Author Archives: Tal Siach

Top Scheduling App Features for iOS and Android Devices

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lady using a scheduling app for iPhone

Many companies are integrating iOS and Android-compatible employee scheduling software to save time. As a business owner, you are constantly balancing a number of operational and administrative tasks. When you are busy, it may be difficult to track employee hours, manage payroll, and create team schedules. However, these are crucial aspects of your business that need to be adequately monitored. For this reason, many owners have sought efficient systems to track employee productivity, manage business scheduling, and improve time management throughout their company. If you are interested in the top scheduling app features for iOS and Android devices, continue reading this post. 

Create Customized Working Schedules

Leading scheduling apps help you to create customized working schedules for your team. No two businesses have the same needs. You may require different payroll rates and payment methods. If you hire full and part-time workers, you need adequate systems to pay hourly or salaried rates. Some businesses even hire freelance workers to complete specific tasks. Employee scheduling apps offer systems to accompany your various payment structures. You can then easily input shift preferences, necessary hours and tasks to easily build your team schedule. If you are looking into android apps for employee scheduling for your business, consider how they ease the schedule building process.

Manage Employee Attendance

iOS and Android-compatible team scheduling apps help manage employee attendance. Track employee hours weekly to ensure they are constantly leaving and arriving on-time. Similarly, make certain that employees are not taking excessively long lunch breaks regularly. Deputy's staff rota software flags late arrivals or long breaks so that you are quickly notified of employee whereabouts. If you pay employees' salaries, you need to ensure that they are working their required weekly hours. Use rota apps to track and manage employee attendance. 

Promote Employee Collaboration

Employee scheduling apps promote collaboration amongst employees. Conventional paper schedules are inconvenient. They make it difficult for employees to access schedules, know who they are working with, or transfer shifts. Rota software makes schedules easily accessible. Scheduling apps provide all your team members a copy of their schedules to their iOS devices or Android smartphones. Then, they can share schedules with co-workers, request to swap shifts or ask for days off. Employees can transfer shifts without management mediation. This process greatly boosts collaboration amongst team members throughout your organization. The best iOS and android employee scheduling apps help you to promote collaboration amongst team members.

Update Employee Pay Rates

The best employee scheduling solutions help you to monitor and update employee pay rates. Frequent raises and promotions are excellent tools to boost employee morale. When employees feel their efforts are constantly being rewarded, they are more inclined to give their best. Use scheduling apps to track employee earnings. How much are they currently making, when was their last raise, and how frequently they have been promoted? This information can help you understand when is the best time to communicate a pay raise with your valued employees. Tracking pay rates can additionally help you to track overtime hours. You do not want employees to be working overtime hours on a regular basis. Not only does it cost you more in labor, it can additionally cause employees to feel overworked or fatigued. Utilize employee scheduling programs to track, monitor, and update employee pay rates.

Guarantee Adequate Staffing 

The best scheduling solutions ensure you are adequately staffed. Operating a business, it is crucial that you are never under or overstaffed. When you are understaffed, you may be unable to complete essential projects. On the other hand, when you are overstaffed, you are losing money on projects and sacrificing profitability. Scheduling software helps you visualize how many employees you have scheduled, how much each employee will cost you, and how many projects need to be completed. When business is slow, you do not need as many as many team members on hand. Through this practice, you can guarantee maximum returns on projects you complete. Utilize the top android and iOS-compatible scheduling apps in order to prevent overstaffing or understaffing.   

In order to help manage the multiple administrative tasks required of modern companies, many business owners are implementing the top employee scheduling apps. Many of these apps are iOS and android-compatible, and help you to create customized working schedules for your team members. These apps help you to track and monitor employee attendance, and set unique pay rates. Moreover, the best rota apps help you guarantee adequate staffing whenever necessary. Furthermore, integrating a scheduling system in your business helps to promote employee collaboration. If you are interested in the top scheduling app features for iOS and Android devices, consider the points mentioned above. 

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Facebook Cash Out Announced for Users Who Record Short Audio Clips

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Facebook Cash Out

Here is something that may interest many people. Facebook is going to pay people to record audio clips via a program called Pronunciations. Participants can earn close to $5, thanks to Facebook cash out. It definitely is not a lot of money. However, it seems like a rather amusing way to make a small change, while also helping Facebook to improve its speech recognition technology. 

