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A review of the Japanese KiHa 183 series train that operates between Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville. In 2024 the Royal Railway of Cambodia acquired 11 KiHa 183 series train carriages from JR Hokkaido in Japan. The trains were converted from 1067mm gauge to metre gauge, and a test service began on the Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville route in November 2024. This retired train from snowy Hokkaido now has a new life in tropical Cambodia. I rode the service from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville in December 2024, and it turned out to be one of the most enjoyable train trips I’ve taken in Southeast Asia. Here is what to expect. Southern Line Phnom Penh – Sihanoukville Depart Phnom Penh: 7:00 am Arrive Sihanoukville: 12:40 pm Travel time: 5 h 40 m The main stops are: Phnom Penh Takeo Kep Kampot Sihanoukville The official booking site is at https://royalrailway.easybook.com. I use Baolau to buy Cambodia train tickets. Tickets are also available at the station. [Phnom Penh Station ticket counter.] Phnom Penh Station Phnom Penh Station is one of my favourite stations in Southeast Asia. The station is in a good location near the city centre, which is how it should be for the main stations for capital cities. There is a cafe in the station (Coffee Hub Royal Railway) which is advertised as opening at 6:30. The station building wasn’t open when I arrived, so passenger entry to the platforms was via the side of the building. There is a cafe and snack stand in an old train carriage next to the side exit. This was the only place open in the morning. There were also some food vendors selling pre-made meals (pork and egg with rice). There are only two train services per day from Phnom Penh, and they bother depart in the morning. [Battambang and Sihanoukville trains at Phnom Penh.] There is no assigned seating, so arrive early if you want to pick a preferred seat. I arrived at 6:30 so I could get photos of the train, though I discoved there were plenty of seats available on this day. [KiHa train at Phnom Penh Station.] Onboard the KiHa train to Sihanoukville Economy class seats are in 2×2 configuration. Having individual seats is a big improvement from the old trains with bench seats. The seats are generously padded, and I would say they are one of the most comfortable trains seats in Southeast Asia (I would put it in the top 3 with Whoosh and the Laos-China Railway). In addition to the comfortable seats, there is enough legroom to stretch out and not feel guilty about fully reclining your seat. The seats have backseat trays and there are power outlets. There was no food or drink service when I went (I bought the coffee at Phnom Penh Station). The carriages are air-conditoned, so but not set to freezing like some other railway in Southeast Asia do. There was another economy section with red seats. The Business Class seats are arranged in 2×1 configuration. The toilets are what you would expect from a Japanese train. The Japanese labels are still on the toilet instructions. There is also an external wash basin area. The trains can reportedly travel at up to 110 km/h, but they are still limited by the tracks they run on. The Southern Line is mostly a single track, so it still has to stop at passing loops to let other trains pass. Sihanoukville is the main shipping port of Cambodia, so container trains heading to Phnom Penh also use this line. The scenery gets more scenic in Kampot province. For many passengers, Kampot is the main destination. Overall this was an easy train trip, despite the slow train speed and stoppage to let a freight train pass. I have done this trip before on the old trains, and having a comfortable seat with ample legroom in an air-conditioned carriage makes a world of difference. The only downside was there was no food or drink service of any kind. Remember to bring your own drinks and snacks. The train arrived at Sihanoukville at 1:36 pm (56 minutes behind schedule). Delays are to be expected on this service, so don’t book any time-sensitive onward connections if you are using the train. [Kiha train at Sihanoukville.] Sihanoukville or Kampot? There is not much to do in Sihanoukville now that it has been turned into a casino wasteland, so this service is most useful for onward travel to Koh Rong. The downside to this is that the train takes longer than a bus to Sihanoukville, so it is a late arrival to Koh Rong. A better itinerary is to get off at Kampot, which gives you a long enough experience on the train while being a nicer city to stay in. This train travel review is part of the Southeast Asia railways guide. View the full article

This post was written by Alison Green and published on Ask a Manager. It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. How do I balance work and socializing at hybrid team meetings? I (a young-looking woman) lead a team of about 15, composed of 3-4 smaller sub-teams that collaborate on various parts of the project. About half the team work remotely; a quarter at Site A, including my deputy and me; and a quarter at Site B. Team members range from junior to mid-career, heavy on junior. We have at least one meeting per project topic area per week for tracking progress and working through more complex issues together. I have a hard time closing down the first “social” 5-15 minutes of a meeting; the chit chat expands and we run out of time for our actual agenda items. Our remote staff are particularly social. I like them and would enjoy our chats, but my social battery gets (happily) drained by interacting with in-person colleagues (both on and off this project) and an active social life and hobbies. With people at my site, I’m able to chat organically in the hall or while walking to meetings, make it a coffee break, etc. I do not have time nor energy for more than ~20 minutes of Zoom call social chatting per typical day, but that’s gotta split across the 2-5 calls per day. But I want all my staff to feel connected and happy at work! I’m also a people pleaser and a little socially anxious. How soon into a meeting can and should I redirect to the agenda? How can I do this without making people think I’m an emotionless computer, or get out of my head where I’m terrified of that outcome? Several times in the past when I’ve tried removing the “smiles and exclamation marks” veneer, others coworkers who I previously had positive work relationships with reacted defensively as if I were attacking them or their work. In every instance, other colleagues present verified for me afterwards that my content and tone were appropriate and accurate. So I’m particularly sensitive that I might come across as a robot or a jerk, create unpleasantly chilly relationships, or lose my staff to other projects (they can switch projects as they want). 15 minutes of chat at the start of a meeting is a lot. Five minutes is reasonable, particularly if you have a lot of remote team members who don’t have many other opportunities for that sort of social connection with each other. But it is very reasonable — and very normal — to interject after five minutes (really, three to five) and say, “Well, let’s get started so we can get through all our agenda items.” If you make a point of warmly joining in on the chatting before that, you will be much less likely to come across as chilly when you do call the meeting to order. When you’re leading a remote team, it’s reasonable to see those five minutes as part of the work you invest in your team culture and connections. But it’s really okay to move things along after that. And I would bet good money that some of your team members will appreciate you doing it, and are aggravated by how much meeting time is being spent on non-work stuff … doubly so if you’re not getting through your agenda. You can also occasionally try moving the chat to the end of the meetings! You can say, “I want to jump into our agenda so we don’t run out of time, but if we have time at the end, anyone who wants to is welcome to stay on to continue this part of the conversation.” And then at the end, you can say, “I need to jump off and I think some others may too, but anyone who wants to stay on, please feel free!” That said, I think you’ll see less of it then — since by the end of a meeting most people are ready to be done — but you could at least make it clear it’s an option for people who want it. 2. My job offer was rescinded after a reference check After a great interview last week, I accepted a job offer at a hospital. Yesterday, the offer was abruptly rescinded. HR personnel and the hiring manager will not give details, but they stated that it was solely due to “unsatisfactory references.” This is a shock to me because these references are supervisors and colleagues who I have good or great relationships with. I had confirmed with all of these individuals beforehand if they would be willing to offer a recommendation, and they had enthusiastically agreed. When I explained to these colleagues why the offer was rescinded, they were stunned. The third party recruiter, my references, and I are still convinced this is a mistake, that they must have their applicants mixed up somehow. So far, HR and the hiring manager insist there is no mistake. My recruiter told me, “I have been doing this for 15 years and I’ve never seen this. I’m at a loss.” Have you encountered this before? Could the offer have been rescinded for another reason? Do I have any recourse here? It’s possible that it was a