Apple's long-overdue overhaul of the Mac mini shrinks an already great package even more, yet it still punches far above its weight class.

I've owned a Mac mini since the very first G4 model. In an era of bulky towers and a G4 Cube just years before that impressed but didn't deliver, the little box brought Apple power to a small desktop package, and I was enthused.

And since then, I've had one in service 24/7 constantly. Even now with a Mac Studio on my desk, there's one upstairs in use with a family member, one in the other room silently humming away acting as my network attached storage and test platform, and a few more on my shelf that I've hoarded over the years, just waiting for an application.


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On Monday, the International Lawyers Network announced its redesigned website at www.iln.com. The launch coincided with the ILN's 35th Annual Meeting, held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where members got a sneak peek at the new site.

You stare at a blank screen for what seems like hours, waiting for your brain to come up with a brilliant idea, and it never comes. There has to be a better way to brainstorm, right?

There is--and it might be as simple as doing the laundry.

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It is not a one-time undertaking but an ongoing process that must be revisited throughout the life of any business. In fact, nearly half of all CEOs launch a company reorganization during their first two years on the job.

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After an amazing amount of procrastination, I've finally managed to redesign the site. All old links still work (if they don't, please let me know by emailing me at 'bill at this domain name').

Why? Two reasons: 1) I found my old layout limiting for what I want to do and, 2) Something in my toolchain got borked and I wasn't able to update my main page. This last one was a godsend because I decided that - rather than troubleshooting the problem, I'd put that energy toward my redesign.

Notable changes:

• No more MovableType. I got a lot of mileage out of using MT, but in the end I hated having to use a database to store what is essentially static data. Furthermore, the templates and even writing of entries was a bit too much of a flow-mismatch. I wanted to write copy and edit layout in vim and just push the changes to the server. Now I'm using docpad and I have pretty much exactly that workflow

• My "Thoughts on..." blog is no longer the main page. Right now, the main page is pretty sparse, but as I add more projects (I have some in mind, it'll start to fill up some more. For now, it's an easy way to get at some of the more popular material on my site, and...

• My dabbling in Fiction. A few years back I started writing flash fiction under my middle name ("Edward"). I haven't in a while, but I hope to start again. So, now that's here too.

• Total style overhaul. Hope you like it, because I'm sticking with it for a while. My goal was minimalism. This site has always been about what I write. Therefore I want to make it easy to find the stuff here and read it with no distractions.

• No comments. This may change at some point (I had embedded Disqus but removed it) as I'm going with the Oatmeal Philosophy - I'm struggling against several years of writers block. Feedback can be great, but it can also demotivate. I need to avoid demotivators as I ramp this up.

That's it now that I have put everything I could see I needed in place, I'm outta excuses. Whether that means I'll be writing more, we'll have to see...

Aim/Purpose: The dynamic nature of the information systems (IS) field presents educators with the perpetual challenge of keeping course offerings current and relevant. This paper describes the process at a College of Business (COB) to redesign the introductory IS course to better prepare students for advanced business classes and equip them with interdisciplinary knowledge and skills demanded in today’s workplace. Background: The course was previously in the Computer Science (CSC) Department, itself within the COB. However, an administrative restructuring resulted in the CSC department’s removal from the COB and left the core course in limbo. Methodology: This paper presents a case study using focus groups with students, faculty, and advisory council members to assess the value of the traditional introductory course. A survey was distributed to students after implementation of the newly developed course to assess the reception of the course. Contribution: This paper provides an outline of the decision-making process leading to the course redesign of the introductory IS course, including the context and the process of a new course development. Practical suggestions for implementing and teaching an introductory IS course in a business school are given. Findings: Focus group assessment revealed that stakeholders rated the existing introductory IS course of minimal value as students progressed through the COB program, and even less upon entering the workforce. The findings indicated a complete overhaul of the course was required. Recommendations for Practitioners: The subject of technology sometimes requires more than a simple update to the curriculum. When signs point to the need for a complete overhaul, this paper gives practical guidance supplemented with relevant literature for other academicians to follow. Recommendation for Researchers: Students are faced with increasing pressure to be proficient with the latest technology, in both the classroom where educators are trying to prepare them for the modern workplace, as well as the organization which faces an even greater pressure to leverage the latest technology. The newly designed introductory IS course provides students, and eventually organizations, a better measure of this proficiency. Future Research: Future research on the efficacy of this new course design should include longitudinal data to determine the impact on graduates, and eventually the assessment of those graduates’ performance in the workplace.

