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With Christmas now just days away, time is running out to get that perfect gift. However, today Adobe has launched a killer deal for those living in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), which is guaranteed to put a smile on the face of the creative in your life and will be delivered in time for the big day. For just 72 hours, you can get 19% off a selection of single apps in the Adobe Creative Cloud suite. The offer includes all the big players – photo editing favourite Photoshop, digital artists' go-to Illustrator, video editing software Premiere Pro, web building tool Dreamweaver and desktop publishing and typesetting software InDesign. This single app deal is great, cost-effective solution for artists and designers who only need access to specific tools. So if you know someone longing to start image editing in Photoshop or work their drawing skills in Illustrator, this could be the perfect Christmas gift. If you're not based in EMEA regions, be sure to take a look at our round-up of the best Adobe deals in your area. Below are all the details you need to take advantage of this great deal. But hurry, this offer is only around for three days (ending on 19 December). All of these deals are only available until 19 December 2019, so if you want to save big on some of Adobe's most popular apps, grab them now. Want the full Adobe Creative Cloud suite? Find the best deals in your area here: Related articles: Top-class Photoshop tutorials to hone your skills Secret Adobe eyedropper trick will change your life The best web hosting services for designers View the full article

Every good film relies on well-written characters to convey the essence of the story. But in an animated feature, good writing doesn't guarantee success. Everything depends on character animation. And character animation used to cost a lot of money. This was the problem I faced when planning animated film noir and video game The Chest with my production company Rendered Frames (watch the trailer below). 10 or 15 years ago, only the bigger studios could produce good-quality animation; it was a challenge for indie animators to find the budget and the staff they needed. But this has changed in the past few years. More and more companies have realised the opportunities presented by solo artists and small studios, and the new generation of animation software they have created has opened up new horizons for ambitious freelance teams. Created using Reallusion software While working out how to create The Chest, I looked for tools that could form a rock-solid production pipeline, from character creation to the final render. After a bit of research, I found three pieces of software from Reallusion that became the main pillars of my workflow. The first is Character Creator. I use this to create fully rigged 3D characters, complete with all of the morphs needed for facial animation. The second is 3DXchange, which imports assets and motion-capture data from external sources. And finally there's iClone, my main animation tool. I use this to put together all of my characters' movements and to lip-sync speech. Rendered in Unreal Engine To create and render the neon-lit retro-noir world of The Chest, I used Unreal Engine, Epic Games' powerful real-time graphics engine. This tool makes it possible to create very complex scenes, like Budapest in the 1960s, or the cellar of a medieval castle. In a film noir lighting is critical, so the direct visual feedback that Unreal Engine provides is very important. But before I can see how my characters are being lit inside a scene, I have to export all of my iClone animations to Unreal. Although iClone has included built-in presets, everything is exported as an FBX file, which must then be imported into Unreal Engine manually. This isn't the fastest way to work. Thankfully, the new iClone Unreal Live Link plugin sets me free from this annoying export/import process. United by iClone Unreal Live Link iClone Unreal Live creates a bridge between the two applications, making it possible to make changes to a character in iClone and see instant visual feedback in the Unreal Engine viewport. When using iClone Unreal Live Link, export becomes automatic, with the plugin even generating materials based on Epic's Digital Humans research. This process takes only a few minutes, saving weeks of hard work. And you can still fine-tune the appearance of the character manually, thanks to the instanced materials generated by the plugin. It is also possible to use a motion-capture suit to track character movements in real time, with the actions being saved to Unreal Engine's Sequence Recorder. You can even use Reallusion's Live Face app to record facial movements on an iPhone. A powerful pipeline for indie animators Thanks to Reallusion's software and the real-time rendering capabilities of Unreal Engine, character animation isn't a struggle for me any more. The tools help me to achieve my creative goals, with The Chest recently winning a prestigious Unreal Dev Grant. Installing and setting up iClone Unreal Live Link takes only a few minutes. As a visual storyteller, I highly recommend that you try it. No matter whether you are an indie artist or an industry professional, the plugin makes your life easier, handling technical tasks automatically and leaving you free to focus on the narrative. From that point on, the only limit is your imagination. Read more: Make vehicle animations with iClone 7 Live Face for iClone 7 review View the full article

The Surface Pro 7 is Microsoft’s seventh attempt to create a tablet that’s powerful enough to run full Windows 10 programs, while remaining sleek and light. While Microsoft might be best known for its software, with the Surface range of products, it’s also built a rather impressive reputation for building stylish and desirable devices that have proven popular amongst digital creatives, even if mainstream success has still alluded it. The Surface Pro line-up of tablets is supposed to be Microsoft’s flagship Surface device. However, while the original Surface Pro felt fresh and exciting, recent generations have felt a little stale. After the Surface Pro 6 proved to be a solid – yet unexciting – entry, many of us were hoping that Microsoft would really pull out the stops with the Surface Pro 7, and reignite our enthusiasm for the products. Unfortunately, Microsoft has made just another iterative upgrade with the Surface Pro 7. Its design is pretty much identical to the Surface Pro 6, but there have been some tweaks behind the scenes. So, is the Surface Pro 7 a good tool for creatives? Should it get a spot in our pick of the best tablets with a stylus? Read on to find out. Surface Pro 7 review: Price As with previous version of the Surface Pro, the Surface Pro 7 comes in a variety of configurations. The base model costs $749/£799, and this gives you an Intel Core i3 processor (CPU) 4GB of memory (RAM) and a 128GB solid-state drive (SSD). This is actually a cheaper price than the Surface Pro 6’s base model when it launched, which cost $899/£879. It’s still very pricey for a tablet, however, especially considering Apple’s excellent iPad Air costs almost half the price at $499/£479, whilst the iPad Pro 11 costs $799/£769. It’s also pretty expensive when you consider those specs. For any sort of creative work, 4GB RAM is just not enough – and that 128GB hard drive is going to fill up quickly if you store large files such as photos and videos. So, for creatives, you should only be considering configurations with at least 8GB of RAM and 256GB storage. A version of the Surface Pro 7 with those specs, and a more powerful Intel Core i5 processor, begins at $1,199/£1,169. In short, that’s incredibly expensive. You can even go as high as an Intel Core i7, 16GB RAM and 1TB SSD, which costs a huge $2,299/£2,249. For that kind of money, you’re better off looking at a laptop like the MacBook Pro. It’s also worth pointing out that even with these high prices, the Type Cover (which protects the screen and doubles as a keyboard) and the Surface Pen stylus are not included – so you’ll need to buy them separately at a cost of $160/£149 and $99/£99 respectively. Surface Pro 7 review: Power and performance One of the biggest benefits the Surface Pro 7 has got over its processor is that it uses Intel’s latest 10th generation processors, which use the new 10-nanometer (nm) process – whereas the Surface Pro 6 used CPUs with the 14nm Intel process. Now, we won’t bore you with loads of jargon, but what this essentially means is that Intel has made a new series of processors that are more powerful and also power efficient. So, with products like the Surface Pro 7, you should see improved performance and battery life compared to the Surface Pro 6. In our time with the Pro 7, we certainly felt that the new tablet was a lot faster, with Windows 10 feeling smooth and responsive when in use. Intel has also improved the integrated graphics of its 10th generation processors, now using Intel Iris Plus graphics over the older Intel UHD graphics. This means that the Surface Pro 7 is better at handling graphic-intensive tasks, such as video rendering, as well as even some light gaming. Now, this won’t be able to compete with a device with a dedicated graphics card, but we were seriously impressed with the integrated graphics performance of the Surface Pro 7. It’s able to do a pretty good job at handling graphics whilst still remaining thin and light. The model we tested came with an Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB RAM and 256GB storage, and it handled most day-to-day tasks well. We installed some pretty intensive apps, like Photoshop, which worked well, and when using the Surface Pen stylus, the Surface Pro 7 was able to keep up with our scribbles without much noticeable lag. However, if you go for a version of the Surface Pro 7 with less powerful hardware, you may find that your experience isn’t quite as smooth as ours. While the performance of the Surface Pro 7 is a nice step up from the Surface Pro 6, the same cannot be said for the battery life, which we found to be shorter than its predecessor. In our battery life tests, we found that running a looped 1080p video, the Surface Pro 7’s battery lasted six hours, well below the eight hours and 45 minutes the Pro 6 achieved. When using the Surface Pro 7 for even more intensive tasks, battery life dropped even further, with it achieving just three hours with the PCMark 8 battery life test, which replicated document creation and video calling. This is a worryingly short battery life for something you may want to use throughout the day. For a longer battery life, we’d recommend the older Surface Pro 6, then, or one of Apple’s iPad competitors. Surface Pro 7 review: Display The Surface Pro 7’s screen is 12.3-inches, with a 2,736 x 1,824 resolution and 3:2 aspect ratio. That offers a pixel density of 267 pixels per inch, and results in an impressively sharp display that’s also bright and vibrant. As you’d expect, it’s also touchscreen, and when in tablet mode, Windows 10 works well, changing the interface to better suit being jabbed at by fingers. It doesn’t support standards like sRGB or P3, which means if you’re after a tool that offers industry-accurate colours, then this is probably not the right device for you. It’s effectively the same screen as the one found on the Surface Pro 6, and while that’s not a particularly bad thing, as the Pro 6’s screen is pretty lovely anyway, it’s a bit of a shame that Microsoft didn’t take the opportunity to upgrade the screen with the Pro 7 – especially if it wants to win over creative professionals. Surface Pro 7 review: Features Perhaps the biggest selling point of the Microsoft Surface Pro 7 is that it is a tablet that’s able to run Windows 10 in full, while also being able to turn into a laptop if you need to fire off some emails (and have the optional Type Cover). If you do grab the optional extras, you’ll find the Microsoft Surface Pro 7 to be a very versatile device. The Type Cover is made of a gorgeous Alcantara fabric which feels lovely, and gives the Surface Pro 7 a premium look and feel. Despite doubling as a cover, the Type Cover also does a good job as a keyboard, with the keys being large enough to hit accurately when typing fast, and with enough travel to make them feel satisfying when pressed. Of course, if you don’t want to spend extra on the Type Cover, then you’ll miss out on these features. We really wish Microsoft would include the Type Cover, and the Surface Pen (which works brilliantly), as they are essential to getting the full Surface Pro 7 experience – especially if you’re a creative. The Surface Pro 7 also at long last features a USB-C port, bringing it in line with many modern devices. It’s great for people who have a growing collection of USB-C peripherals. However, it is not Thunderbolt 3, which means it can’t quite reach the speeds of the ports found on the MacBook Pro. However, where the Surface Pro 7 does have an advantage over the MacBook Pro (and iPads) is the selection of ports. Alongside the USB-C port is a standard USB port, for older peripherals, a Surface Type Cover port, which makes it easy to connect the Type Cover, and a MicroSDXC card reader – this is particularly useful for photographers, and its absence with the MacBook Pro is something we’ve often complained about. Power is supplied via the Surface Connect port, which is a magnetic power port that makes connecting and detaching the power supply quick and easy. Surface Pro 7 review: Should you buy it? The Surface Pro 7 is a tempting device if you’re looking for a tablet computer that has enough power to run full Windows 10 programs. If you don’t want to be stuck using Android or iOS apps, which can often feel stripped down compared to their Windows 10 counterparts, then this is one of the best Windows 10 tablets you can buy. However, while it’s undoubtedly a stylish and powerful tablet, it does feel like Microsoft hasn’t put a lot of passion into this version. Everything seems like a little iterative upgrade, rather than a revolutionary leap. This means that the cheaper Surface Pro 6 is a better buy for people on a budget, as you’re not sacrificing much – and you get a better battery life as well. Ultimately, the price of the Surface Pro 7 will determine if you should buy it. At it’s current price, it’s just too expensive when compared to the iPad. Apple’s tablets offer a comparable experience with better battery lives, and for a lot less. Sure, they don’t run Windows 10 apps, but iOS apps have come a long way, and they now offer features and performance that are just as good as the Windows 10 versions. Meanwhile, there are plenty of Android tablets out there which offer even better value for money. Unless you’re really wedded to Windows 10, we suggest skipping the Surface Pro 7. Hopefully Microsoft will come back with a new Surface Pro in 2020 that will give creatives a reason to fall in love with their devices again. View the full article

