Google, Spotify Down in a Massive Outage Affecting Thousands | Entrepreneur

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Google Cloud and Spotify are down for tens of thousands of users, according to Downdetector.com. Early reports suggest a massive Cloudflare outage is to blame.

Is Google Down?

The Google Workspace Dashboard noted that the company was “investigating reports of an issue” with a slew of Google services, including Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Chat, Google Cloud Search, Google Docs, Google Drive, Google Meet, Google Tasks, and Google Voice.

“We will provide more information shortly,” the post says. “Our engineers are currently investigating the issue. We apologize to all who are affected by the disruption.”

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30 Questions You Should Ask Before You Invest in a Franchise | Entrepreneur

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There are more than 3,800 franchise systems and they are not all created equal.

I’m not talking about the fact that there are different concepts, services, or products they offer. I’m speaking about the quality of the system and the support that they offer their franchisees. This is the most important reason to invest in a franchise in the first place. Franchise candidates buy into a system to take advantage of a proven model of success and unmatched support, so they don’t have to take on all of the risks of building their own business.

However, just because a brand may have name recognition, a friendly corporate team and a product you’re sure will be a hit, doesn’t mean that it’s the right franchise for you to buy. Beyond the considerations of how well your life goals and skills match up with a given franchise, candidates need to make sure that the franchisor meets a high standard in several key areas. Choose correctly, and your road to profitability becomes much clearer. Choose poorly, and you might have been better off launching a startup business.

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What a True Growth Mindset Really Means for Leaders and Teams | Getentrepreneurial.com

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In her January 13, 2016 article in HBR, Carol Dweck clarifies that a growth mindset isn’t just about praising effort or claiming optimism—it’s a dynamic way of viewing challenges, effort, and feedback as powerful agents for development.

Key Insights from Dweck

Mindset is fluid—not fixed. Most people hold a mixture of growth and fixed mindsets that shift depending on context. No one is 100% growth-oriented at all times. Awareness of this mix is the first step toward personal development. Effort alone isn’t enough. Efforts must be targeted and informed.

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Mastering Client Negotiations: 5 Practical Steps for Confident Conversations | Getentrepreneurial.com

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In her Entrepreneur article, Julie Thomas reveals a five-step framework that helps founders, freelancers, and small business owners negotiate assertively—not combatively—with difficult clients. Her approach transforms high-stakes talks into constructive, value-driven conversations.

Impact:

1. Timing is everything: Hold off on negotiation until your prospect truly understands the value you bring. Premature haggling can signal uncertainty, eroding trust and weakening your position.

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Amazon’s Agentic AI: Empowering Robots to Understand and Act on Human Commands | Cool Business Ideas

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Amazon is pioneering a future where warehouse robots like Proteus can comprehend and execute spoken instructions. The company’s new Agentic AI team is developing an AI foundation model framework designed to revolutionize robotic operations, enabling machines to understand natural language, reason, and act autonomously.

Impact:

This innovation signifies a transformative shift in human-robot interaction within Amazon’s operations. By allowing robots to process and act upon verbal commands, the technology aims to enhance efficiency and safety in warehouses. Additionally, Amazon introduced “Wellspring,” a generative AI initiative to improve last-mile delivery precision and driver experience, and unveiled the latest AI foundation model for its Supply Chain Optimization Technology (SCOT), which processes over 400 million items across 270 time spans. These advancements collectively promise to streamline operations, reduce costs, and improve customer satisfaction.

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Sky View’s “Inside-Out” Tent Puts Stargazing Front and Center | Cool Business Ideas 

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Colorado-based Sky View Tents has introduced an “inside-out” stargazing tent lineup—featuring both a two-person Backpacker and a four-person XL version—with high-visibility UltraVue? 2 mesh and a revolutionary interior rainfly that can be deployed internally, allowing campers to enjoy crisp, unobstructed night sky views—even in unexpected weather.

Impact:

Sky View’s innovation elevates outdoor camping by tackling a longstanding compromise: stargazing vs. weather protection. Key impacts include:

Astro-Lovers’ Dream: High-visibility Phifer UltraVue?2 mesh (18?×?18 weave) offers vivid, privacy-friendly celestial views directly from the sleeping bag. Weather-Ready Without Sacrifice: Its patent-pending internal rainfly allows rain protection via an inside-pull “curtain”—no need to step out into the cold—unlike traditional tents that require exiting to attach the fly. Purpose-Driven Design: Built with durable 30D nylon (20D for fly), a waterproof floor, and light aluminum poles, it’s rugged enough for three-season use. Two Size Options: Backpacker: weighs ~4.6?lb, sleeps two, ideal for trekking—US$349. XL: spacious car-camping 4-person model—US$399. Sets Trend for Future Tents: This inside-access rainfly could inspire broader adoption across camping gear, reshaping comfort, convenience, and stargazing enjoyment.

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YouTube is bringing more ads to Premium Lite plans | Mashable

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When YouTube introduced its Premium Lite tier in March, the goal was to give people a way to see fewer ads on YouTube. It took only three months, but YouTube is already increasing the number of ads that Premium Lite subscribers will see, according to Dextero.

News of the ad hike spread to subscribers through email, as spotted on the TWiT Community forums and reported by German news site Deskmodder.

“We are writing to let you know that beginning 30 June 2025, ads may appear on Shorts, in addition to music content and when you search or browse,” the email reads. “Most videos will continue to remain ad-free.”

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From aura farming to Fanum tax: Defining 2025’s viral internet slang | Mashable

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Each year, the internet births a new lexicon, one that’s as fast-moving and unpredictable as the online trends that fuel it. 2025 is no different, with a fresh crop of viral slang that’s quickly become shorthand for everything from viral moments to internet culture’s quirks.

More than words, these phrases are creative expressions of identity in an ever-evolving digital landscape. Whether you’re on TikTok, Twitch, or the latest meme loop, these are the terms that have dominated conversations among Gen Z and Gen Alpha this year.

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Friday’s jobs report could show how much US employers will bend before they break | CNN Business

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Last June, after almost a full year on the job hunt, Jordan Williams landed a role at a high-growth, United Kingdom-based outdoor apparel brand that was looking to build out its US operations.

Passenger Clothing was well positioned for expansion: The company landed orders with REI, Scheels and others; and Williams, a Portland, Oregon-based outdoor industry veteran, was excited for the ride.

Until April.

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The Nintendo Switch 2 launches today. Here’s what to know | CNN Business

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It’s a big day for Nintendo fans. The gaming giant’s new console, the Switch 2, arrives on store shelves globally after being announced in April — marking Nintendo’s first major console launch since the original Switch arrived roughly eight years ago.

And fans have clearly been waiting; 2.2 million people applied for a lottery system to buy the Switch 2 in Japan, according to a translation of an X post from Nintendo in April. Nearly all US Best Buy stores opened just after midnight to accommodate eager fans.

The Switch 2, priced at $450 in the US, can be played in handheld mode, when propped up on a table; or on a TV when plugged in to its accompanying dock, like its predecessor. While the formula is the same as that of the original Switch, Nintendo has made significant upgrades to the hardware, including giving its new console a larger screen, upgraded versions of the Joy-Con controllers and new social features.

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