Aim/Purpose: This study reports the outcome of how a first pilot semester introductory programming course was designed to provide tangible evidence in support of the concept of Student Ownership of Learning (SOL) and how the outcomes of this programming course facilitate effective student learning. Background: Many instructors want to create or redesign their courses to strengthen the relationship between teaching and learning; however, the researchers of this study believe that the concept of Student Ownership of Learning (SOL) connects to student engagement and achievement in the classroom setting. The researchers redesigned the introductory programming course to include valuable teaching methods to increase Student Ownership of Learning and constructive approaches such as making students design an authentic mobile app project as individuals, partners, or within teams. The high quality of students’ projects positioned them as consultants to the university IT department. Methodology: This paper employs a case study design to construct a qualitative research method as it relates to the phenomenon of the study’s goals and lived experiences of students in the redesigned introductory programming course. The redesigned course was marketed to students as a new course with detailed description and elements that were different from the traditional computer science introductory programming course requirement. The redesigned introductory programming course was offered in two sections: one section with 14 registered students and the other section with 15 registered students. One faculty member instructed both sections of the course. A total of 29 students signed up for the newly redesigned introductory programming course, more than in previous semesters, but two students dropped out within the first two weeks of the redesigned course making a total of 27 students. The redesigned coursework was divided into two parts of the semester. The first part of the semester detailed description and elements of the coursework including a redesigned approach with preparation for class, a quiz, and doing homework in class, which gives students control of decisions whenever possible; and working with each other, either with a partner or in a team. The second part of the semester focuses on students designing a non-trivial working mobile app and presenting their developing mobile app at a significant public competition at the end of the semester. Students developed significantly complex mobile apps and incorporated more complex functionality in their apps. Both Management Information System (MIS) major students and Computer Science major students were in the same course despite the fact that MIS students had never taken a programming course before; however, the Computer Science students had taken at least one course of programming. Contribution: This study provides a practical guide for faculty members in Information Technology programs and other faculty members in non-Computer Science programs to create or redesign an introductory course that increases student engagement and achievement in the classroom based on the concept of Student Ownership of Learning (SOL). This study also deepens the discussion in curriculum and instruction on the value to explore issues that departments or programs should consider when establishing coursework or academic programs. Findings: This study found two goals evidently in support to increase Student Ownership of Learning (SOL). The first goal (Increase their ownership of learning SOL) showed that students found value in the course contents and took control of their learning; therefore, the faculty no longer had to point out how important different programming concepts were. The students recognized their own learning gap and were excited when shown a programming concept that addressed the gap. For example, student comments were met with “boy, we can really use this in our app” instead of comments about how complex they were. The coursework produced a desired outcome for students as they would get the knowledge needed to make the best app that they could. The second goal (Develop a positive attitude toward the course) showed positive results as students developed a more positive attitude towards the course. Student actions in the classroom strongly reflected a positive attitude. Attendance was almost 100% during the semester even though no points for attendance were given. Further evidence of Student Ownership of Learning and self-identity was students’ extensive use of the terminology and concept of the course when talking to others, especially during the public competition. Students were also incorporating their learning into their identities. For example, teams became known by their app such as the Game team, the Recipe team, and the Parking team. One team even made team t-shirts. Another exciting reflection of the Student Ownership of Learning which occurred was the learning students did by themselves. Recommendations for Practitioners: Practitioners can share best practices with faculty in different departments, programs, universities, and educational consultants to cultivate the best solution for Student Ownership of Learning based on student engagement and achievement in the classroom setting. Recommendation for Researchers: Researchers can explore different perspectives with scholars and practitioners in various disciplinary fields of study to create or redesign courses and programs to reflect Student Ownership of Learning (SOL). Impact on Society: Student Ownership of Learning is relevant for faculty and universities to incorporate in the creation or redesigning of coursework in academic programs. Readers can gain an understanding that student engagement and achievement are two important drivers of Student Ownership of Learning (SOL) in the classroom setting. Future Research: Practitioners and researchers could follow-up in the future with a study to provide more understanding and updated research information from different research samples and hypotheses on Student Ownership of Learning (SOL).

Cleveland – Health care workers frequently contaminate their skin and clothing when removing gloves or gowns, and researchers from the Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center are recommending additional education and redesigned personal protective equipment.

The Intruder SuperCharged line features three unique color patterns with a durable rubber outsole for superior grip and a soft, breathable nylon mesh sock lining.

Washington — NIOSH is looking for inventors, researchers and respirator manufacturers to partner on a project intended to develop new designs for powered air-purifying respirators for health care workers.

Boston — Rather than provide worker wellness programs aimed at changing individual behaviors, employers should focus on reshaping work conditions that are the root cause of stress-related health problems, say researchers from a pair of Boston universities.

Tucson, AZ — Reimagined office spaces can help reduce worker stress and enhance overall well-being, a pair of University of Arizona researchers say in a recently published paper.

What happens when a designer redesigns his own home? Floor Trends was invited to the New York City apartment of nationally known interior design Vern Yip to find out.

