Scott Jenson
@jenson.org
UX Strategy: Apple System 7, Newton, & Apple HI guidelines. UX Director Symbian, managed Mobile UX at Google, creative director frog design SF. Head of Product for two startups. Google Physical Web + Android UX research. Semi-retired
Reposted by Scott Jenson
Been saying this for a while but the really exciting stuff on the web right now is all about how things we used to need JS for can now be done with pure CSS.
There are a lot of opportunities to cut out client side bloat.
There are a lot of opportunities to cut out client side bloat.
February 4, 2026 at 4:32 AM
Been saying this for a while but the really exciting stuff on the web right now is all about how things we used to need JS for can now be done with pure CSS.
There are a lot of opportunities to cut out client side bloat.
There are a lot of opportunities to cut out client side bloat.
I used to work there and was proud of that work. I'm quite frustrated with them now.
Every other day, I see a new essay by someone disillusioned by Apple.
The themes are consistent. The sycophantic support of the Trump administration. UI design now violates principles they invented. Anti-competitive and predatory actions in the pursuit of revenue.
The rebels have become the empire
The themes are consistent. The sycophantic support of the Trump administration. UI design now violates principles they invented. Anti-competitive and predatory actions in the pursuit of revenue.
The rebels have become the empire
Tim Cook sold Apple's soul
Apple used to stand for something. Now Tim Cook gifts golden statues to Trump, removes apps at the administration's request, and cozies up to accused rapists at White House screenings. The company I o...
www.loopwerk.io
February 3, 2026 at 12:13 AM
I used to work there and was proud of that work. I'm quite frustrated with them now.
Reposted by Scott Jenson
Thank you everyone for suggested books! With help from @jenson.org, I turned it into a page on my website, hoping that maybe it will help someone in the future:
aresluna.org/ux-books-not...
aresluna.org/ux-books-not...
UX books not written by white men
The details of table of contents UI on my site
aresluna.org
February 1, 2026 at 9:52 PM
Thank you everyone for suggested books! With help from @jenson.org, I turned it into a page on my website, hoping that maybe it will help someone in the future:
aresluna.org/ux-books-not...
aresluna.org/ux-books-not...
Some people seem to think that the "craft of ux" is dead: striving to be polished is naive. E.g. snapchat & Instagram stories, which are horrible UX, are claimed to be "good enough".
I'm writing a blog post exploring this but need links to any examples of this type of thinking?
I'm writing a blog post exploring this but need links to any examples of this type of thinking?
January 28, 2026 at 11:38 PM
Some people seem to think that the "craft of ux" is dead: striving to be polished is naive. E.g. snapchat & Instagram stories, which are horrible UX, are claimed to be "good enough".
I'm writing a blog post exploring this but need links to any examples of this type of thinking?
I'm writing a blog post exploring this but need links to any examples of this type of thinking?
Passkeys are a Potemkin Village of UX promises. They appear on the outside to solve every problem but when you try and use them, it's like, no... not that way.
My latest faceplant was using a passkey in chrome profile A disappearing in profile B. I assumed they were stored at the OS level!
My latest faceplant was using a passkey in chrome profile A disappearing in profile B. I assumed they were stored at the OS level!
It’s been a year and I use them but I have absolutely no idea what a passkey is. Half the time login fails with them and I have to do something else that works (like a password). I refuse to understand more. I’m tired of computers and don’t care. This is what it’s like for every non-nerd, isn’t it?
January 19, 2026 at 1:54 AM
Passkeys are a Potemkin Village of UX promises. They appear on the outside to solve every problem but when you try and use them, it's like, no... not that way.
My latest faceplant was using a passkey in chrome profile A disappearing in profile B. I assumed they were stored at the OS level!
My latest faceplant was using a passkey in chrome profile A disappearing in profile B. I assumed they were stored at the OS level!
Sorry, but is everyone here cool with this?
Here, @jay.bsky.team says Bluesky is for fascists, too:
> I'm wondering, would you welcome by President Trump if he was debating joining Bluesky?
