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April officially marks the beginning of Spring. But, for Halloween fanatics, it marks the halfway point until the year’s spookiest holiday, and decorations are already available for those planning ahead. Unveiled on the morning of April 8, Home Depot debuted its annual Halfway to Halloween collection, a line of exclusive and over-the-top decorations for those planning ahead of the holiday. “Halloween lovers have started shopping for decor and planning their setups earlier and earlier,” a Home Depot spokesperson told Fast Company. “We wanted to provide another moment for them to prepare for the Halloween season. Year after year we have seen this trend grow amongst Halloween enthusiasts.” This year’s line marks Home Depot’s fifth and largest collection, with the first Halfway to Halloween line released in 2022. Available until supplies last, the collection of 14 items features spooky scenes and characters in Home Depot’s extra large style. Buyers will be limited to 1 of each item per order The Halloween collection includes a number of spooky items including an 5-foot tall carriage with skeletons as a driver and passenger as well as an 8.5-foot undead skeleton horse standing on its two hind legs. For Disney fans, a 6.5-foot-tall Maleficent is also on sale. One of Home Depot’s most popular decorations; however, is missing from the collection: Skelly. The 12-foot skeleton first went viral in 2020, and has since spawned new iterations, including last year’s Ultra Skelly, a Bluetooth-enabled 6.5-foot skeleton. “While we love Skelly, and he will be returning, we wanted to showcase the innovation and value our broader Halloween collection offers,” the company explained. While a new Skelly is expected to be released later this year, its technology is already influencing the collection’s current offering. “This is the largest collection we have offered for Halfway to Halloween and showcases some new products and returning favorites with tech upgrades, like our app-enabled Lethal Lilly the Witch,” the company said. “She is a fan favorite that our team has updated with our app technology that debuted last year with our Ultra-Skelly.” View the full article

In an era where the integration of AI into small businesses is becoming increasingly paramount, Shopify has unveiled Tinker, a new app designed to make the creative process more accessible and effective for small business owners. This innovative mobile application consolidates a plethora of AI tools aimed at streamlining tasks such as creating images, videos, logos, and more, all without the need for expensive subscriptions or technical expertise. Rousseau Kazi, Shopify’s Director of Product, highlights the essence of Tinker, stating, “The time between idea and momentum goes down when creation becomes this accessible. We’re impatient for a future where more people are building, so we’re pulling it forward.” This sentiment resonates particularly with small business owners who often face barriers in executing their creative visions due to cost, complexity, and time constraints. Tinker opens its doors to users with over 100 specialized AI tools organized by what you want to create. Whether it’s product photography, logo design, or social media videos, tools are easily navigable, and users can learn directly from examples showcased within the app. When prompted to describe a vision in plain language, Tinker handles the complex back-end prompting, allowing even those with little tech experience to generate high-quality visuals swiftly. This app’s simplicity seems poised to dramatically reduce the barriers to entry for small business creators. Instead of managing multiple subscriptions and learning various interfaces for different tools, Tinker consolidates everything into one guided experience. Kazi explains, “We wanted to lower all of it,” emphasizing that the cost of creativity isn’t solely a monetary one; it includes time, effort, and the potential delays caused by using incompatible applications. Real-World Applications The real-time benefits of Tinker are already being illustrated by early adopters like Lena, who launched her jewelry brand, Loire. With professional photography costing around $50 per shot, she turned to Tinker to generate over 150 images for her website, significantly speeding up her launch process. “Tinker’s image just always comes out the best. It always takes my feedback,” singles out Lena, showcasing the immediate impact of a tool that aligns so closely with her creative vision. For entrepreneurs like Yukiko, founder of Allie Beauty Protein, the practical applications of Tinker are equally impressive. After her brand went viral soon after launching, she utilized Tinker’s specialized prompts to ensure her product labels met legal requirements, all while creating visuals during her daily subway commute. “Dead time became production time,” Yukiko remarked, highlighting how Tinker can enable business owners to maximize productivity even in brief windows throughout the day. Potential Challenges Despite its promising features, small business owners may face challenges with adopting Tinker. As with any emerging technology, the initial learning curve could be an impediment for users who may not be digitally savvy. Although Tinker simplifies the creative process, some small business owners might still experience uncertainty around integrating new technologies into their workflow. Moreover, while the app is free, there may be future monetization strategies that could change the landscape of its accessibility. Entrepreneurs often scrutinize subscription models and hidden costs, making it necessary for them to stay informed about how Tinker might evolve financially. However, Shopify appears committed to supporting entrepreneurs by making creating accessible and enjoyable. Kazi’s assertion that “through play, you find the creative limits of technology without any cost or consequence” suggests that even if some challenges arise, the experimental and iterative design approach Tinker promotes can ultimately empower users. As more small business owners discover the potential of Tinker, the app may transform how they approach branding and creativity, shortening the gap between ideas and execution. Tinker is now available for download on both iOS and Android for users aged 13 and older. For small business owners seeking a way to breathe life into their ideas, this app may represent an essential tool in their entrepreneurial journey. For more information, visit the original Shopify press release here. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Shopify Launches Tinker: A Free AI App to Ignite Your Creative Vision" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

The California-based lender announced Wednesday the addition of One Goal Mortgage, a branch serving the Omaha, Nebraska, metro area and Southwest Iowa. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Sleep scores may be one of the most-checked metrics in wearable health tracking, but the companies behind them haven't agreed on a shared language. A Garmin wearer with a 75 is in "Fair" territory. An Oura wearer with a 75 is doing "Good." An Apple Watch user with a 75 might see "OK" or "High" depending on which software version they're running. Where are these numbers coming from, and what are they actually telling you? Each platform uses different scales, labels, and underlying signals to arrive at that single morning number. Here's a breakdown of how the most popular wearables calculate your "sleep score," and what that score means for you. Oura Ring 4 $349.00 at Amazon Shop Now Shop Now $349.00 at Amazon What your "sleep score" actually meansFor all the scoring systems below, know that it's impossible for a sleep score to be truly "accurate." Your device tracks how long you seemed to be asleep, and makes guesses as to how much of that time was spent in light sleep, deep sleep, and REM sleep. Then, it distills it into a single composite score, which might have more to do with branding decisions than clinical science. So while the data that is going into your score (like your heart rate) might be accurate, it's important to understand that the score itself is a made up number. Sleep tracking, at its best, functions less like a medical test that you pass or fail, and more as a way to see patterns over time. How an Oura Ring calculates your sleep scoreLet's start with Oura, since it's widely considered the best sleep tracker out there. Oura's Sleep Score ranges from 0 to 100, with three broad zones for scoring: 85–100: Optimal. An 85 or higher means all your metrics appear reasonably healthy. Oura even marks the day with a crown icon in the app. 70–84: Good. Your sleep was good, but not great. You're adequately rested and prepared for most daily activities, but there's still room to improve your overall sleep quality. Under 70: Pay Attention. Scores below 70 indicate that you may benefit from prioritizing rest and recovery. According to Oura, your Sleep Score is built from seven contributors: total sleep time, sleep efficiency (the percentage of time actually spent asleep), restfulness, REM sleep, deep sleep, sleep latency (how long it takes to fall asleep), and timing (whether your sleep aligns with your body's natural circadian rhythm). Oura has been shown to be the most accurate of all the wearables on this list, largely because it reads from your finger, which provides stronger optical signal than a wrist. One important note: Scores of 100 are designed to be rare rather than regular. If you're never cracking 85, that's not unusual, either. Sleep naturally fluctuates, and there may be periods where your sleep is better or worse. Again, it's more useful to be interested in your trends over time than any single night. How a Whoop calculates your sleep scoreWhoop gives you two numbers—a Sleep Performance percentage and a Recovery score—and it expects you to read them together. Sleep Performance is expressed as a percentage from 0–100%, measuring how much of the sleep your body needed you actually got. It's calculated using sleep sufficiency (the percentage of needed sleep you got), sleep consistency (how your bedtime compares to the previous four nights), sleep efficiency (the percentage of time in bed actually spent asleep), and sleep stress (time spent in physiologically high-stress states during the night). Recovery is the broader daily readiness score, also expressed as a percentage, and this is the number most Whoop users check first. Recovery is color-coded into three zones: Green (67–100%) means you're well recovered and primed to perform; Yellow (34–66%) means your body is maintaining and ready for moderate strain; Red (0–33%) signals that rest is likely what your body needs. Whoop says it compares your metrics to your own baseline rather than to a fixed population standard, which means your 70% Recovery and a friend's 70% Recovery may reflect totally different states. Whoop also stands out for avoiding a single "sleep was good/bad" verdict. The sleep performance percentage tells you about quantity and consistency relative to your personal need, while the Recovery score tells you how your body responded. Most people consider Whoop and Oura to be neck-and-neck for the top sleep trackers. How a Garmin calculates your sleep scoreNow onto the smartwatches. Garmin offers perhaps the most traditional scoring system of the group. Each morning you receive a sleep score on a 0–100 scale, and based on that score, you're assigned one of four rankings: 90–100: Excellent 80–89: Good 60–79: Fair Below 60: Poor For Garmin, the nightly sleep score is calculated based on a blend of how long you slept, how well you slept, and "evidence of recovery activity occurring in your autonomic nervous system derived from heart rate variability data." What that last point should mean is Garmin tracks the change in time between heartbeats during sleep, and factors that in when scoring your overall sleep quality. In theory, this should account for something like your nervous system staying elevated all night, even if you were physically still. Garmin also has a Body Battery reading, which shows how well your energy reserves recharged overnight. This it comes from a combination of your heart rate, heart rate variability (HRV), and movement data. When your sleep score is low, your Body Battery typically is too. Garmin (along with the rest of the smartwatches below) is probably best considered as a smartwatch that happens to track sleep, as opposed to a dedicated sleep tracker, like Oura or Whoop. How an Apple Watch calculates your sleep scoreApple's Sleep Score is the newest entry on this list, arriving in September 2025. But even with this most recent update, Apple's sleep scores are considered to be way too generous. Your score is calculated based on sleep duration (worth 50 points), bedtime consistency (worth 30 points), and interruptions—how often you wake up and how long you stay awake (worth 20 points). The current five-tier scale, as updated in watchOS 26.2, looks like this: 96–100: Very High (formerly called "Excellent," but Apple renamed this category to better reflect that it's an objective measure rather than a promise of how you'll feel) 81–95: High 61–80: OK 41–60: Low 0–40: Very Low Compared to the other trackers on this list, Apple's score seems to focus on habits around sleep (enough hours, consistent timing, minimal waking) rather than trying to take a stab at sleep stages. How a Fitbit calculates your sleep scoreFitbit was one of the first mainstream wearables to introduce an official sleep score, and its system remains pretty clean and consistent. Your overall sleep score is a sum of individual scores in sleep duration, sleep quality, and restoration, for a total score of up to 100. Fitbit says most people score between 72 and 83. The four ranges: 90–100: Excellent 80–89: Good 60–79: Fair Below 60: Poor Fitbit defines Sleep Duration as total time asleep relative to your goals; Sleep Quality assesses how much time you spent in deep and REM stages; and Restoration (the most distinctive element) looks at your sleeping heart rate versus your daytime resting heart rate and how much time you spent tossing and turning. A higher restoration score comes when your sleeping heart rate dips meaningfully lower than your resting heart rate. One catch: To see a detailed breakdown of your restoration score, you need a Fitbit Premium subscription. Basic users see the total score, but the granular component breakdown is paywalled. What does a score of 75 mean on each platform?Just for fun, let's take a look at how these different companies interpret the same number. Here's what a 75 might mean, depending on your wearable: Oura: Good sleep, adequately rested. Garmin: Fair, meaning some things could be better. Apple Watch: Just above midpoint of the "OK" tier. Fitbit: Near the top of "Fair," below the "Good" threshold. WHOOP: Not directly comparable, since it's percentage-based). The bottom lineNo sleep score, across any of these platforms, is a clinical measurement. They are estimates derived from wrist (or finger) sensors, algorithms built on population data, and proprietary definitions that no company fully discloses. Two people who slept identically might score differently, and the same person might score a 90 one night and a 65 the next with no clear explanation. Again, the more useful way to read these scores is as a trend signal over time, not a verdict on any single night. To get the most out of your sleep scores, I explain the best practices for sleep tracking here. View the full article

