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When managing payroll for your small business, choosing the right platform is critical. Various options cater to different needs and budgets, from Gusto’s all-encompassing features to Square Payroll‘s cost-effectiveness. Each platform offers unique tools, such as tax compliance and integration with accounting software. Grasping these differences can help you select the best fit for your business’s specific requirements. Let’s explore the top seven payroll solutions that could make a significant impact on your operations. Key Takeaways Gusto offers robust payroll features with tax compliance automation, starting at $49/month plus $6/employee, ideal for small to medium-sized businesses. QuickBooks Payroll integrates seamlessly with its accounting software, providing extensive reporting and tax support, starting at $50/month plus $6/employee. Square Payroll is a budget-friendly option at $35/month plus $6/employee, focusing on simplicity and employee self-onboarding for small businesses. Paycor provides a comprehensive payroll and HR solution starting at $99/month plus $6/employee, featuring customizable reporting and a mobile app for employees. Rippling combines payroll with HR and IT management, offering tailored services starting at $40/month plus $8/employee, with customizable workflows for business needs. Gusto Gusto is a robust payroll platform designed particularly for small to medium-sized businesses, offering integrated payroll and HR services starting at $49 per month, with an additional $6 per employee. This platform stands out among payroll systems for its unlimited payroll runs and next-day direct deposit options, guaranteeing your employees are paid on time. Gusto simplifies tax compliance by automating tax calculations and filings, which minimizes the risk of costly payroll errors. With its capability to integrate with over 100 applications, including popular accounting software like QuickBooks, Gusto improves your overall business efficiency. Many consider it the best HR and payroll software for small businesses because of its dedicated customer support, which includes onboarding assistance and multiple communication channels. This guarantees that you can get help whenever you need it, making Gusto a reliable choice among payroll platforms for managing your payroll and HR needs effectively. QuickBooks Payroll QuickBooks Payroll is designed to seamlessly integrate with QuickBooks accounting software, making it a convenient option for businesses already using the platform. It offers features like unlimited payroll runs, next-day direct deposit, and automated tax calculations, which help streamline your payroll process. With a competitive starting price of $50 per month plus $6 per employee, it provides a practical solution for small businesses looking to manage payroll efficiently. Key Features Overview When managing payroll for your small business, choosing a platform that integrates well with your accounting software can make a significant difference. QuickBooks Payroll offers seamless integration with QuickBooks accounting, simplifying financial management. You’ll appreciate the unlimited payroll runs and next-day direct deposit, ensuring your employees get paid on time. The platform automates tax calculations and provides compliance support, which helps reduce payroll-related errors and keeps you on the right side of regulations. Furthermore, you gain access to extensive reporting capabilities, giving you insights into payroll liabilities and tax obligations. Plus, customer support is readily available via phone during business hours and 24/7 chat support, ensuring you can get help whenever you need it to effectively manage your pay Paycor and web for employees. Integration With Accounting Integrating payroll with your accounting software is crucial for maintaining accurate financial records, and with QuickBooks Payroll, this process is remarkably streamlined. QuickBooks Payroll seamlessly connects with QuickBooks accounting software, ensuring that your payroll data automatically syncs, reducing errors. You can easily prepare tax forms like W-2s and 1099s directly from the payroll system, minimizing manual entry mistakes. The platform also includes built-in time tracking features that sync with payroll, making wage calculations straightforward based on hours worked. Moreover, QuickBooks Payroll supports various accounting integrations, enhancing your reporting capabilities and providing an all-encompassing view of your financial health. Should you encounter any issues, customer support is available during business hours, alongside 24/7 chat assistance from payroll experts. Pricing Structure Explained Maneuvering the pricing structure of payroll services can often feel overwhelming, but comprehending QuickBooks Payroll’s costs is straightforward. The service starts at $50 per month, plus $6 for each employee, making it an appealing choice for small businesses. This pricing includes unlimited payroll runs and next-day direct deposit, ensuring your employees get paid on time. Nevertheless, if you bundle QuickBooks Payroll with other services, be aware that overall costs may increase. QuickBooks likewise allows you to migrate from other payroll platforms, though this could involve additional fees. Significantly, the pricing is scalable, meaning as your business grows and your employee count increases, the costs will adjust accordingly, helping you manage expenses effectively. Square Payroll Square Payroll offers a practical solution for small businesses looking to manage their payroll efficiently and affordably. Starting at just $35 a month plus $6 per employee, it’s a budget-friendly option that doesn’t compromise on features. The platform supports unlimited payroll runs, ensuring that you can pay your employees as often as needed during providing next-day direct deposit for timely payments. With automatic payroll runs, you can streamline your processes with minimal manual input. Square Payroll likewise includes employee self-onboarding, making it easier for new hires to get started, and it handles multistate tax filings, which is vital for managing remote workers across different locations. Although Square Payroll focuses solely on payroll functionality, it provides a thorough service that meets the needs of small businesses without bundling additional management applications. This specialization can simplify your payroll experience considerably. Paycor Paycor stands out as a robust payroll and HR solution designed to meet the diverse needs of businesses, regardless of their scale. Starting at $99 per month plus $6 per employee, Paycor offers a thorough suite of payroll and HR tools. Its customizable reporting and automated payroll processes make managing employee payments and tax filings efficient. You’ll appreciate the convenience of Paycor’s mobile app, which allows employees to access their payroll information and HR resources anytime, promoting engagement. With a focus on growth, Paycor provides customized plans that can scale with your business needs, even though additional features might increase overall costs. In addition, the platform supports various integrations, ensuring compatibility with other business tools for streamlined payroll management and reporting. Rippling Rippling is a thorough payroll platform that automates payroll processes during the integration of HR and IT management features, making it an ideal solution for businesses that require extensive administrative capabilities. Starting at $40 per month plus $8 for each employee, costs can rise with additional features or customizations. You’ll appreciate the unlimited payroll runs and next-day direct deposit, ensuring your employees get paid on time. Rippling’s cafeteria-style pricing allows you to tailor services to fit your needs, but be aware that this flexibility can lead to quickly escalating costs based on your selections. The platform likewise offers customizable workflows for payroll and HR operations, which improves efficiency and accuracy in managing employee data. Justworks Justworks offers a reliable solution for small businesses seeking affordable payroll outsourcing and PEO (Professional Employer Organization) services. With plans starting at $50 per month plus $6 per employee, it’s a budget-friendly choice for managing payroll. Here’s what you can expect from Justworks: Automated Payroll Processing: They handle W-2 preparation and tax filings, ensuring you stay compliant with federal and state regulations. Employee Tools: Justworks provides a secure online portal where your staff can access pay stubs and manage benefits easily. PEO Model: By sharing legal control over payment processes, Justworks simplifies many employer responsibilities. Limitations: Note that Justworks is designed for US-based employees, so it may not be suitable for companies with international teams. Frequently Asked Questions What Is the Best Payroll System for Small Businesses? The best payroll system for small businesses depends on your specific needs. Gusto and OnPay offer extensive services starting at $49 per month plus $6 per employee, making them ideal for integrated payroll and HR solutions. If you use QuickBooks, consider QuickBooks Payroll for seamless integration. For budget-conscious options, Patriot Payroll starts at $37 per month plus $5 per employee. ADP RUN provides advanced features but usually at a higher price point. Who Is Adp’s Biggest Competitor? ADP’s biggest competitor is Gusto, which offers integrated payroll and HR services designed for small to medium-sized businesses. With a starting price of $49 plus $6 per employee per month, Gusto provides an extensive solution that rivals ADP‘s offerings. Other notable competitors include QuickBooks Payroll, Paycor, Justworks, and Rippling, each presenting unique features and pricing structures that cater to various business needs. Comprehending these options can help you make informed decisions for your payroll management. What Is the Easiest Way to Do Payroll for a Small Business? The easiest way to handle payroll for your small business is by using automated payroll software. These platforms simplify tax calculations, streamline direct deposits, and reduce human error. Look for user-friendly interfaces that allow employees to access pay stubs and tax documents online. Cloud-based solutions enable you to manage payroll from anywhere, in addition to ensuring compliance with regulations. Many options as well include integrated HR features to support onboarding and employee management effectively. How Much Does ADP Charge for Small Business Payroll? ADP doesn’t publicly disclose its starting monthly price for small business payroll, as costs vary based on your specific needs and employee count. Typically, you’ll find a base fee plus an additional charge per employee, which increases if you add features. To get an accurate quote customized to your business, it’s best to contact ADP directly. Their scalable solutions can adapt as your business grows, ensuring you won’t need to switch providers later. Conclusion In summary, choosing the right payroll platform is essential for your small business’s efficiency and compliance. Each option, from Gusto’s robust features to Square Payroll’s affordability, offers unique benefits customized to different needs. Consider your business size, budget, and specific requirements when evaluating these platforms. With proper research and comprehension of these options, you can streamline your payroll processes, ensuring timely payments and accurate tax reporting, ultimately supporting your business’s growth. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Top 7 Payroll Platforms for Small Businesses" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