One of the biggest problems with writing articles about logo design trends is that every year, readers expect to be told something new and unexpected. For the last four or five years though, it's been increasingly difficult to do so without bending the truth. Because on the whole, logo design has been going in one specific direction for a very long time. We're talking about the trend for simple, reductive logo designs that can be scaled up and down almost infinitely, whatever the size of the screen. That said, it's not just a new year we're entering, but a brand new decade. Could this be the year that everything changes? Will we have to update everything in our ultimate guide to logo design? We chatted to some experts to find out. 01. Simple and minimalist The 2019 logo for Halifax draws on an uncluttered aesthetic Dull though it may be to report, the main logo design trend in 2019 has basically been the same as that of 2018. As Gabriella Corbett, designer at StormBrands, explains: “Straightforward minimalism has set the standard, as seen with Pentagram simplifying MasterCard's marque and dropping the name from the logo entirely. This kind of minimalist refresh, which can also be seen in the marques of major players like Warner Bros and Facebook, is almost certainly set to continue and evolve in 2020.” That doesn’t mean, though, that everyone approves. Among the trend’s critics is Dan Bramham, senior designer at Greenwich Design. "I find it bland, bloated in parts; a bit 'meh' really,” he says. “Staples did well to update their typography which was looking a bit tired, but the new 'staple' icon is too versatile and lacks personality. And as for BT, I couldn’t believe it when I saw their new logo. I'd say they really had their pants pulled down on that one." 02. Authenticity and narrative Elmwood's new logo for Carlsberg brand Somersby is grounded in the ethos of the brand Will there be a countertrend against bland simplification in 2020, even if it’s just by a minority of companies? Adam Murdoch, senior art director at Grady Britton, thinks so. “Generification of logos and brands are on the way out,” he predicts. “The coming year is an opportunity for brands to be truly authentic and allow the history and narrative to be a living part of their stories and visuals. This can’t be done when design systems look like a template.” Lee Hoddy, creative partner at Conran Design Group, believes that such a change will certainly occur in the startup world. “In 2019, most startups developed a brand expression which, when viewed together as a suite, felt far less distinctive than it should have done,” he says. “In 2020, I believe more startups will look to differentiate themselves via their design language, and find a level of attitude and uniqueness which will be creatively very exciting.” 03. Playful simplicity Rolled out in 2019, MailChimp's new logo may be simple, but it isn't boring Rescuing logo design from generic blandness doesn’t necessarily mean jettisoning the simple approach, though. Chris Moody, global chief design officer at Wolff Olins, believes that it’s perfectly possible to purse “simplification purely in service of creating a structure for something extraordinary, smart, impolite and even downright noisy. Such brands interweave with technology to help to stop you in your tracks, inspire and talk to you; not at you. "This year, BBC2 went electric with its chameleon logo whilst Spotify did it purely with words," he continues. “The key is transmitting and amplifying a spirit through the power of technology rather than seeing it as a filter to make everything as frictionless and pale as possible. So just like Bob Dylan in 1965, in 2020 it’s time for every brand to plug in and start creating some feedback.” Pete Jeffs, creative director at loyalkaspar, takes a similar view. “Even if everyone is asking the same questions, we still have an opportunity as designers to come up with unique answers,” he argues. “For example, MailChimp’s refresh features the same ingredients as many other recent rebrands — a simplified wordmark, custom typeface, and hand-drawn illustrations — but the choice of a playful serif font and more expressive illustration style give the brand a unique voice that helps them stand out amongst a sea of sameness.” 04. Clean typography in luxury Celine's simple, geometric wordmark is a typical look for the luxury sector at the moment One place we’re not likely to see too much graphical playfulness, however, are in the logos for luxury brands. “In 2019, it’s been hard to miss the increasing homogeneity of typography in this sector,” says Chloe Schneider, semiotician at Here Design. “The tide of radically simplified sans-serif logo redesigns has been extensively collated and critiqued: Burberry, Celine, Saint Laurent, the list continues.” These types of logo have obvious appeal. “They’re bold, practical, effective, geometric,” says Schneider. “They work at any size, ideal in a digital age. As I see it, these redesigns resemble the behaviour of art gallery identities. Luxury fashion brands as curators, as contemporary signifiers of quality, whether they display a fur hat or a baseball cap... because today luxury is constantly switching between the two. “These logos are designed to work with infinite exhibitions and styles,” she continues. “Luxury is preoccupied with fantasy, reimagining and re-describing its truths with every collection; with this comes a diversity of styles, periods and textures. The move towards typographic neutrality and abstraction, untethering from constant reference to heritage and origins, is luxury setting itself free. An act of redefinition towards the dream of limitless possibilities in a digital age.” 05. Brand mascots Android's mascot may have been minimised, but remains central to its logo While the luxury sector may have its own rules, in other areas we’ve seen an increasing use of brand mascots in 2019. And Simon Chong, associate creative director at Gretel, feels that’s no coincidence. “The growing abundance and availability of emojis is driving a change in how people communicate, allowing them a wider range of tonal expression,” he points out. “As brands are building closer relationships with their customers on a greater scale, the need to be more flexible in conversation is only going to grow.” Brand mascots have existed for years of course, but their prominence and importance will be seen and felt in the coming year, Chong believes. “Duolingo and Android have recently rebranded, doubling down on their owl and robot mascots respectively,” he notes. “By doing this, they have a wider spectrum of emotion to both express their brand and communicate with customers. Mascots offer a sense of fun, playfulness and humanity within digital environments, acting as a familiar and friendly guide: someone you trust and would want to hang out with on a daily basis.” A lost art? Many designers loved this concept Crocs logo by designer Stephen Kelleher So where do we go from here? Is the future of logo design more of the same, with just a little tweaking around the edges? Mike Foster, founder and creative director of Straight Forward Design, hopes not. "Logo design has been in a dark place for the past decade or so. It has become a bit of a lost art," he believes. "Logos offer an opportunity to give brands a bit of personality, but we seem to have moved into a generic, boring place, where there’s little room for quirk or whimsy or new ideas. What would Paul Rand make of it all?" But he has hopes for the future. "When everyone’s a sans-serif, surely brands will have to have a rethink? Maybe the logo’s value as a powerful asset will be rediscovered. There are glimmers of hope: just look at some of the design blogs. They are filled with lovely logos for imagined brands, start-ups, and faux rebrands for huge companies. Stephen Kelleher gave Crocs ‘ugly’ shoe brand a dummy refresh earlier this year. It replaced the original crocodile-in-a-circle design with a simple vector shape, representative of a crocodile’s head and the shoe — brilliant and so simple. Perhaps we’ll see the tide turn in 2020." Read more: Where to find logo design inspiration 7 famous logos that pass the silhouette test 8 of the biggest logo redesigns of 2019 View the full article

Welcome to your guide to MacBook Black Friday 2020. Okay, it's perhaps a bit soon to be thinking about the next Black Friday, but we like to take the Scout approach when it comes to shopping events, and Be Prepared. In this article you'll find everything you need to know about the MacBook Black Friday sale 2020, whether you're after a deal on a classic MacBook, a MacBook Air or a MacBook Pro. That includes a guide to the retailers to look out for, tips for snapping up the best offers, and a look at the discounts we saw in 2019. Of course, over the event itself we'll be curating the best MacBook offers here for you, in an easily scannable format. But we're a little early for that right now (bookmark this page though, and check back for any early deals). If you're visiting this page before Christmas, you're best looking at our guide to the Apple Boxing Day sale 2019. While you're here, you might also want to explore our dedicated guide to the best Apple laptop deals or our predictions for the wider Apple Black Friday 2020 sale. There were a few standout retailers in the US and UK that offered the best MacBook Black Friday deals in 2019. It's worth having look on their sites as your first port of call, to check if they're running any offers right now. These are also the places we'd expect to see discounts in the 2020 Black Friday event. Amazon (US and UK) Best Buy Adorama John Lewis Currys B&H The best MacBook Pro Black Friday deals Over Black Friday, it's usually a safe bet that the biggest bargains will be on slightly older models. Apple launched a brand new 16" MacBook Pro in late 2019, and this did result in some price drops on the previous 15" MacBook Pro (2019) in the 2019 Black Friday MacBook sale. However, most of the best deals were on the (also pretty new) 13-inch MacBook Pro. The MacBook Pro's high price – especially on, say, the Touch Bar models – means it's easier for retailers to deliver a huge temporary price cut and still turn a profit, so if you're looking for a powerful creative laptop it's worth bearing in mind. You'll still be paying out quite a bit for it, but it'll be worth the expense. The widgets below will pull in the best prices in your region right now for various models. Alternatively, scroll down for a look at the best MacBook Black Friday deals from 2019. There were some big discounts on MacBook Airs over Black Friday in 2019 – although they were heavily concentrated in the US (there were a few odd discounts for the brits). The MacBook Air is the least powerful MacBook you can get...and it's not even the thinnest and lightest any more. However if you simply have to have a MacBook but you're on a budget, it's a strong choice. Below are the best prices in your region right now, or read on for a look at the biggest deals we saw over the Black Friday weekend. How to get the best MacBook deals on Black Friday The best advice we have for you is this: be sure to decide just how much you want to spend on a Black Friday MacBook deal (or a MacBook on Cyber Monday, of course), and if you see one within that budget, go for it. The best deals can be gone in minutes, so don't waste time if you know you're looking at a solid gold bargain. Bookmark this page and check back to make sure you know what to expect and you can jump on the best Black Friday MacBook deals before they sell out. Preparation is key when it comes to getting good Black Friday MacBook deals, or picking up a MacBook Cyber Monday bargain, especially when you bear in mind that a lot of retailers can't wait for Black Friday, and so start shipping their bargains well in advance of the big day. In the run-up to Black Friday and Cyber Monday we'll be keeping tabs on new deals as they appear, so keep checking back for offers that you won't want to miss. You'll need to decide whether it's a standard MacBook you want, an Air or a full-fat MacBook Pro. If you're planning to use your new MacBook as an all-round work machine then it's worth holding out for a good deal on a Pro as it'll be able to cope with just about everything you throw at it. If you're less of a power user then the ordinary MacBook should suit your needs. Beware of older models – they're likely to see the biggest discounts but they'll be packing less power than more up-to-date machines. Although you could consider getting an SSD to speed things up. And of course, use a bit of common sense while shopping; look out for cashback offers, always check the guarantee and make sure you keep your receipt in case of faults or buyer's remorse. View the full article

This year has seen many businesses streamlining their websites and thinking more than ever about the user experience and how this can generate conversions. Despite much promotion and commercial activity moving to social media, companies are still looking at ways they can use the more tailored experience of a website to catch the user’s attention and imagination and showcase their products or services in an eye-catching way. For help improving your own designs, see our web design tools. In the meantime, here are eight websites that caught our attention this year, and a look at what they did right. 01. Apple Apple knows that its look sells Apple knows that a picture is worth a thousand words, and many thousands more conversions. Its website has been at the forefront of one of the major trends we’ve seen this year: a move towards going big. Really big. In Apple's case, huge crystal-clear close-up shot of products are accompanied by equally large display text in San Francisco Pro to offer drool-worthy presentations of the brand’s products. Throw in a neat scroll-controlled zoom out effect that takes you out from extreme close-ups, and the page provides an undeniably impressive overview of both the brand’s products’ aesthetic features and of what they can do. Apple knows that users spend less time on websites than they did in the past and that they’ll leave if a site lacks a message, and here the message is crystal clear: 'Admire our products and see what they can do'. 02. Pitch This presentation software has pitch-perfect presentation Pitch's website makes a sharp presentation, which is crucial since presentation software is this new company’s product. The site is even designed so that scrolling out from the landing page reveals the first screen to be the initial page in a presentation. It’s a clever interactive device that makes it clear from the outset what the product is about, while a bold sans serif headline gets our attention and a distinct colour palette makes this new brand quickly identifiable. Keep scrolling and the fun illustrations and clay-look animation complement the UX rather than slowing it down. There’s a lot going on, but still plenty of white space to let the different elements stand out. The illustrations makes the brand feel down-to-earth and thoroughly contemporary. In fact, we’re sure that the combination of flat design and 3D isometric elements is going to be a major trend in the year to come. 03. Lemonade Meet Maya the CUI What makes this site for US insurance company Lemonade really stand out is the game-changing use of a conversational user interface (CUI) to offer innovative and effective interaction. Maya, as she’s called, shows how far chatbots have come, and where they’re heading. She interacts on a human level and gathers information efficiently to drive conversions, taking users through each stage in the process and providing insurance quotes in just a few minutes. The transitions are smooth, with clearly labelled answer forms, making Maya an engaging, forward thinking kind of interface that we’re sure to see more of next year. Elsewhere, the site’s bold headline of ‘Forget Everything You Know About Insurance’ is also elegantly backed up by well-placed pink action buttons that put the focus firmly on the UX. 04. Essentially Geared Wine Co EG shows us where and how we can enjoy their wine Many of the most eye-catching websites this year feature background videos showing their products or services being used. The best videos don’t require sound and hook the viewer quickly, while large, short headlines avoid video and copy competing for the viewer’s attention. Essentially Geared Wine Co.'s choice of video looks good and is very functional, showing us how the company’s wine in a can may be enjoyed everywhere from the city to wild camping. Scroll down and the message is backed up with bold, colourful images and texts showing each product in the range and even making quick suggestions for which foods and experiences to pair each of them with. 05. The Frontier Within - Thorne Take a journey inside your own body Interaction can make a website truly stand out, and this site designed by Active Theory is an engaging example of the possibilities out there. The Frontier Within is a promotional campaign for Thorne, a nutritional supplements company. It’s also a whole digital experience that combines storytelling with biometrics and produces graphics of particles that move when you drag the cursor over them. The experience is personalised from the outset, with the site asking for your name and to take a photograph. Each step leads towards an interaction that measures and beautifully depicts data from the visitor’s own respiratory, circulatory and nervous system to present an internal view of the human body. The developers used a custom C++ OpenCV to allow accurate face tracking, while the website detects the GPU being used to provide a scalable version appropriate to your device’s capabilities. 06. Cities talk back – Lyft Lyft shows there’s still a place for long-form content online This capsule site from Lyft, a US ride hailing company, shows that websites can still aim to be about more than making quick conversions and that there is still a place for engaging original longer-form content when presented in a compelling way. The site tackles the timely issue of immigration in the US and gives a voice to some of the immigrant drivers who work for the company through a series of documentary films that are exquisitely presented by Hello Monday. It does so via an easily navigable platform with smooth hover menus and scroll triggered transitions. 07. Seriously unsweetened Seriously Unsweetened is seriously on trend We think Seriously Unsweetened is bang on trend with its website’s bright but earthy colours and clean design with huge amounts of white space. The site is so seriously minimalist that it does only three things. It tells you the brand’s story, it shows you the brand’s products (and makes them look great) and it provides a way to get in touch, and each of the three messages is clearly communicated with a headline in Bebas Neue. Created on a Squarespace template, the site is minimalist but fun with main image and colours popping off the page, while the visual flow is eminently scannable, proving that in web design, less really can be more. 08. Oasen Oasen’s website makes its purpose as clear as water This website for Dutch not-for-profit drinking water provider Oasen is nothing revolutionary in terms of design, but we love the way it shows that even a utility company can add a little personality into its site while maintaining appropriate seriousness. From the dripping loading animation to the splashes that accompany moves from one screen or menu to another, and the subtle liquid effect on the buttons that ripple when you move the cursor over them, the site is full of little micro-interactions that make the company seem warm and approachable. These interactions don't obscure what the company does or harm the navigability of the site – which is proved by the fact that we can understand what each section is about despite not being able to read Dutch. Read more: 6 huge web design trends for 2020 HTML tags: A guide to the basics The 8 most disruptive apps of all time View the full article

