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Corel Painter 2020 offers a raft of new and updated painting features, as well as interface improvements. Headline updates include a performance optimisation options, a refined Brush Selector tool, and new colour selection tools. Corel’s flagship painting software is now in its 29th year, and its one-off price tag (£359.99, or £180 to upgrade a previous version) will appeal to artists who want to avoid going down the subscription software route. But does how does this software stack up in our ranking of the best digital art software? In this Corel Painter 2020 review, we take a closer look at the updates, and whether they make this tool a worthwhile investment. Buy Corel Painter 2020 Corel Painter 2020: Performance optimisation Corel Painter 2020 aims to get the most from your hardware with the new Brush Accelerator tool. This assesses your system and then applies optimal performance settings. Stamp brushes benefit from GPU acceleration, and you can choose which brushes receive a hardware boost. You can quickly identify all the installed brushes that will benefit from GPU acceleration Corel states you can “paint up to 20 times faster” with its Brush Accelerator, and we certainly noticed a reduction in lag when painting with traditional media brushes. You can also use the tool to adjust CPU performance to improve the overall software experience, and gain insights on how best to upgrade your system. Corel Painter 2020: Interface updates The previous version of Painter had a cluttered workspace that often interrupted your creative flow. Painter 2020 now only displays the configuration options that are relevant to your chosen tool, which results in a more streamlined interface. Clever grouping of settings within pop-out Consolidated Library panels, together with tool icons that change appearance depending on your setting choices, create the impression that Corel’s developers have acted on feedback from artists. Painter 2020’s slimmed-down Brush Selector displays sub-categories of brushes, where you can view Dab and Stroke previews at a glance. Previously, you’d have to hover your cursor over a brush to display its Dab shape. The Brush Selector is highly configurable, enabling you to display more or less information in the software’s interface. As you become more used to the software we imagine you’d be able to pare back the interface significantly. Corel Painter 2020: Painting improvements How you choose colour in the software has also been given an overhaul. The highly customisable Universal Color Wheel has a standard look across all tools. There’s now a preview feature, while the slider controls are coloured. You can also pick your colours using hue, saturation and value, choose to pin or unpin the wheel, and even set the wheel in left-handed mode. The latest version of Painter adjusts the choice of harmonious colours as you paint The new Color Harmonies tool displays colours that are harmonious to your current choice, across six modes including analogous and complementary. This feature will benefit both aspiring and pro artists in helping them to achieve the best colour choices in their artworks. Layers are a staple of digital art, and in Painter 2020 it’s a case of evolution rather than revolution. Right-clicking or cmd-clicking a layer displays a pop-out contextual menu with a range of options, which is preferable to having to access them through the main Layers menu. The options to collapse, lock, select and paste layers are all time-savers that will further streamline your creative process. This Corel Painter 2020 review was originally published in ImagineFX magazine. Subscribe here, or check out the rest of our ImagineFX articles on Creative Bloq. View the full article

The uncontrolled search path vulnerability allows a local user to use DLLs to escalate privileges and affects Windows PCs. View the full article

When you think romance, you think fried chicken, right? KFC is hoping so, as it's teamed up with Moonpig to produce a range of Valentine's Day cards, including a scratch-and-sniff limited edition card. It says, 'You're Finger Lickin' Good' on it, and when you scratch the chicken nugget, you get a waft of fried chicken. Saucy. There are eight designs available, all featuring some rather suggestive chicken-based phrases. There's 'Fancy a Peck?', where you can super-impose your loved one's face for extra effect, there's 'Life with you is all gravy', 'You're a snack, wanna cluck?' and there's even a nod to the vegans, with 'will you be my vegantine this year?' It's almost like some of KFC's best print ads have been transformed into card form. Almost. (If you need a present to offset your chicken-y card, see our Valentine's Day gifts.) Who said romance was dead? To be honest, you could do worse on Valentine's Day. These cards are at least bound to get a laugh. The Moonpig page is also delightfully full of chicken innuendo (apparently that is now a thing). For example, it says: "Whether your partner is all about the breasts or prefers a mouth-watering set of hot wings, we know there's nothing more romantic on Valentine's Day than spending time together with a bucket of chicken." So if fried chicken gets you or your partner in the mood, then these may just be the cards for you. The smelly card costs £3.49 and the other ones are £3.29 each. You can even buy a pack of four, just in case you have four chicken-loving lovers to impress. Plus, you get to be smug that 10 per cent of the proceeds will be donated to the KFC Foundation, which helps young people. KFC is known for its fun and inventive branding. There was that bucket-hat, and that glorious apology on its chicken bucket. The brand also got in trouble earlier in the year for its use of the word 'cluck', which some complained was being substituted for a swear word. We can only imagine the phrases the team thought up that didn't make it on to the cards. Read more: Can you spot the hidden trick in the new Multiply logo? New Marvel Eternals logo leaked The best travel mugs right now View the full article

Recently, we heard news that Apple had filed a patent for a very different kind of iMac. The patent details a slick, mostly glass, all-in-one (AIO) design with a distinctly futuristic vibe. Until now, we've only had some fairly uninspiring line drawings to give us an idea of how this radically different design might look – but Concept Creator on YouTube has come to the rescue with a 3D rendering based on the patent details. If this video is anything to go by, the potential new design is going to look incredible. There are some aesthetic similarities to the current iMac (incidentally, our pick of the best computer for graphic design, and the best computer for video editing right now). The curvy junction between the screen and its stand and the generally minimalist, sleek approach are both present, but other than that it's an entirely new ball game. Take a look at the mockup below. As a reminder, here's what the current iMac looks like. This brushed aluminium look has been around for a while now Below, you can take a closer look at the diagrams of the potential new design included in the newly published patent. The distinct screen, housing and separate keyboard encased in brushed aluminium have been replaced by an AIO made mostly of glass. The accompanying text details "a glass housing member that includes an upper portion defining a display area, a lower portion defining an input area... a continuous, curved surface between the upper portion and lower portion." A new patent shows a mostly glass all-in-one design The patent also includes a support structure on the rear, which TechRadar suggests could contain the machine's computing power, with the glass section being fitted solely with sensors for the inputs, display and camera. See the full patent here. Apple has gained plenty of news inches for its design decisions over the years – even something relatively minor, such as the replacement of Forest Green for Navy Blue in the iPhone 12 lineup – has people talking. So we're doubly excited at the prospect of something potentially radical to follow in the footsteps of the Mac Pro 'dustbin' and 'cheese grater' designs, for example. When, or even if, this spacey new look will become reality is quite another thing. At the moment, it's still in its research phase, so it's certainly not on the cards any time soon. Although it's worth noting that while the patent was published on 23 January 2020, it was filed last May, which means Apple has been exploring this direction for a little while now. Read more: The best Apple Watch apps in 2020 Apple Pencil vs Apple Pencil 2: which should you buy? The best cheap Apple laptop deals View the full article

