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Theo Francken says bloc’s fragmentation and high costs push European governments towards US weaponsView the full article

Elon Musk’s aggressive push to cut government spending reached new heights on Valentine’s Day, as employees across more than two dozen federal government departments were abruptly fired on Valentine’s Day—with those let go warning it could impact how the government operates. Jack, who spoke on condition of a pseudonym (as did every ex-federal worker in this story), started working with the National Parks Service in April 2023. It was a dream job for him. “I took to it quickly, and the combination of the dynamic work and beautiful environment had me hooked,” Jack tells Fast Company. Jack took to the role like a duck to water: After his six-month first season working for the government, Jack scored above-average ratings in his first performance evaluation, which led to a transition into a new role, tackling major fires in the area he lives in near the national park at which he worked. Jack’s response to the fires impressed his boss, who told him a 10-year full-time position would soon be coming up for candidates. Jack applied and was chosen for the position in late September 2024. “I accepted graciously, and at 27, was absolutely thrilled to be in a position to make a full career with the parks and in federal service,” he says. “I pride myself in my work ethic, and my commitment to the taxpayers and citizens to be as efficient and effective as I possibly can, and that work ethic was also recognized by non-parks community members.” Jack continued progressing in his job, but began to realize that things were amiss after Donald Trump took office, and tasked Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to slash federal spending. “Uncertainty started to creep in, and around February 5 or 6, rumors of probationary firings started to circulate,” says Jack. In the last week, the tension has gradually risen around Jack as gossip spread throughout the government. On Valentine’s Day, Jack began receiving messages from friends in other park units that probation workers like him were getting fired. “At 4:45 p.m., my boss swung by my house, and broke the news that I had been terminated, showing me the email that claimed my performance was substandard and I was not necessary to the operations of the park,” he says. This is not true, Jack claims, because he had just gone through a midterm evaluation that had rated him as astounding. The federal Office for Personnel Management (OPM) did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Jack and his wife were cooking Valentine’s Day dinner at the time. “When I received the news, I was completely heartbroken,” he says. “I don’t cry often, but I absolutely lost it. I worked very, very hard, in a dangerous profession, to earn the position I was in, and to have it taken away from me truly hurt.” Jack is far from alone. “I received the termination email at 6:09 p.m. Central on Thursday night,” says Casey, another ex-government employee. (Again, Casey spoke on condition of a pseudonym.) “My working day typically ends at 4:30 p.m., so this was after hours, like all emails we have received from Musk’s OPM team.” Like others, Casey was told she was being terminated immediately for poor performance. “I texted my supervisor that same night I received the email. He wasn’t aware this was happening. He called his supervisor, who also wasn’t aware,” she says. “That supervisor called the state office, who also knew nothing of these terminations.” Casey expected this to happen—rumors had been flying around the government after Musk had begun cutting teams to the bone elsewhere—but it still hit hard. “I have a 1-year-old child at home,” she says. “We don’t have savings due to the cost of living these days.” Casey’s husband was recently laid off from a nonfederal job. “I honestly don’t know what we’re going to do,” she says. The experience—and the feeling of helplessness that ensued after receiving the email—is one that many government employees are sharing right now. “To me personally it has been devastating not only because I no longer have my dream job,” says Derek. Derek, who works at Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, a component of the Department of Homeland Security, was ranked as “Exceeded Expectations & Above Excellence” in his 2024 performance review. “Now I am in a position where I have to actively be looking and researching what my next steps are going to be, because I financially cannot wait to see if they take me back and I also can’t stop fighting to get clarity on what my rights are,” Derek says. “The only thing keeping me sane is that at least I know I am not alone, there are thousands of people in my same boat.” Derek learned he was fired at 7:43 p.m. on Valentine’s Day, around 10 minutes after he had read a Reddit thread where federal employees like him have been commiserating with one another. “I was terrified reading what they were posting and keeping track of the agencies being affected,” he says. “A lot of people seem to be afraid of disclosing where they work, which I totally understand.” Reddit has proven useful to Jack and his boss, too. “My boss and I both were using Reddit and news articles to get information on what is going on, as we were completely left in the dark from higher-ups,” he says. Reddit has been similarly vital for Casey. “I hoped it wasn’t true, or would be limited,” she says. “But it wasn’t. Reddit has almost been our ‘breaking news’ source the past few weeks.” Jack adds: “It eases the pain of losing my job knowing I’m not alone, and that people are taking the mantle up to fight this, but it honestly made me irate that so many hardworking people, people who just started their careers in government, were being wronged in such a callous way.” It’s unclear what the future holds for those probationary staff. Some who have posted in the Reddit threads are considering legal action, while others seem to prefer to simply move on from the whole ordeal. But many agree that the broader impact will soon be felt by millions of Americans. “We are in bad shape for the future,” says Jack, “and I hope more exposure of this fact will start to scare people that haven’t directly been affected by the impacts of these decisions.” View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. During his Presidential campaign, new Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. promised an eight-year halt on infectious disease research, presumably because our chances of encountering any sort of infectious disease will be nearly zero once the fluoride is gone from our water supply. As we celebrate the disease-free world of the very near future, let's take a look back at movies that explore worlds in which viruses and diseases (or related metaphors) run rampant. These movies vary wildly in their tones and styles, but there are some recurring themes: Science and scientists (however flawed) are almost always a source of hope, while the efficacy of politicians and bureaucracy in harnessing technology to provide assistance is mixed, reflecting our deep ambivalence about the power and willingness of government to help us in times of crisis. Some of these movies suggest that we're largely on our own in times of viral crisis, but only where medicine is absent. Others, ones with less of a sense of the inevitable, turn on the development of vaccines or related cures. In the movies, at least, it seems that medical science is where hope lies. Outbreak (1995) Blending virology with disaster-movie swagger, Wolfgang Petersen's medical thriller might not be the most rigid in its adherence to science, Outbreak finds an all-star cast fighting to stop an epidemic of Motaba, a fictional Ebola-esque disease that mutates after having been smuggled into the country via an infected capuchin monkey from the jungle of Zaire. It's very '90s, I suppose, that the terror would come from the heart of Africa, while efforts by to prevent the virus from killing everyone in a small California town are complicated by factions in the U.S. military who want to keep it a secret, potentially to use as a weapon. Dustin Hoffman, Rene Russo, Morgan Freeman, Donald Sutherland, and Cuba Gooding Jr. are among the film's scientists and co-conspirators. You can rent Outbreak from Prime Video. Outbreak (1995) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video The Killer That Stalked New York (1950) It's tempting to say that a smallpox epidemic runs rampant in the margins of this decent, if middling, noir—but the outbreak story is, ultimately, what elevates this 1950 crime drama. Based around a very real 1947 smallpox epidemic in NYC, the title's inadvertent killer is Sheila Bennett (Evelyn Keyes), a diamond smuggler on the run who's unaware that she's spreading disease in the wake of evading the authorities (the real patient zero was a traveling rug merchant, not a jewel-smuggling femme fatale). In real life, and as depicted in the movie, a massive vaccination campaign saw civic authorities, pharmaceutical companies, and the military team up to provide vaccines alongside thousands of volunteers. 600,000 New Yorkers got shots in just the first week, and the outbreak ultimately saw only two smallpox fatalities. The movie, rather, turns on the hunt for Sheila in the hope that she'll do the right thing and provide the contact tracing necessary to ensure that those most directly affected get their shots. You can stream The Killer That Stalked New York on Prime Video and Pluto TV. The Killer That Stalked New York (1950) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video 12 Monkeys (1996) A group of scientists approach James Cole (Bruce Willis), a prisoner in the (rapidly approaching) year 2035 with a mission: They're going to send him back in time to 1996, the year a deadly plague began wiping out most of humanity, in the hope that he can gather a sample of the original virus to help them develop a cure. Not the wildest medical idea we've heard lately! Unfortunately, Cole gets sent back too early and finds his mission jeopardized when he winds up in a mental institution. The movie's themes are around the general stickiness of our choices, and the ways in which the ball of fate, once started rolling, is very, very hard to stop. You can rent 12 Monkeys from Prime Video. 12 Monkeys (1996) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video The Masque of the Red Death (1964) One of the very best, and almost certainly most psychedelic, of Roger Corman's collaborations with Vincent Price, this Poe adaptation is a sumptuous descent into hell. Price plays Prince Prospero, a sadistic nobleman in Medieval Italy. When a local woman dies of the mysterious titular plague, Prospero orders the village burned and invites the wealthy nobility to his castle. With the desperate, now homeless villagers baying at the gates, the local gentry party their way through the end of the world, oblivious to the suffering they've caused—at least until a procession of the world's illnesses finds them all drunk and unprepared. A happy ending, you might say. You can stream Masque of the Red Death on Pluto TV or rent it from Prime Video. The Masque of the Red Death (1964) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Contagion (2011) The relative accuracy of Steven Soderbergh's drama is as fascinating as it is frustrating: The idea of a bat-evolved respiratory virus with a death toll in the millions that leads to mass quarantines as well as social distancing, while also providing plenty of material for conspiracy theorists—well, it suggests that there were things we might have been better prepared for. While hitting a few of the same disaster-movie beats as Outbreak, this one is, on the whole, more subdued and, apparently, far more scientifically accurate. You can rent Contagion from Prime Video. Contagion (2011) Learn More Learn More The Andromeda Strain (1971) The always-reliable director Robert Wise adapts Michael Crichton's novel about a microorganism from Earth's upper atmosphere that causes nearly instantaneous blood clotting. Which is bad. The paranoid responses are worse. It works much like other Crichton stories: A somewhat outlandish premise played absolutely straight (think Jurassic Park), such that you almost start to freak out about it happening. You can rent The Andromeda Strain from Prime Video. The Andromeda Strain (1971) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video The Last Man on Earth (1964) The first of three major adaptations of Richard Matheson's I Am Legend, Matheson himself worked on this one, though wasn't terribly happy with the results. The film's comparatively low budget, though, sets it apart from later, more action-heavy takes (The Omega Man and I Am Legend, specifically)—this one is comparatively more contemplative as a result. Vincent Price is Dr. Robert Morgan, the only person in the world (to his knowledge) not infected by a plague that has left everyone else into, well, vampires. An encounter with a mysterious woman leads Dr. Morgan to believe that the contagion might be treatable, but can't ever be cured (it might help if there were more than one human scientist left alive, but you work with what you've got, I suppose). You can stream The Last Man on Earth on Tubi, Pluto TV, and Prime Video. The Last Man on Earth (1964) Learn More Learn More Philadelphia (1993) There are better films about the darkest days of the first HIV/AIDS crisis, but few had more of a cultural impact than this mainstream, all-star legal drama. It was the first time that Hollywood had approached the topic in any meaningful way, and one of the very first times that queer characters were portrayed positively—it's also a reasonably good depiction of the legal challenges and consequences that come with an unhindered pandemic. Tom Hanks plays Andrew Beckett, a successful senior associate at a major corporate law firm in the title city who starts displaying lesions (Kaposi's sarcoma, specifically) related to the AIDS diagnosis that he'd been concealing. When he's fired with very little reason given, he hires Joe Miller (Denzel Washington), one of the few lawyers who will take his wrongful termination suit. It's based, loosely, on the real-life case of Geoffrey Bowers, whose case was settled eight years after his death. You can rent Philadelphia from Prime Video. Philadelphia (1993) Learn More Learn More Isle of the Dead (1945) An unsung classic from producer Val Lewton and director Mark Robson, Isle of the Dead's plot belies its lurid title with the story of a Greek general (Boris Karloff) trying to maintain a quarantine on an isolated island. Taking a break to visit his wife's tomb during the Balkan Wars of 1912, Gen. Nikolas Pherides arrives with an American reporter at exactly the wrong time: Deaths attributed by some locals to supernatural forces are diagnosed by a local doctor as the first stirrings of an outbreak of septicemic plague. He's battling not only local superstition and defiance of modern(-ish) science, but also attempts by less credulous locals to escape the island, and thus expose the mainland to the otherwise contained plague. Fortunately, we modern types are incapable of such unscientific silliness. You can rent Isle of the Dead from Prime Video. Isle of the Dead (1945) Learn More Learn More Arrowsmith (1931) Ronald Colman stars as Dr Martin Arrowsmith in this pre-Code John Ford film that, while occasionally veering into melodrama, takes its science relatively seriously, at least in the abstract. When he meets the love of his life, Leora (Helen Hayes), the young medical student gives up scientific research for a more lucrative practice. An outbreak of a bubonic plague in the West Indies, though, sees him reunited with an old mentor to explore the efficacy of a new antibiotic serum that Arrowsmith helped to develop. Is it more important to get the serum into the hands (or, rather, veins) of as many dying people as possible? Or to pursue a study with more scientific rigor that could lead to greater benefits in the long run? You can stream Arrowsmith on Tubi and Prime Video. Arrowsmith (1931) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Rec (2007) This superior found-footage horror film from Spain sees reporter Ángela Vidal (Manuela Velasco) and her camera operator on a seemingly sleepy assignment covering the night shift of one of Barcelona's local fire stations. Zombie hell breaks loose, though, when a call about an old woman trapped in her apartment finds them all trapped inside a quarantined building in which people are becoming infected, one by one, by a mysterious pathogen. There are clever nods to contact tracing and some fun twists on actual science (maybe don't do science experiments and definitely don't do demon stuff in your residential penthouse thx), but the vibe here is largely howling terror and also paranoia: They've all been locked in by the authorities, and it's unclear if anyone from outside is helping or just waiting for them to die. In the wake of COVID, it feels a bit like the pandemic squeezed into a single building. The American remake (Quarantine), in which it's the CDC that's locked everyone in, is also decent. You can stream Rec on Tubi or rent it from Prime Video. Rec (2007) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video The Normal Heart (2014) Larry Kramer adapted his own, largely autobiographical, play for this NYC-set drama depicting the rise of the HIV-AIDS crisis in the city between 1981 and 1984. Mark Ruffalo plays Ned Weeks, Kramer's alter ego, who helps a sick friend during a Fire Island birthday party only to return to New York and discover that several dozen gay men have been diagnosed with a "rare cancer." The film conveys the raw immediacy of those early days, as well as the medical and public relations battles that were fought to draw attention to an illness that politicians and mainstream media sources couldn't have given a shit about. Even after decades of social and medical advances, queerphobia remains prevalent and HIV/AIDS-related funding is on the chopping block, so the rage of these characters feels depressingly immediate. You can stream The Normal Heart on Max or rent it from Prime Video. The Normal Heart (2014) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max Containment (2015) In an outdated council flat in Weston, artist Mark (Lee Ross) wakes to discover that he's been sealed into his apartment with no means of escape. The electricity's out, and the only information comes via the intercom—presumably offered up by the people in Hazmat suits patrolling the exterior of the building. The scenario goes a bit Lord of the Flies, but more disturbing is the sense that, in a disaster, the scariest thing might well be a lack of solid, reliable information. You can stream Containment on Prime Video and Tubi. Containment (2015) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video It Comes at Night (2017) A family hides in their house while a plague ravages the planet in this very slow-burn psychological thriller that finds the group gradually succumbing to paranoia and terror as they cling to increasingly ad hoc methods of preventing infection. Ultimately, the enemies here are isolation and paranoia, a reminder that the worst impacts of disaster and trauma are often the hurts we inflict upon ourselves and our loved ones. You can rent It Comes at Night from Prime Video. It Comes at Night (2017) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011) Science is, as in real life, usually a source of hope in outbreak movies—but not always. Here, a well-intentioned scientist working on a cure for Alzheimer's accidentally creates a race of super-intelligent apes and puts them on a course to conquer the planet (on second thought, maybe the message here is: Stop animal testing). Spreading like an infection, the poor humans are rather quickly back-footed by the new threat. The apes, lead by Andy Serkis' chimp Caesar, can't really do much worse as rulers of the Earth, so I hail our simian overlords. Feels hopeful. You can stream Rise of the Planet of the Apes on Max or rent it from Prime Video. Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max The Seventh Seal (1957)Unsurprisingly, perhaps, there's no science to the rescue in Ingmar Bergman's masterpiece. With lush and generous detail, we're transported to a Medieval village during the height of the Black Death, following returned knight Antonius Block (Max von Sydow) as he confronts the personification of Death (Bengt Ekerot) in a chess game for his life. The characters respond to Death's rapaciousness in various, and very human ways: Block is contemplative but defiant, his squire is practical and grounded, flagellates whip themselves as penance, a woman is nearly burned at the stake as a witch, while a young couple awaits the birth of a child—holding on to hope amid the misery. Bleak and beautiful in equal measure, Bergman's movie explores a sick world in which neither God nor science are coming to help, but maybe, if we're lucky, we have people to walk through it with us. You can stream The Seventh Seal on Max and The Criterion Channel or rent it from Prime Video. The Seventh Seal (1957) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max View the full article