Kia isn't exactly an automotive brand that you associate with exciting design. We've nothing against its cars – they have plenty of decent qualities and certainly tick many of the right boxes you might look for in a new motor – but it's definitely one of the more functional marques. No teenager has ever plastered their bedroom wall with photos of the latest Picanto, is what we're saying. To its credit, though, Kia at least seems to realise this, and now it's moving to reposition its brand as something a little more thrilling and forward-looking. Its current logo's never going to turn up in anyone's list of best logos. A lot like Kia's cars, is perfectly serviceable. It looks like someone typed out KIA in the first sans-serif they could find, then livened it up a bit by adding a few serifs with a chisel-tip marker and cutting out the crossbar on the 'A'. Yeah, that'll do. 7 best car logos of all time Say what you like about the old one, but it's definitely a logo With its new logo, recently discovered within a Korean trademark filing, Kia is definitely putting a lot more effort in. The new design is a sleeker, racier number that still loses the crossbar off the 'A' but carries everything off in a much more stylised way, ditching those half-hearted serifs and instead arranging the logo in the form of a sawtooth wave. It's just the leg of the 'K' that turns it into a splendidly minimal representation of Kia's name. This new design's clearly been in development for a while; the original filing was made in July, and back in March a similar logo was spotted at the Geneva motor show, adorning the nose of Kia's all-electric concept car, named 'Imagine by Kia'. It's worth pointing out that this isn't the exact same logo. The one on the front of the Imagine featured similar letterforms to the one in the new logo, but they weren't connected as in this latest version. Now that's the sort of Kia that could set hearts aflutter It's not entirely clear how Kia intends to use this new logo design. It's been suggested that the swish new logo will be used on high-end electric vehicles and SUVs, while the sensible motors that everyone associates with the Kia brand will continue to use the boring old logo. We hope not, though; we'd like to think that Kia's finally getting its design act together and sprucing things up across its entire output. Don't hold your breath, though; the logo's yet to be officially approved. If Korean trademark filings are your thing, you can find Kia's application here. Related articles: New Volkswagen logo breaks its own rules 8 of the biggest logo redesigns of 2019 Where to find logo design inspiration View the full article

Logos are all around us, we see them on-screen, on buildings, on clothing, on packaging, on cars, almost everywhere we look a brand is trying to grab our attention. And, the latest architectural imaginings of Karina Wiciak – of wamhouse studio – has taken logo design to a level that is hard to ignore. The architect has designed a series of houses inspired by the logo design of some very well-known brands. The lineup boasts sportswear giant Adidas (and its famous three stripes), along with car manufacturers Chevrolet, Renault and Mitsubishi, which have all been reimagined as contemporary concrete and glass structures. The Chevrolet logo in house form Our favourite of the logo-houses is the trihouse, which is dedicated to the Adidas brand, with three concrete strips separated by large panels of glazing. Thankfully, it doesn't look like a big shoe. The Chevrolet-inspired design – the crosshouse – looks very much like a James Bond villain's house – stuck in the middle of the ocean waiting for a helicopter to land on the roof, while the design for Renault – the rhombhouse – stands like an ancient monolith that future generations should be pondering. The final design in the series – the pyrahouse – belongs to the Mitsubishi logo. The pyramid shape offers a design that would be perfect as an exclusive beach house in a sedate and secluded location. The Mitsubishi house looks rather Star Wars-esque Unfortunately, you can't purchase or visit any of these architectural beauties. They are only at the concept stage, but just imagine being able to live in a house that resembles your favourite brand. You could live in a Google house, a big 'G' with a slim window resembling the search bar. Or, what about a home inspired by the iconic Apple logo. It might be built with shiny white plastic, or potentially in the shape of a cheese grater if we're going by the design of the new Mac Pro. You can see more of these logo concept buildings on wamhouse's Instagram page. Where to find logo design inspiration These logo design mashups will mess with your head 38 beautiful band logo designs to be inspired by View the full article

Been waiting for a cheap pen tablet? Your patience has been rewarded. Wacom has dropped its Intuos Pro (Medium) tablet to just $299.99 – and is throwing in a free 2-month subscription to Adobe's Creative Cloud Photography Plan to sweeten the deal. This is the cheapest price we've seen on the medium pen tablet this year – and this offer is not going to stick around long. Over Black Friday you could pick one up for $328.99, and if you decided to hold out for a better offer your patience has been rewarded. Right now you can get an extra $30 off – taking the total discount to $80. Not bad at all. Not sure if the Wacom Intuos Pro is the right tablet for you? Check out our guide to the best drawing tablet in 2020 for an in-depth look at your options. It's not super clear how to redeem the Adobe CC offer on the Best Buy site (read: it's not mentioned at all). That's because this part of the offer is being fulfilled via Wacom itself. For a limited time across the festive period, you can get a two-month subscription to the Photography Plan when you register any new Wacom tablet (more details of how to redeem the deal here). It's a great way to get started creating digital art immediately with your new pen tablet, but if you need apps such as Illustrator too, you might need to subscribe to the full Creative Cloud suite. Read more: Lightroom vs Photoshop: What's the difference? The best digital art software: a guide 10 top illustration trends for 2020 View the full article

For many years, web designers have strived to provide the optimal information people are searching for, quickly and effectively. It’s undeniable, when comparing websites from a decade ago to those of today, that the industry is getting better at this. But have we lost something along the way? "I think we’re in an age of user feedback that drives well-optimised but increasingly generic executions," argues Simon Gater, creative director and co-owner at Mad River. "The quality feedback we get from users makes it much easier to get a solid understanding of whether your work is 'fit for purpose' quickly, and ensures we achieve client goals at a statistical level. But as more and more people get similar feedback, we’re at risk of being filtered down the same design trend or path of execution. Because of this, we now need to work harder for that point of differentiation while maintaining the optimum user experience." So as we continue to walk the line between functionality and originality, usefulness and inspiration, what are the big trends we’ll need to take account of, in 2020 and beyond? In this article, we chat to some leading voices in the industry to find out. If you're after more web design help, see our web design tools roundup. 01. Sophisticated micro-interactions On Crowd’s website for Bournemouth Beach Lodges, hovering over buttons creates an animated wave effect Micro-interactions have been around for years, especially on social media; an example would be the red heart popping up when a post is liked on Instagram. But as attention spans continue to constrict, Lee Poynter, global head of design at Crowd, believes they’re going to become a bigger deal in 2020. "Micro-interactions and micro-animations are going to become more sophisticated until they become part of everyone’s interactivity," he predicts. "They are a way to signpost, feedback and ensure trust." His colleague, digital designer Vicky Kwan, agrees. "Micro-interactions are used to show the personality and the vibe of a brand," she explains. "For example, if a product wants to be presented in a sleek way, then the interactions will not be bouncy; instead, they’ll come in smoothly and slowly, so it gives the whole elegant feel when the person is looking at it." 02. Taller image crops Mountainguides.is, a website about adventure travel in Iceland, makes strong use of portrait, as opposed to landscape, images "I’ve noticed a real increase in the use of portrait imagery in desktop experiences this year," says Jake Young, senior digital designer at Mad River. "This is only going to become more prevalent as more and more people view content on their phones." And this trend is bigger than a case of lazy mobile-first designers with portrait crops scaling up to desktop, he adds; nor is it confined to the common 4:5 ratio. "We’re increasingly seeing taller and taller image crops on desktop experiences... and they’re beautiful. This image consideration is resulting in taller, but well-considered designs, be them carousel or card." 03. Dark mode design Instagram was one of several big sites to introduce dark mode in 2019 “Dark mode design has been a big topic of conversation this year,” notes Davide Barrata, design director at Impero. “We’ve seen pros and cons being discussed everywhere, notably asking if 'design' is being sacrificed over science. I expect the discussion to continue in 2020.” Consuela Onighi, UX designer at Illustrate Digital, sees the trend as a good thing. “Dark mode is a nice option to have for a more delightful UX, as it brings out the content and it's easier on the eye,” she argues. “I wouldn’t be surprised if most designers started switching to dark mode in the new year.” This concept isn’t new, of course. “However in 2019 we’ve seen brands like Pinterest, Slack and Instagram bring this into the mainstream, with Facebook and Whatsapp due to launch imminently,” points out Lee Hoddy, creative partner at Conran Design Group. And he heartily approves. “Beyond the more functional benefits that dark mode offers, such as increased battery life and low-light settings, aesthetically speaking it achieves the feat of creating the impression of a truly bezel-less, notch-less design, something which the majority of smartphone makers are clamouring towards from a product design perspective,” Hoddy argues. “It is going to be interesting to see how designers push dark mode further in 2020.” How to turn on Instagram's Dark Mode 04. The foldable web Designers will need to take account of foldable devices like the Samsung Galaxy Fold 5G going forward Many big trends in web design have been driven by new devices, most notably at the beginning of the 2010s by the rise of the iPad. And perhaps at the dawn of the 2020s, we’ll see a similar shift to respond to new foldable devices, such as the Samsung Galaxy Fold 5G. "The rise of a 'foldable web' will mean more and more designs will recognise and provide a unique experience for foldable phones and tablets,” predicts Adam Innes, senior software developer at 50,000feet. “I think you'll see some of the more unique and innovative designs go viral while the concept is fresh." 05. Typographic diversity A beautiful implementation of 3D animated type on the &Walsh website Will 2020 see more typographical experimentation on the web? “Bold lowercase sans-serif typefaces have been doing the rounds for years now and, as a result, lots of websites have begun to look a bit samey,” says James Wood, co-founder and creative director at ShopTalk. “But we’re seeing the seeds of change, and that’ll gain momentum in 2020. Handwritten type, retro fonts and animation typefaces are making a comeback. “We’re also seeing combinations – things that look as though they shouldn’t belong together but somehow work anyway," he continues. "‘Imperfections’ can add real personality. Look out, too, for a big push in immersive 3D elements. &Walsh’s rotating 3D metal ampersand is a great example of this.” 06. Minimalism goes further Even at Christmas, Apple.com keeps things sleek and minimal "One trend we’ve been seeing more and more of in 2019 is simple and minimalistic web page design," says Steve Sharp, director of Fat Cow Media. "Following in the footsteps of the Apples of this world, companies are looking for simple templates to land their brand message and showcase their products and services in a clear and concise way." And he’s a strong supporter of this approach. "It’s clean, modern and fresh and makes the user experience all the better. I’m excited to see this particular trend becoming more widely adopted into 2020.” Of course, minimalism is ultimately about providing an easier and better experience for the user, and that's just as much about functionality as it is aesthetics. Alex Schleifer, chief design officer at Airbnb, believes that's going to see big strides in 2020. "We’ll become accustomed to very low-friction, or zero-friction interfaces when it comes to things like sign-ups and payments," he predicts. "One-tap registration and instant payments will become the norm, while entering credit card numbers and passwords will start to feel archaic." We're looking forward to that! Read more: The biggest portfolio trends for 2020 Top illustration trends for 2020 Master minimalism in web design View the full article

During the year, email marketers conduct a considerable number of campaigns. Small, big, local, international, seasonal – there is a rich variety. Each month has its list of events that can be used as a perfect occasion to drive traffic …View the full article