When you’re starting a business, choosing the right bookkeeping software is vital for effective financial management. It can streamline your processes, save time, and reduce errors. With various options available, each offering unique features, it’s important to identify which software aligns best with your specific needs. From invoicing to expense tracking, the right tools can greatly impact your startup’s success. Let’s explore the top seven bookkeeping software options that can help you manage your finances efficiently. Key Takeaways QuickBooks Online offers extensive features and is highly recommended for VC-backed startups, starting at $38.20/month. Xero is user-friendly, supports multi-currency transactions, and integrates with over 800 apps, starting at $20/month. FreshBooks excels in invoicing and time tracking, making it ideal for service-based startups. Wave Accounting provides free basic accounting tools, suitable for freelancers or very small businesses. Zoho Books features inventory management and is competitive for small to medium-sized businesses. Why Accounting Software Is Essential for Startups For startups maneuvering the challenging terrain of business, accounting software serves as an indispensable lifeline. With 82% of failed startups facing cash flow problems, having a reliable accounting and bookkeeping service for startups is vital for financial management. The right software can streamline your financial operations, reduce human error, and improve reporting accuracy, which is essential for attracting potential investors. Most startups lack dedicated financial expertise, making user-friendly accounting solutions crucial for efficiently handling complex financial needs. Innovative tools like Brex tackle the challenge of accountant shortages by offering important financial management capabilities, including expense tracking and banking functionalities. By adopting accounting software early, you can maintain organized finances, allowing you to concentrate on growth and scalability as well as ensuring compliance with regulatory standards. Ultimately, effective accounting software safeguards your startup’s financial health and positions you for long-term success. Key Features to Consider in Bookkeeping Software What features should you prioritize when selecting bookkeeping software for your startup? Focus on user-friendly interfaces that minimize the learning curve, allowing you to navigate easily regardless of your expertise. Scalability is vital; the software should grow with your business, accommodating increased complexity. Integration capabilities are critical for seamless data transfer between your payment processors, banking systems, and payroll software. Consider the cost-effectiveness of the bookkeeping software for startups. Evaluate not just the initial pricing but also any hidden fees and potential ROI as your business expands. Finally, look for customization options that let you tailor reports, categories, and workflows to your specific needs. Feature Importance User-Friendly Interface Reduces errors and learning time Scalability Adapts to growing transaction volume Integration Guarantees accurate financial tracking Top 7 Bookkeeping Software for Startups Choosing the right bookkeeping software can greatly impact the efficiency of your startup’s financial management. For extensive features and scalability, QuickBooks Online is highly recommended, especially for VC-backed companies. If you’re running an international startup, Xero stands out because of its user-friendly interface and multi-currency support, even though it may lack some advanced functionalities. FreshBooks is perfect for service-based startups, excelling in invoicing and time tracking, which helps in efficient project management. For freelancers or very small businesses, Wave Accounting offers free basic accounting and invoicing tools, yet it mightn’t scale well as you grow. Finally, Zoho Books is a competitive option for small to medium-sized businesses, featuring inventory management and strong integration with other Zoho applications. Each of these bookkeeping services for startups can streamline your financial processes, so consider your specific needs when making a decision. 1. Brex Brex stands out as a thorough financial platform designed particularly for startups and businesses, integrating expense management, banking, and corporate credit card services into one streamlined solution. This innovative platform serves as effective SaaS accounting software, simplifying financial workflows by seamlessly integrating with various financial products and accounting systems. Brex leverages AI-powered expense categorization, automatically organizing transactions to improve accuracy and minimize the time you spend on bookkeeping tasks. Furthermore, it features built-in compliance tools that enforce company spending policies and provide an audit trail, ensuring regulatory compliance and simplifying audits. With real-time spend tracking and budget management tools, Brex enables you to maintain visibility over your finances, empowering informed budgeting decisions. 2. QuickBooks Online QuickBooks Online serves as a robust cloud-based accounting solution customized for startups looking to manage their finances effectively. Starting at $38.20 per month after a 30-day free trial, it’s an accessible option for those seeking thorough financial management tools. Rated 4.0/5 on G2Crowd, QuickBooks Online is proven to handle complex accounting needs for small to large businesses. This SaaS for accounting integrates seamlessly with platforms like PayPal and American Express, streamlining financial tracking and payment processing. Automation features greatly reduce manual data entry, enhancing accuracy and saving time for your finance team. Essential functions such as invoicing, expense tracking, and financial reporting are built-in, allowing you to maintain organized finances and guarantee compliance. 3. Xero Regarding cloud-based accounting solutions, Xero stands out as a user-friendly option, making it easy for startups to manage their finances from virtually anywhere. With a starting price of just $20/month, it offers fundamental features customized for bookkeeping for startups, including: Invoicing capabilities to streamline billing Expense tracking to monitor spending effectively Multi-currency support for global transactions Integration with over 800 third-party applications Xero additionally incorporates AI-powered automation tools that simplify tasks like bank reconciliation and transaction categorization, saving your team valuable time. Rated 4.0 out of 5 for its performance, Xero appeals to startups seeking flexible pricing without sacrificing functionality. Its user-friendly interface guarantees that you can access vital financial data anytime, anywhere, making it an ideal choice for small businesses looking to optimize their bookkeeping processes. 4. Sage Intacct Sage Intacct stands out for its multi-entity management features, allowing you to manage multiple business units effortlessly. You can additionally take advantage of customizable reporting options that cater to your specific financial needs, giving you deeper insights into your startup’s performance. This flexibility is vital for growing businesses that require a robust solution to navigate complex financial environments. Multi-Entity Management Features Managing multiple business entities can be challenging, but with the right tools, it becomes much more manageable. Sage Intacct offers robust multi-entity management features that streamline accounting for tech startups. Here’s what you can expect: Real-time financial consolidation across entities for better visibility. Automated workflows for inter-entity transactions, reducing errors. Multi-currency support that simplifies international transactions. Customizable reporting customized to each entity’s unique needs. These capabilities allow you to maintain control over financial performance as well as ensuring that each entity operates efficiently. Customizable Reporting Options Customizable reporting options in Sage Intacct empower startups to create financial reports tailored to their specific business needs and key performance indicators (KPIs). With real-time data analysis, you can drill down into specific metrics, gaining valuable insights into your financial performance. The software allows you to easily create and modify reports using built-in templates or custom fields, making it accessible even in the absence of extensive accounting expertise. Furthermore, Sage Intacct supports multi-dimensional reporting, enabling you to analyze financial data across various dimensions, such as departments, locations, or projects. This flexibility streamlines your financial reporting processes, minimizing the time spent on manual data compilation and enhancing your decision-making, which is crucial for effective business startup accounting and bookkeeping services. Frequently Asked Questions Which Is the Best Financial Management Software for Startups? Choosing the best financial management software for your startup depends on your specific needs. QuickBooks Online offers a user-friendly interface and extensive features, making it a solid option. If you operate internationally, Xero‘s multi-currency support is beneficial. For service-based startups, FreshBooks stands out in invoicing and time tracking. Wave Accounting is great for small startups on a budget, whereas Sage Business Cloud focuses on expense tracking and reporting. Assess your requirements to find the right fit. Is Quickbooks Good for Startups? Yes, QuickBooks is good for startups. It offers crucial features like expense tracking, invoicing, and tax reporting, making financial management simpler. Its user-friendly interface means you won’t spend much time training new users. QuickBooks likewise scales easily, accommodating growth in transaction volumes as it automates tasks to boost efficiency. With over 650 integrations, it guarantees seamless data management, preventing silos and facilitating compatibility with other financial systems you might use. What Is the Best Software for a Bookkeeping Business? When choosing the best software for a bookkeeping business, consider options like QuickBooks Online for its robust features and integrations, which cater to diverse client needs. FreshBooks shines in invoicing and time tracking, making it ideal for service-based firms. Xero offers great multi-user access and integrates with numerous third-party apps, enhancing collaboration. For startups, Wave Accounting is a free choice, providing crucial functionalities, though it may lack advanced features as your business expands. Is Accounting Software Good for Startups? Yes, accounting software is beneficial for startups. It streamlines financial management by automating tasks, reducing errors, and saving time. With user-friendly interfaces, you can easily manage finances, even without extensive financial expertise. Furthermore, scalable features allow you to handle increased transaction volumes as your business grows. Integrating accounting software with other tools in your tech stack improves efficiency and accuracy, helping you focus on growth as you maintain financial oversight. Conclusion In conclusion, choosing the right bookkeeping software is essential for your startup’s financial health. Each option, from Brex’s expense management to QuickBooks Online‘s all-encompassing features, offers unique advantages customized to different business needs. By evaluating the key features and your specific requirements, you can select software that streamlines your financial processes, improves reporting capabilities, and in the end supports your growth. Investing in the right tool will not just save time but will likewise help you make informed financial decisions. Image via Google Gemini This article, "7 Top Bookkeeping Software for Startups" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Oracle has unveiled a transformative addition to its suite of HR solutions with the launch of Fusion Agentic Applications. Designed to empower small businesses, these AI-driven applications aim to simplify complex HR tasks, allowing teams to focus on strategic initiatives rather than tedious administrative duties. The core strength of these new applications lies in their use of specialized AI agents that not only assist but also execute tasks autonomously. The applications operate within Oracle’s existing Fusion Cloud Applications security framework and have the ability to manage sensitive enterprise data securely. This capability makes complex HR functions—such as scheduling, employee support, and career development—more efficient. Chris Leone, Oracle’s executive vice president of Applications Development, emphasized the myriad challenges faced by HR professionals today. “HR leaders and managers are being asked to deliver better employee experiences, make faster decisions, and support compliance efforts,” he said. The Fusion Agentic Applications aim to alleviate these pressures, enabling HR teams to shift from manual processes to automated, proactive executions. Among the eight new applications is the Career Advancement Command Center, which facilitates employee mobility by connecting individuals to job opportunities and relevant events. This shifts typical career development from an ad hoc approach to one rooted in strategic planning. Another standout is the Hiring Workspace for Store Managers, which streamlines hiring workflows specifically designed for retail settings. By reducing administrative burdens, small business owners can expedite their talent acquisition processes, ensuring that they attract and secure required personnel swiftly. A common pain point for many businesses is managing multiple systems. The Contract Compliance Workspace addresses this by automating contract execution and providing context-based insights for next steps. This feature transforms fragmented contract management into a more cohesive operation, allowing for consistency and scalability. The Manager Concierge Workspace guides managers with actionable insights on team decision-making, allowing for more focused management strategies. By offering policy-backed, one-click actions, this application makes it easier for managers to prioritize tasks. Small businesses often struggle with employee support systems, which is why the My Help Workspace for Employees is particularly valuable. It allows for faster resolutions of issues, cutting down on the time employees typically spend chasing support tickets. The self-service nature of this workspace encourages quicker problem-solving and improves overall employee satisfaction. The applications also emphasize targeted development with tools like the Team Learning Workspace for Managers, specifically designed to identify skill gaps and prioritize training needs. Small business owners can transform their learning management from reactive approaches to proactive development strategies, enhancing the capabilities of their staff. However, integrating such advanced technology can come with its challenges. Small business owners may need to invest time and resources to ensure a smooth transition. The successful implementation of these applications relies on a robust understanding of both the technology and the specific needs of the workforce. Some businesses may need additional training and support to maximize the benefits offered by these innovative solutions. Additionally, as these solutions are powered by large language models (LLMs), businesses must remain vigilant about data security and compliance. Oracle has designed its Fusion Agentic Applications with built-in safety controls and observability features to mitigate risks. Still, organizations should consider their own compliance requirements before rolling out these tools. In essence, Oracle’s new Fusion Agentic Applications offer small business owners a promising route to streamline HR processes, improve employee experiences, and enhance productivity through automation. As organizations look to remain competitive in today’s fast-paced landscape, leveraging this technology could be the key to driving better business outcomes. For more detailed information about Oracle’s offerings, visit the official page here. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Oracle Launches AI-Powered Fusion Applications to Transform HR Processes" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

President Biden had issued a rule in 2024 requiring newly constructed homes to abide by an energy mandate to be eligible for FHA- or USDA-backed mortgages. View the full article

Investors to scrutinise AI spending plans from companies that represent almost one-fifth of the S&P 500’s market capView the full article

Despite many intermittent attempts throughout the years to learn another language, I currently speak only English. I understand some words and phrases in Spanish and Portuguese, but I can't have a conversation in either, and I'd like to change that. As it happens, Google Translate's newest feature might be able to help me a bit on my language learning journey—even if it is a bit brutally honest along the way. How Google Translate's new pronunciation tool worksAs reported by TechCrunch, Google Translate now offers pronunciation practice as part of its experience, a la Duolingo. Like Duoligno, Google Translate can listen to your attempt at speaking a specific word, phrase, or sentence, and will offer feedback based on how its AI thinks you did. The app can even offer pronunciation guidance, so you can focus less on trying to sound out the words yourself, and more on how those words phonetically sound. Nick Fox, senior vice president of Knowledge & Information at Google, shared the new feature in an X post on Tuesday: This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. Per the post, here's how it's supposed to work: Once you enter a word, phrase, or sentence and the app translates it, a new "Practice" options appears at the bottom of the page. Tap this, and you'll open the "Pronunciation" menu. You can listen to the translation again, but tap "Pronounce," and Google Translate will open a pop-up menu with the phonetic pronunciation listed beneath the translation. In tandem, the app activates your device's mic, so you can start speaking. Once you're done, the app processes your attempt and gives you some advice. In the example above, Google Translate told the user they were "Moving in the right direction," but "some sounds were a little unclear." Google's pronunciation practice isn't quite rolling out in full yetThis pronunciation feature seems like a great addition to one of (if not the) most popular translation apps in the world. And yet, the feature seems to be rolling out both slowly and half-finished. On my Pixel 8 Pro, I don't have the option whatsoever. On my iPhone, I have a similar feature, but not quite what's advertised here. Here's how I've gotten that to work: After translating something, I don't have the "Practice" option at the bottom of the screen. However, I do have a "Speak" option that appears when I hit the speaker button on the translation. This pulls up a very close experience to what was displayed in Fox's post: I get the translation and the ability to speak into the mic, but I don't get the clear phonetic spelling—just the transliteration of it. It's not unhelpful, but the phonetic spelling would be much easier to follow along, especially when I'm trialing Hindi. Unfortunately, I can't read Devanagari characters, so it isn't all that helpful when Google asks me to focus on them while trying to speak. "Try saying..." doesn't really work when I don't understand the characters, Google. Credit: Lifehacker Still, I was able to go off of both the transliteration and the audio of the translation in my attempt to speak the language. Once I finished speaking, I found another quirk not featured in Google's announcement: a grade! In addition to direct feedback, Google gave me a percentage score out of 100 based on how well it thinks I did. I typically fare much better with Spanish than Hindi, but it's only my first day trying the latter after all. Maybe after Google rolls out the feature a bit more, I'll get more of the advertised experience here. But even in its current form, this is a useful tool. I look forward to Google expanding the supported languages here, but, for now, anyone looking to learn Spanish or Hindi may find a boost with this feature—assuming it appears on your device. View the full article