This post was written by Alison Green and published on Ask a Manager. A reader writes: This isn’t for my job, but it’s for a nonprofit organization related to my career that involves some level of professionalism. I’m afraid that I scared off a new member by coming on too strong to her. I volunteer at a STEM-related organization that mentors children. My position is at the state level, and a new person just joined at the group level. I met her for the first time at a regular group meeting. I’ll admit, I’m really attracted to her, but I still wanted to get to know her regardless of whether or not she’s interested. She’s the only other woman I know who’s in my field with some of the same interests I have, and she’s incredibly driven and smart. But I only got to see her for an hour, so I had no real chance to get to know her. She put her number into my phone, and when I texted my name to her, it showed up on her screen. Here are the texts I’ve sent her since: [Day we met, T+0] [STEM-related meme] Hey just wanted to say it was great meeting you tonight :) Have you been to Teapot Museum by any chance? [T+1] The one by [location]? [T+3] Hey! Can I call you sometime today? Because there have been some new policies that Organization wants to implement that I’m worried could affect what you want to teach at Teapot Group. [T+6] Hi! Just wanted to let you know that Cool Teapot Event is happening on [date] that the kids might want to know about! All these text messages were labeled as “delivered” until T+8, when they all went to “read.” She didn’t reply to any of them. I had also found her on LinkedIn and sent a (still pending) request on T+9 (I haven’t done this with other members). On T+10, I invited her to a monthly Teams meeting that I schedule for our group, and she still hasn’t sent an RSVP. On T+12, I called and left a voicemail about future lessons. I’m writing this letter to you on T+14. I didn’t think much of it at first because she has a job and a master’s program that she’s probably busy with, but to not reply to any of my attempts to reach out? And although none of these are urgent, everything I sent her is related to our organization. Why wouldn’t she have replied at some point? (At this point, I’m also worried that she might not reply if there *is* something urgent.) I can understand forgetting to text back, but there were multiple chances to interact. Not to mention that our organization’s state conference is next month, and I don’t know if she knows about it. (On her end, it’s an opportunity for her to meet other members and learn things about the organization, but also a chance for me to hang out with her again.) Did I scare her off? Can I still reach out to her? Nooooo, do not reach out to her again! This is way too much contact when it’s not being returned. Really, you should have stopped after the second text (the one asking if she’d been to the museum). At that point things were in her court, and continuing to contact her was much too pushy. There are all kinds of reasons why she might not have responded. Maybe she’s really busy with other things in her life. Maybe she’s not a big texter. Maybe she meant to respond initially but forgot, and then got put off by how many texts accumulated after that. Maybe she picked up on your interest and doesn’t return it and didn’t want to engage for that reason. Or if she wasn’t viewing it through that lens, maybe she thought, “Whoa, I just attended one meeting of this group to check it out and now I’m being inundated by an amount of contact I didn’t sign up for and which is disproportionate to my level of involvement so far.” What’s most interesting to me about your letter is that you have reached out to her eight separate times (!) without any response from her without realizing you needed to stop, and you’re still considering reaching out again! If the roles were reversed — let’s say you went to a meeting of a professional organization and someone you met there texted you six separate times over 10 days without any response from you, then tried to connect on LinkedIn, then left you a voicemail, wouldn’t you feel …like they were crowding you? Like that was a level of investment from them that wasn’t warranted by the existing (minimal) relationship? I am sorry to say, there is a pretty high likelihood you have scared her off from the organization. You definitely should not contact her again. You do not need to inform her about the state conference next month. If there is something urgent that she must be contacted about, someone else from the organization should do it, not you (although I’m skeptical that will come up since she has only ever attended a single meeting and may not even remain involved). You mentioned seeing the state conference as a chance to hang out with her again, but at this point you should assume that won’t happen … and if she does show up there or to another meeting (the chances of which may be quite low now), the only thing you should do is to give her a large amount of space. Do not approach her, and do not go out of your way to try to talk to her. Don’t freeze her out either, since it will make things even more uncomfortable if you seem like you’re upset; smile and say hello if you encounter her, but then leave her alone, to demonstrate that she doesn’t need to worry about you continuing to crowd her. If by some chance she is interested in getting to know you better (let’s say she was in a coma through all these messages and was delighted to find them when she awoke), your interest in getting to know her has already been made clear and she can approach you. But unless that happens, you really, really need to leave her alone from now on. View the full article

A complex society is best served by a competent, professional and neutral public serviceView the full article

Google announced the public beta of Display & Video 360 API v4 last week, alongside significant updates to v3. Key changes in v4. Mandatory optimization objective field for new insertion orders Removal of Campaign and InsertionOrder resource targeting management Renaming of FirstAndThirdPartyAudience to FirstPartyAndPartnerAudience Additional features in v3 and v4. Asset-based creative support Integral Ad Science quality sync integration Expanded geographic region targeting options Why we care. The beta release of Display & Video 360 API v4 and new v3 features gives advertisers enhanced capabilities for programmatic advertising management. Between the lines. The mandatory optimization objective requirement suggests Google is pushing for more structured and purposeful campaign setups. What to watch. Google warns that v4 may undergo breaking changes during the beta period, with updates documented in release notes. Bottom line. Advertisers need to update their client libraries to access new features and should consider following Google’s migration guide when moving to v4. View the full article