> Yeah, Bluesky's for everyone, you know.
www.wired.com/video/watch/...
> I'm wondering, would you welcome by President Trump if he was debating joining Bluesky?
> Yeah, Bluesky's for everyone, you know.
www.wired.com/video/watch/...
Bluesky CEO Jay Graber On Building A Better Social Ecosystem
www.wired.com
January 18, 2026 at 2:36 PM
Sorry, but is everyone here cool with this?
But that's exactly my point, if BlueSky was more decentralized (It has plans, it could get there) it would be less of a target.
My point wasn't to say "BlUesKy iS StUpId" but to say "it's putting itself in a bind because it's not as decentralized as it wants to be. @goose.art
My point wasn't to say "BlUesKy iS StUpId" but to say "it's putting itself in a bind because it's not as decentralized as it wants to be. @goose.art
i will get hate for this but: all posts on here are public anyway. it is important to verify this account so people know specifically it is real and they shouldnt fuck with it
fact that it is the most blocked account is a good sign everything is working well, banning it would make bluesky a target
fact that it is the most blocked account is a good sign everything is working well, banning it would make bluesky a target
Bluesky allows and verifies the government ICE account
For all of it's "API decentralization" it's still acting like one giant centralized server, which makes it politically difficult to ban the account (just like Twitter)
On Mastodon, any reasonable server would just ban the account. Done. Easy.
For all of it's "API decentralization" it's still acting like one giant centralized server, which makes it politically difficult to ban the account (just like Twitter)
On Mastodon, any reasonable server would just ban the account. Done. Easy.
January 18, 2026 at 1:23 PM
But that's exactly my point, if BlueSky was more decentralized (It has plans, it could get there) it would be less of a target.
My point wasn't to say "BlUesKy iS StUpId" but to say "it's putting itself in a bind because it's not as decentralized as it wants to be. @goose.art
My point wasn't to say "BlUesKy iS StUpId" but to say "it's putting itself in a bind because it's not as decentralized as it wants to be. @goose.art
Bluesky allows and verifies the government ICE account
For all of it's "API decentralization" it's still acting like one giant centralized server, which makes it politically difficult to ban the account (just like Twitter)
On Mastodon, any reasonable server would just ban the account. Done. Easy.
For all of it's "API decentralization" it's still acting like one giant centralized server, which makes it politically difficult to ban the account (just like Twitter)
On Mastodon, any reasonable server would just ban the account. Done. Easy.
January 18, 2026 at 4:00 AM
Bluesky allows and verifies the government ICE account
For all of it's "API decentralization" it's still acting like one giant centralized server, which makes it politically difficult to ban the account (just like Twitter)
On Mastodon, any reasonable server would just ban the account. Done. Easy.
For all of it's "API decentralization" it's still acting like one giant centralized server, which makes it politically difficult to ban the account (just like Twitter)
On Mastodon, any reasonable server would just ban the account. Done. Easy.
Interesting retail #ux observation: the coffeeshop and the sandwich shop with standard human cashiers were hopping busy.
The automated QR code driven pizza place was a total ghost town. This was at LAX
The automated QR code driven pizza place was a total ghost town. This was at LAX
January 16, 2026 at 7:22 PM
Interesting retail #ux observation: the coffeeshop and the sandwich shop with standard human cashiers were hopping busy.
The automated QR code driven pizza place was a total ghost town. This was at LAX
The automated QR code driven pizza place was a total ghost town. This was at LAX
"Devil is in the #UX details" Department
I've been playing this 2-person game with my wife for years and this starter page always drives me a bit bonkers, it's just so fiddly to get started, the unnecessary tapping just feels like such an obvious thing to fix.
I've been playing this 2-person game with my wife for years and this starter page always drives me a bit bonkers, it's just so fiddly to get started, the unnecessary tapping just feels like such an obvious thing to fix.
January 13, 2026 at 3:57 PM
"Devil is in the #UX details" Department
I've been playing this 2-person game with my wife for years and this starter page always drives me a bit bonkers, it's just so fiddly to get started, the unnecessary tapping just feels like such an obvious thing to fix.
