Roku Enables Nielsen Four-Screen Measurement

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Roku Enables Nielsen Four-Screen Measurement

Roku has enabled Nielsen four-screen measurement across traditional TV, connected TV, mobile, and desktop.

Nielsen ratings are the gold standard for gauging the popularity of TV shows. Nielsen’s Four-Screen Ad Deduplication is a major step forward in its Nielsen One plans. Nielsen One is slated for release in December 2022 and will be a cross-media measurement platform.

“Marketers are increasingly investing in CTV to follow consumers. However, brands want consistent measurement across screens,” said Kim Gilberti, SVP, Product Management, Nielsen. “Marketers can now better evaluate CTV inventory’s unique reach and frequency in conjunction with their entire Roku buy in a comparable and comprehensive manner, and advertisers can reduce waste and help ensure that relevant ads are delivered to the right audiences across devices. This release brings us one step closer to providing comparable and deduplicated metrics across screens with Nielsen ONE.”

“We believe that all TV ads will be accountable and measurable,” said Asaf Davidov, Head of Ad Measurement and Research, Roku. “Our direct consumer relationship, our scale, and our tech all make us uniquely positioned to work with Nielsen to make measurement simpler and more accurate as marketers shift spend to TV streaming.”

Roku Enables Nielsen Four-Screen Measurement
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6 Criteria to Choose The Right Payment Gateway For Your E-Commerce Business

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6 Criteria to Choose The Right Payment Gateway For Your E-Commerce Business

It is just as crucial, if not more so, to choose the appropriate payment gateway for your online store as it is to design the site itself. Customers expect having a pleasant experience; thus, having a payment gateway that annoys them while they are trying to check out might cause a significant increase in the number of carts that are not completed.

You aren’t sure how to choose the payment gateway, are you?

How Does Payment Gateway Function?

Payment gateways make it possible to make transactions even when a physical credit card is not available, which is why they are an essential component of any e-commerce platform. (Companies like Stripe, Square, and CardPointe are examples of those)

When a customer enters their credit card information for online payments, the gateway immediately establishes a safe, encrypted connection with the card-issuing bank. After that, the bank does a verification check and verifies the purchase. The ideal situation is one in which customers simply see a straightforward checkout form.

1. Security Capabilities of the Payment Gateway:

Encryption of data occurs when a user’s web browser reads and displays the data. When this occurs, the transaction details are sent from the gateway to the payment processor that is used by the gaining bank for the seller. But the security dimension is critical for a payment gateway. Why you ask? Because it needs to fulfill all the steps below for a secure transaction.

Responding To The Inquiry:

The payment request that pertains to the merchant and the client is sent to the payment gateway for authorization by the processor. After the portal has received this answer, it will then send it to the site or interface that will handle the processing of the payment.

Checking The Delivery Address:

The payment gateways conduct a comparison between the delivery address provided at the payment gateway and the one listed in the database.

Checks using the AVS system:

These are carried out by the payment gateway in the event of transactions using virtual cards. Checks using the Address Verification Service (AVS) are used in the fight against online fraud. When a user’s billing address and bank address do not match, the Automatic Verification System (AVS) will not work properly.

Analysis Of Velocity Patterns:

It is a method for detecting fraudulent activity that is used by payment gateways. The recurring transaction patterns are reviewed within a set period as part of the Velocity pattern analysis. This is done to either prevent the same patterns from occurring again or, if they do, warn the card’s owner.

Tracking Geolocation:

It is another function of payment gateways that enables you to monitor locations of transactions and report any that seem to be erroneous.

2. Payment Methods Accepted:

Do you think it would be beneficial for your company to accept cryptocurrencies? What about currencies that are used all around the world? How many different types of credit and debit cards do you want your customers to use to pay for their purchases at your store? Do most of your clients use electronic checks as a method of payment? What about gift cards and certificates? If your company operates based on subscriptions, having reliable recurring billing capabilities is going to be very crucial to you.

Finding out which kinds of payments are required can help you choose the payment gateway that is most suitable for your website.

3. Technical Capabilities for Integrations

Certain web platforms interface with certain payment gateways in a more frictionless manner than others. The vast majority of online merchants whose preferred platform is WordPress, for example, use WooCommerce as the foundation for their online shop. For the card processors that are conducting the transactions on your cards, WooCommerce enables an open source to be used. This gives you the ability to compete for the best prices on your online purchases by bidding with several merchants. It’s possible that your company already makes use of accounting software that may be easily integrated with a certain payment gateway.

4. User Experience

The majority of clients these days choose to use mobile applications rather than desktop software. Therefore, it is important to choose the e-commerce payment gateway that performs admirably across both the mobile and the online interfaces.

5. Accepted Throughout The World:

While countries capitalize on the benefits of the global market, you should make sure that the payment gateway you use is compatible with businesses in other countries. Your customers might come from any part of the world. Therefore, you ought to make universal payments possible.

6. Costs:

The fiscal repercussions of your decision should be given almost equal weight to its technical implications. Before making a final choice, it is important to investigate all the potential routes (multiple gateways and varied service plans provided by a single provider), as this will help you choose the best option.

Check to see that there aren’t any hidden costs or limits to the plan that might require you to spend more than you intended. Commission or transaction fees are often charged by most online payment gateways. In addition to this, there is a possibility that some may want a set-up charge besides a monthly or yearly membership price.

Conclusion:

If you are familiar with the requirements of your company, selecting the payment gateway and putting it into action won’t be nearly as challenging or expensive as you would think. You can have an instant and excellent influence on your client’s knowledge, just as you can have an immediate and positive effect on your revenue and productivity if you do it properly. Before deciding on the best payment gateway, all you need to do is do thorough research and consider the factors that have already been covered.

6 Criteria to Choose The Right Payment Gateway For Your E-Commerce Business
Brian Wallace

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Report: 1 in 2 Android Apps Share User Data With Third Parties

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Report: 1 in 2 Android Apps Share User Data With Third Parties

Android apps continue to be a privacy nightmare, with 1 in 2 apps on the Google Play Store sharing user data with third parties.

Google has been under increasing pressure to improve Android apps’ privacy, primarily in response to Apple’s App Track Transparency. Google introduced its own “Data safety” feature in October 2021, requiring developers to use it as of late July 2022. Data safety lets people know how developers use the data they collect.

Now that developers are required to disclose their data practices, Incogni looked at 1,000 apps on the Play Store to see how data was being used. The findings were disturbing, with 55.2% sharing user data with third parties. Some of the big-name apps were the biggest perpetrators, despite claiming to collect the least amount of data.

See also: App Permissions Info Is Coming Back to the Google Play Store

Incogni also found a major disparity between free and paid apps, with free apps sharing seven times as much data as their paid counterparts. The same was true for popular apps, which shared 6.15 times more data than less popular ones.

To absolutely no one’s surprise, social media apps collected the most data or 19.18 data points. Shopping apps were the worst for data sharing, coming in at 5.72 data points.

Perhaps most concerning is the fact that 13.4% of apps share user location data, easily one of the most sensitive data points, with third parties.

Incogni also pointed out a major flaw in Google’s system, namely that it runs on the “honor system.” In other words, developers are trusted to be honest and transparent about what their apps are and are not collecting and sharing.

Incogni highlighted some of the biggest dangers related to their findings:

Many apps share and even sell your data to third parties such as marketing agencies, data brokers, and other businesses. Worse yet is that more than half of these apps might not be encrypting your data in transit, making the data highly susceptible to attackers if communications are intercepted.