We're now up to the second public beta release of Android 16, which brings new features across a variety of areas, including photography, system security, device management, and foldable form factors. The official Google blog post announcing the beta release leads with the media and camera updates. If you want more of a say over how your photos and videos end up looking, you can make use of additional manual control options covering exposure, color temperature, and tint. There's also support for Ultra HDR images if you're saving your snaps in the HEIC image format. Essentially, these are new hybrid options between fully automatic processing and fully manual processing, so those who are more comfortable playing around with settings such as white balance will be able to pick and choose the tweaks they make. It'll also mean a broader range of effects are possible without any extra edits in an app. Some other features haven't been officially announced by Google, but have been spotted by the Android community. Most of them have been reported by the team at Android Authority. They found new protections limiting what you can do on calls, for example—so you won't be able to sideload apps or change any accessibility options while you're actually talking on the phone. Android 16 will give you more control over photo and video composition. Credit: Google The reason? Those are two of the more common tactics used by scammers to try and gain access to handsets. With these protections in place, there'll be less of an opportunity to install malware or take control of the phone remotely. The latest Android 16 beta also enables you to double-press the power button to launch the camera or Google Wallet. Previously, it would just open the camera, with no alternative option, so this gives you a bit more flexibility (and there may well be more alternatives to come). A new widget has also appeared that makes the process of switching users on an Android device more straightforward. Switching to a different Google account only takes a tap on the widget, so no diving into the Settings menu or the Quick Settings panel is needed. If you're a Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold owner, meanwhile, it looks as though Android 16 beta 2 has added a "robust open/close detection" feature that should be helpful: As reported by 9to5Google, this means that the device will be able to more accurately detect its open or closed state even with magnetic accessories attached (these accessories can sometimes interfere with the relevant sensors). Another new feature improves open/close detection on foldable devices. Credit: Lifehacker The feature doesn't seem to be fully live yet, however, which may be why Google hasn't mentioned it. Presumably after some refinement it'll become available for the Pixel 9 Pro Fold and other foldable Android devices. A small tweak to the interface means the Extra Dim setting on Pixel 9 phones is now more accessible, while it looks like more information and options are coming to the Battery Health page tipped to be coming to Pixel handsets. There are also some minor edits to health and fitness permissions: Access to data such as heart rate and skin temperature will now be given on a more granular basis, which should make it easier for users to see which apps are accessing which bits of data (and which data is passing through the Health Connect protocol). As always with beta updates like this, bugs are to be expected, and any of these features might be removed or revised before the full launch of Android 16—expected sometime in the second quarter of the year. If you've got a compatible Pixel device, you can try out the beta now, but this isn't recommended for a main device that you rely on. View the full article

Entry of notorious Maia-1 into European territory waters would pose fresh challenge to western sanctions systemView the full article

Have you ever regretted sending an email? Be it a wrong address or an embarrassing typo in the email body, we all make email mistakes at some point. And to avoid humiliation, we wish to recall those sent emails. The good news is you can actually do that. In this article, you will learn everything about how to recall an email in Gmail. Also, you will know how to change the email cancellation period. Let’s dive in: Requirements for Recalling a Sent Email in Gmail Here are critical requirements for recalling a sent email in Gmail: You must give the recall command within the cancellation period The message sent pop-up should be open If you close the message sent pop-up, you won’t be able to recall an email even if the cancellation period is not over. How to Recall a Gmail Email The following are quick steps to help you recall a wrong email: Step. 1 Log in to your Gmail account, and click on compose to start writing an email. Step. 2 Write your email and click the Send button. Step. 3 As you click on the send button, the message sent pop-up will open at the bottom left corner. Step. 4 Quickly click on the Undo button as soon as the message sent pop-up appears. The undoing process will start. In just a few seconds, you’ll see a message indicating that the sending process has been undone. The unsent email will be stored in your Drafts folder, allowing you to correct any mistakes and resend it. The above process outlines how to recall an email in Gmail when using a web browser. If you’re using the Gmail app on your Android or iOS device, you will need to follow the same steps to recall an email. What is the Send Cancellation Period in Gmail? The send cancellation period in Gmail is the time duration you have to recall an email. By default, Gmail gives you five seconds to recall an email. Once these five seconds are over, you will not be able to recall an email. However, you can change the default Gmail send cancellation period. At present, Google allows you to increase it up to 30 seconds. Changing the Gmail Send Cancellation Period To change the cancellation period, you must log in to your Gmail account using a web browser, as this cannot be done through the Gmail app on Android or iOS. The following is the process for changing the Gmail send cancellation period: Step. 1 Click on Gmail Settings in the upper right corner, and then go to the See All Settings menu. Sept. 2 In the General settings menu, you will find the Undo send section, where you can choose a cancellation period for your sent emails of 5, 10, 20, or 30 seconds. Step. 3 After selecting the desired duration from Send cancellation period’ drop-down menu, scroll down the bar of General Settings and click on the Save changes button. You have successfully adjusted the Gmail send cancellation period, and this updated period will automatically apply to your Gmail app on both Android and iOS. Can you have a cancellation period of more than 30 seconds? Yes, you can. With the help of a third-party tool, you can recall emails after more than 30 seconds. Next, we will look at a few Gmail email alternatives to increase the cancellation period. Recall a Gmail Email Alternatives If you don’t want to recall an email using Google’s undo send feature, there are alternatives you can explore. The following tools can help you recall a sent email: Pointofmail You can use the Pointofmail Chrome extension to learn how to recall an email in Gmail. This robust tool offers a variety of advanced features, including the ability to disable forwarding, send self-destructing emails, and modify the content of messages that have already been sent. Virtru Virtru provides comprehensive email encryption, detailed access controls, ongoing file protection, immediate email revocation, and additional features. With Virtru, you can effortlessly revoke access to any email, allowing you to stop the recipient from opening your message. It is easy to get started with Virtru. Download the Virtru extension for Google Chrome, and activate the tool. When you write an email in Gmail, you will see the Virtru toggle at the top right corner of the email compose window. Toggle on to start having Virtru protection on. Digify for Gmail Using Digify, you can quickly unsend an incorrectly attached document. However, if you’re looking to learn how to recall an email in Gmail, this tool won’t meet your needs. Essentially, Digify is designed to help you protect, track, and control important documents after they’ve been sent. The tools mentioned above allow for an extended cancellation period. However, it’s important to realize that if you attempt to recall an email after a few minutes or hours, your recipient may have already read it. Therefore, it is recommended to recall emails as soon as possible to minimize the risk of getting them read. Why Does My Gmail Email Recall Not Work? Your Gmail email recall may not work if your Internet connection goes off right after you click on the Undo button or if it was already off when you clicked undo option. In such a condition, you will get the following message: Are Recalling Emails on the Gmail Website and Gmail App the Same? Yes, recalling emails on the Gmail website and Gmail app is the same. You will have the same time period to click the undo button whether you’re recalling an email from a browser or app. Does the Recipient Know if You Recall an Email in Gmail? No, the recipient will not know if you recall an email using Google’s undo feature. This is because the recalled email doesn’t reach the recipient’s email address. So rest assured nobody will know about your embarrassing email mistake if you’re able to recall a sent email. Conclusion Now that you understand how to recall an email in Gmail, take advantage of this useful feature to retrieve any embarrassing emails you prefer not to send. Additionally, consider learning how to make a mailing list in Gmail and how to recall an email in Outlook. We suggest setting a cancellation period of 30 seconds to give yourself extra time to recall an email in Gmail. Image: Envato Elements This article, "How to Recall an Email in Gmail" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Have you ever regretted sending an email? Be it a wrong address or an embarrassing typo in the email body, we all make email mistakes at some point. And to avoid humiliation, we wish to recall those sent emails. The good news is you can actually do that. In this article, you will learn everything about how to recall an email in Gmail. Also, you will know how to change the email cancellation period. Let’s dive in: Requirements for Recalling a Sent Email in Gmail Here are critical requirements for recalling a sent email in Gmail: You must give the recall command within the cancellation period The message sent pop-up should be open If you close the message sent pop-up, you won’t be able to recall an email even if the cancellation period is not over. How to Recall a Gmail Email The following are quick steps to help you recall a wrong email: Step. 1 Log in to your Gmail account, and click on compose to start writing an email. Step. 2 Write your email and click the Send button. Step. 3 As you click on the send button, the message sent pop-up will open at the bottom left corner. Step. 4 Quickly click on the Undo button as soon as the message sent pop-up appears. The undoing process will start. In just a few seconds, you’ll see a message indicating that the sending process has been undone. The unsent email will be stored in your Drafts folder, allowing you to correct any mistakes and resend it. The above process outlines how to recall an email in Gmail when using a web browser. If you’re using the Gmail app on your Android or iOS device, you will need to follow the same steps to recall an email. What is the Send Cancellation Period in Gmail? The send cancellation period in Gmail is the time duration you have to recall an email. By default, Gmail gives you five seconds to recall an email. Once these five seconds are over, you will not be able to recall an email. However, you can change the default Gmail send cancellation period. At present, Google allows you to increase it up to 30 seconds. Changing the Gmail Send Cancellation Period To change the cancellation period, you must log in to your Gmail account using a web browser, as this cannot be done through the Gmail app on Android or iOS. The following is the process for changing the Gmail send cancellation period: Step. 1 Click on Gmail Settings in the upper right corner, and then go to the See All Settings menu. Sept. 2 In the General settings menu, you will find the Undo send section, where you can choose a cancellation period for your sent emails of 5, 10, 20, or 30 seconds. Step. 3 After selecting the desired duration from Send cancellation period’ drop-down menu, scroll down the bar of General Settings and click on the Save changes button. You have successfully adjusted the Gmail send cancellation period, and this updated period will automatically apply to your Gmail app on both Android and iOS. Can you have a cancellation period of more than 30 seconds? Yes, you can. With the help of a third-party tool, you can recall emails after more than 30 seconds. Next, we will look at a few Gmail email alternatives to increase the cancellation period. Recall a Gmail Email Alternatives If you don’t want to recall an email using Google’s undo send feature, there are alternatives you can explore. The following tools can help you recall a sent email: Pointofmail You can use the Pointofmail Chrome extension to learn how to recall an email in Gmail. This robust tool offers a variety of advanced features, including the ability to disable forwarding, send self-destructing emails, and modify the content of messages that have already been sent. Virtru Virtru provides comprehensive email encryption, detailed access controls, ongoing file protection, immediate email revocation, and additional features. With Virtru, you can effortlessly revoke access to any email, allowing you to stop the recipient from opening your message. It is easy to get started with Virtru. Download the Virtru extension for Google Chrome, and activate the tool. When you write an email in Gmail, you will see the Virtru toggle at the top right corner of the email compose window. Toggle on to start having Virtru protection on. Digify for Gmail Using Digify, you can quickly unsend an incorrectly attached document. However, if you’re looking to learn how to recall an email in Gmail, this tool won’t meet your needs. Essentially, Digify is designed to help you protect, track, and control important documents after they’ve been sent. The tools mentioned above allow for an extended cancellation period. However, it’s important to realize that if you attempt to recall an email after a few minutes or hours, your recipient may have already read it. Therefore, it is recommended to recall emails as soon as possible to minimize the risk of getting them read. Why Does My Gmail Email Recall Not Work? Your Gmail email recall may not work if your Internet connection goes off right after you click on the Undo button or if it was already off when you clicked undo option. In such a condition, you will get the following message: Are Recalling Emails on the Gmail Website and Gmail App the Same? Yes, recalling emails on the Gmail website and Gmail app is the same. You will have the same time period to click the undo button whether you’re recalling an email from a browser or app. Does the Recipient Know if You Recall an Email in Gmail? No, the recipient will not know if you recall an email using Google’s undo feature. This is because the recalled email doesn’t reach the recipient’s email address. So rest assured nobody will know about your embarrassing email mistake if you’re able to recall a sent email. Conclusion Now that you understand how to recall an email in Gmail, take advantage of this useful feature to retrieve any embarrassing emails you prefer not to send. Additionally, consider learning how to make a mailing list in Gmail and how to recall an email in Outlook. We suggest setting a cancellation period of 30 seconds to give yourself extra time to recall an email in Gmail. Image: Envato Elements This article, "How to Recall an Email in Gmail" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