Conversational UI and chatbots are becoming more popular in mobile apps. Understandably so; they provide an exciting and new type of experience for users. When done well, conversational UI and chatbots can provide a more intuitive and helpful experience but …View the full article

The RobbinHood ransomware is using a deprecated Gigabyte driver as the tip of the spear for taking out antivirus products. View the full article

HTML5 reached recommended status in 2014, so when can we expect HTML6? Well, WHATWG – the standards body driving changes to the HTML specification – has decided to implement a 'living document' approach to standardisation. This means we are unlikely to see a large 'HTML6' update in the future, as smaller changes to the specification now happen more frequently. However, HTML specifications are being revised and improved upon constantly. Browser vendors are always busy implementing the latest features to release into the wider world, which means we always get new things to try out. There are changes heading your way that are worth noting – read on for two game-changers. While you're here, you might also want to explore our beginner's guide to HTML tags, learn how to use an HTML boilerplate, or browse our pick of the best HTML APIs. Native modals One change making its way into browsers is the <dialog> element. This acts as a native equivalent to JavaScript-powered modal windows, which are a common design pattern on many sites. It can be opened and closed by toggling the open attribute. By default, it will show hovering above where it was placed in the page. Calling its openModal method through JavaScript will then use a more familiar modal-like interface. By default, the background becomes greyed out and the content below it is no longer interactive. Forms inside a modal dialog can have a method attribute of dialog, which will submit the value and pass the value back to the dialog object itself. This makes <dialog> a great tool for confirming actions or other small interactions. The element is standardised, and currently, only Chrome and Samsung Internet browsers have full support. Those without will still show the contents of a dialog, but it will be placed inside the page instead. Smarter menus Some web applications allow users to perform groups of actions within their interface. These would affect the current page in some form, such as adding an item to a list. Previously these would be marked up as a <ul> – an unordered list of actions a user could take. While the <ul> is intended for a list of display items, it is not best suited to interactive elements. A menu holds a set of actions, which would be triggered by <button> elements inside of them. Other than that, the <menu> element acts no different to a usual list of items. As browser adoption improves it may help assistive technologies find these interactive elements more easily. There are many smaller changes constantly appearing in the specification and making their way into browsers. Keep an eye on each browser’s update pages and take a look through the WHATWG living standard. This information originally appeared in Web Designer magazine. Explore all Web Designer articles on CB, or, for a monthly hit of web insight and inspiration, subscribe to net magazine. Read more: 8 HTML tags you need to be using (and 5 to avoid) How to unify your UX across platforms 16 stunning parallax scrolling websites View the full article

Multiply is the financial app you've never heard of. And Ragged Edge is here to change all that, as it has recently rebranded the UK's first FCA-approved AI app. The service provides free, automated financial advice, and its new tongue-in-cheek visual identity promises to propel it to new heights. The concept is pretty simple, the app is called Multiple and so Ragged Edge went for rabbits, because erm... rabbits multiply. But simplicity is memorable (as our logo design guide shows), and we think this works. The refreshed logo also includes some neat little details, like the rabbit ears formed in the negative space of the 'M'. It's perhaps a slight stretch, but we like it. The black-and-white colour scheme helps make the message stand out The wordmark uses Sharp Type’s Doyle Black Italic, a modern take on Cooper Black, which was used on the likes of The Beach Boys' album, Pet Sounds. This choice of typeface conveys a sense of fun and familiarity. Elsewhere, playful animations of the rabbits and engaging copy help draw people in. Overall, this doesn't look like it should be the identity for a finance app, and that is kind of the point. This would get our attention while waiting for the train "Rabbits. Multiply. When you see it, you get it. The visual identity is all about that confidence," says the Ragged Edge project page. "In a category of look-a-likes and sound-a-likes, it all comes together in a stupidly simple but surprisingly deep brand. A brand that can both educate and motivate." We're inclined to agree. Engaging people to care about their finances can be tricky, and we think Ragged Edge has done a good job of helping Multiply to stand out in this sector. We also love the little rabbit ears that pop up around the identity. They give a little nod to the rabbit theme, without taking it too far (they could've really gone for it with rabbit puns, for example). Overall, we think this is a very effective visual identity. Read more: Freelance finance: How to make more money Can the Halifax rebrand humanise banking? New Marvel Eternals logo leaked View the full article

Looking to spruce up your résumé but don't have the money to spend on training? This shiny new deal is for you. For a limited time, Shaw Academy is offering a four-week course of your choice, all for the perfect price of zero dollars. Pick from several different classes, in all sorts of fields, and get started on learning new skills to add to your repertoire. With courses in photography, health and wellness, marketing, design, business, and more, Shaw Academy can help you achieve your goals for the new year. You'll be able to choose one of 21 interactive courses, led by industry experts that come complete with valuable certifications that can be added to your résumé and give you extra expertise you need to one-up the competition. For more top training, see our post on upping your photography skills, or our inspirational design portfolios. Best of all, the extensive courses are all accredited by the CPD Certification Service, an independent body that ensures qualifications are in line with the most current standards, making your certification even more potent to employers. With a flexible education model, you'll be better equipped to take on a new job, business venture, or career change with a little help from the top specialists. With over five million graduates, Shaw Academy provides courses available on web and mobile so that you can access them at home or on the go. Each session is accessible 24/7 throughout your four week period, allowing you to easily revisit the material if you need to brush up on a concept or lesson. Live updates are included, allowing for access to the most revised content from professionals in industries of all sorts. Generally priced at around $50, for a limited time, you'll be able to take any four-week course for free. Whether you're looking to start up a new career or complement the skills you already possess, take advantage of this offer and gain more knowledge in 2020. Read more: How to unify your UX across platforms The best camera for creatives 9 of the best monogram logos ever made View the full article

If you consider yourself an artist, crafter, DIYer, designer, or anyone who has ever used their creative talents to make something special, you owe it to yourself to check out the Launch Your Etsy Store: 3-Course Bundle. Chances are you're already familiar with Etsy and may have even purchased something from the platform before, but if you've been hesitant about putting your own creations on Etsy to sell, this three-course collection can shed some light on what's involved and the steps you can take to build a successful shop. Here's a breakdown of what's included: If you want more advice on building your online portfolio, see our inspirational design portfolios and tips on how to start a blog. 01. Build an Etsy storefront that sells Getting your products seen on Etsy may seem like a daunting task, especially if you want to make a profit from your craft. Learn how to make your hard work pay off and create a viable online storefront with the help of Etsy expert Lisa Jacobs. With over 15 lessons and 5 hours of content, you'll learn how to showcase your products effectively, polish your storefront to attract visitors, and avoid mistakes that may be driving customers away. 02. Etsy 101: Launch your homemade shop You created your beautiful products, now what? Make the most out of your craft and set up a store with the help of Etsy veteran, Marlo Miyashiro. Having been involved in the retail and wholesale craft industries for over 20 years, she knows a thing or two about selling jewelry online. With 14 lessons, you'll learn how to navigate the interface, get a guide to setting up your shop and listings, and gain insights on relevant Etsy policies, so you're better equipped to launch your store properly. 03. Marketing your Etsy shop for sold-out success If you're wondering how to transform your shop into a primary source of income, this 15-lesson course is for you. Lisa Jacobs, a top-earning Etsy shop owner and marketing consultant for creative entrepreneurs, brings you robust marketing strategies to help get your brand the exposure it needs. Build on your passion and work toward getting paid to do what you love with lessons on creating consistent business plans, brand voice strategy, and so much more. Originally around $130, this Etsy store master class bundle is on sale for only $19.99 (that's 84% off). Launch your online store and start selling the products you want to share with the world. Prices subject to change. Read more: How to succeed as a designer-maker 16 great places to sell your design work online The best last-minute Valentine's Day gifts View the full article

