly colored, way-too-sugary beverages because one barista in Michigan created the mermaid Frappucino. The recipe looks disgusting and difficult, but hey, we salute her creativity and giving the customers more of what they like!


“The art challenges the technology, and the technology inspires the art.”

John Lasseter