mistake. It’s also possible that your references did give you good reviews but said something in passing that concerned the hiring manager. For example, most reference checks ask about weaknesses, and it’s possible a reference named something that they thought was minor but it happened to be something would cause a problem in this particular job or is a particular bugaboo of the manager’s. It’s also possible the hiring manager simply misunderstood something. (For thoroughness, I’ll also note that when done well, reference checks aren’t supposed to be a simple thumbs-up/thumbs-down but more nuanced — although when they’re done post-offer, they are nearly always closer to a rubber stamp, so that’s less likely to be in play.) You don’t really have any legal recourse here; employers are allowed to rescind job offers, especially when they’re contingent on things like post-offer reference checks (which are generally a terrible practice). But the recruiter is in a better position to push for more information and to push them to check that a mistake wasn’t made. Since she’s at a loss too, can you ask her to try that? 3. Discussing gun ownership with coworkers I have a perhaps odd question about professional boundaries. I am a petite woman who lives alone. I somehow send out creepy people homing vibes and have had one or two frightening moments where I could have gotten hurt. (I know someone is going to tell me to read Gift of Fear. I already have, and I am working on becoming less of a target, but we all know sometimes creeps just gonna creep.) I would like to purchase a gun that I would keep in my home for self-defense. I would of course secure it, practice regularly, and take all other actions I can to make sure I’m never in a situation where I’d need it. I live in a state where gun laws are very strict. To buy a gun, I must first find two state residents who will testify to my good character. This has been a challenge as most people here oppose or at least are suspicious of gun ownership. I think they’d endorse my character generally but would not want to assist me in buying a gun by writing that down. I have two coworkers who have mentioned in passing that they themselves own guns. The work we do together is in a physically hazardous environment, so these two coworkers have seen how I deal with safety issues, which I hope would speak well to my ability to be a responsible gun owner. They’ve also watched me interact interpersonally and can testify I’m reasonable. Would it be unprofessional of me to contact them outside of work channels and ask if they would be willing to serve as a reference in this way? Both are senior to me, so I don’t think they could worry that I would penalize them if they said no. It just feels weird and possibly intrusive to discuss such a controversial issue with a professional contact. Would it make a difference if one person had left the company? I want to say up-front that my answer to this might be influenced by my own discomfort with guns, but this makes me nervous. On one hand, these are people who are clearly comfortable with gun ownership themselves and it might be completely fine! On the other hand, if they don’t feel comfortable saying yes, you’d be putting them in a pretty uncomfortable position (where they’d need to essentially tell a colleague, “No, I don’t endorse your character”), and I don’t love that. If you wanted to feel them out, one option is to approach them for advice about the process generally, since it’s something they’ve already mentioned. Explain you’re considering buying one, don’t know anyone outside of work with first-hand experience with the process, and enter the conversation that way. It’s possible that will create an opening to bring it up organically. Otherwise though, I’d err on the side of caution and keep it out of work. 4. Phone interviews when you’re hard of hearing My husband is hard of hearing, especially on the phone. He has had a couple interviews that he tanked because he misheard a question or kept asking them to repeat the question. He doesn’t have hearing aids, but I think he needs them. I keep encouraging him to get tested. He mishears me all the time or doesn’t hear me at all if one of us is facing away while talking. There are a couple things he says helps, like wearing headphones for a call, using a desk phone rather than a cell, or taking a call in his car with the Bluetooth speakers. Three times now, interviewers have unexpectedly called him outside their scheduled interview times where he isn’t able to get into his car or find headphones quickly. He didn’t want to miss the opportunity, so he tried talking on his cell phone. He couldn’t hear most of what was said. He got feedback on how poorly he did, like his answers had nothing to do with the questions or that he didn’t know the answers because he repeatedly asked interviewers to repeat their questions. I advised him to tell the interviewers he can’t take the call at the moment but is happy to keep their scheduled time or reschedule so he can get to a place he can hear, or just be up-front that he is hard of hearing and request some accommodations like a Zoom call where multiple interviewers and my husband can use headsets. My husband doesn’t want to because he’s in his 50s and he’s afraid of looking old or incapable, like he can’t do a phone call or meeting. I pointed out people of any age can have hearing issues, and it’s got to be better than them thinking he doesn’t know anything. I have more experience interviewing and I’ve never had interviewers call outside scheduled times “because everyone was in the office” just then. What is the best way to handle this? Tell them he can’t talk? Ask them to hold until he can get into his car? Ask them to call our landline? Any of these? I’d like to say his worry about ageism is wrong but we’re both getting to an age now where I do see some of that in the workplace. Ideally he’d just ask to reschedule for a more convenient time, but I can understand why he’s hesitant to; while it’s a perfectly reasonable request, sometimes the rescheduled call will never end up happening. Given that, the next best option is to say, “Can you give me a minute while I get to a quieter place to talk?” so he has time to find headphones or go to his car. (It also sounds worth keeping headphones easily accessible in the places where he spends the most time during the workday.) It’s also fine to say, “I seem to have a bad connection — could you call me right back on my land line?” You’re also absolutely right that he could simply ask for accommodations (which they’re required by law to provide), but he’s not wrong about the risk of discrimination — both age and disability discrimination. But one of the other suggestions should get these calls back on track. Related: what’s up with surprise phone interviews? 5. Can my boss require me to use a vacation day on my last day of work? I am leaving a job I love at the end of the month due to a health issue. I have a great relationship with my boss and my coworkers, and the job has been a really great fit, so I’m really sad that I need to leave. My boss, her boss, and another admin person are all scheduled to be off on the last day of the month. There are exit procedures that need to be done on my last day, so my boss asked if I would take vacation on that day so we could do them the day before. I’d rather work that day and cash out as much vacation as possible, so I’m basically being asked to forfeit a day’s pay. Can my boss ask me to do this? Yes. They can also set your last day for an earlier date if they want to, which would be functionally the same thing (which doesn’t necessarily mean that they will, just that they could). But if you explain you’d prefer not to, it’s possible they’ll work with you on a different arrangement. You could try saying, “Would it be possible for us to do the exit procedures on the 30th and then I’ll spend the 31st finishing up X and Y? I’m hoping not to use up any vacation time before I leave.” They might say no — and they might not be able to say yes, if you won’t be able to work once the exit procedures are done — but it’s reasonable to ask. View the full article