I can answer one of those questions for you. (Sorry, the universe thing is above my pay grade.) I work at Ahrefs, and we pronounce Ahrefs like “H-refs”. It’s how we say it in company meetings, interviews, sales calls, YouTube…Read more ›View the full article

This week, I explain why generations A and Z are eating rotten meat, making fun of cave explorers, showing off their emergency contacts, and becoming very emotionally invested in an angler fish. Everyone is having a very normal week. What do all the cave diving memes mean?If your various social media feeds are full of videos of upside down shoes and boots in different locations, you're witnessing "cave diving" memes. While "cave diving" actually refers to underwater cave exploration, the memes are not about that: Younger people are making jokes about the way cave explorers will wedge themselves into tiny crevices until all anyone can see are the bottoms of their boots. Here's a real life example: And here are some of comedic takes. How a cave diver checks their oil: A cave diver going through a door: A cave diver notices a crack in the wall: A cave diver at the Sydney Opera House: I'm sure you get the idea. The meme spread because it's easy to do, and it's funny, but it's partly based on a photo taken of the boots of John Edward Jones, who wriggled into a tiny crack in Nutty Putty Cave in 2009 and could not wriggle back out. Despite the efforts of hundreds of rescuers, Jones was so firmly wedged in the tiny fissure, nothing could be done to free him. He died 28 hours later while his would-be rescuers looked on helplessly. Way less funny than the memes. What is "high meat?"For the past several years, young people online have been sharing stories and recipes for "high meat," or "fermented meat," which is raw meat that is left to rot, then eaten. "Why?" you might be asking. Because it supposedly gets you high. Do not follow the recipe below: To be fair, making your own high meat, also known as "fermented meat," is not a widespread trend, but it's interesting because it's on the far fringes of two larger movements. High meat's proponents are generally people who follow a "carnivore" or "paleo" all-meat diet—like this guy. The "it gets you high" part puts fermented meat on the fringes of the psychonaut community, where people are always searching for novel substances to alter their minds. It also reminds me of the many hoax "things that get you high" that crop up every few years among young people, like Jenkem or smoking banana peels. Fermented meat seems like a way of making an already extreme diet even more hardcore. Burly carnivore dudes eating rotten meat remind me of those hippies for whom veganism isn't enough, so they become raw food vegans or fruitarians. I almost hate to break it to the hardest-of-the-hardcore cavemen out there, but a ton of people eat raw, fermented meat all the time: pepperoni and salami are made of fermented, raw meat, and so are a bunch of other common foods. They're made by professionals using time-tested methods so they (usually) don't give you food poisoning, and they don't get you high, but still: raw fermented meat, right in my sandwich. What does “get it twisted” mean?"Get it twisted" is a, well, twist on the older phrase, "don't get it twisted." When someone says "don't get it twisted," it's a promise that what is to follow will be the unvarnished truth. When someone says "get it twisted," they're going to tell you lies. It started in the online gambling community, where a couple of well-known streamers overused the phrase "don't get it twisted" leading to remixes where a speech like this: became this: (For more young people slang, check out my post "'Mewing,' 'Sigma,' and Other Gen Z and Gen Alpha Slang You Might Need Help Decoding.) "Jerkmate Ranked: The Game" released for realLast month I covered the internet making funny memes about "Jerkmate Ranked," an imaginary competitive video game based on the pornographic media platform. This week, in a case of life imitating memes, Jerkmate actually released a game. "Jerkmate Ranked: The Game" doesn't create a leaderboard based on the amount of time one spends on the site though. It's a "clicker" game where the users click the screen to make a robot enjoy itself. The more clicks, the higher you climb on the leaderboard. I try not to judge, but maybe there's something else people could be doing? What is the "my emergency contact" trend?Not all young people are eating rotten meat and clicking for no reason. There are normal people out there too, like the people making "my emergency contact" videos. This wholesome, funny meme template involves showing your partner doing something silly with the text "my emergency contact" laid over it, as if to say, "Can you believe this person is who the hospital will call if I'm in an accident?" That's really all there is to it, but the result is a funny, touching reminder that we're all a bunch of goofballs. Here are a couple examples: Viral videos of the week: the heroic angler fish and Wiwiwi kittenThis week, two animal videos are going viral for very different reasons. First up, the sad tale of the heroic angler fish. Last week, scientists off the coast of Spain filmed a black seadevil fish, aka humpbacked angler, for the first time ever. They usually stay hundreds of meters below sea level, but this one, for reasons unknown, swam right up to the surface. Then it died, leading people to imagine an angler that only wanted to see the sun: I mean, people got emotional over the fish: Or pretended they were going to save it: I'm gonna leave things on upbeat note though: This week's second viral video isn't emotionally wrenching at all. It's just a kitten being so cute that people all over the world are watching the little guy eat its little food and say "wi-wi-wi" and "oooh!" Adorable. View the full article

Meet your clients where they are. The Disruptors With Liz Farr Go PRO for members-only access to more Liz Farr. View the full article

Meet your clients where they are. The Disruptors With Liz Farr Go PRO for members-only access to more Liz Farr. View the full article

Here is a recap of what happened in the search forums today...View the full article

The restructuring firm that took control of Big Lots in the wake of its bankruptcy last year appears to be making progress in its effort to transfer some of the discount chain’s ill-fated locations to other retailers. Several retail companies, including some with ties to nationally recognized brands, have stepped in to take over leases on Big Lots stores in at least 12 different states, according to recent court filings. If the transfers are approved by the court, the spaces are likely to be turned into something other than Big Lots, although some of the retailers have not yet publicly confirmed their plans. Ocean State Job Lot, a discount retail chain with locations across New England and the Mid-Atlantic region, is seeking to assume control of at least 15 Big Lots leases, court records show. The list includes locations in Delaware, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, New Jersey, New York, and Vermont. “We have expressed interest in several Big Lots locations,” a spokesperson for Ocean State Job Lot told Fast Company when reached for comment. “Presently, that is all we can share publicly. We will provide more information about our plans as soon as we are able.” The proposed transfer of leases to Ocean State (via a number of limited liability companies) appears to be the largest such transfer outside of the 200 stores that are expected to be transferred to North Carolina-based Variety Wholesalers, which intends to continue operating those stores under the Big Lots brands, as Fast Company reported earlier this month. Smaller retailers circle the wagons In addition to Ocean State Job Lot, a handful of smaller retailers have been listed as assignees on Big Lots locations over the past week. Berat Corporation, which is linked to ShopRite supermarkets in the Northeast, is planning to assume control of a Big Lots lease in New Jersey, court records show. Owner David G. Zallie confirmed the proposed lease transfer with Fast Company last week. Goodwill Industries of Dallas, a local offshoot of the used-good seller, likewise confirmed that it will open two stores in former Big Lots locations in Texas. A Limited Liability Company with ties to ABQ Crazy Liquidation, an Albuquerque-based discount chain that resells overstock and returned items, is listed as the transferee for Big Lots leases in Illinois and Colorado. ABQ’s owner did not respond to a request for comment about plans for those locations. Additional Big Lots stores are expected to be scooped up by furniture retailers in Florida and Texas. Months of uncertainty following bankruptcy Big Lots filed for bankruptcy in September 2024 after facing falling sales, declining foot traffic, inflationary pressures, and unsustainable debt. It had previously planned to close all of its more than 800 locations before securing its last-minute deal with Variety Wholesalers at the beginning of this year. Meanwhile, Gordon Brothers, the liquidation and investment firm that now controls Big Lots, has been selling the chain’s leases at a discount on the open market, some of which do not expire until the 2040s. Fast Company reached out to Gordon Brothers for additional comment about the latest proposed transfers. The recent court filings offer a window into the types of retailers that are willing to step in and take control of such large spaces at a time when physical retail is facing headwinds. Big Lots stores tend to measure least 30,000 and sometimes well over 50,000 square feet. You can read a full list of proposed lease transfers below: Massachusetts 116 East Main Street Webster, MA (Ocean State Job Lot) Maryland 801 E. Pulaski Hwy, Suite 141, Elkton, MD (Ocean State Job Lot) 210 Marlboro Ave., Suite 55 Easton, MD (Ocean State Job Lot) 24 Kent Towne Market, Chester, MD (Ocean State Job Lot) Maine 730 Center St., Auburn, ME (Ocean State Job Lot) New Jersey 1075 Mantua Pike, West Deptford, NJ (Berat Corporation) 257 West New Rd., Somers Point, NJ (Ocean State Job Lot) 3845 Bayshore Rd., Cape May, NJ (Ocean State Job Lot) 580 North Main St., Barnegat, NJ (Ocean State Job Lot) New York 8015 Oswego Rd., Liverpool, NY (Ocean State Job Lot) 10 Village Plaza, Dansville, NY (Ocean State Job Lot) Pennsylvania Rte I-83 and 3800 Union Deposit Rd, Harrisburg, PA (Ocean State Job Lot) 7150 Hamilton Boulevard, Trexlertown, PA (Ocean State Job Lot) Colorado 7777 W. Jewell Avenue, Lakewood, CO (ABQ Liquidation LLC) Delaware 515 N. Dupont Highway, Dover, DE (Ocean State Job Lot) 900 Norman A. Eskridge Highway, Unit #50, Seaford, DE (Ocean State Job Lot) Illinois 480 Georgetown Square, Wood Dale (ABQ Liquidation LLC) Texas 3303 98th Street, Lubbock, TX (South Lubbock FP LLC) 2306 S. Jefferson Ave., Unit 160, Mount Pleasant, TX (JP & A Holding) 2855 Ridge Road, Rockwall, TX (Goodwill Industries of Dallas) 3621 North Josey Lane, Carrollton, TX (Goodwill Industries of Dallas) Vermont 66 Morrisville Plaza, Suite 5 Morrisville, VT (Ocean State Job Lot) Florida 11247 SW 40th Street, Miami, FL (Madesa Inc) 7565 W. Hillsborough Avenue Tampa, FL (Fine Furniture Décor) This story is developing… View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. When it comes to upgrading your home's aesthetic, you don't need to spend a lot of time or money to have an impact. In addition to inexpensive improvements that increase your home's comfort and efficiency, there are a number of small swaps that can have a big impact without busting your budget. All of these swaps are renter-friendly—they are unlikely to cause damage in the installation process and are easy to return to their original state. Simply save what you remove and replace when you leave. Get new switch plate and outlet coversRemove the cheap plastic light switch and outlet covers around your home and replace them with plates made of brushed metal or wood, or look for uniquely shaped or painted covers from marketplaces like Etsy. Hardware stores also sell paintable covers so you can either blend them into your walls or add an accent color. Wall plates are among the easiest and least expensive swaps you can make while adding a decorative element to your space: A set of six duplex outlet covers in brass costs just $20 on Amazon, and all you need to do is unscrew the plates from the wall using a screwdriver. Replace vent coversStandard-issue vent covers installed in your floors, walls, and ceilings can also be swapped for more decorative versions with minimal effort and at a relatively low cost. You can replace both registers, which have louvers and dampers to control air flow, as well as decorative grills. You'll definitely see a difference when you get rid of plastic vent covers in favor of those made of metal or wood, but you can also find more ornate designs or grill patterns in the same material as your existing covers for less than $20 apiece. Be sure to select a material that makes sense for your space—rust-free aluminum is a good choice for bathrooms, for example—and take care to measure properly before purchasing new covers. Floor grills can often be dropped into place, while those in walls and ceilings will require mounting hardware. Consider new hardwareCabinet handles and drawer pulls are another easy swap that can significantly change the look of your space. If you buy hardware that's the same size as what you're removing, the upgrade is as easy as unscrewing the old and installing the new. Otherwise, you may need to fill existing holes with putty and drill new ones—so if you're renting, consider how easy it'll be to return your cabinets and drawers to their original state when you move out. You'll certainly find expensive hardware options, but you can get decent-looking handles and pulls from Amazon or your hardware store for less than $1 per piece. Swap out builder-grade mirrorsBuilder-grade home features—usually seen as basic and cheap—don't necessarily need to be changed out, but upgrading a few here and there for the sake of your design aesthetic can go a long way. Builder-grade mirrors are often frameless pieces of beveled glass fastened to the wall and are easy to remove and replace with a more decorative alternative. Look for a gently used mirror that's more to your liking on Facebook Marketplace, or consider adding a low-cost DIY decorative edge to your existing mirror. Go for new light fixturesAnother builder-grade feature that you can swap with relative ease for the sake of your home's aesthetic: light fixtures (especially the dreaded boob light). This project does require some basic electrical knowledge and a few materials, but it is totally possible to DIY—just don't forget to turn off the breaker before touching any fixture. View the full article