Even transferring anonymous data – which is not considered “sharing” – can be ultimately harmful as it can be easily re-identified.

The risks involved in the proliferation of your personal information can be quite serious. Data sharing exposes users to dangers such as data breaches, identity theft, stalking, and online harassment. Many internet users can also find themselves victims of digital redlining, a phenomenon that is similar to profiling and discrimination in the real world.

Report: 1 in 2 Android Apps Share User Data With Third Parties
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A Guide to Sheets For Better Sleep

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A Guide to Sheets For Better Sleep

The events of the past few years have induced stress in many people, which means health has become really important. This, however, means more than eating right and exercising daily: getting enough sleep is also a serious concern. Yet how does one pick the right bedding for themselves? Let’s explore the guide to sheets below.

In 2021, more than $87 billion was spent on new bedding throughout the world. In terms of bedding preferences, two in three Americans still use flat sheets, and they’re mostly Gen Xers. On average, Americans use three pillows when they go to sleep. Most also choose to use a comforter or blanket over other items such as duvets or quilts. 

How Often Do You Change Your Sheets?

When it comes to changing their sheets, 32% of Americans wash their sheets once a week, which includes 73% of single American women and only 14% of American couples. 56% of American couples instead change their sheets every two weeks while 51% of single American men wash their sheets once every 10 weeks or less. Although 65% of Americans say they don’t have time to change their sheets on a regular basis, 47% simply mention they forget to do so. 

Everyone washes their bedding in different ways, but are you sure you’re washing your bedding enough? Experts recommend washing pillowcases and sheets every week while blankets can be washed every two to three months. On the other hand, pillows should be washed every four to six months. 

53% of people in the U.S. actually do not believe expert recommendations on changing bedding with 24% of people not knowing that they should be washed so regularly. 19% of Americans believe showering before bed is enough to keep sheets clean. However, research has shown that people who change their sheets more often are able to get better sleep. In fact, a survey shows that people who were very satisfied with their quality of sleep go just barely 13 days between washes.

Sleep Troubles: What You Can Do

In the U.S., 68% of Americans struggle to fall asleep at least once a week. Does this mean the sheets need to be changed? Getting new sheets might be necessary if you: see yellowing, tearing, or holes; see the seams splitting or fraying; notice an odor even after washing; you are unable to sleep as well as before; you wake up with itchy skin, a stuffy nose, or other allergy symptoms. 

Choosing New Sheets

When choosing new sheets for your bed, the material matters more than you might think. You can choose from linen, sustainable plant-based fibers, polyester, silk, or cotton depending on your specific needs. Cotton quality is also important to consider, and it’s usually determined by the length of the fibers or staple length (the longer the staples, the more durable and softer the sheets). 

The weave is important to consider as well as different weaves can change the softness and durability of the sheets. Some people might prioritize thread count when picking sheets as a higher thread count offers smoother, more durable sheets while other people might find the ply (or the number of threads in one soiree inch of material) more crucial when determining the right sheets. 

Color is an interesting determining factor as you can choose the color depending on whether you’re worried about cleanliness, like seeing brighter colors when you wake up, or even just want to create a natural, tranquil environment.  

In Conclusion

No matter what you choose, finding sheets that are right for your particular needs will be the most beneficial in getting the quality sleep you desire. Learn more in the guide to sheets below:

Source: PizunaLinens.com

A Guide to Sheets For Better Sleep
Brian Wallace

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New York to Require Zero Emission Passenger Vehicles by 2035

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New York to Require Zero Emission Passenger Vehicles by 2035

New York has joined California in requiring that all new passenger vehicles sold in the state be zero emissions by 2035.

In late August, California became the first US state to ban gasoline-powered passenger vehicles, effective 2035. New York has now followed suit, putting the same deadline on the transition.

“New York is a national climate leader and an economic powerhouse, and we’re using our strength to help spur innovation and implementation of zero-emission vehicles on a grand scale,” Governor Kathy Hochul said. “With sustained state and federal investments, our actions are incentivizing New Yorkers, local governments, and businesses to make the transition to electric vehicles. We’re driving New York’s transition to clean transportation forward, and today’s announcement will benefit our climate and the health of our communities for generations to come.”

As part of the mandate, Governor Hochul directed the State Department of Environmental Conservation to begin the regulatory process. The move was met with praise across a range of climate, conservation, and energy groups.

“Governor Hochul is demonstrating her sustained commitment to the successful implementation of the Climate Act and ensuring all New Yorkers benefit from the State’s actions to address climate change,” said Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner and Climate Action Council Co-Chair Basil Seggos. “DEC will continue to work under her direction to rapidly issue this regulation and reach another milestone in the transition from fossil fuels so that more people, businesses, and governments will have the ZEV options to meet their needs and help improve the health of their communities.”

New York to Require Zero Emission Passenger Vehicles by 2035
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Linux Distro Reviews: Xfce

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Linux Distro Reviews: Xfce

Please note: Xfce is a desktop environment, not a Linux distribution (distro). However, for those just looking at Linux for the first time, this series is taking a slight detour to review a few of the most popular desktop environments before reviewing some of the actual distros that use them.

Xfce is one of the oldest desktop environments (DE) available for Linux, but it is still going strong as a top contender for modern users.

In the previous entry in this series, we explained the role of DEs in the Linux world. Among those, Xfce is a unique offering that threads the line between functionality, stability, and performance, making it a popular choice in the Linux and Unix world.

Xfce’s History and Philosophy

Xfce was initially released in 1997, making it one of the oldest DEs in existence. Right from the start, Xfce had a focus on modularity, with each component performing its designed task very well.

That design philosophy has carried through to modern times, with Xfce eschewing KDE and Gnome’s approach, which consists of bundling a plethora of apps designed specifically by their respective teams and for their respective DEs. Instead, Xfce focuses on the desktop, leaving it to app developers to build out the majority of applications an individual may want to use.

Xfce’s bundled apps include interface elements, window manager, terminal emulator, file manager, file search utility, basic text editor, image viewer, media player, disk burner, screensaver utility, and not much else. The most basic needs are met, but users must look to third-party apps for anything else, giving Xfce a laser-like approach to the desktop.

Another way Xfce differs from other DEs, and especially Gnome, is that it doesn’t try to reinvent the user experience with each edition. Instead, it keeps with the tried and true desktop paradigm that made Windows and macOS so popular.

Xfce’s Stability and Performance

At the same time, Xfce development proceeds at a much slower pace than Gnome or KDE Plasma. Because Xfce’s developers aren’t trying to reinvent the wheel, much of their focus is on refining what already works or adding support for new Linux technologies.

One major benefit of Xfce’s development pace is rock-solid stability and a bug-free experience. Compared to other DEs, Xfce is one of the most stable and trouble-free options available.

Another major benefit of Xfce is its performance. The DE dispenses with much of the eye candy and animations other desktops use, resulting in one of the best blends of performance and functionality of the various options.

Xfce’s Looks

One thing that turns many off from Xfce is its default looks. To be blunt…it’s very plain.

At the same time, Xfce can easily be customized to accomplish virtually anything the user wants. While it does not have quite the level of customization as KDE Plasma, it’s easily one of the most customizable DEs available and can accommodate a wide array of tastes and preferences.

Enso OS – Credit The Linux Experiment

Rating

Ultimately, Xfce is a solid DE that blends rock-solid stability with outstanding performance. While it may not have all the latest bells and whistles and fancy animations, it’s a solid performer that lets the user focus on work instead of babysitting the desktop.