This post was written by Alison Green and published on Ask a Manager. It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. How do I balance work and socializing at hybrid team meetings? I (a young-looking woman) lead a team of about 15, composed of 3-4 smaller sub-teams that collaborate on various parts of the project. About half the team work remotely; a quarter at Site A, including my deputy and me; and a quarter at Site B. Team members range from junior to mid-career, heavy on junior. We have at least one meeting per project topic area per week for tracking progress and working through more complex issues together. I have a hard time closing down the first “social” 5-15 minutes of a meeting; the chit chat expands and we run out of time for our actual agenda items. Our remote staff are particularly social. I like them and would enjoy our chats, but my social battery gets (happily) drained by interacting with in-person colleagues (both on and off this project) and an active social life and hobbies. With people at my site, I’m able to chat organically in the hall or while walking to meetings, make it a coffee break, etc. I do not have time nor energy for more than ~20 minutes of Zoom call social chatting per typical day, but that’s gotta split across the 2-5 calls per day. But I want all my staff to feel connected and happy at work! I’m also a people pleaser and a little socially anxious. How soon into a meeting can and should I redirect to the agenda? How can I do this without making people think I’m an emotionless computer, or get out of my head where I’m terrified of that outcome? Several times in the past when I’ve tried removing the “smiles and exclamation marks” veneer, others coworkers who I previously had positive work relationships with reacted defensively as if I were attacking them or their work. In every instance, other colleagues present verified for me afterwards that my content and tone were appropriate and accurate. So I’m particularly sensitive that I might come across as a robot or a jerk, create unpleasantly chilly relationships, or lose my staff to other projects (they can switch projects as they want). 15 minutes of chat at the start of a meeting is a lot. Five minutes is reasonable, particularly if you have a lot of remote team members who don’t have many other opportunities for that sort of social connection with each other. But it is very reasonable — and very normal — to interject after five minutes (really, three to five) and say, “Well, let’s get started so we can get through all our agenda items.” If you make a point of warmly joining in on the chatting before that, you will be much less likely to come across as chilly when you do call the meeting to order. When you’re leading a remote team, it’s reasonable to see those five minutes as part of the work you invest in your team culture and connections. But it’s really okay to move things along after that. And I would bet good money that some of your team members will appreciate you doing it, and are aggravated by how much meeting time is being spent on non-work stuff … doubly so if you’re not getting through your agenda. You can also occasionally try moving the chat to the end of the meetings! You can say, “I want to jump into our agenda so we don’t run out of time, but if we have time at the end, anyone who wants to is welcome to stay on to continue this part of the conversation.” And then at the end, you can say, “I need to jump off and I think some others may too, but anyone who wants to stay on, please feel free!” That said, I think you’ll see less of it then — since by the end of a meeting most people are ready to be done — but you could at least make it clear it’s an option for people who want it. 2. My job offer was rescinded after a reference check After a great interview last week, I accepted a job offer at a hospital. Yesterday, the offer was abruptly rescinded. HR personnel and the hiring manager will not give details, but they stated that it was solely due to “unsatisfactory references.” This is a shock to me because these references are supervisors and colleagues who I have good or great relationships with. I had confirmed with all of these individuals beforehand if they would be willing to offer a recommendation, and they had enthusiastically agreed. When I explained to these colleagues why the offer was rescinded, they were stunned. The third party recruiter, my references, and I are still convinced this is a mistake, that they must have their applicants mixed up somehow. So far, HR and the hiring manager insist there is no mistake. My recruiter told me, “I have been doing this for 15 years and I’ve never seen this. I’m at a loss.” Have you encountered this before? Could the offer have been rescinded for another reason? Do I have any recourse here? It’s possible that it was a mistake. It’s also possible that your references did give you good reviews but said something in passing that concerned the hiring manager. For example, most reference checks ask about weaknesses, and it’s possible a reference named something that they thought was minor but it happened to be something would cause a problem in this particular job or is a particular bugaboo of the manager’s. It’s also possible the hiring manager simply misunderstood something. (For thoroughness, I’ll also note that when done well, reference checks aren’t supposed to be a simple thumbs-up/thumbs-down but more nuanced — although when they’re done post-offer, they are nearly always closer to a rubber stamp, so that’s less likely to be in play.) You don’t really have any legal recourse here; employers are allowed to rescind job offers, especially when they’re contingent on things like post-offer reference checks (which are generally a terrible practice). But the recruiter is in a better position to push for more information and to push them to check that a mistake wasn’t made. Since she’s at a loss too, can you ask her to try that? 3. Discussing gun ownership with coworkers I have a perhaps odd question about professional boundaries. I am a petite woman who lives alone. I somehow send out creepy people homing vibes and have had one or two frightening moments where I could have gotten hurt. (I know someone is going to tell me to read Gift of Fear. I already have, and I am working on becoming less of a target, but we all know sometimes creeps just gonna creep.) I would like to purchase a gun that I would keep in my home for self-defense. I would of course secure it, practice regularly, and take all other actions I can to make sure I’m never in a situation where I’d need it. I live in a state where gun laws are very strict. To buy a gun, I must first find two state residents who will testify to my good character. This has been a challenge as most people here oppose or at least are suspicious of gun ownership. I think they’d endorse my character generally but would not want to assist me in buying a gun by writing that down. I have two coworkers who have mentioned in passing that they themselves own guns. The work we do together is in a physically hazardous environment, so these two coworkers have seen how I deal with safety issues, which I hope would speak well to my ability to be a responsible gun owner. They’ve also watched me interact interpersonally and can testify I’m reasonable. Would it be unprofessional of me to contact them outside of work channels and ask if they would be willing to serve as a reference in this way? Both are senior to me, so I don’t think they could worry that I would penalize them if they said no. It just feels weird and possibly intrusive to discuss such a controversial issue with a professional contact. Would it make a difference if one person had left the company? I want to say up-front that my answer to this might be influenced by my own discomfort with guns, but this makes me nervous. On one hand, these are people who are clearly comfortable with gun ownership themselves and it might be completely fine! On the other hand, if they don’t feel comfortable saying yes, you’d be putting them in a pretty uncomfortable position (where they’d need to essentially tell a colleague, “No, I don’t endorse your character”), and I don’t love that. If you wanted to feel them out, one option is to approach them for advice about the process generally, since it’s something they’ve already mentioned. Explain you’re considering buying one, don’t know anyone outside of work with first-hand experience with the process, and enter the conversation that way. It’s possible that will create an opening to bring it up organically. Otherwise though, I’d err on the side of caution and keep it out of work. 4. Phone interviews when you’re hard of hearing My husband is hard of hearing, especially on the phone. He has had a couple interviews that he tanked because he misheard a question or kept asking them to repeat the question. He doesn’t have hearing aids, but I think he needs them. I keep encouraging him to get tested. He mishears me all the time or doesn’t hear me at all if one of us is facing away while talking. There are a couple things he says helps, like wearing headphones for a call, using a desk phone rather than a cell, or taking a call in his car with the Bluetooth speakers. Three times now, interviewers have unexpectedly called him outside their scheduled interview times where he isn’t able to get into his car or find headphones quickly. He didn’t want to miss the opportunity, so he tried talking on his cell phone. He couldn’t hear most of what was said. He got feedback on how poorly he did, like his answers had nothing to do with the questions or that he didn’t know the answers because he repeatedly asked interviewers to repeat their questions. I advised him to tell the interviewers he can’t take the call at the moment but is happy to keep their scheduled time or reschedule so he can get to a place he can hear, or just be up-front that he is hard of hearing and request some accommodations like a Zoom call where multiple interviewers and my husband can use headsets. My husband doesn’t want to because he’s in his 50s and he’s afraid of looking old or incapable, like he can’t do a phone call or meeting. I pointed out people of any age can have hearing issues, and it’s got to be better than them thinking he doesn’t know anything. I have more experience interviewing and I’ve never had interviewers call outside scheduled times “because everyone was in the office” just then. What is the best way to handle this? Tell them he can’t talk? Ask them to hold until he can get into his car? Ask them to call our landline? Any of these? I’d like to say his worry about ageism is wrong but we’re both getting to an age now where I do see some of that in the workplace. Ideally he’d just ask to reschedule for a more convenient time, but I can understand why he’s hesitant to; while it’s a perfectly reasonable request, sometimes the rescheduled call will never end up happening. Given that, the next best option is to say, “Can you give me a minute while I get to a quieter place to talk?” so he has time to find headphones or go to his car. (It also sounds worth keeping headphones easily accessible in the places where he spends the most time during the workday.) It’s also fine to say, “I seem to have a bad connection — could you call me right back on my land line?” You’re also absolutely right that he could simply ask for accommodations (which they’re required by law to provide), but he’s not wrong about the risk of discrimination — both age and disability discrimination. But one of the other suggestions should get these calls back on track. Related: what’s up with surprise phone interviews? 