The 2024 Summer Olympics is finally over, but we can apply contextual design into our practices.Continue reading on UX Collective

There are around 420 million monthly active users on OnlyFans, a social media platform featuring digital marketing advice, fitness content, vocabulary lessons, and anything else you can think of. There's also porn, porn catering to literally any interest or fetish that exists on Earth. If youd like to join up and enjoy said porn (or cooking lessons), but youre not keen on anyone knowing youre spending money on OnlyFans, heres how to keep your payments a secret.How do OnlyFans charges appear on credit card and bank statement?If you were hoping OnlyFans might bill themselves as Amalgamated Tech Services or some other ambiguous sounding moniker on your credit card statement, sorry: charges to OnlyFans will appear in bank statements as OnlyFans or OnlyFans.com, and every transaction will show up on your credit card or bank statement, so anyone who sees your financial statements will know whats up.Can you use OnlyFans without a credit card?Any adult can sign up for an OnlyFans account without giving up credit card details or any other information beyond a valid email address. But that will only let you see the OF content thats available to free accounts. When you click on a creators account, youll be taken to their feed and learn that racy content requires a subscription; so does sending an OnlyFans creator a tip and, usually, a message.Creators can charge from $4.99 per month to $49.99 per month for paid subscriptions, but many offer subscriptions to content for freebut you still need to add a credit card to your account to access a free subscription. OnlyFans will charge you a dime for this, mainly as a way of verifying your age and your cards legitimacy, but that charge will still show up on your statements.What payment methods does OnlyFans accept? According to the company, OnlyFans accepts Visa, MasterCard, Discover, Maestro, debit cards, and some prepaid Visa cards. It does not accept gift cards, PayPal, or any crypto currency. It does not accept any third-party form of payment either. There are sites on the internet that claim to offer anonymous third-party payments to OnlyFans, but these are scams looking to bilk the horny (or especially eager budding chefs) out of their personal data.Some prepaid Visa cards is a bit vague, but it basically means any Visa debit card that isnt a non-reloadable gift card, like this One VIP Visa card or this Ace Elite card. This is your best method of getting away with secretly paying for OnlyFans.How to pay for OnlyFans without leaving a paper trailIf you're concerned about having your OnlyFans habit revealed by the bills your credit card company or banks sends, most will allow you to opt-in to paperless billing if you fill out an online form. Your OnlyFans payment will still be connected to your identity though. If you want to more secrecy, you can go with a pre-paid debit card.Prepaid cards generally dont send any paper statements to your home. On the downside: they often charge signup fees, monthly fees, and individual transaction charges that can be fairly predatory. So make sure you know the terms before your sign up.Its easy to sign up for a prepaid debit card online, but youd still need a way to transfer the money into it. Maybe it would easier to explain that payment on your bank statement than OnlyFans, but if your situation requires more discretion, you can rely on old fashioned paper money to keep things anonymous.Many prepaid credit cards allow you to load them with money by paying with cash at a retail location. Some require an address, and some just a zip code. If you do need to give an address, a PO box will work. It will probably cost a little extra to load it with cash, but if you want to ensure your privacy, youll have to accept the additional fees.So, for truly anonymous OnlyFans use, buy a prepaid Visa, Mastercard, or Discover card at a local retailer using cash, provide only a PO Box for your address, then load your card up with cash every month to keep your OnlyFans subscriptions up to date. Its a hassle, and youll end up paying more than a more open person would, but you wont leave a paper trail. You probably shouldnt hide your OnlyFans purchases, thoughIm not judging anyonethere are plenty of scenarios where paying for OnlyFans secretly wouldnt be morally questionablebut you should at least consider whether what youre doing is wrong, particularly if youre going to such lengths to hide your purchases and payments from your spouse or partner.Unless you have a prior dont ask; dont tell agreement or something, this is not a road you want to head down if you care for the long-term health of your relationship, as its both a financial and emotional betrayal. More than paying for anonymous porn, for many users, OnlyFans draw is often the pseudo-personal connection they form with their favorite content creators. If thats what youre paying for, or if you cant bring yourself to be honest with your partner about your porn habits, you probably need to focus on your IRL relationship.