Here is how to avail of Facebook cash out

  • Facebook will first recruit users via surveys. The company plans to hold these surveys on Viewpoints, its market research app. 
  • Those who qualify in the initial survey will need to utter the phrase “Hey Portal”. Soon after a participant utters “Hey Portal”, they should also say the name of a friend in their friend list. 
  • Those who decide to participate will have to say “Hey Portal + (Friend’s name)” at least ten times. Each time, the name should be different. This fetches the participants 200 points. 
  • To cash out $5, a user will have to accumulate 1,000 points. 

Facebook cash out will not make anyone rich

Of course, nobody is going to get rich with this kind of money or cashouts. This is a curious experiment that might help Facebook to improve its artificial intelligence transcription skills. It is also an ethical decision. Facebook has often been hounded by critics for using data without permission to improve its products and services. This survey explicitly seeks permission from users for their voices to be used in research. In addition, Facebook will also pay them for it, no matter how small the amount is. 

What are the competitors doing?

Apple and Amazon have had similar programs in the past, while Google has temporarily paused it. Amazon allows participants to opt-out of its audio transcription program, while Google may come up with something similar to Facebook. Competitors will not remain silent and may offer incentives to users if they participate as well. It might actually be a step in the right direction, as data will be collected with consent, and used only for the stated purpose. 

Most importantly, one will have the satisfaction of having contributed something to the development of technology. Artificial intelligence and speech recognition are important fields that have significant ramifications in almost all fields, including healthcare. 

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Smartphones May Cost More Due to the Coronavirus Outbreak

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Coronavirus

Industry insiders expect that smartphone prices might likely go up by 6 to 7% in the wake of coronavirus in China. Most warehouses have run out of stocks and it is becoming increasingly difficult for Chinese companies to export their products. The demand is very high but the shipments are just not going through. In fact, feature phones may become expensive exponentially too. Many feature phones may see price increases of more than 10%. 

Why is the coronavirus situation affecting the smartphone industry?

China has shut down a number of factories in its industrial heartland, which has resulted in a complete breakdown of manufacturing. Smartphone companies are unable to put together their devices because suppliers are located in the hardest-hit regions. The factories are closed indefinitely and retailers just do not have any stocks. 

The problem is so serious that there is now a ban on Chinese companies participating in the Mobile World Congress, which is due to take place in Barcelona, Spain. Many sources have noted that companies from Wuhan are completely prohibited from entering the event venue, Companies from other parts of China may face stringent scrutiny. 

What is the human cost of this trade embargo as a result of the coronavirus?

The deadly disease has already claimed more than 1,500 people's lives. Close to 42,000 people are now suffering from the virus. China exports a large number of electronic goods to India and other neighboring countries. 

With trade, embargoes bring clamped on China, and China itself closing down factories indefinitely, smartphone manufacturers, retailers, and exporters simply have no other go but to increase prices. This has also resulted in many people losing their jobs, and employees being anxious about their job prospects. 

When will the problem begin to subside?

The price increase may happen as early as 15-20 days, and the impact will be far-reaching. The impact of the coronavirus will last at least 60-180 days. People will notice the ripple effects of the problem across the smartphone industry and international markets. 

Thankfully, some manufacturers in China has slowly begun to operate with the permission of their government. This shows that there is light at the end of the tunnel, though the journey towards light nay is longer than expected. 

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Facebook Messenger Kids Gets an Important Update

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Facebook Messenger Kids

Facebook Messenger Kids now has a fresh update and comes with many new features to curate children's experiences better. Parents will have better control over the messenger app and kids will get to interact and communicate on a more user-friendly interface. Facebook Messenger will get this update in every country where it is available. 

What is Facebook Messenger Kids?

Facebook Messenger Kids it's announced to be back in December 2017 as an alternative to the main Messenger app. In fact, the idea was to help parents and guardians review with whom their children connect. As there have been increasing instances of children being contacted by unsavory individuals, Facebook felt it was necessary to come up with an application that was child-friendly. Moreover, the app complies with Children’s Online Privacy and Protection Act (COPPA) and is available on both iOS and Android. 

Facebook Messenger Kids comes with a number of useful features. Some of them include:

  • Augmented reality (AR) filters to screen individuals that connect with them 
  • Games and education content that keep kids engaged 
  • Hide phone numbers and accounts from Facebook searches
  • Use first and last names to register, bypassing the need to enter a mobile number
  • Accounts will not be migrated to regular Facebook when children attain the age of 13, which is a minimum for someone to create an account on Facebook.

