Off course, you read it right a book. Writing a book is a modern equivalent of a business card. Have you ever thought about a person having your book in his hand? It is possible to showcase your expertise and valuable insights.

Let’s explore how you can easily write a book and use it to elevate your brand.

Why a Book is the New Business Card

A book offers something a traditional business card cannot: depth. However, a business card showcase who you are and what you do, but a business book tells your story. It has the potential to inform everyone about your struggles, expertise and what you have achieved in your authority.

Whenever you offer someone a book, it means you offering them to see the worth through your eyes. Furthermore, self publishing and on demand book printing have made it easy for anyopne.

Step 1: Choosing Your Topic

Firstly, you need to choose the right topic of your writing because it will showcase your expertise. Before start writing, you should think that what would you want to be recognized for and what people will know about you. Is it capable to solve your audiences’ problem or is it valuable for them? Therefore, you need to choose the topic that is helpful for your audience and align with your brand’s goals.

For example, if you’re a financial advisor, you could write a book on building wealth or managing finances. If you’re a fitness coach, you could share workout plans and nutrition tips. The key is to choose a topic that showcases your expertise and resonates with your audience. This gives you a reason to hand it out to customers and prospects.

Once you have your topic, it’s time to plan your book. Start by outlining the main points you want to cover. Break your book into chapters, each focusing on a different aspect of your topic. This will help you organize your thoughts and make the writing process more manageable.

For example, if you’re writing a book on financial planning, your chapters could include:

• Introduction to Financial Planning
• Budgeting and Saving
• Investing Basics
• Retirement Planning
• Managing Debt
• Advanced Investment Strategies

An outline is basically a roadmap for your book, helping you stay on track and ensuring you cover all the important points.

Step 2: Writing Your Book

Now comes the part that might seem daunting: writing. But don’t worry, you don’t have to do it all at once. Set aside a specific time each day or week to write. Consistency is key. Even if you only write a few pages at a time, you’ll make progress over time.

Remember one thing that your book doesn’t have to be perfect at the first try. Therefore, you need to focus on getting your ideas on the paper so that you may revise and change thoughts later. If you thought that writing is not your thing, then pour out your ideas and let the things work as they are doing.

Once you’ve finished your first draft, you can polish it up. Editing will ensure your book is clear, concise, and free of errors. (For best results, consider hiring a professional editor to review your work, as a fresh set of trained eyes can provide valuable feedback and help you refine your message.)

Step 3: Designing & Publishing Your Book

Designing of your book will work as your content does for your website. The appealing the cover of your book, the more the purchases it will get. However, people say that don’t judge a book by its cover, but they do. So, you need to design it as pouring light from the dark that will appeal audiences to buy the book.

In addition, you don’t need to have a design degree to design your cover, but use online websites. There is a plenty of online DIY design platforms that allow you to design what you want. You can also ask a freelancer for a book cover on a one-off basis.

Step 4: Make Use of Your Book

Here it comes, when your book is published. Now, it is the time when you have to use it for boosting your brand. Here are some ideas to do so.

• Give Aways: Just like a business card, you can hand out your book at networking events, conferences, and meetings. It’s a memorable way to introduce yourself and showcase your expertise. (In most cases, your book is going to yield the most value as a free giveaway rather than trying to sell copies.)

• Promotion: Share your book on your website, social media, and email newsletter. Encourage your audience to read and share it, as well.

• Use It in Your Marketing: Include your book in your marketing materials, such as brochures and presentations. This adds credibility and sets you apart from the competition.

• Speak and Teach: Use your book as a platform to book speaking engagements or teaching opportunities. It positions you as an expert and helps you reach a wider audience than you otherwise would with a simple handout or freebie that doesn’t communicate authority.

Ready to Author Your New Business Card?

Writing a book is a big consideration for you because it has the potential to establish your brand. Moreover, it is not such an issue to undertake the task of writing because it is way more interesting than boring. Within just a few months, you will be able to have your book in your hands from nowhere. The condition is to have your complete focus on it. Here, your main strategy will be there to make it your business card for the future.

Google, as well as other companies, engaged in a long campaign to pressure Apple to into adopting RCS. While iMessage is an excellent messaging option for Apple devices, iMessage would fall back to old-fashioned SMS when communicating with Android. Advanced features, such as group management, read receipts, file sharing, high-quality media, and even encryption, are not supported by SMS. As a result, cross-platform communication was markedly inferior.

Now that Apple is finally replacing SMS with RCS as its cross-platform fallback option, Google is celebrating:

The video is a far cry from Google and Samsung’s previous jabs at Apple over its failure to adopt RCS.

Users should be able to enjoy the benefits of RCS-powered cross-platform messaging later this year.

In 2023, 50% of staffing firms labeled labor shortages as the biggest challenge they encountered, not to mention the increase in new hire pay by 9%. With the continuous challenges of the labor force, experts estimate by 2030 nearly $8.5 billion in revenue will be lost due to 85 million unfilled job positions. Because of these current market conditions, the need for a faster and more sustainable hiring process is necessary. 