Uber Technologies is doing everything it can to save its customers’ time, but for CEO Dara Khosrowshahi, the company’s sixth annual GO-GET event in New York City was something of a trip through time. On Wednesday, Khosrowshahi and other members of Uber’s leadership unveiled a slew of new features, and also announced Hotels on Uber, a new hotel-booking feature, working in concert with Expedia, a company for which Khosrowshahi previously served as CEO. The feature allows users to book hotel rooms directly in the Uber app, similar to how they’d hail a ride or order food through Uber Eats. Khosrowshahi said that travel was Uber’s “next frontier,” and that “taking all of the complexity” related to booking travel “and making it as easy to get an Uber” was “only natural” for the company. “You can go, you can get, and now, you can travel,” he said during the event. Adding that the partnership with Expedia—which will list some 700,000 hotel properties through Uber’s platform—is “the perfect marriage.” Additionally, Ariane Gorin, the CEO of Expedia, made an appearance, reiterating how natural of a fit it is for the two companies to work together. “Where Uber can take you, we can help you stay,” she said, adding that the combined powers of the two companies can, ultimately, “save people time and money.” Separately, Uber also announced that every single property on VRBO, a vacation rentals site, will be on the Uber platform as well later this year. Booking hotels through Uber could also net discounts and Uber One credits for members. Overall, saving time was the overarching theme of the event. The company also rolled out more new features: Eats for the Way: The ability for users to pre-order coffee, tea, or a snack with Uber Black in some markets. Travel Mode: A new “experience” within the Uber and Uber Eats apps that offers up recommendations, depending on where, specifically, the user is. For instance, travelers in a new city will get restaurant recommendations, points of interest, and even a new “room service” feature allowing them to order Uber Eats directly to their hotel room. Shop for Me: Shop for Me allows users to request goods or items from any store out there—not just the ones that are on the Uber platform. The app will find a courier who then goes out and gets the item, no matter how specific. Cart Assistant: An AI-powered feature allowing users to create shopping lists from image uploads or text prompts. It can also work within a certain budget, and develop meal plans as well. Voice Bookings: Another AI feature that debuted was the ability to book rides with verbal prompts. For example, a user could say, out loud, “book me a ride to the airport with enough room for five people,” and an AI assistant will make the necessary arrangements. In all, it’s a push for Uber to become an “everything” platform and squeeze into competing spaces, particularly in the travel-booking industry. But the partnership with Expedia, and the upcoming partnership with VRBO shows that the company can carry weight in the space, and the new features do make it easy for users to book nearly everything they’d need on a trip in one place. View the full article

When you’re looking for the best free video software options, there are several remarkable choices available. Each program caters to different skill levels and preferences, providing features that can meet your needs. From iMovie‘s robust 4K editing capabilities for Mac users to the CapCut user-friendly interface, there’s something for everyone. Open-source options like Kdenlive and OpenShot additionally offer advanced functionalities without any cost. Explore these programs further to see which one aligns with your editing goals. Key Takeaways Adobe Premiere Rush offers a user-friendly interface with automated editing features, perfect for beginners creating quick content on Windows and Mac. iMovie is a free, intuitive option for Mac users, supporting 4K editing and seamless iCloud integration for cross-device access. CapCut provides high-quality exports in 1080p and 4K without watermarks, accessible on iOS, Android, and web browsers. OpenShot is an open-source software with a drag-and-drop interface, supporting unlimited layers and built-in effects for creative projects. VSDC Free Video Editor allows high-quality 4K exports and offers advanced tools for video stabilization and audio editing, catering to both beginners and professionals. Adobe Premiere Rush Adobe Premiere Rush is a versatile video editing tool customized for those who need to create and share content quickly. This user-friendly software is available on both Windows and Mac, making it accessible for many users. As one of the best free video software options, it allows you to export videos at 1080p and 60fps without a subscription, though 4K exports do require one. Premiere Rush simplifies video editing by enabling automatic clip assembly, which is perfect for beginners or those pressed for time. During it features a single-track editing interface that’s easy to navigate, it lacks some advanced functionalities found in open source editing software, such as chroma keying. Overall, it integrates seamlessly with Adobe Creative Cloud for cross-device access. Clipchamp For those seeking a web-based video editing solution, Clipchamp offers a convenient platform that runs directly in your browser, eliminating the need for high-powered computer specifications. This software supports multi-track editing, allowing you to layer audio and video effectively for more complex projects. With a variety of free templates and assets, you can improve your creative process without incurring additional costs. Here are three key features to evaluate: 1080p Exports: The free version allows you to export videos in high definition. Browser Compatibility: Works seamlessly in browsers like Chrome and Edge. Internet Dependency: Performance relies on your internet speed, so a stable connection is crucial for the best editing experience. Imovie If you’re an Apple user looking for a straightforward video editing solution, iMovie is an excellent choice that’s available for free on Mac, iPhone, and iPad. With its user-friendly interface, you can easily navigate the editing process, making it ideal for beginners aiming to create high-quality videos. iMovie offers advanced tools like chroma keying for green screen effects and video stabilization, which improves shaky footage. Plus, it seamlessly integrates with iCloud, allowing you to access and edit your projects across multiple Apple devices. Supporting 4K video editing and export, iMovie guarantees that you can produce content in high resolution, meeting the demands of various platforms as it upholds a professional standard for your videos. Kdenlive Kdenlive stands out as a user-friendly open-source video editor that works seamlessly across Windows, Mac, and Linux. It offers advanced editing features, including multi-track editing and GPU rendering support, making it suitable for both newcomers and experienced users. With its customizable layout and extensive online tutorials, Kdenlive guarantees you can effectively utilize its robust tools for any project. User-Friendly Interface How does Kdenlive create a user-friendly experience for video editors? Kdenlive stands out with its customizable interface, allowing you to rearrange panels and tools to fit your editing workflow. This flexibility improves usability, making it easier to navigate your projects. You can likewise take advantage of multi-track editing, which lets you manage several audio and video tracks simultaneously for more complex projects. Furthermore, Kdenlive provides a wide range of built-in effects and transitions, perfect for adding professional touches without needing extensive experience. Here are three key features that contribute to its user-friendliness: Customizable workspace for personal workflow. Multi-track editing for complex projects. Extensive documentation and community tutorials for quick learning. Advanced Editing Features Building on its user-friendly interface, Kdenlive in addition offers a suite of advanced editing features that cater to more experienced video editors. You can utilize multi-track editing to seamlessly combine multiple video and audio tracks, achieving a polished final product. The software provides advanced effects and shifts, along with a variety of customizable filters that improve video quality. Kdenlive likewise supports GPU rendering, boosting performance, even though this feature remains experimental for some users. With the ability to create complex timelines using keyframe animations, you gain precise control over effects and shifts throughout your project. As an open-source platform, Kdenlive benefits from a robust community that regularly contributes updates and helpful tutorials for your guidance. Multi-Platform Compatibility When you’re looking for video editing software that works across different operating systems, Kdenlive stands out due to its impressive multi-platform compatibility. This open-source software runs smoothly on Windows, Mac, and Linux, making it accessible to a broad audience. Here are three key features that improve its appeal: Multi-track editing: You can work with multiple audio and video tracks simultaneously, perfect for complex projects. Diverse effects and shifts: Kdenlive offers a wide array of creative options, regardless of the OS you’re using. User-friendly interface: It caters to both beginners and advanced users, allowing everyone to edit videos efficiently. Kdenlive’s compatibility guarantees seamless project sharing and collaboration across different systems, maintaining functionality throughout. DaVinci Resolve DaVinci Resolve offers professional-grade editing tools that cater to both beginners and experienced users alike. With cross-platform compatibility, you can run it on Windows, macOS, or Linux, making it accessible for a wide range of users. Its intuitive interface and robust features, such as high-resolution editing and multi-cam capabilities, enable you to tackle diverse video projects efficiently. Professional-Grade Editing Tools If you’re looking for professional-grade video editing tools, DaVinci Resolve stands out as a top choice that caters to both novices and seasoned editors. This influential software offers extensive features that improve your projects considerably. Here are three key benefits: Advanced Color Correction: You can achieve stunning visuals with precise color grading tools that rival industry standards. Multi-Camera Editing: Easily manage footage from multiple angles, streamlining your editing process for dynamic storytelling. Robust Audio Tools: Integrate audio editing seamlessly, ensuring your sound quality matches your video production. Additionally, DaVinci Resolve supports 4K exports in the free version, allowing you to create high-quality videos without watermarks, making it an outstanding choice for serious projects. Cross-Platform Compatibility Video editing has become increasingly versatile, especially with software that supports cross-platform compatibility. DaVinci Resolve is an excellent choice, as it works seamlessly on Windows, macOS, and Linux. This accessibility allows you to edit high-resolution 8K projects without limitations. Feature Details Supported Platforms Windows, macOS, Linux Video Resolution 8K video editing Multi-Source Editing Collaborative features improve productivity Regular Updates Guarantees compatibility and performance With DaVinci Resolve’s cross-platform functionality, you can easily transfer and edit projects across devices without losing quality. Regular updates guarantee you benefit from the latest features, making it a reliable choice for all users. CapCut CapCut stands out as a versatile video editing tool that caters to users of all skill levels. Its user-friendly interface and robust features make it a popular choice for both beginners and experienced editors. Here are three key aspects that improve your editing experience: High-Quality Exports: You can export videos in 1080p and 4K resolutions without watermarks in the free version. Built-In Templates: CapCut offers various templates and stock assets, allowing for quick and creative production customized for social media. Advanced Features: It includes tools like chroma keying for green screen effects and AI-driven automatic caption generation. With availability on iOS, Android, and web browsers, you can edit videos seamlessly, no matter where you are. Adobe Express Adobe Express provides a user-friendly interface that makes video editing accessible, especially for beginners. With features like a drag-and-drop design, a library of templates, and stock assets, you can create polished videos quickly. Nevertheless, although it offers crucial editing tools and the ability to download in 4K without watermarks, some advanced features may be limited compared to professional software. User-Friendly Interface When you’re looking for an accessible video editing tool, Adobe Express stands out due to its user-friendly interface, which simplifies the editing process for everyone. You don’t need extensive technical skills to create professional-looking videos. Here are three key aspects that make it so approachable: Drag-and-Drop Functionality: Easily upload and arrange your video clips without hassle. Generous Free Plan: Create and export videos in 4K resolution without watermarks, making it ideal for beginners and content creators alike. Built-in Tutorials: Access helpful resources that quickly teach you how to use the various tools and features effectively. With these features, Adobe Express guarantees a smooth editing experience that caters to users at all skill levels. Features and Limitations Though many users appreciate the accessibility of Adobe Express, it’s important to understand both its features and limitations. The platform offers a user-friendly, web-based editing experience with a drag-and-drop interface, perfect for beginners. You can download 4K videos without watermarks on the free plan, enabling high-quality content creation. It additionally includes a variety of templates and basic editing tools like trimming and text overlays, streamlining your projects. However, keep in mind that some advanced features and assets require a subscription. Here’s a quick overview: Feature Available for Free Requires Subscription 4K Video Downloads Yes No Templates Yes No Advanced Editing Tools No Yes Design Assets Yes No Watermarks No No OpenShot OpenShot is a versatile open-source video editor that caters to users on Windows, Mac, and Linux platforms, making it an excellent choice for beginners looking to immerse themselves in video editing. Its user-friendly drag-and-drop interface simplifies importing and arranging clips, audio, and images. OpenShot supports unlimited layers, allowing you to create complex projects with multiple video tracks and effects. Here are three key features: Built-in Effects: OpenShot includes various video effects, shifts, and animations to improve your videos creatively. Regular Updates: The software receives frequent updates, ensuring you have access to the latest tools and features. Accessibility: Its compatibility across multiple platforms allows you to work on your projects regardless of your operating system. VideoPad VideoPad is a potent yet user-friendly video editing software that caters to a wide range of users, from beginners to those with more advanced skills. Compatible with Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android, it offers flexibility across devices. You can export videos in up to 4K resolution and in various formats, including AVI, WMV, and MP4. This feature guarantees your videos look great on different platforms. Furthermore, VideoPad includes unlimited audio tracks and a library of royalty-free sounds, enhancing your project’s audio experience. Quick sharing options allow you to publish videos directly to social media from within the application. Nevertheless, keep in mind that the free version is limited to non-commercial use and may restrict access to some advanced features. VSDC Free Video Editor VSDC Free Video Editor stands out as a versatile option for anyone looking to create high-quality videos without spending money. This software allows you to export videos in up to 4K resolution and supports multiple formats like MP4, AVI, and MOV. Here are three notable features: Advanced Tools: Enjoy video stabilization, color correction, and audio editing to improve your projects considerably. User-Friendly Interface: Suitable for beginners yet offers professional-grade tools for experienced editors. DVD Burning: It includes capabilities for burning videos to DVD, making it a great choice for creating physical copies. With no watermarks on exported videos, VSDC guarantees a clean presentation of your finished projects, making it an excellent free option for video editing. Frequently Asked Questions What Is the Best Free Software to Make Videos? When you’re looking for the best free software to make videos, consider options like DaVinci Resolve for its professional-grade tools and color correction features. HitFilm Express offers video editing combined with visual effects but requires registration. VSDC Free Video Editor is suitable for lower-spec computers, whereas Shotcut provides extensive filters. If you’re a Mac user, iMovie makes editing iPhone footage easy with its user-friendly interface and advanced features. What Is the No. 1 Best Video Editor? The no. 1 best video editor is DaVinci Resolve, known for its professional-grade features and extensive color correction options. It supports 8K editing, making it suitable for high-quality production without any costs. You’ll find it compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux, catering to various users. Meanwhile, the software has a steep learning curve, it offers numerous tutorials. Furthermore, the free version includes no watermarks and allows unlimited exports, appealing to serious content creators. Which Is the Best Free Video Cutter Software? When choosing the best free video cutter software, consider options like Shotcut for its versatility and support for various formats, or VSDC Free Video Editor, which offers non-linear editing and 4K exports. Avid Media Composer First provides advanced trimming tools but limits exports to 1080p. If you seek an intuitive interface, Filmora might appeal to you, though it may add watermarks. Finally, Lightworks gives you professional-grade tools but restricts free exports to 720p. What Do Youtubers Use to Edit for Free? YouTubers often use several free video editing software options to create content. DaVinci Resolve is popular for its advanced tools, especially in color correction. iMovie appeals to Mac users for its simplicity and integration with Apple devices. Shotcut is a versatile open-source choice compatible across platforms. Lightworks provides robust trimming features, though it limits exports to 720p. Clipchamp offers a web-based solution with templates for quick editing, making it accessible for many creators. Conclusion In conclusion, choosing the right free video software depends on your specific needs and skills. Options like iMovie and CapCut are excellent for beginners, whereas Kdenlive and DaVinci Resolve cater to more advanced users. Clipchamp offers convenient online editing, and VSDC provides a versatile toolset. By exploring these top picks, you can find the software that best fits your project requirements and editing style, enabling you to create quality videos without incurring costs. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Best Free Video Software Options: Top 10 Picks" was first published on Small Business Trends 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. If you’re looking for a gaming laptop with solid 3D performance, the 2025 Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 AI Gaming Laptop is one of your top options. Gamers love it because it combines high-end performance with an ultra-fast display refresh rate, and right now, the price isn't bad either: This Windows laptop is 25% off on Amazon, bringing it down to $1,639.99 (originally $2,199.99). 2025 Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 AI Gaming Laptop $2,199.99 at Amazon Get Deal Get Deal $2,199.99 at Amazon An upgrade from the 2024 model, this machine is powered by an Intel Core Ultra 9 processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti GPU, and has a 16-inch display with a 240Hz refresh rate. After calibration, it has good color accuracy, making it a great choice for gamers and creatives. It has ports for Ethernet, USB-A, USB-C, and more. It comes with 16 GB of RAM and 1 TB of storage. A cheaper alternative to flagship ASUS machines with similar specs, this laptop is well priced for the level of performance it delivers. For gamers seeking a laptop that provides near-desktop-level performance and specs that stand up to demanding competitive gaming, the 2025 Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 is a strong option made more compelling by a 25% discount. Our Best Editor-Vetted Tech Deals Right Now Apple AirPods 4 Active Noise Cancelling Wireless Earbuds — $148.99 (List Price $179.00) Apple Watch Series 11 [GPS 46mm] Smartwatch with Jet Black Aluminum Case with Black Sport Band - M/L. Sleep Score, Fitness Tracker, Health Monitoring, Always-On Display, Water Resistant — $329.00 (List Price $429.00) Apple iPad 11" 128GB A16 WiFi Tablet (Blue, 2025) — $319.99 (List Price $349.00) Fire TV Stick 4K Plus Streaming Player With Remote (2025 Model) — $49.99 (List Price $49.99) Fitbit Versa 4 Fitness Smartwatch (Black) — $149.95 (List Price $199.95) Deals are selected by our commerce team View the full article