Finding the perfect video for your project can have you spending extra money and extra hours that you don't have. Picking a stand-out video crew, finding the ideal talent, and figuring out usage rights is a job in itself, taking time away from reaching your marketing goals and deadlines. Cut down the time and money spent with the Design Wizard: Stock Video Bundle, bringing you access to curated video content at under $1 per asset. (If you want to create your own video, then see our best computers for video editing.) It's no secret that video is quickly becoming a go-to medium for online content. Design Wizard, an up-and-coming video and image design software, helps you navigate through the video content world with ease. With access to a trove of premium videos, curated for all different types of topics, you have a good shot at finding assets that will fit the needs of your brand. You'll be able to choose any 50 videos of your liking to use for upcoming projects, social media, presentations, and so much more, helping your brand shine and stand out. The intuitive software interface allows for quick editing and personalisation, so you can carefully craft every video to cater to your brand. An easy-to-use timeline will give you access to several customisable features to complement each video. Features include adding animated text, images, logos, and so much more. The edited videos will never expire, allowing you to use your assets for an unlimited amount of time and throughout different digital platforms. Access to Design Wizard: Stock Video Bundle is usually $1,000. For a limited time, this video content powerhouse bundle is price-dropped to only $49, that's a savings of 95%. Prices subject to change. Read more: The best video editing apps How to make an animated video Video editing software View the full article

Eternals is set to be released this year as part of Marvel Cinematic Universe's Phase Four, and has just finished production. And although the official logo was released when the film was announced at Comic-Con last year, another logo used on the crew's clothing has now been leaked. It's not uncommon for Marvel to tweak the official logo before release. This new logo (see our logo design tips to create your own version) uses the same lettering, but with added symbols on the left-hand side. These appear to be related to the Celestials, the ancient beings responsible for the creation of the Eternals. And as the film's plot will reportedly take place over thousands of years, it makes sense that time is an important theme, and therefore represented in the logo. The tweet has come from MCU Direct, MCU's fan account, so it's not official. But if the crew actually have this symbol on their clothing then that does suggest this might be the real logo. It doesn't exactly look like the slickest piece of branding we've ever seen, but it's probably a bit too early to judge. The official logo for Eternals The official logo for Eternals also has a slightly cosmic feel about it. The film is set for release on 6 November 2020, and stars Angelina Jolie, Kumail Nanjiani, Richard Madden, Lauren Ridloff, Brian Tyree Henry, Salma Hayek, Lia McHugh, Don Lee, Kit Harington, Gemma Chan and Barry Keoghan. Watch this space to find out more. Hopefully this won't be another leaked logo disaster like the Dune fiasco. We haven't seen any parody Eternals logos made out of pasta yet, but please do tag us on Twitter if you end up making one (and see our best logos post for some inspiration). Read more: Who is Rosette? And why is everyone drawing her? BrewDog gets neutered in sensible rebrand How to create a comic page View the full article

Cartoon Animator (CTA) is recognised among the easiest 2D animation software to use. Version 4 connects the tool with users of all the mainstream PSD tools, from Adobe Photoshop to Krita, Affinity, Clip Studio and Photopea. Creatives who use these PSD tools can now swiftly turn their creative concepts into animations, using their original processes, via Cartoon Animator. "Reallusion has created a clean, roundtrip workflow between digital content creation tools and Cartoon Animator," says John C. Martin, VP of product marketing at Reallusion. "Now, the connection between Cartoon Animator and mainstream PSD tools enables users to simultaneously work on their concept art and drive it to a final look." Now, you can animate your work at any stage in the artistic workflow, from early doodles right through to final production. "Simply send your drawings to Cartoon Animator, already auto-rigged for animation," explains Martin. "Return to edit the PSD, and roundtrip to CTA without losing a single keyframe animation." Turn your PSDs into animations There are some exciting features in Cartoon Animator that enable you to integrate animation seamlessly into your workflow. Let's take a look at how it works. Set up a 3D-like parallax effect from PSD layers First, it's now possible to use CTA to turn PSDs into scenes. Manageable scene elements can be created from PSD layers and sent to CTA for the arrangement of Z-depth. Use 3D depth to sort 2D scene elements and decide the relative order of characters and props in your scene. Easily build up hierarchical props by following the parent-child naming rule It's also now possible to turn PSDs into props. Import a PSD file as a prop and apply Elastic Motion effects to generate organic animations. Alternatively, follow PSD layer naming rules to group items and set object hierarchy for Compound Prop Animations. Automatically set up facial and body rigs for 2D actors designed with PSD Character Templates Finally, there's now a speedy way to turn PSDs into characters. Rig any imaginable 2D character design with the Free Bone Tool or use PSD Character Templates for biped human and quadruped animals. Simply replace the image layers with your own designs to automatically set up the character rig. Use CTA with PSD tools and Wacom Photopea is a free online image editing tool, and a great option for those who don't have a PSD editor at hand. And there's better news: Reallusion has partnered with Photopea to offer all paying CTA users an ad-free version of the tool. And for Wacom tablet users there's a new workflow to take your concept art to animation production. Start with storyboard sketches and bring them to CTA for animation. The really exciting part is that all the animations will remain intact even as you update the artwork. Sign up for a 30-day trial to explore the amazing CTA 4 features yourself. About Reallusion Reallusion Inc. is a 2D and 3D animation software and content developer. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, with R&D centers in Taiwan, and offices and training centers in Germany and Japan. Reallusion specialises in the development of real-time cinematic animation, virtual production, and motion capture tools that connect professional 3D animation technologies to creators, both independent and studio-based. The company provides users with pro character animation, facial and body mocap, and voice lipsync solutions for real-time filmmaking and previsualisation and production. Reallusion's core technologies are widely used by trainers, educators, game developers and filmmakers. View the full article

