Category: Tools and Information

Comcast RISE to Award $3 Million in Support to Small Businesses in Grand Rapids and Muskegon

~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Comcast announced Thursday that 100 small businesses in Grand Rapids, Muskegon, and surrounding communities will receive comprehensive grant packages through the Comcast RISE program. The initiative is part of a broader $3 million national effort aimed at supporting 500 small businesses across five U.S. regions.

The grant packages will include a $5,000 monetary grant, a full technology makeover, professionally produced marketing assets, media exposure, access to educational resources, and business coaching sessions. Applications will open May 1 and close May 31, with interested businesses directed to apply at http://www.ComcastRISE.com. “Small business owners in Grand Rapids and Musk

Read More

Microsoft confirms Classic Outlook typing issue causing CPU spikes | Digital Trends

~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

In a post on Microsoft’s Support blog, the company warns that typing in a recent version of classic Outlook can lead to high CPU usage. The issue could cause CPU usage to spike by up to 50%, and the company recommends switching to the Microsoft 365 Apps update channel as a temporary workaround.

The problems occur when composing an email in Version 2406 (Build 17726.20126) on the Current Channel, Monthly Enterprise Channel, or Insider Channels. Affected users report CPU usage increases between 20% and 50%, which can also raise power consumption. Microsoft says the Outlook team is investigating and will provide further updates as they become available.

Read More

NASA astronaut is hoping for a smoother ride home than 22 years ago | Digital Trends

~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

NASA astronaut Don Pettit is just a couple of days away from returning to Earth on a Russian Soyuz spacecraft after a seven-month stay at the International Space Station, making it the perfect time to revisit his astonishing account of his first Soyuz homecoming in 2003.

In the article, Pettit describes in vivid detail the extraordinary experience of hurtling through Earth’s atmosphere at five miles a second, and how malfunctions with Soyuz led to the flight home becoming a kind of test landing for a future crewed mission to Mars.

Just ahead of the spacecraft’s high-speed entry into Earth’s atmosphere 22 years ago, it became apparent to Pettit and his two crewmates — Ken Bowersox and Nikolai Budarin — that the Soyuz was experiencing issues with its guidance system, causing the capsule to switch from a controlled, gentle entry to a much steeper and rougher “ballistic” entry.

Read More

Samsung’s latest phone and tablet hide a swappable battery surprise | Digital Trends

~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

We know there are people out there who want to swap a flat or dead battery in their smartphone out for a new, fully charged one. Samsung knows it too, and it’s one of the top features on its new Galaxy XCover7 Pro rugged smartphone. But have you ever thought about doing the same thing on your tablet? Amazingly, Samsung’s offering the same feature on its new rugged Galaxy Tab Active5 Pro tablet too.

The Galaxy Tab Active5 Pro has a massive 10,100mAh battery inside, and Samsung will sell you a replacement so you can change it on the go, plus it has an unusual Dual Hot-Swap feature, where you can change the batteries without the tablet powering down in the process. It can even operate without a battery at all, and just run on a mains power supply. If you’re wondering why you’d need such functionality, you may not. The Galaxy Tab Active5 Pro and Galaxy XCover7 Pro are primarily designed for use by businesses and out in the field, where constant up-time may be essential.

Source: Samsung’s latest phone and tablet hide a swappable battery surprise | Digital Trends

Creative Funding Strategies for Franchise Business Growth | The Startup Magazine

~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

As a franchise owner, you understand the challenges of growing your business in a competitive market. While your brand may be established, securing the capital needed for expansion can feel like an uphill battle. Traditional financing options often fall short, leaving you searching for creative alternatives. In this Hard money lending in LA guide, you’ll discover innovative funding strategies tailored to franchise growth. You’ll explore various options to fuel your franchise’s expansion, from crowdfunding and revenue-based financing to strategic partnerships and alternative lenders.

Read More

AI Is Most Likely to Replace These 3 Professions: AI Experts | Entrepreneur

~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Since ChatGPT came on the scene in November 2022, employees have been using the AI chatbot and other variations from Google, Microsoft, Apple, and others, to take notes, write emails, and translate meetings.

But could the tools you’re using to help your work actually take your job instead?

Goldman Sachs estimated in a 2023 report that AI could automate 300 million full-time jobs, while McKinsey wrote in the same year that up to 375 million workers may be displaced by AI by 2030.

While AI could take over jobs on Wall Street or software developer roles at Big Tech firms, a recent Pew Research survey found that AI experts deem three professions most at risk of vanishing in the next 20 years due to AI: cashiers, journalists, and factory workers.

Read More

7 Telltale Signs of a Weak Leader | Entrepreneur

~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Most people associate a weak leader with being docile, deferential, timid, or meek. While that may have some merit, weak leaders can also be bombastic, egocentric, domineering, dictatorial, and imperious. Even if you are successful at adding to the bottom line, bringing in new clients, or developing new products and services, if people are not seeking you out or jockeying to be on your team, you are a weak leader.

Here are seven behaviors that beset a weak leader:

1. Your team routinely suffers from burnout.

Being driven and ambitious are important traits for successful leaders. However, if you are excessively working your people or churning through staff, than you are not effectively using your resources. You may take pride in your productivity by doing more with less, but today’s success may undermine long-term organizational health.

Read More

Apple planning massive redesign for iPhone 19 Pro, reports say | Mashable

~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Although the iPhone’s 20th anniversary is still a few years away, Apple is already planning a “bold” design change.

According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is “preparing a major shake-up” for the iPhone 19 series, slated for release in 2027. That includes a foldable iPhone and an iPhone 19 Pro “that makes more extensive use of glass.”

Not much else is known beyond that, apart from ever-persistent rumors about Apple’s development of a foldable iPhone, which have recently become more substantial. But Gurman also said this year’s iPhone 17 points toward a sleeker, glassier model. Apple will reportedly release a slimmer iPhone 17 “Air.” This model is rumored to have the same screen size as current models, will be two millimeters thinner, but will have similar battery life. This, of course, requires some compromises, like featuring only one rear-facing 48MP camera and an A19 chip instead of the A19 Pro chip.

Read More

What the new 401(k) limits and other changes mean for your retirement | CNN Business

~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Come next year, you will be allowed to save a little more in your 401(k) on a tax-deferred basis than you can this year, unless you’re in your early 60s, in which case for the first time you’ll be allowed to save a lot more.

The new contribution limit for 401(k)s and other workplace retirement plans in 2025 will be $23,500, up from $23,000 currently, the Internal Revenue Service said Friday.

The IRS did not, however, increase the limit on catch-up contributions — that’s the extra amount of money people 50 and older can contribute annually in tax-advantaged plans like 401(k)s, 403(b)s, 457 plans and the federal government’s Thrift Savings Plan. The catch-up contribution limit will remain the same at $7,500.

Source: What the new 401(k) limits and other changes mean for your retirement | CNN Business

Wondering if you should convert your tax-deferred retirement savings to a Roth? Here’s what to consider | CNN Business

~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Having financial flexibility in retirement — especially in being able to maximize your spending while minimizing your taxes — is an optimal situation.

And it’s one you can arrange by keeping at least some of your retirement savings in a tax-free account.

“You’re giving yourself more options in the future,” said Brian Kearns, an Illinois-based certified public accountant and certified financial planner.

One way to do that is to convert at least some of your tax-deferred savings in your 401(k) or traditional IRA into a Roth account. Money rolled into Roth 401(k)s and Roth IRAs grow tax free and may be withdrawn tax-free so long as you leave it in the account for at least five years after the rollover.

Read More