Light Start – Uber design, Swiftkey purchase, Apple’s Campus, and The Force Awakens some LEGO

A fresh coat of paint for Uber – or the logo, at least

You know what Uber needed? A new logo and a new typeface. Not cheaper pricing or wider availability or anything like that, right? We only got the first one, sadly, as Uber has announced a new look for the company. On paper and in apps and things, anyway. They’re not painting the walls or the executives or anything. But things are changing – Uber are delivering food and branching out into other markets so the new look/s (which can be seen in the composite image above) are supposedly designed to make it easier to identify the company from a distance. Also on the way? Colour schemes designed for each of the cities that Uber operates in.

Source: Uber

Microsoft may be shelling out $250 million to purchase SwiftKey

And when we paid for SwiftKey it didn’t cost nearly as much. Seriously though, Microsoft is reportedly going to be announcing that they’re buying smartphone keyboard company SwiftKey, for the princely sum of $250 million. We say reported because, although the Financial Times seems to have all the details, neither Microsoft nor SwiftKey are commenting on the possibly deal at this time. What Microsoft wants SwiftKey for isn’t known – their existing software keyboard is already good enough but there’s speculation that Redmond wants the company’s AI research more than the after-market swiping keyboard. We’ll know more once an official announcement is forthcoming.

Source: Financial Times via The Verge

Work in progress: This is what Apple’s monstrous new Campus looks like so far

Apple’s going to be moving offices soon-ish. Right about the time that construction finishes on their alien mothership new spaceship-shaped campus. It’s going to be a while, then, but the construction is shaping up. This video (above, or you can click the link below) shows just how far things have come for Apple and also gives you some idea of the sheer scale of this project. The underground auditorium, a parking lot that will be delivering solar power (thanks to the PV cells on the roof), and a lot more are on show in this vid, which was shot using a DJI Inspire 1 drone. The Campus is set to be finished by the end of 2016 and this video has told us two things. 1) We have to get a DJI drone. 2) We might have to try and work for Apple in the future.

Source: Duncan Sinfield

If Battlefront and The Force Awakens wasn’t enough, LEGO The Force Awakens is landing soon

The Disney publicity machine hit a fever pitch around mid-December last year, when both Star Wars Battlefront and Star Wars: The Force Awakens hit fans – and everyone else within yelling distance – upside the head. If you have already gotten over your merchandising concussion, though, then be prepared to be whacked once again. 28 June marks the day when you will be able to play Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens, on just about every platform. The game is slated for launch on (deep breath) PC, PS3, PS4, PS Vita, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Nintendo Wii U and Nintendo 3DS. This is what a launch lineup looks like and if you’ve played a Lego game in the past four years, you’ll have some idea of the fun you’re in for. If you haven’t played one, watch the trailer above and then get your pre-order in.

Source: Lego Star Wars (YouTube)