Category: Tools and Information

Apple’s iOS 16 said to include a revamped lock screen with widgets, updated Messages, and Health apps | TechCrunch

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Ahead of Apple’s big developer conference on June 6, WWDC, new information about what’s in store for iOS 16 has come to light. According to leaks reported by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, iOS users may expect to see new features like an upgraded lock screen as well as updated first-party apps, including Messages and Health, updates to notifications, iPad multitasking features, and more.

The report described the software as a “fairly significant” upgrade — which is notable given the last two updates included sizable changes, as well. With iOS 14, for example, iPhone users gained support for home screen widgets, leading to a home screen customization craze that still sees widget and themes apps like Brass, Themify, ScreenKit and others topping the Graphics & Design charts. Last year’s iOS 15 upgrade, meanwhile, delivered Focus Modes — a new way to control what and who is allowed to interrupt you and when.

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What’s Driving Advertising M&A in the Year Ahead | Entrepreneur

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Last year saw a boom for mergers and acquisitions — a stunning 139% increase in the U.S. compared to 2020. Deal volumes broke records with $5.8 trillion worth of M&A activity in 2021, driven primarily by digital transformation, access to capital, a recovering global economy and labor shortages. This “supercharged” M&A environment will likely continue in the foreseeable future.

Perhaps not surprisingly, technology and telecommunications deals accounted for nearly 20% of M&A activity last year, including more than 2,000 media-related deals worth $189.7 billion. Notable major transactions included AppLovin acquiring MoPub, Microsoft acquiring both Xandr and Nuance, and Integral Ad Science buying connected TV advertising platform Publica, along with other multibillion-dollar deals.

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What are Hong Kong stocks, and how to buy them | Getentrepreneurial.com 

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As an investor, you may be interested in expanding your portfolio beyond domestic stocks and foreign markets. ZH is a perfect place to start, as it has a well-developed stock market with many investment opportunities. We will discuss what Hong Kong stocks are and how to buy them, and we will also provide some tips on investing in Hong Kong’s stock market.

What are Hong Kong stocks, and what do they represent?

Hong Kong stocks, also known as H-shares, are shares of Chinese companies listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. These stocks offer foreign investors exposure to the Chinese economy, increasing in recent years. Many of the largest and most well-known Chinese companies are listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, including China Mobile, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, and China Construction Bank.

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Night Vision Pocket Camera | Cool Business Ideas

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Startup Duovox has launched a compact night vision camera with a custom Sony sensor and advanced algorithms at its heart that effectively turn night into day, bringing the full-color experience to after-dark hikes in the mountains, and night-time wildlife photography or even pitch black handicam horror flicks.

“We have used the latest low-light imaging technology and combined it with our own advanced AI algorithms,” said Duovox founder, David Chen. “This allows Duovox to turn an entire night-time scene into a full-color daylit photograph.”

Currently raising production funds on Kickstarter, the Duovox Mate Pro is the fourth-night vision camera from Duovox and is designed as an easy carry rather than the dashcam format of previous iterations.

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Fire HD 10 review: It’s great for casual users, but falls short for work and gaming | Mashable

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Looking for a quality tablet for streaming and e-books (without the Apple prices)? Amazon has pretty much cornered the market in that regard. The brand’s Fire HD 10 is inexpensive and high performing, and ideal if you’re already invested in the Amazon ecosystem with a Prime membership or Alexa-enabled devices. It’s also a solid choice for people who use the Microsoft app suite for work.

The Amazon Fire HD 10 ($149.99) boasts a brighter display, a more durable screen, and 50 percent more RAM than the previous gen Fire 10 tablet — along with a 2MP front-facing and 5MP rear-facing camera. Its low price compared to the iPad (starting at $329) makes it a serious contender in the tablet market, and it comes in four color options (black, denim, lavender, olive).

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‘Lunchflation’ is real. Returning to the office is costing us a fortune | CNN

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Millions of employees started working remotely after the pandemic first took hold in 2020. But now, more people are returning to the office — and they’re being greeted by much higher prices for just about everything.

Food. Commuting. Daycare. Rising gas prices and soaring inflation have made going back to the office more expensive. And that is eating into workers’ incomes, especially if their pay increases aren’t keeping up.

Here are some of the daily costs that have crept higher, making the return to post-pandemic office life more expensive.

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What to Know About Opening a Franchise | businessnewsdaily.com

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Want to own a business with an established brand and business model? If so, franchising might be the right option for you.

  • Franchising is when a company sells the rights to its existing business model and products.
  • Opening a franchise is a business venture with relatively low risk and high support, but you must be aware of the regulations and factors that make a franchise successful.
  • While costs vary widely, in general, you can expect to spend $50,000 to $200,000 in franchising startup costs.
  • This article is for entrepreneurs and business owners interested in buying and operating a franchise.

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How several states are taking the lead on restoring overtime pay | Fast Company

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With Americans struggling with inflation, workers’ advocates are banking on a White House that has promised to make millions more workers eligible for overtime wages that pay time and a half.

Two presidents who made similar promises over the last 45 years failed to deliver, resulting in outdated federal overtime guidelines and underfunded labor enforcement.

But during decades in which lawmakers and lobbyists cut away at overtime access, states like Washington and California actually strengthened it. They increased the amount that a worker could earn while remaining eligible for overtime, and expanded over time to previously exempt professions, such as farm work.

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5 Tips for Creating a Volunteer Time Off Program | AllBusiness.com

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Making a positive community impact has always been a priority at my company. For years we’ve made financial contributions and worked on pro-bono projects with many local nonprofit partners throughout the country where our offices are located. Our employee committees also organize regular company give-back initiatives like blood drives, clothing and toy drives, pet adoptions, and more. However, we wanted to find new ways of inspiring our employees to give back individually, which would amplify our collective efforts even further.

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Startup Companies Need to Remain Vigilant and Be Alert to Cybersecurity Threats | The Startup Magazine

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Startup companies can be lauded for their innovation, creativity and imaginative thinking, and rightly so. However, when it comes to cybersecurity issues and resolving them, perhaps not all startups know what to do or what to look out for. They often don’t have the cybersecurity tips they need to protect their assets.

One of the most important aspects a business leader can research and ask themselves is what is cyber threat intelligence? By the knowing the full details about that, business leaders can fully prepare themselves with the knowledge of knowing what to look out for.

If cybersecurity issues are left unattended, then this can contribute to devastating fraud consequences. Without effective security measures in place, fraudsters can easily take advantage of things.

In 2021, the estimated daily cost of fraud surpassed £375m, and this was the equivalent of consumers being able to purchase over 136 million daily cups of coffee!

With that in mind, let’s explore what cybersecurity measures can be taken to resolve any issues, as per the following ideas:

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