Instagram is testing a new profile grid layout that features rectangular images instead of the squares you're used to. In an Instagram story, Adam Mosseri has revealed that the app is testing a vertical grid for users' profiles. He explained that the original square grid was designed back in the day when the app only allowed users to upload square photos. Those days are long gone, and the vast majority of Instagram uploads are apparently vertical, specifically 4 x 3 images and 9 x 16 videos. He called cropping those uploads down to square as "pretty brutal."When you click on Instagram's video tab, you'll already see a rectangular grid, so the experimental layout won't look terribly unfamiliar. In fact, the test profile looks exactly the same, based on a screenshot that a user posted on Threads, except the grid includes photo posts and not just videos. A spokesperson told The Verge that the test has only rolled out to a small number of users and that the Instagram team will listen to feedback before expanding the redesigned grid's availability.Based on an old post by reverse engineer Alessandro Paluzzi, the app has been working on the new rectangular grid layout since at least 2022. It looks like the test is making its way to more users and it seems like not everyone's happy about it. Mosseri posted his Story in response to a comment submitted to his "Ask Me Anything" session, pleading for the app not to kill the old layout.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/instagrams-experimental-profile-grid-has-rectangular-images-instead-of-squares-160007086.html?src=rss

We've got another sign that the affordable version of the Galaxy S24 will be showing up soon.

Amazon and six other organizations will take part in a trial that will test the use of drone flights to remote locations.

As a communications expert, I work with people to help them communicate their ideas in a way that motivates their audiences to take action. But in many of my conversations with clients, I hear about the challenges people have to motivate themselves to take action on the ideas that capture their own hearts the most.Many workers are satisfied enough with their current employment, but wish to pursue their passion outside of their 9-to-5. And as we continue to create a new world of work, a lot of people are wondering what will give them greater fulfillment without giving up their day job.I call those unformed dreams that swirl in your brain, wish ideas. They are those ideas that wont go away and wont leave you alone. You dont have to push your wish idea into a retirement project, or make it into a full-time job. With a little exploration, your wish idea can easily become a side hustle that fulfills and satisfies you.Maybe you are yearning to finally start a podcast, write a book, or design knitting patterns. Antoine de Saint-Exupry, who wrote The Little Prince, famously said a goal without a plan is just a wish. If you want to communicate your idea out to the world, you need to create a structure around that idea to give yourself a foundation to build on.If you have a wish idea that wont leave you alone, here are some steps you can take to structure it into an actual side hustle and productive part of your life:Set time constraintsFirst, I would recommend that you set time constraints around your wish idea. Commit to a defined length of time that youre going to work on your idea. I recommend about eight weeks because a two-month window will give you enough time to decide if this idea is something you really want to pursue.Decide when and whereBe specific about how youll fit your project into your calendar. One person I encountered decided that she would use her commute to the office once a week, plus her lunch break that day. With a half hour each way on the train, plus an hour for lunch, shell have two hours each week for her wish project. You might decide to work on your wish idea on Saturday morning or three days a week from 6 a.m. until 7 a.m. Since you only have eight weeks, youll have a sense of urgency to protect that time.Start a notebookUse an ordinary notebook that you can use for mind-mapping, morning pages, and for sticking those Post-it notes that are scattered around your workspace. Make sure its a non-precious spiral notebook, not one of those special bound books with good paper that you wont want to mess up. Having one container for your project will illustrate your progress and make it easier to track.Eliminate distractionsIn order to turn your wish idea into a side hustle, you should find a way to eliminate distractions. If youre inspired suddenly to paint the living room or investigate working remotely from the south of France, capture those ideas somewhere else and acknowledge them as the distractions that they are. Speaking of distractions, eliminate your favorites from your phone. TikTok will be there when you get back.Put structure around your projectYou can create structure around your project by establishing clear steps. As an example, lets say you want to create a podcast. Divide your time between creating the ideas for the content of each episode from the technical mechanism of what youll need to produce it. Think about which of these is more challenging for you. This is where you might want to enlist help in order to accomplish all necessary steps.List your steps and categorize each task. Start by completing 10 steps. The next day, write 10 more. By the third day youll get an impression of whether this idea has enough substance to keep you engaged if you decide to execute your project.Write a final reportAnd finally, I would recommend that you write a final report at the end of eight weeks. Ask yourself: What did I learn? If this was a work project, would you recommend that you continue? Did it deliver a level of engagement that you were looking for? Was it fun in the midst of all the challenges?Remember the goal is to create more satisfaction in life. Your wish idea doesnt have to turn into a unicorn startup. Decide if this is something you actually want to pursue, or if youd prefer to go after a different dream.If you didnt get far on your wish idea, take a look at why. Are you in a season of life where you just dont have time, given family obligations? Are you in a toxic work situation that demands too much of your energy? Maybe its time to refocus on finding a position that better uses your skills and interests.And maybe your wish idea can be integrated into your current work. Might you use it to contribute to your organizations success and increase your visibility with leadership? Does your company have a blog, or can HR use your skills for training other colleagues?No matter the outcome, a thoughtful look at how you experienced your wish-idea project will give you the data points youll need to decide to take it further or try something else to give yourself more satisfaction in life.

