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The product update email is a unique type of newsletter. Although it seems that it does not differ from others, it is a collaboration between marketing and product teams. Along with delivering information about the improvements that secure trust in …View the full article

The brand new logo for Warner Bros.' new reboot of Frank Herbert's Dune has been released, and it closely matches the controversial title treatment that leaked back in January – with one key difference. Along with the first image from the movie (featuring Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides), the new logo first appeared on the film's official Twitter page last night. The logo uses the four U-shapes in different orientations that we first saw in photographs from a French convention at the start of the year. Back then, the design proved contentious, with many concerned that the leaked logo appeared to read 'DUNC' rather than 'DUNE'. However, that widely-shared concept (below) was in fact a fan rendering based on photographs from the convention, and was missing an all-important lens flare inside the 'E'. Thankfully, said lens flare is present and correct in the new, official logo. Phew. Looking for ideas? Check out our guide to finding logo design inspiration. Directed by Denis Villeneuve, Dune is slated for release on 18 December this year. According to its official synopsis, film "tells the story of Paul Atreides, a brilliant and gifted young man born into a great destiny beyond his understanding, who must travel to the most dangerous planet in the universe to ensure the future of his family and his people." An all-star cast features, alongside Chalamet, Zendaya, Oscar Isaac and more. You can read all about the original leaked logo drama (and enjoy a brilliant pasta-based take on it) here. We're excited to see how Villeneuve makes his stamp on the sci-fi franchise, and, most of all, we're relieved to know that this December, we won't be queueing up to watch 'Dunc'. Related articles: Is this the new Cadbury logo? Iconic logos reimagined for the age of coronavirus The 10 best logos of all time View the full article

If you live in EMEA (Europe, the Middle East and Africa) regions and have been thinking of signing up to Adobe CC, you're in luck. Today Adobe has launched an amazing deal that knocks a whopping 39% off individual Creative Cloud subscriptions. As an example, this means UK creatives will now pay just £30.34, rather than the usual £49.94 – a saving of almost £20 each month! The price reduction applies to the complete Adobe Creative Cloud suite, which encompasses over 20 different apps. That includes all the big players – photo editing favourite Photoshop, digital artists' go-to Illustrator, video editing software Premiere Pro, web prototyping tool Adobe XD and motion effects creator After Effects. You'll also be able to explore the new additions to the Adobe family, tablet-based art app Adobe Fresco, and Photoshop on iPad. Just in case you need some extra encouragement, remember that when you buy Adobe's full All Apps package you're also getting 100GB of cloud storage (with the option to upgrade to 10TB) and premium features like Adobe Portfolio, Adobe Fonts, and Adobe Spark. The programmes are fully integrated, so you can switch between them (and jump from one device to another) seamlessly. Built-in templates help you jump-start your designs, while step-by-step tutorials will help you sharpen your skills and get up to speed quickly. This deal is valid until 23 April, so if you're in EMEA regions and want to save big on Adobe's entire suite of creative software, grab it now. If you live outside where the deal applies, here are the best Adobe CC prices in your area: Related articles: Top-class Photoshop tutorials to hone your skills The 13 best alternatives to Photoshop The best web hosting services for designers View the full article

The popular video-sharing apps’s use of HTTP to download media content instead of a secure protocol could lead to the spread of misinformation on the platform. View the full article

As we all continue to adjust to the 'new normal' of social distancing, parents and guardians will be wondering how to keep kids busy with schools closed across the world. Various creatives and companies have offered free resources to keep little ones' minds (and hands) busy, and now Apple has joined their ranks with a worksheet of 30 free activities for kids. Shared by Apple's Education team on Twitter (below), the resource suggests various daily activities, including "17. Write a love letter to the planet", "8. Storyboard your daily routine" and "13. Record news interviews'. Every activity is designed to be completed with built-in features of the iPad or iPhone (naturally). Some of the instructions are a little vague ("28. Use your voice"), but fortunately the next three pages offer a more detailed description of the activity and the apps it involves. Juggling work as well as kids at home? Check out our guide to working from home more productively. Certain activities are likely to keep kids busier for longer than others. We can see families making a whole day out of recording news interviews on Garageband, especially as Apple suggests trying different vocal effects ("an alien giving the weather in outer space"), whereas "25. Have a laugh" simply involves asking Siri to tell you a joke (which, let's be honest, isn't guaranteed to bring the house down). We're nitpicking, though – it's great to see Apple offering free support for parents and kids during isolation. “We know parents out there are juggling a lot in this challenging time,” says Apple CEO Tim Cook, and this activity sheet offers "fun ways to keep kids everywhere creating". And with Apple also producing millions of protective face shields for healthcare professionals, the company appears to be doing its bit. And these exercises don't just have to be for the kids. As Apple's worksheet says, "these activities can easily be tailored for the whole family". You can download the activity pack from Apple's website. From online drawing lessons to free software, the creative community is continuing to pull together to offer support to those stuck at home. Take a look at our list of the best free resources currently on offer. Related articles: Illustrator gives free drawing lesson to inspire kids stuck at home This artists' activity pack will keep you busy for days iPad Pro 2020: All there is to know about Apple's new tablet View the full article

