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Byte Magazine Artist Robert Tinney, Who Illustrated the Birth of PCs, Dies at 78

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Robert Tinney, the artist behind Byte magazine’s iconic covers from 1975 to the late 1980s, passed away at 78. His surrealist-influenced illustrations, created using airbrushed Designers Gouache, helped define the visual language of personal computing for a generation. Tinney’s work, characterized by its non-technical metaphors, made complex computing topics accessible and memorable.

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/02/byte-magazine-artist-robert-tinney-who-illustrated-the-birth-of-pcs-dies-at-78/

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Apple Arcade Just Accidentally Became the Best Place for Normal People to Play Retro Arcade Games

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Apple Arcade now features Retrocade, a top app for playing retro arcade games. It offers classic titles like Pac-Man and Asteroids with excellent controls, daily challenges, and global high scores. However, it lacks certain features like multiplayer and Mac support. Despite its limitations, it signals a shift in Apple’s gaming strategy towards embracing retro gaming without the hassle of emulation. The app costs $6.99/month or as part of Apple One.

https://www.stuff.tv/features/apple-arcade-just-accidentally-became-the-best-place-for-normal-people-to-play-retro-arcade-games/

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Screenshots From Developers & Unix People (2002)

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In 2002, Anders Jensen-Urstad collected desktop screenshots from prominent developers and Unix users for Unix.se. Noteworthy contributors include Dennis Ritchie, Brian Kernighan, and Richard Stallman, showcasing various Unix systems and preferences. Most desktops displayed a preference for command-line interfaces with minimal GUI use. The collection is a nostalgic glimpse into the developers’ environments at the time, with the article revised in 2015 for additional context.

https://anders.unix.se/2015/10/28/screenshots-from-developers–unix-people-2002/

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Press Start: How Controllers Shaped Video Game Design—and Where Interfaces May Go Next

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Game controllers have shaped video game interfaces, evolving from simple designs to complex navigational systems. Modern gaming incorporates varied features, enhancing player experience while maintaining intuitive interaction through consistent controller layouts. As technology advances with AR/VR, these navigation principles can inform broader UI design across platforms, emphasizing user engagement and seamless accessibility.

https://www.figma.com/blog/press-start-video-game-navigation/

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Analog Audio Tape Cassette Nostalgia

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Tapedeck.org showcases the design and history of audio tape cassettes from the 1960s to the 1990s, highlighting their popularity, especially with the launch of the Sony Walkman. The site invites users to share images of their cassettes and features a collection of nearly 1,000 tapes from various brands. Despite declining use in the West, cassettes remain common in many developing countries.

https://www.tapedeck.org/

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Tangible Media: a Historical Collection of Information Storage Technology

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Humans have stored information for over 30,000 years. The 10th-century roller organ introduced the need for a device to access this info. Removable media like records, tapes, and cards enhanced cultural significance. Despite a trend toward network-based storage, physical media still hold value. This collection of 1,700 artifacts showcases the beauty and innovation of such media, reflecting their historical impact on society.

https://tangiblemediacollection.com/

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Photoshop 1.0 and the Early Macintosh HIG

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Gruber discusses Photoshop 1.0’s source code and early UI details, noting the timelessness of good design principles despite evolving styles and technologies. He critiques modern dismissiveness towards historical UI standards, emphasizing that fundamental design idioms remain relevant.

https://daringfireball.net/linked/2025/12/31/photoshop-1-and-the-early-macintosh-hig

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