News 20.08.2020

Need to Know

Fortnite wants you to rebel against Apple, a transparent television for modern home interiors, and beauty consumers find ingredients jargon confusing.

Fortnite’s aggro-tising fights the App Store monopoly

#FreeFortnite by Epic Games

Global – #FreeFortnite is a new social media campaign from Epic Games that highlights how Apple is blocking iOS users from installing and updating Fortnite's latest release.

The campaign subverts an old Apple advertisement that in itself was a play on the dystopian novel 1984 by George Orwell, with Fortnite calling gamers to ‘join the fight to stop 2020 from becoming 1984’. It is a response to Apple blocking Fortnite from being downloaded or updated on iOS devices owing to a dispute between Epic Games and the tech giant relating to in-app purchases.

By allowing direct in-game payment features that circumnavigated Apple receiving a 30% cut, it retaliated by removing Epic Games updates. Responding with its own take on aggro-tising, Epic Games believes that ‘all players should have a choice in payment providers’, appealing to gamers to join its fight against the App Store monopoly.

Companies are increasingly choosing to stand their ground in public, even if it means going against popular global brands or viewpoints. For more, explore what it means to be a Backlash Brand.

This transparent tv embodies discreet tech

Mi TV LUX Transparent Edition by Xiaomi, Beijing Mi TV LUX Transparent Edition by Xiaomi, Beijing

Beijing – Technology company Xiaomi is launching a transparent television, ushering in new ways of consuming visual content at home.

Reported to be the first tv of its kind, its streamlined, see-through design means it appears like a pane of glass when switched off. When in use, the pictures it displays appear to be floating in the air. While traditional televisions include a back panel, Xiaomi’s design embeds the processing units into its base, which doubles as a stand.

The television also features in-built artificial intelligence (AI) that allows it to detect the type of content being played and select the most suitable audio setting. According to Xiaomi, owing to its transparency, the tv is suitable for both homes and public spaces such as galleries, museums and theatres.

With modern homes increasingly designed to be clutter-free spaces, consumers are calling for Discreet Tech that blends seamlessly into the background.

Pinterest’s AR tools amplify inclusive beauty

Global – Pinterest is responding to users' growing interest in inclusive beauty with enhanced search and augmented reality (AR) try-on tools for cosmetics.

Designed to bolster the platform’s shopping features, its new features include skin tone ranges, an improved search functionality for users in the UK, Canada, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. The tool both simplifies and widens the discovery of beauty products and tutorials based on users’ individual skin tone preferences.

Pinterest has also advanced its AR beauty tool, Try On, a virtual lipstick experience that now offers user the chance to try on 10,000 shoppable lipstick shades on the platform from brands including NARS, Cle de Peau and Thrive Causemetics. According to Pinterest, Try On-enabled pins are five times more likely to show purchase intent than standard pins.

‘With these updates, Pinterest is becoming a more inclusive place to discover and shop for beauty ideas. No one should have to work extra hard to uncover personalised ideas, and all should feel welcome,’ says Annie Ta, product manager of Pinterest.

As we reveal in Shoppable Social, in-platform features are increasingly transforming the way consumers interact with products.

Pinterest, UK

Stat: Beauty consumers crave ingredient explanations

Better Not Younger, US Better Not Younger, US

A survey from British health and supplements retailer Holland & Barrett reveals that the majority (97%) of UK beauty consumers would like brands to be more transparent about the ingredients they use.

Of 2,000 respondents, most agreed that beauty brands should drop the jargon they use altogether, with 90% saying that companies should be clearer with the language used on packaging. As a result of confusion over ingredient messaging, 92% of women say they actively look for natural ingredients over 'household beauty brand names' when searching for new products.

Pointing to a more positive mindset around beauty and skincare, Holland & Barrett also notes that product claims such as 'natural' and 'cruelty-free' were more popular among respondents than 'anti-ageing', 'tightening' and 'line reduction'.

With today’s beauty consumers looking for transparency from the brands they invest in, Honest Products are increasingly coming to the fore.

Previous News Articles
Web Summit 2024: Pharrell Williams, industrial forests and immersive influencing

News

Web Summit 2024: Pharrell Williams, industrial forests and immersive influencing

Lisbon, the European Capital of Innovation since 2023, is once again hosting Web Summit, a four-day event that draws over 70,000 attendees and the ...
Technology : Pop-culture & Media : Events
PIX Moving launches AI-enhanced Robo-EV

News

PIX Moving launches AI-enhanced Robo-EV

Robotics company PIX Moving has introduced Robo-EV, a 3D-printed micro-metal car featuring an AI-powered personal assistant designed to assess and ...
Design : Technology : Mobility
British skincare brand Haeckels relaunched with a new identity

News

British skincare brand Haeckels relaunched with a new identity

Haeckels, the British skincare and fragrance brand, is rebranding as Formerly Known As Haeckels (FKAH), distancing itself from the controversial Ge...
Beauty : Advertising & Branding : Retail
Stat: UK study shows sharp decline in reading for pleasure among children

News

Stat: UK study shows sharp decline in reading for pleasure among children

A new UK survey by the National Literacy Trust (NLT) reveals a shocking decline in children’s enjoyment of reading.
Youth : Education : Society
Lava Genie re-invents the guitar for a new generation of players

News

Lava Genie re-invents the guitar for a new generation of players

Lava Genie, a revolutionary stringless sampler guitar, is transforming how musicians interact with the instrument.
Technology : Artificial Intelligence : Design
Adventure-based immersive zoological park to open in Singapore

News

Adventure-based immersive zoological park to open in Singapore

In March 2025, Rainforest Wild Asia, Singapore’s latest 13-hectare zoological park, will open at Mandai Wildlife Reserve.
Design : Travel & Hospitality : Sustainability
Egypt's Ministry of Education to launch AI-powered digital learning platform

News

Egypt's Ministry of Education to launch AI-powered digital learning platform

The Ministry of Education and Technical Education in Egypt is set to unveil an educational platform designed to centralise all key academic resourc...
Education : Artificial Intelligence : Youth
Stat: Rogaine aims to shift stigma around men’s hair loss

News

Stat: Rogaine aims to shift stigma around men’s hair loss

Rogaine has launched National Hats Off Day, a campaign aimed at changing the conversation on men’s hair loss from stigma to support.
Beauty : Health & Wellness : Society
Surf Abu Dhabi is now the world’s largest wave pool

News

Surf Abu Dhabi is now the world’s largest wave pool

Surf Abu Dhabi, the world’s largest wave pool, has officially opened, offering a groundbreaking experience.
Sports & Leisure : Travel & Hospitality : Health & Wellness
Canada Water's new timber boardwalk is designed to promote biodiversity

News

Canada Water's new timber boardwalk is designed to promote biodiversity

British Land and AustralianSuper have unveiled a new boardwalk in Canada Water, London, designed by renowned architect Asif Khan.
Design : Future Spaces : Architecture
You have 2 free News articles remaining. Sign up to LS:N Global to get unlimited access to all articles.
BECOME A MEMBER
SIGN IN