Planted raises another $21M to expand its growing plant-based meat empire (and add schnitzel) | TechCrunch

August 5, 2021August 2, 2021 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Swiss alternative protein company Planted has raised its second round of the year, a CHF 19 million (about $21 million at present) “pre-B” fundraise that will help it continue its growth and debut new products. A U.S. launch is in the cards eventually, but for now Planted’s exclusively European customers will be able to give its new veggie schnitzel a shot.

Planted appeared in 2019 as a spinoff from Swiss research university ETH Zurich, where the founders developed the original technique of extruding plant proteins and water into fibrous structures similar to real meat’s. Since then the company has diversified its protein sources, adding oat and sunflower to the mix, and developed pulled pork and kebab alternative products as well.

Are Virtual Surround Gaming Headsets Worth It? | WIRED

August 5, 2021August 2, 2021 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

GAMERS LIKE MYSELF love to obsess over graphics settings, HDR, and frame rates to get the best picture possible. But the sound quality is arguably just as important, whether you’re looking to be immersed in a cinematic single-player game or gain the upper hand in a competitive esports match. The subtle sound of footsteps can warn you of an enemy homing in on your position, and even the specific sound a gun makes can affect your kill ratio.

3 Questions That Will Change Your Mindset From Busy to Strategic | Entrepreneur

August 4, 2021August 2, 2021 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Just about every time I ask someone how they are doing, they reply with something akin to, “Busy, but good.” There’s so much that demands our attention, from ads to scrolling through social media to work calls to family activities. While I realize everyone is fractionally or wholly overcommitted, with me being no exception, at some point I began noticing that at the end of some days, I would sum up with, “I have no idea where the day went” or “I didn’t get anything on my list done” or “I feel like I made no progress.” This trend got me wondering about ways to better define progress. Even if it’s small, such progress, I thought, has to be focused, and of a sort that actually pushes me — not just a series of ticks on an ever-growing list. To produce this new mindset, I asked myself three questions, and the result has been a huge difference in how I spend time and what I’m able to accomplish. Now, instead of hearing myself ask, “Where did the time go?” I get asked “Where do you find the time for everything you do?”

Fundamentals For A Hybrid Workplace | Getentrepreneurial.com

August 4, 2021August 2, 2021 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Business and employees have all but confirmed that a hybrid working model will become the dominant way of working following the pandemic. Despite a few road bumps, the transition to remote working has been successful, with many businesses beginning to see the potential to regain losses and match their pre-pandemic growth. Similarly, the vast majority of former commuters have embraced the remote working model so strongly that most employees don’t want to go back to the office full time again.

The physical workplace is not dead, however, and will play an important part in rebuilding the economy. Office and remote working can and will exist to produce great results, but this will rely on the right IT investments being made at the right times.

Shine Turbine Is A Wind Powered Portable Device Charger | Cool Business Ideas

August 3, 2021August 1, 2021 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

A modern problem of the off-grid and outdoorsy lifestyle is how to keep your devices powered. Battery packs are one option, but they have limited use and can be heavy and bulky. The team at Aurea Technologies has come to the rescue with the Shine Turbine, a compact and lightweight wind-poweredturbine that offers renewable energy to outdoor enthusiasts who need to recharge electronic devices.

The Shine Turbine launched a Kickstarter campaign on June 8, 2021 that was fully funded in a matter of hours, highlighting the level of interest in this innovative product.

This luxury yacht runs on 100% renewable energy | Inhabitat

August 3, 2021August 1, 2021 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

For those who enjoy yachting, there’s nothing better than long stretches of propulsion across the water while you take in the sea and scenery. Except perhaps if you get to experience the newest Sunreef 80 Eco, an electric luxury ride that’s silent and sustainable.

Sunreef Yachts developed a thin, highly efficient solar cell system that mounts completely flush to all surfaces of the boat, including masts, hull sides and bimini tops. The expected capacity of the system is 34 kWp energy, which is stored in ultralight lithium batteries until needed.

Best tablets 2021: Because the iPad is no longer your only option | Mashable

August 2, 2021August 1, 2021 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Even if you have a very capable smartphone and a nice laptop, tablets are still a worthwhile hunk of tech to add to your arsenal.

The touchscreen that can be carried anywhere makes for a portable studio for creatives, a crucial sidekick for commuters and frequent travelers, and a mini TV for people who aren’t missing the newest episode of Loki just because they’re on vacation.

A simple question kicks off the process of narrowing down your options: Are you an Apple person? Whether that’s yes, no, or an “I have no idea,” the buying guide below lays out the pros and cons of the main picks from Apple, Amazon, Samsung, and Microsoft.

Campbell’s soup cans get the first redesign in 50 years | CNN

August 2, 2021August 1, 2021 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

The labels on Campbell’s soup cans are getting their first redesign in about 50 years.

Eagled-eyed customers will notice that the famed red and white design remains, but the Campbell’s logo is receiving a “modernized logo scripture,” which includes eliminating the shadow and a slightly changed font that is based on founder Joseph Campbell’s original signature.

Other changes include the word “soup” printed in a new font, along with a slanted “O” as a nod to the brand’s original label from 1898. Also, the “C” from the redesigned Campbell’s signature is used in the fleur de lis next to the word soup. Varieties receiving the redesigned labels include tomato, cream of chicken, cream of mushroom and chicken noodle. The redesigned cans are currently rolling out to store shelves.

What are asteroids? | Live Science

July 30, 2021July 29, 2021 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Asteroids are flying space rocks occasionally featured in sci-fi movies and perhaps in our low-level fears of going the way of the dinosaurs. But just what are these potato-shaped chunks of rock, and what are the odds that one could hit Earth sometime in the near future?

“You can think about asteroids as planets that didn’t make it,” Federica Spoto, a research scientist at the Minor Planet Center, an institute that studies small bodies, told Live Science. “They are what’s leftover from the origin of the solar system.”

9 Emails to Help You Make the Sale | businessnewsdaily.com

July 30, 2021July 29, 2021 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

These nine transactional emails will help you boost your sales, communicate important information to your customers, and improve the customer experience overall.

Transactional emails serve to boost sales and customer satisfaction by keeping your customers informed and engaged.

Transactional emails are useful for cart abandonment, welcoming new subscribers, resetting lost passwords, and more.

In addition to confirming different steps in the customer journey, transactional emails are an opportunity to further inform your customers about your brand and encourage future purchases.

This article is for e-commerce business owners who want to improve their email communication with customers or streamline their email marketing program.

As you plan your digital marketing strategy, transactional emails will play an important role. Transaction emails can help you communicate important information to your customers and improve your sales over time. Let’s look at what transactional emails are, as well as some examples of how you can use them in your own business.