Gmail gets a new look, Instagram trips while trying to be TikTok and India blocks Battleground Mobile | TechCrunch

August 1, 2022July 31, 2022 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

New Gmail for all: Use Gmail? Don’t be surprised if it looks different soon. The company announced this week that the “Material You” interface overhaul it has been testing will roll out to all users in the coming weeks. Don’t like the new styling? For now, at least, you can find a toggle hidden in the settings menu to switch it back.

Instagram’s bad move(s): As best anyone can tell, TikTok seems to be eating Instagram’s lunch. Is the answer for Instagram to become more like TikTok? Recent updates — like a focus on full-screen video and more content from people you don’t follow — have made the Insta interface feel more and more TikTok-y…and, well, the complaints have been loud. Instagram is at least pretending to listen, though, and says it’ll be walking back many of said changes. Maybe.

What to Know About IP Ratings Before Getting Your Phone Wet | Wired

August 1, 2022July 31, 2022 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

OUR SMARTPHONES END up in unexpected places, whether it’s a quick dip in the toilet or a journey behind the couch to where only the dust bunnies roam. Just how rugged is your device? Ingress Protection ratings, developed by the International Electrotechnical Commission and first released in 1976, are intended to highlight a device’s level of dust and water resistance.

IP ratings are a helpful standard for comparing new smartphones’ general resistance to dust and water. Keep in mind, however, that tests for IP ratings are performed in laboratory settings on brand-new devices. So, the protections could be significantly diminished if you throw your phone around and scuff it up or purchase a refurbished device. If you’re reading this article because your smartphone is currently drenched, check out WIRED’s guide to saving wet phones before throwing it in any bag of dry rice.

Higher Education in the Face of New Technologies Is an Opportunity for Entrepreneurs | Entrepreneur

July 29, 2022July 28, 2022 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

The coronavirus pandemic has caused significant changes in higher education. Higher education includes general, technical or professional education, which requires a level of training greater than or equal to the baccalaureate or its equivalent. During the moments of confinement, the research laboratories were closed, the courses were given remotely, and the students and staff, not being used to this mode of operation, were forced to adapt despite the increase in social inequalities, xenophobia and student mental health issues.

Almost two years after the confinements, higher education is becoming more than necessary to focus on other future eventualities, considering the world’s socio-economic needs: economy and community. Not only has the pandemic redirected higher education, but the challenges and issues related to public evolution and the strong presence of digital technology today require the university to set new objectives and different methods based on innovation using technological tools.

Realistic Challenges When Working From Home | Getentrepreneurial.com

July 29, 2022July 28, 2022 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Working from home has its benefits, but there are also challenges that come with it as well. This is especially true if you work in something complex like the medical industry, such as The Institute of Natural Health. But by being aware of these challenges, you can work to get around them and better prepare yourself.

Distractions

If you’re someone who is easily distracted, working from home might prove to be a challenge for you. Your office might have a few distractions in it, but at home, you’ve got to deal with things like the mail being delivered, housework that needs to be done, the television is only a few steps away, kids, noisy neighbors, and more.

The FTC is suing to stop Meta from acquiring Within, a VR fitness company | Mashable

July 28, 2022 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

In an era full of giant tech companies devouring smaller tech companies, the Federal Trade Commission is actually trying to stop one such acquisition.

The FTC filed a lawsuit on Wednesday to block Meta from acquiring the VR developer Within, per The Verge. Within is perhaps best known for developing Supernatural VR, a popular VR fitness app. The federal agency’s primary charge is that, in purchasing Within, Meta would be monopolizing VR fitness, given that it already owns another one of the most popular VR workout games in Beat Saber.

“Letting Meta acquire Supernatural would combine the makers of two of the most significant VR fitness apps, thereby eliminating beneficial rivalry between Meta’s Beat Saber app and Within’s Supernatural app,” the FTC’s complaint said.

How to take advantage of rising interest rates | CNN

July 28, 2022 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

With the Federal Reserve’s interest rate hike on Wednesday — its fourth since March — consumers again face the question of where to park their savings for the best return and how to minimize their borrowing costs.

In its bid to beat back high inflation, the US central bank hiked its overnight lending rate another 75 basis points to a range of 2.25% to 2.50%. And more rate hikes are anticipated later this year.

“With inflation running north of 9%, we’re not at the finish line and there will be more interest rate increases to come in the months ahead,” said Greg McBride, chief financial analyst at Bankrate.com.

Here are a few ways to situate your money so that you can benefit from rising rates, and protect yourself from their downside.

Can you learn to wiggle your ears? | Live Science

July 27, 2022July 26, 2022 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Wiggling your ears is a neat party trick, like rolling your tongue or licking your nose. Such abilities are often considered genetic; you can either do them naturally or not at all.

But is this actually correct? If you wanted to, could you train yourself to wiggle your ears?

According to Daniel J. Strauss, a professor of neuroscience and neurotechnology at Saarland University Hospital in Germany, there is good news for anyone who has dreamed of learning to move their ears at will — though it will likely take a lot of practice and training.

How to Build Customer Loyalty in 7 Steps | businessnewsdaily.com

July 27, 2022July 26, 2022 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Customer loyalty can help your business boom in the best of times, but it can also help you survive in tough or challenging times.

Customer loyalty is especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic, as consumers are extremely conscious of their budgets.
Repeat customers tend to spend more money on your brand than new customers because they trust your business.
Retaining customers is about five times cheaper than recruiting new customers.
This article is for business owners who want to increase their brands’ customer loyalty in the pandemic era.

As a business owner, you know your customers are the reason for your business. That’s why it’s important to consider your customers in everything you do. Your customers’ needs should be at the forefront of your business. This will not only drive more sales, but also build customer loyalty for the long haul. Here’s why cultivating customer loyalty is important and tips on building it.

How to Get Motivated Every Day When You Wake Up | Lifehack

July 26, 2022July 25, 2022 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

It’s Monday morning. The alarm goes off. Do you know how to get motivated at that moment? What’s the first thought that comes to mind when you open your eyes?

Are you excited to get up and go to work, or are you dreading the day and week ahead?

Whatever your response may be, ask yourself this question:

“What is it that makes you feel unmotivated?” What’s driving you to feel negative or positive about your Monday ahead? If you want to know how to get motivated, keep reading.

Harvard: distracted driving a big problem for office workers | Fast Company

July 26, 2022July 25, 2022 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Ninety-five percent of Americans call distracted driving “extremely dangerous,” and federal campaigns to stop activities like texting behind the wheel (“U text. U drive. U pay.”) have been carried out by federal agencies as varied as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and even the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Yet, according to a new survey by Harvard Business School researchers, 87% of the commuters they interviewed still admitted to “multitasking” on their way to and from work.