Apple's Next Mac Pro Will Require a Change in Design Philosophy

Apple’s design philosophy for consumer Macs has been that of simplicity, indeed minimalism. Approachable and beautiful. But even the 2008-2012 Mac Pro, designed in the Steve Jobs era, understood the needs of technical and creative professionals. Now that Apple has had time to digest what went wrong with the 2013 Mac Pro, it’s time, according to Marco Arment, to change the design thinking from that of «no!» to that of «yes!»  Versatility should rule. It’s all on page 2 of Friday’s Particle Debris.

TMO Background Mode Interview with The Verge Senior Editor Lauren Goode

Lauren Goode is both a Senior Editor at The Verge and the co-host of the podcast Too Embarrassed to Ask. Lauren didn’t start out as a technical person. In high school, she was into competitive basketball and volleyball. But the seeds were evident as she became an expert with a camcorder. Her interest in basketball and English led her to Clark University. There, she developed her passion for writing and soon after she was working in media via cable TV. That’s where her passion for video technology flourished. Later, at the WSJ and AllThingsD Walt Mossberg was her mentor. Today, Lauren writes for The Verge, and we discussed her specialties: wearables, smartphones and apps, and laptop technology. Recently, she’s become involved with an interesting new series about cars, «Screen Drive,» that you’ll very much enjoy.

Slate Wrap for iPhone, a Study in Textured Black

The Slate wrap from Slickwraps crossed my desk a few days ago, and the thing is that it stuck with me. I find it compelling. Attractive. It’s a study in textured blacks, and I do like black cases and covers for my devices (YMMV). Slickwraps has been knocking it out of the part with their wraps lately, too. In any event, the company is calling this a limited edition, and say that it protects from minor scratches and small drops. They have them for iPhones, several Android devices (if that’s your thing), and even a MacBook. The ones for smartphone are priced at US$24.95.

Gamevice for iPhone plus $10 iTunes Gift Card: $99.95

Check out Gamevice for iPhone. It’s a game controller for your iPhone that fits on either end, turning it into a single gaming device. It features built-in ABXY, L1R1, L2R2, and D-pad controllers, plus dual joysticks. It’s US$99.95 through our deal, and that includes a $10 iTunes gift card.

Kodak HD WiFi Pet Monitor: $72.99

We have a deal on the Kodak HD WiFi Pet Monitor, a webcam that streams video to your smartphone through a companion app. It also features a speaker so you can speak to your pet remotely. It’s $72.99 through us.