Direct Sourcing acts as a perfect balancing point for these issues, by effectively increasing company-to-candidate accessibility and creating a smoother hiring process. Leading organizations that partner with Atrium have noticed outstanding service results and evidence of a deep understanding for recruitment and talent matching. This specialized division of Atrium has the ability to curate specialized talent pools for companies with forever-thinking Direct Sourcing strategies and a unique technological ecosystem. They are able to achieve such results through a reliable 5-step method: sourcing the talent, curating it to the company’s needs, engaging/matching the two parties, and ultimately sealing the deal on the hire. 

This system has been proven to put candidates to work 3 to 5 times faster than competitors, sealing their claim as the “future of work”. 98% of businesses that use Direct Sourcing have experienced cost savings as a result. 83% preached the increased quality of the selection group. 81% report quicker hiring cycles, with 75% of candidates reporting a smoother hiring process. These statistics speak undeniable volumes on the advantages of using such software. 

In the modern day, for companies to remain competitive they must be able to adapt to the ever-changing workforce demands. 60% of major companies have or are planning on taking the system and implementing it into the operating cycle, showing how powerful of a tool it can be when implemented correctly. Christopher J. Dwyer, Managing Director of the Future of Work Exchange sheds his opinion on the system by saying, “As the future continues to unfold, with external factors influencing business operations, direct sourcing will demonstrate its enduring value as a foundational talent acquisition strategy that also serves as a talent sustainability engin, solidifying its role in the workforce management landscape of tomorrow.”

Ultimately, these types of recruiting systems unlock a world of possibilities regarding hiring new talent. It provides companies with a simplified version of finding future employees through the use of advanced technology. Building a solid team is the backbone of any operational company. Without a strong talent group, the company has no means of sustainability. As companies continue to prioritize innovation, Direct Sourcing stands as a testament to the incredible power of technology-based solutions in shaping the future of recruitment.  

This career path offers numerous opportunities for those with close attention to detail, a passion for technology, and a drive to improve product quality.

What Does a QA Tester Do?

A QA tester examines software to ensure it meets specified standards and requirements. They perform various tests, including manual and automated testing, to identify bugs, errors, and any discrepancies from the expected behavior. 

QA testers work closely with developers, product managers, and other stakeholders to ensure everything with the product is flawless.

Education: Where Do You Start?

Even though there is no strict training path to becoming a QA tester, certain companies like syntax technologies offers degrees and certifications can enhance your prospects:

1. Bachelor’s Degree: Degrees in Computer Science, Information Technology, or related fields are highly beneficial. They provide a strong programming, software development, and technical skills foundation.

2. Certifications: Earning certifications can also boost your resume. Some popular certifications include:

• Certified Software Tester (CSTE)
• ISTQB Certified Tester

Essential Skills for QA Testing

Becoming a successful QA tester requires a mix of technical and soft skills:

1. Attention to Detail: A QA tester must meticulously examine every aspect of the software to catch even the most minor errors.

2. Analytical Skills: Analyzing and breaking down complex problems is essential.
3. Technical Proficiency: Familiarity with programming languages, testing tools, and software development methodologies is crucial.

4. Communication: Effective communication skills are necessary for documenting findings and collaborating with the development team.

How Do You Become a QA Tester?

1. Gain Relevant Education: Start with a degree or certification in a related field. This will provide the foundational knowledge needed for the role.

2. Learn the Tools of the Trade: Get familiar with popular testing tools like Selenium, JIRA, and LoadRunner. There is a large variety of online resources and tutorials available.

3. Build a Portfolio: Engage in projects, internships, or freelance work to gain practical experience. Showcase these in a portfolio to demonstrate your skills to potential employers.

4. Apply for Jobs: Start applying for QA tester positions. Tailor your resume to highlight your relevant skills and experiences.

5. Continue Learning: The tech industry is constantly evolving. Always stay updated with the latest QA testing trends, tools, and methodologies.

The Job Market: What Can You Expect?

The demand for QA testers is robust, with many industries recognizing the importance of quality assurance in delivering superior products. 

The employment in software quality assurance is projected to increase by 22% from 2020 to 2030, a lot faster than for all occupations, as shown in the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports. This growth is caused by the increasing complexity of software and the rising consumer demand for high-quality applications.

Salary Expectations: What Will You Earn?

The salary of a QA tester can vary based on experience, location, and industry. Based on Glassdoor reviews, the average salary for a QA tester in the US is around $70,000 annually. Entry-level positions may start at approximately $50,000, while senior roles can command salaries upwards of $100,000.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ states, the average annual wage for software quality assurance engineers and testers was about $90,000 as of 2023, highlighting the earning potential in this field.

Geolocation plays a significant role in salary variations. 

For instance, QA testers in tech hubs like San Francisco, New York, and Seattle tend to earn more on average due to the higher cost of living and demand for tech talent. In San Francisco, QA testers can earn an average of $90,000 to $120,000 annually, reflecting the competitive market and concentration of tech companies. 

On the other hand, earnings in smaller towns or regions with a lower cost of living might be lower, ranging from $50,000 to $70,000 annually.

The industry in which a QA tester works significantly influences their salary. Sectors with high demand for software reliability and performance, such as finance, healthcare, and e-commerce, often offer higher compensation. Additionally, specialized skills in automated testing, familiarity with testing frameworks, and proficiency in programming languages can further enhance earning potential. Certifications like ISTQB or CSTE can also provide a competitive edge and lead to higher salaries.