5. Can my boss require me to use a vacation day on my last day of work? I am leaving a job I love at the end of the month due to a health issue. I have a great relationship with my boss and my coworkers, and the job has been a really great fit, so I’m really sad that I need to leave. My boss, her boss, and another admin person are all scheduled to be off on the last day of the month. There are exit procedures that need to be done on my last day, so my boss asked if I would take vacation on that day so we could do them the day before. I’d rather work that day and cash out as much vacation as possible, so I’m basically being asked to forfeit a day’s pay. Can my boss ask me to do this? Yes. They can also set your last day for an earlier date if they want to, which would be functionally the same thing (which doesn’t necessarily mean that they will, just that they could). But if you explain you’d prefer not to, it’s possible they’ll work with you on a different arrangement. You could try saying, “Would it be possible for us to do the exit procedures on the 30th and then I’ll spend the 31st finishing up X and Y? I’m hoping not to use up any vacation time before I leave.” They might say no — and they might not be able to say yes, if you won’t be able to work once the exit procedures are done — but it’s reasonable to ask. View the full article

FedEx Corporation has released its second annual FedEx Returns Survey, conducted in partnership with Morning Consult, revealing key trends in consumer and business attitudes toward e-commerce returns. The findings emphasize the growing demand for flexible and convenient return options, driven by generational and income-based preferences. The survey highlights significant differences in return preferences across generations and income levels. Higher-income earners (66%) and baby boomers (59%) prefer returning items in-store, while 20% of Gen Z and millennials favor home pickup options. Additionally, 19% of millennials choose to use mailbox drop-offs for their returns. These insights underscore the importance of innovative return solutions that cater to diverse consumer needs. “Consumers are making it clear that flexibility and convenience are essential when it comes to returns,” said Jason Brenner, senior vice president, digital portfolio at FedEx. “The continued rise in no-label, no-box returns and growing demand for home pickup options reinforce the need for retailers to offer solutions that make returns more seamless for consumers.” Opinions on the ease of returns are divided. While 51% of consumers believe the return process has improved, 32% remain neutral, and 17% feel it has become more difficult. Optimism is highest among millennials (56%) and higher-income consumers (58%). However, skepticism persists among Gen X (21%), Gen Z (18%), and lower-income respondents (18%), signaling an opportunity for retailers to enhance and better communicate their return policies. Return policies are a critical factor for consumers, influencing shopping behavior and loyalty. Two-thirds of respondents consider return policies before making a purchase, with nearly 30% stating that these policies directly affect their decision to complete a transaction. Transparent and flexible return options have become essential for retailers looking to build trust and drive sales. The FedEx Returns Survey was conducted by Morning Consult between December 14 and December 20, 2024. The consumer survey included 2,200 U.S. respondents, with a margin of error of ±2%. A separate survey of 1,000 U.S. business shippers was conducted during the same period, with a margin of error of ±3%. Image: Envato This article, "FedEx Survey Highlights Evolving Consumer Expectations for E-Commerce Returns" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Google's AI overviews appear in 30% of searches and nearly three-quarters of problem-solving queries, according to a new study. The post Google AI Overviews Found In 74% Of Problem-Solving Queries appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

Rural residents face unique challenges and barriers when it comes to accessing high-quality healthcare. Many rural areas do not have a hospital or medical center nearby, forcing residents to drive hours to the nearest doctor or healthcare clinic. This delays—and in some cases prevents—rural residents from receiving care quickly, efficiently and safely. Due in part to these barriers, rural patients take advantage of preventive care less often than their urban counterparts and face higher health risks, such as cancer, chronic respiratory disease, heart disease, stroke, and unintentional injuries. Women, specifically mothers, are among those most significantly impacted in these rural communities. In fact, less than half of rural women live within a 30-minute drive to the nearest hospital offering perinatal services. According to the March of Dimes, 36% of U.S. counties are maternity care deserts—meaning there are no hospitals providing obstetric care, no birth centers, no OB/GYNs, and no certified nurse midwives. Of those counties, about 62% are considered rural. On top of that, maternal and infant mortality rates in the most remote areas of the country are significantly higher than those in large metropolitan areas, and rural hospitals report higher rates of postpartum hemorrhage and blood transfusions during labor and delivery, compared to their urban counterparts. As a woman and a mother, these numbers are deeply troubling to me. But they should be equally concerning to all Americans. The first step: Expand the healthcare workforce Addressing healthcare workforce shortages nationwide is the first step to tackling these health disparities. Everyone knows we need more healthcare providers. But the numbers are daunting. If everyone—including the marginalized, rural, and uninsured—had the same access to healthcare as those with fewer barriers, the U.S. would have needed 202,800 additional physicians as of 2021. That’s in addition to the number we need to replace the providers who leave the workforce every day due to burnout and stress. This is no easy feat, but it can be done. It starts with expanding access to healthcare education and training healthcare professionals at scale. To do this, we need to be creative in how we think about traditional education in this country. To attract a diverse population of students, we need to truly understand the barriers some populations face when pursuing an education. Whether financial, academic, or logistical, we need to find ways to systemically dismantle those barriers and design educational programs that meet students’ real-world needs. This can include simplified admissions processes, online coursework options, enhanced scholarship opportunities, ongoing support programs, and innovative technologies that foster student-faculty engagement and educational success. We also must ensure that we adequately prepare students—both academically and practically—for career success, supplementing classroom learning with hands-on clinical experience. Partnerships with hospitals and health centers can provide students with educational experiences that mimic the clinical setting and provide a realistic understanding of the skills they will need for their chosen specialty area. These are critical steps to expanding educational opportunities for more students interested in the healthcare profession. As these graduates go on to serve patients, many of them returning to practice in their own communities, we unleash a robust and much-needed healthcare workforce that serves critical primary care needs and underserved populations across the U.S. When these graduates have received the educational support and the real-world training they need to be successful, they are ready on day one to meet their patients’ unique healthcare needs. This benefits mothers in rural areas—as well as fathers, grandmothers and grandfathers, aunts and uncles, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, and entire communities. A ZIP code should never serve as a barrier to accessing critical healthcare services. Those living in rural communities face unique health care challenges, and women, including pregnant women, are among the most significantly impacted. We need to expand the pipeline of diverse healthcare professionals and equip them with high-quality, specialized training to serve these communities. By doing so, we can dismantle barriers to care and help meet the unique health needs of rural patients. Blake Simpson is chief communications and corporate affairs officer of Adtalem Global Education. View the full article

