#008 The Design Insider: Digest
Slack unveils several new features, Consumer app spend breaks records, Apple releases iOS 15 public Beta and much more
In the news
Slack unveils several new features
Slack unveiled several new features to improve communication and collaboration between teams, many of whom are now working fully digital-first or partially remote. These include;
Huddles: This feature mimics the fast, informal and unscheduled face to face meetings you have with colleagues in the office. With one click, users can start a live audio conversation in any channel or DM. All participants can join and leave as they please.
Video, voice, and screen recordings: This feature allows users to easily create and send audio, video, and screen recordings. Once sent, users can watch the video as they please. The video is also archived so it can be searched and shared with other stakeholders down the line.
Scheduled Messaging: This feature will allow users to schedule messages to send to colleagues in advance. So you don't disturb colleagues and can ping them at a more appropriate time.
WhatsApp redesigns voice message UI
Voice messages will now appear as waveforms for android beta testers who have updated their devices to version 2.21.13.17. The new UI is identical to the one implemented in the fellow Facebook-owned platform, Instagram.
Spotify audience network now here
Following the successful launch of podcast ads in the UK, Spotify is expanding its ad offering with a global roll-out of audience network. Through this, local advertisers and publishers in the US, UK, Australia and Canada can now create various types of ads and accurately target users based on factors such as geography, demographics and even audience segments across a broad range of content.
Consumer app spend hits new records
Consumer spending on mobile apps continued to rise, with $64.9 billion spent across the App Store and Google Play in the first half of 2021. Eclipsing the $52 billion consumers spent for the same period in 2020 by 24.8%. The highest-grossing apps were TikTok, followed by Youtube and Tinder.
Apple’s release iOS 15 public Beta
Apple's beta testing program users can now access iOS 15, iPadOS 15 and watchOS 8 on selected devices. As we covered last time, this latest OS update comes with many exciting new features. If you aren't enrolled on the beta program, you can do easily do so. Once signed up, you'll be able to download the beta to your respective device.
Google brings artworks to life with AR
Google Arts and Culture have teamed up with Mediapipe to create Art Filter. A new cultural experience that aims to give people an up close, immersive and interactive experience of artefacts you'd usually find secured inside museums, using augmented reality. The filter uses Mediapipe's Face mesh, and 3D face transform to create custom effects for each artefact. Download the Google Arts and Culture app to try them out.
TikTok increases maximum video length
While many companies have had a rough 18 months, TikTok has gone from strength to strength. Hitting 1.1 billion users, who spend an average of 52 minutes every day on the platform consuming content. However, after dominating short-form video, they're now increasing the maximum video size from 60 seconds to three minutes, giving creators more flexibility and consumers a whole new entertainment experience.
Recommended Reads
17 checks to make before launching your website: The successful launch of your website hinges on careful planning, precise execution, and thorough follow-through. In this article, we’ve compiled a list of 17 critical checks to ensure that your website launch goes smoothly.
Icons in web design: Although small components of a user interface, icons are anything but insignificant. They help convey information, capture user attention and direct actions. In this article, the author shares some tips and best practices to design icons that positively impact a product's overall UX.
Ultimate guide to colour in UX/UI design: Colours are a pivotal part of a user interface. They set the basic mood, tone, concept, and connotation for a brand or product. So it’s important that before creating a colour palette, you first understand the science behind them. In this article, the author walks you through everything you should know about colour, so you can make a more well-informed decision when choosing your own.
Why we need to rethink the computer ‘Desktop’ as a concept: The "desktop" operating system has dominated the computing space for the past 40 years. While some components and mechanics have stood the test of time and still prove helpful, new technology has transformed our use and interaction with computers. In this article, the author walks through the origins of the desktop and shares some thoughts on the changes that need to be made to bring it into the modern digital age.
How Amazon applies navigational patterns for better UX: This article looks at how UX researchers, designers and other stakeholders at Amazon closely monitored the search behaviour patterns of customers to understand their needs. Then based on their analysis, they created navigational patterns to successfully guide them in finding what they're looking for online.
Useful tools and resources
Book of the Week: The UX Team of One - A research and design survival guide by Leah Buley
UX Audit checklist: A free downloadable white-paper covering the ins and outs of a UX audit, plus an excel spreadsheet templates consisting of 100+ checks, and two templates which you can use to conduct your own.
UXmeter: This platform showcase top website designs, ranking them purely based on UX design by industry professionals & general public using universal scoring system called UX Points.
Top UX list: A collection of useful tools and resources relating to all things UX design
Uni of Threads - Product Management: A collection of 250+ twitter threads several topics relating to product management.