HTML is the foundation of every website on the web. It defines where the visuals should be placed, what they look like and what behaviour they should have. It is the first thing a browser receives, making it a crucial piece to get right even before the CSS and JavaScript. It is the main driver of the Document Object Model that allows the browser to read the structure of the page and render its contents (see more about page layouts here). Elements are created by parsing the tags we write in the markup. Because of this, it’s important to make sure the HTML is correct. The language itself has been improved upon over the years to make sure the syntax used can describe the content within it accurately, and allow consumers to make sense of it. As HTML has evolved, things that were once recommended could now be considered bad practice. It’s important for us to keep on top of the language we use to make sure it best serves the visitors to our sites. Incorrect HTML can cause more harm than good. By ensuring we get the right structure in place we can be sure the content we create is set for the future. The <div> element is the most generic container in HTML. By default, it has no styling applied to it, no inherent meaning associated with it and every browser supports it. By applying our own styling, we make it look and behave however we like. While this may sound ideal for visitors in a browser, it comes at a cost to other users and consumers of that content. Read on to discover the basic HTML tags you should be using, and what underlying advantages using the right tags will bring to your builds. What are the basic HTML tags? In HTML tags, a semantic element is one that provides meaning to its contents e.g. <header>. A non-semantic element is typically used to apply styling and does not carry any meaning. Before HTML5 introduced a new set of semantic elements, developers would use <div> to achieve the same effect e.g. <div id="header">. Adding a descriptive class to that element makes it clear to the developer what that element contains, but a computer would not be able to understand it. We now have several semantic elements such as <nav> or <header> to help structure a page. We should be able to follow the structure by only looking at the tags being used – something that would not be possible with only non-semantic elements such as <div>. This guide will help you make sure you are always using the right semantic tags for the right job. And, you could create your own HTML boilerplate template, so that your tags are always right and ready to go every time you start a new build. The <header> tag The header normally contains some kind of repeated content not directly related to the rest of the page. The specification defines it as “a group of introductory or navigational aids”, which could include a logo, site-wide navigation or a search function. There can be multiple <header> elements on a page. For example, a blog’s home page could contain a <header> tag for each post it displays. The <nav> tag Most sites will have an area dedicated to navigation. This can include links to specific areas of the site or a breadcrumb style hierarchy. Not all links need to be within one. Only collections of links in other parts of the page would be candidates for their own <nav> element, but this is dependant on the context. A common pattern is to include links to a privacy policy or contact page in the footer. If this area makes use of the <footer> element, this is enough to identify these links as site navigation and there is no need to use a separate <nav> tag. The <main> tag The <main> element is the focal point of each page. Outside of the page’s header and footer, all other content should be inside here. There should only ever be one <main> on a page. Assistive technologies such as screen readers can detect this element and allow users to skip straight to the content. Semantic tags such as <header> help the browser recognise specific content The <aside> tag As the name suggests, the <aside> element contains information that is related to the main content of the page. The information inside this element could exist separate from everything else and not lose context. The most common use for this element is a sidebar navigation or to run adverts alongside the <footer>. The <footer> tag A <footer> element contains any summarising information about the page. For many websites, this includes an address, copyright information or links to supplementary pages. There is no requirement to always have a single footer at the bottom of the page. It can be placed anywhere – including inside other sections – or not included at all. The <article> and <section> tags The W3C specification defines <article> and <section> in a similar way. Both are designed to group distinct pieces of a page together. A key difference is composition. An <article> is designed to be self-contained. The contents inside of it would make sense as a standalone piece. Examples of this include a blog post, a user comment or an embedded tweet. In contrast, a <section> groups together multiple parts of a page together that would otherwise have no other semantic meaning. These would lose their meaning if separated. Examples of this include a group of related paragraphs, a chapter of a book or a single tab as part of a tabbed interface. It is worth noting that an <article> tag could be comprised of multiple <section> elements. Remember, semantic HTML is more than just the outline structure of a page. Almost every element provides some kind of meaning, which means there is often a good fit to be found. Only ever use <div> or <span> tags when nothing else will work. Why does proper HTML markup matter? Specific tags such as <summary> must contain the right content to be effective Getting the right HTML tags and markup is vital. Here's are three reasons why. 01. Improved discoverability Search engines such as Google are constantly crawling the web, finding sites and parsing their content. They do this by looking for certain tags such as <h1> and <article> and using the contents of those to inform their algorithm. For example, searching for tickets for a concert may involve looking for headings containing the name of the event, <p> elements discussing the artist and <time> for the correct date. If they cannot find what they are looking for, the site will not show up in those search results. Some browsers and services such as Pocket allow users to read websites in a distraction-free mode. These extract the heading, contents and media from the site and lays it out in a view that makes it easier to read. By using the correct elements to construct the page, it makes is easier for these tools to extract the right information and provide a better experience for the user. 02. Better for accessiblity Some elements have defined behaviours associated with them. A <button> element, for example, is expected to be interactive and perform an action when clicked. If a non-interactive element such as a <div> is used instead, a parser would not know it could click it without some added attributes. This affects those using accessible technologies as well. It can be slow to navigate a page without any visuals. These users may instead choose to navigate through websites by landmark or heading level. A landmark is created either by using a sectioning element such as <nav> or by applying an equivalent 'role' attribute. Without these, or by using them incorrectly, the user will not be able to find the content they need. 03. Plan for the future One of the primary principles of the web is backwards compatibility. All specifications are designed to be compatible with sites made many years ago and have considerations in place for changes that may happen in the future. By using the correct elements and tags now, we are ensuring our site has a chance to be understood, found and seen in the future. Do you want to learn more about web design? Then subscribe to net, the world's best-selling magazine for web designers and developers. Learn how to build better JavaScript at generateJS Join us in April 2020 with our lineup of JavaScript superstars at GenerateJS – the conference helping you build better JavaScript. Book now at generateconf.com Read more: How to use an HTML boilerplate: A guide Master minimalism in web design The best infographic tools from around the web View the full article

Element 3D was born as, compared to its competitors, out-of-the-box After Effects lacks true 3D capabilities. The team at Video Copilot realised that this was a feature-gap they could fill, and so created Element 3D. Element 3D is effectively a 3D animation application within After Effects. It uses an advanced real-time render engine to make 3D objects look almost as good as if they were coming directly from a full 3D application. If you'd like to sharpen your After Effects skills, check out our roundup of the best After Effects tutorials. Element 3D's core features With advanced features such as motion blur and depth of field and the capability to play well with other 3D-enabled After Effects plugins, artists can (and do) use Element 3D for a range of work from corporate animation to full- feature VFX. Element 3D comes with a series of basic shapes that can be textured, sized and lit within the Element 3D interface. Then within the After Effects interface, an artist can animate and replicate these objects to their heart’s content. The proven production development shows itself in features such as the ability to attach models to After Effects nulls. This makes animating Element 3D objects much more straightforward than just using the application’s effects palette alone. Element 3D objects can be easily animated with other After Effects 3D plugins that can make particles, allowing the creation of a jet plume from a fighter jet without the need to touch a volumetric simulation. Element 3D can work with OBJ objects, including animated OBJ sequences that have been textured with UVs, and it also supports the basics of a PBR workflow. For Cinema 4D users, the news is even better, as Element 3D can open C4D files natively with textures attached. Let’s explore what it has to offer. 01. Access Element 3D Once Element 3D has been installed, it is applied to a 2D solid object then, in the effects palette, select the Scene Setup button to open the interface. In the main Element 3D window, objects can be added and adjusted. If one of the native procedural objects is added, it can be manipulated in various ways; for example, this tube can have its inner diameter modified. Extra Element 3D native model packs can be bought from Video Copilot and other vendors. 02. Add textures Element 3D makes it easy to add textures to a model. Materials are dragged and dropped onto the chosen object. Element 3D classifies objects into five groups, so make sure to use the Group dropdown in the scene palette to define the model’s group assignment. Materials can be adjusted in a variety of ways; for example, glossiness can be roughened in metals. An artist’s texture maps can be added to give bespoke looks to materials and shaders. 03. Modify the model in After Effects Once the model is ready to animate, close the Element 3D interface to work with the model in After Effects. Standard After Effects keyframing works with Element 3D properties, and After Effects expressions work as well. Element 3D allows easy replication of objects by increasing the 'particle' count, where the number of particles equates to the number of objects in a group. This can allow the creation of a range of complex animations very quickly. 04. Create 3D text After Effects is well regarded for its type control. Element 3D works with text layers to allow the creation of 3D text, which can have its depth adjusted and materials applied to it as well. As with other models in Element 3D, text can be animated. Groups can be parented to Element 3D-created nulls, which allow much easier animation than using the Effects controls, making Element 3D the favourite of title designers across the world. 05. Work with external models Element 3D works well with OBJ models with UVs applied, including OBJ sequences to allow complex 3D animations to be imported into After Effects. Cinema 4D files can be imported natively with the textures still applied. If the textures are not working to the artist’s taste in Element 3D, materials can be swapped to native shaders. Working within groups makes it easy to swap models without having to recreate complex animations. 06. Use advanced render effects Element 3D allows advanced features such as motion blur and depth of field to be applied in After Effects. After Effects lights also work with Element 3D, allowing a scene to be relit on the fly or as part of an animation. Element 3D is an ideal companion for After Effects artists who want to explore what 3D can do, and 3D artists who want a quick way to integrate their models with motion graphics and VFX. You can buy Element 3D or find out more on the Video Copilot website. This article originally appeared in issue 252 of 3D World the world's best-selling magazine for CG artists. Buy issue 252 or subscribe here. Read more: 9 of the best 3D apps These 3D portraits are unbelievably realistic 12 amazing After Effects plugins View the full article

The Black Friday and Cyber Monday iPad deals were extremely popular. They were a lot better than anyone expected, in fact, with even some of the shiniest new models – such as iPad 10.2-inch – being knocked down in price. The Black Friday period is probably the best time of the year to make savings on iPads, and in this post, we'll be telling you everything you need to know about what to expect for Black Friday 2020 in terms of iPad deals. Whether you’re looking for a cheap iPad, iPad Pro, iPad Air or iPad mini, you’ll find all you need to know here, as we analyse the biggest savings in 2019 and make some early predictions for next year. This year, the biggest price drops we saw were on the powerful iPad Pro, but there were also some really solid deals on the brand new iPad 2019. We've seen some decent discounts on the older iPad (from 2018 and 2017), iPad Air and iPad mini too, and some of these deals are still live right now. Scroll down to see the best Black Friday and Cyber Monday iPad deals. Browse all the Black Friday iPad deals Below are all the main retailers who offered the best Black Friday and Cyber Monday iPad deals in 2019. Click the links to browse their sites yourself and see our summary of the iPad deals they offered over Black Friday 2019, or scroll down for our curated list of the best Black Friday and Cyber Monday iPad deals from 2019. These will help you know what to expect from Black Friday 2020. Amazon: One of the best places to find big iPad discounts on products Best Buy: The best deals on every model of iPad John Lewis: Leading UK retailer had some strong iPad offers Very: Savings on iPad Pro, Air and much more Currys PC World: Offers on various iPad models AO: Big savings on a lot of a variety of iPads Walmart: Deals across a range of iPad models Laptops Direct: Strong offers across the iPad range If you’re not sure which iPad to buy, then don't worry. You’ll find our expert guide to choosing the best iPad at the bottom of this article, in a section called: Which iPad should i buy? Pro tip: if you’re looking for the cheapest iPad Black Friday deal, choose a Wi-Fi model. An iPad with a cellular connection – which enables you to use 3G or 4G when there's no Wi-Fi – will cost you more. (And once you've chosen your iPad, don't forget to browse the best Apple Pencil deals, or maybe you're after an Apple Watch? Read on for the best Black Friday iPad deals in 2019. Apple's newest and best iPad Pro device comes in two versions: the iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2018) and the iPad Pro 11-inch (2018). Both come with the powerful A12X Bionic processor, the same battery capabilities, and a variety of storage options. The larger version offers more screen real estate for creatives; while the smaller model is more portable and easier to take on the move. Here are the best iPad Pro Cyber Monday deals on the latest 2018 models. And we've also found some stonking discounts on the older 10.5-inch iPad Pro (2017)... iPad Pro Black Friday deals: US Jump to UK iPad Pro Cyber Monday deals iPad Pro Black Friday deals: UK The iPad is Apple's baseline tablet. The latest model, the iPad 10.2-inch (2019), raises the tablet's specs closer to those of the latest iPad Air, with the addition of Smart Keyboard support and a slightly larger screen. It boasts strong battery life, decent performance, and it's cheaper than the other iPads – giving you some of Apple’s best iPad features on a more limited budget. You'll find all the best iPad Cyber Monday deals from 2019 on the 10.2-inch model below. And there were also deals on the older (and slightly smaller) 9.7-inch, 6th-gen model from 2018. iPad Black Friday deals: US Jump to UK iPad Cyber Monday deals iPad Black Friday deals: UK Can't see what you're looking for? Take a look at some more offers in your area below. We weren't expecting to see many hefty discounts on the newest iPad Air this year, but there are some iPad Air Cyber Monday deals already available. Deals on older iPad Airs are also now much easier to come by. See below for some early deals, followed by today's best iPad Air prices. iPad Air Black Friday deals: US Jump to UK deals iPad Air Black Friday deals: UK iPad mini Black Friday deals: US Jump to UK iPad mini Cyber Monday deals iPad mini Black Friday deals: UK The best iPad Black Friday sales around the web Walmart: iPad Black Friday discounts of $100 or more in the US Amazon: Big savings on iPads in the US and UK Best Buy: Doorbusters knock up to $200 off select iPad models in the US John Lewis: Price matching other UK retailers – with a two-year guarantee Very: £50 off new iPad models in the UK Currys PC World: Up to £250 off iPads for Black Friday in the UK AO: £50 off iPads in the UK Argos.co.uk: Cheap iPad Black Friday deals in the UK After a different product? Take a look at our general guide to the best Apple Black Friday deals, or Black Friday and Cyber Monday MacBook deals. Alternatively, bookmark our Black Friday deals hub to see all the best offers on a range of creative kit. How much are iPads on Black Friday and Cyber Monday? As offers on Apple products are rare, we're likely to see iPad deals at an absolute maximum of around 40 per cent off in 2020. But that's still a fair amount off (especially when prices run into the several hundreds) – and even with smaller discounts, anything is better than paying full whack. In terms of where to look for deals, Apple itself isn't exactly renowned for rolling out massive price cuts on its gear – it usually offers gift cards, and 2019 was no exception. This year, iPad bargain hunters could pick up a discounted iPad at Walmart, Currys, Very, John Lewis and Amazon on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. This year, we saw discounts on the 2018 11 iPad Pro and 12.9 iPad Pro models and even the newer iPad Air, iPad mini and 10.2-inch iPad, which was both unexpected and very welcome. There were also some deals on Apple Pencils of both generations. If using a Pencil isn't high on your list of priorities then you'll be likely to save on a 2017 model. How to get the best iPad Black Friday deals Get ready to hunt for an iPad Black Friday deal If there's one thing you can be sure of when it comes to the best Black Friday iPad deals (and the best Cyber Monday iPad deals, of course), it's that they're going to be in short supply, and serious discounts are going to be even more rare, so you're going to need to be prepared to leap on a good deal as soon as you spot it. The best offers are likely to appear as lightning deals with limited stock available, so keep checking back here for news on them as soon as they come up. For the best chance of finding great Black Friday Apple iPad deals, you'll need to keep an eye on as many retailers as possible; Amazon had some good deals last year and you can expect some more this time around, but you're also likely to find savings from eBay and John Lewis as well as major electrical stores. If you're in the USA, watch out for iPad deals from Walmart and Best Buy, while in the UK firms such as Currys PC World and Very are likely to come up with the goods. Decide in advance roughly what model you're after; do you want a standard iPad, a Pro, a Mini or an Air? And watch out for retailers shifting older models at knock-down prices; they'll look pretty much the same but you'll have to make do with poorer performance than the latest iPads, especially if you're running the latest iOS on aged stock. Finally, try to overcome your Black Friday excitement and take the same care you would for any other major purchase. Check for cashback offers, make sure the guarantee's going to cover you if something goes wrong, and make sure you keep your receipt in case you need to return your shiny new purchase. Which iPad should I buy? You'll need a newer iPad for Apple Pencil support If you're likely to fill up your iPad with photos, videos and music then you should naturally opt for as much storage as you can comfortably afford (up to 1TB on the iPad Pro), but do you really need to pay the extra for a cellular model? The smarter option is to tether a Wi-Fi iPad to your iPhone, and use that for a mobile signal when you're out of range. If you want maximum power, specs and screen size, then go for the best iPad Pro money can buy – the iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2018), which boasts an A12X Bionic chip for super-speedy graphics, and 2732 x 2048 resolution. See our iPad Pro 12.9-inch review here. The slightly smaller (and cheaper) iPad Pro 11-inch (2018) is another excellent choice for creatives, and has the same super-charged A12X Bionic chip. Both the iPad Pro models work with the second generation Apple Pencil – although you'll have to buy that separately. The Apple Pencil 2 attaches magnetically to the iPad, where it also charges and pairs, and it's one of the best styluses available for drawing. Both models are available with 64GB. 256GB, 512GB or 1TB of memory. If you're not so fussed about screen size, or top specs, then the new 10.2-inch iPad (2019) could be for you. It's a lot cheaper than the 2018 models, and has a still impressive A10 chip and 2160 x 1620-pixel resolution. It supports the first generation Apple Pencil, and is available with 32GB or 128GB of memory. Other iPads include the iPad mini (see our iPad mini review here), which has a A12 chip and 7.9-inch screen. It's extra portable, as the name suggests, and is compatible with first generation Apple Pencil. There's also the iPad Air, which has 10.5-inch display and also has an A12 chip, plus several older models of the iPad. The 2017 versions have previously been on sale over Black Friday, so you may be able to pick up a Black Friday iPad deal on one of them. When looking at older iPads, remember that if you want to use your new iPad for drawing then be sure to plump for a model with Apple Pencil support. Related articles: The best iPad Pro deals Apple iPad Air 2019 review The best Surface Pro Black Friday deals View the full article

