Blog Spotlight - Do they deserve the gift of your keystrokes?
We have a finite number of keystrokes left in our lifetime and so they should be spent wisely.
This is a blog post about reach and effectiveness vs. efficiency. If you reply to an email - you reach one person. If you spend the same keystrokes to write a blog post or update the wiki - your keystrokes travel farther and reach more people.
News Highlights
1. Ex-Apple designers launch $700 Humane AI Pin as a smartphone replacement
Former Apple designers are taking on the smartphone. The Humane AI Pin allows the user to make calls, send texts, and look up information through voice controls. It also has a laser display, turning your palm into a mini screen that can show the time, date, or what’s nearby.
Humane will begin taking orders for the AI Pin on Nov. 16. The device will cost $699 and come with an additional $24-per-month data subscription.
2. Slack announces radical week-long shutdown due to an internal skills crisis
Slack employees are temporarily putting aside their work duties and embarking on a week-long internal upskilling event. Their goal is to achieve "ranger status" on Salesforce's Trailhead online platform, which requires approximately 40 hours of coursework spanning a range of topics from "Learn about the Fourth Industrial Revolution" to "Healthy Eating."
This unconventional approach emphasizes the significance of training and development in the workplace - well-trained employees show better results, stay with the company longer, and are more confident.
3. YouTube gets serious about ad blockers
Users with ad blockers enabled will be prompted to allow ads—or upgrade to YouTube Premium.
YouTube’s global effort to fight ad blockers is picking up speed. Users can now expect their video playback to be blocked entirely after three videos if they don’t agree to allow ads. Alternatively, users are suggested to try YouTube Premium, the company’s ad-free subscription service that costs $13.99 a month.
4. Amazon is getting rid of its gaming content channel amid larger game layoffs
Amazon is cutting “just over” 180 jobs in its games division. The changes include shutting down its Crown channel that streams on Twitch, closing its Game Growth effort that helps game makers market their products, and refocusing their efforts on Prime Gaming - their free game service for Amazon Prime subscribers.
Aside from free games, Amazon is also working on a new Lord of the Rings MMO (again). And planning on publishing Bandai Namco MMO Blue Protocol and the next Tomb Raider game.
Talk of the Week - Simple made easy
In this talk, Rich Hickey highlights the distinction between the concepts of “simple” and “easy”.
Easy means “to be at hand”, to be easily achievable. It’s relative and highly depends on the context an individual has.
Simple is the opposite of “complex” and simplicity can be objectively stated.
Simple != easy
Simplicity should always be prioritized over ease to avoid unnecessary complexity and the cost that comes with it. Simple things are easy to understand, reason about, change, and maintain.
Two tips to make simplicity easy:
Breakdown complex tasks - approach complex tasks by breaking them down into smaller, composable, manageable parts. Tackle each part independently to avoid being overwhelmed and to gain clarity on the overall challenge.
Strive for clarity - In communication and problem-solving, opt for clear and straightforward language. Avoid jargon and overly complex explanations when simpler ones will do.