Valentine's Day is nothing if not divisive. For some, it's a day to stare adoringly at your loved one over a romantic dinner, and for others it's a huge pain in the ass. Whatever your personal feelings, though, you don't want to be in the proverbial dog house with your significant other because the day escaped your mind. But designers and artists are notoriously hard to buy for, so what can you get them to best describe how you feel? Luckily for you, we've found a number of items that are sure to bring joy to the creative love of your life. And, more importantly, will arrive before the big day. Want a present that's a little less 'Valentine's-y' ? See our list of graphic design books instead. 01. Retro walkman & wireless headphones On the 40th anniversary of the Walkman, Sony has released a wireless music player that has the retro stylings of a cassette tape, perfect for hit of nostalgia this Valentine's day. Note: they also come in other colours, that aren't the hue of your heart. Pair it with some wireless headphones – these Sony noise-cancelling ones are generally regarded as the best on the market right now – and you can crank up the Barry White wherever you are. 02. Chilly's Emma Bridgewater Pink Hearts bottle Everyone loves an insulated water bottle. And why not theme it up with some Valentine's-appropriate love hearts? A gift that'll be used every day, this bottle will remind your one true love of you every time they hydrate. What could be better than that? (If you'd like a less romantic water bottle, you could check out our pick of the best hydroflasks available). Buy Chilly's Emma Bridgewater hearts bottle on Amazon US / Amazon UK 03. Film Map – Original Open Edition Is your intended a bit of a film buff? This clever poster is a map that features over 900 film titles including Jurassic Park, Reservoir Dogs, Carlito's Way, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Valley of the Dolls, Chinatown and The Wolf of Wall Street. Based on a vintage Los Angeles street map, it has it also includes districts dedicated to cult British horror movies, and Hitchcock. The map is printed on 120gsm uncoated art paper with 4 colour litho print, and is H60 x W80cm. Buy the poster from Dorothy 04. LEGO Puppy/Bee You can always rely on LEGO when looking for the perfect gift. Over the past few years, the humble little brick has been transformed into various new Brick Headz designs, which includes this adorable Valentine's Day Puppy. It may not be the furry, four-legged friend your loved one might want, but it's a pretty great – less messy – alternative. There's also a really lovely LEGO Valentine's Bee design too (click the arrow to see image above), if you prefer. But hurry, both these little guys are flying off the shelves. Buy Lego Brick Headz Valentine's Puppy on Amazon US / Amazon UK Buy Lego Brick Headz Bee on Amazon US / Amazon UK 05. You're my Lobster Valentine's Day card Even if Valentine's Day isn't you thing, the very least you can do is buy the love in your life a card. This You're my Lobster design is one of many fun screenprinted designs from Sarah Chapman of Little Red Sparrow. Not only do we love the illustrations, we're big fans of how Chapman has balanced the mushy love aspect with tongue-in-cheek humour. Buy the card on Etsy 06. Bath Tray Artists and designers are busy people, so downtime is vital. This gorgeous bath board is the perfect excuse to relax and unwind with your favourite book or movie while having a long hot soak. But forget wrapping this gift up, get it set up over a hot bath, ready and waiting for your loved one when they get home for maximum brownie points. US: Buy Royal Craft Wood bath caddy from Amazon UK: Buy Relux bamboo bath caddy from Amazon 07. Alessi Espresso Coffee Maker If there's one thing lots of creatives rely on, it's coffee. So what better way to say I love you than with this beautifully designed Alessi six-cup espresso coffee maker. Richard Snapper is the man behind the design, which was the first espresso coffee maker in Alessi's history and the the first Alessi item exhibited at the MOMA in New York. Made of 18/10 stainless steel and a cast iron handle, this highly stylish yet functional item is sure to go down a treat with any coffee-loving creative. 08. Hotel Chocolat Straight from The Heart What works better to get the creative juices flowing than fancy chocolate? Spoil your loved one (and yourself – let's face it, it's a gift to share) with this beautiful heart-shaped box of Hotel Chocolat chocolates. A variety of milk, dark and white chocolate is included, with a range of 35 different recipes to sample. US: Browse the Hotel Chocolat gift range on Amazon UK: Buy Hotel Chocolat heart box on Amazon 09. Laboratory Samphire Eau de Toilette British brand Laboratory Perfumes craft unique, gender neutral fragrances, all of which are made in the UK using socially conscious, environmentally friendly and cruelty free ingredients. Add to that its 'do no harm' motto and you've got a wonderful gift that shows you not only care about the recipient but the planet too. Laboratory has a number of fragrances and candles in its portfolio – Samphire promises zesty hints and juniper berry top notes, while the Gorse is infused with coconut and gorse bush, with top notes of citrus and a "spicy depth". US: Buy Laboratory Perfumes Gorse Eau de Toillette on Amazon UK: Buy Laboratory Perfumes Samphire Eau de Toillette on Amazon 11. Bellroy Travel Folio Help your loved one travel in style with this luxury, compact travel folio from Bellroy. Featuring a leather divider to store cards, boarding passes and cash, there's also space for multiple passports and a handy micro pen. Want to really push the boat out? Fill this beautiful gift with future travel plans for you and your loved one as very special extra. Buy from Amazon: US / UK 12. Movado Watch If money is no option this Valentine's Day, these beautiful Movado watches will make sure the creative in your life never loses track of time. There are a few different styles on offer to suit different tastes, but the whole range is simple and elegant, and all feature the trademark shiny dot on the dial. Browse the Movado range on Amazon US / Amazon UK Read more: The best camera phones in 2020 7 alternative interpretations of love How to begin a figure drawing View the full article

The flaw was recently patched in Android's February Security Bulletin. View the full article

