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Architects have long drawn from the world of biology, but most of that inspiration has been metaphorical. David Benjamin’s architecture studio, The Living, uses actual living organisms as part of the design process.

Benjamin, a professor of architecture at Columbia University, is the author of Now We See Now (out now from Monacelli Press), a new book chronicling his work at the intersection of science and design. Integrating biology, he says, could lead to more sustainable buildings and a new way to think about the life cycle of the built environment.

The Verge spoke to Benjamin about why we should look to biology for architectural inspiration, how to use living organisms as sensors and materials, and designing to disappear.

This…

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YouTube annotations, those annoying translucent boxes that you rush to disable the moment they appear, will finally disappear for good on January 15th, 2019. After this date, “all existing annotations will be removed,” according to a YouTube support page.

The writing’s been on the wall about annotations for some time now. Back in March 2017, YouTube announced that it would be discontinuing the annotations editor, effectively halting their use for any new videos. At the time, the company said that since introducing Cards and End Screens, the use of annotations had decreased by 70 percent. Annotations have also never worked properly on mobile, which is where the majority of YouTube watching now takes place.

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#HTE

YouTube annotations, those annoying translucent boxes that you rush to disable the moment they appear, will finally disappear for good on January 15th, 2019. After this date, “all existing annotations will be removed,” according to a YouTube support page.

The writing’s been on the wall about annotations for some time now. Back in March 2017, YouTube announced that it would be discontinuing the annotations editor, effectively halting their use for any new videos. At the time, the company said that since introducing Cards and End Screens, the use of annotations had decreased by 70 percent. Annotations have also never worked properly on mobile, which is where the majority of YouTube watching now takes place.

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In the fine tradition of vapid Lamborghini, Ferrari, and Porsche Design phones made by tech companies that should know better, OnePlus has this morning announced a launch event for its collaboration with British supercar maker McLaren. The teaser page set up for the launch, scheduled for December 11th, leaves little doubt about the likely content of the announcement, with the url reading “mclaren-6t”.

OnePlus hasn’t shied away from doing custom editions of its smartphones, having previously done a subtle Star Wars edition as well as an Avengers edition of its flagship device of the time. Carrying the tagline “salute to speed,” the McLaren 6T can be rightly expected to feature all the excellent quickness and responsiveness that OnePlus’…

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#HTE

In the fine tradition of vapid Lamborghini, Ferrari, and Porsche Design phones made by tech companies that should know better, OnePlus has this morning announced a launch event for its collaboration with British supercar maker McLaren. The teaser page set up for the launch, scheduled for December 11th, leaves little doubt about the likely content of the announcement, with the url reading “mclaren-6t”.

OnePlus hasn’t shied away from doing custom editions of its smartphones, having previously done a subtle Star Wars edition as well as an Avengers edition of its flagship device of the time. Carrying the tagline “salute to speed,” the McLaren 6T can be rightly expected to feature all the excellent quickness and responsiveness that OnePlus’…

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In the burgeoning computer chip market that’s dominated by Nvidia and Intel, you’re probably not as familiar with Graphcore, a UK-based AI hardware startup. To take on the giants, the company is touting higher performance on various AI tasks with its stylishly designed microprocessors and server blades that it hopes will stand out among the competition — even if you’ll never actually see them, via Fast Company.

Designed with the design firm Pentagram, the Graphcore microprocessors feature colorful plastic shells in pink, blue, and tan pastels, and they’re algorithmically generated so that each unit features a unique design. There are also subtle shapes adorning each square, creating a playful style that’s usually not seen in the dreary…

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#HTE

In the burgeoning computer chip market that’s dominated by Nvidia and Intel, you’re probably not as familiar with Graphcore, a UK-based AI hardware startup. To take on the giants, the company is touting higher performance on various AI tasks with its stylishly designed microprocessors and server blades that it hopes will stand out among the competition — even if you’ll never actually see them, via Fast Company.

Designed with the design firm Pentagram, the Graphcore microprocessors feature colorful plastic shells in pink, blue, and tan pastels, and they’re algorithmically generated so that each unit features a unique design. There are also subtle shapes adorning each square, creating a playful style that’s usually not seen in the dreary…

Continue reading…

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Apple design chief Jony Ive and his design partner Marc Newson have collaborated frequently on designs for charity in the past. Sometimes they hit the mark, like with this one-of-a-kind Leica camera; other times, it’s a swing and a miss, like this spooky Christmas tree that would look right at home in the White House. Their latest collaboration, a ring made entirely from a single diamond, is over-the-top luxury and I love it. The ring will be up for a (RED) charity auction at Design Miami on December 5th, and Sotheby’s estimates that the ring will go for $150,000 to $250,000.

Ive, who loves minimalism so much that his idea of a perfect magazine cover is a blank one, has once again applied that concept to a diamond ring, opting to…

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Apple design chief Jony Ive and his design partner Marc Newson have collaborated frequently on designs for charity in the past. Sometimes they hit the mark, like with this one-of-a-kind Leica camera; other times, it’s a swing and a miss, like this spooky Christmas tree that would look right at home in the White House. Their latest collaboration, a ring made entirely from a single diamond, is over-the-top luxury and I love it. The ring will be up for a (RED) charity auction at Design Miami on December 5th, and Sotheby’s estimates that the ring will go for $150,000 to $250,000.

Ive, who loves minimalism so much that his idea of a perfect magazine cover is a blank one, has once again applied that concept to a diamond ring, opting to…

Continue reading…

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Nostalgia is a funny thing, because your emotions trick you into thinking you want something that has absolutely no functional value. This Apple Watch iPod nano concept, published on Behance by Korean designer Joyce Kang, is an example that suddenly makes you appreciate the iPod nano that’s currently sitting in a dusty corner of your drawer.

Spotted by 9to5Mac, the concept images show a silicone case in the shape of Apple’s classic click-wheel iPod, that neatly houses an Apple Watch Series 4. None of the buttons on the case are functional, of course, but are just there for aesthetic purposes. You’d still be able to use the Apple Watch as normal, through the touchscreen or via a pair of wireless earbuds.

About seven years ago, before…

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