QA testing presents a promising career path with a wide range of salary opportunities. These opportunities are influenced by various factors, including geographic location, industry, and individual skills, all of which can significantly impact earnings.

Where Can You Find Resources?

There are numerous resources available for those interested in starting a career in QA testing. Here are a few valuable ones:

• ISTQB (International Software Testing Qualifications Board): Offers certification programs and resources.
• Software Testing Help: Provides tutorials, articles, and tips on various aspects of software testing.
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Offers insights into the job outlook and career information for software quality assurance analysts and testers.

Gaining Real-World Experience

One of the best ways to learn QA testing is through hands-on experience. Many aspiring QA testers start by taking on internships or volunteer projects. Participating in open-source projects can also provide valuable knowledge and the opportunity to work with a team.

Additionally, working on personal projects can help build practical skills and understanding of the software development lifecycle. 

Engaging in online communities and forums, such as Stack Overflow or Reddit, allows you to get advice, share relevant experiences, and stay updated on industry trends. Networking with professionals in the field through LinkedIn or attending industry conferences and workshops can also open doors to mentorship and job opportunities. 

The combination of practical experience, continuous learning, and professional networking is vital for a successful career in QA testing.

Networking: Why It Matters

Joining professional organizations, webinars, and attending industry events will help you with networking and stay updated on industry trends. Some notable organizations include:

• Association for Software Testing (AST): Offers resources, conferences, and a community for software testers.
• American Society for Quality (ASQ): Provides resources, certification, and networking opportunities for quality professionals.

Take the First Step Toward a Career in QA Testing

If you enjoy problem-solving and are passionate about quality, then becoming a QA tester is a rewarding career choice. By following the steps noted in this article, and you can start on a path to a successful career in quality assurance. Remember, the key to becoming a successful QA tester lies in continuous learning and staying updated with industry trends.

Ready to start your journey? Look through this comprehensive guide on becoming a QA tester and taking the first step today. 

Embrace the opportunity to ensure software excellence and enter a stable and potentially lucrative job market. Your future in quality assurance awaits!

Whether on Zoom, Teams, Slack, or any other videoconferencing platform, most users have had the experience of in-meeting notifications loudly interrupting the meeting. Microsoft is addressing this with an upcoming update that will give users more control over their notifications, including the ability to mute them when busy or in a meeting.

You can change the sound of your notifications to help you stay focused, prioritize quickly and avoid distractions. You can as well make urgent notifications and priority contact notifications more prominent. You can also mute notification sounds when you are busy or in a meeting.

The update is slated for rollout in July, so users should start seeing it soon.

Proton is one of the leading privacy-oriented software and services company, with a focus on strong encryption and data sovereignty. The company is now applying those principles to collaborative documents, giving users a private and secure alternative to Google Docs or Microsoft 365, as the company’s Anant Vijay explains:

Billions of people use online document editors like Google Docs or Microsoft 365 to write reports, collaborate on projects, and keep track of meeting notes. But there is a growing concern about Big Tech platforms having access to your content, tracking you across the web, and collecting data to train privacy-invading AI models.

Today we’re announcing a new end-to-end encrypted, collaborative document editor that puts your privacy first. Docs in Proton Drive are built on the same privacy and security principles as all our services, starting with end-to-end encryption. Docs let you collaborate in real time, leave comments, add photos, and store your files securely. Best of all, it’s all private — even keystrokes and cursor movements are encrypted.

Vijay says Proton worked with the Standard Notes team, which the company recently acquired, to develop the privacy-first document platform:

We built docs in Proton Drive as a joint project with the team from Standard Notes(new window), who share our core values around privacy and security.

As with all Proton services, Docs put you back in control of your data. Thanks to our open-source end-to-end encryption, you are the only one with the key to read and share your documents. Not even Proton can access your docs content or metadata (such as file names). Instead of storing your data in the US, where it can be subject to government surveillance, Proton is protected by strict Swiss privacy laws(new window).

Vijay emphasizes the benefits Proton’s strong focus on privacy brings, with the platform suitable for a variety of sensitive occupations:

With Proton Drive and Docs, you now have a secure, privacy-first cloud storage and productivity alternative. If you’re working in law firms or healthcare, you can draft contracts and manage patient data in compliance with privacy laws. Journalists, content creators, and entrepreneurs can keep their projects protected from data leaks and Big Tech surveillance (no AI snooping on your work). Whether for work or for personal use, Proton Drive ensures your documents remain safe and private.

The company is rolling out the new feature starting today, with it being available to all users over the next few days.

For example, there are seven main types of COOs.  The first role is that of the executor.  Executors focus on implementing strategies and developing daily results.  Another example is the change agent, who takes the lead on specific business changes.  COOs can also be mentors, guiding and teaching a less-experienced CEO.  There are other roles as well, such as the other half, the partner, the heir apparent, and the MVP.  Each type of COO has its own goals and strengths, allowing for variety in the job. 

However, there are traits that benefit COOs across the board, no matter their niche role.  These traits are acuity, organization, and process and structure.  Acuity is the ability to multitask and quickly understand complex topics.  Organization involves the definition of priorities.  Finally, COOs who excel in process and structure reduce complexity, break larger goals into smaller parts, and create systems, clarity, and accountability. 

What Do COOs Look Like?