It's 2020, and you need a travel mug. That's because the world is turning its back on unsustainable single-use cups. Grabbing one of the best reusable coffee cups will help you cut back on what you send to landfill. Plus, you can choose something that suits your preferences for size and how it feels to drink from, and some are even made from recycled materials. Lots of our best travel mugs picks are also properly insulated, so they'll keep coffee and tea warm for longer. If you tend to wolf your drinks down right away and just need something to hold them in, you might not be bothered about this – but if you want something to help you get through a longer commute or last for an afternoon-long meeting, it's a big bonus. (Also check out our best Hydro Flask deals for some more bargain travel mugs.) We've even got a smart mug, with a heating element and battery, which will keep your drink at the exact temperature you prefer, so you get the maximum taste from it – perfect for the coffee connoisseur. (For more smart solutions, see our best smart home devices, or our smart keyboards for iPad.) We've focused on the lids and leak-proofing parts of lots of these cups, because a big part of how satisfied you are will come down to how much of a hassle a mug is to drink out of… and you'll definitely be unhappy if it leaks in your bag. Our reusable coffee cup picks range from the hyper-secure to the casual, across a range of prices. Some have clever engineering, some have beautiful aesthetics, some are made from ingenious sustainable materials, but all are great ways to get your coffee fix. Read on for our top picks. The Tefal Travel Mug doesn’t have the sharpest looks (though there’s little wrong with it) or some of the lofty engineering claims of some of the mugs here, but it’s the best travel mug because it’s an unbeatable balance of temperature-holding, size, price and leakproofness (which is definitely a real term you’ve heard before). The black rubbery middle band has a slightly cringey typographical design on it, but it adds texture for gripping, so we can live with it. To drink, you press a button in the centre of the lid, which pops up to open a gap, and you can then drink from any side without sloshing. Press it again to seal it from leaking. It’s dishwasher-safe too. If you want something no-nonsense and large, this is it. We’ve chosen the bigger version of this Contigo West Loop mug, because we know that sometimes starting the day requires a lot of help, but you can get a smaller version of Contigo’s Autoseal mugs if you don’t think half a litre of coffee is strictly necessary. The real trick here is the big Autoseal button – press it when you’re drinking and it opens a valve, so you can pour happily. Don’t press, and nothing comes out. The single-press-and-release system is a small thing, but those who drink on the go will struggle to switch back to anything with a more fiddly method of securing the cup once you’ve tried it. Even better: we like the simple curves and metal of its stainless steel build, and it comes in a really great range of matt and metallic finishes. We’re especially partial to ‘gunmetal’ and ‘latte’, pictured above. For those who refuse to be without their favourite loose-leaf blend, T2 has you covered. Lacking insulation, this T2 Explorer mug isn’t designed to keep things warm for hours (T2 does make proper vacuum flasks, if that’s what you want), but is made from durable Tritan tempered glass. You can obviously fill yourself a big hot drink with your favourite tea in the stainless steel infuser, but the large size means you could drop in ice cubes and brew an iced tea of your choice, equally. A flip-open lever stopper keeps things from spilling, but we like how easy it is to just pop your thumb under and ping it open. This bioGo Travel Mug isn’t so much intended for keeping your coffee warm over long periods, but if you just want something for drinking on your commute, its double-wall insulation will be enough. But that’s not really why you go for it anyway: being made from rice husks, its green credentials are second to none, and this also makes it incredibly light – just 180g for this 450ml version (a smaller 350ml is also available). It’s textured for a secure grip, and a simple flip-open half-ring on the lid stops spills. We like the flecked design in fetching pastel tones (plus a more vibrant yellow option). This Ember Temperature Control Travel Mug is the most expensive mug on our list by a long way, but that’s because it’s the only one that has an actual heating element, rather than just relying on physics. You can use a dial on the bottom of the mug to choose a temperature between 48.9°C and 62.8°C, and the mug will keep your drink at that exact temperature until the battery runs out – perfect if you’re a real connoisseur who’s a stickler for that kind of detail. And if you place it on its charging coaster, the battery will never run out, so you could disappear to an all-day meeting and come back to a drink that’s still at the perfect temperature. The design is plain (but good), and and it’s pretty heavy, but it’s impossible to overstate how magic it feels to drink coffee that’s always at exactly the right temperature – it will even cool freshly made coffee more quickly down to that temperature before keeping it there. Genius. KeepCup’s claim to coffee fame is that its reusable glass cups are “barista-standard”, made of a tempered Tritan glass that calls to mind your favourite coffee shop that won all those awards. The cork ring of the KeepCup Cork Brew keeps your hands from burning, and is made from a sustainable material – and there’s definitely an appealing truth-to-materials aesthetic of the cork and glass together. It comes in a shorter 227ml size too, or a larger 455ml option, but this middle-ground is just right for most. No design-conscious kitchenware list is complete without an entry from Alessi. The simple, gleaming stainless steel of the Alessi Caffa Travel Mug looks fab, and there are a few different colours of top – we especially like the lightness of the white and metal combo, but the red and brown both use stronger hues to great effect. There's a big cover to the lid you need to flip open to drink – good for leakproofing, but maybe a tad more effort than some others here. It was designed by Giulio Iachetti, who’s done beautiful work for the likes of Moleskine and Lavazza, among others. If you want to keep it super-simple, cheap and largely environmentally sound, grab this cup from a brand that admittedly means a lot more to London commuters than it does the rest of the country. This LEON Bamboo Fibre Travel Mug is made from bamboo fibre, as you might have surmised, and has a protective ring to keep your hand from overheating, because there’s no insulation here. Similarly the top doesn’t seal totally closed at all – there’s a permanent hole. It’s basically a reusable alternative to a disposable cup, and for this cheap price, that’s fine with us. Stojo’s simple travel mug telescopes down into a smaller puck shape for stashing in a bag when it’s empty, and then you pop it up when needed. It’s a smart design, and while it means there’s no insulation for long-term heating, it does have a fully leak-proof sliding lid design, and a heat sleeve that collapses right with it. We love the pale colours it comes in – very Smeg – as well as the bolder variants. Read more: The most powerful laptops right now The best running headphones The best cheap Hydro Flask deals View the full article

RCE and myriad other types of attacks could take aim at the 19 percent of vulnerable companies that haven't yet patched CVE-2019-19781. View the full article

