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- Product & Design Pulse v42
Product & Design Pulse v42
Apple Reinvention and YouTube as Content King
Malcom Jones
June 02, 2025
Welcome to this week’s edition of Product & Design Pulse, where we explore the latest in tech, product, design, and innovation! Apple is preparing a major rebrand of its operating systems, signaling a push toward ecosystem clarity and design unification. YouTube maintained its lead as the most-watched media platform on TV for the third straight month, while Meta doubled down on AI, reorganizing teams to stay competitive in the AGI race. Meanwhile, The Browser Company reaffirmed its vision for a more intuitive internet with Arc, and Microsoft reflected on the evolution of ClearType—a reminder that even foundational design choices matter. New releases from WhatsApp, Spotify, and Google, along with AI-powered upgrades to Gmail and YouTube Shorts.
Last week…
Apple to Launch iOS 26, macOS 26 in Major Rebrand Tied to Software Redesigns
Apple is set to rebrand its operating systems, introducing iOS 26, macOS 26, watchOS 26, iPadOS 26, tvOS 26, and visionOS 26 to unify its software naming conventions. This change aims to streamline the user experience across devices and reflects Apple’s broader efforts to synchronize its ecosystem. The rebranding is part of a larger initiative to enhance consistency and clarity in Apple’s product offerings.
YouTube Maintains Largest Share of TV Viewing Among Media Companies for Third Consecutive Month
In April 2025, YouTube secured 12.4% of total TV viewing time, marking its third consecutive month as the leading media distributor, according to Nielsen’s Media Distributor Gauge. This milestone represents YouTube’s highest share to date, reflecting its growing dominance in the streaming landscape. Disney and NBCUniversal also saw gains, but YouTube’s consistent growth underscores its strong position in the market.
Meta Shuffles AI, AGI Teams to Compete with OpenAI, ByteDance, Google
Meta is restructuring its AI divisions to accelerate the development of new products and features amid growing competition from OpenAI, Google, and ByteDance. The company is forming two new teams: an AI Products team led by Connor Hayes and an AGI Foundations unit co-led by Ahmad Al-Dahle and Amir Frenkel. This reorganization aims to enhance ownership within teams and clarify dependencies, with no job cuts or executive departures reported.
The Browser Company’s latest letter to Arc members outlines their vision for the future of web browsing, emphasizing user-centric design and innovative features. They discuss upcoming enhancements aimed at improving user experience and productivity. The company reaffirms its commitment to building a browser that adapts to users’ needs and fosters a more efficient online environment.
Meta Plans to Replace Humans with AI to Assess Risks
Meta is planning to automate up to 90% of its internal privacy and safety assessments across platforms like Facebook and Instagram using AI. While this move aims to streamline processes, current and former employees express concerns about AI making complex decisions related to user safety and content moderation. Meta asserts that human oversight will remain for novel and complex issues, with automation applied to low-risk decisions.
From Paper to Pixels: The Evolution of ClearType and Onscreen Reading
Microsoft’s article delves into the development of ClearType technology, which enhanced the readability of text on LCD screens, facilitating a smoother transition from paper to digital reading. Introduced in the early 2000s, ClearType improved text clarity and reduced eye strain, significantly impacting user experience. The piece highlights the importance of typographic innovation in adapting to evolving digital consumption habits.