What does a project manager do? The answer comes down to turning ideas into organized execution while keeping people, budgets and timelines aligned from start to finish. But it’s a little more complicated than that. In this blog, we’ll go over the most crucial responsibilities of a project manager to get a better understanding of what a project manager does. What Is the Role of a Project Manager? A project manager is the person responsible for guiding a project from kickoff to completion. The role centers on building a clear plan, coordinating people, managing deadlines, controlling costs and solving problems before they grow. They connect leadership goals with day-to-day execution, keep teams focused on deliverables and adjust course when conditions change so the project reaches its intended outcome. When you’re ready to take control of your projects, try ProjectManager. This award-winning project management software helps teams plan, schedule and track work from start to finish. Create detailed schedules, manage resources, monitor costs and compare planned versus actual performance with a full suite of powerful tools. Get started for free today. /wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Light-mode-portfolio-dashboard-CTA-1600x851.pngLearn more What Does a Project Manager Do? Guiding project teams towards success isn’t an easy task, but a complex one made up of many responsibilities that have to be balanced daily. So, to answer the question “What does a project manager do?” We must first identify the most important responsibilities of a project manager. 1. Project Planning At the planning stage, the project manager turns objectives into a workable execution strategy. They define scope, break deliverables into tasks, estimate timelines, identify dependencies and choose how progress will be measured. Early planning also includes reviewing risks and constraints. When this step is done well, the team starts with direction instead of confusion and avoids costly rework later. /wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Project-Plan-Screenshot.jpgFree download 2. Project Scheduling Once the plan is set, the project manager builds a schedule that shows when work happens and who needs to act next. They sequence tasks, set milestones, manage deadlines and adjust dates when delays appear. Scheduling keeps teams coordinated because everyone understands timing. It also helps leadership see whether the project is on track or needs intervention. /wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Gantt-chart-template-for-Excel-600x264.pngFree download 3. Project Budgeting Money needs structure, so the project manager creates and manages the project budget. They estimate labor, materials, software, vendors and contingency costs before spending begins. During execution, they compare actual costs against the plan, explain variances and recommend corrections. Careful budgeting prevents surprises, protects margins and helps decision-makers know whether the project remains financially viable. /wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Project-Budget-Screenshot-600x167.jpgFree download 4. Task Management Daily execution depends on clear ownership, which is where task management comes in. The project manager assigns work, sets priorities, confirms deadlines, and ensures handoffs between team members happen smoothly. They also remove blockers when tasks stall. Good task management keeps momentum high, reduces duplicated effort and makes responsibilities visible across the project team. /wp-content/uploads/2026/03/How-to-become-a-project-manager-banner-ad.jpg 5. Risk Management Problems rarely appear without warning, so the project manager looks ahead for threats that could affect cost, schedule or quality. They identify possible risks, assess likelihood, rank impact and create response plans before issues occur. Throughout the project, they monitor triggers and update actions. Strong risk management reduces disruption and helps teams respond calmly under pressure. /wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Risk-Tracking-Screenshot.jpgFree download 6. Resource Management Even strong plans fail when people or tools are overloaded. The project manager matches available resources to upcoming work by balancing workloads, securing equipment, coordinating vendors and resolving capacity gaps. They watch utilization so key staff are not burned out while others sit idle. Effective resource management improves productivity and keeps delivery dates realistic. /wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Resource-Plan-Screenshot-600x213.jpgFree download 7. Stakeholder Management Projects involve sponsors, clients, leaders and users who all expect different things. The project manager manages those relationships by setting expectations, sharing updates, gathering feedback and resolving concerns early. They also identify who influences decisions and when to involve them. Strong stakeholder management builds trust, speeds approvals and reduces surprises that can derail delivery. /wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Stakeholder-Analysis-Screenshot-600x211.jpgFree download 8. Team Management Results depend on people, so the project manager helps the team perform consistently. They clarify responsibilities, coordinate collaboration, address conflicts and keep everyone focused on priorities. Motivation matters too, which means recognizing wins and maintaining momentum during pressure. Effective team management improves accountability, communication and morale, making it easier to hit deadlines with quality work. /wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Team-Light-2554x1372-1-600x322.pngLearn more 9. Quality Control Finishing on time means little if the output is flawed. The project manager sets quality standards, reviews deliverables, coordinates testing and ensures work meets agreed requirements. When defects appear, they organize corrections and prevent repeat issues. Consistent quality control protects customer satisfaction, avoids rework costs and helps the final result perform as intended. /wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Quality-control-template-screenshot-600x151.pngFree download 10. Project Scope Management Scope management is about controlling what the project will and will not deliver. The project manager defines requirements, documents boundaries and confirms stakeholders agree before execution begins. As new requests arise, they evaluate whether those items belong in the project. Strong scope management keeps teams focused and prevents uncontrolled expansion that strains time and budget. /wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Project-Scope-Screenshot-600x443.jpgFree download 11. Project Change Management Change is normal once real work starts. The project manager reviews requested changes to timelines, costs, features or priorities, then measures the impact before approval. They coordinate decisions, update plans and communicate adjustments to the team. Good change management keeps projects flexible without creating chaos or constant disruption to ongoing work. /wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Change-Management-Plan-Template-600x610.pngFree download 12. Progress Tracking Leaders need to know where things stand, and teams need visibility on next steps. The project manager tracks completed tasks, upcoming milestones, schedule variance, budget performance and key blockers. They compare actual progress against the baseline plan and act when gaps appear. Reliable progress tracking allows faster decisions and keeps projects moving forward. /wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Progress-Report-Screenshot-600x559.jpgFree download 13. Issue Management Unlike risks, issues are problems already affecting the project now. The project manager identifies the root cause, assigns ownership, sets response deadlines and follows through until resolution. They also escalate urgent matters when authority or resources are needed. Strong issue management limits delays, reduces confusion and prevents one unresolved problem from creating several more. /wp-content/uploads/2016/06/issue-tracking-template-zoomed-in-600x169.jpgFree download 14. Cost Control Budgets can drift quickly once execution begins, so the project manager controls spending throughout delivery. They review invoices, labor hours, purchase requests and forecasted costs against the approved budget. When overruns appear, they recommend adjustments such as reprioritizing scope or reducing waste. Effective cost control protects profitability and keeps financial expectations realistic. /wp-content/uploads/2025/05/cost-breakdown-template-1-600x255.pngFree download 15. Documentation Management Projects generate decisions, plans, approvals and records that need to be easy to find later. The project manager organizes schedules, meeting notes, change requests, status reports, contracts and technical documents in a clear system. They keep versions current and ensure access for the right people. Good documentation management prevents confusion and supports accountability. /wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Project-documentation-template-600x202.pngFree download Project Manager FAQs What Does a Project Manager Do Day to Day? We’ve established what the main responsibilities of a project manager are, but what does a project manager do every day? A normal day often starts by checking schedules, dashboards, emails and urgent blockers to see where attention is needed first. From there, the project manager runs standups or status meetings, follows up on overdue tasks, updates timelines and answers questions from the team. Midday may involve budget reviews, stakeholder calls or vendor coordination. Later hours are usually spent solving issues, adjusting priorities, documenting decisions and preparing progress updates for leadership. What Does a Project Manager Do When Teams Disagree? When teams disagree, the project manager steps in to clarify facts, priorities and project goals. They listen to each side, identify the source of conflict and guide discussion toward a workable solution. By keeping conversations focused on outcomes, they restore collaboration and prevent delays or tension. How Do Project Managers Keep Projects on Track? Project managers keep projects on track by comparing actual progress against the project plan and approved baselines for scope, schedule and cost. They monitor deadlines, resolve blockers and adjust priorities when needed. Teams stay aligned through clear communication, while schedules and dashboards help spot delays early. Fast decisions and consistent follow-up protect delivery dates and overall project performance. What Does a Project Manager Do When a Project Falls Behind? When a project falls behind, the project manager identifies the cause, whether it is resource shortages, unclear priorities or missed deadlines. They rework the project schedule, reassign tasks, remove obstacles and communicate revised expectations. Recovery may involve schedule compression techniques such as crashing or fast tracking. The goal is to regain time without harming quality or budget. Do Project Managers Do the Work Themselves? Project managers are typically not the people performing the technical, operational or production tasks. Their role is to delegate work to the right team members, coordinate execution, set priorities and remove obstacles that slow progress. While they may support planning or reporting activities directly, delivery depends on managing others rather than doing the hands-on work themselves. How to Manage Work with ProjectManager ProjectManager is an online project management solution that provides a complete set of work planning, scheduling and tracking tools, including Gantt charts, kanban boards, task lists and real-time dashboards and reports. With these features, teams across industries can build detailed schedules, assign resources and monitor progress, costs and timelines. ProjectManager also delivers AI-powered project insights to support better decision-making and connects with over 100 tools like Microsoft Project, Acumatica and Power BI. With its open API and wide range of integrations, organizations can seamlessly link ProjectManager to their existing systems. Want to learn more about what a project manager is? Watch our video below. If you need a tool to help you manage projects, then sign up for our software now at ProjectManager. Our online software helps teams across industries plan, track and oversee projects as they unfold. Sign up for a free 30-day trial today! The post What Does a Project Manager Do? 15 Key Responsibilities appeared first on ProjectManager. View the full article