The new update comes with the following features:

  • View with whom the child is chatting
  • Review videos and images that a child exchanges, and report inappropriate content
  • View the blocked and reported lists, along with the reasons for doing so
  • Request a copy of the messages, videos and images sent and received 
  • A parent dashboard on both iOS and Android platforms, from where parents can control the app
  • Educational and entertainment content that is child-friendly 

The child-friendly update is welcome

As you can see, the new update comes with a number of useful features. In addition, it eliminates security risks and vulnerabilities that a child might have to encounter if they used Facebook without supervision. As there have been many cases of online stalking harassment, and bullying, these measures are welcome. Facebook Messenger App is doing a commendable job when it comes to protecting the rights of children, and helping parents to review their wards’ social media activity.

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Vine Co-Founder Unveils Byte, a 6-Second Video App

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Byte new 6 seconds video app

Vine’s co-founder Dom Hofmann has unveiled Byte, a 6-second video app that’s now available on Android and iOS. Byte is everything Vine ever was, but ready to take on competitors and emerging giants such as TikTok. TikTok has eerily taken over social media and has pretty much given the jitters to even the likes of Twitter and Facebook. 

In this context, Byte is not only ambitious but quite daring. Yet, the decision to launch Byte is not abrupt but has been in the making for quite some time now. In fact, Dom Hofmann had announced that he was working on Byte way back in 2017. It was in beta until recently and is now available for everyone to use. 

What sets Byte apart from other competing platforms

What makes this application more ambitious and realistic is its business model. It has a proper business model to generate revenue from and is not likely to fizzle out like Vine once did. Byte has collaborated with an unnamed agency to pay content creators, thanks to a partner program. In addition, users can sign up using Google or Apple ID. This video-first application is a great boon to those who prefer the video format. As the preference for short video content is growing tremendously, Byte certainly has an advantage over other social media applications. 

Yet, there are a few things that come to our mind about Byte:

  • Will it be able to generate revenue from the video content as it expects?
  • Will it be able to draw users from TikTok, which is already established?
  • What makes this app different from TikTok, when this too is a video sharing platform?
  • Will content creators be paid on the basis of the quality of content or on the basis of views and traffic?
  • Will advertisements be allowed in order to generate revenue?

How Byte will survive the tide of competition is not clear

These and many other questions are still unanswered. However, it is quite clear that video sharing applications and platforms are very much in demand now. As more people seek out video content, the need for niche video platforms will grow too. However, it is not clear if Byte will be able to generate the kind of revenue and usage that it needs to survive and thrive. 

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Apple May Launch a Low-Cost iPhone in March

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a silver iphone by apple

Apple is likely to launch a low-cost iPhone model in March, while production will begin in February. The new phone will likely be modeled on the iPhone 8 and will come with the same 4.7-inch frame. It will also feature Touch ID on the home button. However, it will sport A13 Bionic chip, which is what is used in iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro max.

The phone will not be priced at more than $399, which makes it very affordable and very unlike-Apple. However, one needs to remember that this phone will probably be branded as the successor of iPhone SE. Apple is probably targeting a very different crowd this time. It usually implements premium pricing in order to generate a higher rate of revenue.

Apple’s low-cost iPhone
reveals the company’s strategy

This foray into the affordable smartphone market raises many questions about Apple's insecurities. Apple's devices have already become quite common in much of the Western world and are slowly being replaced by pricier models from Asia, usually manufactured by Huawei and OnePlus. In fact, Apple's old rival Samsung has begun to feel the pinch itself. What is quite clear is, just adding features and advanced chips are unlikely to help phone manufacturers.

What might help is a rebranding, and that is exactly what Apple is doing, Instead of limiting itself to a premium market, it has decided to enter the mid-range segment as well. In all likelihood, the low-cost phone will end most other mid-range phones in the market. As Apple's ecosystem is quite addictive and protective, most of the users who purchase the lo-cost iPhone will upgrade to a different model in the coming years.

Apple is playing very
smart this time

At the moment, Apple has neither confirmed or denied these
reports. However, many insiders have long pointed at a new phone being
announced in March. It looks like this is the phone that everyone has been
waiting for. In short, Apple needs to crack into a tough market where mid-range
phones dominate. This low-cost phone will give Apple an opportunity to do so,
and thus get more people to be locked into its ecosystem.