In 1990, my mother discovered a four-year-old startup called American Girl, and she liked what she saw: Books about different eras in American history, told through the eyes of a girl roughly her daughter’s age, with an 18-inch doll based on each character. It was more educational and wholesome than Barbie, so she was happy to buy them for me. My favorite character was Molly McIntire, a 9-year-old living through World War II in Illinois, whose father had been sent to the front lines and hadn’t written home in months. What I loved about the books was that they trusted children to process difficult things—slavery, mortality, war—that adults typically shielded us from. American Girl stories were meant to illustrate that difficult things might happen to us in life, but we will be all right. In the four decades since, American Girl was acquired by Barbie’s parent company, Mattel, for $700 million and drifted steadily away from what made it special. The historical characters were retired, replaced by contemporary dolls reflecting girls’ lives today—dolls that look indistinguishable from other dolls on the market. Millennial mothers who had once begged their parents for American Girl catalogs were no longer buying the dolls for their own daughters. This week, in a 40th anniversary collection, American Girl announced it is bringing back eight of its most beloved “Historical Characters,” whose stories were set between 1764 and 1943, and were first released in the 1980s and 1990s. These include Addy Walker who escapes slavery; Kaya, a native American whose village is attacked by enemy raiders; and Josefina Montoya who is grieving the loss of her mother in colonial New Mexico. The dolls are bundled with their original outfits, accessories, and books, in packaging modeled on the original 1986 design. They’re now available for pre-order and will ship in May. “This collection is our love letter to the original fans and a tribute to the women who formed such meaningful connections with these dolls as kids,” says Jamie Cygielman, global head of dolls at Mattel, “[while also] introducing a new generation to the stories and characters that helped define the brand.” Mattel has been working to revitalize the American Girl brand, which has posted five consecutive quarters of sales growth heading into its anniversary year, but revenue remains well below its mid-2010s peak. In Mattel’s most recent earnings, American Girl was called out as a bright spot in an otherwise mixed dolls category — Barbie, the flagship, actually declined. One of Mattel’s strategies is now to target adults, not just children. By late 2024, spending on toys by adults 18 and older had surpassed that for children ages 3 to 5, according to Circana—and that cohort continued to drive industry growth into 2025. The relaunch might also be a reaction to a misstep. Earlier this year, American Girl unveiled a “Modern Era” collection, featuring redesigned versions of the historical characters with contemporary styling. Molly turned up in chain loafers and mini-skirts that would have outraged society in the 1940s. Addy, the formerly enslaved girl, now has locs and a shift dress. The internet responded with something between outrage and grief. “Kirsten didn’t endure six weeks on a boat across the Atlantic and lose her best friend to cholera for you to give her the Ozempic treatment and space buns,” went one widely-shared post. A company representative acknowledged what seemed to undergird the backlash: while adult fans vocally prefer the historical dolls, sales data indicate that younger consumers—the actual target audience—prefer dolls that look more fashion-forward and contemporary. It seems that Mattel’s new strategy is to create separate products for adults and children. The 40th anniversary collection appears to be targeting millennials now in their thirties and forties who remember the catalog arriving in the mail. These women will buy the dolls for themselves, but also as a way to bond with their daughters. Cygielman says the historical characters are here to stay. The anniversary bundles are a celebration, but the characters themselves are permanent fixtures in the line, not a limited run. When American Girl did a smaller relaunch for its 35th birthday in 2021, nostalgic fans reacted with glee, making plans to buy replacement dolls for well-worn childhood originals. That collection sold out. This one probably will too. But a sellout is not a strategy, and American Girl has been here before , hoping that the emotional residue of the original brand can substitute for a reinvention of it. Whether the 40th anniversary collection can reach today’s eight-year-olds, or whether what’s really being sold is a mother’s memory, is an open question. View the full article

Some Buc-ee’s customers are complaining of pain at the pump—and it’s not the surge in gas prices that’s to blame, but rather the chain’s pay-at-the-pump policy. While it’s common practice for gas stations to require customers paying for gas with cash to prepay with a cashier, Buc-ee’s instituted a new policy in March that affects customers paying with credit or debit cards. Customers paying with credit or debit cards are now required to pay at the pump, and can no longer pay at the register, as reported by the Austin American-Statesman. The new policy is intended to speed up transactions and prevent people from shopping while their car sits at the gas pump. But where does that leave customers who want to pay for gas with gift cards? Herein lies the recent hullabaloo for the Lake Jackson, Texas-based chain of travel centers. VIRAL VIDEO, BACKLASH Griffin McCarty, a Florida-based content creator, posted a video on TikTok in mid-March that’s since amassed nearly 1 million views in which he takes out his frustration on Buc-ee’s merchandise after apparently going out of his way to drive to a location in St Augustine to fill up his tank—only to be told that gift cards can’t be used to pay for gas. As is true of any video that goes viral, many people were quick to take sides. Some people sided with McCarty, saying it’s “crazy” that customers can’t pay for gas with a Buc-ee’s gift card, while others pointed to some fine print on the cards themselves indicating they can’t be used to pay for gas. Buc-ee’s didn’t immediately respond to a request by Fast Company to clarify its policy for allowing customers to pay for gasoline with gift cards. The terms and conditions for its gift cards states simply that “Buc-ee’s gift cards are redeemable at any instore Buc-ee’s accepted locations.” Meanwhile, one customer also sought to crowdsource the answer on Reddit, where a couple commenters confirmed that gift cards can’t be used to pay for gas. BUC-EE’S PUSHES GIFT CARDS Adding perhaps more fuel to the fire is the fact that Buc-ee’s touts its gift cards on its website, greeting customers on its home page with an all-caps message: “GIFT CARDS AVAILABLE NOW.” Even while completing the required information to purchase a gift card—or “Beaver Bucks,” as they’re known—the private company doesn’t offer any disclaimers about whether the cards can be used for gas. While some customers are upset over the company’s new policies, others used the opportunity to vent their frustrations with the chain more broadly. The company has been on an expansion tear in recent years, with more than 50 travel centers now located in 12 states, and some fans complain that the quality of everything from food to the overall experience has deteriorated. PAIN AT THE PUMP Given the surge in gas prices in the weeks since the Iran war began, it’s understandable that some cash-strapped customers may be trying to pay for gas with gift cards. The national average for a gallon of regular gasoline has risen more than $1 per gallon to $4.16 this week, according to AAA. And drivers may continue to feel the pain through the end of the year, even if the Strait of Hormuz opens. A recent analysis by four scholars at the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research estimated that the spike in gas prices related to the war could wipe out the tax refunds touted by the The President administration and see the average household pay $857 more for gasoline over the rest of the year. View the full article

Better is focusing on its U.S. mortgage unit, which reported higher-than-expected preliminary loan volumes and priced a stock offering. View the full article