When The Devil Wears Prada debuted in 2006, it introduced the world to cerulean blue and the not-so-glam life of fashion and editorial. This spring, as the world readies not for florals but for the film’s sequel, questions around toxic work cultures—and how to handle them—are resurfacing. Fresh discourse on the topic was sparked during the upcoming movie’s press tour, when Emily Blunt—who plays the English, overworked but fashionable first assistant to the editor-in-chief of a magazine—revisited one of her character’s most iconic scenes. In the scene, Blunt’s character (also named Emily), who is wearing Valentino and an early-aughts smoky eye, dashes into her office teary-eyed from a cold. Seemingly flustered by feeling under the weather and a crushing workload ahead, the character whispers a mantra while settling into her desk. “I love my job, I love my job, I love my job,” she says in the movie. The scene has since become a meme for overworked millennial and Gen Z fans navigating corporate life. “Find something that you deeply want to do” During an interview with Betches, Blunt revealed that the scene was improvised, but upon being asked if she had any tips for young women hating their jobs, her response sparked a larger conversation about the state of the job market. “Quit,” she replied. “Just find something that you deeply want to do. Even if you’re earning no money, as long as you love it, you’ll be happy.” Not everyone found the advice especially helpful, arguing that, amid inflation, the rising cost of living, and a shrinking job market riddled with layoffs, opting to earn no money is not realistic “Girl the rent doesn’t care what you’re passionate about,” one user said on X reacting to the video interview. Another added, “she’s not wrong but passion without stability is a luxury most people don’t have.” Still, some saw value in Blunt’s comments. “There’s still truth in what Emily Blunt said. Not the ‘quit everything and follow your dreams’ part—but the quiet reminder not to abandon yourself completely,” a user said on X. But regardless of where users fall in the conversation, the discourse reveals just how complicated the conversation around work-life balance has gotten. “Can you imagine if she said you have to suck it up cause you need the money? Or the flipside, leave your job and follow your passion? I can’t think of a single nice answer that would fit the context of the interview,” a user said on Reddit. Another user on Reddit also shared their personal experiences in overly demanding jobs. “I have had a boss making us work 18-hour days, screaming at us and not letting us literally sleep, causing long-term damage to our physical and mental health)…please do quit,” the user said. However, that same user couldn’t let go of the hardships in today’s job landscape. They added: “If you think the current job market is so awful that all you will end up with are rejections because no company is actually truly hiring and there are historic layoffs happening every few days…then don’t quit.” 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. Not everyone is looking for a five-star TV experience. Sometimes, a decent TV at the right price is good enough. That's exactly what the Hisense QLED E6QF Fire TV can offer, and right now, the 50-inch class is just $236.97 (originally $379.99), dropping to the lowest price it has ever been, according to price-tracking tools. Other bigger sizes are also discounted, including the 55-inch, which is $299.99 (originally $429.99). This is one of the best deals for budget TVs right now. QLED, AI Light Sensor, Dolby Vision · Atmos, Voice Remote with Alexa, Motion Rate 120, HDR 10+ Adaptive, Game Mode Plus Hisense 50" E6 Cinema Series QLED 4K UHD Smart Fire TV (50E6QF, 2025 Model) $236.97 at Amazon $379.99 Save $143.02 Get Deal Get Deal $236.97 at Amazon $379.99 Save $143.02 QLED, AI Light Sensor, Dolby Vision · Atmos, Voice Remote with Alexa, Motion Rate 120, HDR 10+ Adaptive, Game Mode Plus Hisense 55" E6 Cinema Series QLED 4K UHD Smart Fire TV (55E6QF, 2025 Model) $299.99 at Amazon $429.99 Save $130.00 Get Deal Get Deal $299.99 at Amazon $429.99 Save $130.00 QLED, AI Light Sensor, Dolby Vision · Atmos, Voice Remote with Alexa, Motion Rate 120, HDR 10+ Adaptive, Game Mode Plus Hisense 65" E6 Cinema Series QLED 4K UHD Smart Fire TV (65E6QF, 2025 Model) $399.99 at Amazon $549.99 Save $150.00 Get Deal Get Deal $399.99 at Amazon $549.99 Save $150.00 QLED, AI Light Sensor, Dolby Vision · Atmos, Voice Remote with Alexa, Motion Rate 120, HDR 10+ Adaptive, Game Mode Plus Hisense 75" E6 Cinema Series QLED 4K UHD Smart Fire TV (75E6QF, 2025 Model) $528.99 at Amazon $799.99 Save $271.00 Get Deal Get Deal $528.99 at Amazon $799.99 Save $271.00 SEE 1 MORE QLED TVs are a step down from OLEDs, but they have some attributes that can make them a better choice than OLEDs for the right person. Price is the main one, with OLEDs easily hovering over $1,000 for any size you get. With the Hisense E6QF Fire TV, you won't get the picture quality that OLEDs can offer, but it will be good enough for most people, especially those who aren't videophiles. They still offer much better color and contrast than a regular LED TV. The Hisense E6QF Fire TV has some nice features that make it stand out from other budget TVs at its current price. It has a light sensor that detects your room's light to adjust its brightness accordingly, a feature called Adaptive Brightness that you usually find in mid-tier and high-end TVs. Since its OS is Fire TV, you can install Kodi to virtually watch anything, and you get Alexa built in for voice commands. If you're an Apple user, you can also use AirPlay or your Apple HomeKit with it. It has support for Dolby Atmos, so movies and shows will pop out more, and there is a dedicated Game Mode Plus for gamers that boosts the motion rate to 120Hz. If you're not looking to spend much and are looking for a good deal on a 50-inch QLED TV, the 50-inch Hisense QLED E6QF Fire TV is it. Our Best Editor-Vetted Tech Deals Right Now Apple AirPods 4 Active Noise Cancelling Wireless Earbuds — $148.99 (List Price $179.00) Apple Watch Series 11 [GPS 46mm] Smartwatch with Jet Black Aluminum Case with Black Sport Band - M/L. Sleep Score, Fitness Tracker, Health Monitoring, Always-On Display, Water Resistant — $329.00 (List Price $429.00) Apple iPad 11" 128GB A16 WiFi Tablet (Blue, 2025) — $319.99 (List Price $349.00) Fire TV Stick 4K Plus Streaming Player With Remote (2025 Model) — $49.99 (List Price $49.99) Fitbit Versa 4 Fitness Smartwatch (Black) — $149.95 (List Price $199.95) Deals are selected by our commerce team View the full article