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Disney+ Coming to Europe a Week Earlier than Expected

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Disney+

Those who had been waiting for Disney+ will be pleased to learn that it will arrive a week earlier than expected in Western Europe and the UK. In fact, it will be available to purchase on the 24th of March, which is hardly a couple of months away. The subscription service will cost between £5.99/€6.99 a month. If one chooses to purchase an annual membership, one will still have to cough out £59.99/€69.99.

What does the Disney+ come with?

To start with, Disney+ will roll out in Austria, Spain, Italy, Germany, France, and the UK, alongside a few other smaller countries. Disney+ comes with a number of games such as Star Wars TV show The Mandalorian, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, Lady and the Tramp, and The World According to Jeff Goldblum. Though Disney+ costs almost the same as Netflix in the UK, one must remember that subscription fatigue has started to sink in.

Subscription fatigue has finally set in

Many people have begun to avoid subscriptions in order to focus on services they truly love. Of course, Disney+ has very little to worry, as children seem to be growing in number at a faster pace than one could have imagined. Disney Plus has long been awaited by parents and their children, and its arrival will definitely cheer up a lot of people. However, many may not be able to shell out the extra cost of subscription fees, unless they are only into children-ready programs.

Disney+ also has other competitors such as Netflix and Amazon Prime, both of which have a better library. Consequently, it is primarily targeted at younger audiences, and the library reflects the target audience's tastes and preferences. Those who are interested in a more democratic list can choose either Netflix or Amazon Prime. When Disney+ does arrive, viewers can expect to be regaled by a host of programs that are both exclusive and premium.

What is the future of the company?

The company is in discussions with a number of content creators at the moment. It is trying to rope in exclusive and premium content creators for its platform. Disney programs are already incredibly popular among children and adolescents. Western Europe and the UK have a huge fan base for Disney characters and this is probably why it is arriving slightly earlier there.

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Facebook Abandons Plans of Selling Ads on WhatsApp

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Selling Ads in WhatsApp

After attracting a lot of negative publicity, Facebook has backed away from its plans of selling ads on WhatsApp. However, this does not mean Facebook has given up on its hopes to generate revenue from WhatsApp. Facebook plans to bring applications to WhatsApp’s Status feature. 

Selling ads on WhatsApp has always been controversial

Jan Koum, the co-founder of WhatsApp, left the company after Facebook announced its plans to introduce ads on the popular message platform, in 2018. Brian Acton, the other co-founder of WhatsApp, left the company too, citing misalignment of vision and threats to privacy. Facebook had put together a team to help it discover ways to monetize WhatsApp. Recently, the social media giant disbanded that team as well. 

Facebook plans to allow businesses to organize contacts and communicate with customers. This would nudge WhatsApp in the direction of a CRM. The co-founders of WhatsApp left the company because doing so would negate the end-to-end encryption feature. At the moment, one can safely surmise that Facebook will continue to look for ways that van help it generate revenue off WhatsApp Status. However, for the time being, all plans seem to be put on hold. 

Facebook’s WhatsApp fiasco in brief

  • Facebook has abandoned plans to introduce ads into WhatsApp messages
  • It plans to introduce ads at a later date on Status
  • Facebook also intends to allow business users to turn WhatsApp into a quasi-CRM
  • WhatsApp’s co-founders left the company citing disagreements with the monetization approach
  • Any attempt to introduce ads may result in people migrating in droves

Privacy concerns have forced many users to look elsewhere

WhatsApp has generated a lot of privacy concerns and people have pointed out that the end-to-end encryption isn’t so stable. In fact, many governments have repeatedly placed requests for information about chat messages sent on the platform. Consequently, users have migrated to other chat messengers such as Telegram, Signal, and Wire. 

If Facebook pushes its plans to introduce ads at a later date, the company may lose out on a substantial chunk of its users. Facebook has faced similar problems with Messenger as well, but it retains a stronger control over its native messaging app. 

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SpaceX to Launch 60 Starlink Satellites to Bring Broadband Services

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SpaceX will launch a batch of Starlink satellites in just a few hours from now. The company will stream the event live from 9:19 EST, which is when the company will launch the satellites. This set of satellites will help SpaceX to unveil its broadband internet services later this year. The company will launch a […]

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