We're living through weird, unprecedented times right now, and dealing with it all isn't easy when you're expected to be creative for a living. You might be struggling with having to work from home, facing uncertainty over your job, or simply be overwhelmed by everything that's going on. Of course you may be taking it all in your stride and using the current lockdown as an opportunity to try new ideas and play around with experimental design. But if you're just not feeling it, some design exercises can help fire those weary synapses and keep your skills honed, ready for when things start getting back to normal. We've found this selection, covering everything from serious design challenges through to fun creative games; try them out next time you're tempted to just reach for another box set. 10 essential desk exercises for designers 01. Icon studies Ramp up your reductive skills by crafting the perfect icon CreativeLive has a great set of exercises aimed at improving your drawing skills for graphic design; our favourite is based around creating effective icons. A good icon needs to be instantly recognisable, capturing the distinguishing characteristics of your subject within a tiny space. CreativeLive suggests picking an animal or common object as your subject and trying to depict its neutral, universal aspects, trying a few versions from different angles to see which is the most recognisable, and combining different aspects to achieve the best silhouette. 02. The Bézier Game Can you do this one with nine nodes? Bézier curves are an essential part of the graphic design toolbox, but executing them perfectly – especially when you're just starting out with Illustrator – isn't always easy. If you're having trouble with those pesky handles, The Bézier Game will help you get a better feel for creating commendable curves. Not only does it walk you through the process of making curves that bend in exactly the way you want, it also challenges you to think about your process and create your shapes using as few nodes as possible. 03. DEX There's a whole stack of briefs to tackle at DEX If you're after a regular challenge, the Graphic Design School has something for you in the form of its weekly design exercises, or DEX. They're free and provide an assortment of tasks that'll keep your skills ticking over across the design board. Each exercise gives you a brief as well as a tutorial video to help you meet your goal – the latest at the time of writing challenges you to create beautiful type design editorials for print and web – and hooks you up with resources as well specifying design constraints and how long you're allowed for each exercise. 04. How Low Can Your Logo? Unleash your inner branding monster Here's a fun site that's the absolute antithesis of most design exercises. At How Low Can Your Logo? you're encouraged to throw away all your design inhibitions, forget everything you've learned and go all-out to create a truly terrible logo, working from a horrible brief from a dreadful startup. There are actual prizes to be won for the most awful logos, and the judging panel includes design luminaries such as Jessica Hische and Michael Bierut. Do your worst! 05. Deconstruction 99designs has some great design exercises; this one's all about deconstruction Some days – maybe more so at the moment – you're just not feeling creative and you need something to fire up your inspiration glands. If that's you right now, over at 99designs they've put together a set of six fun creative thinking exercises for designers that are guaranteed to get your mind nicely stimulated. Our favourite is based around deconstructing content: take a word and start chopping bits out of it to create a design; it's easy to do and can generate impressive results, and you can follow up by taking a similar approach to patterns, photographs and other imagery. 06. KernType There's nothing quite so satisfying as some perfectly-kerned type Careless kerning can ruin your typography; here's a fantastic way to polish your skills and produce text layouts that are a lot easier on the eye. KernType's a browser-based game that presents you with a series of badly-kerned words; the first and last letters are fixed in place, and your job is to shift the other letters around to try and find that sweet spot where everything's beautifully balanced. Each challenge is marked out of 100 – if you think your solution is better-looking than the game's, there's an option to share it – and at the end you'll be given a final score, which you'll probably want to go back and beat later on. 07. Hue Test Test your colour vision (or the quality of your monitor) Finally, give your colour perception a bit of a workout with Hue Test. It's easy to play; you're presented with rows of coloured blocks, and you have to rearrange them so that the hue flows smoothly from beginning to end. Getting it exactly right, though, involves a lot of swapping blocks around and squinting at the screen. At the end you're presented with an evaluation of your colour vision; bear in mind, though, that if you don't score as well as you'd hoped it could be that your display's not up to scratch, in which case be sure to check out our guide to the best 4K monitors. Related articles: The best mindfulness apps in 2020 6 of the hottest gadgets for designers Pencil drawing techniques: Pro tips to sharpen your skills View the full article

Oracle will detail 405 new security vulnerabilities Tuesday, part of its quarterly Critical Patch Update Advisory. View the full article