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We recently talked about people applying for — in working in — jobs that were clearly at odds with what they wanted to do, and here are 12 of my favorite stories you shared. 1. The lack of turtles I worked with a lot of field biologists who were unsuited, mostly because they went into the field since they loved being outdoors and then were shocked to find that the job consisted of very boring and monotonous walking off trail and meticulous record keeping. But my favorite not-suited coworker was fine with all that! Except what she really wanted to be doing was surveying for turtles. Sadly, not a lot of our projects involved turtles. She still did a great job, but all her field reports would include lines like, “There were no turtles,” “One turtle seen on my lunch break when I hiked a mile to a waterway,” “Absolutely no habitat for turtles in this area, but I found some likely areas along the drive to this site,” and my favorite, “Thought I saw a turtle, but it was rock.” Loved her, stopped by her house once to meet her 20something turtles and had a blast. She eventually found a better paying job, sadly not turtle centered though. 2. The honesty HR and I were interviewing my replacement. It was an admin position supporting a sales team and a few managers. It was going well until the interviewee said, “I hate being constantly interrupted by people needing things.” 3. The wrong choice There was the internal applicant from a different department who stated in the cover letter that they were trying to move away from a supervisor they weren’t meshing with well. The supervisor who was central to my department’s work. Who was on the search committee. And who would be working more closely with my new hire than most of their own direct reports. Also, the cover letter was emailed to me separately instead of included with the rest of the application materials. I immediately touched base with HR to make sure we got that cover letter on file in case there was any pushback from the candidate (who we’d already scheduled for a panel interview). 4. The computers I once was in an interview where an applicant spent a lot of time talking about how much he hated computers and working on computers. We literally work entirely on computers and were part of a public paperless initiative so… 5. The veterinary assistant Applicant to a veterinarian’s office who was a) afraid of cats and b) squeamish about both blood and poop. This was for a kennel-to-veterinary assistant position, not receptionist. I’m not sure what she thought she’d be doing, exactly. 6. The junior reporter One of the reasons I was a hit as a junior reporter at a rural newspaper was because of the contrast between me and my predecessor. Instead of having an interest in court stories, local events, and making contacts, she was working at the paper because she thought it would be a springboard towards becoming an actress in a local soap. The newspaper didn’t even have a showbiz or entertainment section, we had no connections with the soap opera, and we weren’t even based in the same town as them. I asked my new colleagues how she had planned to pull this transition off and the response was, “Well, obviously it was just pretty misguided and maybe she gave up after realiing that; most of the time she was either making very noisy smoothies while we were busy talking on the phone, or she was napping in her car.” 7. The would-be librarian A couple of years ago, a retiring teacher called the library reference desk to ask about jobs in the youth section. She went on and on about how, after so many years of teaching, she really needed a job with peace and quiet. I don’t know if any of you have been in a library in recent years, but the youth department is NOT quiet – it is a hub of activity and lovely children and teens making lots of joyful noise! It is not for the faint of heart! Or for anyone looking for peace and quiet! I did not tell the retiring teacher any of that; I figured it was better she say that if she made it to an interview. No retired teacher showed up in the job. 8. The honey bees I research honey bees. Every year my group hires one or two field assistants, usually undergraduate students who don’t typically have a lot of research experience. The number of people who make it clear in the interviews that they do not want to work around honey bees is always surprising, given that we are very clear on the job ad that responsibilities largely involve working with honey bees. Special props to the guy who very earnestly tried to convince us to hire him to do his own research on stingrays (???) — my best guess is that he somehow thought it was a grant and not a job. 9. The teacher My brother’s Leaving Cert Irish teacher had 16-18-year-olds making badges and learning songs, which she then had them sing for the principal when he came in. This was a higher level class and the higher level Leaving Cert Irish exam includes things like writing a short essay in Irish on topics like climate change or unemployment or drug addiction and questions on Irish novels and drama and poetry and back then had a section on the history of the Irish language, which included questions like explaining, in Irish, how the placenames of the country came to be. But yeah, making badges and singing for the principal! She would have made a brilliant primary school teacher. 10. The anime fan I work for a large financial institution and a couple of years ago interviewed a candidate for a compliance internship who had apparently confused my company with a cable TV channel and spent the entire interview talking about how much he loved anime. Very sweet kid, but apparently he was like that in all five of his super day interviews. I still don’t fully understand how you get to the interview stage of a highly competitive finance internship without realizing you’ve applied to the wrong company for the wrong job entirely, but it sure made things easy when we rejected him for a lack of attention to detail. 11. The surprising choice I was hiring positions for the student package center at a small college. One of the people I interviewed told me she didn’t like “packages, answering the phone, or dealing with people.” Which was literally the core functions of the job, and stated very clearly in the job description. She was so matter of fact about it, I almost thought she had to be pranking me because why on earth would you apply to a job where the job duties were entirely the things you claimed to dislike. She was not. I often wonder if she was surprised when she didn’t get hired. 12. The whales I had to drop an undergrad class I’d been really excited about because of this. Week one of Intro to Creative Memoir, every single minute was spent by my professor talking about whales, showing us videos of whales, telling us what products we needed to boycott to save the whales. Every supposed memoir on our reading list was actually a book about … you guessed it. On day two I started a tally. She used the word “whale” nearly 100 times in an 80-minute class, “write” or “writing” less than a dozen, and “memoir” not at all. I am firmly pro-whale but geez. The post the lack of turtles, the would-be librarian, and other people who didn’t realize they don’t want THIS job appeared first on Ask a Manager. 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Billionaire says Sam Altman wanted ‘halo effect’ of a non-profit while enriching himself in second day of his testimonyView the full article

Use of costly missiles and air defence interceptors raises alarm about US readiness for other conflicts View the full article

Many commentators have called March’s California jury verdict, finding Meta and Google liable for designing addictive platforms that harm children, social media’s “big tobacco moment.” The comparison is apt, but not quite in the way most people mean it. The tobacco litigation story is usually told triumphantly, with a malicious industry that was held accountable, victims that were vindicated, and a dangerous product that is now regulated. What that story leaves out is directly relevant to what happens next with social media. The tobacco litigation succeeded not because cigarettes were addictive, but because the industry had committed fraud. For decades, tobacco companies knew about nicotine’s addictive properties and the link between smoking and cancer and they actively concealed that knowledge. The lawsuits that worked were the ones that went after the concealment directly. But once that concealment was exposed and disclosure became mandatory, the personal responsibility narrative reasserted itself: adults who smoke know the risks, and they choose to smoke regardless. The processed food industry traced an almost identical arc. In the 1970s, consumer advocates petitioned the Federal Trade Commission to restrict advertising of junk foods to children. The industry fought back hard. A Washington Post editorial called the proposal a measure to “shield children from their parents’ weaknesses.” Decades later, a bill formally protecting fast food companies from obesity lawsuits passed the House. It stalled in the Senate, but the industry managed to pass similar laws in states across the country. The message was that obesity was a matter of willpower. Despite well-documented socio-environmental determinants of diet, the personal responsibility narrative stuck. Last month’s verdict is being hailed as a break in that pattern, but I am not convinced it is. The pattern across tobacco and processed food suggests a predictable trajectory for social media. Meta’s internal research documenting harms to teenage girls, which were suppressed then exposed, was its big tobacco moment. The litigation that followed reflects that reckoning. But as the story of tobacco and processed food demonstrated, after exposure come disclosure and warnings, and, above all, a reassertion of personal responsibility. The underlying product remains as it was. The fixes already being floated around the social media’s verdict follow that pattern exactly. Age verification, parental controls, push notification settings, and various disclosures all place the burden of protection on individual users (or their parents), while leaving the design choices a jury just found unreasonably dangerous exactly where they are. It all goes back to the notice-and-consent model, the idea that informed individuals can and should manage their own exposure to harm. This framework, which has dominated American consumer protection law for decades, works well for industries that want to avoid liability without changing their business models. It works less well for the people it’s supposed to protect, who are being asked to fend for themselves against platforms that were engineered—by very smart people with very large budgets—to be hard to put down. The obvious counterargument is that redesigning these platforms would hurt everyone to help a subset of users who are harmed. But this objection conflates the product with its most harmful features. Nobody needs an algorithmically optimized push notification to stay in touch with their friends, and the engagement systems calibrated to keep people scrolling past the point they want to stop are not what makes social media valuable. Stripping out such features does not equal destroying the product. It’s more like what happened when manufacturers took lead out of paint. The paint still worked well. It just stopped poisoning people. The distinction between a product and its harmful features is the same distinction on which product liability law is built. Product liability has long distinguished between two kinds of defects. A warning defect means the product is dangerous, but a good label could make it safe enough. A design defect means the product itself is unreasonably dangerous, and no label will cure that. A jury just decided these platforms fall into the second category. The legally honest response to that finding should not be a better warning, but a safer product. Last week’s verdict cracked that door open. The question now is whether courts, regulators, and legislators have the appetite to walk through it, or whether, as happened with tobacco and processed food, we will settle for warning labels and call it reform. View the full article

Sculpture presides over Cadillac Championship’s return to president’s Miami resort after decade-long absenceView the full article