Want to learn how to make an animated video? We've gathered industry-leading artists and storytellers for a masterclass in making engaging animated shorts. The world of short animated films is a rich corner of the 3D community, presenting viewers with quick bursts of creativity, while granting the individuals behind them an opportunity to experiment with visual styles and storytelling techniques. Such is the value of animated shorts as a medium that London-based studio Blue Zoo has a programme that allows its artists to direct their own, and bring it to life with the help of their colleagues. 3D World spoke to three such artists to find out how you can create your own animated short. Elsewhere, 3D generalist Rok won Hwang will share insights from the process of creating Bruised, the short film he worked on with Samantha Tu. For more inspiration, browse our pick of the best animated music videos. Every animated short begins with an idea that forms the initial concept, and it’s from this moment of inspiration that the film takes shape. Let's take a look at the inspiration behind some of the most effective concepts. 01. Make it personal Inspiration can also come from a personal place, as was the case for Izzy Burton, the director and artist behind Blue Zoo Animation’s award-winning short Via (scroll to step #7 to watch it). “The idea for Via formed from a simple wish to make a short film that highlighted my love for environmental art,” says Burton. “Initially it was going to be a personal project so I had limited the animation to one walk cycle of a man traversing different environments.” As Blue Zoo allowed Burton to utilise more of the team, Via developed into the human story of three characters. The short shares its name with a poem by Rachel Cladingbowl, which narrates the entire film. “A lot of people think via is formed around the poem, but actually the poem came much later,” explains Burton. “About six months in once the story was already developed, it just fit perfectly into what I had created.” 02. Find a cause you're passionate about For Hwang and his short film Bruised, it began in the winter of 2017, at Ringling College of Art & Design in Florida. “I watched a video on YouTube about domestic violence and child abuse by chance and it really caught my attention,” he tells us. “In the video, it told me that around a quarter of children under 18 in America experience child abuse, whether it’s physical, psychological or verbal.” These shocking statistics inspired Hwang and his thesis partner Samantha Tu to work on a film about child abuse. 03. Find an untold story For Dane Winn, director of Blue Zoo’s latest short Ada (watch the trailer at step #9), history proved to be the ultimate inspiration. “The film was based on the true story of an Alaskan woman named Ada Blackjack,” Winn explains. “In 1921, her son had become ill, so she joined a daring expedition to the arctic to earn the money for his treatment. With no wilderness experience, she had to teach herself to survive.” Even the short’s hand-drawn style was inspired by Ada’s incredible story and the idea that she, along with her companions, had kept a diary of her time on the island. “We tried to make something that felt sketched, with minimal environment detail,” says Winn. “Other inspiration came from the designer, Sukanto Debnath, who provided us with some fantastic initial sketches that felt mature and suited this idea well, giving us something to aim for.” 04. Mix up the genre Will Cook created Blue Zoo’s darkly comic short, Christmas With The Moonies, and was inspired by a rebellious desire to break away from the child-friendly nature of his usual output. “I knew I wanted to do something dark and gross because I needed to do something different,” he explains. “After a big day of directing Numberblocks jumping around Numberland happily, I sat down to write about eating dead reindeer, manslaughter and festive cheer.” Further inspiration came from the likes of Killing Eve and Inside No. 9, two series that balance comedy and drama. “It was the soundtrack to Killing Eve that really caught my attention,” Cook continues. “The soundtrack often juxtaposed the visuals, which supplemented the storytelling.” This influenced the decision to have Christmas music soundtrack the Moonies’ misadventures. Once the initial concept is established the real fun of creating your animated short can begin. Here are some tips for developing your story. 06. Organise your split sheet While working on Bruised, Ringling's course requirements meant Hwang and Tu split the workflow evenly between them. The pair began by making a split sheet using Google Sheets for props, character modelling, texturing, animation, and lighting. “Having a clean and organised split sheet is very important, even if you’re not working in a team,” Hwang adds. “We marked our progress on the sheet so that we could share the status of each shot. We worked in the same lab most of the time, so we could closely communicate and even flexibly help each other if needed.” 07. Try a different dimension For VIA, Burton was able to apply her passion for environmental art to creating layered environments that were painted in Photoshop, before being spaced apart in Z space using After Effects. The team at Blue Zoo helped to make and animate the characters in Maya before they were brought into the After Effects compositions. This process lends the film its distinctive 2.5D aesthetic. “Ultimately I wanted the film to feel like an illustration or piece of concept art if you paused it on a single frame,” explains Burton. “Before painting each environment, I made groups in Photoshop with the layer names so that I could remember to paint things only in the layer in which they would exist in the final thing,” explains Burton. This also ensured the parallax effect would work correctly in After Effects, which is where all the compositing happened. 08. Have faith in your concept Despite the inevitable technical challenges of creating an animated short, Burton maintains that the biggest challenge was keeping belief in her idea. “It’s so easy for artists to doubt themselves and I had many a moment where I questioned what the hell I was doing,” she admits. “About midway through working on it I had this secret breakdown moment where I thought it wasn’t worth making." Burton powered through because of Blue Zoo's involvement in the project. "I think if I had been working alone I may have given up on the idea at that point. I’m so glad I didn’t, it taught me a lot of lessons of resilience. I think it’s best to remember that you truly believed the idea was good enough when you started it, so don’t let midway doubts make you forget that.” 09. Strip out everything but the essentials The logistics of telling your story over the canvas of a short film can also come with its fair share of challenges. “For Ada there was a very long story that could be told,” says Winn, who had to devise a way of presenting Ada Blackjack’s incredible story in the short form. “It was important for me to narrow down on what I found most compelling about it,” he continues. “I would suggest figuring out your ending; finding the moment you want to leave the audience with will help strip away parts of the story that don’t help get there.” As with any creative endeavour, there is no right or wrong way to direct your short. There are, however, some ingredients that 3D World’s experts consider important to the success of any project. 10. Don't forget to communicate For Hwang, communication proved vital. “It doesn’t matter how big or small the team is,” he asserts. “My team was only a team of two, yet communication was a key in creating a film.” He adds that the process would have become needlessly painful without good working relationships. 11. Get familiar with the whole pipeline When making a 3D short, a good knowledge of the entire pipeline can also prove beneficial. Hwang adds: “You can hire or team up with other artists, so you don’t have to be super proficient with the whole pipeline, storyboarding, character design, animating, modelling, texturing, lighting, rendering and editing, but it’s helpful if you’re at least familiar with each step.” 12. Don't be put off by an unfamiliar process Unfamiliarity shouldn’t act as a barrier though – there are numerous opportunities to learn as you create your short. According to Burton, all you need to make an animated short is a story and the ability to tell it. “I know so many people who are waiting until they can do certain things before they make anything,” says Burton. “Don’t do that.” Her advice? Use what you do know and build on that. "I didn’t have all the skills to make VIA when I started, but I didn’t let that stop me," she continues. She resolved to teach herself the skills she didn't know, and ask for help on anything she couldn't figure out. "I treated the whole process as an opportunity to learn and wasn’t going to let anything scare me away from the opportunity to tell a story I wanted to tell.” 13. Stick to your guns Burton also stresses the importance of integrity and authenticity in your storytelling. “Everyone will have an opinion and a critique for you on your idea or film,” she explains. It’s important to respect the opinions of those you ask for advice, but equally important to stick to your guns when you feel strongly about something. “There was a time in VIA where I was given advice to keep the wife alive at the end by people whose opinions I greatly respect,” she continues. “I took the advice and drew it up into storyboards, but I found that my idea was a lot about finding strength on your own and being happy with the life you had, it wasn’t about a cutesy, heartwarming moment of a couple together. In the end I didn’t take their advice because it took away from what my film was meant to be, but I did consider it.” 14. Let your story guide your style Animated shorts are also an opportunity to experiment with visual styles, and with Ada’s hand-drawn aesthetic, Winn has some experience in this area. “I read a quote once that said something like, ‘you don’t figure out what style you want to do, you figure out how you want to communicate an idea’,” he says. “I think that is very true of animation. A lot of stories can work in a variety of styles and mediums, so I would say decide what you want to say with the story and start experimenting.” Winn and the team at Blue Zoo looked at a host of designs and concept art for Ada, knowing that they wanted to convey something raw, organic and mature. This article was originally published in 3D World, the world's best-selling magazine for CG artists. Buy issue 241 or subscribe. Read more: Understand Disney's 12 principles of animation Real-life renders of animated bedrooms are strangely disappointing Disney characters' homes as Tiny Houses will leave you wanting more View the full article