Chinese studio Temp has used charred wood to create 3-to-1 Pavilion, a triangular shelter nestled in a rocky garden in Shanghai.Intended as a sanctuary-like space for drinking tea and gathering, the pavilion has a geometric form with a triangular plan and louvred walls made from wooden frames.Temp has created a triangular shelter in a garden in Shanghai"The 3-to-1 Pavilion design is the integration of time, space, and people, with a focus on 'in-between' or interstitial spaces," Temp told Dezeen."The pavilion serves as a serene sanctuary for tea drinking, contemplation, and social gatherings in a Shanghai garden setting."The 3-to-1 Pavilion is built from charred woodA total of 30 charred timber frames built with flush tenon joints form the 3-to-1 pavilion's louvred walls. They are set at angles and increase in height as the structure narrows, left exposed on the ceiling.The openings between the frames filter in sunlight and cast playful shadows across the interior, which Temp designed to create a meditative atmosphere.It has a geometric form with a triangular planThe triangular plan of 3-to-1 Pavilion is intended to guide the eye towards the natural surroundings, with a large open wall on one end framing views of the garden.There is also a slim floor-to-ceiling opening at the narrowest end.There is a large open wall on the end"The shape directs visitors on a journey from casual gatherings to contemplation, culminating in a narrow, tall opening that frames a view of the garden, creating a strong visual connection with nature," said Temp.The pavilion rests on a concrete plinth that supports a black floor made from charred wooden boards. At the centre is a low black table, acting as a casual space for relaxation.Read: Buero Wagner creates adaptable black-timber pavilion in RomeBy using solid wood throughout the project, Temp intended to reference the neighbouring trees.However, to help it stand out from these surroundings, the wood has been charred using the Japanese Shou Sugi Ban technique.It is designed for drinking tea and social gatherings"The structure is entirely solid wood, cut into tenon joints in a local factory and assembled on-site," said Temp. "The use of tenon joints not only showcases craftsmanship but also ensures structural integrity and flexibility," it continued."The wood construction, combined with the charring wood process, reinforces the pavilion's connection to natural surroundings while providing a distinct architectural presence."The wood was charred using the Japanese technique Shou Sugi BanOther timber pavilions recently featured on Dezeen include a structure for bird watchers in Houston and a demountable tent-like building in Rome designed for flexible use.The photography is by Runzi Zhu.The post Temp nestles charred-wood pavilion in rocky Shanghai garden appeared first on Dezeen.

The new era of video meetings has put webcams in the spotlight. At the same time, it has also become more quickly apparent that webcam technologies and designs didnt really grow alongside the rest of the computing industry, seemingly stuck in the requirements and conventions of the early 2000s. But while their capabilities have indeed caught up to modern needs, their designs remain eyesores sitting on top of many monitors and laptop screens. This design concept tries to buck the trend by presenting a webcam that isnt just useful or privacy-respecting but also carries a character of its own.Designer: Andr TerchanianTheres a principle in psychology that says that something thats always in our vision can affect our minds in sometimes subconscious ways. Thats why sticky notes surrounding your computer monitor can be good at nagging us long after weve clocked out of the office, which can be a good or bad thing for your productivity. We also put things that delight and inspire us always within our field of vision, but things that irk or discomfort us can bring our mood down if we have them in our faces long enough.Webcams are meant to be discreet and almost invisible, but except for built-in cameras in laptop monitors, the vast majority of them are perched on top of our screens, often at eye level, so theres absolutely no way to ignore their presence. Its not that these devices are unappealing, though some might indeed fall under that category, but many of them are plain, uninspiring, and sometimes at odds with our carefully designed desk or computer motif.MILO is a design concept that tries to make the webcam look a little more alive and distinctive, and it does so by simply putting a ball on a stick. A spherical webcam isnt new, but most of the existing designs often use tripods, wide mounts, or clips to stay upright. In contrast, MILO has a stem with a spherical base that can stick to the back of any monitor using an adhesive surface and suction force to stay in place. This makes MILO look almost like a robot ball or a robotic eye thats peeking from the top of your screen.This small design change also brings some important benefits to its functionality. For one, you only need a single USB-C cable coming out of its base, away from sight and tangles. Another is that the magnetic base can rotate in a 360-degree direction, letting the webcam swivel downward if you want to block its view and prevent accidental recording. MILOs design is also compact and convenient to carry around, allowing you to set up your mobile office anywhere and take up video calls with a quirky-looking webcam sticking out of your laptop lid.The post Spherical webcam concept adds a playful personality to a utilitarian product first appeared on Yanko Design.

Right from the start you know you're in for a treat.Revisiting the 2008 game that got "cinematic" right.

The Wiedemann and Lampe founders discuss the dynamic of their creative partnership and approaching design briefs with forensic accuracy.