4 out of 5 stars

Linux Distro Reviews: Xfce
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Google Is ‘Winding Down’ Its Stadia Game Service

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Google Is ‘Winding Down’ Its Stadia Game Service

After months of rumors and denials, Google is officially “winding down” its Stadia game service.

Google launched Stadia in 2019 with lofty aspirations that were never realized. In late July, rumors surfaced that Google was planning on shuttering the service toward the end of summer. Google quickly denied the rumor, even poking fun at the source of the rumor.

Despite the denials, Google announced it is shutting Stadia down. Phil Harrison, Stadia Vice President and General Manager broke the news in a blog post.

A few years ago, we also launched a consumer gaming service, Stadia. And while Stadia’s approach to streaming games for consumers was built on a strong technology foundation, it hasn’t gained the traction with users that we expected so we’ve made the difficult decision to begin winding down our Stadia streaming service.

Harrison says the service will remain active through January 18, 2023, to give players time to finish their open games. That will also give Google time to issue refunds to eligible players.

In the meantime, Google plans to use the technologies that helped create Stadia across other platforms and services.

The underlying technology platform that powers Stadia has been proven at scale and transcends gaming. We see clear opportunities to apply this technology across other parts of Google like YouTube, Google Play, and our Augmented Reality (AR) efforts — as well as make it available to our industry partners, which aligns with where we see the future of gaming headed. We remain deeply committed to gaming, and we will continue to invest in new tools, technologies and platforms that power the success of developers, industry partners, cloud customers and creators.

Whatever the reason for Stadia’s cancellation, it isn’t going to help Google’s overall image. The company is known for launching and then unceremoniously killing off dozens of products. The company’s reputation for abandoning products is so well-established that it recently had to work to convince its cloud customers that it could be depended on long-term.

With yet another terminated product, it leaves one to wonder if Google is failing to properly investigate markets before deciding to enter them, or simply lacks the commitment to see an investment through.

Google Is ‘Winding Down’ Its Stadia Game Service
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Microsoft Is Killing Off SwiftKey for iOS

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Microsoft Is Killing Off SwiftKey for iOS

Microsoft is killing off its SwiftKey predictive keyboard for iOS, with plans to remove it from the App Store as of October 5.

SwiftKey is a predictive keyboard that gained popularity on Android and iOS before being bought by Microsoft. In recent years Apple’s own iOS keyboard has included many of the features SwiftKey became famous for, such as predictive text and swipe gestures.

It appears Microsoft is now ending support for the iOS version of SwiftKey, according to ZDNet, removing it from the App Store as of October 5. Chris Wolfe, Director Product Management at SwiftKey, gave the following statement to the outlet:

“As of October 5, support for SwiftKey iOS will end and it will be delisted from the Apple App Store. Microsoft will continue support for SwiftKey Android as well as the underlying technology that powers the Windows touch keyboard. For those customers who have SwiftKey installed on iOS, it will continue to work until it is manually uninstalled or a user gets a new device. Please visit Support.SwiftKey.com for more information.”

Microsoft refused to provide any comment as to the reason for the change of plans, but ZDNet’s Mary Jo Foley theorizes the decision may be in response to Apple’s walled garden policies. In the name of privacy Apple restricts access to core elements of iOS, making it difficult for a product like SwiftKey to integrate as fully as the built-in keyboard.

Microsoft may have simply decided it could no longer deliver the product and experience that it can on Android.

Microsoft Is Killing Off SwiftKey for iOS
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What is USDT and How to Invest in it?

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What is USDT and How to Invest in it?

USDT is a cryptocurrency that operates as an exchangeable token for US dollars. It was created in 2014 and currently sits at number eight on Coinmarketcap’s list of top cryptocurrencies by market cap (though its popularity has decreased over time). Many investors see this coin – which can be traded worldwide without relying on any third-party service provider like Coinbase or Gemini-as having more stability than other coins due to its relation with fiat currency rather than just being worth one Bitcoin per unit made up only of pure crypto nerd points. In this article, we will go over how to invest in USDT.

How to purchase USDT
There are other ways to buy USDT, but exchanges are the most popular methods. Exchanges like Binance and Kraken offer USDT trading pairs, so you can buy the currency using either fiat currency (like USD) or cryptocurrency (like Bitcoin). Another alternative is to buy usdt directly from a provider like Tether.io. This can be done using either fiat currency or cryptocurrency, and it’s a great option if you like to avoid the hassle of dealing with an exchange. Whatever technique you choose, ensure that you do your research first and only purchase USDT from a reputable source.
How to store USDT
There are a few different ways to store USDT, but the most important thing is to ensure that it is stored securely.

1. Keep it on an exchange, which means there is a risk of the exchange being hacked or going bankrupt.
2. Store it in a wallet on your computer or a dedicated hardware device. This is generally considered to be the most secure option, as long as you take care to keep your wallet safe from physical and digital threats.
3. Store USDT offline by printing out the private keys and storing them in a safe location. This is only recommended for experienced users, as they risk losing the keys if they are not stored properly.

Whichever option you choose, ensure you understand the risks before storing any significant amount of USDT.
Why USDT?
There are many reasons why people purchase USDT, but the most common reason is to hedge against cryptocurrency price volatility. As a result, it can be utilized to buy and sell cryptocurrencies without worrying about sudden price changes. In addition, USDT can be used to store value in times of market uncertainty. While USDT is not immune to price fluctuations, it is much less volatile than most other cryptocurrencies. As a result, it can provide a measure of security for investors who are looking to protect their portfolios from downside risk. For these reasons, USDT has become one of the most popular cryptocurrencies in the world, with a market capitalization of over $4 billion.
Benefits of investing in USDT
● One of the biggest benefits of investing in USDT is that it’s a very stable coin. Unlike different cryptocurrencies, which can be highly volatile, USDT stays pegged to the US dollar. This produces a good investment for those who want to avoid the volatility of the crypto market.

● Another benefit of investing in USDT is that it’s a very liquid coin. It’s easy to buy and sell USDT on most major exchanges, and there is always a large amount of USDT available for trading. This makes it a suitable choice for investors who want to trade frequently or convert their USDT into other assets quickly.

● Investing in USDT can also be a good hedge against the US dollar. If the value of the US dollar falls, the value of USDT will usually rise. This makes USDT a good investment for those worried about the US economy’s future.
Risks of investing in USDT
While USDT is a very stable coin, some risks are still associated with investing.
A risk to consider is that any physical asset does not back USDT. This means that if something happens to Tether, the company that issues USDT, there is no guarantee that investors will be able to redeem their tokens for US dollars. This makes USDT a risky investment for those worried about Tether’s stability.

It’s important to remember that USDT is still a relatively new coin. It has only been around for a few years and is not yet as widely accepted as other cryptocurrencies. This means that there is still some risk associated with investing in USDT.

Despite these risks, many investors still choose to invest in USDT because it is a stable coin. In general, USDT is a good investment for those looking for a coin not subject to much volatility. However, potential investors should be aware of the risks before investing.

Now that you know all there is to know about USDT, it’s time for you to make a decision. Do you want to buy some tokens and hold them as a store of value? Or do you want to invest in projects that use the USDT token as their currency? Remember, while there are risks associated with any investment, there are also great benefits to be had by investing in USDT. Please make sure you research before making any decisions, but we believe this cryptocurrency is here to stay.

What is USDT and How to Invest in it?
Brian Wallace

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Linux Distro Reviews: Gnome

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Linux Distro Reviews: Gnome

Please note: Gnome is a desktop environment, not a Linux distribution (distro). However, for those just looking at Linux for the first time, this series is taking a slight detour to review a few of the most popular desktop environments before reviewing some of the actual distros that use them.