Vital hiring procedures are fundamental for building a strong workforce. You need to craft clear job descriptions that reflect your company’s values and promote inclusivity. Streamlining the application process can reduce candidate drop-off, whereas standardized interview questions guarantee fairness. Focusing on diversity improves team performance, and effective onboarding helps new hires integrate smoothly. But how can you implement these practices effectively? Comprehending the nuances of each step is key to successful recruitment. Key Takeaways Develop clear and detailed job descriptions that align with company values to attract suitable candidates and minimize turnover risks. Streamline the application process to encourage completion, as complex applications lead to high dropout rates. Implement standardized interview questions and involve multiple interviewers to ensure fairness and gather diverse perspectives. Prioritize diversity and inclusion in hiring practices to enhance team performance and appeal to candidates valuing equitable workplaces. Establish a structured onboarding process that prepares new hires, boosts retention, and aligns them with the company mission and values. Understanding the Importance of Recruitment Best Practices When you consider the competitive environment of hiring, comprehension of recruitment best practices becomes crucial for your business. Effective hiring procedures not just streamline the job application process but additionally improve the overall candidate experience. With no one-size-fits-all approach, these best practices provide a flexible framework that adapts to your unique needs, ensuring you attract the right talent. By implementing effective recruitment processes, you can measure and optimize your hiring efforts, improving your talent acquisition strategies markedly. In addition, studies demonstrate that incorporating diversity into your recruitment practices can lead to a 39% higher likelihood of outperforming competitors. A strategic selection process aligns candidate choices with your long-term objectives, which contributes to employee satisfaction and retention. In the end, refining your recruitment methods through best practices enables you to build a stronger, more capable workforce prepared to meet your organization’s goals. Crafting Clear and Effective Job Descriptions When you craft job descriptions, clarity is key; it helps potential candidates understand their responsibilities and the skills needed for the role. Aligning these descriptions with your company’s mission and values not just attracts suitable applicants but likewise cultivates a sense of belonging within your organizational culture. Importance of Clarity Crafting clear and effective job descriptions is vital, as they act as a roadmap for potential candidates, outlining key responsibilities and qualifications. When you create a hiring process document, make sure to specify fundamental skills and experience. This clarity minimizes time spent on unsuitable candidates during the job hiring process and reduces turnover risk by ensuring expectations are realistic and well-defined. In addition, clear job descriptions improve the candidate experience, attracting higher-quality applicants who align with your company’s unique offerings. When you focus on clarity in interviewing and hiring, you not only enhance recruitment efficiency but also promote a smoother changeover for new hires. Aligning With Company Values Aligning job descriptions with your company’s values is vital for attracting candidates who resonate with your mission. Well-defined job descriptions act as a roadmap, detailing responsibilities and qualifications that align with your organizational culture. In fact, 79% of candidates prefer job descriptions that highlight your mission and values, making it imperative during the hiring process. Furthermore, incorporating inclusivity and realistic expectations helps minimize turnover risk. By crafting compelling job descriptions that reflect your values, you improve candidate interest, especially in a labor market where job seekers have numerous options. Emphasizing Employer Branding To attract top talent, you need to craft a compelling narrative that reflects your company’s mission and values. Consistent brand messaging across all platforms, from job descriptions to onboarding materials, reinforces your employer brand and helps candidates align with your organization. Crafting a Compelling Narrative Employers need to recognize that a strong narrative surrounding their brand can greatly impact their ability to attract and retain talent. Crafting this compelling narrative is vital for differentiating your organization in a competitive job market. Here are three key elements to include: Mission and Values: Clearly articulate your company’s mission and core values, as 60% of candidates choose workplaces based on these aspects. Unique Benefits: Highlight distinct employee benefits and promote a healthy work-life balance in job descriptions to draw in top-tier candidates. Culture Showcase: Use storytelling to convey your company culture, ensuring it aligns with candidate expectations and nurturing a sense of belonging. Adopting these practices can improve recruitment efficiency and lead to enhanced employee satisfaction. Consistent Brand Messaging Consistent brand messaging is vital for creating a strong employer brand that resonates with potential candidates. When 60% of candidates choose workplaces based on alignment with their personal beliefs and values, a cohesive brand becomes fundamental. This brand should reflect across all areas, including recruitment processes, online presence, onboarding, and employee engagement, ensuring a unified company image. Strong employer brands help you stand out in a competitive market, influencing candidate choices markedly. Investing in employer branding not only attracts top talent but additionally improves employee retention, as positive perceptions boost morale and loyalty. Research shows that organizations with strong employer brands outperform competitors, underscoring the need for businesses to prioritize consistent brand messaging in their recruitment strategies. Utilizing Multi-Channel Sourcing In today’s competitive job market, utilizing multi-channel sourcing can greatly improve your recruitment strategy by broadening your reach to diverse talent pools. This approach not only boosts your visibility but also increases your chances of attracting suitable candidates beyond standard job boards. To effectively implement multi-channel sourcing, consider these channels: Job Fairs and Networking Events: Engage with potential candidates in person, allowing for direct interaction and relationship building. Social Media Platforms: Use sites like LinkedIn and Twitter to connect with passive candidates, who make up about 40% of U.S. workers. Niche Job Boards and Podcasts: Tap into specialized platforms and media that cater to specific industries, improving your reach to targeted applicants. Streamlining the Application Process After broadening your recruitment strategies through multi-channel sourcing, the next step is to simplify the application process. Approximately 60% of candidates abandon job applications as they find them complex and time-consuming. By streamlining application steps, you can greatly improve the candidate experience, encouraging more applicants to finish their submissions. Start by providing clear instructions and using accessible formats, which are crucial for minimizing dropout rates. Consider an application form that’s straightforward and takes a reasonable amount of time to complete. Furthermore, continuously evaluate and improve your application process based on feedback and analytics. This ongoing refinement not merely improves candidate retention but likewise makes your hiring process more efficient. In a competitive recruitment market, a user-friendly application and interview process is fundamental for attracting top talent, so prioritize these changes to create a more inviting environment for potential hires. Implementing Diverse Hiring Panels Implementing diverse hiring panels can greatly improve your decision-making process by bringing together varied perspectives that contribute to better outcomes. By including individuals from different backgrounds, you can reduce unconscious bias and create a more equitable hiring environment. This approach not just enhances the candidate experience but additionally positions your company to attract a broader range of talent. Diverse Perspectives Enhance Decisions Diverse hiring panels play a crucial role in enhancing decision-making within organizations, as they bring together individuals with varied backgrounds and perspectives. By implementing these panels, you can: Improve Performance: Research shows that diverse teams are 39% more likely to outperform competitors, leading to better business outcomes. Enhance Candidate Experience: Diverse interviewers create an environment where candidates feel valued and respected, positively impacting their perception of your company. Foster Inclusivity: Hiring from diverse panels increases representation of underrepresented groups, cultivating an inclusive culture that boosts employee satisfaction. Incorporating diverse perspectives not merely enriches the decision-making process but also promotes creativity and problem-solving, as varied experiences contribute to a wider array of ideas and solutions. Mitigate Unconscious Bias Unconscious bias can greatly impact hiring decisions, often leading to less favorable outcomes for both candidates and organizations. Implementing diverse hiring panels is an effective strategy to mitigate this bias. Studies reveal that diverse teams are 35% more likely to outperform competitors, making informed choices that reflect a broader range of perspectives. Organizations with diverse panels see a 30% increase in hiring underrepresented candidates, encouraging inclusivity. These panels as well challenge groupthink, enhancing candidate evaluations and overall hire quality. A 2020 McKinsey report highlights that companies with gender-diverse executive teams are 25% more likely to achieve above-average profitability. Establishing diverse hiring panels not merely promotes fairness but resonates with 60% of candidates who value employers committed to diversity and inclusion. Establishing Systematic Onboarding Procedures When you establish systematic onboarding procedures, you’re setting the stage for new hires to integrate smoothly into your organization. A well-structured onboarding process can boost retention by 82% and improve productivity by over 70%. To achieve this, consider the following key elements: Comprehensive Training: Develop a training program that covers job-specific skills, company policies, and expectations. This guarantees new hires feel prepared and confident in their roles. Access to Tools: Provide necessary resources, like email accounts and project management software, before their first day. This promotes a smoother shift and helps new employees hit the ground running. Regular Follow-ups: Schedule check-ins during the onboarding period to address any concerns and encourage engagement. This positive experience aligns new hires with your company’s mission and values, contributing to long-term success. Investing in Recruiter Training Investing in recruiter training is crucial for enhancing recruitment skills, ensuring your team is equipped with the latest best practices. By keeping up-to-date with industry trends and compliance regulations, your recruiters can effectively navigate the intricacies of hiring as they promote collaboration within the team. This focus on training not just streamlines your hiring process but likewise improves the overall candidate experience, eventually benefiting your organization. Enhancing Recruitment Skills To improve recruitment skills effectively, businesses should prioritize training for their recruiters, ensuring they stay updated on the latest hiring techniques and best practices. Investing in recruiter training brings numerous benefits, including: Enhanced Candidate Experience: Trained recruiters build better relationships and communicate more effectively with potential hires, making the process smoother. Diversity and Inclusion: Continuous education equips recruiters with strategies for inclusive hiring, helping to reduce unconscious bias and attract a diverse workforce. Data-Driven Decisions: Training on metrics and analytics allows recruiters to assess the success of their strategies, leading to ongoing improvements. Keeping Up-to-Date Recruiter training isn’t a one-time endeavor; it’s an ongoing dedication that considerably elevates recruitment effectiveness. By investing in continuous training, you improve recruiters’ abilities to implement best practices, leading to enhanced hire quality and candidate experiences. Staying updated on labor market trends and recruitment technologies helps recruiters engage effectively with diverse talent pools. Companies prioritizing recruiter training attract and retain top talent, as skilled recruiters can communicate the organization’s values and culture effectively. Regular training additionally guarantees compliance with legal standards, including antidiscrimination laws, minimizing potential legal issues during hiring. Organizations that commit to ongoing recruiter development often see improved metrics, such as reduced time-to-fill and higher candidate satisfaction scores, which eventually strengthens their hiring processes. Promoting Team Collaboration Enhancing team collaboration is essential for creating a robust recruitment process that yields high-quality hires. Investing in recruiter training can greatly improve your hiring outcomes. Here’s how: Multi-channel sourcing strategies: Well-trained recruiters can tap into diverse talent pools, broadening your recruitment reach. Compelling job descriptions: Training helps recruiters craft clear job descriptions, attracting top-tier candidates aligned with your company’s values. Effective interview techniques: Continuous training on behavioral questioning guarantees consistent candidate evaluation, identifying the best fit for your organization. Gathering Candidate Feedback for Continuous Improvement As many organizations focus on refining their hiring processes, collecting candidate feedback post-interview can provide valuable insights that drive continuous improvement. By utilizing surveys or engaging in informal conversations, you can gauge candidates’ perceptions of the interview format, communication quality, and overall experience. This feedback helps you identify strengths and weaknesses in your hiring process. Regularly analyzing this feedback allows your organization to adjust recruitment strategies, enhancing both candidate satisfaction and the quality of future hires. A strong emphasis on candidate experience can improve your employer branding, as studies show that 60% of candidates select workplaces based on alignment with their beliefs and values. Additionally, continuous improvement driven by candidate feedback often leads to reduced turnover rates and better employee retention, since a positive hiring experience correlates with job satisfaction. Prioritizing candidate feedback is crucial for creating an effective hiring process that benefits everyone involved. Navigating Legal Obligations in Hiring Maneuvering through the legal obligations in hiring can be a complex process, especially when you consider the various laws and regulations that employers must follow. To help you navigate these requirements, keep these three key areas in mind: Ban the Box: Many states have laws that prevent you from asking about criminal history on job applications until later in the hiring process. Make sure you’re familiar with your local regulations. Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA): Before conducting background checks, you need written consent from applicants. If a candidate is disqualified based on the report, provide them with a copy. Anti-Discrimination Laws: Craft job descriptions and application processes carefully, avoiding language that could favor or disqualify candidates based on protected characteristics like race, religion, or gender. Staying informed about these legal obligations helps you create a fair and compliant hiring process. Avoiding Discriminatory Practices To create a fair hiring process, it’s crucial for employers to actively avoid discriminatory practices that can lead to bias against candidates based on protected characteristics. Start by ensuring that your job descriptions and applications comply with all relevant laws, avoiding any language that suggests a preference for certain characteristics. Be aware of “Ban the Box” laws, which prohibit inquiries about criminal history until after initial screenings. Focus your interview questions solely on a candidate’s ability to perform critical job functions, steering clear of topics related to race, age, or gender. For background checks, obtain written authorization and provide candidates with a copy of the report if they’re disqualified based on its findings, promoting transparency. Finally, stay informed about state-specific laws regarding medical marijuana use to avoid discrimination against individuals with medical marijuana cards during your compliance with your internal drug testing policies. Ensuring Consistency in the Interview Process A fair and equitable hiring process doesn’t stop at avoiding discriminatory practices; it also requires consistency throughout the interview process to guarantee all candidates are evaluated on the same criteria. To achieve this, consider the following steps: Standardized Questions: Use structured interviews with the same set of questions for all candidates. This nearly doubles the reliability of your assessments compared to unstructured interviews. Multiple Interviewers: Involve several interviewers to gather diverse perspectives, reducing bias and enhancing the overall evaluation of each candidate. Clear Communication: Inform candidates about the interview process and what to expect. This transparency improves their experience and perception of your organization. Incorporating behavioral and situational questions can additionally assess candidates’ competencies and alignment with your company values, contributing to better hiring decisions and a stronger team. Consistency is key in ensuring a fair evaluation for every applicant. Leveraging Technology and AI in Recruitment As companies increasingly seek efficiency in their hiring processes, leveraging technology and AI has become vital for modern recruitment strategies. Over 55% of businesses are investing in AI recruiting measures to improve objectivity and reduce recruitment timelines. AI-driven tools can swiftly analyze large volumes of resumes, identifying qualified candidates based on specific skills and experiences, which streamlines the screening process. Furthermore, predictive analytics driven by AI can forecast candidate success and retention rates, enabling you to make more informed hiring decisions. Nonetheless, the effectiveness of AI relies heavily on the quality of its training data; poorly trained AI risks perpetuating biases against certain demographics. To mitigate this, you must guarantee compliance with antidiscrimination laws when implementing AI tools. Discriminatory preemployment tests or screening software can expose your company to legal risks, making it important to approach AI recruitment thoughtfully and responsibly. Committing to Fair Hiring Practices Committing to fair hiring practices not just promotes a diverse and inclusive workforce but furthermore guarantees compliance with various legal standards designed to prevent discrimination. To achieve this, you should follow these crucial guidelines: Avoid questions about race, religion, or disability on applications to prevent discrimination, making certain candidates focus on their qualifications. Implement “Ban the Box” policies, which prevent inquiries about criminal history until after the interview process, allowing fair consideration for all applicants. Adhere to the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) by obtaining written authorization before conducting background checks and providing candidates with a copy of the report if it influences your decision. Moreover, verify that preemployment tests and screening software comply with antidiscrimination laws and acknowledge state-specific laws regarding medical marijuana use. Frequently Asked Questions What Are the 5 C’s of Recruitment? The 5 C’s of recruitment are Clarity, Consistency, Candidate Experience, Communication, and Cultural Fit. Clarity guarantees job descriptions are clear, so candidates know what’s expected. Consistency involves applying the same criteria to all candidates, promoting fairness. Candidate Experience focuses on making the application process user-friendly to prevent dropouts. Communication keeps candidates informed throughout the process, nurturing engagement. Finally, Cultural Fit assesses alignment with your company’s values, which is essential for employee satisfaction. What Are the 7 Steps of the Hiring Process? The hiring process consists of seven crucial steps. First, candidates submit applications, including resumes and cover letters. Next, you screen and pre-select applicants based on defined criteria. In the interview stage, you assess candidates through structured interviews. After that, you conduct assessments and check references. Once you’ve evaluated all information, you make a decision. Finally, you present a job offer and contract, outlining responsibilities and benefits clearly to the chosen candidate. What Is the 70 Rule of Hiring? The 70 Rule of Hiring suggests you should focus on candidates who meet at least 70% of the job qualifications. This approach allows you to contemplate a broader range of applicants, acknowledging that many qualified individuals may not fulfill every requirement. What Are the 5 C’s of New Hire Onboarding? The 5 C’s of new hire onboarding are Compliance, Clarification, Culture, Connection, and Check-back. Compliance guarantees you understand company policies and legal responsibilities. Clarification provides clear details about your job role and expectations. Culture helps you integrate into the company’s values and ethos, whereas Connection encourages relationship-building with colleagues for better teamwork. Finally, Check-back involves regular follow-ups to monitor your progress and address any concerns during your onboarding experience. Conclusion Incorporating crucial hiring procedures not merely improves your recruitment process but additionally strengthens your overall business. By crafting clear job descriptions, emphasizing inclusivity, and utilizing technology, you create a fair and efficient hiring environment. Streamlining applications and standardizing interviews further guarantees consistency and reduces bias. Committing to these best practices promotes a diverse workforce, which drives innovation and performance. In the end, a strategic approach to hiring leads to better employee engagement and contributes to long-term organizational success. Image via Google Gemini and ArtSmart This article, "Essential Hiring Procedures Every Business Should Follow" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Minutes of March meeting show policymakers debated whether to focus on inflation or jobs market risksView the full article