I've been playing this 2-person game with my wife for years and this starter page always drives me a bit bonkers, it's just so fiddly to get started, the unnecessary tapping just feels like such an obvious thing to fix.
Reposted by Scott Jenson
Complementary is back and this week Anthony and I discussed this talk from @jenson.org, which was a delight to watch!
creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/...
creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/...
January 11, 2026 at 6:52 PM
Complementary is back and this week Anthony and I discussed this talk from @jenson.org, which was a delight to watch!
creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/...
creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/...
MacBook Users!
I've been pulling my hair out over dragging icons within listviews in the Finder. It works fine with a mouse but not the trackpad.
Solution: turn off "Force Press and Haptics". Such a relief.
But it is another example of creeping bad #UX decisions by Apple
I've been pulling my hair out over dragging icons within listviews in the Finder. It works fine with a mouse but not the trackpad.
Solution: turn off "Force Press and Haptics". Such a relief.
But it is another example of creeping bad #UX decisions by Apple
January 11, 2026 at 5:00 PM
MacBook Users!
I've been pulling my hair out over dragging icons within listviews in the Finder. It works fine with a mouse but not the trackpad.
Solution: turn off "Force Press and Haptics". Such a relief.
But it is another example of creeping bad #UX decisions by Apple
I've been pulling my hair out over dragging icons within listviews in the Finder. It works fine with a mouse but not the trackpad.
Solution: turn off "Force Press and Haptics". Such a relief.
But it is another example of creeping bad #UX decisions by Apple
I did a little end-of-year googling, shocked to discover I made the front page of HackerNews 3 times last year! Shocked because I only knew of one of them. It's very odd reading a conversation long after the window when you could have replied.
BTW: The commenters on HackerNews are a bit odd....
BTW: The commenters on HackerNews are a bit odd....
January 6, 2026 at 2:40 AM
I did a little end-of-year googling, shocked to discover I made the front page of HackerNews 3 times last year! Shocked because I only knew of one of them. It's very odd reading a conversation long after the window when you could have replied.
BTW: The commenters on HackerNews are a bit odd....
BTW: The commenters on HackerNews are a bit odd....
Reposted by Scott Jenson
Got suspicious at first (UX in Mastodon? Android? Linux?) but the talk by @jenson.org is excellent (all suspicion was entirely my own fault). "UX improvements have stopped". The last major waves were all consumer-focused, not productivity- or professional-focused.
Утащил из комментов у Тонского в ТГ youtu.be/1fZTOjd_bOQ
Are we stuck with the same Desktop UX forever? | Ubuntu Summit 25.10
YouTube video by Canonical Ubuntu
youtu.be
December 31, 2025 at 12:52 PM
Got suspicious at first (UX in Mastodon? Android? Linux?) but the talk by @jenson.org is excellent (all suspicion was entirely my own fault). "UX improvements have stopped". The last major waves were all consumer-focused, not productivity- or professional-focused.
People tend to see the worst:
In 1963, the USPS launched ZIP Codes and 2 letter state abbreviations, sparking huge backlash. Conservatives called it a step toward a "communist" style of government reducing people down to numbers.
In 1963, the USPS launched ZIP Codes and 2 letter state abbreviations, sparking huge backlash. Conservatives called it a step toward a "communist" style of government reducing people down to numbers.
USPS History | USPS History Timeline | US Postal Service History
By Scott Vierick, HistorianBarely three weeks after the battles of Lexington and Concord in 1775, the fledgling Continental Congress began the process of
www.historyassociates.com
December 24, 2025 at 4:34 PM
People tend to see the worst:
In 1963, the USPS launched ZIP Codes and 2 letter state abbreviations, sparking huge backlash. Conservatives called it a step toward a "communist" style of government reducing people down to numbers.
In 1963, the USPS launched ZIP Codes and 2 letter state abbreviations, sparking huge backlash. Conservatives called it a step toward a "communist" style of government reducing people down to numbers.
There are 300K+ views on Youtube of my talk! I've never had a talk get this amount of traction.