A good travel management company can provide you with a travel program that is tailored to your needs, as well as travel arrangers to help you with all of your travel arrangements. They can also provide you with helpful tips and advice for business travelers. If you’re looking for the best travel management services for your business, then look no further than the following 10 companies. What are Business Travel Management Companies and What do They Offer Business Travelers? BTMCs, provide services to their corporate clients to help manage their business travel. This can include providing software that tracks the expenses and itineraries of traveling employees, booking flights and hotels, arranging car rentals and other transportation, and providing customer service support during the travelers’ trip. This is particularly beneficial for companies with numerous employees who frequently travel for work, as it aids in monitoring all expenses and logistics related to business travel. Furthermore, business travel management companies often have the ability to negotiate reduced rates for their clients on a variety of travel services. READ MORE: Travel Risk Management Tips Benefits of Using a Corporate Travel Management Company There are many benefits to using a corporate management company for travel, including these four: Expense management. BTMCs can help businesses keep track of their spending on business travel and provide software to help manage and automate the expense reporting process. Business traveler support. Corporate travel management companies can provide customer support to travelers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This can be helpful in the event of an emergency or last-minute changes to travel plans. Comprehensive travel management solution. Business travel management companies (BTMCs) offer businesses a full travel management solution that encompasses booking flights and hotels, organizing transportation, and delivering customer support. Lower travel costs. BTMCs often have access to discounts on flights, hotels, and other travel services that they can pass on to their clients. How to Grow Your Corporate Travel Program A company can enhance its business travel program in several ways, including partnering with business travel management companies. These travel arrangers can streamline travel processes for employees, making it more convenient and efficient, ultimately saving the company both time and money. You can also inform employees about the advantages of utilizing a travel management company within the travel program. Additionally, you can motivate employees to make their travel bookings in advance. General Criteria for Choosing the Best Business Travel Management Company- Our Methodology Selecting the right business travel management company is crucial for streamlining your corporate travel needs. To assist you in this important decision, here are some general criteria to consider, along with a scale indicating their relative importance: 1. Expertise and Industry Experience (9/10): Extensive experience in corporate travel management. In-depth knowledge of the travel industry and its trends. Proven track record of successfully handling business travel for clients. 2. Cost Efficiency (9/10): Competitive pricing and cost-effective solutions. Ability to negotiate discounts with airlines, hotels, and other service providers. Transparent pricing structures with no hidden fees. 3. Traveler Support and Assistance (9/10): 24/7 availability for traveler support. Access to a dedicated travel advisor or consultant. Quick response time to resolve travel-related issues. 4. Technology and Booking Tools (7/10): User-friendly online booking platforms. Integration with expense management systems. Mobile apps for easy on-the-go bookings and itinerary access. 5. Customization and Flexibility (7/10): Tailored travel solutions to meet your specific business needs. Ability to accommodate last-minute changes or adjustments. Flexible policies that align with your company’s travel policy. 6. Traveler Well-being and Safety (9/10): Implementation of traveler safety measures and risk management. Access to real-time updates and alerts during travel. Compliance with health and safety regulations, especially during emergencies. 7. Reporting and Analytics (7/10): Access to detailed reporting on travel expenses and patterns. Analytics tools to help identify cost-saving opportunities. Insights into traveler behavior and preferences for future improvements. 8. Global Reach and Network (7/10): A wide network of partners and suppliers worldwide. Capabilities to manage international travel seamlessly. Knowledge of regional travel nuances and requirements. 9. Client References and Testimonials (7/10): Positive feedback and references from current clients. Case studies showcasing successful travel management experiences. Reputation and credibility within the industry. 10. Sustainability and Environmental Responsibility (5/10): Commitment to sustainable and eco-friendly travel practices. Options for carbon offset programs or eco-conscious travel choices. Alignment with your company’s sustainability goals. The Best Travel Management Companies for Business Travel As businesses increasingly shift to a global marketplace, the need for efficient and cost-effective travel management has become more important than ever. In this new era of globalization, organizations are looking for travel managers who can help them navigate the higher prices and complex logistics of doing business internationally. Here are the best travel management companies for businesses of all sizes: TravelBank TravelBank offers a comprehensive corporate travel management solution with extensive industry experience that includes expense reports, money management, and booking. With TravelBank, businesses can save time and money while ensuring that their employees have a safe and seamless travel experience. AMEX GBT If you’re looking for an efficient and reliable way to handle your business travel, AMEX GBT is a great option with a fantastic reputation. Their risk alerts and direct communication during disruptions make them a dependable choice, while their pre-negotiated rates can save you money. Additionally, their customer support boasts an impressive response time of just 15 seconds, ensuring you receive assistance whenever you need it. If you find yourself needing to cancel your trip at the last minute, FlexiPerk can help you recover up to 80% of your funds. SAP Concur SAP Concur is a comprehensive solution for businesses looking to manage their travel spending. It offers a wide range of features, including booking tools, expense reporting, and invoicing. This makes it an ideal solution for companies that want to streamline their travel process and reduce their expenses. READ MORE: David Alexander of SAP Concur: Automating Expense and Travel Management Sheds Light on Company Spending Issues CWT CWT is a well-established company with a history spanning 150 years, operating in 150 countries worldwide. This extensive presence has helped it build an excellent reputation and gain a wealth of industry experience. CWT provides a user-friendly business-to-business platform designed for employees. Their myCWT app is available on both PC and mobile devices, enabling travelers to book flights and make reservations at over 800,000 properties at special rates. Egencia Egencia is a travel management software that can help businesses keep track of their travelers and their travel data. This can help ensure traveler safety and a smooth travel program. Egencia also offers reports and analytics so that businesses can see how their travelers are performing and where they can make improvements. BCD Travel BCD Travel offers comprehensive travel management solutions for businesses of all sizes. With offices in 109 countries, BCD Travel is well-positioned to help businesses manage their travel needs worldwide. Their software suite includes three separate platforms that can be customized to meet the unique needs of your business. Additionally, BCD Travel offers access to APIs to integrate with their platforms, making it easy to get the exact solution you need. TravelPerk With the world’s largest inventory of travel options and partners with the biggest names in the business, TravelPerk can cater to your every need. Forget about hours wasted researching flights, hotels, and car rentals – let TravelPerk do all the hard work for you. FCM Travel Solution If you’re seeking excellent deals on business travel, FCM Travel Solution is an ideal choice. With access to more than 650,000 hotel properties and partnerships with major airlines, FCM can provide you with specially negotiated airfares and hotel rates. Plus, their FCM Connect suite of tools includes a powerful online booking tool and an expense management platform, making trip planning and tracking expenses a breeze. TripActions TripActions offers reliable partner connections and a straightforward booking process that will get you on your way swiftly and effortlessly. Additionally, if you require assistance at any point, TripActions’ customer support team is always ready to help. CompanyKey Features TravelBankComprehensive corporate travel management, expense reports, money management, and booking. AMEX GBTEfficient and reliable business travel management, risk alerts, pre-negotiated rates, and responsive customer care. SAP ConcurComprehensive travel spending management solution, booking tools, expense reporting, and invoicing. CWTGlobal presence, accessible myCWT app, flight booking, and reservations at special rates. EgenciaTravel management software for traveler tracking, travel data analysis, and reporting. BCD TravelComprehensive travel management solutions, customization, and API integration. CTMOnline booking tools for corporate travel, hotel, and car rental arrangements. TravelPerkWorld's largest inventory, partner connections, and automated travel booking. FCM Travel SolutionDeals on business travel, 650,000+ hotel properties, airline partnerships, online booking, and expense management. TripActionsTrusted partner connections, easy booking process, and responsive customer support. READ MORE: business travel tips Factors to consider when choosing a corporate travel management company When choosing the best corporate travel management solutions for a small business, there are a few key factors to consider. One of the most important considerations is the travel managers themselves – what experience do they have and what is their knowledge of the travel industry advancements that can save money for your company? Additionally, it’s crucial to consider the company’s dedication to traveler wellbeing. Do they provide features such as loyalty rewards programs and around-the-clock support? Lastly, it’s important to evaluate the company’s capacity to help you save money. Can they provide discounts on flights, accommodations, and vehicle rentals? By taking all of these factors into account, you can ensure that you are selecting the most effective travel management solutions for your business. Image: Envato Elements This article, "The Best Business Travel Management Companies" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