Despite their utility, true COOs are rare.  In fact, there is only one COO for every four CEOs.  This results in 75% of CEOs not having a COO.  This can lead to big hits to efficiency and profit.  In fact, companies lose 20% to 30% of their annual revenue to inefficiencies.  Without a COO, these losses are more likely. 

COOs face many challenges.  For starters, they often do not have a standard job description, which can lead to unclear roles.  Additionally, COOs struggle with employee turnover, carbon footprints, supply chain disruptions, chaotic work environments, unengaged teams, the loss of top performers, and more. 

When combined with a lack of proper training, these challenges prevent COOs from maximizing their time.  On the whole, COOs only spend ⅓ of their time on long-term strategic planning.  This is often because they are too focused on dealing with employees and day-to-day operations.  

With these challenges in mind, it is important to support COOs.  In turn, COOs will be able to better serve the company.  In order to help COOs find success, companies should provide better training and upskilling opportunities.  With the help of coaching, individual performance tends to increase 70%, team performance increases by 50%, and organizational performance increases by 48%.  The return on investment of COO coaching can be as high as 788%. 

There are several specific tools that can help with this coaching.  For example, the Catipult Business Operating System can break down silos and increase retention, reduce meeting times, and achieve business goals within 12 quarters.  COO peer groups are other options.  These can improve decision-making skills, boost innovation and goal-setting, and foster ongoing learning. 

Conclusion

COOs are important when it comes to guiding a business to its full potential.  Currently, COOs face challenges that prevent them from achieving full success.  Luckily, with the use of a variety of upskilling and COO coaching tools, COOs can develop new strengths and gain new resources to excel in their jobs. 

Slack’s prior policy involved keeping messages and files for the lifetime of a free workspace, although accessing that full history required switching to a paid account. Under the new policy, Slack reserves the right to delete content from free workspaces after one year.

Slack will no longer keep messages and files for the lifetime of your free workspace. Starting August 26, 2024, Customer Data — such as messages and file history — older than one year may be deleted on a rolling basis from workspaces on the free plan, following the terms described in the Main Services Agreement and Trust and Compliance Documentation.

If you choose to remain on a free workspace, you’ll have full access to the past 90 days of message and file history, and the remaining 275 days will become available should you upgrade to a paid plan. If you decide to upgrade, we’ll store messages and files based on your chosen retention period, with an option to keep all history.

Users interested in keeping their full history of content should upgrade to a paid workspace before August 26, 2024. Once deletion occurs, messages and files cannot be recovered.

Embracing Digital Transformation

Integration of Unified Communication Tools

With the increasing prevalence of remote and distributed teams, organizations are turning to unified communication tools to streamline collaboration and communication across different channels and devices. These tools integrate various communication channels such as voice, video, messaging, and email into a single platform, enabling seamless communication and collaboration regardless of location. By adopting unified communication tools, organizations can improve efficiency, reduce communication silos, and enhance team collaboration.

Transition to Cloud-Based Solutions

Cloud-based communication solutions offer scalability, flexibility, and accessibility, making them an attractive option for businesses of all sizes. digital tools and platforms, like many organizations, benefits from these advantages. Cloud-based communication platforms provide the ability to access communication tools and resources from anywhere, at any time, using any device with an internet connection. This flexibility allows for greater agility and responsiveness, enabling Adapt quickly to changing business needs and market dynamics.  

Leveraging Artificial Intelligence and Automation

AI-powered chatbots and Virtual Assistants

AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants are revolutionizing organizations’ customer service and internal communication. These intelligent systems use natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning algorithms to understand and respond to user queries in real time. Chatbots can handle routine inquiries, provide personalized assistance, and streamline communication workflows, freeing up human agents to focus on more complex tasks. Organizations can improve efficiency, enhance customer satisfaction, and reduce operational costs by leveraging AI-powered chatbots.

Automation of Routine Tasks

Automation technology is transforming business communication by automating routine tasks and processes, such as email marketing, scheduling meetings, and managing customer inquiries. Automated communication workflows can help organizations streamline operations, eliminate manual errors, and improve productivity. By automating repetitive tasks, employees can focus on more strategic initiatives that require human creativity and problem-solving skills, driving innovation and value creation within the organization.

Embracing Remote and Hybrid Work Environments

Remote Work Collaboration Tools

The shift towards remote and hybrid work environments has accelerated the adoption of collaboration tools that facilitate virtual communication and teamwork. Video conferencing platforms, project management software, and team collaboration tools have become indispensable for remote teams to stay connected, coordinate projects, and collaborate effectively. These tools enable virtual meetings, file sharing, task management, and real-time communication, allowing teams to collaborate seamlessly regardless of physical location.

Cultivating a Culture of Communication and Collaboration

Effective communication becomes even more critical for maintaining team cohesion and fostering a sense of belonging in remote and hybrid work environments. Organizations must prioritize communication and collaboration by establishing clear communication channels, setting expectations for remote work etiquette, and providing support and resources for virtual team building and collaboration. Cultivating a culture of communication and collaboration helps remote teams stay connected, engaged, and aligned with organizational goals.

