The internet went full tilt this week
Hey—it’s Matt.
Between Apple’s announcement (already old news), the Liquid Glass backlash (yes, I chimed in), and long nights pushing Jasin forward—this week’s been a marathon.
Mid-June came out swinging. And just when things couldn’t get more chaotic, Cloudflare and Google Cloud knocked half the internet offline on Thursday. Yikes.
But we’re back online—so here’s what caught my eye, what I built, and what might spark something for you this weekend.
Enjoy #111,
MOST INTERESTING
Knowledge work is losing its edge—wisdom is the new differentiator
AI is busy digesting entire disciplines. The moat isn’t “knowing more” anymore; it’s emotional clarity, discernment, and the ability to connect dots others miss.
Why it matters to builders: Your tools can help automate a workflow, but your unique experiences and know-how are what keep customers sticking around when competitors copy the feature set.
WHAT I BUILT
Prepping Jasin for launch
I’m in the brutal last 20% of launching anything—copy tweaks, docs, email flows. All the unsexy stuff that has to get done before your app sees the light of day.
If all goes well, Jasin will launch on 06/25/25.
The docs aren’t done, but a few sharp-eyed folks already found them—so I’m sharing them early. Call it a perk of being a DN subscriber. 😅
Big couple of weeks ahead. Wish me luck!
TOOLS + LINKS WORTH A LOOK
Obra Studio Icons
A clean, modern icon library from Obra Studio offering simple yet distinctive visuals ideal for digital products and branding.
20 habits that separate exceptional startups from the rest
A sharp list of behavioral patterns and operating principles that distinguish top-performing startups from average ones, rooted in real-world founder insight.
The 30-year evolution of JavaScript
A comprehensive look back at JavaScript’s journey from Netscape origins to modern runtimes like Deno.
Flexible — A dynamic and expressive variable font
A playful variable font that adapts seamlessly across styles, weights, and moods—perfect for identity-driven design work.
The One-Person Billion-Dollar Company
I wrote about the five shifts that are redefining what a startup looks like—and why the one-person billion-dollar company isn’t fiction anymore.
Nintendo Switch 2 hits 3.5 M units in 4 days
Record-shattering sales reinforce Nintendo’s grip on hybrid console dominance.
Arc’s new AI-first browser “Dia” enters beta
The Browser Company launches ‘Dia,’ an AI-native browser now in invite-only beta with early access for Arc users.
The Designer’s Hierarchy of Career Needs
A thoughtful breakdown of what designers need at different career stages—moving from survival to significance.
Enhanced version of Steve Jobs’ 2005 Stanford address released
To mark the 20th anniversary, the Steve Jobs Archive remastered his iconic commencement speech—still a resonant message on creativity and intuition.
CLOSING THOUGHT
With all of the announcements this week, something crept into my head:
Version numbers climb whether we upgrade or not.
Progress happens whether we’re ready or not.
You don’t have to chase every shiny object (and shouldn’t). But being a builder means staying close to the tools—even when you don’t know which one to grab.
Until next time,
Matt Downey
digitalnative.news • 𝕏 • Threads
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MY STACK
These are the tools that help me run my business every day. I happily pay for each of them—they’re worth every penny. I hope you find them useful, too.
- Beehiiv → How I send this newsletter every week. 10/10 would recommend.
- Brain.fm → How I kickstart my productivity and find flow-state.
- Mercury → The best business banking I’ve ever used.
- Screen Studio → How I record engaging videos.
- Typefully → How I post content to my socials.
- Kick → My bookkeeping on auto-pilot.