Nashville is set to become a pivotal hub for autonomous vehicle (AV) technology as Lyft, in partnership with Waymo, embarks on a groundbreaking initiative. This fall, Flexdrive by Lyft will launch its largest autonomous vehicle facility, covering an expansive 80,000 square feet specifically designed to maintain and charge Waymo’s AVs at scale. This moves raises intriguing possibilities for small business owners who might seek to leverage this cutting-edge technology. Lyft has spent over a decade cultivating its expertise in fleet management, starting with its first facility in Atlanta back in 2016. Today, the company manages approximately 15,000 vehicles across 24 locations in North America. “Nashville isn’t where we’re learning how to do this. Nashville is where we’re proving what we already know how to do,” emphasized Lyft, showcasing its commitment to deploying sophisticated AV technology in a city ready for transformation. Small business owners may find multiple benefits arising from this initiative. With a dedicated depot for AVs crafted from the ground up, Lyft aims to optimize operational efficiency—ensuring quick service with minimized downtime for vehicles. A robust EV charging infrastructure will accommodate hundreds of autonomous vehicles, translating into faster response times for rideshare services, ultimately improving accessibility for customers. For businesses that rely on timely transportation—like restaurants and retail stores—this could mean enhanced delivery options, potentially expanding their customer base by offering quicker services. The growth spurred by this facility doesn’t stop at technological advancements. “This year alone, we’re standing up more than 70 new full-time positions in the Nashville area—technicians, operations managers, fleet coordinators, maintenance specialists—stable, skilled roles at the frontier of transportation technology,” noted Lyft. An influx of job opportunities means that local businesses could also benefit from a more skilled workforce that understands both technology and customer service, improving overall service across the sector. The hybrid model of having both Lyft drivers and AVs coexist offers another layer of innovation. This dual approach allows for maximized utilization and availability of rides, making it easier for local businesses to meet customer demands. Lyft drivers, many of whom were previously part of the workforce, continue to earn while adapting to the emerging AV landscape. This adjustment may resonate positively with small business owners who are invested in ensuring quality service while keeping operational costs down. However, the rollout of autonomous vehicles comes with its own set of challenges. Managing such a complex fleet requires specialized maintenance and technical know-how, factors small business owners should consider. As Jonathan, the facility’s first operations lead and a former Lyft driver, points out, “Operating autonomous vehicles isn’t like managing a traditional fleet.” For small businesses hoping to integrate AVs into their operational models, understanding the technicalities and maintaining the vehicles becomes crucial. There is also the question of new regulatory measures and public acceptance that could impact the adoption of AV technology. Businesses may also need to consider the initial investment in tech infrastructure to fully utilize AV services, which can be a considerable hurdle. Some industry experts have flagged potential liability concerns surrounding AVs and the nuances of insurance coverage. Small businesses that choose to partner with AV companies may need to revisit their insurance policies to address these new complexities. By doing so, they can mitigate any unforeseen costs while capitalizing on the efficacy of the new transportation model. As Lyft and Waymo prepare for the grand opening of their facility in Nashville, the implications for the local economy and small business landscape are significant. From enhanced logistical capabilities to increased job opportunities, there exists a compelling case for small business owners to explore partnerships and leverage technological advancements in their own operations. The road ahead is exciting, raised to new heights by the confluence of human and automated services, promising to redefine how cities—and businesses—move. For more information about this initiative, you can read the original announcement here. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Lyft Breaks Ground on Major Autonomous Vehicle Hub in Nashville" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Nashville is set to become a pivotal hub for autonomous vehicle (AV) technology as Lyft, in partnership with Waymo, embarks on a groundbreaking initiative. This fall, Flexdrive by Lyft will launch its largest autonomous vehicle facility, covering an expansive 80,000 square feet specifically designed to maintain and charge Waymo’s AVs at scale. This moves raises intriguing possibilities for small business owners who might seek to leverage this cutting-edge technology. Lyft has spent over a decade cultivating its expertise in fleet management, starting with its first facility in Atlanta back in 2016. Today, the company manages approximately 15,000 vehicles across 24 locations in North America. “Nashville isn’t where we’re learning how to do this. Nashville is where we’re proving what we already know how to do,” emphasized Lyft, showcasing its commitment to deploying sophisticated AV technology in a city ready for transformation. Small business owners may find multiple benefits arising from this initiative. With a dedicated depot for AVs crafted from the ground up, Lyft aims to optimize operational efficiency—ensuring quick service with minimized downtime for vehicles. A robust EV charging infrastructure will accommodate hundreds of autonomous vehicles, translating into faster response times for rideshare services, ultimately improving accessibility for customers. For businesses that rely on timely transportation—like restaurants and retail stores—this could mean enhanced delivery options, potentially expanding their customer base by offering quicker services. The growth spurred by this facility doesn’t stop at technological advancements. “This year alone, we’re standing up more than 70 new full-time positions in the Nashville area—technicians, operations managers, fleet coordinators, maintenance specialists—stable, skilled roles at the frontier of transportation technology,” noted Lyft. An influx of job opportunities means that local businesses could also benefit from a more skilled workforce that understands both technology and customer service, improving overall service across the sector. The hybrid model of having both Lyft drivers and AVs coexist offers another layer of innovation. This dual approach allows for maximized utilization and availability of rides, making it easier for local businesses to meet customer demands. Lyft drivers, many of whom were previously part of the workforce, continue to earn while adapting to the emerging AV landscape. This adjustment may resonate positively with small business owners who are invested in ensuring quality service while keeping operational costs down. However, the rollout of autonomous vehicles comes with its own set of challenges. Managing such a complex fleet requires specialized maintenance and technical know-how, factors small business owners should consider. As Jonathan, the facility’s first operations lead and a former Lyft driver, points out, “Operating autonomous vehicles isn’t like managing a traditional fleet.” For small businesses hoping to integrate AVs into their operational models, understanding the technicalities and maintaining the vehicles becomes crucial. There is also the question of new regulatory measures and public acceptance that could impact the adoption of AV technology. Businesses may also need to consider the initial investment in tech infrastructure to fully utilize AV services, which can be a considerable hurdle. Some industry experts have flagged potential liability concerns surrounding AVs and the nuances of insurance coverage. Small businesses that choose to partner with AV companies may need to revisit their insurance policies to address these new complexities. By doing so, they can mitigate any unforeseen costs while capitalizing on the efficacy of the new transportation model. As Lyft and Waymo prepare for the grand opening of their facility in Nashville, the implications for the local economy and small business landscape are significant. From enhanced logistical capabilities to increased job opportunities, there exists a compelling case for small business owners to explore partnerships and leverage technological advancements in their own operations. The road ahead is exciting, raised to new heights by the confluence of human and automated services, promising to redefine how cities—and businesses—move. For more information about this initiative, you can read the original announcement here. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Lyft Breaks Ground on Major Autonomous Vehicle Hub in Nashville" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Taylor Swift recently filed a series of trademark applications designed to protect the star from AI-enabled impersonations. Swift already holds a wide array of trademarks, but these latest filings, at least one intellectual property firm suggests, serve a new purpose: protecting the timbre and character of her voice itself through what is known as a “sound mark.” In two recent filings, posted April 24 by Swift’s company, the celebrity applied to trademark two recordings. In one, she says, “Hey, it’s Taylor,” and in the other, “Hey, it’s Taylor Swift.” The recordings themselves are not particularly novel, but that is likely beside the point. “The concept of protecting sound as a trademark is not new, though it remains relatively rare,” wrote Josh Gerben, the Gerben IP attorney who spotted the trademarks on the law firm’s website. “Historically, singers relied on copyright law to protect their recorded music. But AI technologies now allow users to generate entirely new content that mimics an artist’s voice without copying an existing recording, creating a gap that trademarks may help fill.” Gerben added that, in theory, if an AI-generated imitation of Swift’s voice became the subject of litigation, she could argue that uses resembling her registered vocal trademarks infringe on her intellectual property rights. Gerben surmises that the goal is to protect the sound of Taylor Swift’s voice much like NBC protects its signature chimes. The strategy, which Matthew McConaughey has also pursued, reflects a novel approach for the AI age, though it remains untested in court. Celebrities are among those most vulnerable to AI-enabled impersonations and broader unauthorized uses of their likenesses. While top artists and actors already face an enduring, whack-a-mole-style battle against fakes, the latest generation of AI models has made producing these imitations unnervingly easy and scalable. For similar reasons, celebrities, particularly women, are frequently targeted by deepfake operations that use their faces and bodies in nonconsensual pornographic imagery. Swift herself has been subjected to such campaigns, including in early 2024, when illicit AI-generated images of her spread widely on platforms like 4chan. In response, and for better or for worse, celebrities are racing to install guardrails of the AI age—or at least, trying to figure out how to build them. Swift’s attempt to protect herself from AI via sound marks is only the latest example. In 2024, OpenAI paused the rollout of a ChatGPT voice that closely resembled Scarlett Johansson’s—and, in an especially recursive twist, her performance as the chatbot in Her—after Johansson publicly criticized the company for allegedly imitating her voice. (OpenAI has said it used a different actor for the feature.) In another example, the family of Martin Luther King Jr. pressured OpenAI to remove likenesses of the civil rights leader from its video generation platform, Sora, before it was shut down. And, no doubt under pressure from talent agencies, YouTube recently said that it would expand its deepfake detection service to Hollywood, and celebrities will now have the option to request that certain videos featuring AI generations of them be. “With support from leading talent agencies and management companies, including CAA, UTA, WME, and Untitled Management, we’ve worked to refine how likeness detection can best serve talent,” the platform said in a statement. “We’re excited that celebrities and entertainers are now eligible to access this tool, regardless of whether they have a YouTube channel.” In a market where appearance and likeness are everything, AI presents, at minimum, a new annoyance for artists seeking control, including financial control, over how their face and voice are used. That tension will likely continue to frustrate celebrities. Last year, more than 400 Hollywood leaders wrote to OpenAI and Google opposing the use of copyrighted work to train models without permission. It’s notable that celebrities are pushing for protections against some of AI’s most noxious abuses. What remains unclear is whether those protections will extend to the rest of us, who also face the growing risk of digital impersonation, or simply allow the Hollywood elite to opt out of a new internet increasingly stuffed with endless uncanny mimicry. View the full article

Decision draws biggest dissent since 1992 as Jay Powell’s term as chair draws to a close View the full article