Welcome to Creative Bloq's guide to the Apple boxing Day sale. If you held out over the pre-Christmas shopping events in the hopes of snapping up an even bigger discount in January, now's the time to get shopping. In this article you'll find all the best offers from the Apple Boxing Day sale. Digging out the best deals can be a daunting prospect – and let's face it, you're probably not functioning at your peak right now. We've split the deals into products, to make it much easier to navigate the Apple Boxing Day sale as you struggle through your carb coma / eggnog hangover / Quality Street stupor. After all, there's nothing worse than making a mistake and ordering the wrong thing, or checking out before finding the same thing cheaper elsewhere. Use the jump links to go straight to the Apple device you're looking for. The Apple Store isn't likely to be the best place to shop the Apple Boxing Day sale. You'll probably find bigger discounts at other retailers or – if you're not yet ready to leave you living room – online. Below is a list of the retailers that offered the biggest discounts over the pre-Christmas shopping events (Black Friday and Cyber Monday), so it's worth doing a quick check to see they're getting involved in the Apple Boxing Day sale too. Use the quick links below to take a look yourself, or scroll down for sales guide, broken down into products. Amazon (US and UK) Best Buy Walmart Very Currys PC World AO Laptops Direct Apple Boxing Day sale: iPad deals In the pre-Christmas sales, we saw plenty of excellent iPad discounts across a whole range of models – including the all-new 10.2‑inch iPad. Check out the best prices in your region – including any Apple Boxing Day sale offers – using the widget below. Figuring out which is the best offer, taking into account the different models, storage options and features, can be difficult. Make sure you pay attention to the specs you're getting before you hit 'Add to cart'. Apple Boxing Day sale: MacBook deals MacBooks are pretty much always in demand – mainly because, as designers will well know, this kind of top-quality kit doesn't come cheap. Luckily they're also often the target of big discounts, if you're on the ball and looking in the right places. Whether you're after a classic MacBook, a MacBook Air or MacBook Pro, chances are you'll be able to pick up a discounted model right now. The price widgets below will display the best prices available right now, so you can see who's getting involved in the Apple Boxing Day sale. Apple has recently released a new MacBook Pro (read our MacBook Pro 16-inch review). While we might see deals on that model, based on what we saw in the Black Friday sales, we'd expect the best discounts in the Apple Boxing Day sale to be on slightly older models. If you're happy not having the latest, greatest MacBook then that's a good way to pick up a bargain. Another hot tip is to keep an eye out for refurbished models – there can be some hidden gems on pre-owned models. We saw some okay (but not amazing) discounts on Apple Pencils in the run-up to Christmas. Will Apple's Boxing Day sale yield any better price cuts? Check out the widget below for the best prices right now. Not sure which version you need? Explore our Apple Pencil vs Apple Pencil 2 comparison. Apple Boxing Day sale: AirPods deals These are the headphones of the moment, and we saw a fair few good AirPod discounts in the run-up to Christmas, on both the original AirPods and the AirPods Pro. These true wireless earbuds aren't quite as new and exciting now (and there's a fair bit of competition hitting the market from people like Amazon and Microsoft). For the best prices in your area right now, including any gems from the Apple Boxing Day sale, check out the price widget below. Alternatively, explore our dedicated Apple AirPod deals guide. There were plenty of Apple Watch offers in the run-up to the holidays, with the newly released Series 5 meaning retailers were happy to drop their prices to shift older stock. Check out the best prices right now – on the Series 5 as well as previous models – below. Apple Boxing Day sale: iMac and Mac deals How to make the most of the Apple Boxing Day sale To get the best deal possible, it's a good idea to plan ahead. Do your research and decide what product, model and specs will suit your needs. It's also best to have a price in mind that you're happy to spend. You don't want to end up being overwhelmed by the different Apple Boxing Day sale options and making the wrong decision, or overpaying. Once you've decided on the product you're after, you can start tracking its price on various retailers – or even simpler, bookmark this page and keep checking it. Read more: Adobe deals: Where to get a Creative Cloud discount View the full article

If you're after a Surface Pro 7 but missed all the Black Friday deals, never fear, we've got you covered. In one of the biggest price drops we've seen this year, Microsoft is currently offering a staggering $380 off the combined price of a new Surface Pro 7, Type Cover and Pen. That means right now you can get all three items for less than $1,500! The Surface Pro 7 was released in October this year, and so to see such a huge discount on the new device comes as a very pleasant surprise. A firm listing in our round up of the best tablets with a stylus, the Surface Pro 7 is a popular choice among creatives. And with features like being able to run full-fat desktop software (think Adobe CC) without compromising on features or performance, and support for Microsoft's excellent Surface Pen, it's not hard to see why. If you're looking for a Surface Pro 7 with different specs, Microsoft is offering a number of great deals. Find full details below, plus some other excellent Surface Pro 7 offers. If it's just a Surface Pro 7 you're after, you'll be hard pushed to find better than this epic deal from Best Buy... If you're after a different device in the Surface range, here are the best prices on Microsoft's most popular products in your area: View the full article

Microsoft has revealed a new Windows logo and a total redesign across a huge 100 of its app icons. But the main thing that stands out about the entire project is how little the new Windows logo stands out. You'd think a brand new Windows logo would be big news in the tech/branding world (and might even be a contender for our best logos post), but the new design is just quietly slotted in there amongst the other icons. The new Windows logo actually typifies the overall design strategy – so could have been made into the poster child for the redesign. Colour gradients have replaced the flat blue/white, and softer, rounded edges have taken over the traditional squares that previously made up the window. The new logo (on the left) has been made over with colour gradients and rounded edges The redesign strategy is about the unification and connectedness of all of those icons across the visual library. This may be why the Windows icon is simply popped in the midst of the rest of the icons that share its colour gradients. Has Microsoft not gone big on the Windows logo because it didn't want to hold up just one logo above the rest? Maybe this was a deliberate choice, so as not to confuse the overall visual branding strategy (or enrage the whole of Twitter, who do love to criticise a logo in isolation). The concept does seem to rely heavily on the icons being visually in sync with each other. A full colour palette unifies and organises the app icon library The new icons use a range of colours and are unified under a sleek new aesthetic. This results in a striking overall visual as you can see in the above sample of the 365 range. Before, the app icon library was a bit of a hodge-podge. Some apps have icons dating back decades, whereas some have been updated pretty recently. So the unification of the library was much-needed. Jon Friedman, corporate vice president of design and research at Microsoft explains that, "we introduced rich gradients, broadened our spectrum of colours, and implemented a dynamic motion with ribbon-like qualities". According to Friedman, the Fluent Design System, "promotes building off the familiar," and the finished icon range shows this off, containing mostly tweaks of original designs rather than total overhauls. Those tweaks include gradient colours and rounded edges, as well as a scaling back on detail. The team had to consider innovation and change whilst retaining familiarity Friedman explains that the finished result needed to signal innovation and change while retaining familiarity for users. “We also had to develop a flexible and open design system to span a range of contexts while still being true to Microsoft", he says. As usual, reactions are mixed, although to be fair, there haven't been that many of them. No one seemed to really care too much, particularly about the Windows logo. What little reaction there was seemed to focus on the icons themselves. Some Twitter users think the scaling back may have gone too far: Others preferred the icons before... Whereas some were happy: Combining customer familiarity with a forward thinking design seems to be a winning strategy as we head into the new decade. Reebok recently utilised this approach, tweaking and streamlining an original vector logo. But the scale of Microsoft's overhaul is in a different league. Although the reaction to it has been in a league that Microsoft may not have anticipated. Read more: Where to find logo design inspiration Logo swap is surprisingly disturbing 7 famous logos that pass the silhouette test View the full article

If you’re a photographer, do you choose a conventional laptop, or do you think outside the box? When on the road you need the best gear you can get hold of. And that’s why you need a HP ZBook. There are many benefits with a convertible tablet PC, but chief among them is that you have one device to suit all purposes. If you’re processing photos on the train, you can use it as a conventional laptop. In the hand? With a stylus or your finger you can use it as a tablet thanks to a sensitive touch display. Showing a client content? Just use the screen and fold the keyboard back. And finally, if you’re at a desk, use the separately-available ZBook Dock to connect to an external display, keyboard and mouse all with a single cable thanks to Thunderbolt 3 technology. You can even connect to dual-4K displays should you wish to – the ZBook series is designed to handle high-resolution displays with aplomb. The ZBook series is ideally complemented by the HP DreamColor Z27x G2 QHD Studio Display which offers 98 percent coverage of the DCI-P3 colour space. HP Dreamcolor Studio Display technology means your photo colours will look exactly as they should. The power to do more The HP ZBook x2 is fully worthy of its moniker as the "world’s most powerful detachable tablet". Running Microsoft Windows 10 Pro, the ZBook x2 has a full array of ports including HDMI, USB-C and also, importantly for photographers, an SD card reader. There are also the latest Intel quad-core processors up to Core i7. They won’t let you down, with up to 4.2GHz of Turbo Boost speed. HP’s Z Turbo Drive solid state storage drives (SSDs) are also four times faster than standard SATA SSDs for rapid-fire file access of even your biggest files. Plus, with up to 32GB of dual-channel memory, the ZBook x2 can handle all your intensive work in chunky apps. Fast charge tech will also help you ensure you never run out of charge when on the move. If you want a more traditional laptop but one that still boasts the ultimate in flexibility, check out the HP ZBook Studio X360. The screen can rotate a full 360 degrees, so you can use it in tent or stand modes as well as in standard laptop mode. In addition to all the power of the ZBook X2, it boasts up to Intel Xeon workstation processors for ultimate power and even faster PCIe NVMe storage of up to 4TB. The ZBook x2 has its own integrated stand and full-sized keyboard The ZBook x2 also boasts a full-size keyboard and integrated stand so as well as the powerful specs under the surface there’s little difference between using one in laptop mode and having a traditional clamshell laptop. Unlike some rivals, the Bluetooth-connected keyboard stays active even when it’s detached, meaning you can keep in control even if your display is across the table being used to show your work to colleagues or clients. Nvidia Quadro graphics ensure that your new ZBook will always have the power to perform graphically intensive edits as it powers the 15.6-inch (HP ZBook Studio X360) or 14-inch (HP ZBook x2) 4K IPS anti-glare multi-touch screen, the display also boasts HP Dreamcolor Studio Display technology, so your photo colours will look exactly as they should. The 10-bit colour display is chemically treated to feel like paper when you’re using the stylus and, what’s more, it supports 100 percent of the Adobe RGB colour gamut. Access the features you use most With HP Quick Keys on the ZBook x2, you can keep working in your favourite Adobe Creative Cloud apps without a keyboard; these are 18 handy shortcut keys located on the sides of the display which you can customise using the HP Create Control Panel. Just open the HP Create Control Panel and select Functions from the Tool list to customise them. You can even choose to customise them for a specific app like Photoshop should you wish. You can even select other keys to press to modify the functions you’ve created, too. You’re also able to control other features from the Create Control Panel, such as your HP ZBook x2 Pen’s tilt sensitivity, double-click distance, button action and other settings. We’ve covered the different types of stylus elsewhere, but the HP ZBook x2 Pen is a Wacom EMR model that can be used to quickly apply accurate photo edits thanks to 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity. When teamed with the HP Quick Keys, you can quickly get into your most-used Photoshop and Lightroom functions, such as levels, filters or Camera Raw. Or you can easily pan and zoom or jump into a full-screen preview. You’ll quickly get used to the precision you’re able to have with tools in Creative Cloud. What’s more, the HP ZBook x2 Pen won’t let you down on the road – it doesn’t have a battery so unlike some digital pens and pencils, it never needs charging. The ZBook 360 comes with a Wacom AES pen for ultimate precision and low latency. But, whichever you choose as a photographer, you’ll get the right results every time. HP’s ZBook series of workstation PCs are designed from the ground-up for power, portability and creativity. Explore the HP ZBook range. View the full article