Gnome is the most popular desktop environment (DE) available for Linux, but it is easily the most controversial and the hardest to rate.

In the previous entry in this series, we explained the role of DEs in the Linux world. Among those, Gnome is a study in contradictions, simultaneously delighting and angering its user base.

Gnome’s Design Choices

Gnome is easily the most progressive DE among the top three. Gnome developers have never been afraid to reinvent the wheel or introduce sweeping changes to how their DE works.

In the early days of Gnome, the DE was fairly similar to comparable versions of Windows. Beginning with Gnome 3.x, however, the DE started radically changing as the developers tried to challenge the traditional desktop computing paradigm.

In its current incarnation, Gnome 43, the most popular Linux DE looks nothing like Windows and bears only a passing resemblance to macOS. Instead of desktop icons, always visible panels or docks, or anything else familiar to most computer users, Gnome has an “Activities” button in the upper left corner. Click on this, or tapping the Super (Windows) key, will reveal workspaces, the available applications, a search field, and a dock containing favorite applications at the bottom of the screen.

Unfortunately, a user must either activate the upper left corner or tap the Super key to access those common features, adding unnecessary steps to the workflow compared to other operating systems and desktops.

The Gnome developers have made it clear that their goal is for the desktop to get out of the user’s way and let them work. The approach is further emphasized by the inability to put folders, shortcuts, and icons on the desktop. The developers clearly want the DE to fade away, and keep the emphasis on whatever app or task the user is engaged with.

While this approach sounds good in theory, practically, it poses a slew of usability problems for many users. To be clear, and in all fairness, there are many users that acclimate to the default Gnome experience and grow to love it. At the same time, however, the fact that some of the most popular Linux distros include heavily customized versions of Gnome that bring back some of that basic functionality speaks to the many users who don’t agree with Gnome’s approach.

Gnome Developers

And that brings us to the Gnome developers. Any discussion of Gnome as a DE would be lacking without acknowledging that Gnome developers are someone “opinionated” about their views on the desktop computing paradigm. They are known for removing features, such as icons on the desktop, with little to no regard for how much their users may rely on that feature.

This ‘take it or leave it’ approach has also led to conflict with some distro makers who don’t appreciate features their users rely on suddenly disappearing.

Gnome Customization Options

Despite Gnome’s relative simplicity, there are ways to customize Gnome to an incredible degree via third-party extensions. Ubuntu, Pop OS, and Zorin OS are good examples of distros that use extensions to create a very customized Gnome experience.

Zorin OS shows what Gnome can be – Credit: The Linux Experiment

The use of extensions is not without issues, however. Each major Gnome edition breaks many of the available extensions, requiring updates from their developers to fix them.

As long as the extensions are working, however, Gnome can be customized to be one of the most powerful, intuitive, and capable DEs in existence.

Rating

Rating Gnome really requires two ratings: one for unmodified vanilla Gnome and one for a customized version that adds back all the features Gnome’s developers have removed.

Vanilla Gnome: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Modified Gnome, like Ubuntu, Pop OS, or Zorin OS: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Linux Distro Reviews: Gnome
Matt Milano

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Intel Wants Apple Back As a Customer

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Intel Wants Apple Back As a Customer

Intel has made it clear that it wants Apple back as a customer, despite Apple moving full speed ahead with its own chips.

Apple was one of Intel’s best customers for years but abandoned the platform in favor of its own M-series chips. Based on the same designs that have powered the iPhone and iPad for years, the M-series has proven to be a powerful combination of performance and industry-leading efficiency.

It seems that Intel hasn’t given up hope of regaining Apple as a customer if comments by Michelle Johnston Holthaus, Intel’s EVP of the Client Computing Group, are any indication. The comments were reported on Twitter by Dr. Ian Cutress.

Also: Will never stop trying to get Apple to be a customer again. Intel wants everyone to have high performance.

— 𝐷𝑟. 𝐼𝑎𝑛 𝐶𝑢𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠 (@IanCutress) September 27, 2022

While it’s highly unlikely Apple would ever return to traditional x86 architecture, like Intel or AMD’s chips, there is always the possibility it could use Intel’s foundry services to manufacture its own chips.

Intel Wants Apple Back As a Customer
Matt Milano

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Amazon Wants Call Center Employees to Work From Home So It Can Close Offices

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Amazon Wants Call Center Employees to Work From Home So It Can Close Offices

Amazon is bucking a trend among some of the biggest tech companies, urging its call center employees to work from home.

Many of the world’s biggest tech companies are trying to get their employees to come back to the office in an effort to return to normal. According to a report by Bloomberg, Amazon is taking a different approach by encouraging its US call center employees to work from home. The outlet’s sources indicated the move is driven by the company’s desire to close some offices and save on real estate.

Read more: Amazon Raising Front-Line Worker Pay to an Average of $19 per Hour

While a company spokesperson did not comment on real estate plans, they confirmed the preference for remote work in some roles.

“We’re offering additional members of our customer service team the increased flexibility that comes with working virtually,” Amazon spokesman Brad Glasser told Bloomberg. “We’re working with employees to make sure their transition is seamless while continuing to prioritize best-in-class support for customers.”

Amazon’s approach is a refreshing alternative to Apple and Google. Both companies have upset employees by aggressively pushing them to return to the office. In contrast, Amazon appears to be acknowledging that some jobs don’t require in-person employees and can be done just as well remotely. Rather than something to avoid, Amazon appears to recognize that it can benefit from such a transition.

Amazon Wants Call Center Employees to Work From Home So It Can Close Offices
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Amazon Raising Front-Line Worker Pay to an Average of $19 per Hour

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Amazon Raising Front-Line Worker Pay to an Average of $19 per Hour

Amazon is raising starting pay for front-line workers, paying them an average of $19 per hour at a cost of nearly $1 billion.

Amazon is spending nearly $1 billion over the next year to raise starting pay for its front-line workers. The company says workers’ starting pay will increase, with employees making anywhere from $16 and $26 per hour, with an average of $19.

“Front-line employees across customer fulfillment and transportation will now earn, on average, more than $19 per hour in the U.S., and they also have access to a growing range of comprehensive benefits to support themselves and their families,” said John Felton, Amazon’s Senior Vice President of Worldwide Operations. “Continuing to invest in pay, providing easy access to earned wages at any time during the month, and offering great benefits and career advancement opportunities are all part of our long-term efforts to be the best employer in the world.”

The company is also expanding its employee development program, adding the Amazon Intelligence Initiative. The program will help employees transition to engineering jobs within the company’s AWS cloud business. Individuals enrolled in the program will continue to have full-time employment, complete with benefits and good pay, while they complete their training.

Amazon is clearly trying to keep employees happy at a time when it is experiencing more pressure than ever from various unionization efforts. The company also enraged employees when it backtracked on raises, blaming a software glitch for the higher packages it initially promised employees.

Amazon Raising Front-Line Worker Pay to an Average of $19 per Hour
Matt Milano

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Why College Mergers are Increasing

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Why College Mergers are Increasing

The United States has thousands of colleges and universities. Some colleges were founded before American independence while others sprang up this century. For most of the nation’s history, population growth and expanded access to education has encouraged more institutions to enter the market. Now, the number of unique colleges and universities in the United States is falling. In the past 4 years, there were 95 college mergers. For many, these mergers are the only way to keep doors open. Bar major shifts in trajectory, as many as 500 4-year colleges are at risk of closure in the next few years. 