What will probably be the most significant event of our lives has just been thrust upon the world. And while we don't yet know when things will return to some form of normality, there will no doubt come a time when future generations will ask “What did you do to help?” Right now, countless creatives are facing a titanic struggle to survive, with some in dire need of funds to meet their basic human needs. Yet at the same time, many are actually doing all right. In fact, some whose jobs or freelance contracts remain in place will probably be financially better off, due to the lack of spending opportunities during lockdown. To help those who have lost out during lockdown, a number of creatives have set up crowdfunding campaigns over the last few weeks, many of which we've listed here. If you’re in dire need yourself, we also explain how to apply for help through these funds, where direct approaches are encouraged. These campaigns have largely sprung up spontaneously, and this by no means a comprehensive list. All the ones we have found are in the US and UK, but if you’ve started a crowdfunding campaign that’s not been featured, please let us know on Twitter via @creativebloq and the #crowdfunding hashtag, and we’ll do what we can to help you amplify your campaign. Jump to US Britain and Ireland 01. Manchester Artists Coronavirus Hardship Fund "Many workers face economic uncertainty, while bills, childcare costs, rent and livelihoods demand so much," notes Laurence Young on this crowdfunding page This fund has been set up by Laurence Young, a freelance theatre director and maker. It is providing £200 hardship funds for artists, practitioners and creative freelancers who cannot work during this time or who have been affected by cancellations or other impacts. These will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Those in need can apply via email, and Laurence says: “No questions asked, no proof needed. If this fund speaks to you, we want to help.” 02. London Artist & Creatives Coronavirus Fund Set up by agency co-founder Josh Akapo and illustrator and designer Denzel Kessie, this campaign aims to raise £200 hardship funds for London's struggling creatives. These are being distributed on a first-come, first-served basis and those in need can apply via a Google Form. At time of press, applications were currently closed, but the more money they raise, the faster they’ll be able to reopen applications. “ We will get past this,” says Josh, “but let's try and do so with as little bad as possible.” 03. Wales Artists and Freelancers Coronavirus Fund Wales Arts Review has launched this crowdfunder to help people struggling to make ends meet due to the cancellation or postponement of project. It has been handing out £300 hardship funds, on a first-come-first-serve basis to freelancers in Wales. Editor Gary Raymond says: "Now, in these difficult times, it would make for a powerful gesture to just alleviate some of the pressures many now face paying bills and putting food on the table." 04. Northern Ireland: Bread and butter fund Coronavirus NI artists The work of Abbie Spallen, this fund has been sharing sums of £200 with out-of-work Northern Irish freelancers. “No big forms to fill in,” she says. “None of that malarky. It's not a huge amount. But it will buy bread and butter. Well, maybe Flora.” At time of press, applications were currently closed, but there will be a second round as soon as possible. 05. Ireland Artist Emergency Relief Fund Set up by Niamh Ferry, this crowdfunding campaign has been providing financial relief to Irish artists experiencing lost income related to COVID-19. Small grants of up to €500 are being paid on a first-come, first-served basis to affected artists and groups. 06. Scotland: Wan Mair Tune Fund "This is a community based endeavour that will operate in good faith, discretion and transparency," says Meghan Meghan Tyler is organising this fundraiser for Scottish arts practitioners and creatives affected by the Coronavirus pandemic. It has been distributing £200 to up to freelance artists and creatives on a first-come, first-served basis; those in need can apply by email. “For those of you who had a good year, or have a sexy salary and a bit to spare, please give what ye can,” she says. “And for those of you riddled with anxiety, hang tight. We can do this together.” 07. South West Creatives Corona Virus Impact Fund Launched by theatre director Jay Crutchley, this fund aims to provide £200 hardship funds to artists, practitioners and creative freelancers who cannot work during this time or who have been affected by cancellations or other impacts. These will be distributed on a first-come, first served basis: details of how to apply will be published soon. 08. East Midlands Artists Corona Virus Impact Fund Founded by Rafia, a freelance producer based in the East Midlands, this emergency fund exists to support the artists/freelancers/self employed workers who work in arts and culture through sums of £200 distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. If you’re in need, you can DM Rafia on Twitter, who says: “It can be for rent, childcare, groceries etc - there will be no questions asked.” 09. West Midlands Artists Coronavirus Emergency Fund This campaign is being organised by Amahra Spence, who’s worked as an artist and in the creative industries for 12+ years. The idea is to provide £200 hardship funds for any artists, cultural workers, practitioners and creative freelancers who cannot work during this time or who have been affected by cancellations or other impacts. Those in need can apply via email or Twitter or Instagram DM. 10. South Yorkshire Creatives Covid-19 Hardship Fund Created by Linda Bloomfield is organising this fundraiser for creatives who “fall through the cracks” during the current turmoil. The idea is to supply amounts of between £50 and £200, “very quickly for rent, bills, a food shop, transport or petrol, access support, childcare or anything else,” she says. “Please get in touch, and don't be shy. First come, first served - let's look after each other.” Those in need can apply by email: “You don't need to tell us much - just what's happened and how much you need to get you through in the immediate term.” 11. Hull Artists Coronavirus Fund by Middle Child "We're going to keep the fundraiser running and see how far we can get," say the organisers of this campaign. "Each new milestone means we can help support more freelance Hull artists in this uncertain time." Jamie Potter, Emily Anderton, Matthew May and Rozzy Knox are organising this campaign, which aims to provide £200 hardship funds for any artists that cannot work during this time. These will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, with no questions asked. 12. Norwich and Norfolk Artists’ Hardship Fund Jack Lowe is organising this fundraising appeal on behalf of Curious Directive, a small theatre company in Norwich that manages a social enterprise co-working space for freelancers. It aims to provide £100 donations to those in need, which will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, with no questions asked 13. Coronavirus North East Creatives' Hardship Fund Set up by Daneka Etchells and David Loumgair, this fund aims to provide amounts of £200 to creatives who are living and working in the North East, and who require urgent financial assistance due to hardship, loss of employment and additional challenges. “The transparency of this fund could result in individuals exploiting this,” they say, “but we are hoping that honesty will prevail and that this money will go to the people who need it the most.” 14. Liverpool Artists Coronavirus Fund This fund has been created by Luke Barnes, a writer across theatre, film and television, and wishes to provide £200 hardship funds for any artists that cannot work during this time. These will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis with no questions asked. “Artists are the back bone of the city and we need to look after them,” says Luke. “They already live precariously lives to make this city better and we need to help them not go into poverty because of something out of their control.” USA 15. NYC Low-Income Artist/Freelancer Relief Fund This campaign has received support from everyone "from drag queens, to performance artists, to musicians, to theater and dance makers, to freelancers". Could you join them? Shawn Escarciga and Nadia Tykulsker, two artists in New York City, have launched this money-raising appeal to support other artists and freelancers who are taking financial hits as a result of Covid-19. Having received 500 applications, they are currently pausing further requests until more funds can be raised. 16. Jersey City Feed The Freelancers Isabella Olaguera, a freelance first assistant director for the film industry, has set up this crowdfunded initiative to distribute groceries to non-union freelancers, who are treated by many companies as sub-contractors and are thus overlooked by the majority of programs providing aid. 17. Philadelphia Relief Fund for Artist and Freelancers This campaign organised by Aaron Ricketts is setting out to raise at least $25K. The plan is to send out one-time payments of $500 to artist/freelancers to help cover the cost of things like rent, utilities and groceries. Application for funds will become available soon. 18. Chicago Freelancer Fundraiser Daniel Fansler, an event professional working in the events industry, has set up this fund to help event professionals and music industry freelancers. “I hope you find an extra $10 or $20 in your pocket, and can help out my fellow freelancers and music business folks,” he says. “They work their asses off to help you enjoy some of the most bad ass event in the country.” 19. LA Freelancers Relief Fund This fund is focused on "emergency situations for those who are not able to have their basic human needs met" This fundraiser set up by Vanessa Rene goal aims to support Los Angeles freelancers and artists with emergency financial support, childcare financial support, as well as resources for those whom have been impacted directly by the COV-19 crisis. If you’re in need, you can apply for support via a form on the campaign page. 20. Phoenix Freelancers COVID-19 Relief Fund Alex Leiphart has launched this fundraiser for creative freelancers in the Phoenix community, with priority to those that have lost considerable income or are struggling to make ends meet. View the full article