If you're wondering how to improve Instagram engagement after the platform's controversial decision to start hiding Like counts, you're not alone. There was a cry of outrage among the Instagram community when the news was announced, with many creatives wondering how it would affect their engagement. Well, now that the dust has settled, we've discovered that it's possibly not the disaster it initially seemed to be. Creatives who are clever with their strategy can take advantage of the shift away from Like counts, and make use of the wealth of other features designed to measure and boost user engagement. If you're a creative who is just getting started on Insta, check out our comprehensive post on how to make money using Instagram, or see our Instagram fonts article. Are disappearing Like counts a bad thing? The designers we spoke to are unanimously in favour of Instagram's decision to ban the public view of Like counts. They are all already utilising other ways to engage with followers on Instagram. In fact, some feel relief that the Like stress will be over, and many even feel creatively freer now that they'll be able to be more experimental with posts. Stefan Sagmeister is "unconcerned" about Instagram's decision, and in fact can see some advantages to the decision. A prominent graphic designer, he boasts 394,000 followers and is co-founder of design firm Sagmeister&Walsh. He's not the only designer to see advantages to a life without Like counts, as will become clear throughout the advice given in this article. Sagmeister also points out the changeable nature of social media, asserting that he's "pretty sure that if it proves to be a terrible idea, the Likes will be reinstated". Graphic artist, print maker and designer Anthony Burrill has 90,500 followers and has never focused on Like counts. "For me, it's never been about how many ‘likes’ a post gets, it’s about how it engages with people." "Likes don't pay the bills", he adds. So if it's not Likes, what will create interest and engagement on Instagram? To find out how best to do this, we've spoken to industry pros who are having success on Instagram to discover their tips. 01. Share your process Content truly is king when it comes to engagement on Instagram. In fact, Sagmeister suspects that, "any account that people find helpful will be able to create a fairly large following". But what sort of content resonates with followers? For designers, Instagram shouldn't be used as a substitute for a shop window, so don't be tempted to only show the final product. Although a carefully curated feed of finished projects is beautiful to look at, it may not be the best way to spark engagement with your page – there is more you can do. "My advice is to share more of your creative process... Your sketching process, your display screen when you work on it, until the final result", says logo designer/illustrator Alfrey Davilla, who has 66,100 followers. Take full advantage of the platform's features to give people a unique insight into your design process. This access will inspire, educate and entertain your followers, but also keep them invested in you as a designer – and most importantly, keep them engaged. 02. Give behind the scenes access using Stories Anthony Burrill used a Story to show his work in progress, and displayed the finished design on his Instagram feed As 500 million accounts use Instagram Stories every day, Stories are the best way to show behind the scenes action, without interrupting your carefully curated feed. Their disappearing nature keeps followers checking back for more, and, done well, can make them feel they've experienced something authentic and personalised. Plus, increased consumer desire to understand the entire brand means Stories are a great way to present your backstory. Burrill agrees that "behind the scenes stuff on Stories is good... you can give your followers a glimpse of what’s happening in the studio or workshop and let them in on your working process". For designers, Stories offer a unique opportunity as there is so much work that's gone into a project that your followers can be party to. "It's always fascinating to see how people put their work together, it gives you a real insight into how things get made and the hard work that goes on behind the scenes," says Burrill. But make sure you keep your brand message in mind when you're creating this content. As Burrill advises, "keep it personal and relatable, but always with your slant on things, reinforcing your message constantly, [keeping] it consistent and interesting." Barbara Malagoli was recently featured at the 13rd Brazilian Biennial of Graphic Design, and shared images from the event in her Stories Barbara Malagoli is a graphic designer with 16,500 followers. She embraces the behind the scenes aspect of content posting and even recommends taking it one step further. "I like to mix my personal life with my work life, in a healthy and light dosage", she says. "I love seeing artists' lives beyond 'work content', especially when they don't take themselves that seriously." Allowing followers a glimpse into your personal life allows them to connect with you as a person. No one's advocating those 3am kebab shots, of course, but Stories are the perfect format to share something of the person behind the designer. Also note that tagging your location in a Story presents another way for followers to find and engage with your account. 03. Start a conversation Two recent stories from Kou, one showing what she's currently reading and another highlighting a giveaway on her page The conversation shouldn't be confined to comments and DMs. Lettering artist Belinda Kou has 12,600 followers and she uses her Stories in innovative ways that prompts conversation. "I like to use my Stories to share what I'm working on, what it's like behind the scenes, and what I'm learning", she says. "I also use polls and ask questions to get to know my audience better, and love it when it starts a convo in DMs." Polls and emoji sliders are useful features that have been introduced to Stories to boost engagement, and they can facilitate chat with your followers. Davilla regularly uses comments to ask for opinions, but he also creates Stories using polls and emoji sliders. "I do appreciate every feedback," he says, "even if it comes from non-designers." And the information that comes from polls and sliders tells you so much more than someone simply hitting Like ever would. "I don't do Stories," says Sagmeister. "I did do a poll here and there but only when I really needed the information (never in order to boost engagement), and find the fact that people are commenting super helpful." But Sagmeister innovates in other ways to engage with the design community, starting conversations that are meaningful and keep people invested in the page. As the post above demonstrates, Sagmeister uses his expertise to critique and assist other designers with their own graphic design. Designers are invited to send in their work, then a project is regularly showcased (currently almost every day), with Sagmeister reviewing it and commenting on its successes and could-do-betters. 04. ...and then engage with it "I think one of the easiest things one can do is have a conversation with your followers", says lettering artist Scott Biersacker who has 44,300 followers, and replies to almost every comment left for him (as you can see on his post, above). "Whether that is replying to the comments on an in-feed post, sharing a Story about your day/work, any method to have a dialogue is beneficial. People are following along for a reason – having that connection can establish relationships and even friendships with those that support your work." Kou points out that the dialogue should work both ways – you should be listening to your audience as well as posting content. "My advice to creatives who want to increase Instagram engagement is to try to get to know the people behind the username and figure out what you can do to make your content valuable to others." By listening to your followers, you can personalise your content further, and increase engagement. And pay close attention to your DMs, too. People do use them to reach out, and lack of response will only serve to put people off. 05. Use the right hashtags Since hashtags were introduced in 2007, they've become a stalwart of social media success. They make you more visible in the social media stratosphere, and you can even create branded hashtags. When using them for business engagement they need careful consideration, and there are strategies you can implement. Using the right hashtags transformed social media for Fabian Oberhammer, a 3D artist with 37,600 followers. "Once I started using them correctly," he says, "I boosted from less than 100 followers to over 1,000 within the first week. "I have different sets of 30 hashtags saved on my phone, and I use them depending on what type/style of render I upload," Oberhammer explains. "Look what hashtags similar IG accounts use and adapt your hashtags by that." Then you should use the Instagram search bar to find out how many other accounts are using them, and decide how many to use yourself. "I found that having 10 specific (less than 500 posts), 10 normal (about 10,000 posts) and 10 general (100,000+ posts) hashtags works out quite well," says Oberhammer. Make sure you check out every single hashtag you're going to use, so you know that the content is in line with your values. And hop over to Instagram Insights to check out their impact, so you can focus on the ones that are working best. 06. Consider your upload time Instagram has peak times, so make sure you upload or schedule posts at the right times for you Instagram has peak times of engagement, and it's crucial to success to understand when exactly is the best time to upload your content. According to Sprout Social, global engagement on Instagram is at its highest at Wednesday at 11 am and Friday at 10–11 am. Things go pretty quiet during the days at weekends, too. Oberhammer advises researching similar hashtags to your own to work out when would be the most successful upload times. "My advice is be consistent with posting, also regarding upload times, analyse where the most engagement is from and when they engage, and post around that time (preferably a little earlier)." You can schedule your posts to hit those peak times (you'll need extra software for this), and as you're creating them in advance you can make sure the content is perfect. There are a range of options for Instagram scheduling. Start by checking out Later, the aforementioned Sprout Social and Tailwind , which are all popular choices. If these don't hit the spot there are plenty of others, and all with different features aimed at growing your Instagram presence. 07. Measure your success Measure your engagement, and use the data wisely The strategies covered in this post are all way more measurable than Like counts. Despite the furore that entailed when users started seeing their Like counts disappear, they were never a great measure of true engagement with content because all they really do is tell you someone has seen your post – and there is so much more to measure than that. Instagram Insights is the first place to go to deep dive into your statistics. In order to use Insights, you must have a business page. You can switch your personal profile to a business one easily – just tap the settings wheel icon on your profile and hit 'switch to Professional Account', then tap 'Business'. Once this is done, you'll see a new 'bar chart' icon at the top of your profile. Press this to discover Insights (which are split into three sections: Account, Post and Stories). Instagram Account Insights covers five main areas of data: Impressions (how many screens your ads have appeared on), Reach (how many unique users have seen your posts), website clicks, profile visits and changes in numbers of followers. In Post Insights, you can dive even deeper into the stats generated by your posts by viewing how many Likes, comments and shares your posts have got. And in the Discovery section, you'll find out where your content was seen – on the user's feed, from your profile or if the view originated from a hashtag or location tag. Social Bakers has a multi-faceted data strategy to boost your Instagram account Like counts won't tell you if someone watched to the very end of your video – but Instagram Stories Insights can tell you if someone has watched your whole Story. You do this by scrolling down to the Stories section of Insights. You'll see data on a few areas but the Tap Forwards and Taps Back areas indicate who has skipped through the different parts of your Stories and who has watched the whole thing. Then there's the Swipe Away section – this part tells you who has swiped past your entire story. There are lots of free and paid-for tools that go even further than Insights, such as Stellation Media, with which you'll get a dedicated account manager, or AI-powered SocialBakers. Many of these platforms can manage the data across your many social media accounts, too in unified approach that could boost engagement across all your social media. Read more: 5 steps to an irresistible Instagram bio 9 agencies to follow on Instagram The ultimate guide to social media for creatives View the full article

When was the last time you asked a plumber to re-fit an entire bathroom for free, just to prove they could do it, and so they might get to do the kitchen – despite having clearly run a successful business for years, and having been recommended by several happy customers? Never? Would you expect a restauranteur to give all their customers their first three-course meal and drinks free of charge, to show their team of chefs and waiting staff are worthy of future custom? No? All the best design jobs available right now People in these professions don’t have the time or inclination to do things for free, because their worth – their insight and expertise – is proven, or at the very least, implicit. People come to them with a degree of expectation, but they also expect to pay, unless there's a flood or food poisoning incident, or they completely ignore what they asked for and provide something wholly inappropriate. Infuriatingly, free pitching seems to still be accepted practice So why would any self-respecting creative business jump through hoops for nothing? People do it because it’s 'normal', or because its part of the 'pro bono pitch process'. They say it's all about 'great opportunities' or 'exposure'. Well, you know what? Screw that. Screw being screwed out of your great ideas, and not receiving a penny for their value, or the time, talent and resources that went into them. Why free pitching is still accepted It's easier said than done, though. Infuriatingly, free pitching seems to still be accepted practice. And for some reason it seems more prevalent among larger clients who have plenty of budget to invest in creative talent to further their cause. So many of these clients assume creatives will jump at the ‘opportunity’ and really want to work with them, they might even expect designers to feel privileged that they've even been asked. All of this would be more palatable if the carrot-danglers would just pay a fair price for the time and resources that go into a pitch. But they won’t, unless the design community takes a united stand. It also begs the question of whether playing creative agencies against each other is a good thing in the first place – especially to such lengths without selection. Competition is healthy, but going to such lengths without fair recompense is just wrong. And surely a brand owner’s selection criteria – in a day and age where we can share profiles, experience, portfolios and case studies online, thrash out briefs and ideas face-to-face via Zoom and its equivalents, and collaborate virtually – should consist of ticking just two boxes: Do I like these people and feel I can work with them? Can they do the work? That’s about it. Beyond an adult conversation and perhaps a spot of background research, asking for anything more without paying for it is, at best, disrespectful of people’s time, talent and resources. At worst, it’s a cynical harvesting of other people’s ideas with no regard for their worth, whether it’s ‘right for the project’ or not. And – let’s be brutally honest – it can often amount to a thinly veiled theft of intellectual property. This problem is nothing new. It’s a known issue, and a conversation most of us have had many times. So, what are we going to do about it? What can we do about free pitching? In cases where competitive pitching is still the preferred approach, at Brown&co, we think it’s time for a universal set of simple agency standards regarding payment for speculative work, complete with an industry-recognised qualifying symbol, which clients opt into by default. We also think it’s only fair that anyone opting out and persisting with the pro bono approach should have to make their decision clear and up-front. Let’s shame all those that perpetuate the piss-take! Brown&co has recently pulled out of two creative pitches because we simply weren’t being offered fair value for our creative expertise and intellectual property – and to be honest, even if we’d won the pitch, it would barely have been a financially viable project, taking into account the time and resources we’d already thrown at it. We think it’s time to take a collective stand against this absurd approach to business. If nothing more, it’ll soon tell us which clients really understand the value of what they’re investing in. We’ve been talking at some length with the DBA, and its in full agreement that something’s got to give. It's even asked us to support them in pioneering this much-needed change. Who’s with us? Tweet your support using the hashtags #dontbeapitchbitch #nofeenopitch #wedontfreepitch #notoprobono. Read more: How to be a better speaker: presenting and pitching tips 10 steps to getting a reluctant client to pay The 8 most disruptive apps of all time View the full article