Why are Colleges Merging?

The main reason college numbers are dropping is because undergraduate enrollment has fallen. Nearly 1.4 million fewer students are in college today than were there prior to the pandemic. Up to 40% of prospective students (high school seniors and recent graduates, mostly) are delaying college plans due to financial strain or a desire for colleges to return to “normal.” Potential students value the online learning universities were forced to resort to during lockdown less than they do the traditional college experience. 

Some people value higher education overall less than did generations in the past, and that was a trend even before the pandemic. In 2013, 70% of US adults considered a college degree “very important” to success; by 2019, only 51% did. While the general trend of college graduates making more money than high school graduates still holds, exceptions are growing more common. Even after working 10 years, 1 in 6 college grads earn less than high school grads in the same cohort. During the pandemic, more people took advantage of online certifications to break into high skilled job fields. These certifications are often cheaper to obtain than a college degree, but may provide the same employment results. 

Mergers Can be a Good Thing

Given that colleges nationwide are serving a smaller pool of students, fewer institutions can flourish on their own. Consolidation between 2 or more schools can help streamline operations and reduce competition for students. This year, Connecticut’s community colleges plan to merge into a single college with a dozen campuses. At the 4 year level, Pennsylvania has a similar plan; 6 of their public institutions will merge into 2 new universities. Mergers are most likely to happen at the local level because nearby mergers bring economies of scale and help campuses expand locally. While Northeastern University and Mills College made headlines for their cross-country being sued by Mills alumni, their story is the exception and not the rule.

In Conclusion

While college mergers can keep the doors open for institutions that otherwise would have closed, the process has its drawbacks. Smaller schools are at a greater risk of closure, but many offer unique student experiences that can’t be replicated at larger universities. Minority students, for example, often lose out in the merger process because equity is easily overlooked when planning a merger. Merging into a larger university may also dilute the voices of students and faculty leaders with that of strangers to the campus.

Why College Mergers are Increasing
Brian Wallace

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How to Start Trading BTC

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How to Start Trading BTC

If you want to start trading BTC but don’t know how to, this post is for you. You will be able to learn all the basics and start trading efficiently by the time you finish reading this article. We’ll talk about how Bitcoin mining works and what it means for Bitcoin traders, ways of trading it, and tips on not losing money in the market. It is one essential read for anyone starting.

What is Bitcoin?

Bitcoin is a cryptocurrency, also known as a digital currency or crypto. It’s money that only exists electronically in the form of cryptographic codes. During the economic breakdown, Bitcoin was invented by an anonymous group of developers back in 2009. The idea behind Bitcoin was to build a global money system outside the control of governments and banks.

How to Start Buying BTC?

Choose A Crypto Trading Service Or Venue

There are many different cryptocurrency trading platforms, also called exchanges, where you can start trading. There are usually two ways of buying Bitcoin: with fiat money or another cryptocurrency. In most cases, there are different fees for each of these options. Bitstamp and Coinbase have meager fees and good reputations, so we’ll use them as examples for the following sections. We’ll also use BTC as the currency to buy Bitcoin since it’s the most common cryptocurrency.

The easiest way to buy BTC with fiat money is to go to a Bitcoin exchange. You can find many of them on Bitstamp.com, Coinbase, Kraken, and ShapeShift. The best idea is to read their terms and conditions, so you know the ins and outs of each service. Most of them also have a verification process, which usually includes proof of ID, an address, and a phone number; some even require proof of residence or other documentation.

Connect Your Exchange to a Payment Option

To make buying BTC easier, you must connect your exchange account to a payment option. It is usually done through an API or other form of integration. If you don’t know how it’s done, ask the support on your exchange service. It’s usually straightforward and takes just a few minutes. This method allows you to deposit money in your exchange account and immediately trade crypto for crypto, which we’ll discuss below.

Many exchanges offer both fiat deposits and bank transfers. You can deposit through your bank’s website and instantly start trading. Depending on the payment method, you usually have to wait until the money gets into your account. Linking your exchange to a payment method might take a few days.

Place An Order

You’re ready to place an order once you’re done with the transaction.

Place a buy order by specifying the amount of BTC you want to buy and the price at which you think the price will go up in the future. Remember that when placing an order, Bitcoin is usually volatile, and prices change rapidly. Orders are usually submitted for funding on Bitstamp, so there is no fee for placing them. However, there are fees for placing a limited order, which is the fee you pay when you get filled by your order. Usually, this fee is 0.3%, but it can sometimes be higher. For example, if the price of Bitcoin goes down, it’s better to sell BTC quickly to avoid losing money on orders with a high fee.

Safe Storage

Once you buy Bitcoin, it’s essential to keep it safe. Bitcoin transactions are irreversible: you can’t take back your money if you lose your private key. On the other hand, once your private key is stolen/hacked, you can’t do anything about losing BTC. It’s essential to store your crypto securely in a wallet that allows cold storage, a “cold wallet.” A cold wallet isn’t connected to the internet, so it’s harder for hackers to access it.

Many cryptocurrency services allow you to store your BTC on their servers.

Hot Wallets: If you keep your funds on an exchange, your funds are at risk when the exchange goes bankrupt. In that case, you will lose all your crypto. If you keep funds in a hot wallet and it is hacked, you lose only the amount of BTC on top of the current market price. It is usually relatively small, and it isn’t bad news if you lose a few thousand USD worths of crypto.

You can access hot wallets from any device. It is a good option if you want to use the same wallet on your computer and smartphone. If you have a lot of crypto on your hot wallet, it’s a great idea to set up 2-factor authentication to access the wallet.

Cold Wallets: As stated earlier cold wallet is a wallet that isn’t connected to the internet. Your crypto is stored offline and on a hardware device that isn’t easy to access. Again, these are very hard to steal because hackers must break into your hardware wallet to steal your crypto. The best hardware wallets are Trezor and Ledger Nano S. You can store up to six cryptocurrencies on both devices, including BTC. Yes, it’s possible.

If you want to know more about this topic, I recommend reading online wallet reviews and hardware wallet reviews before making your choice.

Bottom Line

Buying Bitcoin is not complicated, but it does require some research and experience. Learning how to buy BTC is important since this will enable you to know how to trade crypto for crypto, so you can start trading. The best option is to buy a small amount first. Starting slow and getting used to the trading process is always better. The process described above is simple, safe, and secure. It’s easy to understand and can help you start your adventure in the BTC world.

How to Start Trading BTC
Brian Wallace

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Cloudflare Launches $1.25 Billion Fund to Help Startups and Challenge AWS

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Cloudflare Launches $1.25 Billion Fund to Help Startups and Challenge AWS

Cloudflare is going to great lengths to capture more of the startup market and challenge AWS, launching a $1.25 billion fund.

Cloudflare is a leading content delivery network (CDN) and a major force in the cybersecurity industry. The company has launched its “Workers Launchpad” funding program with the goal of helping startups grow their business with its Cloudflare Workers platform.

Cloudflare Workers is “a highly-scalable serverless computing platform that allows developers to build or augment apps without configuring or maintaining infrastructure.” As such, it competes with much larger companies, such as AWS. The company has partnered with 26 venture capital firms to provide the necessary funding for startups that commit to the platform.