If you've been perusing Twitter over the last few days, you may have noticed that people have been posting drawings of a lady using the hashtag #Rosette. There are some amazing interpretations, but it's not immediately obvious as to who this woman is, or what the challenge is all about. If you're feeling confused, we're here to help. We've done some digging and found the story behind all these interpretations of a black-and-white photograph. If it looks like Rosette is part of a police lineup, that's because she is. Rosette Duccinni Davie, also known as Rose Davie, was a brothel owner in Ogden in the 1940s and 1950s. A transcript of an interview with her has recently been unearthed, but as it is written in an old-fashioned form of shorthand, no one is able to read it. How does this relate to illustrations shared on Twitter? It seems that @cgcumber and @tinynoggin started drawing Rosette after @cgcumber found her online, and they were discussing creating a zine full of images of her. They then decided it'd be a better idea to get different artists to draw her and put those images into a zine. And so the challenge was born. If you'd like to take part, don't miss our how to draw tutorials or our tips on black and white drawings. Interpretations of Rosette have varied wildly, and there are some real gems to be found. See some of our favourites below. Others went for a more comic-book approach. We love the mood of this one. While this version has some serious attitude. To join in on the challenge, simply share your image with #rosette. Fingers crossed we'll see the zine full of these soon. Read more: The powerful sketching tool you didn't know about (but probably should) This surprising fact about The Simpsons' living room will make your day The truth about the ampersand will blow your mind View the full article

Self-styled 'punk' brewery Brewdog has unveiled a new brand identity that's the graphical equivalent of taking out its earring and getting a sensible haircut. The new-look cans pare everything right back, replacing the fussy background with bold, block colours and shapes, rotating the typography so it sits the right way up, and removing the grungy styling in favour of something altogether smarter. A cleaner, less fussy identity is certainly more in line with current branding wisdom, and we agree it was time for Brewdog to refresh its identity. But we can't help feeling that the brand has stripped out all of the things that made it unique in the first place. "We've grown, and we've grown up," reads Brewdog's press statement. Boo to that. Compare the previous and new packaging below (or see how it stacks up against our pick of the coolest packaging design right now). Where's the anarchy in Brewdog's new look (right)? Brewdog has a history of causing upset with its campaigns – its misguided attempt to promote gender equality in 2018 being a particularly memorable example. So we were a little apprehensive to discover this rebrand also comes with a new initiative for Brewdog. Thankfully, this one looks like it might be a little more well conceived. The 'Brewdog tomorrow' campaign makes steps to tackle the climate change crisis. There are several parts to this initiative, including a plan to reuse old cans ("don't be surprised if your beer comes in a cola can" says the site), reduce waste by turning imperfect beer into vodka, and encouraging fans to brew their own Brewdog beer at home to reduce transport miles. See the full campaign here. Read more: BrewDog gets a roasting for its punk whisky design New Sonic logo proves difficult to swallow Google Maps gets a new look, and it’s simply genius View the full article

TrueCar is a website and app designed to help people buy new and used cars, and it's recently been rebranded by Pentagram, led by Michael Gericke. There's a new logo, a new tagline: 'Buy Smarter. Drive Happier.,' and a redesigned interface. Usually, we think think that anything Pentagram touches turns to gold, but here, we're not so sure. It's hard to have much to say about the old logo, apart from that it was dull and unmemorable, and had a horrid mix of caps and lowercase letters. The new one – with the typeface, Radikal – is objectively better, but there's still something about it that doesn't sit quite right for us. Is it the contrast between the black 'true' and the colourful 'car'? Is it the use of the gradient within the word 'car'? Might a solid colour have worked better? Or perhaps it's those little circles within the letters, which we assume are supposed to represent wheels. Or perhaps a magnifying glass. It's not totally clear. We don't think this one is going to make it to our list of the best logos ever made. Pentagram says the new logo "evokes TrueCar’s many choices and options, and sets the brand apart from the blue typically used by its competitors". The move away from blue definitely seems like a good decision, and the new logo certainly feels less clinical and unobtrusive than the old one. The aim of the rebrand was to "appeal to a wider audience as it personalises the car-buying journey for consumers". And as Lucas Donat, chief brand officer of TrueCar told Fast Company, it was also to resonate with women: "A main driver of our rebrand was to resonate with women, who make or influence 82 per cent of vehicle purchases in the US," he says. It's hard to say whether or not this rebrand will appeal to a whole gender, but its new look is perhaps less masculine than before. Don't try this at home There are also a lot of women in the illustrations and animations, created by NiceShit Studio and Hornet/Moth, respectively. The illustrations of faceless people feel pretty on trend right now (or at least they were last year), although whether they have true staying power remains to be seen. The animations feel fun and fresh, although they do show people with their legs sticking out of cars and lying on top of cars, which doesn't feel like the most sensible of choices for a car selling site. We just hope people don't take them literally. Would you want this on your car? Overall, this rebrand has all the elements of a thought-through piece of work, yet for us, it doesn't quite hang together properly. And it's not often we say that about Pentagram. We raved about its DK rebrand, or recent refresh of Fisher-Price. What do you think of the new look? Let us know on Twitter or Facebook. Read more: This surprising fact about The Simpsons will make your day Should the NBA logo feature Kobe Bryant? Design for good: 8 ways to use your creativity to make a difference View the full article

