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š© Adobe Sued by U.S. Government for Making Canceling Subscriptions an āObstacle Courseā
Adobe's in hot water with Uncle Samš„, TikTok's Whee aims at Insta's throneš, and photography gets all power-hungryā”.
Created by the people at Beazy.
Welcome, creative friends!
Is Adobe playing hard to unsubscribe? Uncle Sam sure thinks so. Is it (finally) time to cancel and switch?
In today's rundown
VISUAL CREATORS
For your artistic side.
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Adobe is facing a lawsuit from the U.S. Justice Department over allegations of deceptive design.
The government argues that:
Adobeās sign-up process traps consumers in subscriptions they no longer want and makes canceling difficult, in violation of the Restore Online Shoppersā Confidence Act (ROSCA).
Adobe didnāt make it clear to customers that they were signing up for a year-long commitment with a cancellation fee in the triple digits.
The company āhas profited from this hidden feeā affecting āmillions of online subscribers.ā
Adobe reported earlier this year that its annual recurring revenue surpassed $14 billion, a number that nearly doubled between 2019 and 2023.
![](https://media.beehiiv.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down,format=auto,onerror=redirect,quality=80/uploads/asset/file/14979890-9a24-41eb-89e4-5c5a90b29158/Capture-2024-06-24-203021.png?t=1719253929)
Adobe said it would defend itself in court. This is the latest legal action against ādark patterns", manipulative online tactics that prioritize maximum profit over maximum transparency, and follows a 2022 FTC report on the subject.
PRODUCTION MASTERY
The commercial aspects of creativity.
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Ralph Bartholomew Jr., Soap Packaging, 1936
From storefronts to your Instagram feed, the influence of product photography reaches deep. A recent exhibition at The Met unveils how product shots went from basic to beautiful, turning everyday items into art ā these pictures aren't just about what you can buy, but who you want to be.
![]() Irving Penn, Theatre Accident, New York, 1947 | ![]() Bobby Doherty, Oronamin C, 2022, from Dream About Nothing, 2023 |
Notably, the exhibition highlights the innovative use of light and shadow in the work of commercial photographers, like H. Raymond Ball and Edward J. Steichen, to transform everyday objects into art and advertising.
Itās not just about pushing products anymore; itās a window into our consumer souls, reflecting our aspirations amidst the avalanche of goods.
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Photographer unknown, Montage for Packard Super Eight, ca. 1940
Courtesy the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Today's image-makers, like Bobby Doherty and Christopher Williams, keep the conversation going with a twist of irony and a splash of socio-politics.
CREATOR ECONOMY
Navigating the digital creative world.
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Whee
TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, is quietly testing a new app called Whee that's essentially an Instagram for close friends. It's live in over a dozen countries already.
But why now? Well, as Instagram leans into video, TikTok wants in on that pic-posting nostalgia. Last year, they tried Notes (a potential Instagram clone that still hasnāt launched), and now theyāre testing Whee.
The back story: Instagram has been going more into video lately, and thatās ruffled some feathers with users who miss the platformās photo-first days.
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š½ļø VISUAL CREATORS
Apple will embed EXIF data in images created by its AI, Generative Playground, which already had restrictions on creating photorealistic images. The move indicates that Apple is taking photographers' concerns about AI imaging seriously.
Nikonās new Z6III camera shoots 6K video & has a stacked 50.9MP CMOS sensorāa promising package. Yet, itās a mixed bag, not an outright win.
š PRODUCTION MASTERY
Does the Fujifilm X100V Deserve to Be the Most Sought-After Camera in the World? Specs won't wow but it's a design dream. Classic dials, light frame, and a snappy 23mm lens make it street-smart for photographers on the go.
Apple will label images generated by its new AI art tool, Image Playground, as AI-created. The tool, featured in iOS 18, lets users turn text into cartoon images and will be integrated into various apps. Apple plans to extend access to third-party devs.
š CREATOR ECONOMY
Netflix opens permanent "Houses" in Philly and Dallas, featuring show-themed dining and shopping.
U.S. Surgeon General is calling for warning labels on social media platforms. Many experts argue against such a move, citing the need for better digital literacy education and more responsible platform design.
š Learn & Grow
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