Book lovers with aging Kindles might want to find a new e-reader soon, as Amazon is discontinuing support for its older devices next month. On May 20, the e-commerce giant is set to cut off support for devices released in 2012 or earlier, notifying active users of the affected devices via email. “These models have been supported for at least 14 years—some as long as 18 years—but technology has come a long way in that time, and these devices will no longer be supported moving forward,” an Amazon spokesperson told Fast Company. While the devices will still be able to power on, users will no longer be able to purchase or download new content for them. Additionally, users who deregister or factory-reset their devices will lose access. The decision is not set to affect the user’s Kindle account. Customers will still be able to access their purchases and buy more books through their Kindle account, and they’ll be able to access it via the Kindle app on their personal devices or via Kindle for the web. Additionally, owners who wish to purchase a new device to continue using the Kindle services on an e-reader will receive 20% off select new Kindle devices. Which Kindle devices are affected? Kindle initially launched in November 2007, selling out in six hours. Since, dozens of new versions have been added to Amazon’s flagship product line. Here’s the list of devices affected by the upcoming support cutoff. Kindle: Kindle 1st Generation (2007) Kindle DX and DX Graphite(2009 and 2010) Kindle Keyboard (2010) Kindle 4 (2011) Kindle Touch (2011) Kindle 5 (2012) Kindle Paperwhite 1st Generation(2012). Kindle Fire 1st Gen (2011) Kindle Fire 2nd Gen (2012) Kindle Fire HD 7 (2012) Kindle Fire HD 8.9 (2012) Users mourn their Kindles For many users who have spent more than a decade with their Kindle, preparing to part ways might be a difficult feat. One user on Threads even shared that her Kindle, which is soon to be discontinued, belonged to her grandmother. “Every time I pick it up to start to start a new book for a client it feel like she’s cheering me on as I chase my dream,” the user wrote. But its not just the sentimental value of the device that raised concerns for the user. “They have a great battery life, no glitches,” the post said. “Now I’m going to be forced into buying myself a new piece of technology that I can’t easily afford and definitely do not need.” “I’d be frustrated too,” a Threads user responded to the post. “It feels wasteful to be pressured into buying a new product when yours is working fine, alongside the sentimental value and financial cost.” But some users point out that discontinuing support for older devices is standard practice in the tech industry. “Why are we acting like Amazon is the only company that doesn’t support tech after a certain number of years?” a user responded. “I’m probably going to get hate for this but . . . they can’t support devices indefinitely another user added. “There has to be a cut off at some point and 14 years support is actually incredibly good.” View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. The Beats Studio Buds + are among the best in-ear noise-cancelling earbuds on the market for both Apple and Android users. Compared to their predecessor, they have longer battery life and better ANC, plus a sleek design available in three colors. Right now, the Beats Studio Buds + earbuds are 41% off, bringing them down to $99.95 (originally $169.95). Beats Studio Buds + True Wireless Noise Cancelling Earbuds $99.95 at Amazon $169.95 Save $70.00 Get Deal Get Deal $99.95 at Amazon $169.95 Save $70.00 A more affordable alternative to AirPods (with the added perk of ANC and a more secure fit), the sound signature is bass-forward yet balanced, and, according to PCMag, “offer some of the best active noise cancellation we've experienced under $200,” which is even more attractive at the current $100 price point. The earpieces have a secure fit and come with four sizes of silicone ear tips. They have three mics, including a feed-forward, feedback, and voice-focused mic for crisp call quality. The Beats Studio Buds + support hands-free Siri, Bluetooth 5.3, and AAC and SBC codecs, though not AptX. While they don’t have an H2 chip like the AirPods Pro, they do have a longer continuous battery life. You’ll get around nine hours without ANC on, plus an additional 27 hours of battery life from the charging case. With ANC on, battery life will decrease to around 6-18 hours. It will take approximately two hours to fully charge from empty, and five minutes of charging will give you around an hour of battery life. Whether you’re using them for your daily commute, travel, or workouts, the Beats Studio Buds + earbuds are a comfortable and secure pick for everyday use—especially if you want to block out background noise—and that value gets even stronger when you combine that impressive noise cancellation with a 41% discount. Our Best Editor-Vetted Tech Deals Right Now Apple AirPods Pro 3 Noise Cancelling Heart Rate Wireless Earbuds — $224.00 (List Price $249.00) Apple iPad 11" 128GB A16 WiFi Tablet (Blue, 2025) — $321.00 (List Price $349.00) Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm, S/M Black Sport Band) — $329.00 (List Price $399.00) Fire TV Stick 4K Plus Streaming Player With Remote (2025 Model) — $29.99 (List Price $49.99) Bose TV Speaker — $199.00 (List Price $279.00) Deals are selected by our commerce team View the full article