Launched 16 years ago with only 500 apps, Apple’s App Store revolutionized how we interact with our devices. As of 2023, the App Store had nearly 1.8 million apps, spanning categories like gaming, fitness, productivity, social media, and much more. The phrase “There’s an app for that” has never been more true. But with so many apps available, users face a new challenge: app fatigue. With millions of choices, users can easily become overwhelmed. Even when someone chooses to download an app, they can be bombarded with notifications urging them to engage, upgrade, or subscribe. With many apps competing for users’ attention and wallets, this can push them to ignore or even delete an app altogether. This creates a dilemma but also presents a unique opportunity for developers. By rethinking app monetization and adopting innovative models, the industry can evolve into a healthier, more rewarding space for users and developers alike. Developers can lead the charge here while still prioritizing app quality, accessibility, and user satisfaction. The impact of app fatigue The App Store growth has created a paradox of choice for users. Users now have an average of 18 apps downloaded on their smartphones, and this number is predicted to decrease by 1% each year. Meanwhile, churn rates—the percentage of users who stop using an app—have skyrocketed over the past four years, with 96.3% of iOS app downloaders becoming inactive by day 30. This environment leaves developers scrambling to compete. Because users have millions of apps to pick from, very few apps actually turn a profit. This pressure has led many developers to adopt aggressive monetization strategies like subscription models, prioritizing short-term revenue over user experience. Subscription models can be useful tools when used thoughtfully, providing a steady source of revenue that allows developers to maintain and improve their apps. The issue arises when subscriptions become the default or sole app monetization model, which is occurring more frequently. When useful functionality is hidden behind paywalls and payment options for apps are limited to recurring charges, users can become frustrated with their app experience. This can alienate users and lead to higher churn rates, creating a cycle where neither users nor developers truly benefit. Explore user-centric alternatives With the surge in app numbers and the widespread adoption of subscription models, it’s no surprise that many users feel overwhelmed. However, alternative strategies can mitigate app fatigue, offering a better user experience and sustainable options for developers. “Pay-per-use,” where users only pay when engaging with specific features, has become common in sectors like ride-sharing, food delivery, and online education. This model eliminates the need for ongoing subscriptions and gives users the ability to pay solely for the features they use. Ultimately, this eliminates the pressure of recurring charges. Additionally, “all-you-can-eat” models give users the freedom to use many features for a single price, providing a streamlined user experience and eliminating the need for constant upgrades and hidden fees. This makes app usage more enjoyable for users. For developers, it ensures a steady revenue stream that is distributed fairly—incentivizing quality and innovation. Yet, while these models offer exciting alternatives to traditional subscription models, they can only succeed if apps themselves evolve. Monetization is just one piece of the puzzle; the design and ecosystems behind these apps must also be reimagined. A new era of software The app industry must move behind incremental fixes. Users need tools that help them create, innovate, and build a meaningful legacy for a reasonable and fair price. Platforms like the Apple Arcade hint at what’s possible by offering an integrated, curated marketplace with a streamlined user experience and efficient “all-you-can-eat” format. Similarly, the rise of “super-apps” in markets like Asia highlights another approach: consolidating multiple services—such as messaging, payments, and e-commerce—into a single platform to reduce friction and simplify daily life. These examples illustrate the growing expectation for apps to deliver cohesive solutions that adapt to users’ needs, whether through curated marketplaces, multifunctional platforms, or interconnected standalone tools. It’s becoming clear that single-purpose apps are quickly becoming obsolete. The future belongs to apps that are proactive, not reactive—dynamic tools that evolve with users’ needs, offering a holistic, personalized experience. Developers must create on-demand solutions that instantly adapt to fulfill user needs. If a user, for instance, wants to combine notes, set reminders, and draft a report, the app should seamlessly generate the tools or interface in real time, eliminating the need to switch between multiple apps or perform repetitive tasks. The tools to make this happen are already here; technologies such as generative AI will lay the groundwork for even more advanced app solutions in the future. As the industry looks ahead, the key to success lies in seeing the bigger picture: smarter, more integrated solutions for users and robust ecosystems that empower developers. By rethinking how dynamic app services are designed and how they interact within larger platforms, we can move toward a future where software adapts to users—not the other way around. Oleksandr Kosovan is founder and CEO of MacPaw. View the full article

Apple Intelligence brought with it some of the most hyped new features for the iPhone, iPad, and Mac when it released with iOS 18.1. Even now, its functions are being upgraded and currently include writing assistance, an enhanced form of Siri, and AI image generation. Capabilities are limited to the iPhone 15 Pro series, all iPhone 16 models, all iPads running an A17 Pro chip and above, and all Macs with an M-series chip, but that's still a lot of options. However, not everyone's happy with it. That's because Apple recently made the decision to turn Apple Intelligence on by default for all compatible devices. Even though the new features are exciting, not everyone wants to use artificial intelligence features on their smartphones or other devices, especially now that they take up 7GB of storage space and involve sending data to Apple's cloud. If you're among those who are skeptical, it's good news that you can turn off Apple Intelligence on your iPhone or other compatible Apple device. Alternatively, if you do want to use Apple's AI, it's easy to turn it back on. How to enable Apple Intelligence on iPhone or iPad Credit: Khamosh Pathak If you have an Apple Intelligence compatible iPhone, iPad, or Mac, the easiest way to turn Apple Intelligence on is to upgrade to iOS 18.3/iPadOS 18.3/macOS 15.3 or later. This will automatically enable Apple Intelligence on your device. Alternatively, navigate to Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri and flick the toggle to turn it on manually. If enabling manually, you should see instructions to finalize your Apple Intelligence access on-screen. Just follow the outlined workflow and it'll be enabled for you. If updating didn't turn on Apple Intelligence for you or you're still not seeing an option to enable Apple Intelligence, ensure that your device language and Siri language are set to one of the supported variations of English, as Apple Intelligence is only available in that language for now. Find device language in Settings under Language & Region in the General tab and Siri language under the Siri tab in the same app. If you still don't see the Apple Intelligence toggle, it might not be available in your region. How to turn on Apple Intelligence's ChatGPT extensionWhile on the Apple Intelligence & Siri page, scrolling down will also show an option for setting up ChatGPT integration, which is not enabled by default and will allow Siri to pass on difficult questions to ChatGPT, plus will give Apple Intelligence's Writing Tools the ability to compose text rather than just rewrite it. Under Extensions, tap ChatGPT, then on the new page, hit Set Up... to get started. A ChatGPT account is optional for this feature, and Apple promises to obscure your Apple Account and IP address before passing on data to OpenAI, as well as keep OpenAI from training on your information. Note that enabling ChatGPT integration requires agreeing to OpenAI's Terms of Use. How to turn off Apple Intelligence on iPhone or iPad Credit: Khamosh Pathak Using AI raises many concerns, such as high energy usage, privacy issues, or even simply the potential for unreliability that often comes with a new, immature technology. If you decide that you'd rather not use Apple Intelligence on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, you can easily disable it. Go to Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri and toggle off Apple Intelligence. You'll see a confirmation pop-up—select Turn Off Apple Intelligence. That will remove the AI from your device, including any ChatGPT integration you might have also enabled. View the full article