A good travel management company can provide you with a travel program that is tailored to your needs, as well as travel arrangers to help you with all of your travel arrangements. They can also provide you with helpful tips and advice for business travelers. If you’re looking for the best travel management services for your business, then look no further than the following 10 companies. What are Business Travel Management Companies and What do They Offer Business Travelers? BTMCs, provide services to their corporate clients to help manage their business travel. This can include providing software that tracks the expenses and itineraries of traveling employees, booking flights and hotels, arranging car rentals and other transportation, and providing customer service support during the travelers’ trip. This is particularly beneficial for companies with numerous employees who frequently travel for work, as it aids in monitoring all expenses and logistics related to business travel. Furthermore, business travel management companies often have the ability to negotiate reduced rates for their clients on a variety of travel services. READ MORE: Travel Risk Management Tips Benefits of Using a Corporate Travel Management Company There are many benefits to using a corporate management company for travel, including these four: Expense management. BTMCs can help businesses keep track of their spending on business travel and provide software to help manage and automate the expense reporting process. Business traveler support. Corporate travel management companies can provide customer support to travelers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This can be helpful in the event of an emergency or last-minute changes to travel plans. Comprehensive travel management solution. Business travel management companies (BTMCs) offer businesses a full travel management solution that encompasses booking flights and hotels, organizing transportation, and delivering customer support. Lower travel costs. BTMCs often have access to discounts on flights, hotels, and other travel services that they can pass on to their clients. How to Grow Your Corporate Travel Program A company can enhance its business travel program in several ways, including partnering with business travel management companies. These travel arrangers can streamline travel processes for employees, making it more convenient and efficient, ultimately saving the company both time and money. You can also inform employees about the advantages of utilizing a travel management company within the travel program. Additionally, you can motivate employees to make their travel bookings in advance. General Criteria for Choosing the Best Business Travel Management Company- Our Methodology Selecting the right business travel management company is crucial for streamlining your corporate travel needs. To assist you in this important decision, here are some general criteria to consider, along with a scale indicating their relative importance: 1. Expertise and Industry Experience (9/10): Extensive experience in corporate travel management. In-depth knowledge of the travel industry and its trends. Proven track record of successfully handling business travel for clients. 2. Cost Efficiency (9/10): Competitive pricing and cost-effective solutions. Ability to negotiate discounts with airlines, hotels, and other service providers. Transparent pricing structures with no hidden fees. 3. Traveler Support and Assistance (9/10): 24/7 availability for traveler support. Access to a dedicated travel advisor or consultant. Quick response time to resolve travel-related issues. 4. Technology and Booking Tools (7/10): User-friendly online booking platforms. Integration with expense management systems. Mobile apps for easy on-the-go bookings and itinerary access. 5. Customization and Flexibility (7/10): Tailored travel solutions to meet your specific business needs. Ability to accommodate last-minute changes or adjustments. Flexible policies that align with your company’s travel policy. 6. Traveler Well-being and Safety (9/10): Implementation of traveler safety measures and risk management. Access to real-time updates and alerts during travel. Compliance with health and safety regulations, especially during emergencies. 7. Reporting and Analytics (7/10): Access to detailed reporting on travel expenses and patterns. Analytics tools to help identify cost-saving opportunities. Insights into traveler behavior and preferences for future improvements. 8. Global Reach and Network (7/10): A wide network of partners and suppliers worldwide. Capabilities to manage international travel seamlessly. Knowledge of regional travel nuances and requirements. 9. Client References and Testimonials (7/10): Positive feedback and references from current clients. Case studies showcasing successful travel management experiences. Reputation and credibility within the industry. 10. Sustainability and Environmental Responsibility (5/10): Commitment to sustainable and eco-friendly travel practices. Options for carbon offset programs or eco-conscious travel choices. Alignment with your company’s sustainability goals. The Best Travel Management Companies for Business Travel As businesses increasingly shift to a global marketplace, the need for efficient and cost-effective travel management has become more important than ever. In this new era of globalization, organizations are looking for travel managers who can help them navigate the higher prices and complex logistics of doing business internationally. Here are the best travel management companies for businesses of all sizes: TravelBank TravelBank offers a comprehensive corporate travel management solution with extensive industry experience that includes expense reports, money management, and booking. With TravelBank, businesses can save time and money while ensuring that their employees have a safe and seamless travel experience. AMEX GBT If you’re looking for an efficient and reliable way to handle your business travel, AMEX GBT is a great option with a fantastic reputation. Their risk alerts and direct communication during disruptions make them a dependable choice, while their pre-negotiated rates can save you money. Additionally, their customer support boasts an impressive response time of just 15 seconds, ensuring you receive assistance whenever you need it. If you find yourself needing to cancel your trip at the last minute, FlexiPerk can help you recover up to 80% of your funds. SAP Concur SAP Concur is a comprehensive solution for businesses looking to manage their travel spending. It offers a wide range of features, including booking tools, expense reporting, and invoicing. This makes it an ideal solution for companies that want to streamline their travel process and reduce their expenses. READ MORE: David Alexander of SAP Concur: Automating Expense and Travel Management Sheds Light on Company Spending Issues CWT CWT is a well-established company with a history spanning 150 years, operating in 150 countries worldwide. This extensive presence has helped it build an excellent reputation and gain a wealth of industry experience. CWT provides a user-friendly business-to-business platform designed for employees. Their myCWT app is available on both PC and mobile devices, enabling travelers to book flights and make reservations at over 800,000 properties at special rates. Egencia Egencia is a travel management software that can help businesses keep track of their travelers and their travel data. This can help ensure traveler safety and a smooth travel program. Egencia also offers reports and analytics so that businesses can see how their travelers are performing and where they can make improvements. BCD Travel BCD Travel offers comprehensive travel management solutions for businesses of all sizes. With offices in 109 countries, BCD Travel is well-positioned to help businesses manage their travel needs worldwide. Their software suite includes three separate platforms that can be customized to meet the unique needs of your business. Additionally, BCD Travel offers access to APIs to integrate with their platforms, making it easy to get the exact solution you need. TravelPerk With the world’s largest inventory of travel options and partners with the biggest names in the business, TravelPerk can cater to your every need. Forget about hours wasted researching flights, hotels, and car rentals – let TravelPerk do all the hard work for you. FCM Travel Solution If you’re seeking excellent deals on business travel, FCM Travel Solution is an ideal choice. With access to more than 650,000 hotel properties and partnerships with major airlines, FCM can provide you with specially negotiated airfares and hotel rates. Plus, their FCM Connect suite of tools includes a powerful online booking tool and an expense management platform, making trip planning and tracking expenses a breeze. TripActions TripActions offers reliable partner connections and a straightforward booking process that will get you on your way swiftly and effortlessly. Additionally, if you require assistance at any point, TripActions’ customer support team is always ready to help. CompanyKey Features TravelBankComprehensive corporate travel management, expense reports, money management, and booking. AMEX GBTEfficient and reliable business travel management, risk alerts, pre-negotiated rates, and responsive customer care. SAP ConcurComprehensive travel spending management solution, booking tools, expense reporting, and invoicing. CWTGlobal presence, accessible myCWT app, flight booking, and reservations at special rates. EgenciaTravel management software for traveler tracking, travel data analysis, and reporting. BCD TravelComprehensive travel management solutions, customization, and API integration. CTMOnline booking tools for corporate travel, hotel, and car rental arrangements. TravelPerkWorld's largest inventory, partner connections, and automated travel booking. FCM Travel SolutionDeals on business travel, 650,000+ hotel properties, airline partnerships, online booking, and expense management. TripActionsTrusted partner connections, easy booking process, and responsive customer support. READ MORE: business travel tips Factors to consider when choosing a corporate travel management company When choosing the best corporate travel management solutions for a small business, there are a few key factors to consider. One of the most important considerations is the travel managers themselves – what experience do they have and what is their knowledge of the travel industry advancements that can save money for your company? Additionally, it’s crucial to consider the company’s dedication to traveler wellbeing. Do they provide features such as loyalty rewards programs and around-the-clock support? Lastly, it’s important to evaluate the company’s capacity to help you save money. Can they provide discounts on flights, accommodations, and vehicle rentals? By taking all of these factors into account, you can ensure that you are selecting the most effective travel management solutions for your business. Image: Envato Elements This article, "The Best Business Travel Management Companies" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

WhatsApp is adding new choices for customizing your chats, with both preset themes and mix-and-match colors for backgrounds and chat bubbles, as well as a selection of 30 new wallpapers. Users on WhatsApp have been able to change chat backgrounds for a while, with options ranging from solid colors to patterned wallpapers to images uploaded from your camera roll. Now, customizations have expanded to include chat bubbles, with default themes that coordinate background and chat colors and options to customize one or both for individual chats or all of your WhatsApp threads. According to a blog post from WhatsApp announcing the update, chat themes are currently being rolled out and will be available to all users "over the coming weeks." How to change chat themes in WhatsAppTo apply a WhatsApp theme across all of your chats, go to Settings > Chats > Default chat theme. If you want to select a theme for a specific chat, open that thread and tap the chat name (on iOS) or the triple dots (on Android) at the top of the screen and select Chat theme. You can also change the chat wallpaper from this menu. If you don't see these settings, the feature may not be available to you yet. Be sure to update the app to the most recent version. WhatsApp recently added the option to select specific chat members to include in video calls as well as add new video effects. View the full article