“If there’s one thing venture capitalists look for in the companies they fund, it’s the potential to achieve significant scale. Startups that build on Cloudflare Workers are building on a platform made to automatically support serious scale,” said Matthew Prince, co-founder and CEO of Cloudflare. “While we can provide the technology, we’re thrilled to partner with some of the leading venture capital firms on the Workers Launchpad Funding Program, who will potentially invest more than a billion dollars in funding towards great startups built on Cloudflare Workers as they scale.”

At least some in the industry see this as a major shot across the bow of AWS, as well as a potentially revolutionary approach to capturing market share.

“AWS EC2 changed everything when it launched 16 years ago. I see Workers, and the broader Cloudflare portfolio, in a similar place today. Serverless is the way to build apps in 2022,” said Eric Anderson, Partner at Scale Venture Partners.

Cloudflare Launches $1.25 Billion Fund to Help Startups and Challenge AWS
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Top 5 Investment Apps in 2022

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Top 5 Investment Apps in 2022

As smartphones become more and more of a part of our everyday lives, we find ourselves doing pretty much anything on them. Today smartphones are used for much more than just calling or texting. In fact, you could argue that out of all the things that we now do on our smartphones, calling and texting are the least significant.

One of the biggest things that smartphones have made easier for us is our ability to invest. Thanks to investing apps, trading stocks and keeping up with the market in real-time have never been easier. 

If you are considering starting an investment portfolio or looking for an app to make it easier to manage your current portfolio, keep reading to learn about some of the best investment apps available in 2022.

Betterment

Betterment is one of the largest and most popular robo-investing apps currently available. Don’t just take our word for it though. It has been named the best overall investing app by some of the top investment publications, including CNBC and Forbes. 

Betterment provides its clients with professionally managed portfolios consisting mostly of lost-cost, diversified ETFs. For their digital service, there is no minimum balance required. For those interested in their premium service, they do require a $100,000 minimum.

Invstr

If you are someone who is new to investing or looking to learn more about the market, then Invstr is a great app. Named the best app for education by Bankrate, Invstr provides helpful tools to teach you more about investing. It even offers a “fantasy” stock game where you can pick real stocks to invest in. This allows you to learn more about investing without having to risk any real money while learning. 

For those looking to invest real money, Invstr Pro is available for $3.99. Invstr Pro allows you to trade stocks, ETFs, and even crypto commission-free. All that’s required is a $5 minimum investment.

Robinhood

Robinhood completely changed the game by offering 0 commission for buying and selling stocks. By doing this, it allows investors to build their portfolios exactly how they want them. Investors can easily buy, sell, and trade not just stocks but options, ETFs, and cryptocurrency as well. Robinhood is ideal for the person who has done their own research, knows what they want, and doesn’t want to spend money on commission fees.

Binance.US

Cryptocurrency has become one of the hottest new things to invest in, especially amongst millennials and younger investors. Binance.US is an app specifically for buying and selling crypto. It was recently named the best cryptocurrency exchange by Forbes because it provides its clients with access to countless crypto options including Bitcoin and Ethereum, as well as dozens of lesser-known cryptocurrencies.

Ellevest

Many people are looking for ways to help businesses and people who are looking to make our world a better place. While charitable contributions are always a way to give back, you can also invest in socially responsible companies as well.

Ellevest has made finding and investing in these companies easier. While they specialize in working with women investors, anyone interested in socially responsible investing can start an account. 

Those investing with Ellevest can allocate up to 53% of their portfolios in ESG or social impact funds. These funds invest in companies that have women leaders, support affordable housing and community services, and have higher standards for sustainability. 

FAQs

Are Investing Apps Safe?

While there is a risk when it comes to investing, using an investing app is as safe as using a traditional brokerage firm. Your money is insured by the Securities Investor Protection Corporation for up to $500,000.

How Do I Pick The Right App For Me?

The right investing app for you is the one that provides services for whatever it is you are looking for. Before selecting an investment app, think about what it is you want to do and what you want the app to do. From there, you can narrow your search down based on any fees or commissions the app may take and select the right one for you.

How Much Money Do I Need To Open An Account?

Most investment apps these days have no minimum requirements. Even the ones that do typically offer tiers that require a very minimal balance. Before selecting an app it’s important to read all the rules and make sure if they do require a minimum balance that you can meet that requirement. 

Want To Know More About the Best Investment Apps of 2022?

At the end of the day, the best investment app is the one that best fits you and your needs. That app could be one of the ones listed above, or it could be one that we didn’t even discuss. Before choosing an investment app it is important to do your homework and make sure that the company has the services you are looking for and can match your needs. 

Top 5 Investment Apps in 2022
Brian Wallace

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More Android Apps Were Abandoned Than Updated in the Last Six Months

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More Android Apps Were Abandoned Than Updated in the Last Six Months

The Google Plays Store has a problem, with more Android apps abandoned in the last six months than those updated.

New research by Pixalate paints a grim picture for the Play Store, with a whopping 32% of Android apps abandoned by their developers, while only 30% were updated in Q2 2022. While Apple’s App Store also has a problem with abandoned apps, it’s not nearly as big a problem.

In fact, the App store had 200,000 fewer abandoned apps compared to Q1 2022, while the Play Store had 150,000 more over Q1. What’s more, while the App Store has 500,000 abandoned apps, the Play Store has more than double that number, coming in at 1.1 million.

The same trend holds true for “Super-Abandoned” apps, the term Pixalate uses for apps that have received no updates for at least five years. The App Store has 141,000 such apps, but the Plays store has more than 166,000.

Beyond potential disappointment for users whose favorite app is abandoned, there are also serious security and privacy considerations. Pixalate found that 23% of abandoned apps have no known privacy policy. Abandoned apps can also pose risks because they use older and outdated libraries and don’t have the latest security patches.

The research is a mixed bag for Android, its users, and developers. On the one hand, mainstream Android apps are more likely to be maintained long-term. On the other hand, users may be less likely to give new independent apps a chance for fear the developer(s) may eventually abandon them.

More Android Apps Were Abandoned Than Updated in the Last Six Months
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Microsoft Adding Pop-Outs to Teams Meetings

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Microsoft Adding Pop-Outs to Teams Meetings

Microsoft is making it that much easier to multitask while in Teams meetings, working on a feature to pop-out meetings.

Pop-outs are a common feature of browsers and media players, giving users the ability to play a video in a small floating window while continuing with other tasks. Microsoft is bringing that same concept to Microsoft Teams with a new pop-out feature that is slated for October 2022.

Microsoft detailed the new feature on a Microsoft 365 roadmap page:

In a Teams calendar, users will now be able to pop-out an existing meeting using the pop-up icon in a Teams calendar scheduling form. Users will be able to pop out the meeting and have it visible while creating a new meeting. This feature will allow users to view multiple meetings in separate windows while also being able to check their chats or edit their files without the need to switch apps.

The new feature should make Teams meetings a little easier for most people.

Microsoft Adding Pop-Outs to Teams Meetings
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SAS Viya Analytics Platform Comes to Microsoft Azure

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SAS Viya Analytics Platform Comes to Microsoft Azure

SAS is bringing its SAS Viya analytics platform to Microsoft Azure, building on the partnership the two companies began in 2020.

SAS Viya is a powerful analytics platform but was previously not available as a cloud-based, pay-as-you-go service. The announcement from SAS is a significant departure for the company, which has a long history that is firmly entrenched in the enterprise as it expands its cloud-based offerings.

“Our commitment to cloud and AI innovation is critical to our customers’ success – whether they are building simple reports or developing advanced AI solutions to answer critical business questions,” said Bryan Harris, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at SAS. “Making SAS Viya available to entire analytics organizations is our goal, regardless of skill level, team or preferred programming language. We want Viya to be the foundation of our customers’ innovation stories.”