Millions around the world will know Cadbury for its silky smooth chocolate, but there's no doubt the company logo is just as famous. Based on the signature of founder William Cadbury, the instantly recognisable purple script logo first made an appearance on the company's transport fleet in 1921. Simplified over time, in 1952 the decision was taken to make the cursive design the face of the brand. By 1960 the logo had been simplified somewhat, but it has remained virtually the same ever since. Until now. Maybe. A recent news story from news.com.au reported that the company has changed its logo for the first time in over 50 years, with a design that nods back to Cadbury's original 1921 signature. Rumours are that Cadbury Australia is set to roll the new look out to coincide with the launch of a new chocolate bar, Marble. Digital designer Lee Barguss also tweeted about the potential new logo design: People drew car logos from memory and the results are hilarious It's a brave move for any big brand to make logo changes, but who knows, maybe this will pay off and see Cadbury make it our list of the best logos of all time? But why now? The same article from news.com.au reported a Cadbury company spokesperson saying: “The new elevated packaging includes a redrawn wordmark, new iconography and typography, making the look and feel more natural, authentic and high quality. The revitalisation of the Cadbury wordmark drew inspiration from the hand of founder John Cadbury himself to create a beautifully crafted signature with a more contemporary feel.” So far there's been no official word from Cadbury as to whether any of these rumours are true, but, honestly, we're hopeful they are. The proposed new thinner wordmark looks way more refined, with the added loop in the 'b' helping it flow more seamlessly. In our humble opinion, this smooth, more cursive design seems a much more fitting option for the brand it represents. Whether Cadbury is in fact planning to use it, however, remains to be seen. Read more: Sony's PS5 DualSense controller is here – and it ain't pretty Is this what iOS 14 will look like? (We really hope so) Logo design: Everything you need to know View the full article

While right now might not seem like the best time to be splashing a load of cash on a new MacBook Pro, if you're in need and your budget allows it, Best Buy's one-day sale is not to be missed. The 24-hour event sees huge savings across a range of popular devices, but the one we're most excited about knocks a staggering $1500 off the 15-inch MacBook Pro. That's the biggest discount on this model we've ever seen. And means the powerful laptop, which features an Intel Core i9 processor, 32GB Memory and a whopping 1TB SSD now costs just $2649.99! The MacBook Pro is one of the best laptops for graphic design. A popular choice among creatives, this device his powered by six-core Intel Core processors, and boasts a brilliant, colourful Retina display featuring True Tone technology to view your design work in all its glory. If you're looking for a cheaper model, or a different device, be sure to check out our round up of the best Apple laptop deals or, if it's a tablet you're after, don't miss our round up of the best iPad deals and cheap Apple Pencil deals. Not in the US? Here are the best new MacBook Pro prices in your area: Best Buy has some incredible deals on other devices too, including headphones, tablets and TVs. Here's our pick of the best offers for creatives currently available: Outside the US? Here are the best offers on these and similar devices in your area: View the full article

The majority of us will be spending Easter at home this year, and so will be looking for ways to be entertained. Music is, of course, one great way form of entertainment, providing the answer when you need a soundtrack to blare out out while you dance around your living room, or something soothing to help you get to sleep. If you're not happy with your current music system, or aren't yet signed up to a digital service, then Amazon Music could be ideal for you. (And don't forget to get a pair of the best noise-cancelling headphones too.) The best thing about it is that right now there's a free Amazon Music Unlimited trial for three whole months, so you can experiment with it, find out if all your favourite tunes are there (spoiler, they probably are) and then either continue the subscription, or cancel it without having spent a penny. Win win! Did we mention there are 50 million songs available? You can cancel at any time, but if you choose to keep the service once those free three months are over, then Amazon Music costs $9.99/£9.99 a month (or $7.99/£7.99 for Amazon Prime members). Which is still a bargain when you consider how much music you get access to. If you'd also like to spend the weekend lost in a good book, Amazon Kindle Unlimited is also currently free for two months to new customers too. The online library holds over a million books, magazines and audiobooks, which is sure to keep you entertained for hours. You don't even need a Kindle to get access, you can download books directly on to your PC, Mac, iOS or Android devices. Want Alexa to handle your new playlists? Or a Kindle to enjoy your new book? Amazon is currently offering big discounts on its device range – you can find all the best prices right here: View the full article