Recently, Chinese startup DeepSeek created state-of-the art AI models using far less computing power and capital than anyone thought possible. It then showed its work in published research papers and by allowing its models to explain the reasoning process that led to this answer or that. It also scored at or near the top in a range of benchmark tests, besting OpenAI models in several skill areas. The surprising work seems to have let some of the air out of the AI industry’s main assumption—that the best way to make models smarter is by giving them more computing power, so that the AI lab with the most Nvidia chips will have the best models and shortest route to artificial general intelligence (AGI—which refers to AI that’s better than humans at most tasks). No wonder some Nvidia investors are questioning their faith in the unlimited demand for the most powerful AI chips in the future. And no wonder some in AI circles are questioning the world view and business strategy of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, the biggest evangelist for the “brute force” approach to ever-smarter models. “The assumption behind all this investment is theoretical . . . the so-called scaling laws where when you double compute, the quality of your models increases in kind of the same way—it’s kind of a new Moore’s Law,” says Abhishek Nagaraj, a professor at the University of California–Berkeley’s Haas business school. (Moore’s Law said that software developers could expect microchips to become predictably more powerful as chipmakers packed more transistors into their microchips.) “And so if that holds, it effectively means that whoever controls the infrastructure will control a lot of the market,” adds Nagaraj. That’s why companies like OpenAI, Anthropic, and X are building data centers as fast as they can. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman last year said he needs to raise $7 trillion to build the data centers needed to reach AGI. OpenAI, Microsoft, Softbank, and Oracle said recently they’ll spend up to $500 billion over the next five years to build new data centers for AI in Texas. Attracting the money to do that, however, is something only “closed-source” companies like OpenAI can do, Nagaraj points out. OpenAI’s private equity backers (such as Andreessen Horowitz) and big tech backers (such as Microsoft) are willing to bankroll the AI infrastructure (chips, software, data centers, electricity), which OpenAI says it needs, if it keeps the recipes of its models secret. That’s the “moat” around their investment, after all. Establishing such a moat was the main reason OpenAI stopped being an “open” AI company back in 2019. DeepSeek shares the weights of its models (the mathematical calculations at each connection point in their neural networks) and allows any developer to build with them. After essentially giving away its research and eschewing a moat, DeepSeek was never going to attract the private equity funding needed to bankroll hundreds of thousands of Nvidia chips. Adding to its challenge were the U.S. chip bans that reserved the most powerful AI chips for U.S. companies. So DeepSeek found ways to build state-of-the-art models using far less computing power. In doing so, it appears to have collapsed Altman’s assumption that massive computing power is the only route to AGI. Not everybody thinks so, of course. Particularly in OpenAI circles. “I would never bet against compute as the upper bound for achievable intelligence in the long run,” says Andrej Karpathy, one of the original founders of OpenAI, in an X post. “Not just for an individual final training run, but also for the entire innovation/experimentation engine that silently underlies all the algorithmic innovations.” Altman, too, seemed undeterred. “We will obviously deliver much better models and also it’s legit invigorating to have a new competitor! We will pull up some releases . . . ,” he posted breezily on X. “But mostly we are excited to continue to execute on our research roadmap and believe more compute is more important now than ever before to succeed at our mission.” OpenAI’s “mission” is AGI. Lots of powerful chips will be needed, if only because the general demand for AI services is going to grow exponentially. More data centers will be needed just to respond to calls from millions of AI-infused apps built on OpenAI APIs, he added. Some have suggested that DeepSeek’s discovery of ways to build more compute-efficient advanced AI models could reduce the barrier to entry and allow far more developers to build such models of their own, therefore pushing up demand for AI chips. For example, DeepSeek’s most recent model, DeepSeek-R1, provided the open-source world with a reasoning model that appears to be comparable to OpenAI’s state-of-the-art o1 series, which applies more computing power at inference time, when the model is reasoning through various routes to a good answer. In a statement Monday, Nvidia gives DeepSeek props for creating reasoning models using “widely available” Nvidia GPUs, and adds that such models require “significant numbers” of the GPUs as well as fast chip-to-chip networking technology. The latest DeepSeek models have only been available to developers for a short time. Just like when Meta introduced its open-source Llama models, it will take some time to understand the real economics of building new models and apps based on the DeepSeek models. It’s possible that more widely distributing the ability to build cutting edge models could put more brains to work on finding novel routes to AGI and, later, superintelligence. That’s the good news. The bad news may be that powerful models, and the means to build them, will become more available to people who might use them maliciously, or who may not be fastidious about using accepted safety guardrails. But DeepSeek is not perfect. The DeepSeek chatbot has in anecdotal cases emphatically misidentified itself as the creation of OpenAI or Microsoft. Nor can the chatbot speak freely on all subjects. “Like all Chinese AI companies, DeepSeek operates within the People’s Republic of China’s regulatory framework, which includes restrictions on how language models handle politically sensitive topics,” says David Bader, a professor at the New Jersey Institute of Technology. “These constraints are evident in how their models respond to queries about historical events and government policies.” If you ask the chatbot about the Tiananmen Square protests, for example, it responds with, “Let’s talk about something else.” View the full article

The Empire State Building is nobody’s idea of a hidden gem. The 1,472-foot Art Deco landmark of stone and steel dominates the streetscape and world view of New York City—and all of pop culture. From King Kong’s battle with biplanes to the annual ESB Run-Up to its iconic 86th Floor Observatory, the “World’s Most Famous Building” is both myth and monolith. This alone could not have explained what happened last June, though: The Empire State Building Observatory Experience was ranked the No. 1 attraction in the world in Tripadvisor’s 2024 Travelers’ Choice Awards: Best of the Best Things to Do. At 93 years young, the skyscraper became ostensibly the top attraction on the planet. This was not the work of an algorithm, or even Swiftonomics (though Taylor did once pay a visit). Rather, the ranking took root in a multiphase, design-led transformation of the Observatory Experience, fueled by the recognition that spaces and places must evolve to meet people’s shifting relationships across physical, digital, and immersive realms. This might seem like an isolated success, with few applicable lessons beyond the museums and attractions sector. But since we and our creative partners at Journey, Thinc Design, and Beneville Studios completed the $165 million reimagination of the Observatory Experience, we have come to appreciate lessons that any brand, in any sector, can adopt to deepen connections with their customers. Here are four that (wait for it) rise to the top. 1. REANIMATE YOUR STORY As we began our building-wide modernization work in 2008, we thought creatively beyond the building itself—more specifically, the international brand and relevance of the concept of the Empire State Building. We could have hung archival photos or played King Kong on a loop in our galleries. Instead, we chose to immerse visitors in the lore and complexity of this singular structure. Key moments from its construction, its place in popular culture, and its industry-leading deep energy retrofit became onramps to immersive storytelling. Rather than watch two-dimensional, black-and-white footage of Kong 102 stories above the city streets, we welcome visitors to climb into his fist as he zooms in close, nostrils flared. Visitors don’t pore over lengthy exhibit descriptions; they peer inside coin-operated-style viewfinders and observe vendors hawking five-cent apples and traffic officers directing streetcars that trundle through the frame. Banks, retailers, museums, healthcare clinics—they all contain powerful stories that, through smart, tactical applications of design and technology, could forge stronger connections to the people they serve. 