SAS customers will be able to leverage the power of the company’s analytics innovations with SAS Viya on Microsoft Azure, including SAS Visual Analytics, SAS Visual Statistics, SAS Visual Data Mining and Machine Learning, and SAS Model Manager.

“We’re excited to offer customers a new way to gain access to SAS Viya while continuing to provide all the powerful capabilities our users already know and love,” SAS CEO Jim Goodnight said. “We’ve spent decades building the most comprehensive suite of analytics on the market, with next-generation AI that addresses the complete analytics life cycle. We design and test our software to be the fastest and most productive. And now we’re making it all available with a few clicks in the Microsoft Azure Marketplace.”

Analysts believe the move is a major win for SAS and its customers.

“In this strategic move, SAS makes access to its analytics easier,” said Dan Vesset, Group Vice President, Analytics and Information Management at IDC. “SAS Viya is one of the most comprehensive analytics platforms on the market today. Presenting users with the complete analytics life cycle – from data to a deployed and managed model – available for immediate use and deployment via the Microsoft Azure Marketplace, is key. And offering it with built-in support and training is expected to bring significant productivity benefits to analytics, IT and business groups around the world.”

Customers can try SAS Viya on Microsoft Azure here.

SAS Viya Analytics Platform Comes to Microsoft Azure
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T-Mobile Lands US Exclusive for OnePlus 10T

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T-Mobile Lands US Exclusive for OnePlus 10T

T-Mobile will be the exclusive US carrier for the all-new OnePlut 10T.

The 10T is OnePlus’ latest 5G smartphone and has received favorable reviews for the features and power it provides. The new phone has a 6.7-inch FHD+ display with 120Hz refresh rate, a triple camera system, and a 4800mAh battery. The phone is also powered by the Snapdragon 898, giving it plenty of power for even the most demanding tasks and games.

The magenta carrier is touting the fact that it is the only US carrier to have the new phone, which will be paired with its industry-leading 5G.

Hold the phone! T-Mobile (NASDAQ: TMUS) today announced the OnePlus 10T is coming to T-Mobile. The Un-carrier is the ONLY wireless provider in the U.S. to land the latest 5G smartphone from OnePlus. And new and existing T-Mobile and Sprint customers can pick it up at half off when they either add a line on most plans or trade in an eligible device. The OnePlus 10T will be available online and in T-Mobile stores on September 29.

Customers can pick up the OnePlus 10T in Moonstone Black. They can either take advantage of the half-off offer or pay $27.09/month ($0 down, FRP: $649.99), subject to credit approval.

T-Mobile Lands US Exclusive for OnePlus 10T
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Gates Foundation Likely to Shut Down in 25 Years

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Gates Foundation Likely to Shut Down in 25 Years

Bill Gates has shared his thoughts on the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, revealing it will likely shut down in 25 years.

The Gates Foundation is “a nonprofit fighting poverty, disease, and inequity around the world.” Founded in 2000, the foundation is involved in addressing some of the biggest challenges facing mankind. The foundation has benefited greatly from Gates’ wealth, with Bill Gates recently donating $20 billion to it.

Despite its stature in the philanthropic community, Gates sees the foundation shutting down in the next couple of decades.

“The goal for the foundation is to run for another 25 years,” Gates said at the 2022 Forbes 400 Philanthropy Summit.

At the same time, Gates emphasized the foundation’s goals in the remaining time it has.

“Try and bring infectious disease, or all of the diseases that make the world inequitable, to bring those largely to an end, either through eradication or getting them down to very low levels,” he added.

By the time the Gates Foundation comes to an end, Bill Gates would be 91, and Melinda would be 83. It’s clear the two don’t want to trust the foundation’s future to someone else. Given how involved they have been in the foundation, it’s understandable they wouldn’t want to risk it going in a direction they would not have agreed with.

Gates Foundation Likely to Shut Down in 25 Years
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Netflix Is Launching Its Own Internal Game Studio

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Netflix Is Launching Its Own Internal Game Studio

Netflix is doubling down on gaming, launching its own game studio to take development in-house.

Netflix began offering mobile games in late 2021. The company had been gearing up to offer the service for months, even hiring former Electronic Arts executive Mike Verdu to head up its efforts.

The company is taking a step further with plans to launch its own internal game studio, giving the company the ability to build out its own catalog of games rather than relying exclusively on third parties.

“Today, I’m excited to announce that we are establishing an internal games studio in Helsinki, Finland, with Marko Lastikka as the studio director,” writes Amir Rahimi, VP of Game Studios. “This is another step in our vision to build a world-class games studio that will bring a variety of delightful and deeply engaging original games — with no ads and no in-app purchases — to our hundreds of millions of members around the world.”

The company chose Helsinki specifically because of the broad talent pool available there. Rahimi continues:

“Why Helsinki? It is home to some of the best game talent in the world. This will be a games studio that we build from scratch, and our second games studio in Helsinki alongside Next Games, which became part of Netflix earlier this year. Along with Night School Studio and Boss Fight Entertainment, these four studios, each with different strengths and focus areas, will develop games that will suit the diverse tastes of our members.”

Netflix clearly hopes that building its own games will help it gain a competitive advantage, and, truth be told, the company needs it. According to a recent report, roughly 99% of the company’s customers have never tried its games. Perhaps games that are more customized to its user base will gain more traction.

Netflix Is Launching Its Own Internal Game Studio
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Users Decry Adobe/Figma Deal; Fear Adobe Will Destroy Figma

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Users Decry Adobe/Figma Deal; Fear Adobe Will Destroy Figma

Users are up in arms over Adobe’s plans to purchase design startup Figma, fearing the larger company will ruin the startup’s services.

Figma has taken the design world by storm, providing web-based design tools that rival more traditional options, such as Adobe’s. The company’s offerings have even become popular within Microsoft, a long-time Adobe ally.

In the wake of Adobe’s announcement that it is purchasing Figma for $20 billion, users are already worried the deal spells the end of what made Figma special.

“Figma was a tool that gave designers superpowers. And part of the reason they did that is because they listened to what the community was asking them for,” Adam Glynn-Finnegan, a product-design lead at Netflix, told Business Insider. “I don’t think Adobe necessarily has that muscle.”

Adobe has a long history of raising prices and charging near-exorbitant prices for its design software. This has helped contribute to the rise of open source options, as well as startups like Figma that offer comparable services at prices people can afford. Many are now concerned Adobe will take the startup’s services and raise the prices to be more inline with the rest of the larger company’s offerings.

Adobe and Figma have tried to reassure users, saying the latter will remain an independent unit within Adobe. What’s more, Figma’s CEO, Dylan Field, will continue to run the unit and has said they “currently have no plan to change Figma’s pricing.”

The reassurances are not resonating with users, especially freelancers and startups that can’t afford Adobe’s software.

“Saying that people are freaking out too much comes from a place of privilege,” Mia Eltiste, a design researcher at the IBM spinoff Kyndryl, told Insider. “They can afford the subscription-based model, unlike freelancers or smaller companies, where income comes sporadically.”

Only time will tell if designers’ fears are warranted, although Adobe’s history would suggest they are. There’s also the possibility that regulators will block the deal, especially given Adobe’s dominant position within the industry.

Users Decry Adobe/Figma Deal; Fear Adobe Will Destroy Figma
Matt Milano

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Hotel Marketers Are Turning to TikTok…and You Should Too

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Hotel Marketers Are Turning to TikTok…and You Should Too

Hotel marketers are increasingly turning to TikTok in an effort to attract guests, setting an example others should follow.

