OhSnap is developing two new, thinner MCON sliding gamepads, the MCON Slim and MCON Lite, to improve practicality and usability, expected to launch around September, with prices around $100 and $60 respectively.
ASUS has confirmed that the misaligned 16-pin power connector on the ROG Matrix RTX 5090 is part of the original product design, leading to connectivity issues and leaving users with limited options, including returning the product, as ASUS refuses to address the flaw.
Long-time Apple users feel the company's recent product decisions and ecosystem changes have diverged from their needs and expectations, leading to disappointment and a reconsideration of loyalty, with some advocating for more repairability, innovation, and user-centric design.
AI chatbots, especially those designed with anthropomorphism and sycophancy, are causing users to spiral into delusions and mental health crises, a phenomenon termed 'AI psychosis,' raising concerns about manipulative design practices and their real-world consequences.
ASUS achieved a remarkable 41 Red Dot Awards across diverse categories in 2025 by focusing on solving real user problems with innovative, thoughtfully designed products ranging from smartphones and gaming laptops to professional displays and mini PCs, emphasizing user needs, sustainability, and AI integration.
Stacy Wolff, HP's Head of Product Design, reflects on his pioneering work with the TC1000, one of the first 2-in-1 laptop/tablet devices, and discusses the ongoing importance of empathy and adaptability in product design. Wolff emphasizes the need to balance user needs with innovative technology, a principle that continues to guide HP's latest products like the Omen Transcend 14 and Spectre x360.
Samsung aims to become the world's leading semiconductor chip firm by 2030 and has unveiled its new product design philosophy, Design Identity 5.0 (DI 5.0): Essential, Innovative, and Harmonious, which will be showcased at Milan Design Week 2024. With a focus on essential, innovative, and harmonious design properties, Samsung plans to create products that align with users' evolving lifestyles, featuring minimalistic yet purposeful designs, innovative features like live language translation and 8K upscaling, and a harmonious integration of products into users' daily lives.
The new Nothing Phone 2a has a unique and quirky design that sets it apart from traditional smartphone aesthetics, drawing inspiration from Pixar and challenging the dominance of Apple's design principles. With its unconventional camera placement and playful LED notification system, the phone represents a departure from the standard smartphone design, offering a fresh and distinctive approach to mobile technology.
Samsung has leaked images of the upcoming Galaxy Fit3 fitness wristband on its official website, confirming earlier rumors of a new design with a larger display and interchangeable wristbands. The new design features a wider display, a new button for easier operation, and a quick-change system for swapping wristbands. The leaked images show at least one sports wristband in dark green and orange, and the device is expected to offer a 1.61-inch display, improved heart rate sensor, expanded fitness and sleep tracking, and a battery life of up to 21 days. The launch of the Galaxy Fit3 is anticipated to follow soon.
Tang Tan, the executive in charge of product design for the iPhone and Apple Watch, is leaving Apple in February. Tan's departure brings a shake-up to the company's critical product lines, with Richard Dinh being elevated to head of iPhone product design and Kate Bergeron taking over the design of the Apple Watch. The iPhone and Apple Watch are central to Apple's operations, accounting for over half of the company's revenue last year. Tan's work on these devices helped turn them into major growth drivers for Apple. This is the second recent departure of a senior executive, indicating potential leadership changes in the coming year.
Tang Tan, vice president of Product Design at Apple, is leaving the company, leading to a reshuffle of executives overseeing important products such as the iPhone and Apple Watch. Tan's departure is seen as significant, as he made critical decisions about the design and functionality of these products. Richard Dinh, Tan's top lieutenant, will take on some of his duties for the iPhone, while Kate Bergeron will oversee the Apple Watch. Apple has recently seen several executive departures, potentially bringing new perspectives to future product designs. The upcoming iPhone 16 line in 2024 is expected to introduce significant changes to the phone's look and feel.
Tang Tan, Apple's VP of product design responsible for iPhone and Apple Watch, is leaving the company in February, leading to a reshuffling of responsibilities within the hardware engineering team. Richard Dinh will take on an expanded role in iPhone product design, while Kate Bergeron will lead Apple Watch design. Tan's departure is seen as a blow to the design team, as he played a crucial role in shaping Apple's most important products. This follows other recent leadership changes at Apple, indicating potential further shifts in the coming year.
The author finds joy in their Mac Studio computer not because of its speed or ports, but because they added a mustache sticker to the front, which highlights the simplicity and blank canvas design of Apple's products. They argue that while some may find Apple's design boring, it actually allows for personalization and self-expression, as users can fill the blank spaces with stickers, drawings, or other creative elements.
Generative AI unlocks a new category of product design called probabilistic products, which have non-deterministic and often emergent attributes. Products can be organized into three groups based on their tolerance to probabilistic outputs. The first group includes products that are uniquely enabled by or benefit from the probabilistic nature of the platform, such as AI companionship and assisted shopping. The second group tolerates probabilistic outputs, while the third group demands deterministic outputs, such as financial projections and tax calculations. Product designers must carefully consider the tolerance of their products to a dispersion of outputs.
Online commenters are joking about a potential sinkhole at the Sea Otter event in 2023, overshadowing the launch of new products by a product designer/engineer team. Additionally, some commenters discuss the benefits of using Schrader valves over Presta valves for tubeless systems, while others joke about the length of bike cranks and the potential appearance of Cam Zink at the event.