Although the process used to develop the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) has become more evidence-based since its inception more than 30 years ago, it is not currently positioned to effectively adapt to changes such as food diversity and chronic disease prevalence, while also ensuring the integrity of the process, says a new congressionally mandated report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

Chewy granola bar brand debuts new packaging, launches new flavor, and announces new distribution.

Brand to launch holiday product offerings at Winter Fancy Food Show in Las Vegas.

Admix, Inc., global manufacturer of hygienic and industrial mixing equipment serving the food and beverage, chemical/industrial, cosmetic and pharmaceutical markets, has announced their newly redesigned RS-02 Pilot Scale Mixer is now available.

GolfRegistrations Subscription Software Retires After Over 20 Years of Hosting Charity Tournaments

PepperBall®, the leader in innovative non-lethal law enforcement solutions, is proud to announce the launch of its redesigned TAC-SA™ models - the TAC-SA PRO™ and TAC-SA PRO PLUS™ at this year's SHOT Show.

iCollections is the Ultimate Organizer Solution App for Mac Users!

Margex to Unveil Full Mobile App Redesign

A Fresh Look and Enhanced Features Offer a Seamless User Experience for New and Existing Businesses

I am honoured to be invited by Shih Chien University College of Design to give a keynote speech during their Lens International Design Conference 2022 on January 7th 2022.   In the conference The Lens, design is interpreted as a multi-perspective lens that transforms all elements...

The post Lens International Design Conference 2022 Keynote: Redesigning Design appeared first on Design Sojourn. Please click above if you cannot see this post.

In the 1970s, McDonald’s was at a pivotal point in its growth, and the fast-food giant sought to enhance its brand identity. To achieve this, McDonald’s engaged Unimark International, a prominent design firm, to explore a comprehensive redesign of its packaging and signage. This collaboration aimed to create a more cohesive and appealing visual identity […]

The post The McDonalds Redesign That Could Have Been appeared first on Designer Daily: graphic and web design blog.

Unsolicited redesigns are fun. They’re also always criticized for their superficial approach that only takes care of surface level problems. Developers at Raureif have done yet another redesign of Wikipedia, but with one big difference from all the other redesigns: they’ve actually created a real, working app.

Since Wikipedia has a permissive license, you can repackage (and even sell) its content if you so wish, so there is little stopping anyone from implementing a functional redesign of the site (besides all the hard work). The team at Raureif have seized this opportunity and created Das Referenz – an iOS Wikipedia app. Apart from seeing your ideas tested in the real world, this hands-on approach to redesign also gives you an opportunity to profit from them: if the new UI provides enough value, people will pay you for it through app sales or via ads (Das Referenz uses both ads and a pay-for option to remove ads). That’s how you do a Wikipedia redesign.

Septerra Core: Legacy of the Creator stands as a testament to the golden era of role-playing games. With its intricate storyline, captivating characters, an ...

After 3.5+ years, I finally gave Web Designer Wall a new look. The new design is not just visually appealing, but well coded in technical point of view. I incorporated a lot of new web standard techniques such as HTML5, CSS3, and media queries. The new design works on all devices and resolutions. The design […]

I recently redesigned Best Web Gallery with responsive features. Check it out!

Below is the latest illustration, Redesign the Web Poster, that I did for Smashing Magazine’s poster design contest: Redesign the Web, Redesign the World. The work is done with Adobe Illustrator and then touched up with Photoshop.

Websites have become essential marketing tools for businesses and it’s mandatory to keep them up to date and fresh always. This can be justified with the help of the statement made by a Danish computer scientist, Jakob Nielsen: “A bad website is like a grumpy salesperson.” This is where the need for website redesigning comes … Continue reading What Is a Website Redesign & How To Plan For It Effectively

The post What Is a Website Redesign & How To Plan For It Effectively appeared first on Design Shard.

I’ve helped Stavanger Golf Club through the years with webdesign and admin, and it was due for a refresh. I decided to try a no-code approach with WordPress. I first designed the site in UXPin (see version here), and then installed a fresh Local install of WordPress to get started. I used Astra theme along…

The first impression that you leave on your audience today is based almost entirely on your website. Because your website plays an oversized role in the success of your business, it’s vital that you to take it seriously. Just like any real “brick and mortar” business, your website requires regular maintenance (like sweeping the floor and […]

Matt Thrower, UKOLN, University of Bath will talk about UKOLN's Web site redesign and the problems involved. Come along and discuss how we solved these and other problems and what lessons could be learned for your institution.

ASHRAE announced the launch of a new, redesigned version of its website, ashrae.org. This website offers quick and easy access to essential information and simplified navigation through mega-menus.

The upgraded website offers quick and easy access to essential information for LG’s solutions for commercial, light commercial, and residential applications.