The London Underground symbol is an iconic piece of logo design. The red and blue bar and circle roundel has been around since 1908. But visitors to London's Westminster Underground station can now see a reimagined version of the transit symbol courtesy of British-Ghanaian artist Larry Achiampong. The eight new designs – under the banner Pan African Flag for the Relic Travellers’ Alliance 2019 – were commissioned by Art on the Underground, a visual arts showcase funded by Transport for London. The designs are part of the '2019 – On Edge' series and if you want to get a closer look at the artwork you have until the end of February 2020, when the project comes to an end. Achiampong chose to focus on Pan African colours – green, black, and red – that speak symbolically to various African identities. The colours represent the land, the people and the struggles that the African continent has endured, while gold was chosen to represent a new day and prosperity. Beyond the colour palette, the redesign builds on the artist’s concept of Sanko-time. For those who don't know, Sanko-time is based in the Ashanti word 'sankofa'. This alludes to using the past to prepare for the future. And, the project takes a closer look at African mythologies and their relationship to science fiction. It's an interesting concept, but what do people think of Achiampong's redesigns? Instagram account londonist_com asked, "Artist Larry Achiampong has given the roundels at Westminster a pan-African makeover. What do you make of them?" Some people made positive comments, others thought the designs had a Christmassy feel, while others weren't impressed at all. We think that a few may be missing the point. The redesign is a temporary piece of art. It's not a permanent move to a new look for the iconic design, it's just an interpretation of what it could be. Where to find logo design inspiration 8 of the biggest logo redesigns of 2019 6 of the most iconic drinks logos View the full article

Microsoft Black Friday 2019 saw some hugely impressive deals. From incredible offers on the new Surface Pro 7, right through to the Surface Book 2, the retail event was bigger and better than ever before. This makes us hugely excited for what Microsoft Black Friday 2020 holds in store. Some of the best deals we saw – and are still going – include great Xbox discounts (you can save up to $150 on Xbox in the US, and up to £150 on Xbox in the UK) and a there's a significant price drop on the new Surface Laptop 3. 2019 was a huge year for Microsoft in terms of hardware releases. The Fall hardware event brought us a number of new Surface products – with the Surface Pro 7 and Surface Pro X of particularly interest for designers. Unexpectedly, we've seen a few huge price drops on the new products, including this epic $360 discount on the Surface Pro 7 at Best Buy We've also saw some brilliant Microsoft Cyber Monday deals on the slightly older (but still very good) Surface Pro 6. The very cheapest Microsoft Black Friday deals didn't last long. But there were new ones popping up all the time, so if you missed out on a good saving don't despair. Bookmark this page and keep checking back to make sure you see all the best Microsoft Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals as soon as the start to arrive. In this article, we're going to take a look at some of the best product discounts we saw in 2019, plus make some predictions on what we might see in 2020 and provide details on how to get the very best Microsoft Black Friday deals. The best Surface Pro 2019 deals There's are two new Surface Pros in town: the Surface Pro 7 and the Surface Pro X. In terms of Microsoft Black Friday deals, this meant we saw some great offers on the Pro 6. Interestingly, there were also some pretty awesome savings on the brand new Surface Pro 7 too (in the US in particular). Read our Surface Pro 6 review, or check out our Surface Pro 7 vs Surface Pro 6 comparison for more information. The best Surface Book Black Friday deals In 2019 there were plenty of big discounts on the Surface Book 2, Microsoft's powerful laptop. There's a lot to recommend this device – take a look at our Surface Book 2 review for our thoughts (we awarded it 4.5 stars). So far, there's no news as to when the Surface Book 3 will appear; it wasn't included in the Fall Hardware Event at the start of October. In our original Surface Book review we awarded the device 5 stars, so if you don't mind an older model it might be worth keeping an eye out for any hot deals on that model too. The best Surface laptop Black Friday deals The Surface Laptop 3 was unveiled at Microsoft's Fall Hardware event in early October 2019, and was released on 22 October (see how it compares to the MacBook Air here). This means the Laptop 3 will likely be in line for some hot deals come late November 2020. The best Xbox Black Friday 2019 deals Games consoles traditionally get some mega discounts over Black Friday, and in 2019 Microsoft's Xbox One S and Xbox One X got some big price drops. We saw a lot of bundle deals, with Microsoft games consoles being packaged in with games from Playerunknown's Battlegrounds to Fallout 76 and Minecraft at a range of retailers. If it's a game you actually want, these can be great buys – if not you're looking at a whole lot of false economy. In 2019 we also saw a couple of great console-only deals on the Xbox One X in the US, both in the run-up to the event (from Walmart) and on the day itself (from Amazon). While we predict the best bargains will be appearing on Black Friday itself (and some deals to be had on Cyber Monday, there were bundles cropping up in early Black Friday offers last year, so keep your eyes peeled. The widget below pulls in the best current prices in your territory, including any offers. The best Microsoft Office Black Friday 2019 deals Microsoft Office has never been cheap, but we do usually see some Microsoft Black Friday and Microsoft Cyber Monday Office deals to take the sting out of shelling out for Word, Excel and the like. Here's an example of the best deal we saw in 2019. The best Surface Go Black Friday 2019 deals The Surface Go, Microsoft's reasonably priced 10-inch tablet also got some good discounts in 2019 over Cyber Monday/Black Friday. Take a look at our sister site TechRadar's review for more on this device, and check out the best Surface Go Black Friday 2019 deals below. Microsoft Black Friday sales: quick links US: Microsoft.com US: Walmart US: Amazon.com US: Best Buy UK: Microsoft.co.uk How to get the best Microsoft Black Friday deals in 2020 To start with, bookmark this page. We'll be updating this article with all the best Black Friday Microsoft 2020 deals and Cyber Monday Microsoft deals as soon as we hear about them, so make sure you check back. As well as the Microsoft Store itself, other major retailers are in on the action with some strong offers of their own. And while there'll undoubtedly be plenty of action on Cyber Monday, those aren't the only days you'll be able to snag a deal. We've seen eager retailers rolling out their deals earlier and earlier each year. In 2019, there were competitive deals appearing from early November. To make the most of the offers, it's worth checking for add-ons or gift cards that will make your deal even better. It's also worth considering refurbished models. The very best Black Friday Microsoft deals won't stick around forever (many will sell out on the day). If you're reading this post that means you're already ahead of the game – make the most of the run-up period to figure out which Microsoft products are right for you, so you know what to look out for and don't end up panic-buying the wrong thing. Microsoft Black Friday offers: Insights from 2019 The range everyone's interested in right now is Microsoft Surface, and retailers have been happy to oblige with impressive surface deals at various sales events. Last year's Microsoft Black Friday and Microsoft Cyber Monday saw particularly impressive offers on the Surface Pro 6 (see above) and Surface Laptop 2. Microsoft's Fall Hardware Event on 2 Oct brought with it some exciting hardware news. The tech giant announced several product updates in the Surface range: the Surface Laptop 3, Surface Pro 7 and Surface Pro X (we're still waiting on the Surface Book 3, however). There were also some interesting additions, in the form of dual-screen tablet Surface Neo, foldable phone Surface Duo and true wireless Surface Earbuds. All this is likely to shake things up in terms of this year's Microsoft Black Friday deals. While big deals on new releases are unlikely (although not impossible), older versions of newly updated kit is ripe for discounts as retailers seek to shift stock. Read more: The best laptops for graphic design The best Surface Pro Black Friday deals Hands on: Microsoft Surface Pro X review View the full article

Black Friday 2019 has come and gone, and over the course the retail event we saw some amazing Surface Pro Black Friday deals. One of the best times to make huge savings on these powerful Microsoft devices, it's worth bookmarking this page as we'll be updating it as soon as the Surface Pro Black Friday 2020 deals arrive. It may seem a way off yet, but, trust us, it will come around quickly. So if you want to bag a great deal in the 2020 sales, now's the time to start saving. In this post we will curate all the best deals on every product in the Surface Pro range, which includes the Surface Pro 6, Surface Pro 7 and Surface Pro X. The 2019 saw some jaw-dropping deals on the latest Pro 7 device, which was a bit of a surprise. Below you'll find some of the best Surface Pro Black Friday deals from 2019, predictions on what we might see next year and how to find all the best offers. If you can't wait until next year to get your hands on one of these devices, be sure to take a look at our round up of the best Microsoft Surface deals right now. The best Surface Pro Black Friday deals To give you an idea of what you might expect from the Surface Pro Black Friday 2020 deals, here are the two best offers we saw in the US and UK in 2019 – both of which are still valid! The best Surface Pro 6 Black Friday deals Last year we saw plenty of strong Surface Pro 6 Cyber Monday deals. Retailers involved included Amazon and the Microsoft online store, plus Best Buy, Walmart and Costco in the US, and John Lewis, Very, AO and Currys in the UK. Check the deals and price widget below to see the best prices available right now in your region. The best Surface Book 2 Black Friday deals Okay so it's not exactly a Surface Pro. But the Surface Book 2 is another great machine, and there were some hot deals around in 2019. Which Surface Pro models will be getting a Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2020 discount? On Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day 2019, we saw a number of strong discounts on the Surface Pro, and we expect this to be the case for Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2020, too. At its Fall Hardware event on 2 October 2019, Microsoft unveiled two new Pro models: the Surface Pro 7 and the Surface Pro X, which was good news in terms of getting great deals on the Pro 6 in 2019. But we were pleasantly surprised to see the Pro 7 play a big part in Black Friday 2019. Typically retailers focus on slightly older stock for their sales, but the Pro 7 some incredible deals up for grabs. The Pro X, however, was nowhere to be seen, which was not a huge surprise. That said, if it's the X you want, 2020 is almost certainly going to see some discounts on the then 13-month old device. We'll collate all the deals here as soon as they're live. To help you decide which one's right for you, take a look at our Surface Pro 6 review, our Surface Pro review, or our hands-on Surface Pro X review. Is the Microsoft Surface Pro 6 worth the money? The short answer is yes, as our in-depth Microsoft Surface Pro 6 review will attest. Despite the introduction of the Surface Pro 7 in October, the Pro 6 is remains one of the best 2-in-1's around. And the good news is the new device launch will undoubtedly push some brilliant Surface Pro 6 Black Friday deals this year. So if you're in the market for a new tablet and not bothered about having the latest device, the Surface Pro 6 is a stellar option. Want to see how it compares to the newer model? Explore our Surface Pro 6 vs Surface Pro 7 comparison. How to get the best Surface Pro Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2020 deals If you've landed on this buying guide, you'll no doubt already be aware of some of the specs that make Surface Pros such a sought-after device. They're packed full of features creatives will love: there's a gorgeous screen, super-powerful specs, a stylish design, and they both running the full desktop version of Windows. But there's also a few under-the-radar features that you might not be aware of, including the ability to take screenshots with a Surface Pen, collaborate remotely in real time, and gaze correction. Add all of that up and it's no wonder these clever machines are so popular. It sounds extreme, but to make sure you get the best Surface Pro Black Friday (or Surface Pro Cyber Monday) deal in 2020, you need a game plan. Step one is to bookmark this page. We'll be keeping it updated with a curated list of the best offers from the most reliable retailers, in the run-up to Black Friday and during the event itself. While you'll likely find some good offers on the Microsoft online store itself, a number of other retailers will also be offering great discounts, from Walmart and Best Buy to John Lewis and Very. Keeping on top of all the different Surface Pro Black Friday deals is tricky, which is why we're taking the hard work out by collecting them in one place (you're welcome). Second, remember that while there'll plenty of hot offers on Black Friday and Cyber Monday themselves, those aren't the only days you'll be able to pick up a bargain machine. Eager retailers have been rolling out offers earlier and earlier each year – and with Black Friday falling relatively late this year, we definitely expect some good early deals. In 2019, there were competitive offers popping up from early November. To make the most of the offers, it's worth checking for add-ons such as software, keyboards and covers, or gift cards that will make your deal even better. It's also worth considering refurbished models – there are some great bargains to be had on pre-owned products. The very best deals won't stick around forever (many will sell out on the day). If you're reading this article, you're already ahead of the game – make the most of the weeks running up to the end of November to figure out which Surface Pro product is right for you (how much storage do you need? How powerful should it be?), so you know what to focus on and don't end up panic buying the wrong model. View the full article