2. GET MULTIDIMENSIONAL How many times must we read about the blurring lines between physical and digital? Our collaboration spun off a more instructive idea: Rather than blur lines, build linkages. The physical and digital components of the reimagined Observatory Experience address every dimension of human interaction. Those viewfinders set this principle to motion. Peering through them, visitors become participants in a nearly century-old scene that slipped the bounds of time. That sensation is far more powerful than any discreet piece of hardware or software. Brands should take a cue and combine their digital and physical assets in ways that create transformative new experiences. Fifth Avenue is hardly a galaxy far, far away. That didn’t stop a Star Wars villains-inspired experience from taking over the Empire State Building last year. Fittingly, The Empire Strikes Back played on the 80th floor while life-size LEGO statues of Darth Vader and Darth Maul beckoned selfie-takers. An unoccupied space at the base of the building housed a fully immersive Hasbro takeover that thrilled die-hard fans. Through it all, host and guests derived value—and had a blast. When an IP as exhaustively excavated as Star Wars can build new linkages across the fan experience by showing up in unexpected ways (and places), it is a clear sign that most brands can, and should, as well. 3. DON’T BREAK NEW GROUND We began with an assessment of underutilized sectors on our second and 80th floors; the queue areas for Observatory-bound elevators; and even the elevators themselves. Here, for the better part of a century, lay the seeds of a completely reimagined visitor experience—a sort of prequel to the views on the 86th and 102nd floors. Developers might derisively call this “creative reuse,” but as we recontextualized these assets, we did more than fill space; we opened new portals of experience and immersion. How many department stores have elevators or escalators? Through the creative application of technology and design, these can become dynamic, immersive vessels for brand storytelling and wayfinding that produce tighter bonds between store and customer. No elevators or escalators? Convert underutilized space into zones of experimentation that help dimensionalize the experience. 4. TAKE THE LONG VIEW A funny thing happens nowadays when visitors finally reach the Observatory floors. Spectacular views used to be the main course, but since we inaugurated the new visitor experience, they feel like the cherry on top. Despite the still-breathtaking sightlines, you know where many of our visitors now tag their Instagram snaps? With Kong, 84 floors below, as well as with statues of brave men who built the building in the immersive exhibit dedicated to their work. Talk about your internal pivots. Perhaps this is the most powerful lesson of all: A brand never has to “top out.” If we redefined how people experience 365,000 tons of stone, glass, and steel, imagine what you can do for your brand. Andrew Zimmerman is CEO and a cofounder of Journey. Anthony E. Malkin is chairman and CEO of Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. You know what’s nice about social media? It takes the guesswork out of gift-giving. Ahead of Valentine’s Day, you can glance over your partner’s shoulder to see what kinds of products the algorithms are serving them ads for, watch influencers demonstrate the trendiest items, or just search for what’s hot. Here’s what to get your lover for Valentine’s Day, based on what's going viral. #1: Personalized jewelryThe first thing I've been getting a lot of videos about lately is personalized jewelry. Granted, a lot of these videos are coming from manufacturers or boutiques themselves, but I'm only seeing them because they're getting enough positive feedback to go viral, landing them on my FYP. Generally speaking, heart-shaped jewelry is a no-no and expensive jewelry can be dicy depending on the stage your relationship is at, but personalized jewelry is always a winner. It's more sentimental and meaningful—but it doesn't actually have to be super spendy. An engraved sterling silver bracelet can be as low as around $14 on Amazon and can feature a name, a special date, geographical coordinates, or something special to you and your person. Two years ago, my boyfriend got me this initial necklace from Tiffany ($210) and I haven't taken it off. You can also create a custom combination using Kendra Scott's Color Bar, which is especially popular among college-aged and younger people, but works for anyone. (This is what I got as my birthday present last week, for instance.) #2: Permanent jewelryAnother idea that is popping up all over—but is a little serious—is permanent jewelry. These are typically small bracelets that are welded onto the wearer (so, like, easy enough to snap if you really had to, but let's hope you never do). On social media, couples post about going to get them together, though I caution you should both do it or else it's a little weird and possessive, in my opinion. It used to be that "permanent jewelry" meant spending thousands on some Cartier, but these days, it can be as low as a few hundred, depending on where you live. Shops offering the service have popped up all over the country, so Google your city name and "permanent jewelry," but only if you think your partner will really like it. Alternatively, you can buy DIY kits that come with two bracelets and everything you need to attach them for around $50. FabuLove Permanent Bracelet Kit $49.95 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $55.00 Save $5.05 Shop Now Shop Now $49.95 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $55.00 Save $5.05 #3: A mini fridgeThis was big last year but is still big this year, too. (I just added one to my cart after months of pressure from my algorithm.) Mini fridges are popular for storing drinks, yes, but also for keeping skincare items chilled, so whether your sweetie likes to crack open a cold one or apply 11 layers of goop to their face (or both at the same time), there are a few avenues to success here. A classic Insignia mini fridge in black ($99.99, Best Buy) The Iceblue skincare fridge with a lighted mirror on the front ($39.99, Amazon) #4: Stanley tumblers (and other, non-Stanley tumblers)Stanley tumblers (and their various competitors) have remained popular for years now and are an appropriate gift for any holiday. People love these things, so it's a slam-dunk as far as gifts are concerned. Put flowers or smaller presents inside to seal the deal and aim to pick up the Valentine's-themed Stanley ($45) for style points, since that one is trending. #5: Customized anythingReturning to my original point, custom gifts are always best, especially on more romantic holidays. Spend some time on TikTok or Reels and you'll see customizable goods from air fresheners to pajamas. A few ideas: A blanket with a photo on it ($18.99) An illuminated photo plaque ($12.99) A t-shirt with photos arranged to look like band merch, which is very popular ($12.99) Gift selection ideas courtesy of social mediaThese are a few things that are popular on the app right now, sure, but everyone is unique so you can't just order up a little fridge for your sweetie if it's not something they actually want. If you're OK with a little light cyber-stalking (and you're sure that the person you're buying for wouldn't be creeped out), try going to their Instagram and hitting their "following tab." You'll see not only the accounts they follow, which can point you toward hyper-curated interests and the hashtags they track. Look through the accounts and hashtags, where videos and posts they've liked will populate automatically for you (because the algorithm is sick). If you see, "Liked by [their username]" under a post, that can give you a good idea of what they really like but maybe haven't thought to ask for. Again, proceed with caution: If the person you're buying a gift for might find that technique invasive—such as someone you just started dating—don't use it! But if you're really struggling with gift ideas and you know the person well enough, give it a shot. View the full article

Apple Intelligence had a slow rollout, launching with a waitlist and only recently allowing access to AI images and its emoji generator. But following yesterday's release of iOS 18.3/iPadOS 18.3/MacOS 15.3, it seems Apple is finally ready to follow Microsoft and Google’s leads and start putting its AI features front-and-center. According to the update's release notes, Apple Intelligence has gone from an opt-in feature to an opt-out one. In other words, if you have an AI-compatible iPhone (meaning the iPhone 15 Pro and above) or iPad (meaning it has an A17 chip or above), Apple Intelligence will be toggled on by default as soon as you upgrade. As seen in a separate post here, that also extends to AI-compatible Macs, or any Mac running an M1 chip or above. Here’s Apple explaining it in the company’s own words: For users new or upgrading to iOS 18.3, Apple Intelligence will be enabled automatically during iPhone onboarding. Users will have access to Apple Intelligence features after setting up their devices. To disable Apple Intelligence, users will need to navigate to the Apple Intelligence & Siri Settings pane and turn off the Apple Intelligence toggle. This will disable Apple Intelligence features on their device. It’s a major last-minute change to what was a fairly boring update during its betas—although unlike Google’s plan to eventually replace Google Assistant with Gemini, at least Apple still gives you the option to opt out. That tracks with Apple’s other big change for the patch, which sees the company rolling back some of the features associated with Apple Intelligence’s AI-generated notification summaries. Apple Intelligence isn’t without its perks, although for me, the biggest difference I’ve seen since enabling it is that Siri’s UI looks a little different. It’s still got more features on the way, including the ability for Siri to natively pull context from your screen and your messages, so it’ll presumably get better, but it’s understandable if you’d rather hold off for now. Especially given that it now takes up a whole 7GB of storage space. How to opt out of Apple Intelligence in iOS 18.3To ensure you’ve got Apple Intelligence disabled, keep an eye on your device's screen. If summoning Siri turns on a purple border all around your display, you’ve been opted into AI. To opt out of Apple Intelligence and go back to the standard, AI-less experience, navigate to Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri and flip off the Apple Intelligence toggle at the top of the page. View the full article

