Newsbreaker

Image via ByoWave Microsoft is learning to push alll the right buttons with the Proteus Controller for Xbox, a highly customizable gamepad designed specifically for accessibility. Read full article

Photo 129366978 © Georgesheldon | Dreamstime.com For decades, the screeching guitars and awkward dance moves of the Munch’s Make Believe Band were synonymous with birthday parties and greasy pizza at Chuck E. Cheese. But those days are coming to an end. In a major overhaul, the iconic restaurant chain announced it will be phasing out its animatronic entertainment in favor of a more tech-driven experience. Read full article

Image via Lindal Cedar Homes For architecture enthusiasts, the prospect of owning a Frank Lloyd Wright design can feel like a distant dream. Wright’s iconic structures are renowned for their pioneering use of space, natural materials, and integration with the surrounding landscape. However, these original designs were often commissioned by the wealthy, leaving the average homeowner out of reach. Read full article

Image via Authentic Newsroom Fancy being a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model? You can now dip your toes into that dream as the magazine is diving headfirst into its inaugural women’s swimwear collection, coinciding with its 60th-anniversary issue. Read full article

Photo 47688007 © Fashionstock .com | Dreamstime.com Victoria’s Secret’s iconic fashion show, known for its glittering lingerie displays and celebrity musical performances, is taking wing after a five-year hiatus. Read full article

Video screenshot via Samsung Mobile US Samsung is going up against one of Apple’s rare—albeit significant—missteps with a snappy commercial clearly aimed at the Cupertino giant’s recent Crush campaign. Apple’s advertisement, cooked up in-house and featuring a hydraulic press crushing various creative tools, was met with widespread criticism for its perceived message of stifling creativity in the pursuit of digital innovation packed into the new iPad Pro. Read full article

Image via UNIQLO All eyes are on UNIQLO as New York-based lifestyle brand Googly Eye Cru has filed a trademark infringement suit against Fast Retailing, the parent company of the Japanese everyday wear retailer, along with Anya Hindmarch’s parent firm, in the US District Court Southern District of New York. The dispute revolves around UNIQLO’s similar use of Googly Eye Cru’s distinctive ‘Googly Eye motif’—those playful black and white eyeballs—in its 2023 winter collection collaboration with Hindmarch. Read full article

Image via LEGO LEGO is taking fans on a journey to the dark side with its latest release: the LEGO Icons The Lord of the Rings: Barad-Dûr set. This formidable masterpiece, created in collaboration with Warner Bros, captures the sinister grandeur of Mordor’s dark tower and the iconic Eye of Sauron in breathtaking detail. Read full article

Video screenshot via Google DeepMind At Google I/O 2024, the tech giant revealed ‘Veo’, a generative AI model with high-definition video-making talents promising immediacy for content creators with big dreams. Read full article

Image via Apple Apple iPad Pro users are singing the blues, but for unexpected reasons. The all-new, M4 chip-powered device, has been saturated with a curious glitch—the flagship tablet appears to grapple with displaying certain shades of blue, particularly in HDR content. Read full article

Image via Just Stop Oil Just Stop Oil, the environmental activist group known for targeting artworks, is now wearing its disdain for fossil fuel projects on its sleeve. The nonprofit is retailing a children’s t-shirt with a design inspired by its infamous tomato soup stunt at the National Gallery in London. Read full article

[Click here to view the video in this article] Video screenshot via Google Read full article

Image via Swehl A billboard advertisement celebrating motherhood and breastfeeding has milked a debate in New York City’s Times Square. Featuring the expectant cookbook author Molly Baz, the vibrant image showcased her cradling lactation cookies strategically placed over her bare breasts. The head-turning visual, meant to promote the inclusive breastfeeding brand Swehl, has sparked an uproar stretching far beyond the bustling heart of the Big Apple after its abrupt removal just days after going up. Read full article

Photo 228742347 © Vladyslav Yushynov | Dreamstime.com Meta has announced the discontinuation of Workplace, its enterprise communication platform. This decision reflects a shift in efforts towards artificial intelligence and metaverse technologies, which the company believes will “fundamentally reshape the way we work.” Read full article