TikTok has revolutionized the social media industry with its short-form videos. Countless influencers’ careers have started on TikTok, with short-form videos that have gone viral. Hotels are now using short-form videos to show off their properties, attract guests, and tap into people’s desire for something unique.

“TikTok is no longer considered a dance-trend app for teenagers,” Richard Hyde, managing director of Small Luxury Hotels, told Skift. “The platform is rapidly aging up. We’ve seen engagement from users of all ages on our Small Luxury Hotels of the World account.”

“Authenticity is quickly becoming the new cultural currency,” he said, speaking of the popular “behind the scenes” approach. “Our hotels are experiential, entertaining, spontaneous, enriching, and fun – like Tik Tok. The platform doesn’t require polished content. Users will sniff out professionally made videos and they won’t perform as well. Our TikTok strategy is based on showing our beautiful hotels from a guest’s perspective.”

As Skift points out, TikTok is an especially valuable resource for hotels and companies with limited marketing budgets. Savvy marketers can tap into existing trends and then tie in their products or services, thereby benefiting from the wealth of user-generated content.

For example, the report highlights The Retreat Elcot Park in the English countryside, which tapped into the popularity of Netflix’s Bridgerton.

“With the Bridgerton tag trending on TikTok, we entered that cultural conversation in an authentic way,” Hyde said. “Using a soundbite from the new series, we framed the hotel as a place that Bridgerton fans must visit.”

“The TikTok reached an audience of 50,000 — 86 percent of whom discovered the video via the ‘For You Page’, meaning they were not following us yet,” Hyde added. “The comments were filled with friends tagging each other saying that they must visit the property.”

“As well as discoverability, ‘saves’ are an important metric for us,” Hyde explained. “Users are now saving the destinations they would like to visit in the future.”

TikTok has clearly evolved far beyond its roots and is now playing a major role in many companies marketing campaigns. With a little effort and even less budget, your company could benefit from this phenomenon and reap the rewards of engaging with user-created content.

Hotel Marketers Are Turning to TikTok…and You Should Too
Matt Milano

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One-Click Call Links Coming to WhatsApp, Along With 32-Person Video Calls

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One-Click Call Links Coming to WhatsApp, Along With 32-Person Video Calls

WhatsApp calls are about to become far more convenient for users, with the company rolling out one-click links.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced the news, along with plans for 32-person video calling, in a Facebook post:

We’re rolling out call links on WhatsApp starting this week so you can share a link to start a call with a single tap. We’re also testing secure encrypted video calling for up to 32 people. More coming soon.

Zuckerberg didn’t elaborate or provide any additional information, but both features will be a welcome upgrade for users.

One-Click Call Links Coming to WhatsApp, Along With 32-Person Video Calls
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Amazon Backtracks on Pay Raises, Blames Software Bug

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Amazon Backtracks on Pay Raises, Blames Software Bug

Amazon wants a do-over on employee pay raises, saying a software bug led to artificially high numbers.

Amazon has been struggling with employee satisfaction for some time, with its attrition rate for its most desirable employees doubling in recent years. The company increased its maximum base salary to $350,000 in February in an effort to keep employees happy, but it may have wiped out any goodwill it generated.

Unfortunately for the company, its latest raise did not go smoothly, according to Business Insider. Amazon’s software evidently used an older, higher stock price to calculate bonuses, resulting in many corporate employees initially being told they would receive a larger compensation package than intended. The issue especially impacted employees that were recently promoted.

Rather than honor the initial amount, Amazon sent out an email to managers informing them the packages would be smaller than promised. Having seen both the email and an internal trouble ticket, Insider says as many as 40% of employees promoted this quarter were “impacted by this issue.”

Needless to say, Amazon’s handling of the debacle is not going over well, with employees accusing the company of nickel-and-diming them. One employee said Amazon was “taking away something that somewhat made us whole.”

Amazon representative Brad Glasser told Insider the company “identified and immediately corrected an issue with some newly promoted employees’ compensation communications.”

“We are working with employees to ensure they understand their updated compensation,” Glasser added.

It’s a safe bet Amazon’s employee morale issues are just beginning.

Amazon Backtracks on Pay Raises, Blames Software Bug
Matt Milano

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Some YouTube Users Seeing 10 Ads Before a Video

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Some YouTube Users Seeing 10 Ads Before a Video

YouTube is stretching the limits of its users’ patience, testing up to 10 ads before a video.

A Reddit post popped up earlier this week, with users discussing the fact that YouTube is routinely displaying five or six ads at a time before a video plays. To make matters worse, the ads are unskippable, and the videos still have longer, albeit skippable, ads midway through.

According to TechViral, some users see as many as 10 ads before the start of a video.

According to a tweet by TeamYouTube, the company is experimenting with more ads but said each ad is no longer than six seconds.

hmm…this may happen with a certain type of ad format called bumper ads, since they're only up to 6 seconds long. if you'd like, you can send feedback directly from YouTube via the send feedback tool

— TeamYouTube (@TeamYouTube) September 7, 2022

Some YouTube Users Seeing 10 Ads Before a Video
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Apple’s Remaining 2022 Launches Will Likely Be via Press Release

WebProNews
Apple’s Remaining 2022 Launches Will Likely Be via Press Release

Don’t expect any more major Apple events for the rest of the year, with a new report saying Apple will turn to press releases.

Apple’s events are cornerstones of the tech industry, with the company putting on some of the most professional presentations and product releases in the world. With the company’s most recent event centered around the iPhone 14, many were expecting another event in October to unveil new iPads and Macs.

According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, via MacRumors, whatever products Apple intends to release during the remainder of 2022 will not be released via one of its normal events. Instead, the company is “likely to release its remaining 2022 products via press releases, updates to its website and briefings with select members of the press.”

The most likely candidates for release are an updated iPad Pro with an M2 chip, a new Mac mini, and new MacBook Pros.

Apple’s Remaining 2022 Launches Will Likely Be via Press Release
Matt Milano

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TikTok Bans Political Fundraising

WebProNews
TikTok Bans Political Fundraising

TikTok has announced its intention to ban political fundraising on its social media platform.

TikTok is one of the world’s most popular social media platforms and has had an oversized impact on all other platforms. As a result, when it makes a change, the effects can be felt across the industry. Its latest policy is sure to have ripple effects, with the company banning political fundraising.

The company announced the change in a blog post:

TikTok has long prohibited political advertising, including both paid ads on the platform and creators being paid directly to make branded content. We currently do that by prohibiting political content in an ad, and we’re also now applying restrictions at an account level. This means accounts belonging to politicians and political parties will automatically have their access to advertising features turned off, which will help us more consistently enforce our existing policy.

The company does allow for exceptions in situations for the public good.

We recognize that there will be occasions where governments may need access to our ads services, such as to support public health and safety and access to information, like advertising COVID-19 booster campaigns. We will continue to allow government organizations to advertise in limited circumstances, and they will be required to be working with a TikTok representative.

Additionally, we will be prohibiting these accounts from accessing other monetization features. Specifically, they will not have access to features like gifting, tipping, and e-commerce, and will be ineligible for our Creator Fund. These changes, along with our existing ban on political advertising, mean that accounts belonging to governments, politicians, and political parties will largely not be able to give or receive money through TikTok’s monetization features, or spend money promoting their content.

The move is a bold one and sure to draw praise and criticism.

TikTok Bans Political Fundraising
Matt Milano

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