Enhancing Customer Engagement and Experience

Personalized and Omnichannel Communication

In today’s digital age, customers expect personalized and seamless communication experiences across multiple channels and touchpoints. Organizations are leveraging data analytics and customer relationship management (CRM) systems to gather insights into customer preferences, behavior, and interactions. By delivering personalized and targeted communication across email, social media, chat, and other channels, organizations can enhance customer engagement, build brand loyalty, and drive business growth.

Interactive and Multimedia Content

Interactive and multimedia content formats, such as videos, infographics, and interactive presentations, are becoming increasingly popular for engaging customers and conveying complex information in a visually compelling manner. Organizations are incorporating interactive elements into their communication strategies to capture audience attention, increase retention, and drive action. By leveraging interactive and multimedia content, organizations can create memorable and impactful communication experiences that resonate with their target audience.

Adapting to Changing Regulatory and Compliance Landscape

Data Privacy and Security Regulations

In an era of increasing data privacy concerns and regulatory scrutiny, organizations must prioritize compliance with data privacy and security regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). Compliance with these regulations requires organizations to implement robust data protection measures, obtain consent for data collection and processing, and ensure transparency and accountability in their communication practices. By adhering to data privacy and security regulations, organizations can build trust with customers and mitigate the risk of costly fines and penalties.

Ethical and Responsible Communication Practices

In addition to regulatory compliance, organizations must uphold ethical and responsible communication practices in their interactions with customers, employees, and other stakeholders. This includes being transparent and honest in communication, respecting individual privacy rights, and avoiding deceptive or misleading messaging. By practicing ethical and responsible communication, organizations can build trust, credibility, and goodwill with their audience, ultimately enhancing their reputation and long-term success.

To Wrap Up

In conclusion, navigating the latest trends in business communication requires organizations to embrace digital transformation, leverage artificial intelligence and automation, adapt to remote and hybrid work environments, enhance customer engagement and experience, and comply with changing regulatory and compliance requirements. By staying abreast of emerging trends and leveraging innovative communication technologies and strategies, organizations can foster effective collaboration, drive customer engagement, and achieve their business objectives in today’s dynamic and interconnected business landscape.

Microsoft has been working to improve security across its products and services following a series of devastating breaches that impacted customers in the individual, corporate, and government space. Outlook personal accounts are receiving an upgrade too, with the company enforcing Modern Authentication.

Starting September 16th, Microsoft personal email account users (e.g. Outlook.com, Hotmail.com, Live.com) will need to move to Modern Authentication methods in their email application. These will be necessary for all Outlook users.

To help keep Outlook personal email accounts secure, starting September 16, 2024, Microsoft will no longer support Basic Auth, the method in which a person provides only their username and password to sign into their account. As of September 16, 2024, Outlook will require that all those with a Microsoft email account use a mail or calendar app or the Outlook.com website which supports modern auth, such as the latest versions of Outlook, Apple Mail, or Thunderbird.

The company also reminded users that its Mail & Calendar apps will stop being supported by the end of 2024, and the light version of the Outlook web app will be deprecated August 19, 2024.

Last year we launched a new version of the Outlook for Windows application, which brings Outlook to everyone on Windows – for free. We’ve seen millions of people move into the new Outlook for Windows since our launch, putting it on par for consumer usage with our classic Outlook for Windows app – in a much shorter time. Most people who were using Mail and Calendar have migrated to Outlook for Windows.

With the evolving cyberthreat landscape and our commitment to providing the most secure email experience to our customers, we want to remind people that the Mail and Calendar apps will no longer be supported or available in the Microsoft Store by the end of 2024.

While these changes will no doubt cause some inconvenience, the move is a good one on Microsoft’s part and should help protect Outlook users.

While not as well known as Slack, and overshadowed by Meta’s Threads, the Threads in question is a Slack competitor aimed at business communication. The company benefited significantly from the launch of Meta’s Threads, since the Slack alternative owns Threads.com, as opposed to Meta’s Threads.net.

In the wake of Meta’s Threads, the Slack alternative received multiple buyout offers before ultimately settling on Shopify. The company posted the announcement on their website.

There are a million feelings and thoughts from this journey, but nothing more than gratitude to all of our users and customers for building with us, our investors for their unwavering support and guidance, and all of our friends and family who put up with the late nights, canceled plans, and the general roller coaster that is startup life.

To our customers and users who have been asking, here’s how we got here:

It all started with the rise of Instagram Threads, which presented us with the opportunity to sell our domains.

Around the same time, a handful of companies approached us, wondering if we would be open to an acquisition. When this happened in the past, we would politely decline. However, this time, things were different. We weren’t that excited about the time it would take to invest in a rebrand, and with mind-warping technological advances now being a commodity, we were excited about joining a place where we could tinker at scale.

Each company we chatted with was incredible. However, what ultimately led us to choose Shopify over others was their culture; two distinct things in particular:

Craft-obsessed. Their obsession with not just building the right thing but also building it the right way was inspiring. Sacrifice shows priority, and hearing stories about some of the hard decisions they made to ensure that what they ship is robust, scalable, and trustworthy, even at the cost of short-term metric gains, really proved that their obsession with craft was much more than a feel-good slogan.

For entrepreneurs, by entrepreneurs. Just about every product and engineering leader was an ex-founder who grinded for years to turn nothing into something. They all still had that air of resilience, obsession with the details at every part of the stack, and a compelling vision of the future for whatever they were working on. The Threads team is also made up of ex-founders and startup folks, so the entrepreneurial focus at Shopify made it clear that it would be the best environment for us to grow and thrive..