This article is posted with permission from our partner MacPaw. MacPaw makes Mac + iOS apps that have been installed on over 30 million devices worldwide. Freelancers Union members receive 30 days of free unlimited access to CleanMyMacX and Setapp: https://freelancersunion.org/resources/perks/macpaw/ There are so many financial obligations to cover as a freelancer, right? You’ve got to handle living expenses, pay for key equipment, and save your dollars all at once. Your goal might be financial freedom, which is all about living comfortably and not being constrained by your financial obligations. But what’s the easiest way to do this? Budgeting apps are ideal. They’re a cool way to see where your money’s going and make it easier to set goals for your spending or saving requirements. They really are a key solution for living a less stressful life when thinking about your outgoings as a freelancer. So how can you use them for budgeting and saving? Let’s find out! Benefits of tracking expenses, budgeting, and saving for freelance workThere are a few handy benefits of budgeting and saving for freelance work. The main advantage is being able to allocate each expense to the right resources, such as software tools, which can help you enhance your work quality. For instance, a freelance writer may allocate a portion of their budget to tools such as Grammarly or Semrush. They may use a budgeting and saving app to allocate the right amount to each tool in proportion to their earnings according to their needs. This helps them optimize their output and keep their finances organized with the help of these tools without overspending. Budgeting for freelance work also helps in other ways. When you track your earnings and expenses on a per-project basis using specific apps, you’ll be able to see which projects are the most lucrative. You’ll have no problems determining which projects to prioritize to maximize your earning potential. These insights into business-related expenses, in turn, help you organize your workload and keep your output at the optimal level. Top 3 budgeting and saving tips for freelancersA range of budgeting tips can help you manage your expenses effectively and optimize your spending habits as a freelancer. Here, we’ll dig deeper into how you can budget and save effectively: Make your budget: You’ll need to make a detailed budget to understand where your money is going. This will involve creating a detailed list of all income sources and expenses.Tip for you: Think about the recurring costs and the costs that vary. Your subscription to Grammarly, for instance, is a fixed cost, while expenses that you allocate to new equipment like headphones are variable costs. This way, you’ll know what to expect and how much to set aside. Consider any taxes and outgoings: As a freelancer, you’re going to need to pay attention to taxes, which employers will not automatically deduct from your salary. This will require you to save some of your income to handle these costs and manage them yourself.Tip for you: Try to set aside a percentage of your income that aligns with your specific tax bracket and be as proactive as possible when saving for taxes. You might do this by tracking the tax expenses, seeing how much you’ll have to contribute, and then putting away the right amount of money to cover this. Track how you spend your money: Perhaps the most important tip is to track how you spend your money. You’ll want to know how much you earn and whether you need to adjust your spending habits according to your income.Tip for you: Freelancer income can fluctuate depending on the type of project work you’re completing or the number of clients you work with. It’s important to notice when your income decreases so that you can plan ahead and think about expenses without overspending. This is easier with the best budgeting apps. 3 budgeting and saving apps for freelancersSo, multiple budgeting and saving apps are available on the market to help you visualize your spending and saving habits. If you’re looking for the best personal finance software for Mac, here are the best ones to help you keep dollars in the bank! Best for tracking expenses: ChronicleTracking expenses will ensure there are no unexpected surprises regarding your outgoings, and that’s when Chronicle can come in handy. This app is ideal for monitoring your bills and seeing exactly where your money is going. A key benefit of this app is its accessible layout; it’s less overwhelming to visualize your expenses when compared with a standard mobile banking app. This is especially beneficial if you’re a freelancer new to paying your own bills. The app breaks down a few expense features into unique tabs. So you’ll notice that there’s a forecast option with a bar chart to show how much is due and how much you should save. There’s also an annual spending pie chart that breaks down what you spend your money on and how much you spend throughout the year. Since there are also tabs to view your bank balance report, which reveals how scheduled payments and upcoming bills will affect your balance, this app will help you plan ahead and be proactive when managing your outgoings. Can I use it on my Mac and iPhone? Yes! Best for tracking spending habits: ExpensesBeing aware of your expenses can make a positive difference to your financial freedom goals. You can shed some light on what you’re going to be spending and have greater insights by using the Expenses app. A notable advantage of this app is its data synchronization feature. Your data will synchronize across iCloud to all Apple devices, so you can track expenses and outgoings when you’re on the move using your iPhone. There’s also the option to organize the expenses into categories and add new sheets for each month. For instance, create a sheet for November and December by opening the app and navigating to the New Sheet button at the bottom left-hand side. As a freelancer, you’ll benefit from this app’s other specific features, such as the option to input what you spend. You can do this by selecting the + icon on the right-hand side of the sheet. Once you’ve entered the expense, you can view it in the “Overview” tab. These features help freelancers make the right financial preparations for when an upcoming expense is due soon. Can I use it on my Mac and iPhone? Yes! Best for setting a budget and saving: MoneyWizSaving money as a freelancer can involve setting a budget, and when you need to achieve those savings goals, budgeting software such as MoneyWiz is ideal. It’s one of the best budget planners since it offers beneficial features, allowing you to input monthly/yearly budgets for and log specific expenses. This ensures you don’t overspend and can instead put money away to help you achieve financial freedom. MoneyWiz is also a cool app since it works as a calendar that tracks how much is spent each day. Freelancers can benefit from the expenses and income information for the day/week/month. This is all accessible from the left-hand panel. When you input a transaction in the budgeting tab, you can include many details, including the bank account it comes from, the payee, the date, and what it was spent on. To be more specific, you can split the details, too, if they fall under multiple categories. Another advantage of MoneyWiz is that it helps you visualize your financial information. Freelancers can do this through the app since it shows the financial data in the form of pie charts, spreadsheets, and bar graphs on the “Reports” tab. Freelancers can delve into the data by choosing options like Balance Over Time, Net Worth Over Time, Compare Budgets, and Profit and Loss, helping them track how the outcome of their budgeting efforts over time. Can I use it on my Mac and iPhone? Yes! Budgeting and saving apps: Need the perfect option?Budgeting and saving are key parts of financial freedom for freelancers. If you’re looking for ways to stick to a budget, check your outgoings, save your money, and plan your future expenses, apps can really help you. Trying to find the perfect option? All the apps listed above are available through Setapp. Make sure you visit the Setapp page to try these apps for free in a seven-day free trial. Stick to a budget and save your money as a freelancer with budgeting apps from Setapp! View the full article

This article is posted with permission from our partner MacPaw. MacPaw makes Mac + iOS apps that have been installed on over 30 million devices worldwide. Freelancers Union members receive 30 days of free unlimited access to CleanMyMacX and Setapp: https://freelancersunion.org/resources/perks/macpaw/ There are so many financial obligations to cover as a freelancer, right? You’ve got to handle living expenses, pay for key equipment, and save your dollars all at once. Your goal might be financial freedom, which is all about living comfortably and not being constrained by your financial obligations. But what’s the easiest way to do this? Budgeting apps are ideal. They’re a cool way to see where your money’s going and make it easier to set goals for your spending or saving requirements. They really are a key solution for living a less stressful life when thinking about your outgoings as a freelancer. So how can you use them for budgeting and saving? Let’s find out! Benefits of tracking expenses, budgeting, and saving for freelance workThere are a few handy benefits of budgeting and saving for freelance work. The main advantage is being able to allocate each expense to the right resources, such as software tools, which can help you enhance your work quality. For instance, a freelance writer may allocate a portion of their budget to tools such as Grammarly or Semrush. They may use a budgeting and saving app to allocate the right amount to each tool in proportion to their earnings according to their needs. This helps them optimize their output and keep their finances organized with the help of these tools without overspending. Budgeting for freelance work also helps in other ways. When you track your earnings and expenses on a per-project basis using specific apps, you’ll be able to see which projects are the most lucrative. You’ll have no problems determining which projects to prioritize to maximize your earning potential. These insights into business-related expenses, in turn, help you organize your workload and keep your output at the optimal level. Top 3 budgeting and saving tips for freelancersA range of budgeting tips can help you manage your expenses effectively and optimize your spending habits as a freelancer. Here, we’ll dig deeper into how you can budget and save effectively: Make your budget: You’ll need to make a detailed budget to understand where your money is going. This will involve creating a detailed list of all income sources and expenses.Tip for you: Think about the recurring costs and the costs that vary. Your subscription to Grammarly, for instance, is a fixed cost, while expenses that you allocate to new equipment like headphones are variable costs. This way, you’ll know what to expect and how much to set aside. Consider any taxes and outgoings: As a freelancer, you’re going to need to pay attention to taxes, which employers will not automatically deduct from your salary. This will require you to save some of your income to handle these costs and manage them yourself.Tip for you: Try to set aside a percentage of your income that aligns with your specific tax bracket and be as proactive as possible when saving for taxes. You might do this by tracking the tax expenses, seeing how much you’ll have to contribute, and then putting away the right amount of money to cover this. Track how you spend your money: Perhaps the most important tip is to track how you spend your money. You’ll want to know how much you earn and whether you need to adjust your spending habits according to your income.Tip for you: Freelancer income can fluctuate depending on the type of project work you’re completing or the number of clients you work with. It’s important to notice when your income decreases so that you can plan ahead and think about expenses without overspending. This is easier with the best budgeting apps. 3 budgeting and saving apps for freelancersSo, multiple budgeting and saving apps are available on the market to help you visualize your spending and saving habits. If you’re looking for the best personal finance software for Mac, here are the best ones to help you keep dollars in the bank! Best for tracking expenses: ChronicleTracking expenses will ensure there are no unexpected surprises regarding your outgoings, and that’s when Chronicle can come in handy. This app is ideal for monitoring your bills and seeing exactly where your money is going. A key benefit of this app is its accessible layout; it’s less overwhelming to visualize your expenses when compared with a standard mobile banking app. This is especially beneficial if you’re a freelancer new to paying your own bills. The app breaks down a few expense features into unique tabs. So you’ll notice that there’s a forecast option with a bar chart to show how much is due and how much you should save. There’s also an annual spending pie chart that breaks down what you spend your money on and how much you spend throughout the year. Since there are also tabs to view your bank balance report, which reveals how scheduled payments and upcoming bills will affect your balance, this app will help you plan ahead and be proactive when managing your outgoings. Can I use it on my Mac and iPhone? Yes! Best for tracking spending habits: ExpensesBeing aware of your expenses can make a positive difference to your financial freedom goals. You can shed some light on what you’re going to be spending and have greater insights by using the Expenses app. A notable advantage of this app is its data synchronization feature. Your data will synchronize across iCloud to all Apple devices, so you can track expenses and outgoings when you’re on the move using your iPhone. There’s also the option to organize the expenses into categories and add new sheets for each month. For instance, create a sheet for November and December by opening the app and navigating to the New Sheet button at the bottom left-hand side. As a freelancer, you’ll benefit from this app’s other specific features, such as the option to input what you spend. You can do this by selecting the + icon on the right-hand side of the sheet. Once you’ve entered the expense, you can view it in the “Overview” tab. These features help freelancers make the right financial preparations for when an upcoming expense is due soon. Can I use it on my Mac and iPhone? Yes! Best for setting a budget and saving: MoneyWizSaving money as a freelancer can involve setting a budget, and when you need to achieve those savings goals, budgeting software such as MoneyWiz is ideal. It’s one of the best budget planners since it offers beneficial features, allowing you to input monthly/yearly budgets for and log specific expenses. This ensures you don’t overspend and can instead put money away to help you achieve financial freedom. MoneyWiz is also a cool app since it works as a calendar that tracks how much is spent each day. Freelancers can benefit from the expenses and income information for the day/week/month. This is all accessible from the left-hand panel. When you input a transaction in the budgeting tab, you can include many details, including the bank account it comes from, the payee, the date, and what it was spent on. To be more specific, you can split the details, too, if they fall under multiple categories. Another advantage of MoneyWiz is that it helps you visualize your financial information. Freelancers can do this through the app since it shows the financial data in the form of pie charts, spreadsheets, and bar graphs on the “Reports” tab. Freelancers can delve into the data by choosing options like Balance Over Time, Net Worth Over Time, Compare Budgets, and Profit and Loss, helping them track how the outcome of their budgeting efforts over time. Can I use it on my Mac and iPhone? Yes! Budgeting and saving apps: Need the perfect option?Budgeting and saving are key parts of financial freedom for freelancers. If you’re looking for ways to stick to a budget, check your outgoings, save your money, and plan your future expenses, apps can really help you. Trying to find the perfect option? All the apps listed above are available through Setapp. Make sure you visit the Setapp page to try these apps for free in a seven-day free trial. Stick to a budget and save your money as a freelancer with budgeting apps from Setapp! View the full article