The WD-40 Specialist ® line (launched in 2011) of professional-grade lubricants, penetrants, greases, cleaners and degreasers, and rust-management solutions, has an opportunity to be identified on the shelves faster by end users wiith new packaging.

MillerCoors recently relaunched Mexican import beer brand Sol, and partnered with brand agency Soulsight to redesign a vibrant new look and feel.

SkinnyDipped has become a brand synonymous with delicious, better-for-you snacks since its launch in 2016 and the next chapter in the brand’s identity is here.

The work capitalizes on their category leadership while bringing a new playful element on pack that appeals to parents and kids alike. 

Bumble Bee Seafoods has been recognized by NOSH.com’s annual “Best Of” Awards for the bold and fresh redesign of the brand’s iconic tuna cans, pouches and snack kits.

The goal of the rebrand is to engage directly with health-conscious consumers as they increasingly seek high-quality and ethically sourced beef products. 

Applied Medical Technology, Inc. Announces Redesigned Website to Enhance User Experience  PR Newswire

Will Twitter’s redesign attract new users or has that bird already flown?

Read more: Twitter gets a facelift: Mobile redesign is tweet chic

YouTube reveals significant upgrades across desktop and mobile app, including a sleek new logo.

Read more: It feels cinematic: YouTube rolls out a major redesign across mobile and desktop

The smaller mini loses some ports but gets tons of other functional updates.

Likening the 100-year-old hospital gown to a prisoner's orange jumpsuit, a prominent British doctor says the "alien, open-at-the-back garment" is in desperate need of a redesign. 

Over the last several years, we have studied many examples of cost reduction initiatives to improve productivity and create economies of scale. In simplest terms, there are four actions that improve productivity and economies of scale. First, reduce the rate of cost you pay for an input. Second, reduce the inputs that do not produce output. Third, reduce unique activities or components in products and processes by redesigning the products and processes. Fourth, spread fixed cost activities over new product output. The cellular telephone carriers are introducing measures to reduce their costs by redesigning the product.

The wireless carriers use cellular towers to broadcast their signals. The cellular product design offers signals traveling long distances, primarily for voice and for relatively low data speeds. A cellular tower is expensive but capable of sending a signal for several miles.

This cellular technology worked well until the evolution of the smart phone. The growth of the smart phone has put very high demands on the cellular tower infrastructure because of the heavy data usage it brings to the market. Since 2010, data has taken over the majority of network traffic from voice communications. Now the carriers and, in particular, AT&T with its Apple iPhones, is having difficulty keeping up with the growth in demand.

AT&T today and, likely a few others in the future, has found a potential innovative solution, adding Wi Fi access points. These Wi Fi access points are ideal for heavy data traffic sent at high speeds over relatively short distances. Wi Fi access points transmit signals over a few hundred feet. The Wi Fi access points are smaller, easier and cheaper to install than are cellular towers. This low-cost approach appears to make sense in areas with high density of users. AT&T has placed them in New York’s Time Square and Rockefeller Center, in downtown Charlotte, North Carolina, in neighborhoods surrounding Chicago’s Wrigley Field and in San Francisco’s Embarcadero Center.

But there are some drawbacks to Wi Fi access points. Sometimes, a user has to take several steps to connect to a Wi Fi access point. Signals from the Wi Fi access points may interfere with one another, if signals come from multiple networks. Some smart phones do not have Wi Fi capability. These disadvantages have, so far, held back Verizon Wireless’s adoption of this apparently low-cost approach to providing service.

AT&T is leading this cost-saving innovation experiment. Their network strains force it to be creative and experimental. AT&T saves costs by redesigning the product itself using a less expensive technology with some shortcomings. If the AT&T experiment proves both cost effective and acceptable to cellular customers, every other wireless carrier will be forced to adopt it. And since a Wi Fi access point is largely a fixed cost, the wireless carriers with the highest density of membership within the Wi Fi area will have the lowest cost per unit. In most areas of the country that is likely to be either Verizon or AT&T. They will end up getting a unit cost advantage over their smaller competitors…if this works.

Apple's 2024 Mac mini stashes the power button underneath, a bold move that executives say aligns with user habits, even if it's left some fans scratching their heads.

The company's latest Mac mini is significantly downsized — about half the size of its predecessor. The overhaul makes it more compact and gave Apple's designers challenges in laying out external features.

Apple's Vice Presidents, Greg Joswiak, Apple's Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing, and John Ternus, Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering, explained to IThome. They emphasized that the compact form factor still makes it easy to access the button by tucking a finger underneath to press it.


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WILMINGTON – The Delaware Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families is sharing the agency’s newly redesigned website. Launched Thursday, July 29, the website redesign of kids.delaware.gov was in coordination with the Department’s rebranding over the last year, which has included a new, updated logo. Throughout this process, DSCYF worked with the Department […]