If you live in the UK, Germany or France and having been thinking of signing up to Adobe CC, you're in luck. For the next 48 hours, you can save a whopping 40% off individual Creative Cloud subscriptions. For creatives living in the UK, this epic discount equates to a monthly saving of almost £20! The offer is open to artists and designers residing in Germany and France too. Just follow the links below. And be quick, this amazing offer ends on Monday 13 April. Get 40% off Adobe Creative Cloud - Germany Get 40% off Adobe Creative Cloud - France The price reduction is exclusively for readers of Future Publishing's brands and applies to the complete Adobe Creative Cloud suite, which encompasses over 20 different apps. That includes all the big players – photo editing favourite Photoshop, digital artists' go-to Illustrator, video editing software Premiere Pro, web prototyping tool Adobe XD and motion effects creator After Effects. You'll also be able to explore the new additions to the Adobe family, tablet-based art app Adobe Fresco, and Photoshop on iPad. Just in case you need some extra encouragement, remember that when you buy Adobe's full All Apps package you're also getting 100GB of cloud storage (with the option to upgrade to 10TB) and premium features like Adobe Portfolio, Adobe Fonts, and Adobe Spark. The programmes are fully integrated, so you can switch between them (and jump from one device to another) seamlessly. Built-in templates help you jump-start your designs, while step-by-step tutorials will help you sharpen your skills and get up to speed quickly. This deal is valid until 13 April for Creative Bloq readers, so if you're in the UK and want to save big on Adobe's entire suite of creative software, grab it now. If you live outside the United Kingdom, here are the best Adobe CC prices in your area: Related articles: Top-class Photoshop tutorials to hone your skills The 13 best alternatives to Photoshop The best web hosting services for designers View the full article

The bug -- rated 10 in severity -- potentially affects large numbers of corporate VMs and hosts. View the full article

File organization for designers can be tough since we work on so many different projects, with a variety of clients and teams. Each client has their own way of project management, too. It can be a lot to handle if …View the full article

Autodesk has released Maya 2020: the latest update on its 3D modelling, animation, visual effects and 3D rendering software. I've been using Maya for almost two decades now. I remember the days when you needed a Silicon Graphics machine to run it, which was expensive enough, but coupled with the price of a Maya licence you had to spend a small fortune. I'm not sure if the unobtainable price made it a more desirable application, but everyone I knew wanted to work with it. Thankfully, prices dropped over the years and now Maya is much more affordable, although many still think it's too expensive, especially when compared to other applications like Blender and Cinema 4D (both of which appear, along with Maya, on our guide to the best 3D modelling software). Since its early days, Autodesk has released updates annually. These usually saw new tools and features being added to its arsenal; these features were welcome additions, but were often aimed more at higher-end animation and simulation work. Over the past few years, maybe even longer, we have seen a shift in the direction Autodesk have taken with the updates. They are now more focused on improving existing systems and implementing features voted on by the community. This has transformed Maya into a much better, all-round application which continues to evolve and improve in a more focused way. With Maya 2020, Autodesk continue this trend of listening to their users to implement much-needed quality-of-life features. They also enlisted Blue Sky Studios to help mold the animation tools, which have also seen a huge upgrade in this release. Maya 2020: Features and performance Autodesk boast over 60 new animation features, with the biggest being improvements to the animation cache playback. Originally introduced in 2019, cache playback allowed animators to view their work in real time with little or no need for constant playblasts. This was the idea anyway, but it came with limitations. The first was a lack of dynamics support, so it couldn't be used alongside these systems. Image planes still relied on legacy systems, so they were slow and hogged memory, and it wasn't as efficient when used with dense geometry. These issues have all been addressed and make for a smoother experience. Dynamics support is included, using a new layered evaluation system. nParticles, nCloth and nBodies are now supported, with nHair, Bifrost FX and muscle systems coming later. High-resolution geometry or subdivision surface models that used Smooth Mesh were not efficient enough in 2019. They used a lot of memory and were slow to cache. In 2020, the base mesh is stored while smoothing is now handled on the GPU. Speaking of the GPU, another big update this year is Arnold 6 with full GPU rendering support, based on the NVIDIA OptiX ray-tracing engine. This has been in beta for a while but it's nice to see a full release. I've been using this more and more since I installed 2020 – it's so fast, although I am running an NVIDIA Quadro RTX 4000 so I'm not sure how it would run on lower-end cards. I no longer need to render to see model and shader updates, as they are visible in the viewport in, almost, real time. Finally, Maya has the ability to retopologise the densest of models On the modelling side of things, Autodesk have given us Remesh and Retopology tools. "It's about time!" I hear you scream. When combined, these tools will enable clean, quad-based topology but it has limitations. As good as the resulting models are, there are no options to dictate edge flow, so for game art there would still be a lot of clean-up needed. Animators can now see past and future movement with the new ghosting preview tool It seems Autodesk are now taking full advantage of the GPU as it's being used on many other tools to help speed up workflow. The Proximity Wrap tool, which is new to Maya, is an advanced version of the Wrap tool. It too uses the GPU to help calculate how the influenced geometry manipulates the surface model, making for smoother interactions. I'm looking forward to experimenting with this on future facial rigs and custom muscle systems. With Maya 2020, animation has seen significant improvements, as has rigging While we are on the subject of rigging, another new addition I am personally excited about is the introduction of matrix-driven workflows. These are a series of nodes and attributes that make rigs cleaner and less cluttered. With the offsetParentMatrix attribute, constraints could be used less and less, meaning the art of rigging is more streamlined. The one issue I do have with the new rigging tools is they aren't backwards compatible. I have many clients who still use Maya 2017 and 2018, so for me, these shiny new nodes aren't an option just yet. Should you upgrade to Maya 2020? There is so much to be excited about with this release, and I haven't even covered the modelling and speed improvements. All in all, Maya 2020 is an essential upgrade if you're an animation studio. With all the new updates, it could save you a lot of time on your projects. This content originally appeared in 3D World magazine. Subscribe to 3D World here. Read more: 9 of the best free 3D apps View the full article