Apple Black Friday may be over for the year, but it's never too early to start prepping for next year's event. Well – perhaps it is a little. But here we go anyway. In this article you'll find everything you need to know about the Apple Black Friday 2020 sale, including how to bag the best bargains, and a look back on the discounts we saw in 2019. When it gets to the big day(s) in November, we'll be busy curating the best deals for you so you don't miss out. First let's look at the burning questions everyone is asking. Will Apple have deals on Black Friday? There were a wide range of Apple Black Friday discounts in 2019, and 2020 is likely to look very similar, with impressive Apple Black Friday deals across a whole range of devices. However, unless you're dead set on shopping in the Apple Store itself, you're almost certain to find the best Apple Black Friday deals come from other retailers. In previous years, rather than discounting the products themselves, the tech giant offered money off further Apple spending, with gift cards given on purchases made over the shopping event. Are Apple Cyber Monday deals the same as Black Friday? There are Apple Cyber Monday offers every year, and they're unlikely to be the same as Black Friday. Retailers tend to bring out the highest concentration of bargains on Black Friday itself, and Cyber Monday is slightly less of a big deal. That said, Cyber Monday has historically been the time to bag a tech deal, so who knows? If you're wondering whether to hold off for a hot Apple Cyber Monday Apple deal, we'd probably advise against it. Some will be offering blanket deals across the whole long weekend, while other promotions will be live for a shorter period, and the best offers will likely sell out. That's a slightly frustrating answer, but our general advice is to think ahead on what you want to buy. Do you need particular specs or a specific model, or are you happy with whatever model the biggest Apple Black Friday discount happens to be on? Make a plan and if an offer crops up that matches your plans, snap it up then and there rather than waiting on the off chance something better will come around. Where are the best Apple Black Friday deals? The official Apple Store isn't usually the best place to grab a bargain in the Apple Black Friday sale. Below is a roundup of the retailers with the biggest discounts in the Apple Black Friday 2019 sale. And of course, don't forget to bookmark this page for a curated list of deals. Amazon: Discounts on a range of products, in the US and UK Best Buy: Deals on MacBooks, Apple Watches and AirPods John Lewis: Some strong offers on MacBooks, iPads, iPhones and more Very: Savings on MacBooks, iPads, AirPods, Apple TV and accessories Currys PC World: Offers on various Apple products AO: Some strong deals on iPhones Walmart: Deals across a range of Apple products Laptops Direct: Deals on MacBooks, iPads and iPhones How to get the best Apple Black Friday deal To get the best deal possible, it's best to have a product and a price in mind. You don't want to end up getting overwhelmed by the options and being unable to make a decision (or panicking and making the wrong decision), so start out with a clear plan. Once you've decided on the product you're after, you can start tracking its price on various retailers – or even simpler, bookmark this page and keep checking it. You could also set up a Google Alert for the prices you're after. Here are some more tips here on how to make the most of Black Friday. Apple Store Black Friday 2020 opening hours Will you have to queue up round the block to get the best Apple Black Friday deals? This seems unlikely, because most Apple Stores will operate their usual opening hours across this period. If you're in the US, check your local Apple Store opening times here. As mentioned, however, the Apple Store isn't likely to be the best place to bag yourself the best Apple Black Friday deals – you'll probably be better off going to another retailer or shopping online. Don't forget that we'll be reporting on deals as they come in, so you can keep checking this page to bag yourself an Apple Black Friday bargain. The best Apple Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals from 2019 To help you get a feel for some of the kind of discounts we see over the festive shopping event, here's a roundup of the best Apple Black Friday deals from 2019. And if you're quick, some of them might even still be available... Apple Black Friday: UK iPad deals Apple Black Friday: US MacBook deals Apple Cyber Monday: UK MacBook deals More offers in our guide to the best Cyber Monday MacBook deals. Get more insights in our guide to the Apple AirPods Black Friday sale. Apple Black Friday deals: iPad offers Tablets are always in demand on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, and we saw a lot of good Black Friday iPad deals in 2018. Figuring out which is the best offer, taking into account the different models, storage options and features, can be difficult. We've sorted through the best options with this in mind. In terms of where to shop, in 2018 Walmart was the place to head for US shoppers, while in the UK, Very, John Lewis and eglobal central all had good deals. Take a look at the best iPad offers right now in the widget below. The best Cyber Monday MacBook deals MacBook, MacBook Air and MacBook Pro Black Friday deals are in high demand every year – mainly because, as designers will know, this kind of top-quality kit doesn't come cheap. So how much does a MacBook cost on Cyber Monday? Short answer: it depends where you go and which model and spec you're interested in. As you might expect the best discounts are typically on slightly older machines, so if you don't mind not having the latest, greatest MacBook then that's often a good way to bag a bargain. Another hot tip is to keep an eye out for refurbished models – there can be some hidden gems on pre-owned models. In 2018 in the US, Jet, B&H and Adorama were the places to bag the best Black Friday Apple offers on MacBooks. In the UK, John Lewis, Very and Curry's came through with some good deals, and there was also a standout offer from Laptops Direct. Take a look at the best prices right now in the widget below. Cyber Monday Apple Airpods deals In 2018, everyone was after an Airpod deal. Retailers did not oblige. There were a few little discounts here and there, but nothing that really made a dent in the hefty price tag. Will AirPods go on sale for Black Friday or Cyber Monday 2019? Well, we think so. We're already starting to see some decent discounts on these true wireless earbuds (the price widget below will pull in the best offers in your region). These little devices aren't quite as new and exciting now (and there's a fair bit of competition hitting the market in the form of Amazon's Echo Buds and Microsoft's Surface Earbuds), so here's hoping this November brings some strong Black Friday Apple Airpods deals. Cyber Monday Apple Watch deals There were quite a few good Apple Watch deals on Black Friday 2018, with discounts on the Series 3 as well as older models. The newest model back then – the Apple Watch 4, released September 2018 – didn't get much Black Friday action. Apple has just launched its Apple Watch Series 5, so Black Friday 2019 might be the time to bag a bargain on a Series 4 Apple Watch. In the US, the best 2018 Black Friday Apple Watch deals came from B&H, Macy's and Amazon. In the UK, shoppers were better off heading to John Lewis or Very. Read more: Microsoft Cyber Monday deals Adobe deals: Where to get a Creative Cloud discount Wacom Cyber Monday deals View the full article

The MacBook Pro 16-inch is Apple’s latest professional laptop, and it represents an exciting evolution for the MacBook Pro line, which we feel has seemed a little unambitious lately. While the 15-inch and 13-inch MacBook Pros that Apple launched earlier this year were only minor upgrades over previous models, the new MacBook Pro 16-inch is a far more revolutionary offering, and one which feels almost tailor-made for modern creatives. In fact, Apple has been keen to stress that it has listened to its customers when designing the MacBook Pro 16-inch, and has offered them “more of what they love.” The result is a drastically-improved MacBook Pro with some excellent new features that makes it one of the best laptops for graphic design. So, you get some of the most powerful mobile hardware in the world, as well as a gorgeous new larger screen – and increased resolution as well. While it does still have a few frustrating quirks we’ve come to expect from an Apple laptop – which we’ll get to in a moment – what you’re essentially getting is a larger, more powerful MacBook Pro. More of what you love, indeed, and also one of the best laptops for designers you can buy right now. Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch: Price When it comes to the price of the MacBook Pro 16-inch, there’s good news and bad news. First, the bad: as you’d expect from a high-end Apple product, the MacBook Pro 16-inch is a very expensive device, and represents a serious investment. However, the good news is that Apple hasn’t raised the price of the base model of the 16-inch MacBook Pro compared to the base model of the earlier 15-inch model. For £2,399 you get a 6-core Intel Core i7 processor, AMD Radeon Pro 5300M 4GB GPU, 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. This is the same price that Apple was asking for the 2019 model of the MacBook Pro 15-inch, which comes with a 6-core 9th generation Intel Core i7 processor, Radeon Pro 555X with 4GB of GDDR5 memory, 16GB RAM and 256GB SSD storage. That means the larger screen, plus double the storage and better graphics, all comes for effectively free. If you were conflicted about whether to get the 16-inch model or the 15-inch model, the answer is clear: get the 16-inch MacBook Pro. There is also a higher-end model that comes with a 2.3GHz 8-core Intel Core i9 processor, AMD Radeon Pro 5500M, 16GB RAM and a 1TB SSD for £2,799, which is the same price as the high end 15-inch MacBook Pro. Now that the 16-inch MacBook Pro is out, we’ll likely see the price of the 15-inch model drop – though Apple itself has stopped selling the 15-inch model. In Apple’s view, the 16-inch MacBook Pro is now the high-end MacBook Pro offering, with the 13-inch MacBook Pro the more affordable option. For anyone who just bought the 15-inch MacBook Pro earlier this year, however, the news that their new purchase is now outdated, may not be too welcome. Apple also allows you to configure the MacBook Pro 16-inch to add more power if you need it. This is great for building a MacBook Pro that suits your needs (and budget), though it does add to the price quite quickly – the most powerful option for the MacBook Pro 16-inch will cost a huge £5,769! To justify the high price, the MacBook Pro 16-inch needs to be a seriously impressive performer. Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch: Power and performance So, how does the MacBook Pro 16-inch perform, and does it make it a good investment considering the price tag? The good news is that it performs brilliantly. The version we tried is the high-end base configuration, which comes with an 8-core Intel Core i9 processor and 16GB of RAM. This makes the laptop an excellent performer when it comes to multitasking. If you often work with lots of different applications open at once – for example if you’re rendering a video and want to fire off a few emails or create a presentation at the same time – then the MacBook Pro 16-inch can do this. The AMD Radeon Pro 5500M graphics card is also a very powerful professional-grade GPU. If you’re a video editor who works with high resolution footage, or a 3D designer, then you’ll find the performance of the MacBook Pro 16-inch to be seriously impressive. Apple has managed to fit the kind of performance we’d expect from a big, bulky, desktop PC into the impressively svelte body of the MacBook Pro. If you’re a video editor or a 3D designer, then you’ll find the performance of the MacBook Pro 16-inch to be seriously impressive. Of course, if you don’t need to do that kind of intensive work, then the MacBook Pro 16-inch is probably too overpowered for your needs. In this case, you’re better of buying a regular MacBook or laptop instead. When it comes to battery life, the MacBook Pro 16-inch really shines. Many laptops that offer this kind of power do so at the expense of battery life, which means you need to plug them in while you’re working. However, we’re pleased to say that the MacBook Pro 16-inch offers exceptional battery life. By Apple’s estimates, the MacBook Pro 16-inch gives around an hour more battery life compared to the 15-inch model, and in our tests we found that to be pretty accurate, with it lasting 11 hours and 41 minutes, with a looped 1080p video at 50% screen brightness. In contrast, the Razer Blade 15 Studio Edition managed just 5 hours and 28 minutes in the same test Apple has achieved this by including a 100-watt-hour battery (16 WH larger than the previous models). This is the largest capacity battery the FAA allows on flights, and thanks to the power efficiency of both Apple’s hardware and software, it means you’re unlikely to see better battery life in a powerful laptop. Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch: Display Perhaps the most noticeable change with the new MacBook Pro is the increased screen size. Recently, the largest screen you could get on a MacBook Pro was 15-inches, but Apple has bumped that up to 16-inches. The good news is that this hasn’t impacted image quality, as Apple has also increased the resolution as well, which is now 3,072 x 1,920 with a pixel density of 226 pixels per inch. Compared to the 15-inch model’s 2,880 x 1,800 resolution, which offered a pixel density of 220ppi, the new screen of the MacBook Pro 16-inch offers sharper image quality. It features the same P3 colour gamut, which is essential for photographers and video editors who rely on accurate colours, and means the screen of the MacBook Pro 16-inch is one of the most vibrant displays on a laptop. Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch: Key features Whilst the larger screen is the most noticeable change, another welcome new feature of the MacBook Pro 16-inch is an overhauled keyboard. The keyboards included in previous models of the MacBook Pro used Butterfly switches for the keys. While the aim of these was to allow the MacBook Pro to be as thin as possible by keeping the depth of the keyboard shallow, it lead to a number of complaints from users who found that the keys would become unresponsive, especially if debris, such as dust, went between the keys. It was enough of a problem that Apple started a returns service where its customers could send in their faulty MacBook Pros. Obviously, this resulted in quite a PR disaster for Apple, so we’re very pleased to see Apple finally replace the problematic Butterfly switch with Scissor switches found in the Magic Keyboard, Apple’s popular keyboard for iMacs. This has also made the keyboard of the MacBook Pro 16-inch feel much more responsive and tactile, offering an overall more pleasant typing experience. The MacBook Pro 16-inch runs macOS Catalina, Apple’s latest operating system. One of the best features of the new OS is Sidecar. This allows you to use an iPad as a second screen. So, you could draw on the iPad with the Apple Pencil stylus, and your doodles will appear on the MacBook Pro 16-inch. There are a number of creative apps that allow you to use the iPad along with the Apple Pencil stylus to control the apps via touch, and it’s one of the best new features for creatives. However, this is a feature that’s not exclusive to the new 16-inch model; any Mac that can run macOS Catalina can make use of this feature. Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch: Should you buy it? So, should you buy the MacBook Pro 16-inch? It’s a bit of a complex question, really. There’s no doubt that Apple has made the best MacBook Pro ever with its new device. It’s the most powerful laptop from Apple, and the new larger screen is a real sight to behold. The improved keyboard is a very welcome addition, hopefully eliminating the problems that plagued previous MacBooks, and it feels so much nicer to work on. Apple’s iconic design is also still present and correct, and while some people may have hoped for an all-new look, it’s still a gorgeously-designed laptop. However, it’s also very expensive, and the level of power on offer here won’t be for everyone. If you don’t need to perform heavy-duty graphical tasks like 3D rendering, then your money may be spent elsewhere. It’s also a shame that Apple is sticking to only including four Thunderbolt ports, which means for any creative professional that uses peripherals with a standard USB connection, like a graphics tablet or a memory card reader, then you’ll need to buy an adapter. View the full article