Technology loves the new: the hot new app, the startup, the disruptor. But that obsession with what's fresh sometimes blinds us to the advantages of mature technology and companies: a user base that’s familiar with your product, a feature set honed by years of iterations, the resources that come from running at a profit. The trick is to maximise the advantages of mature technology while scraping off the barnacles that have accumulated on your hull over the years. As chief product officer at Adobe, it's a challenge myself and the rest of the Creative Cloud team face every day. We have advantages that most startups would give up a major round of funding for: millions of customers worldwide; a feature set that includes virtually everything creative professionals need; plugins and partnerships that extend our apps' effectiveness. But barnacles – we have a few of those, too. Some of our apps are complex and the learning curve can be steep. While more of our apps are going mobile, some are still desktop-only. And over many years of adapting code for different operating systems, hardware setups, and third-party plugins, bugs and performance issues crept into our products. The Creative Cloud team is attacking those issues aggressively. I’d like to share some of the lessons we've learned along the way. Not signed up for Creative Cloud? See our roundup on the best Adobe CC deals here. Lesson #1: Empathy is everything To improve your products, you have to listen closely to your customers, hear what frustrates them, what confuses them, what they wish they could do with your tools. And look closely at the data to get an overall view of users’ experiences. Sometimes, that requires learning new skills. We’ve recently been training more members of our product team to engage directly with customers on social media so they can hear first-hand about both the pleasures and frustrations of using our tools. We also pay attention to media stories about our products and, especially, the reader comments attached to those stories. This feedback can sometimes be hard to read, but it’s all valuable. If you don’t put in concentrated effort, you’ll hear only the loudest voices among your customers Case in point: When we launched a new version of Photoshop on the iPad, some Photoshop veterans were disappointed that it didn’t include all their favorite tools and they let us know in online comments and reviews (read CB's Photoshop for iPad review and Photoshop 2020 review). We learned that we needed to be much more transparent about our intentions for Photoshop on iPad and we committed to a public roadmap for adding some of the most-requested additional features. Effectively interpreting the data from your applications is an acquired skill, too. The problem today is never having too little data – it’s having too much. We’ve investigated and experimented to figure out which data points in the welter of information we have are most telling about our customers’ experiences. The most important thing about empathy is remembering that it is work. If you don’t put in concentrated effort, you’ll hear only the loudest voices among your customers and that can lead you in the wrong direction. Lesson #2: Pay attention to the First Mile The First Mile of a product is everything that a new user relies on to get oriented: the welcome tour, the default choices, the explanatory copy, and more. Those elements are essential to newcomers' success and satisfaction with your product, so it’s bewildering that the First Mile is often given so little focus. When we looked at the issue of our products' steep learning curves, we recognised two things. First, some of our tools are sophisticated, professional-grade products that will never be simple to pick up. But, second, we were inadvertently making things worse by not putting enough effort into the First Mile. CC Libraries are designed to make Adobe's collections easier to find for new users Over the past couple years, we’ve focused on the First Mile and we’re seeing some encouraging results. One great example is Creative Cloud Libraries. These collections of brushes, colour schemes, stock photos, and more are a great way to organise your own work and to create collaboratively with others. They weren’t used often enough, though, simply because they were hard to find and work in. We rolled out a new version of our Creative Cloud Desktop application that brings Libraries front-and-centre and makes it easy to see their benefit. And we’ve seen a big spike in usage. Examine all the things you take for granted and ask whether they'd be as obvious to someone who’s never seen it before We've also recognised that sometimes a customer just needs to learn a new technique – they know that their photo is too flat, but they don’t know how to fix the problem. In Lightroom, we’ve introduced new interactive tutorials from master photographers that guide users step-by-step through common tasks, like balancing the light in a sunny portrait. Want to work on your own First Mile? Start by examining all the things you take for granted about your product and ask whether those things would be as obvious to someone who’s never seen it before. Lesson #3: Be prepared to rethink everything When you first build a product, you build it based on the assumptions and technical limitations of the time. As time goes by, those baseline assumptions change, and you have to make sure your product changes along with them. When we started building creative tools, only desktops were powerful enough to handle complex creative projects and local storage of files was the only option. Now, of course, mobile hardware has become so powerful that devices like the Apple iPad and Microsoft Surface are fully capable of running complex creative applications (see CB's pick of the best drawing apps for iPad). Product leaders should think about expansion... as an opportunity for reinvention The same is increasingly true for web browsers and the potential for web apps to generate industry-grade output. And network connections have become so fast that storing large files in the cloud is not a problem. We’re working hard to take advantage of these developments with new products and features that expand Creative Cloud’s footprint, including Cloud Documents, creative files that live online to make it easy to collaborate and create anywhere; live co-editing of projects in Adobe XD, our interface design and prototyping tool; and Adobe Spark web apps that let you create social posts, videos, and webpages in a browser. And, of course, we launched the first version of Photoshop on iPad. Products such as Photoshop for iPad required Adobe to completely rethink its flagship tool We’ve learned that large changes like that don’t just let you extend your product to a new platform. They give you an opportunity to engage new types of customers and completely rethink the way your product works. Building Photoshop for a mobile, touch-oriented device helped us completely reimagine the interface of this nearly 30-year-old application, making it more direct and intuitive. And introducing Cloud Documents doesn’t just give people a new way to store their projects. It fundamentally changes the way people create and collaborate. Cloud Documents make it easy to start a project on one device, then finish it on another, or share projects with others to collaborate on or review. We’re applying those lessons as we develop additional creative tools for mobile platforms. Last summer, Adobe Fresco, our new drawing and painting app, debuted on the iPad and we quickly brought it to the Microsoft Surface Pro X and Wacom MobileStudio Pro (read CB's Adobe Fresco review). Fresco is also fully compatible with Photoshop on both desktop and iPad. We’re currently developing an iPad version of Adobe Illustrator, a version that will also be interoperable with key Creative Cloud apps. Product leaders often think about expansion to a new platform only as an opportunity to grow their markets. We should also think about it as an opportunity for reinvention. Lesson #4: Don't lose sight of performance All of your new features and other product improvements won’t mean much if your tools aren’t reliable and fast. No piece of software is perfect, but users have a baseline expectation for stability and performance and if you don’t meet it, they will look elsewhere. Through listening to our customers, we realised we have more work to do to meet and exceed their expectations. To attack the problems, we’ve fundamentally changed how we build products. We’ve brought in new engineering leaders with fresh perspectives. We’ve set ambitious goals for reliability and performance. And we’ve significantly evolved our internal testing procedures and sped up our release schedules to rapidly squash bugs. With mature technology platforms, you have a responsibility to ensure that your products remain accessible and high-performing We’re starting to see real gains in both reliability and speed. In Photoshop, creating a new document, a process that used to take as much as six, finger-drumming seconds is now virtually instantaneous. Cloud Documents, after a rocky start, are now much more reliable. And you can work smoothly and fluidly with literally hundreds of assets in Adobe XD. There are so many benefits to working on products like Creative Cloud with a legacy and a loyal base of users, and I know that’s true of many mature technology platforms. With those benefits, though, comes responsibility. A responsibility to ensure that your products remain accessible and high-performing. And a responsibility to never rest on your laurels and always look to the future. Read more: The 24 best Photoshop plugins The 13 best alternatives to Photoshop The 6 best laptops for Photoshop in 2020 View the full article

Google Maps came along 15 years ago, wiping out the need to commit routes to your long-term memory and provoking sales of road maps to plummet. To mark its birthday, Google has given the platform a total overhaul, with a brand new look, a plethora of new features and a shiny new app icon. Google Maps' icon was last updated in 2015, to a map featuring a pin plus its 'G' symbol. But this new incarnation has ditched the lettering altogether, and put the well-known pin icon firmly centre-stage. (If you'd like to up your icon game, check out our list of the best free icons.) The above video tracks the evolution of the app icon, with a nod to the original real-life drawing pin that inspired the virtual one. Because the pin is now on its own, it has transformed from a humble red into a smorgasbord of Google's brand colours, in the formation of roads on a street map. According to Google, the icon "represents the shift we’ve made from getting you to your destination to also helping you discover new places and experiences". And be sure to keep an eye out for a "celebratory party-themed car icon", which will appear for a limited time over this birthday period. The icon looks lovely when overlaid against images like these The updated app design will see the introduction of five tabs to organise your Maps experience into categories that include Commute and Explore. Live View is expanding, and there will be more capability in the Public Transit section, too. We think the new design is streamlined and unfussy, and the evolution of the pin makes for a neat story. Read more: Designers give iconic logos a radical makeover Discover the unknown stories behind everyday icons 10 iconic logos with hidden meanings View the full article

On the second Tuesday of each month, many IT leaders rejoice—or maybe cringe, depending on their view—as software patches are released for Microsoft products. They call this day Patch Tuesday, and although it started with Microsoft, it hasn’t ended there. Vendors across the industry, from Oracle to Adobe, SAP to … Source Continue reading One Patch Tuesday to Rule Them All at Flexera Blog. View the full article

The file-sharing service also disclosed details of past notable bugs for the first time. View the full article