We are all very excited for this next chapter and are grateful for all of the support we’ve received over the years from those who believed in us. As always, thanks for (th)reading.

The Threads Team

Google Business Profile, also known as Google Business Messaging, is a feature allows businesses to communicate with customers via Maps or Search. The story was broke by Search Engine Land after they received an email from Google announcing the decision:

“We are reaching out to share that we will be winding down Google’s chat and call history features in Google Business Profile on July 31, 2024. We acknowledge this may be difficult news – as we continually improve our tools, we occasionally have to make difficult decisions which may impact the businesses and partners we work with. It’s important to us that Google remains a helpful partner as you manage your business and we remain committed to this mission.”

Google says chat and call history functionality will end July 31, 2024, although starting new conversations will be disabled as early as July 15.

Google has a long history of killing off products, leaving users stranded or directing them to use products that don’t yet offer the same level of functionality. As a result of its history, Google has lost the trust of many of its users, with only 16% of users saying they are willing to use services Google is working on. The vast majority are hesitant to trust the company will continue to support new products.

The company even had to unveil Google Enterprise APIs to reassure its cloud customers that they could count on Google long-term.

The demise of a business feature like chat and call history in Google Business Messaging is not going to help the company win back any trust.

Virtually every computer user has been frustrated by trying to edit a PDF, only to discover that it is a non-editable file. While any number of solutions exist to extract the information from a PDF and convert it to an editable format, Microsoft highlights the issues with that approach.

While some mechanisms exists for converting some non-editable documents to editable documents (e.g., converting PDFs to Word documents), the current mechanisms do not take into account and accurately convert elements such as fonts, color schemes, and layouts. As such, there are no existing mechanisms that are able to automatically replicate text style, color scheme, objects and the like from a non-editable document to an editable document. Thus, there exists a technical problem of lack of mechanisms for automatically detecting features of a non-editable document to enable automatic conversion of a non-editable document to an editable document.

Microsoft plans to use AI and machine learning (ML) to analyze a document and convert it to an editable one, all while preserving the original layout, fonts, and colors.

A system and method and for generating an editable document from a non-editable document includes automatically identifying a layout for a plurality of objects in the non-editable document, where the layout includes bounding boxes of one or more of the objects, and automatically identifying a font for a text object of the plurality of objects. The method and system also includes selecting a color scheme for one or more of the plurality of objects, the color scheme corresponding to one or more color values associated with the plurality of objects the non-editable document, before automatically generating the editable document in accordance with at least one of the identified layout, identified font and selected color scheme.

The full paper, describing the process in detail, can be found here.

If Microsoft is able to successfully leverage ML to accomplish the goals outlined in the paper, it could solve one of the biggest challenges with document sharing and editing that individuals and businesses alike face.

Truecaller is a popular caller ID and anti-spam service for standard calls, texts, and WhatsApp. The company’s AI assistant already leverages AI to “automatically answer phone calls for you, screen calls, take messages, respond on your behalf, or record the call for your later viewing.”

The company is expanding that capability, thanks to Microsoft Azure AI Speech’s Personal Voice. This gives Truecaller Assistant the ability to create a digital version of a person’s voice that they can use to answer phone calls, rather than relying on the pre-made digital voices that Truecaller makes available.

“By integrating Microsoft Azure AI Speech’s personal voice capability into Truecaller, we’ve taken a significant step towards delivering a truly personalized and engaging communication experience.The personal voice feature allows our users to use their own voice, enabling the digital assistant to sound just like them when handling incoming calls. This groundbreaking capability not only adds a touch of familiarity and comfort for the users but also showcases the power of AI in transforming the way we interact with our digital assistants.

“We’re thrilled to collaborate with Microsoft on this exciting project and leverage their expertise in text-to-speech and AI technologies. The seamless integration process and the exceptional support provided by the Microsoft team have been instrumental in bringing this feature to life” said Raphael Mimoun, Product Director & General Manager, Truecaller Israel.

The new feature will give users a way to better personalize the experience when receiving calls. This feature could be a boon for creatives and small businesses.

Quantum computing is a revolutionary leap in computing power, with ramifications across industries. One of the biggest concerns is that quantum computing will make much of the existing security and encryption protocols obsolete, making it possible to crack modern encryption in a fraction of the time as traditional computers.

Zoom is already taking steps to prepare for that future, rolling out post-quantum E2EE. The company announced the news in a post on its site.

“Since we launched end-to-end encryption for Zoom Meetings in 2020 and Zoom Phone in 2022, we have seen customers increasingly use the feature, which demonstrates how important it is for us to offer our customers a secure platform that meets their unique needs,” said Michael Adams, chief information security officer at Zoom. “With the launch of post-quantum E2EE, we are doubling down on security and providing leading-edge features for users to help protect their data. At Zoom, we continuously adapt as the security threat landscape evolves, with the goal of keeping our users protected.”

As Zoom points out, while quantum computing is not a threat yet, there is concern regarding the “harvest now, decrypt later” approach, in which traditional E2EE communications are collected and saved until quantum computing allows for their decryption.