It's confusing as I've been speaking/writing about this for years. Somehow the stars aligned this time.
Upside is that I've had lots of interesting conversations with folks because of this.
It's confusing as I've been speaking/writing about this for years. Somehow the stars aligned this time.
Upside is that I've had lots of interesting conversations with folks because of this.
My Ubuntu Summit talk is up! Where I talk about:
1. How Desktop UX is effectively dead
2. Why I hate the term UX/UI with the heat of 1000 suns
3. How OSS can actually innovate in #ux
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fZT...
1. How Desktop UX is effectively dead
2. Why I hate the term UX/UI with the heat of 1000 suns
3. How OSS can actually innovate in #ux
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fZT...
Are we stuck with the same Desktop UX forever? | Ubuntu Summit 25.10
YouTube video by Canonical Ubuntu
www.youtube.com
December 24, 2025 at 1:43 AM
There are 300K+ views on Youtube of my talk! I've never had a talk get this amount of traction.
It's confusing as I've been speaking/writing about this for years. Somehow the stars aligned this time.
Upside is that I've had lots of interesting conversations with folks because of this.
It's confusing as I've been speaking/writing about this for years. Somehow the stars aligned this time.
Upside is that I've had lots of interesting conversations with folks because of this.
Reposted by Scott Jenson
My 2026 Open Social Web Predictions: includes fediverse predctions focuesed on work being done by: @bsky.app @ghost.org @surf.social @wordpress.org @ap.brid.gy @anew.social @leaflet.pub @smokesignal.events @altstore.io
www.timothychambers.net/2025/12/23/m...
www.timothychambers.net/2025/12/23/m...
My 2026 Open Social Web Predictions
I just finished reviewing my 2025 predictions (how do you think I did grading myself?) www.timothychambers.net/2024/12/2…
Now it’s time to make some bets for 2026. I do this not to prove how great my ...
www.timothychambers.net
December 23, 2025 at 3:05 PM
My 2026 Open Social Web Predictions: includes fediverse predctions focuesed on work being done by: @bsky.app @ghost.org @surf.social @wordpress.org @ap.brid.gy @anew.social @leaflet.pub @smokesignal.events @altstore.io
www.timothychambers.net/2025/12/23/m...
www.timothychambers.net/2025/12/23/m...
I just had this weird "vision of the future" flash:
* Lots of different social media feeds (independent, open, safe)
* An aggregated feed across them all
* It's a bit of a fire hose
* Local filtering (keyword or AI)
* "Intelligent" notifications
We're nearly there already...
* Lots of different social media feeds (independent, open, safe)
* An aggregated feed across them all
* It's a bit of a fire hose
* Local filtering (keyword or AI)
* "Intelligent" notifications
We're nearly there already...
December 21, 2025 at 4:41 PM
I just had this weird "vision of the future" flash:
* Lots of different social media feeds (independent, open, safe)
* An aggregated feed across them all
* It's a bit of a fire hose
* Local filtering (keyword or AI)
* "Intelligent" notifications
We're nearly there already...
* Lots of different social media feeds (independent, open, safe)
* An aggregated feed across them all
* It's a bit of a fire hose
* Local filtering (keyword or AI)
* "Intelligent" notifications
We're nearly there already...
So many people helped me "finish" Hades II. As a small thank you, I've dug through the games audio files and curated 26 short clips of various sounds and voice clips. I like to use them for Notification sounds on my phone.
drive.google.com/file/d/1U87T...
drive.google.com/file/d/1U87T...
HadesIISounds.zip
drive.google.com
December 20, 2025 at 6:50 PM
So many people helped me "finish" Hades II. As a small thank you, I've dug through the games audio files and curated 26 short clips of various sounds and voice clips. I like to use them for Notification sounds on my phone.
drive.google.com/file/d/1U87T...
drive.google.com/file/d/1U87T...
I keep hearing of issues with "Shared block lists".
Has anyone written up an analysis of these issues, both pro/con? I'm not asking for a huge discussion, I just expect there are a few writeups on this topic and I'm looking for links.
