How Likely Is It to Be Hit by a Giant Asteroid, the Evolution of Recorded Music, and the Rage Over a Logo Change
This week we are talking about the logo changes – and if anyone ever likes them, what is the likelihood of hitting a giant asteroid, the evolution of recorded music from wax cylinders to MP3s, and 25 years of PowerBooks, iBooks and MacBooks.
What did people really like about the last logo change?
So, Mozilla has a new logo and a new brand . Well done to them! It may not have been well received online and certainly deserves criticism. However, when we saw the new logo here at Lifehacker headquarters, we asked ourselves:
It turns out thatthis question was not only asked by us . In general, people are not interested in redesigns or rebranding, unless, of course, rebranding plays on nostalgia, in which case it is usually incredibly popular (or at least controversial). This article isfrom Entrepreneur , although it was published back in 2015. , brings up a number of good points:
“It all comes down to identity,” says Karen Winterich, assistant professor of marketing at Pennsylvania State University. Consciously or not, we internalize brands that we admire (and want to agree with) and brands that are part of our daily lives. As a consumer-focused symbol for a packaged brand identity, we expect the underlying brand to change when the logo changes, which helps explain the intensity of the backlash from the 1999 Apple logo refresh (people tend to closely identify with the brand) and my reaction to the refresh. Google (the company logo is in many ways an integral part of my daily life).
In general, the stronger our associations with a brand, the more negatively we react to a change in its logo. In one study by Winterrich, 632 college students responded to a logo redesign for Adidas and New Balance athletic shoes by professional graphic designers. For attendees who said they had weak brand ties, the updated logos went smoothly. However, those who expressed a strong connection tended to react negatively to the redesign, which affected their attitude towards brands in general.
Thus, with every design change, the brand runs the risk of alienating its core audience, a group that – through the megaphone that is social media – can easily voice their displeasure.
All this is interesting and completely true, but what do you think? Can you remember the latest logo redesign that you really liked? What was it and did it take root? Let us know in the discussions.
How likely is an asteroid collision?
The likelihood of asteroids hitting Earth is … well … pretty high. In fact, small objects constantly surround the Earth, but thanks to a number of factors, the least of which is our atmosphere, very few of them manage to cause any damage or even go unnoticed by humans. This video from Real Life Lore shows how often these objects zip through our atmosphere and how many of them actually reach the ground (spoiler: very few).
Also, it asks a question that you are probably already thinking: of course, small objects are one thing, but what about large ones, like the one that killed the dinosaurs, or could it cause mass extinctions or massive damage? Don’t worry, they get there too, but the good news is that the chances are very rare, and the vast majority of objects that are of a size capable of causing any significant damage are observed and known – we can track them into the sky. Of course, if we were on a collision course with one of them, we could do something about it – another question. [ via Real Life Lore (YouTube) ]
How the MacBook has changed in recent years
The humble – or not so humble, depending on who you ask – the Apple MacBook has gone through many design changes over the years, and whether you love Apple products or hate them, you have to admit that those designs have influenced other PC makers. more than once. After all, the whole reason we got the term “ultrabook” is because other OEMs rushed to get thin, light, and durable after Apple introduced the MacBook Air.
So this ComputerWorld retrospective looks back at 25 years of MacBook history, starting with the Powerbook 100, making pit stops on the PowerBook, Titanium MacBook Pro, iBook G3, and more. We warn you that this is a slideshow, but it loads nicely and quickly (and only on the element you click on, not the entire page). Check it. [ via ComputerWorld ]
The evolution of recorded music from LP to digital
From wax cylinders to mp3s, the history of recorded music is rich and deep and probably more interesting than you might initially think. This series of three videos (the first is above, part two here , and part three here ) from Recording Academy are quick and informative and will tell you everything you might have missed.
For example, the first part starts with wax cylinders and the history of the gramophone and even introduces you to early vinyl records. However, in the second part we turn to the more recent past and discuss magnetic media such as 8-track and cassette tapes and their versatility. Of course, the third part deals with everything digital, including mp3 and other file formats, as well as the issue of sound quality. [ via the Recording Academy: Part 1: The Evolution of Recorded Music – Recordings | Part 2: Analog Tape | Part 3: Digital , thanks to Kottka ! ]
A climax from Star Wars in front of a live audience, 1977.
In 1977 I wasn’t around to see Star Wars in theaters (a few years later, I’m afraid), but I could only imagine what it was like. Although you and I don’t have to seriously imagine, thanks to this tidbit from Boing Boing:
Boing Boing previously wrote aboutYouTube user William Forsch , who as a childthoughtfully brought a tape recorder to the theater to capture the audience’s reaction to the original Star Wars . Well,YouTube user Homer Thompson took this raw sound and put it alongside the visuals of the Star Wars climax, which gives a much better idea of what the audience is reacting to. Khan’s appearance elicits the most applause, although the audience is also in awe of the destruction of the Death Star. All of this is a reminder of how amazing the original Star Wars was when it first came out.
An absolutely awesome and great way to start the week. May the strength always be with you. [ via Boing Boing ]
If you have thought-provoking stories, interesting podcasts, eye-opening videos, or anything else that you think is perfect for Brain Buffet, share it with us! Email me , leave it as a comment below, or send it in any way convenient for you.