A reader writes: I run a small healthcare practice and recently had a difficult transition with a long-time employee that I’m trying to learn from. Sarah worked for me for about five years as our director of business development and marketing lead. During that time, I invested heavily in her development through training, tools, and absorbing the inevitable mistakes that come with someone growing into a role. She worked remotely, set her own schedule, had significant autonomy, and earned well above the market rate. I also referred clients to a small side business she ran. About six months ago, she told me she had “outgrown” the organization professionally and wanted to change the relationship from employee (W-2) to contractor (1099). I raised some concerns about that transition, which led to an emotional conversation. Shortly afterward, she followed up with an email summarizing the conversation as though I supported the transition. As we tried to work out the details, it became clear she didn’t fully understand the legal and structural differences between W-2 and 1099 work. Once we started mapping out the contract, she realized that many of the duties she previously handled could not legally remain part of a contractor relationship, meaning the scope and compensation would likely be smaller than she expected. She was upset and accused me of not being supportive. After a lot of negotiation, we eventually arrived at a contract that met the legal definition of a 1099 relationship, and my company became one of her clients for several marketing services (social media, blog writing, online ads, and outreach). Almost immediately after the transition, the quality of her work dropped significantly. When I raised concerns about deliverables, she responded by unilaterally removing two services from the agreement. Our contract allowed 30 days’ notice to terminate the agreement but did not allow individual services to be withdrawn while the contract remained active. At that point, I concluded it made more sense to transition to a new marketing firm rather than continue the relationship. The whole situation has been frustrating because I feel like I lost someone I invested heavily in and tried to support. In hindsight, I also suspect she may not have actually wanted the contractor arrangement once she understood the implications, but by that point the relationship had already shifted. My questions are: When a valued employee pushes for a transition from employee to contractor, how should a manager handle that conversation? Is it generally a mistake to agree to become a client of a former employee to preserve the investment you’ve made in developing that employee? How do you avoid entirely losing someone you’ve invested in when they push for a change like this? I’m trying to understand what I could have done differently so I don’t repeat this situation in the future. As a small business, a loss like this is huge. I feel nervous investing in the future, and I can’t shake the feeling I should’ve handled this differently. The first thing is to accept that you will always lose employees who you invested in eventually, and that’s okay! If you try to stop that from happening at all costs, you can end up making choices that don’t serve the organization well. So first and foremost: be okay with the idea that people will move on and that it’s a natural and unavoidable thing that will happen in running a business. I say that because it sounds like this all stemmed from you trying to find a way to hold on to Sarah, even if that arrangement didn’t make sense for the business. Instead, when Sarah told you she felt she’d outgrown the organization, it probably would have been better to wish her well and make a clean break. There are times when converting a valued employee to contractor status can make sense for all parties. If you look at what the employee is proposing and can come up with an arrangement that makes sense for both of you — not just “we’ll agree because we’re desperate to keep them,” but truly makes sense — then great. But you shouldn’t agree just because they suggest it. In Sarah’s case, it sounds like you were searching for a way to make things work even when you had significant reservations. It would have been okay, and probably better, to turn down the contract conversion — if not at the start, then definitely after your conversations revealed that you were so out of sync on what it should look like. You could do that without it being adversarial; it’s perfectly supportive to say, “I would love to keep working together, but we really need the person doing this work to be an employee. If that can’t be you anymore, I understand.” You’ve framed this as wanting to figure out how not to lose the investment you’ve made in a good employee. But benefitting from your investment in a good employee doesn’t mean “they stay here forever.” It means your investment pays off in their good work while they’re there and in how their work hopefully sets the next person up for success. It also might pay off in the satisfaction it brings you to work with someone who you’ve seen grow and develop. But they will eventually find other opportunities and move on, and that’s just inherently part of running a business and employing people. You will make better decisions for the business and for yourself when you’re okay with that. The post my long-time employee pushed to become a contractor … and the relationship fell apart appeared first on Ask a Manager. View the full article

If you shelved your inbound strategy this past year, you can shelve your Inbound conference mugs and swag with it. HubSpot renamed its annual Inbound conference in Boston this September to Unbound. A note on the event site explains the thinking: “This evolution is our response to that reality. INBOUND is becoming UNBOUND because growth no longer fits within a single framework or function. Today, it covers marketing, sales, service, and operations across the full customer journey in an AI-driven environment. UNBOUND reflects that expanded reality and the mindset required to lead through it.” Inbound is outbound. HubSpot pioneered inbound marketing, which uses content and search rankings to attract visitors, then convert them on-site. Recent Google core updates appeared to hurt the HubSpot blog, possibly because its content drifted from core topics like CRM, sales, and marketing into broader business areas like interview tips. Inbound strategy has declined as search shifts from platforms like Google to LLMs like ChatGPT, which drive fewer clicks to websites. From inbound to loop marketing. In 2025, HubSpot introduced its Loop marketing strategy to replace inbound. Loop focuses educating consumers in an AI-driven world. The conference rebrand acknowledges that no single framework works for you in today’s marketing landscape. View the full article