Want more housing market stories from Lance Lambert’s ResiClub in your inbox? Subscribe to the ResiClub newsletter. While softness—and even outright weakness—remains in parts of Florida’s housing market, the intensity of the downturn in Florida has eased somewhat in recent months. While the ResiClub team is huge fans of looking at year-over-year shifts in home prices—especially when using an index that helps account for mix shift—the truth is that year-over-year changes are also slightly lagging. One way to get ahead of year-over-year home price shifts is by looking at seasonally adjusted month-over-month home price shifts as measured by the Zillow Home Value Index. When looking at seasonally adjusted month-over-month home price shifts across Florida metro and micro areas, you’ll see that over the past seven months the intensity of Florida’s home price correction has eased. Some Florida metros—in particular in the Florida Panhandle and parts of Northern Florida—are even back to seeing mildly positive seasonally adjusted month-over-month home price gains. And the places that are still seeing seasonally adjusted month-over-month home price declines, such as Punta Gorda and Cape Coral, are experiencing much smaller seasonally adjusted month-over-month declines than they were seven months ago. Pulling from the ResiClub Terminal, the chart below shows the seasonally adjusted month-over-month home price change between February 2026 and March 2026. A year ago, there was much more red. The chart below shows the seasonally adjusted month-over-month home price change between February 2025 and March 2025. While Florida housing markets are far from “strong” right now, you can see in the table below that the intensity of the correction in Florida has been easing over the past seven months. The ResiClub team will continue to keep an eye on it. Why is the intensity of the recalibration/correction easing in many Florida housing markets? As Florida home prices have softened—and, in some pockets of the Sunshine State, experienced material corrections—overvaluation has come down and fundamentals have been healing across many markets in the state. As that has occurred, coupled with some builders slowing spec construction, the correction in Florida has lost some momentum over the past year. Additionally, some sellers who aren’t in financial distress have seen enough declines and are attempting to wait out the weakness. Many markets in the state—including Punta Gorda, where home prices spiked +70.1% between March 2020 and August 2022—need a period of some mean reversion. Fast-forward to the end of March 2026, and home prices in the Punta Gorda, FL metro area are down -23.9% since June 2022—and now home prices in that market are up just +29.4% above March 2020 levels. Why did Florida have more downside risk this cycle? Florida’s particularly intense overheating during the Pandemic Housing Boom is the key reason for its post-boom downside pricing vulnerability. While U.S. home prices rose +41% between March 2020 and June 2022, Florida home prices surged +51% over the same period—leaving some parts of the state significantly overvalued. Only, it takes a large enough shift in the supply-demand equilibrium for that vulnerability to manifest into falling prices. Of course, over the past three years, 5 factors have come together to create a supply-demand equilibrium shift large enough to reveal some of that downside risk and push certain pockets of Florida into post-Pandemic Housing Boom corrections. The Pandemic Housing Boom’s migration surge to Florida has fizzled out: Indeed, Florida saw net domestic migration of +23K in 2025, compared to +314K in 2022. Without that larger influx of deep-pocketed buyers from up North, Florida home prices have had to rely more on local incomes. Surfside condo fallout: Following the Surfside condo collapse in June 2021, which killed 98 people, Florida passed new structural safety rules, requiring more inspections and additional funds for repairs to be set aside by the end of 2024. That has led to Florida HOAs issuing sky-high special assessments and monthly HOA fee increases to cover these costs. This has had a greater impact on older coastal Florida condo buildings. Hurricane Ian spurred a greater SWFL softening: Markets like Cape Coral and Punta Gorda, which were hard-hit by Hurricane Ian in September 2022, saw thousands of damaged homes, and the subsequent need for renovations. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Hurricane Ian caused an estimated $112.9 billion worth of total damage, making Ian the third-costliest U.S. hurricane on record. That event helped create additional softening in SWFL. Supply elasticity: Unlike many housing markets in the Northeast and Midwest, Florida has a higher level of homebuilding, build-to-rent, multifamily construction. As that new supply entered the market in the post-Pandemic Housing Boom affordability-strained environment, builders used bigger affordability adjustments—such as mortgage rate buydowns and rental incentives—where needed to move it. That helped cool the Florida resale market further by drawing buyers who might have otherwise purchased existing homes toward new construction. As a result, this put additional upward pressure on Florida’s resale inventory after the Pandemic Housing Boom ended. Home insurance shocks: Over the past three years, the median annual U.S. home insurance premium has jumped around 30%, but Florida homeowners have been hit even harder. The surge in Florida home insurance rates is partly driven by rising replacement costs—home prices and construction costs soared during the boom—and partly by increased hurricane risks and insurance payouts. Florida’s sharp rise in insurance costs, combined with one of the biggest home price increases during the Pandemic Housing Boom, has led to one of the biggest housing affordability deteriorations. Where in Florida can homebuyers find the biggest home price declines from peak? Southwest Florida still has the most ZIP Codes where home prices are at least -15% below their 2022 peak. Some homes across Southwest Florida—particularly condos or homes built near new-home developments—have seen $100,000 declines in value since the Pandemic Housing Boom fizzled out. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. No matter how new or how well-built, every house needs work or maintenance on a regular basis. You can pay professionals to do it all, of course, but if you’re looking to save a little money (or just want to learn and be in control of your home maintenance fate), there are plenty of home repair jobs that can be DIY’d. If you’re a beginner who’s just getting started on DIY maintenance and repair, however, you should watch out for some easy and common mistakes inexperienced DIYers make. While some of these mistakes will be obvious the moment you make them, it’s also easy to get through an entire project and experience superficial success, only to see that success slowly fade into failure because you’ve made a simple error. If you go into your next project with these easy DIY mistakes in mind, however, you can avoid a lot of problems. Over-tightening is never a good idea One of the most common mistakes beginner DIYers make is to assume that if tight is good, extra tight is better. This is especially true for plumbing jobs. We all fear water leaks and how easily they can destroy whole sections of your house, so it seems to make sense that when you’ve replaced the trap under your sink or swapped in a new drain or faucet, you should tighten those connections as much as you can. But over-tightening any connection, bolt, or screw can lead to disaster because it can cause small, subtle cracks that lead to failures and leaks that may not become evident until days or weeks later. Additionally, tightening things until your eyes pop out of your head usually means that trying to remove that fitting or bolt later will be almost impossible. If you want to be kind to Future You (or the next person to own your home), avoid over-tightening. A good rule of thumb is to tighten plumbing until it’s watertight, then stop, and to tighten screws and bolts only as much as necessary to get the job done. Caulking an empty tub will cause your job to fail fasterRe-caulking a bathroom every few years is a very good idea. Caulk isn’t forever, and even a tiny failure can allow damaging moisture to invade your walls and floors. And caulking is a DIY job almost everyone can do to an acceptable standard. But if you’re recaulking a tub, the easiest mistake to make is to do it dry. That’s because water has mass. A gallon of water weighs about 8.34 pounds, and standard bathtubs hold anywhere from 80 to 100 gallons or more. When full, a tub will sink slightly, so if you caulked when it was empty, it will immediately strain and stretch the caulk, and your caulking job will fail pretty fast. Always caulk with a full tub. Forgetting to shut off the power or water can lead to costly (or deadly) accidentsIf your goal is to destroy your house and possibly yourself, then you should definitely dive into a DIY project without bothering to locate and turn off the water and electrical supply to the areas you’ll be working on. Not only can one wrong turn of the wrench on a pipe send a torrent of water coursing into your house, but working with any exposed wiring that hasn’t been confirmed to be cold is just foolhardy. Turning off the water and power to the areas you’ll be messing with might seem like an unnecessary complication for a small, quick job, but if your hand slips or a component fails, you’ll be very glad you took the time. Not testing your equipment first can lead to problems laterWhen we buy tools, we assume they're going to work. And they usually do! But when that tool is crucial to the success of your DIY project, you should verify that it works as expected before you rely on it to be both accurate and safe to use. Stud finders, voltage testers, digital tape measures—any tool that measures or detects should be tested for accuracy by using it somewhere you know what the result should be (e.g., a working power outlet for a voltage tester) and/or comparing it to another tool or source (e.g., a physical tape measure or an object with a verified length). Otherwise, you could be working with inaccurate or incomplete information without realizing it. Forgetting your saw's kerf is the fastest way to mess up a precise cutIf you’ve never heard the term "kerf," you’re not alone—few DIYers likely have. The kerf is the width of the cut your saw blade makes, in addition to whatever cut you've measured. This can be crucial, because that material is deleted from the wood you’re working with (transformed into sawdust)—and that means your cuts can end up wider or narrower than intended. For example, let’s say you have a board that’s a little more than 3 inches long (76.2 millimeters), and you’re using a standard circular saw blade that’s about 3mm thick. If you cut that board in half and push the two sides together, your board is now only about 73mm wide. The blade ate up and spat out 3mm of wood when you cut. If you score a straight line on that board to cut, say, one inch off, where you position the blade will make a small but potentially impactful difference—you want to position it on the other side from the piece you’ll be using, so the kerf isn’t part of the measurement. Otherwise, your cut will be just slightly too small. This doesn’t matter in some projects—but if accuracy is a concern, keep the kerf in mind. Skipping checking to make sure you aren't drilling into pipes or wiring can cost youYou’re about to hang some shelving on the wall. You’ve measured twice, you have your screws and anchors. You double-check the bit size in the drill, and start drilling away. Moments later, water starts pouring out of your drill hole, or there’s a spark, and your lights go off. Congrats! You just drilled into a pipe or electrical wiring inside the wall. Assuming you’re still alive, you have a mess to clean up. A wall scanner is an indispensable tool whenever you’re going to drill into a wall. It can detect live wires and plumbing, giving you a warning before you drill into disaster. If the wiring and plumbing were done correctly, there should be metal stud guards in place, so if you encounter unexpected resistance when drilling into the wall, it’s best to assume you’re aimed right at something vital and hitting the guard that's in place to prevent disaster. In other words, don’t consider it a challenge to drill through whatever’s slowing you down. Back out, take a breath, and investigate. Skipping the "cleaning" step before you paint can ruin everythingYou’re in a groove—sanding, cutting, demo-ing, and making progress. Everything looks good, so you start to paint. And your paint job looks awful. It’s bumpy and it might even start peeling immediately. Why? Because you didn’t clean first. All that sawdust and drywall dust and tile dust has settled like a film on every surface, including the vertical surfaces of your walls, where it can be impossible to see. When you paint over dust like that, it will look terrible (at best) and fail to adhere properly (at worst). Always vacuum and wipe down every surface before you move to the finishing stages of your project. Relying too much on painter's tape can lead to sloppy resultsThe most common mistake first-time painters make is believing that painter’s tape is a magical material that results in crisp, perfect lines every time. Painter’s tape is useful stuff, and it can certainly help you get a clean line and protect areas from accidental paint. (One trick for cleaner lines is to place your tape, then paint over the edge of the tape with the color beneath it, creating a seal. Let that edge coat dry, then paint using the new color. Remove the tape before the paint cures, and you’ll have a crisp border.) But painter’s tape is not magic, and you still need to use proper painting technique if you want truly clean lines. That means learning how to use a cut brush properly, taking your time even if you’ve taped everything off, and not overloading your brush with paint. Even the best painter’s tape can let paint bleed through if you’re smearing too much on. Inaccurate plate cutouts will make installing outlets and switches doubly difficultWhen hanging drywall or tile DIY, making cuts for light switches and power receptacles can be a challenge. Aside from positioning them correctly, which can be a frustrating experience if you’re inexperienced (you will waste so, so many tiles, trust me), the big mistake people make is not cutting them to the correct size. Too small, and you won’t be able to fit the outlet or receptacle into the box or attach the wall plate properly. Too big, and you’ll either have to cut a new tile or piece of drywall or buy a jumbo plate to cover your shame. (Full disclosure: There might be two of these in my bathroom right now). Forcing and stripping screws will stop any job in its tracksAn easy mistake newbies make when using power drills for the first time is stripping screws. The bit in your drill is harder than the head of your screw, so if things go wrong, your drill can 100% wear down your screw until there’s nothing left to grip, leaving you with a frustrating mini-project called "Using Pliers to Remove Screws." This usually happens because inexperienced DIYers just pull the trigger on their drill and go full-speed ahead. By the time they realize the bit has jumped and they’re stripping the screw, it’s too late. There are a few basic things you should do to avoid this fate: Use the right bit. Screwdriver bits come in different sizes and formats. Make sure the bit you’re using fits snugly into the screw and doesn’t float around or hover on top. Even if there’s some purchase when you turn the bit at a slow speed, an imperfect fit will pop out at high RPMs. Start slow. Don’t just jam the drill’s trigger and launch it into hyperspeed. Ease into it and increase the speed steadily. Push in as you drill to ensure the bit stays seated. Stay perpendicular. Don’t let the drill droop at an angle. You want to come at the screw perfectly straight. If you need a ladder or other tools to accomplish this, get them. If you follow those simple steps, your chances of stripping a screw go down dramatically, and your chances of a happy ending to your DIY project go up. If you have the discretion to choose your fasteners, consider using screws with different drive types, like hex or torx. These are less prone to stripping than your standard slotted or Phillips screw. "Making do" with the tools you have can go terribly wrongA common mistake newcomers to DIY home maintenance and repair make is relying on the basic tools they have on hand instead of buying, renting, or borrowing the correct tools for the job. A lot of folks have a hodgepodge of tools they picked up along the way—a hammer, some screwdrivers, and a pair of pliers, for example—and these are sufficient for taking care of minor projects when you’re renting an apartment or relying on someone else to make repairs. But it’s a huge mistake to try to make those tools work for every project. If all you have is a cheap hand saw, for example, trying to make intricate or shaped cuts will be a nightmare, when you could just acquire a decent jigsaw. Making do with what you have is a recipe for disaster. Using close-but-wrong materials really can make a huge differenceA common misconception among newbies to the joys of DIYing through a home repair or maintenance project is that materials within a given category are broadly similar and can be used interchangeably. But using, say, exterior paint on an interior job, or acrylic caulk (which isn’t waterproof) in a wet area like a shower, can ensure disastrous results, with the added fun of doing the job a second time. These materials are formulated for specific environments—exterior paint, for example, is designed to withstand exterior forces like wind and rain, and will actually degrade pretty fast on an interior application—so make sure you're using the right ones. Not documenting when you disassemble something will cause trouble down the roadIt’s a hard lesson every aspiring DIYer learns at some point: Taking stuff apart is easy. Putting it back together is hard. But the biggest mistake you can make when disassembling something for a repair job is failing to document the process. Taking photos of what it looks like before you start ripping it apart (and taking more photos as you progress) will be invaluable when you try to put it all back together, as will making notes about and labeling every fastener and piece of metal or plastic you pull out. Don’t imagine you’ll magically remember how it all goes together, or that it’ll be instinctive—often the most efficient way to engineer something is also the least obvious. The time saved by eyeballing your measurements is never worth the riskMost homes are not level. Settling and the natural cycle of expansion and contraction mean it takes just a few years for everything in even a new home to be maddeningly out of plumb. Yet every day, someone thinks they can just eyeball stuff—getting things level and measuring materials accurately—without using the proper tools. Getting level is a particularly seductive trap, because your eyes lie to you. When putting up shelves, for example, the lines of the room—where the wall meets the ceiling, for example—may look level to you, and you can maybe eyeball your way to making the shelves level with those lines. But if your walls are slightly out of plumb, then your shelves will be on a subtle slant, and everything you put on them will slide right off. Invest in a tape measure and a simple bubble level instead of trusting your foolish senses. Overworking paint can mean redoing everything Painting is one of the cheapest and easiest DIY projects you can undertake, and paint can be a surprisingly powerful renovation that makes a space feel fresh and new. Just about anyone can learn to paint walls pretty decently—all it takes is proper prep, the right tools, and a patient approach. But a common DIY mistake when painting is to overwork the paint. This can happen when you apply more fresh paint over a section that hasn’t completely dried, which results in a splotchy, uneven look, or when you use too much pressure when using a paintbrush, which results in visible stroke lines. Modern paint contains leveling agents that will coax it into a uniform sheen if left to do its work. If you think your first coat was spotty, wait for it to fully dry before applying a second coat. View the full article

Kevin Warsh's nomination to be the next chair of the Federal Reserve passed through the Senate Banking committee in a party-line vote. View the full article