Entertainment Spotlight: KJ Smith, Sistas

A word from AK

Artist of the Month: Alicia Keys

If you haven't already heard, Alicia Keys is our February Artist of the Month. Today, Alicia gives us her overview on the word frequency.

Be sure to follow @thekeysofalicia for more as well. 😎

This is sooo wrong of us Tumblr. Funny though 😋

😂😂😂

Thanks — view on Instagram https://ift.tt/2ZtXBCZ

WWDC21 and Tumblr… Recap!

By: Praveen Nagaraj

This year’s WWDC focused a lot on bringing improved experiences across iOS and macOS rather than adding a whole lot of new features. 👏

There was a lot of focus on making apps more inclusive and designing for accessibility. ♿️

Here is a summary of all the improvements I think Tumblr can make to its iOS app to improve the user experience! 🎈

1. Better support for larger screen sizes 🖥

This year, Apple improved upon the multitasking experience for the iPad.

Tumblr’s support for large screen sizes is rather poor 😔. The current approach is to include large white spaces on either side of the feed to compensate for the large screen size. The implementation is also rather inconsistent, as many places still have full width views.

Places like the post editor ✍️ on the iPad are full width, and do not represent how the post will look like when published. Paragraphs look more like a single sentence. This is one example of where better optimization for the larger screen will benefit the user experience.

It would be better if Tumblr could implement some sort of sidebar or complementary content to the side of the feed, to take advantage of the iPad’s larger screen size. Being a media-centric 🌄 platform, this would greatly improve the user experience.

2. Support for Quick Note ✏️

This year, Quick Notes were introduced to allow a user to quickly bring up a sticky note like user interface to make a note. 📝

Many use Tumblr for scrolling through fashion 👗 and decor inspiration. I personally know friends that use apps like Pinterest and Tumblr to search for inspiration, while jotting notes on the side.

Support for Quick Notes will allow Tumblr to show thumbnails of previously jotted Quick Notes for a specific post, when revisited. This will help users that use the app for this purpose quickly re-gather their thoughts 💭 .

3. Support for widgets 👀

This year’s updated support for more intelligent 🧠 widgets showed the importance of providing at least a few widget options to users.

Tumblr is filled with beautiful images in its posts. The iOS 14 widget craze showed how users love customizing their springboard.

By making widgets that show suggestions, trending posts, etc., it would be a great way to encourage more engagement on the app. It is also a better way to get the user’s attention.

4. Support for keyboard navigation ⌨️

One of the key focuses this year was on improving accessibility to our apps. ♿️

Supporting keyboard based navigation in our apps allow users that cannot easily access the touch screen to use the app.

There are special bluetooth input devices that these users can use to navigate through the app, if we support keyboard based navigation.

Conclusion

It was a great WWDC 🚀 , and it was definitely really fun taking a deep look at Tumblr’s iOS app and thinking about how to improve it! 😁

Hindsight is 2020...VOTE!

Agave Parryi, Sedona, Arizona, USA [2268x4032] [OC] - Author: wallerhilliard on reddit

A lost iPhone is easily found with Apple Watch.

A very sad anniversary today. Progress is being made but the cost is too high. ✊🏾

When Derek Chauvin was found guilty on all three charges surrounding his murder of George Floyd, the conversation found on Tumblr (and elsewhere online) reflected two major points:

This is not justice being served. There is no justice in the face of murder, and if there were, it certainly would not be found within the American carceral system. The verdict stemming from this trial will not stop the violence and oppression Black people face at the hands of an over-policed country.

“Black people don’t need reminders that Chauvin’s guilty verdict doesn’t mean the fight is over. It’s okay to celebrate small victories.”

These truths are not at odds with each other. They can, and will, co-exist.

Take a moment today to celebrate George Floyd and his beautiful family. Keep his little daughter in your mind and hearts. If you want to feel a bit of relief that at least one person was found guilty for their hateful, heinous crime—please do so. And then remember that it was just one person. Remember that if you are an ally and an accomplice, you must not stop learning. You must not stop fighting for real justice.

Accountability for police killings is rare:

Since 2005, 140 law enforcement officers have been arrested for on-duty manslaughter and murder. Only 8—5%—have been convicted.

And that doesn’t account for the 98% of police killings where there were no arrests for murder or manslaughter.

Black people are three times more likely to be killed by police

And then yesterday, roughly one hour after Nancy Pelosi thanked George Floyd for “sacrificing” his “life for justice,” police in Columbus, Ohio shot and killed 16-year-old Ma'Khia Bryant.

That is not what justice looks like.

Rest in power, George Floyd.

Rest in power, Ma’Khia Bryant.

This one touched a nerve 🤣

#Blackout for Minneapolis. For Louisville. For Toronto. For Brooklyn. #Blackout for Us All.

To the #Blackout Community and Tumblr at large, 

We know you must have a lot of questions or are feeling distressed about the news. The world has been dealing with a lot this year, and it is an especially harrowing time for Black Americans and Black folks abroad. We know your biggest question right now could be summed up by a quote from Toni Morrison:

“What can I do where I am?”

Here at #TheBlackout, we have decided to help you start finding an answer to that question - we feel that we need each other. We need unity, organization, a clear sense of direction, but more importantly, a space where you can be yourself without judgement or fear.

So, in addition to boosting your art and businesses, our highest priority right now is to provide you all with resources to help you start from where you are.

This is a masterpost of places you can donate, find mental health + spaces for radical self-care, and just do something fun. We will be adding on as things change. 

Donate/Boost/Sign:

Minneapolis Freedom Bail Fund  & Louisville Community Bail Fund 

Reclaim the Block

Black Visions Collective

The Official GoFundMe of George Floyd’s Family

Official Petition for Breonna Taylor 

Justice for Regis Official Fund

Tony McDade’s Memorial Fund

Black Lives Matter Network

Mental Health Resources:

Ethel’s Club - Black-owned and operated social club offering access to Black therapists and a multitude of creative events for People of Color. 

Crisis Text Line - A different approach to crisis intervention, Crisis Text Line offers you help when you text 741-741. You’ll be able to chat with someone who is willing to listen and provide you with additional resources.

Shine Text. – Black-owned! Sign up to receive cheerful texts and tips every day. 

Therapy For Black Girls - A Black-owned a directory to help you find Black therapists in your area. 

Tips for Organizing/Protesting:

Knowing your rights - ACLU

How To Prepare for a Protest. (Remember to wear a mask in or to protect yourself!)

A Twitter thread of suggested readings

Fun Online Communities and Things to Do:

Some of our favorite online communities. 

Nerd Culture: @blacknerdproblems, @superheroesincolor

Poetry and Literary Spaces: Cave Canem Literary Balms program for Black poets,  Nuyorician Online Open Mic Events, Well-Read Black Girl

Podcasts: Therapy For Black Girls, Strong Black Legends by Netflix’s Strong Black Lead, The Read with Crissle and Kid Fury.

Hobbies: #BlackBirdersWeek by BlackAFinSTEM (5/31 - 6/8), Wellness Week by Black Girl Gamers. 

Join us for the 5/31 Emergency #Blackout/#BlackoutDay here on Tumblr and Twitter.