Has anyone written up an analysis of these issues, both pro/con? I'm not asking for a huge discussion, I just expect there are a few writeups on this topic and I'm looking for links.
December 19, 2025 at 7:03 PM
I keep hearing of issues with "Shared block lists".
Has anyone written up an analysis of these issues, both pro/con? I'm not asking for a huge discussion, I just expect there are a few writeups on this topic and I'm looking for links.
Has anyone written up an analysis of these issues, both pro/con? I'm not asking for a huge discussion, I just expect there are a few writeups on this topic and I'm looking for links.
Reposted by Scott Jenson
Observation: some folks appear to be in news to speak truth *from* power and use institutions to defend the status quo and the agency of centralized power. Others speak truth *to* power and use journalism to challenge unequal power dynamics. Only one of those is desirable, imo.
December 18, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Observation: some folks appear to be in news to speak truth *from* power and use institutions to defend the status quo and the agency of centralized power. Others speak truth *to* power and use journalism to challenge unequal power dynamics. Only one of those is desirable, imo.
Reposted by Scott Jenson
If you have any intersection with software and how it is built and designed, this brilliant talk by @jenson.org is worth your time. www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fZT...
Are we stuck with the same Desktop UX forever? | Ubuntu Summit 25.10
YouTube video by Canonical Ubuntu
www.youtube.com
December 15, 2025 at 4:11 PM
If you have any intersection with software and how it is built and designed, this brilliant talk by @jenson.org is worth your time. www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fZT...
My Ubuntu Summit talk is up! Where I talk about:
1. How Desktop UX is effectively dead
2. Why I hate the term UX/UI with the heat of 1000 suns
3. How OSS can actually innovate in #ux
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fZT...
1. How Desktop UX is effectively dead
2. Why I hate the term UX/UI with the heat of 1000 suns
3. How OSS can actually innovate in #ux
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fZT...
Are we stuck with the same Desktop UX forever? | Ubuntu Summit 25.10
YouTube video by Canonical Ubuntu
www.youtube.com
December 12, 2025 at 5:51 AM
My Ubuntu Summit talk is up! Where I talk about:
1. How Desktop UX is effectively dead
2. Why I hate the term UX/UI with the heat of 1000 suns
3. How OSS can actually innovate in #ux
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fZT...
1. How Desktop UX is effectively dead
2. Why I hate the term UX/UI with the heat of 1000 suns
3. How OSS can actually innovate in #ux
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fZT...
What is your "MacGyver digital trick" that you use nearly every day?
For me, I have a note taking app I used on all my devices. There is a "Clipboard" note when I need to use/read text across devices. One common use is to copy a recipe text from a web page and use it on my phone in the kitchen.
For me, I have a note taking app I used on all my devices. There is a "Clipboard" note when I need to use/read text across devices. One common use is to copy a recipe text from a web page and use it on my phone in the kitchen.
December 8, 2025 at 11:27 PM
What is your "MacGyver digital trick" that you use nearly every day?
For me, I have a note taking app I used on all my devices. There is a "Clipboard" note when I need to use/read text across devices. One common use is to copy a recipe text from a web page and use it on my phone in the kitchen.
For me, I have a note taking app I used on all my devices. There is a "Clipboard" note when I need to use/read text across devices. One common use is to copy a recipe text from a web page and use it on my phone in the kitchen.
With the various ICE apps under pressure to be removed from app stores, why in hell aren't these apps just Web Apps (PWAs)?
It's the super power of the web. You *can't* block it.
And before you say "but apps are better" stop. We're not debating tech here we're debating free speech.
It's the super power of the web. You *can't* block it.
And before you say "but apps are better" stop. We're not debating tech here we're debating free speech.
December 8, 2025 at 5:11 PM
With the various ICE apps under pressure to be removed from app stores, why in hell aren't these apps just Web Apps (PWAs)?
It's the super power of the web. You *can't* block it.
And before you say "but apps are better" stop. We're not debating tech here we're debating free speech.
It's the super power of the web. You *can't* block it.
And before you say "but apps are better" stop. We're not debating tech here we're debating free speech.