As a teenager, my Sony Walkman was my most treasured possession. It was a portal to another world that let me consume music in industrial quantities. By the early 1990s, it wasn’t new—Sony invented it in the late ’70s—yetit still held incredible power. Sony sold more than 220 million units globally. When one died, often from overuse, I’d use a birthday or Christmas present to upgrade it, usually with a trip to an electronics store with my Dad. Those places felt mythical. That feeling came flooding back when I visited a big-box electronics store with my kids. Retail is under pressure as e-commerce reshapes how we shop. But my overriding thought was: where did the excitement go? On the surface, consumer electronics is one of the most inventive sectors in the world. New products launch constantly: AI assistants, smart home devices, wearables, and ever-smarter phones. We have never had more choice. But do we still feel its power when so many of the brands behind it are, frankly, so forgettable? BRANDS FOLLOW, ENGINEERING LEADS Consumer electronics companies are, unsurprisingly, engineering-led. They prioritize performance, technical capability, and feature differentiation. The issue is that product marketing becomes the default language. Campaigns explain what the product does: specifications dominate, visuals fixate on hardware, and messaging focuses on incremental improvements. Every brand explains what its technology does. Few explain why it matters. There’s little effort to shape a broader story, resulting in a repetitive and ultimately forgettable pattern of communication. Take buying a TV. Everything is HD or 4K, specs blur together, and products look the same, making true differentiation hard to spot. Part of this is progress. TVs are better and cheaper than ever. A 27-inch color TV in 1990 cost $700–$800—around 30% of an average U.S. monthly salary. Today, a 40–55-inch TV costs $300–$500, which is closer to 6%. What was once a considered purchase is now less than the average U.S. monthly grocery bill. Outliers like Samsung’s The Frame model show that you can have innovation, build a brand, and charge a premium in the process. Retailers present them with as more than a black box dominating a room and with the home in mind. The company positions the model with differentiation and a story to tell, showing that electronics don’t just have to be the result of reductive engineering. THE APPLE AESTHETIC TRAP There’s barely a month that goes by without a client telling me Apple is their favorite brand. Steve Jobs’ obsession with design created an unintended consequence: he standardized the visual language of consumer tech. Apple became the benchmark. That works when your products are genuinely distinctive—when you deeply embed materials, craft, and philosophy over decades. The Blueberry iMac and today’s MacBook are worlds apart, but you can trace a clear line between them. Copy that without the foundation, and minimalism becomes imitation, not identity. And imitation is, by definition, boring. The scale of Apple mimicry across the category is remarkable. It speaks to a lack of confidence beyond the product. This is something deeply ingrained in the industry, alongside a very real respect for Apple. BETTER SORRY THAN SAFE Branding creates value beyond the product. Brands build value through repeated interactions that form familiarity and trust. I still look at Sony TVs first because of my Walkman. But I have a Samsung The Frame TV on my wall because I liked both the product and how the marketing presented it to me. When every company uses the same visual language and messaging framework, differentiation becomes the deciding factor, but it requires bravery. Look at Hyundai in the automotive space. Over the past decade, design has helped it move upmarket. Cars like the IONIQ 5 and Santa Fe show how distinctive design can increase consideration and brand value. Kia has followed a similar path. Electronics operate in a world of short product lifecycles, where competitors quickly match features. In that environment, brand becomes the most durable advantage. Risk-averse branding and boring branding are the same. What feels safe in the short term often leads to regret in the long run. WHO’S DOING IT WELL? For all my downbeat view about the state of electronics today, there are brands that understand the power of moving beyond pure product marketing. Sonos has strong positioning around sound, culture, and the home. A brand with a clear role in people’s lives. (Shame about the software.) Nothing is a brand for people who don’t want to look like everyone else. It is known for its transparent design, rebellious tone, real attitude. Dyson. Whatever James Dyson says, this is a brand. Color, form, and engineering combine to justify a premium. These companies create worlds people want to belong to. They define how their products fit into life, whether that’s work, play, rest, or creation. THE NEXT CHAPTER We may be at the start of another shift in consumer electronics. AI-powered products are emerging that will reshape how we communicate, consume, and live. Hardware is hard, but with Silicon Valley investing heavily, we may see a more brand-led approach to technology spill into the broader category. That could bring much-needed creativity and more considered consumer experiences. There’s no reason the technology we use every day should be designed solely for engineers. People are emotional buyers, and when every product promises intelligence, performance, and innovation, those words quickly lose meaning. Better products will get you so far. Character will take you the rest of the way. James Greenfield is the CEO at Koto. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Maybe it's that post-Oscar buzz, but in March, America's most-streamed films are a highbrow bunch. From 16th-century Shakespearean grief to moody Norwegian family dramas, the most-watched movies in the country were actually good. But we are not a boring nation, so there are wicked diversions like Ready or Not and The Housemaid in the mix too. Here are the top 10 movies across all streaming platforms for March 2026, according to Just Watch. Hamnet (2025) Good job having elevated taste, America. The number one streaming movie in March was Hamnet, a lyrical historical drama that reimagines the family life of William Shakespeare and his wife, Agnes Hathaway. Set in Stratford-upon-Avon in the 16th century, Hamnet explores the couple's grief following the death of their 11-year-old son, Hamnet, and its influence on Shakespeare's Hamlet. The film was nominated for eight Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director, but it only took home one: Jessie Buckley won Best Actress. Stream Hamnet on Peacock. Sentimental Value (2025) Another unexpectedly highbrow flick sits at number two on the streaming charts: Sentimental Value is a moody Norwegian drama about suicide and generational familial trauma. Directed by Joachim Trier, Sentimental Value tells the story of two sisters, Nora (Renate Reinsve) and Agnes (Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas), who are forced to confront their past when their estranged father, Gustav (Stellan Skarsgård) reappears to offer Nora the lead in a film. Sentimental Value won two Oscars: Best International Film and Best Original Screenplay. Stream Sentimental Value on Hulu. The Secret Agent (2025) This Brazillian neo-noir political thriller is set in the late 1970s, at the end of Brazil's military dictatorship. Wagner Moura stars as Armando Solimões, a former professor who has been classified as an enemy of the state and forced into hiding. Although it didn't win any Academy awards, The Secret Agent was nominated for four, including Best Picture, Best Actor (Moura), Best International Film, and Best Casting. It has a nearly perfect 98% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Stream The Secret Agent on Hulu. Ready or Not (2019) Unlike the rest of the movies on this list, Ready or Not was not nominated for any Academy awards, but it won a richly deserved Fangoria Chainsaw Award in 2020. It's here because the sequel was in theaters in March. Ready or Not is an unapologetically gleeful black comedy in which murder and mayhem are cranked up to 11. Grace (Samara Weaving) is overjoyed that she's marrying into the super-wealthy Le Domas family, until she learns that about the old family tradition of playing deadly games of hide-and-seek. Guess who's "it." Stream Ready or Not on Hulu. One Battle After Another (2025) Paul Thomas Anderson's nuanced, intelligent thriller about resistance and race in a fascistic, anti-immigration United States has become an instant classic. Featuring fantastic performances from heavyweights like Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Benicio Del Toro, and Regina Hall, One Battle After Another is that rare movie that's equal parts thoughtful and exciting. It was nominated for 13 Oscars and won six, including Best Picture and Best Director. Stream One Battle After Another on HBO Max. Sinners (2025) This one-of-kind flick mashes up so many styles, it's practically its own genre. A historical/horror/ensemble romance/drama/comedy/musical exploring race and historical prejudice in the United States, Sinners tells its story through both song and vampire violence. It is absolutely top-notch in every cinematic way, which is probably why it earned a record 16 Oscar nominations. Stream Sinners on HBO Max and Prime Video. War Machine (2026) Netflix's War Machine is a fast-paced sci-fi action movie in which a squad of Army Rangers on a training exercise are confronted with a robot from outer space bent on destroying them. Led by action titan Alan Ritchson (known for Reacher), the squad trade their blank rounds for live ammunition to try to stop a seemingly invincible, mechanical hunter. If you like movies like Predator or Commando, you don't want to miss this one. Stream War Machine on Netflix. Zootopia 2 (2025) Since its release in November 2025, this whimsical animated sequel has been delighting critics and audiences. Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde return to track a mysterious pit viper named Gary De’Snake who has infiltrated Zootopia. To crack the case, the iconic duo must go undercover in uncharted parts of the metropolis. Stream Zootopia 2 on Disney+. Bugonia (2025) I love when a weirdo movie finds a big audience, and Bugonia is that movie. Jesse Plemons and Aidan Delbis play a couple of societal dregs who kidnap a high-powered pharmaceutical executive (Emma Stone) because they think she's an alien. Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, who helmed 2023's excellent Poor Things, the Best Picture Oscar nominee is a must-watch, even if you're only a little weird. (And if you want more weirdness, it's based on an even odder South Korean film called Save the Green Planet.) Stream Bugonia on Peacock. Nuremberg (2025) Nuremberg is the true story of Lt. Col. Douglas Kelley (Rami Malek), a U.S. Army psychiatrist tasked with evaluating the mental fitness of Nazi kingpin Hermann Göring (Russell Crowe). Through the psychological and intellectual duel between the idealistic psychiatrist and the charismatic Göring, Nuremberg explores the nature of evil and the toll it takes on those who fight it. Stream Nuremberg on Netflix. View the full article

Bombardment prompted Iran to halt passage of oil tankers through Strait of HormuzView the full article