If you're anything like us, your mind has a tendency to wander at the best of times – not least while working from home. From Netflix and WhatsApp, to checking the contents of the fridge (again), it's hard to stay vigilant against the thousands of distractions begging for our attention. A wandering mind isn't always a bad thing for creatives, we might add, but if you need some focus right now, you're in luck. Not only is there an abundance of scientific research into how to avoid distraction, but a handy infographic (below) translates the science into nine easy steps to follow to help you stay focused. Check out our roundup of the best infographics – or if you want to create your own, take a look at our pick of the best infographic tools. Still with us? (There's nothing new in the fridge, we promise.) From simply grabbing a coffee to trying a hand yoga trick, Headway Capital's infographic is full of simple techniques to keep your mind focussed on the task at hand. Don't forget to check out our guide to working from home more productively if you want more healthy stay at home tips. Related articles Infographic reveals 50 huge logo design secrets 62 of the best infographics 6 ways to avoid distractions while working from home View the full article

The majority of us will be spending Easter at home this year, and so will be looking for ways to be entertained. Music is, of course, one great way form of entertainment, providing the answer when you need a soundtrack to blare out out while you dance around your living room, or something soothing to help you get to sleep. If you're not happy with your current music system, or aren't yet signed up to a digital service, then Amazon Music could be ideal for you. (And don't forget to get a pair of the best noise-cancelling headphones too.) The best thing about it is that right now there's a free trial for three whole months, so you can experiment with it, find out if all your favourite tunes are there (spoiler, they probably are) and then either continue the subscription, or cancel it without having spent a penny. Win win! Did we mention there are 50 million songs available? You can cancel at any time, but if you choose to keep the service once those free three months are over, then Amazon Music costs $9.99/£9.99 a month (or $7.99/£7.99 for Amazon Prime members). Which is still a bargain when you consider how much music you get access to. If you'd also like to spend the weekend lost in a good book, Amazon Kindle Unlimited is also currently free for two months to new customers too. The online library holds over a million books, magazines and audiobooks, which is sure to keep you entertained for hours. You don't even need a Kindle to get access, you can download books directly on to your PC, Mac, iOS or Android devices. Want Alexa to handle your new playlists? Or a Kindle to enjoy your new book? Amazon is currently offering big discounts on its device range – you can find all the best prices right here: View the full article

We like to think we're pretty knowledgeable when it comes to logos and branding, but as a new study has shown, drawing even the most recognisable logos from memory can be a tad harder than it looks. Vanmonster recently asked 100 members of the British public to draw several famous car logos from memory, and the results range from impressively accurate to hilariously off. They also serve as an interesting insight into which logo elements are ingrained into the public consciousness, and which are more forgettable than the manufacturers might like to think. For some of the most memorable logos ever, check out our best logos of all time. We'll start with perhaps the simplest logo on Vanmonster's list. Surely Audi's four intersecting rings (below) are impossible to forget? To be fair, the vast majority of entrants got this one right, and most slip-ups are at least ring-related (Audi's and the Olympics' rings are similar, we'll give them that). As for those towards the bottom-right (Vanmoster lists the drawings from 'most accurate' to 'least accurate'), a few seem to have mixed up Audi and the Avengers. They both begin with 'A', we guess. Most of these look about right On the other end of the spectrum, the Alfa Romeo logo is probably the most complex on the list. Unsurprising, then, that most got this one wrong. 74% of entrants forgot to include the red cross, 63% forgot the green snake and a whopping 75% didn't include the shield. Our favourites are probably the three 'least accurate': two question marks, and one which simply says, "animals of some sort". 100 very different Alfa Romeo logos As well as showing all 100 entries for each logo, Vanmonster includes a handy gallery showing us the original logo alongside the most and least accurate attempt. Below are the best and worst attempts at BMW's logo (which recently underwent its biggest design change in over 100 years). Umm.... You can find the rest of the entries on Vanmonster's website, with logos including Renault, Toyota, Ferrari and many more. One thing's for sure, just like when 150 Americans tried to draw various (non-vehicular) logos from memory, this car logo test proves that the simplest are the most memorable. It's easier to recall rings than flag-snake-shield combinations. Related articles: Where to find logo design inspiration Quiz: Can you identify these original car logos? TrueCar rebrand fails to reinvent the wheel View the full article