The company outlines how its post-quantum E2EE works:

When users enable E2EE for their meetings, Zoom’s system is designed to provide only the participants with access to the encryption keys that are used to encrypt the meeting; this is the behavior for both post-quantum E2EE and standard E2EE. Because Zoom’s servers do not have the necessary decryption key, encrypted data relayed through Zoom’s servers is indecipherable. In addition, to defend against “harvest now, decrypt later” attacks, Zoom’s post-quantum E2E encryption uses Kyber 768, an algorithm being standardized by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) as the Module Lattice-based Key Encapsulation Mechanism, or ML-KEM, in FIPS 203.

The feature must be enabled in the Zoom web portal, and requires users to join via the desktop app, mobile app, or Zoom Rooms.

Users began reporting an issue shortly before 6:00 PM ET, with Downdetector.com showing a massive spike in reports. The issue lasted for roughly 45 minutes, with Apple resolving it just have 6:30 PM.

According to the company’s System Status page, the issue has been resolved, along with issues with Apple Messages for Business, FaceTime, and HomeKit.

Apple did not provide details regarding the cause of the outage.

According to Axios, Meta has been informing customers that Workplace will largely shut down at the end of September 2025. After that date, customers will only be able to download the app and use it to access existing data, but will not be able to use its other features. The app will shut down and stop working entirely in 2026.

“We are discontinuing Workplace from Meta so we can focus on building AI and metaverse technologies that we believe will fundamentally reshape the way we work,” Meta said in an emailed statement to the outlet.

Interestingly, Zoom appears to be the biggest potential beneficiary of Meta’s decision, with the social media giant saying it will transition users to Zoom’s Workvivo.

“Over the next two years, we will provide our Workplace customers the option to transition to Zoom’s Workvivo product, Meta’s only preferred migration partner,” the statement added.

As Axios points out, Meta’s decision comes as the company is investing billions in AI, as well as the metaverse. The company is clearly trying to streamline its operations and reduce its cost to better focus on its core products.

Through GPS technology and gadgets that use it, it is now a matter of course to track an individual either by an address or by coordinates. The policymakers need to define the existing models observing challenges, issues and awareness relating to these challenges when devising the best technologies to improve human safety. Google maps gives the real-time location to other users. Viewing location history is one of the features.

Understanding How Location Sharing Works on Google Maps

It is like a button that transfers your present-time position to the selected people, so to meet up, let’s say, family members you can enable them to track you and confirm that you’re safe, or to update progress through the trip. Here’s a step-by-step guide to understanding and using this feature:

Initiating Location Sharing

To get started users need to activate location sharing within the Google Maps application. This can be accomplished by selecting the “Menu” icon and then choosing “Location sharing.” From there users can decide who they want to share their location with and, for how long.

Privacy Settings

Google Maps has features that let the user decide who can view his or her location because the user can select who should be able to access it and for how long. They can set the permission to either share their location with others, or make a location sharing time limit.

Checking Someone’s Location

Here’s how to check out someone location through Google Maps,

Using Google Maps App

Once permission is granted, checking someone’s location is a process. Just open the Google Maps app, tap on the “Menu” icon, Location sharing ” and pick the contact whose location you want to see.

Via Web Browser

Alternatively users can access location details through a web browser. By logging into their Google account and visiting Google Maps they can see where contacts who have enabled sharing are in time.

Utilizing Third Party Applications

Apart from its capabilities various third party apps offer tracking features for locating someone. However caution should be exercised when using these apps due to privacy risks they may present.

Safety and Privacy Considerations

While sharing your location can be convenient it’s crucial to think about safety and privacy concerns. Users should only share their whereabouts with trusted individuals. Regularly review their privacy settings to safeguard their information.

You should check your location sharing preferences, for privacy restrict sharing, to people you trust and refrain from disclosing details publicly.

Conclusion

Sharing location on Google Maps may serve as a convenient means of maintaining communication with someone you love and care out, ranging from plans for a collocation to assurance of your safety. Leveraging a feature which lets them know the other person’s location on Google Maps can always encourage communication on different levels, helping to reduce anxiety. To be socially responsible with this feature, it is necessary to take the steps indicated and respect the privacy boundaries of others. You must be conscious and existing frequently assessing your location access level. Location sharing is able to ensure safety and guarantee connectivity as long as appropriate safeguards are put in place.

FAQs

Q1. Is it legal to track someone’s location without their consent?

A1. Jurisdiction and context matter. Obtaining consent before tracking someone’s whereabouts usually avoids legal issues.

Q2. Can I track someone’s location if they have disabled location sharing?

A2. Google Maps cannot trace someone’s location if they have deactivated location sharing or are offline. Only users who have shared their location are traceable.

Q3. Are there any risks associated with sharing my location on Google Maps?

A3. No, Google Maps offers strong security.

Q4. Can I track someone’s location in real-time on Google Maps?

A4. Yes, you can track. Google Maps allows real-time location tracking with authorization and location sharing.

Q5. How can I ensure my location remains private on Google Maps?

A5. Review your location sharing options, limit sharing to trusted contacts, and avoid publishing important information publicly to protect privacy.

Shelly Kramer, managing director and principal analyst at theCUBE Research, recently covered Zoom’s many announcements in a video report.