Tax Day is the annual deadline for submitting your federal income tax return to the IRS, usually falling on April 15. This date is significant as timely filing helps you avoid penalties and interest on unpaid taxes, ensuring compliance with your tax obligations. Grasping Tax Day‘s importance can likewise expedite any potential refunds. Nevertheless, if you miss this vital deadline, the consequences can be severe. So, what should you know to navigate this process effectively? Key Takeaways Tax Day is the deadline for submitting federal tax returns, typically on April 15, to avoid penalties and interest on unpaid taxes. Timely filing helps expedite refunds, as electronic returns are processed within 21 days. Failing to file incurs a 5% monthly penalty on unpaid taxes, capped at 25%. Extensions can be requested, granting an additional six months, but taxes owed must still be paid by Tax Day. Late returns can still claim refunds within three years without penalties if expecting a refund. What Is Tax Day? Tax Day marks the significant annual deadline when you must submit your individual federal tax returns to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). So, when is Tax Day? It typically falls on April 15 each year, with 2025 being no exception, as it’s scheduled for Tuesday, April 15. If this date lands on a weekend or a holiday, the deadline shifts, so it’s vital to stay informed. Tax Day is critical for compliance, as failing to meet this deadline can lead to penalties and interest on any unpaid taxes. Most states with income taxes align their filing deadlines with the federal deadline, but some may have different dates or offer extensions because of local holidays. The tax filing season runs from January 1 to April 15, during which you prepare and submit your returns for the previous calendar year. Grasping what Tax Day is helps you avoid unnecessary complications. Key Takeaways Timely filing is essential for avoiding penalties that can greatly increase your tax burden, so knowing the deadlines is key. If you need more time, keep in mind that you can request an automatic six-month extension, but any taxes owed are still due by the original deadline to avoid interest and fees. Comprehending these aspects helps you navigate Tax Day with confidence and guarantees you’re on the right side of the IRS. Importance of Timely Filing Filing your federal income tax return on time is crucial for several reasons. First, meeting the Tax Day deadline, typically April 15, helps you avoid penalties and interest on unpaid taxes. If you file early, you can expedite your refund, as the IRS usually processes e-filed returns within 21 days, compared to up to eight weeks for paper returns. Missing the deadline can result in a failure-to-file penalty, accumulating at 5% of the unpaid tax each month, with a maximum of 25%. Moreover, tax payments are still due on Tax Day, regardless of any filing extensions. Timely filing minimizes penalties, and if you’re owed a refund, there’s no failure-to-file penalty, allowing you up to three years to claim it. Understanding Penalties and Extensions Comprehending the implications of penalties and extensions can markedly affect your overall tax experience. Failing to file your return by Tax Day, typically April 15, incurs a hefty penalty of 5% of unpaid taxes per month, capped at 25%. If you miss the payment, the penalty is 0.5% monthly. You can request a six-month extension to file, but any owed taxes must be paid by Tax Day to avoid penalties. Curiously, if you’re due a refund, you might avoid failure-to-file penalties, though interest on unpaid tax can still accrue. Make sure to request extensions before the original due date to reduce potential penalties and interest. Action Penalty Failing to file 5% of unpaid tax/month (max 25%) Failing to pay 0.5% of unpaid tax/month Extension request Must be made by Tax Day Refund due May avoid failure-to-file penalties Pay owed taxes Required by Tax Day to avoid penalties Need More Time? Request an Extension If you find yourself needing more time to prepare your tax return, requesting an extension can be a practical solution. An extension grants you an additional six months to file, moving your deadline to October 15. To initiate this process, you must submit IRS Form 4868 by the original tax payment due date, typically April 15. It’s essential to keep in mind that even with this extension, any taxes owed are still due by April 15 to avoid penalties and interest. When filing your extension request, make sure you include any estimated tax payments due. This helps you stay compliant with IRS regulations. Extensions are typically automatic, providing peace of mind, but it’s important to remain aware of specific state requirements, as they may differ from federal guidelines. By comprehending these details, you can effectively manage your tax obligations and avoid any unnecessary issues. Special Considerations During the process of maneuvering through the intricacies of Tax Day, it’s vital to contemplate various factors that might affect your filing timeline. For instance, if Tax Day falls on a weekend or holiday, like Emancipation Day on April 16 in Washington, D.C., the deadline shifts to the next business day. In states such as Maine and Massachusetts, local holidays like Patriots Day can likewise extend the deadline, which may impact your schedule. The IRS has occasionally provided extensions during economic hardships or natural disasters, as seen during the COVID-19 pandemic. If you find yourself unable to file on time, it’s important to submit your late tax return as soon as possible to minimize penalties. Remember, there’s no failure-to-file penalty if you’re due a refund, but failure-to-pay penalties will still apply if you owe taxes. Hardship exceptions are available for those facing extenuating circumstances, allowing for special extensions. How to File Your Federal Income Taxes In relation to filing your federal income taxes, the first step is gathering all necessary documents, like W-2s and 1099s, to guarantee you have everything you need. You can choose to file electronically, which speeds up processing and might lead to a quicker refund. Comprehending your filing methods and having a checklist of required documents can streamline the process and help you meet the Tax Day deadline. Required Documents Checklist Filing your federal income taxes requires careful preparation and organization of several key documents. First, you’ll need W-2 forms from employers and 1099 forms for any freelance or contract work. Don’t forget to include records of any extra income received during the tax year. Having last year’s tax return handy can help guarantee consistency and provide valuable information. Moreover, gather documentation for deductions or credits you plan to claim, such as receipts for medical expenses, mortgage interest statements, and records of charitable donations. A government-issued ID is also necessary to verify your identity when filing your return. Keep all documents organized and accessible to streamline the filing process and minimize the risk of errors. Filing Methods Overview Taxpayers have several options for filing their federal income taxes, each designed to accommodate different preferences and needs. You can choose to file electronically using the IRS Free File tool or various tax software, which is often recommended for its speed and accuracy. If you prefer traditional methods, paper returns must be postmarked by Tax Day, April 15, to be timely filed. Remember, electronic submissions need to be transmitted by midnight on that date. The IRS encourages early preparation to avoid last-minute stress and penalties. If needed, you can request a six-month extension, but any taxes owed must be paid by the original deadline. Furthermore, using a tax professional or online platforms offers flexibility and assistance during the filing process. What Happens If You Miss the Deadline? Missing the Tax Day deadline can lead to significant financial consequences that many mightn’t fully understand. If you fail to file your taxes on time, you may face a penalty of 5% of the unpaid tax amount for each month your return is late, up to a maximum of 25%. Moreover, if you owe taxes and don’t pay by the deadline, a failure-to-pay penalty of 0.5% per month will accrue on the unpaid amount. Interest on any unpaid taxes likewise compounds from the due date until you pay in full. Nevertheless, if you’re due a refund, there’s no failure-to-file penalty; just remember, you have three years to claim it. Filing a late return as soon as possible can help minimize penalties and interest, and you might qualify for hardship exceptions under certain circumstances, making it essential to act without delay. The Bottom Line Grasping the significance of Tax Day is vital for anyone who wants to avoid penalties and maintain compliance with IRS regulations. Tax Day, typically on April 15, marks the deadline to submit your federal income tax return for the previous year. If you miss this deadline, you could face a failure-to-file penalty of 5% of your unpaid tax per month, capped at 25%. Although you can apply for a six-month extension to file your return, you still need to pay any taxes owed by Tax Day to prevent accruing interest and additional penalties. The establishment of Tax Day in 1955 reflects the complexity of tax regulations today. Comprehending these details helps you navigate the tax process and avoid potential financial repercussions. In the end, being aware of Tax Day and its implications can save you both time and money in the long run. Frequently Asked Questions What Is the Point of Tax Day? The point of Tax Day is to guarantee you meet your legal obligation to file your federal tax return. This deadline, typically on April 15, marks the end of the tax season, prompting you to assess your financial situation from the previous year. Timely filing helps you avoid penalties and interest on unpaid taxes, encourages proactive planning for future tax obligations, and guarantees compliance with IRS requirements to maintain good standing. Why Is October 15 Important for Taxes? October 15 is essential for taxpayers who filed for an extension, as it’s the final deadline to submit federal tax returns for the previous year. If you owe taxes, you must have paid the estimated amount by the original Tax Day in April to avoid penalties. Missing this deadline can lead to additional penalties for late filing and payment, potentially complicating your tax situation and increasing your financial obligations over time. What Is the Significance of the April 15TH Tax Deadline? The April 15th tax deadline is vital since it marks the end of the tax season for most individuals. It’s when you must submit your federal tax return, ensuring compliance with IRS regulations. If you owe taxes, they’re due by this date, regardless of whether you’ve filed for an extension. Missing this deadline can result in penalties and interest, making timely filing critical for avoiding unnecessary financial burdens. What Happens if You Miss the Oct 15 Tax Deadline? If you miss the October 15 tax deadline, you may face penalties for late filing and late payment on any taxes owed. The penalty starts at 5% of the tax due for each month your return is late, capping at 25%. Furthermore, interest accrues on unpaid taxes, increasing your total debt. To minimize penalties, it’s best to file as soon as possible, even after the deadline, to reduce further charges. Conclusion In conclusion, Tax Day is essential for fulfilling your federal tax obligations, ensuring you avoid penalties and maximize potential refunds. Being aware of the deadline allows you to prepare adequately and submit your return on time. If you need additional time, you can request an extension, but keep in mind this doesn’t extend the payment deadline. Comprehending the filing process and consequences of missing the deadline can help you navigate your tax responsibilities effectively and maintain compliance. Image via Google Gemini and ArtSmart This article, "What’s Tax Day and Why Does It Matter?" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Samsung is saying goodbye to its namesake texting app, at least for United States customers. According to an end of service announcement published on the tech giant’s U.S. support website, Samsung Messages will be discontinued in July. Impacted owners of Samsung smartphones and other gadgets are being asked to switch to Google Messages in the meantime, “to maintain a consistent messaging experience on Android.” All Samsung Galaxy phones run on Google’s Android operating system. To switch to Google Messages, Samsung’s website gives users instructions to download the app from the Play Store, if not already on their phone, and set it as the default. Some people may also receive an in-app notification to guide them through the process. Samsung says switching to Google Messages will give users access to updates like the latest artificial intelligence features from Google’s Gemini — which includes an experimental feature called “Remix” to generate images during conversations and AI-powered reply suggestions — and the ability to share higher quality photos between Android and Apple iOS devices through RCS-enabled messages. Users of older Android operating systems (dating back to Android 11 or older) will not be impacted by the end of Samsung Messages, the company noted. To check what Android OS you have on a Samsung device, open the settings app, click on “software information” and scroll to “Android version.” Meanwhile, owners of Samsung’s latest Galaxy 26 lineup and other newer phones cannot download the Samsung Messages app from the Galaxy Store today. All devices will no longer be able to download Samsung Messages after it’s officially discontinued in July, the company noted. Samsung said users can check their app for the exact date for when service will go offline. Samsung confirmed in an update on its website Tuesday that this end of service guidance only applies to the U.S. market. —Associated Press View the full article

In a stark reminder of the potential pitfalls of government-backed financial assistance, a South Carolina businessman has pleaded guilty to misusing COVID-19 relief funds intended to support struggling small businesses. David Breen, 54, from Mount Pleasant, faces significant penalties after admitting to diverting over $1.2 million from the Economic Injury and Disaster Loan (EIDL) program for personal expenses, including home construction and luxury vehicle purchases. The EIDL program was designed to provide critical funding to small businesses severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Breen applied for these funds under the guise of supporting his entertainment venue, ‘Pinz,’ located in Milford, Massachusetts. He initially received approximately $1.5 million to be used for working capital. However, he misappropriated the majority of this amount, buying a home and down payments on high-end vehicles instead. This case highlights the urgent need for small business owners to understand both the responsibilities that come with accepting government assistance and the risks associated with mismanaging these funds. Currently, Breen faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, as federal authorities increasingly scrutinize instances of COVID-related fraud. In March 2022, after securing the EIDL funds, Breen’s financial mismanagement came to light, sparking an investigation by federal agencies. U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman has scheduled sentencing for June 25, 2026, emphasizing that such actions violate public trust and can result in severe legal consequences. U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley remarked, “The misuse of COVID-19 funds will not be tolerated. Our office is committed to prosecuting those who seek to exploit federal relief programs.” This statement underscores the seriousness with which federal agencies are approaching cases of fraud. While the EIDL program provided a lifeline to many legitimate small businesses during a time of unprecedented economic hardship, the Breen case illustrates the importance of ethical financial practices. Business owners should be acutely aware that all funds must be used transparently and strictly for their intended purposes. Moreover, as the pandemic continues to fade into the background for many, the fallout from fraudulent activities remains a pressing concern. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has launched initiatives such as the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to combat and prevent fraud related to pandemic relief programs. This task force collaborates with various agencies to enhance investigative efforts and hold fraudulent actors accountable. Small business owners should take heed of the ever-evolving landscape of regulatory compliance and financial management. Ensuring adherence to program guidelines not only safeguards businesses from potential legal troubles but also preserves the credibility of relief programs designed to assist those genuinely in need. The economic implications of the Breen case are profound. For small businesses that correctly utilize EIDL funding for operational and recovery needs, there remains a substantial opportunity for growth and stability in the post-pandemic recovery phase. Given the current climate, building a transparent financial framework that complies with federal guidelines can help maintain access to future funding opportunities. Furthermore, the public can report suspected fraud through the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline. Business owners and community members alike are encouraged to maintain vigilance and integrity in their financial dealings to prevent future misuse. The key takeaway here for small business owners is straightforward: understanding the responsibilities tied to government funding is crucial. Awareness of oversight regulations will help you avoid the penalties associated with misuse of funds while taking full advantage of the relief available during challenging economic times. For full details on the case and further updates from the U.S. Small Business Administration, visit the original post here. Image via Google Gemini This article, "South Carolina Businessman Guilty of Misusing $1.2M in COVID Relief Funds" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

