If there is one thing that budding entrepreneurs struggle with the most, it is pricing their services. There are umpteen reasons behind this – all of which we will tackle through today’s article – but, ultimately, it can pose monumental, bottom-line problems. After all, if you’re not pricing yourself accurately, you’re faced with two situations. Firstly, you could bottom-out and not make sufficient profits. Or, if you go the other way, you won’t attract the clients. So, how do you start? Let’s dive into the best practices for pricing your products and services.
Author: knjohn
The spring-loaded screw could be a cheaper form of soundproofing | New Atlas
Nobody likes hearing their neighbors’ music, TV shows or loud conversations. Soundproof wall materials, however, can be quite thick and expensive. Swedish scientists have developed a thinner, less costly alternative, in the form of a spring-loaded sound-damping screw.
Known as the Revolutionary Sound Absorbing Screw (or the Sound Screw for short), the device was created by a team at Malmö University, led by senior lecturer Håkan Wernersson. It consists of a threaded section at the bottom, a coil spring in the middle, and a section with a flat head at the top.
4D Printing | Cool Business Ideas
It wasn’t so long ago that 3D printing was the new kid on the block. Now the term 4D printing is making headlines, stretching our ability to conceptualize once again. To understand 4D printing, it helps to have a better familiarity with 3D printing.
3D printing was originally developed in 1984 by Charles Hull. However, it was 2007 before anyone other than businesses and the one ultra-techie neighbor on the block gained access to 3D printers that used filament instead of ink. That’s because they finally became affordable for the house user around that time. Since then, like most technology, 3D printers have become smaller, faster, cheaper and more versatile.
The first 3D printers were slow, meticulously producing a single letter or a small figurine over a 12-hour window. Now we’re printing 3D houses, replacement parts, interior design pieces, furniture and so much more.
Instagram warns users who share Russian state media, hides following lists in Russia and Ukraine | TechCrunch
Instagram announced Tuesday that it would implement steps to dampen Russian government propaganda and protect the privacy of users across Ukraine and Russia.
The company will begin downranking posts from Russian state-affiliated media, placing any stories from those outlets below other content from other sources. Users who go to share stories originating with any of these accounts will now see a pop-up message cautioning them against spreading “Russia state-controlled media.”
“Instagram believes the account that created this post may be partially or wholly under the editorial control of the Russian government,” the message reads.
Everything Apple Announced (March 2022): iPhone SE, Mac Studio, iPad Air | WIRED
ON TUESDAY, APPLE unveiled an array of new devices, including a new iPhone SE with 5G, a new version of the iPad Air, and Mac Studio, a whole new desktop PC with a powerful new processor. Apple made all these announcements in a prerecorded presentation that oddly did not reference the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, even though the company changed its policies last week in response to the conflict. Apple’s product shows are like Waffle House—no matter how many crises befall the world around them, they’ll keep on going.
Here’s everything that was announced.
Google Pixel users can now use live captions during calls | Mashable
Google announced its latest accessibility update Monday — real-time phone call captions for Google Pixel users who cannot or prefer not to speak on the phone.
The Live Caption feature for phones will let users initiate two-way text-to-speech tools within a call, providing live captions of what the other person says in real time and letting users type a response that’s read out loud by Google’s text-to-speech voice during the call. Once initiated, the phone call converts into an easily navigable text chat exchange on the user’s side. It also alerts the caller on the other line that the person is using these services, making it easier for everyone involved.
A Russian cyberwar may not boost security stocks much further | CNN
Tech stocks, like the rest of the broader market, have seen their fair share of ups and downs since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine at the end of February. But for one part of the technology sector — cybersecurity -— it’s been a roaring bull market for the past few weeks.
The ETFMG Prime Cyber Security (HACK) and First Trust NASDAQ Cybersecurity (CIBR) exchange-traded funds, which both own shares of top cybersecurity companies such as Zscaler (ZS), CrowdStrike (CRWD), Cloudflare (NET), Fortinet (FTNT) and Splunk (SPLK), have each surged about 10% since Russia attacked Ukraine.
The rally makes sense. After all, there are growing concerns about cyber warfare from Russia against the West in response to sanctions against Vladimir Putin’s regime.
Who Invented the Bicycle? | Live Science
You might think that an invention as simple as the bicycle would have an uncomplicated past. But as it turns out, this highly popular invention has a history fraught with controversy and misinformation. While stories about who invented the bicycle often contradict one another, there’s one thing that’s certain: the very first bicycles were nothing like the ones you see cruising down the street today.
The first known iterations of a wheeled, human-powered vehicle were created long before the bicycle became a practical form of transportation. In 1418, an Italian engineer, Giovanni Fontana (or de la Fontana), constructed a human-powered device consisting of four wheels and a loop of rope connected by gears, according to the International Bicycle Fund (IBF).
How to Use TikTok for Business | businessnewsdaily.com
TikTok is a great social platform for marketing to younger audiences. Learn how you can use it to increase audience engagement and brand awareness.
- Nearly 90% of all TikTok users are younger than 50 years old.
- TikTok for Business users can create TopView Ads, In-Feed Ads, Brand Takeover Ads, Branded Effects and Branded Hashtag Challenges.
- TikTok is great for increasing your audience reach, consumer engagement and creativity.
- This article is for startup and small business owners who want to use TikTok to market their business.
How Being Too Nice Ruins Your Success And Happiness | Lifehack
Watch any feel-good movie, and that nice main character is going to get dumped on at some stage in the movie. Their boss might be straight out of The Devil wears Prada, or their brother is the equivalent of Scar trying to take down the king of the jungle, but the point is that being nice gets you in trouble.
Being nice is something we’re taught from birth. When you’re three, you’ve not grasped that barging someone out of the way for the red trike is considered impolite so an adult says “play nice,” and we learn that it’s a good thing.
But fast forward 20 years and suddenly, being too nice can get you in trouble. It can even stop you from earning a good salary, finding true love, or inventing something you believe in.
Dispatches From The Front 