The best streaming services are useful all year round, but in recent months, they have become even more present in many people's lives. Deciding what to watch on TV used to be just a case of choosing between a few channels, but now, there's a plethora of streaming services available. So how do you decide which is the best streaming service for you? When choosing a streaming service, there are a few things to consider. The deciding factor for many will be cost, but there are also the variety and quality of content, number and type of devices available, quality of video – ie. is it in HD/4k or not (if you've got one of the best monitors and are using it to watch TV, you'll care about this one) and ease of use to consider. And then there's whether or not a particular show is on that service. (In our experience, the show that everyone is talking about is usually only available on the one streaming service you don't have.) The good news is that free trials are available for most streaming services, so you can always test out all the platforms before committing to the one/s you like best. If you happen to have a lot of time on your hands, you might even be able to binge your favourite show before the trial runs out. Here, we've rounded up the best services available right now, and outlined their pros and cons. Netflix has seeped its way into popular culture for a reason. It's got tons of content, both in terms of TV shows and films, is affordable and the chances are, your friends or colleagues have got it too and are likely to be talking about its latest 'trending' show. We also love the Netflix 'N' credits when it starts a show. While we think it is a fantastic start as a streaming service, it doesn't offer everything, and some content is already being pilfered from Netflix for other networks. What you get does also vary quite widely depending which country you are in. You've also got to wonder who is in charge of Netflix's categorisation and descriptions, it frequently mislabels hard-hitting dramas as 'comedies', and the descriptions manage to make most of the content sound the same. Because it's not that easy to browse too, finding something you actually want to watch can be tricky. Saying all that, we still love it. You just need to check out recommendations of what you want to watch (see our best Netflix shows) before you log on, or prepare to lose an hour scrolling. Disney Plus has stormed onto the streaming scene and made a huge impact. It's great value for money and has, as you'd expect, an array of classic and new Disney content. There are also all the Star Wars films, and content from the Marvel universe, National Geographic and Pixar. That's an awful lot of films and shows. On top of that, Disney Plus' mix of original content is already proving incredibly popular, The Mandalorian is just one of Disney Plus' offerings (and okay, we're maybe just mentioning it because we can't get enough of Baby Yoda). There's plenty more in the pipeline too, plus you can download any of the service's offerings for watching without WiFi. Overall, we think that Disney Plus is well worth the money, and has something for a range of ages and tastes. At the moment, there's a seven-day free trial on all of Disney Plus' content. Lots of people have Amazon Prime Video as part of their Amazon Prime package, as it is automatically included. But it is possible to buy just Amazon Prime Video if you want to. Should you bother? Well, Amazon Prime Video is similar in its offering to Netflix, there's a vast array of films, including hot new releases, and plenty of TV shows. Amazon doesn't have as many Originals as Netflix, but some of the ones it does have are well worth watching. Where Amazon Prime Video differs from Netflix is that not everything that you see within its somewhat confusing UI is included in your package, so just because a film appears when you search for it, doesn't mean that it is free. But if you're not too bothered about having the latest films, or don't mind renting or buying them when they are available occasionally, then Amazon Prime Video should suit you nicely. And if you've been considering signing up to Amazon Prime for a while, then the Video services could be the thing that convinces you. It's worth trying a free trial, at least. Hulu has a wide range of content, including shows from ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox, and one of the best things about it is the variety of plan options. You can have Hulu + Live TV, or add Disney Plus or ESPN Plus, for example. Like Amazon and Netflix, Hulu also does a pretty neat line of its own original shows – The Handmaid's Tale is just one. The most basic Hulu subscription is incredibly cheap for what you get, the only downside is that there are adverts. If you don't mind having scheduled snack breaks then this is fine, but if you want to watch TVs and movies without the commercials, then you'll have to pay for a slightly pricier plan. Even then, some of the most popular shows still have ads before and after they start. Saying that, it's still pretty cheap overall, there's a one month free trial, and the range of content that Hulu offers should satisfy most. Sling TV isn't like the other services on this list in that it isn't a Netflix-style approach to content, that is, collecting together lots of shows and films for people to watch from one place. No, Sling TV is a different way to watch TV, providing an alternative to cable channels. You can use it to watch live TV without having any cables or satellite dishes or any of the other stuff that you used to have to faff around with. It allows you to pause, rewind and fast-forward live TV on some (but not all) channels, and you can watch TV after it has aired. There are various options and add-ons available, depending on what channels you like. You'll have to have a pretty good internet connection for it to work, though and the user experience varies across devices. It's definitely worth giving the free trial a go though, because if it works for you, it's brilliant. Read more: 10 boxsets every designer should watch The best USB-C monitors right now The best language learning apps for creatives View the full article

The online videoconferencing service added Alex Stamos to the team and has also formed an expert advisory board to grapple with the pains of its COVID-19 growth spurt. View the full article

Tapplock catches heat for patched vulnerabilities -- because of its claims that its smart locks can't be hacked. View the full article

With much of the world's workforce now working from home, remote working tools have become hard to find. Video calls are now one of the very few ways folks can stay connected, so it's not hard to understand why webcams are currently in short supply. Luckily, most laptops, tablets and smartphones these days feature an in-built camera, which is more than sufficient to stay in touch with loved ones. But if you're a creative wanting to make a virtual pitch or showcase your artwork to clients in all its glory, a quality webcam will provide the video quality you need. (And if you're after more home office equipment, don't miss our round up of the best office chairs and best USB-C monitors too.) It might seem webcams are like gold dust at the moment, but fear not, some are still available. Here at Creative Bloq, we've found the online retailers that are still stocking webcams and you'll find our pick of the best webcams currently on sale below. It's worth noting that webcams are flying off the shelves right now, so some models may sell out quickly. But our clever little price comparison widget updates each 30 minutes to show you all the webcams still on sale, at the very best prices. Where to buy a webcam in the US If you're living in the US and struggling to find anywhere that still stocks webcams, you'll be pleased to hear there's still a number of models available at the following retailers: Best Buy - quality webcams from $50 Amazon - webcams from Logitech and more B&H Photo Video - top models at low prices Staples - quality devices for all budgets Dell- Professional webcams for under $100 Office Depot - the widest range of webcams still available Newegg - Top quality webcams for less But to save you scouring through the options, here are the best webcam deals currently available: Where to buy a webcam in the UK Webcams in the UK are in seriously short supply, but there's still a few around, you just need to know where to look. Here are a few of the best offers available right now: View the full article