In a stark reminder of the potential pitfalls of government-backed financial assistance, a South Carolina businessman has pleaded guilty to misusing COVID-19 relief funds intended to support struggling small businesses. David Breen, 54, from Mount Pleasant, faces significant penalties after admitting to diverting over $1.2 million from the Economic Injury and Disaster Loan (EIDL) program for personal expenses, including home construction and luxury vehicle purchases. The EIDL program was designed to provide critical funding to small businesses severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Breen applied for these funds under the guise of supporting his entertainment venue, ‘Pinz,’ located in Milford, Massachusetts. He initially received approximately $1.5 million to be used for working capital. However, he misappropriated the majority of this amount, buying a home and down payments on high-end vehicles instead. This case highlights the urgent need for small business owners to understand both the responsibilities that come with accepting government assistance and the risks associated with mismanaging these funds. Currently, Breen faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, as federal authorities increasingly scrutinize instances of COVID-related fraud. In March 2022, after securing the EIDL funds, Breen’s financial mismanagement came to light, sparking an investigation by federal agencies. U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman has scheduled sentencing for June 25, 2026, emphasizing that such actions violate public trust and can result in severe legal consequences. U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley remarked, “The misuse of COVID-19 funds will not be tolerated. Our office is committed to prosecuting those who seek to exploit federal relief programs.” This statement underscores the seriousness with which federal agencies are approaching cases of fraud. While the EIDL program provided a lifeline to many legitimate small businesses during a time of unprecedented economic hardship, the Breen case illustrates the importance of ethical financial practices. Business owners should be acutely aware that all funds must be used transparently and strictly for their intended purposes. Moreover, as the pandemic continues to fade into the background for many, the fallout from fraudulent activities remains a pressing concern. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has launched initiatives such as the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to combat and prevent fraud related to pandemic relief programs. This task force collaborates with various agencies to enhance investigative efforts and hold fraudulent actors accountable. Small business owners should take heed of the ever-evolving landscape of regulatory compliance and financial management. Ensuring adherence to program guidelines not only safeguards businesses from potential legal troubles but also preserves the credibility of relief programs designed to assist those genuinely in need. The economic implications of the Breen case are profound. For small businesses that correctly utilize EIDL funding for operational and recovery needs, there remains a substantial opportunity for growth and stability in the post-pandemic recovery phase. Given the current climate, building a transparent financial framework that complies with federal guidelines can help maintain access to future funding opportunities. Furthermore, the public can report suspected fraud through the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline. Business owners and community members alike are encouraged to maintain vigilance and integrity in their financial dealings to prevent future misuse. The key takeaway here for small business owners is straightforward: understanding the responsibilities tied to government funding is crucial. Awareness of oversight regulations will help you avoid the penalties associated with misuse of funds while taking full advantage of the relief available during challenging economic times. For full details on the case and further updates from the U.S. Small Business Administration, visit the original post here. Image via Google Gemini This article, "South Carolina Businessman Guilty of Misusing $1.2M in COVID Relief Funds" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Attention Kindle readers: Amazon may soon end support for your e-reader. Now, if you recently acquired a Kindle—recently meaning anytime in the past 10 years—you don't need to worry. But for anyone who is still rocking an older Kindle, you might be affected. The news started spreading on Tuesday, followed by a confirmation from Amazon. In a statement to PCMag, Amazon said the following: “Starting May 20, 2026, customers using Kindle and Kindle Fire devices released in 2012 and earlier will no longer be able to purchase, borrow, or download new content via the Kindle Store.” Amazon's first ever Kindle dropped back in 2007, which means there are five years worth of devices that the company is ending support for. That includes: Kindle 1st Generation (2007) Kindle DX and DX Graphite (2009 and 2010) Kindle Keyboard (2010) Kindle 4 (2011) Kindle Touch (2011) Kindle 5 (2012) Kindle Paperwhite 1st Generation (2012) Kindle Fire 1st Gen (2011) Kindle Fire 2nd Gen (2012) Kindle Fire HD 7 (2012) Kindle Fire HD 8.9 (2012) As with most device deprecations, Amazon is not killing Kindles released in 2012 and beyond. If you have an older Kindle from this time, it will continue to work, and you will be able to read on it—you just won't be able to access the Kindle Store. That might not be a dealbreaker: You can still read your existing books, or add any new titles by hand. But you won't be able to borrow books with library apps like Libby, which is how a huge number of readers use their Kindles. The issue gets worse if something happens to your device, like if you need to deregister or factory reset it. Amazon says in this case, "you will not be able to re-register or use these devices in any way." Amazon will be reaching out to affected customers directly via email, explaining the situation, and offering those users 20% off new Kindle devices as well as $20 ebook credits following the purchase of a new device. That code is valid through June 20th, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2024) $159.99 at Amazon Get Deal Get Deal $159.99 at Amazon What to do if you have an older Kindle deviceE-readers aren't really like smartphones: It's not really about having the latest and greatest features, since, for most situations, you're using your e-reader to, well, read—and often just black and white text, at that. If your 2012 or older Kindle is still doing that just fine, you might not feel a need to spend the money on an upgrade—even with Amazon's discount. Luckily, you do have some options here. First, you can continue to use the Kindle Store for now, so if you like buying ebooks, you can load up your Kindle until it gets shut off. But the long-term option is to start "sideloading" (or manually uploading) your ebooks to your device. One of the most popular apps for manually managing your ebook library is Calibre, which acts like a sort of iTunes for ebooks. You can customize each book's data (such as choosing to swap out covers), and convert ebook formats to Kindle's proprietary AZW3. While there are certainly illegal ways to obtain ebooks and sideload them to your Kindle, there are plenty of legitimate methods to buying books like this as well. That way, you can still buy your ebooks, convert them to Amazon's format, then upload them to your Kindle, without having to unnecessarily upgrade your device. View the full article

Getting a seat at the Masters is notoriously difficult, with tickets to the golf tournament only available to the public through an online lottery that has to be entered a year in advance. But the Masters may have an even more exclusive offering than attendance: a limited edition garden gnome potentially worth thousands of dollars. In 2016, Augusta National, the Georgia golf course that hosts the Masters every year, released the first gnome of what is now a coveted set of ten. Each year, the gnome sports a different outfit. Sometimes it’s a golfer, sporting a set of clubs and a sweater vest. Sometimes it’s an attendee, flexing its badge and a signature Masters snack like a peach ice cream sandwich. The new gnome for 2026 is rocking khakis, a puffer vest, and a functional umbrella that it can hold folded up or open overhead. As TikTok user Madison Hall shared in a video showing off her family’s collection of all ten gnomes, the figures frequently sell out early in the day. “My mom gets in line for this every year,” Hall said. “Crack of dawn, she will be there.” What makes these gnomes so special? They’re not particularly expensive to buy firsthand, going for $49.50 at Augusta National. But each gnome has a very limited run, only sold in person during the Masters and with a strict limit of one gnome per customer. That makes it the perfect collector’s item, and resellers have given the less-than-luxury figurines a luxury price tag. Tiny statues with massive mark-ups Though resale markets will always hike up the prices of limited edition goods, the going rates for Masters gnomes are particularly egregious, with merchandise that originally sold for $50 or less now fetching hundreds and even thousands of dollars on secondhand markets like eBay. Thus far, the most treasured gnome is the original from 2016, with two current eBay listings offering it for $9,499.99 and for $12,999 (the latter gnome is still in its box, hence the $3,500 jump in price). Last summer, one 2016 gnome sold for $10,195 at The Golf Auction after a bidding war. The auction sold nine Masters gnomes in total for $13,101, with four of those gnomes going to the same collector. The gnomes are even more valuable as a set. One eBay seller is offering all nine gnomes released from 2016 to 2025, still in mint condition in their boxes, for $39,900. Though the 2026 gnome only went on sale this week, presale listing on eBay appeared as soon as its design was announced at the end of March. As golfing app Wunderpar delved into on TikTok, resellers were offering to stand in line and purchase a gnome on a buyer’s behalf—to the tune of $800. Now that the actual gnomes are on the market, they’re on sale for rates between $500 and $750, but once the Masters conclude on April 12 and the gnomes are off the market, those numbers will likely only grow. The end of an era for Masters garden gnomes? The 2026 gnome could prove to be the most valuable of them all. Rumors are flying that it could be the last Masters gnome Augusta National ever produces, making the ten gnomes now on the resale market an official full set. A merchandising source close to Augusta National told Golf Digest that he’s “95 percent plus” certain that 2026’s gnome will be the last. It would make a nice, neat milestone to end on, exactly ten years after the first gnome’s release. But why would Augusta National pull the plug on such a popular piece of merchandise? That same source said the problem comes down to image. Long lines for merchandise and hopeful buyers camping out at the crack of dawn conjure images of Black Friday chaos, and that’s not the reputation (nor the guest experience) Augusta National wants to cultivate, he said. It’s true that resale-obsessed scalpers run counter to the Masters’s luxurious, refined image. But even if 2026 marks the final gnome release, their legacy as one of the sports world’s most exclusive items is already set in stone—or at least in resin. View the full article

Lowe’s Foundation is making a major investment in future skilled tradesworkers. On Tuesday, the home improvement retailer announced it would commit an additional $200 million to training 250,000 tradespeople by 2035 through its Gable Grants program, bringing its overall commitment to $250 million. The investment comes amid a rising need for skilled tradespeople driven by a surge in AI developments. According to JLL’s 2026 Global Data Center Outlook report, the global data center sector is expanding by about 14% a year. Over the next four years, nearly 100 gigawatts of capacity will be added, which will require a $3 trillion investment. At the same time, we’re seeing a massive wave of retirements in the trades, which is set to continue. One recent report found that by 2030, around 1.4 million blue collar jobs will be open over seven fields. Already, construction companies overwhelmingly reporting that they’re struggling to find enough skilled workers to meet demand. According to a 2025 Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) report, which analyzed Bureau of Labor Statistics data, the construction industry needs to bring an estimated 499,000 workers this year to meet demand. It’s not the first time Lowe’s has invested in the trades. In 2023, the brand announced a $50 million commitment over five years. At the time, it said it was focused on addressing “one of the most critical worker shortages” in history, explaining that around 546,000 new tradespeople were needed to meet demand that year. Now, the brand is building on the program. “American prosperity is at stake, and we are partnering to solve the workforce gap with a gro,” Marvin Ellison, Lowe’s chairman and CEO and co-champion of the Business Roundtable “Skilled Trades for America” initiative, said in the announcement. Ellison continued, “No single organization can do this alone.” Lowe’s said it would aim to reach 250,000 people over the next decade by expanding partnerships with community colleges and nonprofits and by working with organizations that connect students with employers. Lowe’s is not the only company to invest in training blue collar workers. Earlier this month, Blackrock, the world’s largest asset manager, said it would commit $100 million in training tradesworkers to support a growing infrastructure demand. At the time, Larry Fink, Chairman and CEO of BlackRock, said, “ America needs an estimated $10 trillion in infrastructure investment by 2033 to modernize aging systems and build new energy, digital, and AI infrastructure.” Fink added, “Capital alone is not enough – people are central to building our nation’s future.” View the full article

National Wealth Fund gave Gigaclear £240mn guarantee three years ago and is now the biggest shareholder View the full article

A new Basel III proposal offers mixed results for warehouse lending, with some risk-weight relief for banks but tougher terms that could crimp credit availability for nonbank mortgage lenders. View the full article