“Why can’t we just use AI to do it?” Whether you’re on the brand or agency side of SEO, I’m guessing you’ve heard some version of this from an exec or a client with little knowledge of AI tools, SEO principles, or both. I’ve been asked that question multiple times because the other party saw or heard about modest success from LLM-generated content that got some clicks and impressions. My answer: because thousands of LLM-produced pieces of content do not a successful SEO program make. This article dives into the human and AI roles in today’s SEO landscape, including: What people are getting wrong about AI and content. What AI can and can’t do for SEO campaigns. What an expert can tackle with AI tools. The North Star of 2025 SEO (as I see it) and why you need humans to reach it. (Note: No LLMs were used to write this article.) What people are getting wrong about AI and content When people ask, “Can we just have AI write 1,000 blog posts?,” they assume there’s a linear progression. For instance, if a blog post gets 100 visits/month, won’t 1,000 blog posts get 100,000 visits? No, that’s not the way SEO works. It’s not a linear discipline. More importantly, that approach means you’re just putting crap out there. You’re essentially using AI to build your own content farm of stale, repetitive language. There’s no value for the user or positive affinity for the brand. Now, you could use AI tools and strategic prompts to quickly create a solid base for a piece of content, then apply human editing and a unique POV. In most cases, that’s faster than the content process was before AI, and it’ll produce much better content than 1,000 LLM-produced pieces, but it still requires human input. In short, forget about spamming Google with a ton of poor LLM content. Your users won’t read it, and ultimately, it won’t do anything beyond maybe inflating your vanity metrics. And, crucially, Google won’t like it. Whenever Google deals with an explosion of people doing the same (easy) thing to game the system, you want to zig while others are zagging. Don’t be part of the problem that triggers – and gets wiped out by – a huge algo update. Dig deeper: 3 ways to use AI for SEO wins in 2025 What AI can and can’t do for SEO campaigns Along with being unable to produce differentiated content, AI is being asked to do things like “come up with keywords” or “do internal links” on its own. If you’re just having AI look at your site and update links without careful QA, you’ll just end up with a lot of crappy internal links. It’s the same thing with keywords: you might get a huge list, but lots of them will have low volume, be barely relevant, or be straight-up garbage. Anytime someone says, “Let’s just use AI for [task],” try it once, gauge the output and the time needed to bring it up to anything resembling human baseline, and you’ll have a more nuanced answer. On the other hand, there are a few proven use cases for AI in SEO – and while they still involve human input, they’re big time-savers that free up the experts to address more strategic initiatives. For instance, if you have good source data and/or good, well-substantiated original thoughts, AI is great for remixing them into something organized and usable. Let’s say you conduct a thorough interview with a solutions engineer. AI can highlight, categorize, and synthesize the most salient parts of the interview, leaving you to QA the output and layer in your own voice. Not only does this save you time, it helps surface patterns in big data sets that you might never have spotted on your own – or at least nowhere near as quickly. Dig deeper: How to optimize your 2025 content strategy for AI-powered SERPs and LLMs Get the newsletter search marketers rely on. Business email address Sign me up! Processing... See terms. What an expert can tackle with AI tools If you approach AI tools with the right expectations, they can be incredibly powerful. I often use it for technical content like briefs and concepts – but as part of the drafting process. Draft 0.5 (we’re not talking 1.0) is a ChatGPT remix for me. That said, non-technical people using LLMs to help establish a base for technical content is fine, but even after you make it sound good, you still need an expert in the field to review the end product for fact and substance. As mentioned, AI tools can be great for synthesizing large data sets and producing trend and sentiment analyses. If you’ve got a list of keywords, it’s a good practice to ask AI to come up with additional keywords. I also like using it for title tag and headline options. I’ll write one good headline with a character limit and a target persona and ask an LLM to riff on that version. Instead of painstakingly writing five, I’ll write one really good one, use an LLM to produce a few more, and let the client choose. So, sometimes AI is a great starting point, and sometimes it’s a great second step. It depends on the scenario, and it takes practice to understand where its power is most effectively leveraged. But the answer is rarely to let AI run wild and consider the output final. Dig deeper: 15 AI tools you should use for SEO Why you need humans to reach the SEO pinnacle in 2025 If we can agree that SEO’s ultimate goal should be to drive down-funnel results like pipeline and sales, I’d like to offer what I see as the best way to get there in 2025: become the primary source for Google and LLMs to cite. Use proprietary data and establish a unique POV for your brand, and own the topic by understanding everything the user needs to learn related to the primary keyword (or conversational question). Becoming a primary reference is fundamentally incompatible with LLMs and AI, which are by nature derivative. (In other words, you can’t be the source by pulling from the source.) LLMs and AI, at this point, don’t produce anything new or unique, which is what users crave – hence the rise of TikTok and Reddit search juxtaposed with the emergence of LLM search. That means you need human input to truly stand out and engage users by being a trusted reference on Google or LLMs. Smart SEO uses AI – but still needs people to win The other day, a colleague asked me what kind of AI tool I wish someone would build for SEO. My answer, which is completely wishful thinking, was a tool that would show me a network of connected ideas that haven’t been written about. A content gap analyzer of sorts that identifies what people aren’t saying. Given the nature of AI and the way it sources material, though, I think that’s inherently impossible (how can you source a negative?) – at least for now. At the rate AI tools are being developed, it’s worth monitoring. We’ll be surprised at the use cases that get addressed in the next year alone. I’m also guessing that no matter how good the tool, humans will always be needed to operate it. Dig deeper: AI can’t write this: 10 ways to AI-proof your content for years to come View the full article

Adobe has launched a major expansion of its Firefly generative AI platform, introducing a new Firefly Video Model in public beta and unveiling new Firefly plan offerings that integrate AI-powered video, image, and vector generation. The Firefly application, now a comprehensive creative AI hub, includes Generate Video (beta) and multi-modal workflows to help professionals transition seamlessly from ideation to production. The Firefly Video Model is the only commercially safe AI video generation tool, allowing brands, enterprises, and creators to use AI-generated content without IP concerns. Adobe states that Firefly-generated content is IP-friendly and production-ready, offering organizations a legally secure solution for AI-assisted video production. “Firefly is designed for creative professionals looking for unmatched creative control and IP-friendly tools that can be used safely and effectively in both ideation and production,” said David Wadhwani, president of Adobe’s digital media business. “We’ve been thrilled to hear from beta customers who’ve found it a game-changer for ideating concepts and producing stunning videos, and we can’t wait to see how the creative community uses it to bring their stories to the world.” Several major brands and agencies—including Deloitte Digital, dentsu, IBM, Mattel, and PepsiCo/Gatorade—have already adopted Firefly for large-scale content production. New Features and Expanded Capabilities The new Firefly app introduces: Generate Video (beta) – AI-powered video generation that allows professionals to create 1080p videos from text or image prompts, generate B-roll, adjust camera angles, and control scene motion for dynamic storytelling. Scene to Image (beta) – A tool that converts 3D sketches into high-resolution images, enabling structured reference-based artwork creation. Translate Audio & Video – AI-driven translation capabilities that convert spoken dialogue into over 20 languages while maintaining voice authenticity, tone, and cadence. Multi-modal workflows – A unified platform that enables users to generate images, vectors, and videos within the Firefly app and seamlessly integrate them into Adobe Creative Cloud applications such as Photoshop, Premiere Pro, and Express. New Firefly Plan Offerings and Pricing Adobe introduced Firefly Standard and Firefly Pro subscription plans: Firefly Standard: $9.99/month – Includes 2,000 video/audio credits and 20 five-second 1080p video generations. Firefly Pro: $29.99/month – Includes 7,000 video/audio credits and 70 five-second 1080p video generations. A Firefly Premium plan will be introduced for high-volume creators requiring additional AI video and audio capabilities. Commitment to Ethical AI and Content Transparency Adobe emphasizes its responsible AI approach, training Firefly only on licensed Adobe Stock and public domain content, ensuring that AI-generated material does not infringe on third-party intellectual property. To increase transparency, Firefly-generated videos will feature Content Credentials, allowing users to verify AI-generated content through the Adobe Content Authenticity web app. The Firefly Video Model (beta) is available globally through new Firefly plan offerings. Users can access Generate Video (beta) and other Firefly AI features through the Firefly app and Adobe Creative Cloud applications. This article, "Adobe Expands Firefly AI With Commercially Safe Video Model and New App Features" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Adobe has launched a major expansion of its Firefly generative AI platform, introducing a new Firefly Video Model in public beta and unveiling new Firefly plan offerings that integrate AI-powered video, image, and vector generation. The Firefly application, now a comprehensive creative AI hub, includes Generate Video (beta) and multi-modal workflows to help professionals transition seamlessly from ideation to production. The Firefly Video Model is the only commercially safe AI video generation tool, allowing brands, enterprises, and creators to use AI-generated content without IP concerns. Adobe states that Firefly-generated content is IP-friendly and production-ready, offering organizations a legally secure solution for AI-assisted video production. “Firefly is designed for creative professionals looking for unmatched creative control and IP-friendly tools that can be used safely and effectively in both ideation and production,” said David Wadhwani, president of Adobe’s digital media business. “We’ve been thrilled to hear from beta customers who’ve found it a game-changer for ideating concepts and producing stunning videos, and we can’t wait to see how the creative community uses it to bring their stories to the world.” Several major brands and agencies—including Deloitte Digital, dentsu, IBM, Mattel, and PepsiCo/Gatorade—have already adopted Firefly for large-scale content production. New Features and Expanded Capabilities The new Firefly app introduces: Generate Video (beta) – AI-powered video generation that allows professionals to create 1080p videos from text or image prompts, generate B-roll, adjust camera angles, and control scene motion for dynamic storytelling. Scene to Image (beta) – A tool that converts 3D sketches into high-resolution images, enabling structured reference-based artwork creation. Translate Audio & Video – AI-driven translation capabilities that convert spoken dialogue into over 20 languages while maintaining voice authenticity, tone, and cadence. Multi-modal workflows – A unified platform that enables users to generate images, vectors, and videos within the Firefly app and seamlessly integrate them into Adobe Creative Cloud applications such as Photoshop, Premiere Pro, and Express. New Firefly Plan Offerings and Pricing Adobe introduced Firefly Standard and Firefly Pro subscription plans: Firefly Standard: $9.99/month – Includes 2,000 video/audio credits and 20 five-second 1080p video generations. Firefly Pro: $29.99/month – Includes 7,000 video/audio credits and 70 five-second 1080p video generations. A Firefly Premium plan will be introduced for high-volume creators requiring additional AI video and audio capabilities. Commitment to Ethical AI and Content Transparency Adobe emphasizes its responsible AI approach, training Firefly only on licensed Adobe Stock and public domain content, ensuring that AI-generated material does not infringe on third-party intellectual property. To increase transparency, Firefly-generated videos will feature Content Credentials, allowing users to verify AI-generated content through the Adobe Content Authenticity web app. The Firefly Video Model (beta) is available globally through new Firefly plan offerings. Users can access Generate Video (beta) and other Firefly AI features through the Firefly app and Adobe Creative Cloud applications. This article, "Adobe Expands Firefly AI With Commercially Safe Video Model and New App Features" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article