With the sheer amount of 'quarantine content' doing the rounds these days, it's hard to know what's worth your time. From work from home guides to the dystopian daily onslaught that is the news, you'd be forgiven for never wanting to see words like 'quarantine' and 'isolation' again. But trust us, one look at the A-Z of Quarantine is bound to raise a knowing smile (perhaps even 26 of them). The A-Z of Quarantine is a simple yet beautifully designed website that uses the alphabet "to produce a living document of the minutiae of life under lockdown". It's a hugely relatable and humorous exploration of lockdown life, from 'Art' to 'Zoom'. "Instead of climbing the walls, you could paint them?" says the former entry, while the latter aptly describes Zoom as, "The tool you use to show your boss you’ve managed to get out of bed." Want to make your own beautiful website? Check out our favourite web design tools. A screenshot from the A-Z of Quarantine It helps that the website looks great. Accompanying copywriter Zosia Swidlicka's short but hilarious descriptions are a series of experimental animated letter forms using an AI-powered typeface by designer Barney McCann. These mesmerising letters are described as "the closest thing you can get to a computer’s handwriting." Sounds familiar Some of our favourite examples from the alphabet include 'C' for 'Cats' ("Learn from the best: stare out of the window for a few hours, clean behind your ears, and sleep when you’re tired; ideally across a nearby human’s keyboard"), 'K' for 'Kids' ("All that quality time they’re spending with your iPad") and 'O' for 'Old flames' ("When your ex thinks now’s the perfect time to get back in touch"). Swidlicka and McCann plan to update the A-Z periodically, as our experience of the "new normal" continues to change at such a dizzying rate. You can submit your own suggestions by commenting under each letter on the A-Z of Quarantine Instagram page (above). 'Whether you’re feeling bored, anxious or alone," says Swidlicka, "we hope this dystopian dictionary provides you with a moment of connection, or at the very least, distraction." Judging by the fact that we now want to send it to everybody we know, we think they hit the spot. Related articles: This artists' activity pack will keep you busy for days How not to live in creative isolation Iconic logos reimagined for the age of coronavirus View the full article

Spring's finally rolling in, but the odds are that you're not really feeling it thanks to the Coronavirus lockdown. Outside the flowers are blooming and the birds are singing, but where's the fun in that when you're stuck inside? Even if you can't get out and enjoy the sights and sounds of Spring, you can always bring the season inside and add a Spring touch to your designs. If you're up to speed with your watercolour techniques you could paint your own brightly-coloured floral designs; for an easier time, though, we've found a selection of beautiful patterns that'll inject a bit of seasonal warmth into any project. The best free pattern generation tools 01. Mimosa and Camellia These mimosas and camellias will warm up any design Designed by Hala Kobrynska, Mimosa and Camellia is guaranteed to wake up your senses with its combination of bright yellow mimosas set against cream camellia flowers and dark green leaves and branches. This stunning pattern set comes with 23 seamless patterns, as well as a pair of JPGs with all the elements set against a white background, and if you want to roll your own patterns you also get 25 transparent PNG files, each containing a separate element. Mimosa and Camellia will cost you $15 for a personal licence, while a commercial licence will set you back just $25. 02. Pink Blossoms Here you get six different designs featuring pink blossoms Here's just the thing if you're not feeling in the pink right now. Volume 1 of Larysa Zabrotskaya's Watercolour Floral Patterns collection is all about the delicate pink blossoms, artfully arranged in high-resolution seamless patterns. There are six patterns supplied, both as JPGs and transparent PNGs, so if you're not sold on the white background you can add your own more colourful backing. A personal license will cost you $5, but you'll probably want to pay $6 for a commercial license. 03. Another Side A floral design seen from an unusual angle Providing a fun and intriguing twist on the usual floral pattern is Another Side, designed by Katerina Murysina. Instead of providing the standard view of Spring flowers, it shows them from a different angle, as if you were lying in a meadow and seeing them from below, with stems and leaves taking the forefront, as well as caterpillars, ants and snails. There are six colour schemes available, with prices starting at $39.75 each for both personal and commercial use. 04. Snipe Pattern This fab ornithological pattern's free to use The snipe is a medium sized wading bird recognisable by its long bill, which you might spot by a lakeside if you were allowed to go out at the moment. For now, though, you can enjoy the sight of it in the lovely Snipe Pattern from Vecteezy. You get a whole flock of snipes set against assorted foliage, rendered in nicely on-trend muted tones, and it's free to use as long as you provide attribution. 05. Spring Lily Flowers Colourful lilies make for a great Spring look Lilies have something of a funereal reputation, but they come to life in this Spring Lily Flowers pattern from woodhouse84 on Vectorstock. Here the lilies come in assorted vibrant shades instead of the usual white, and set against a near-black background they really stand out. This seamless vector pattern comes in both raster and vector formats, and prices start at $14.99 for a standard license that allows for most commercial uses. 06. Cherry Blossom Instantly evoke the feeling of Spring in Japan with this pattern For a distinctly Japanese take on Spring, check out Hala Kobrynska's Cherry Blossom design. The annual appearance of cherry blossom – or sakura – is a huge thing in Japan, and Kobrynska's vector interpretation of it is a sight to gladden the heart. There are 16 seamless high-resolution patterns included in this collection, in EPS, JPG, PDF and TIFF formats, and they'll cost you $19 for a personal license or $29 for the commercial version. 07. Spring Flowers We love this combination of spring flowers with a geometric design There's nothing like the sight of daffodils to evoke warm Spring feelings, especially if you live in the UK, and this Spring Flowers pattern, another design from woodhouse84, has plenty of them as well as other Spring blooms. We love the way that the warm yellow flowers are set against a black and white geometric pattern; it gives the whole design a fresh, lively feel. As with woodhouse84's other pattern, it comes in assorted formats and is available from $14.99. 08. Vector Floral Flowers and butterflies – what's not to love? Blooms and butterflies are a wonderfully Spring-like combination, and Vector Floral, a pattern from Freepik, puts them together beautifully. It uses silhouettes of butterflies and flowers, coloured in warm, earthy tones, and layers them to create an abstract seamless pattern that would make for a brilliant background. It's a premium resource from Freepik; subscribe from €7.50 per month to get it, as well as over two million other vector designs. Related articles: How to draw a rose Create a repeating pattern in Photoshop How to create repeat patterns in Illustrator View the full article

Novel hack allows an attacker to create a mouse-over in a PowerPoint file that triggers the installation of malware. View the full article