Images 306353953 © Heide Pinkall | Dreamstime.com and The Royal Family In a move that brushes up the royal image quite literally, King Charles III’s first official portrait since his coronation has been unveiled. Standing tall at eight feet, this striking canvas by renowned artist Jonathan Yeo showcases the monarch in the bold red uniform of the Welsh Guards, complete with a ceremonial sword and a butterfly resting on his shoulder—a nod to his environmental advocacy. However, instead of just admiration, the portrait has sparked a wave of snarky, red-hot memes across the internet. Read full article

Image via Kellanova / PR Newswire You can leggo your Eggo withdrawals and step up to the plate with the brand’s new Eggo Fully Loaded Kicks. After rolling out a robot vacuum made to clean up crumbs and syrup spills, the frozen waffle favorite is taking to the street in collaboration with renowned custom sneaker designer Dominic “The Surgeon” Ciambrone of SRGN to match its new, protein-packed waffles. Read full article

Photo 207606889 © Boumenjapet | Dreamstime.com Bumble users are taking a swipe at the dating app after it made a misguided diss at celibacy, forcing it to apologize. Its recent attempt to shake up its image, which included a rebrand, app redesign, and a new ‘Opening Moves’ feature, the company sought to resonate with frustrations over modern dating and assured fans that “we’ve changed so you don’t have to.” Alas, this move to impress hit a sour note. Read full article

Image via Portals.org Distance makes the heart grow fonder, but in some cases, it emboldens one to commit rather strange acts. While art often bridges gaps and connects communities, a recent installation linking Dublin and New York hit a snag when human nature got in the way. The Dublin-New York portal, facilitating real-time visual communication between the two cities, has been temporarily closed due to incidents of “inappropriate behavior.” Read full article

Image via McDonald’s UK It looks like McDonald’s is putting the “happy” on pause for a cause. Not clowning around, the Golden Arches in the UK has temporarily removed the iconic smile on its Happy Meal boxes as part of Mental Health Awareness Week, running from May 13 to May 19, with the aim of sparking important conversations about mental health, especially among children. Read full article

Photo 309455957 © Ralf Liebhold | Dreamstime.com OpenAI, the research lab co-founded by Elon Musk, has unveiled its latest advancement in artificial intelligence: GPT-4o. This new model, announced at its spring update, builds upon the success of its predecessors, GPT-3 and GPT-4, but with a crucial twist—it’s “omni.” The “o” stands for its ability to handle not just text, but also speech and code. Alongside this, the chatbot is getting a facelift with a more intuitive interface and advanced features aimed at making conversations smoother and more engaging. Read full article

Image via MYHIXEL Do nighttime romps sometimes feel like a long shot? The MYHIXEL Ring, FDA-registered and CE-marked, promises to prolong sexual encounters. Read full article

Images via Issey Miyake Issey Miyake, the Japanese fashion house renowned for its pleating techniques, has woven ties with athleticwear giant New Balance for the first time. Stepping forward is the Issey Miyake x New Balance MT10O, a minimalist trail running shoe inspired by barefoot mobility. Read full article

Photo 217775134 © Ilia Burdun | Dreamstime.com Hey Siri, are you friends with ChatGPT? Apple is reportedly planning a significant revamp of its pioneering voice-activated assistant, in hopes of keeping pace with competitors in the increasingly crowded virtual assistant space. Read full article

Image via Little Chonk The Lil Gulp is a new invention for pooches that hopes to make a splash as the “ultiimate” doggy water bottle. Read full article

The design world is a competitive landscape, brimming with wonderful ideas and talented individuals. For emerging creatives, carving a niche and achieving recognition can be a daunting task. Enter the A’ Design Award & Competition, one of the world’s most prestigious annual events that shines a spotlight on exceptional design from across the globe, regardless of experience or background. More than just an award ceremony, A’ Design & Competition offers a comprehensive platform for designers to showcase their creativity, gain valuable industry exposure, and take their careers to the next level. Winning an A’ Design Award & Competition catapults designers onto the global stage, not only through extensive media coverage and a dedicated press network, but also by including their work in the annual yearbook and boosting their ranking on the World Design Rankings—a valuable resource for design professionals and clients browsing for talent. The recognition doesn’t stop there. Winners receive a prestigious trophy, a comprehensive winners’ kit with marketing materials, and even tickets to the exclusive gala night, fostering an opportunity for networking with design luminaries and potential collaborators. Read full article