Revolutionizing Communication with AI

Zoom’s announcement highlighted the central role of its AI companion in the newly dubbed Zoom Workplace, which amalgamates all Zoom tools into a unified platform. This AI companion, introduced in September 2023, is now a standard feature across Zoom services at no additional cost, reinforcing Zoom’s commitment to accessible technology.

The AI companion boasts new capabilities, such as automatic language detection and enhanced summarization tools, designed to significantly enrich the user experience. Notably, these features aim to provide concise, actionable summaries from meetings, chats, and phone calls, potentially transforming corporate and individual users’ preparation and follow-up workflows.

Interoperability and User Privacy

A key aspect of Zoom’s latest upgrade is its interoperability with external platforms. The AI companion can now integrate information from third-party services such as Microsoft Office 365 and Google Workspace, pulling relevant documents and data into Zoom’s interface to aid in meeting preparation and project coordination.

Zoom has also addressed potential privacy concerns by asserting that their AI models are trained without using customer data or third-party data, a move likely to appease users wary of invasive data practices.

Enhanced Features and User Adoption

The AI companion’s capabilities have been expanded to include Zoom Phone, which assists by prioritizing voicemails and extracting tasks, thereby streamlining administrative duties. Zoom reported that AI companion adoption has surged since its inception, with usage doubling from December to January following its release.

In terms of functionality, ‘Ask AI Companion’ has been introduced to automatically help users gather and organize meeting materials from various communication threads. This feature is part of Zoom’s broader strategy to reduce users’ time searching for information, thereby increasing productivity.

Strategic Acquisitions and Future Plans

The integration of acquired technologies was also on display. Zoom discussed how its purchase of Workvivo, a specialist in employee engagement software, is being leveraged to enhance the AI features within Zoom Workplace. This strategic acquisition is expected to bolster Zoom’s position as a tool for virtual meetings and a comprehensive platform that enhances all facets of workplace collaboration.

Market Reaction and Strategic Implications

Zoom’s ambitious expansion into AI-driven services comes when the demand for intelligent workflow solutions escalates. By making these advanced tools part of their standard offerings, Zoom sets a competitive benchmark in the industry.

The company’s move to enhance its AI capabilities reflects a strategic foresight to meld AI with daily business operations, making advanced technology an integral part of the user experience without additional financial burden on the customer.

Looking Ahead

As Zoom continues to innovate, integrating AI into its platform not only enhances its product offerings but also potentially sets a new standard for the industry. Zoom’s expansion into AI-driven analytics and task management tools exemplifies its commitment to maintaining its leadership in a market that is increasingly prioritizing smart, efficient communication tools.

In summary, Zoom’s announcements at Enterprise Connect 2024 underline its focus on harnessing artificial intelligence to drive the future of corporate communication and collaboration. As these tools evolve, they are set to redefine productivity standards across industries, making AI a cornerstone of business operations.

Beeper recently engaged in a very public attempt to bring iMessage to Android. Unlike other companies’ attempts, Beeper’s solution did not rely on using a Mac as a go-between. As a result, Beeper was the first solution to maintain end-to-end encryption and provide iMessage on Android in a secure and private manner. Apple immediately retaliated, repeatedly blocking Beeper until the smaller company finally gave up.

Despite the setbacks, Automattic clearly sees the messaging app’s potential to fix the mess that is current smartphone messaging, as the company makes clear in its announcement.

Messaging today is a mess. We have endless chat apps on our phones, each with different contacts and notification settings, making it all too easy to accidentally ghost family and friends.

That’s why we’re excited to announce today that Automattic has acquired Beeper, a universal messaging app that combines 14 different chat networks in one inbox. We began investing in messaging last year when we acquired Texts.com. Now, two of the most exciting teams in tech will work together to push the boundaries of messaging, giving us one app that will improve our focus and the way we communicate.

Automattic says it will be merging its own Texts with Beeper, using the Beeper brand moving forward.

Beeper has been a leader in simplifying chat apps with a focus on streamlined user experiences. As the teams go through organizational changes, Texts and Beeper will merge under the Beeper brand. But the good stuff you already loved isn’t changing! End-to-end encryption helps keep your conversations secure, and you’ll have access to well over a dozen app integrations, with even more to come.

We’ll share another update when a phased plan is in place to fully merge the Texts app with Beeper. For now, keep enjoying both apps—and know that the future of open messaging just got even brighter.

Read More: Apple’s Paranoia, Hubris, & Hypocrisy to Blame For DOJ’s Lawsuit

While Automattic’s announcement makes no mention of Apple, it’s hard to imagine that this move isn’t influenced by the DOJ’s recent antitrust lawsuit against Apple, especially since the DOJ made specific mention of Apple’s efforts to undermine cross-platform messaging.

Excluding Cross-Platform Messaging Apps. Apple has made the quality of cross-platform messaging worse, less innovative, and less secure for users so that its customers have to keep buying iPhones.

Lawmakers were quick to notice Apple’s efforts to kill Beeper, a move that hurt its own customers as much as Android users by removing a method of secure communication between the platforms, something Apple itself does not currently provide.

Automattic appears to be hedging its bets that lawmakers will force Apple to embrace cross-platform messaging. If its bets are right, the WordPress maker will be ideally positioned to become a major player in the messaging space.