On Jan. 29, Asian American communities around the U.S. will ring in the Year of the Snake with community carnivals, family gatherings, parades, traditional food, fireworks and other festivities. In many Asian countries, it is a festival that is celebrated for several days. In diaspora communities, particularly in cultural enclaves, Lunar New Year is visibly and joyfully celebrated. In the Chinese zodiac, 2025 is the Year of the Snake. Different countries across Asia celebrate the new year in many ways and may follow a different zodiac. What is the Lunar New Year? The Lunar New Year — known as the Spring Festival in China, Tet in Vietnam and Seollal in Korea — is a major festival celebrated in several Asian countries. In Taiwan, this year, people have been drawn to the White Snake Temple to pay their respects. In Indonesia, it is celebrated with dragon puppets and drum displays. It is also widely observed by diaspora communities around the world. It begins with the first new moon of the lunar calendar and ends 15 days later on the first full moon. Because the lunar calendar is based on the cycles of the moon, the dates of the holiday vary slightly each year, falling between late January and mid-February. What are the animals of the zodiac? Each year honors an animal based on the Chinese zodiac. The circle of 12 animals — the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig — measure the cycles of time. Legend has it that a god beckoned all animals to bid him farewell before his departure from Earth and only 12 of them showed up. The Vietnamese zodiac is slightly different, honoring the cat instead of the rabbit and the buffalo instead of the ox. What does the Year of the Snake mean? Snakes are viewed with both fear and reverence in Chinese culture. On the one hand, venomous snakes are associated with darkness. But in Chinese mythology, snakes are also known as “little dragons,” and the skin they shed is known as “the dragon’s coat,” symbolizing good luck, rebirth and regeneration. The snake also symbolizes the pursuit of love and happiness. In Chinese culture, they are grouped with the turtle and crane as a symbol of longevity. This year, merchants in China and elsewhere are producing lanterns, soft toys and other products where the snakes have googly eyes and goofy smiles so they appear cute and cuddly, and don’t scare away young celebrants. What are some beliefs and traditions around the Lunar New Year? One well-known ancient legend speaks of Nian, a hideous monster that feasted on human flesh on New Year’s Day. Because the beast feared the color red, loud noises and fire, people put up red paper dragons on their doors, burned red lanterns all night and set off firecrackers to frighten and chase away the monster. To this day, the Lunar New Year celebration is centered around removing bad luck and welcoming all that is good and prosperous. Red is considered an auspicious color to ring in the new year. In many Asian cultures, the color symbolizes good fortune and joy. People dress in red attire, decorate their homes with red paper lanterns and use red envelopes to give loved ones and friends money for the new year. Gambling and playing traditional games is common during this time across cultures. Ancestor worship is also common. Many Korean families participate in a ritual called “charye,” where female family members prepare food and males serve it to ancestors. The final step of the ceremony, called “eumbok,” involves the entire family partaking the food and seeking blessings from their ancestors for the coming year. Vietnamese people cook traditional dishes and place them on a home altar as a mark of respect to their ancestors. Some Indigenous people also celebrate Lunar New Year this time of year, including members of Mexico’s Purepecha Indigenous group. How do diaspora communities celebrate? Members of Asian American communities around the U.S. also organize parades, carnivals and festivities around the Lunar New Year featuring lion and dragon dances, fireworks, traditional food and cultural performances. In addition to cleaning their homes, many buy new things for their home such as furniture and decorate using orchids and other brightly colored flowers. Lunar New Year is also celebrated as a cultural event by some Asian American Christians and is observed by several Catholic dioceses across the U.S. as well as other churches. What are some special foods for the new year? Each culture has its own list of special foods during the new year, including dumplings, rice cakes, spring rolls, tangerines, fish and meats. In the Chinese culture, for example, “changshou mian” or “long-life noodles” are consumed with a wish for a long, healthy and happy life. In Vietnamese culture, banh chung and banh tet — traditional dishes made from glutinous rice — are a must. To make a banh tet, banana leaves are lined with rice, soft mung beans and pork belly and rolled into a tight log, which is then wrapped in the leaves and tied up with strings. Koreans celebrate with tteokguk, a brothy soup that contains thinly sliced rice cakes. Warm bowls of snake soup are also on the menu in some Hong Kong snake shops, as the Lunar New Year approaches. —Deepa Bharath, Associated Press Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. Apple has been top dog in the premium tablet space for years, and the iPad Pro with an M4 chip released last year is no exception. If you've been waiting for a discount on the best-performing tablet you can get, consider the 11-inch M4 iPad Pro for $849.99 (originally $999.99) after the additional $50 discount at checkout. This brings it down to the lowest price the this iPad model has been since its release, according to price-tracking tools. Apple iPad Pro 11-Inch (M4) Ultra Retina XDR Display, 256GB, 12MP Front/Back Camera, LiDAR Scanner, Wi-Fi 6E, Face ID. $849.99 at Amazon $999.99 Save $150.00 Get Deal Get Deal $849.99 at Amazon $999.99 Save $150.00 The M4 is about 1.5 times faster than the M2, the chip used in the previous generation of iPads. That's a big difference for anyone looking to use their iPad for more than just navigating the web and streaming media apps. The 11-inch screen is an OLED display with a maximum brightness of 1,600 nits and a contrast ratio of 2,000,000:1, making it ideal for creators who need to see accurate colors for pictures or videos. The processing power can easily handle heavy-duty apps like Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, or Photoshop. A 120Hz refresh rate also means games will look smooth. As far as battery life, you can expect about 10 hours depending on your use, and a charge that takes about two hours to get to full. Keep in mind Apple switched to USB-C charging, and this iPad does not support wireless charging. Since this is not the cellular version, you'll be limited to wifi signal. You can get the Apple Pencil Pro and the Magic Keyboard if you want to complete the set, but of course, they're not necessary. If you're not going to be doing heavy work, the iPad Air will do just fine. But if you're looking for the best tablet to perform professional tasks, the iPad Pro M4 is at a great price right now. View the full article

Anyone well-versed in internet lore will be familiar with the image of a slightly deflated child’s ball pit on a hotel convention room floor. DashCon (originally called Tumblr-Con, although not officially affiliated with Tumblr) was a fan convention held in Schaumburg, Illinois, back in 2014. It was originally intended to bring the Tumblr community together and scheduled to feature vendors and special guests from fandoms like Doctor Who and Sherlock. After a string of disasters, the weekend culminated in the 17-year-old organizer, Nessie O’Neil, going around with a paper bag asking attendees for donations to make up the roughly $17,000 needed to keep the convention afloat. Afterward, it was immortalized as one of the internet’s most infamous failures. In the years since, people have tried and failed to bring DashCon back. And now another group is trying to revive DashCon once again—not as a Tumblr convention, but as an internet history con. In addition to honoring the original event, DashCon 2 will celebrate “a very specific era of fandom culture,” the codirectors wrote on their website. “We want to bring people together to reminisce on an era long past, and to celebrate the local artists, performers, and creators of today.” The new DashCon website did not include the organizers’ last names. They are identified as Avis (“Literally assigned tumblr sexyman at birth”) and Simone (“Goddess of audacious emailing.”) Why now? None of the DashCon 2 team is affiliated with DashCon’s original organizers, and O’Neil is also not involved this time round. Details of DashCon 2 plans were released yesterday, when the team said they have “no intention of repeating DashCon’s mistakes.” Organizers say DashCon 2 will be held at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre (JCCC) in Toronto on July 5. Tickets will go live on February 22, and vendor applications will be open on February 1. “Our team of organizers actually have experience in event coordination, or fields with transferable skills,” the organizers wrote on Substack. “We’ve taken our time to plan the road ahead carefully.” Reactions online have been mixed, from cautious excitement to trepidation. “I will be buying tickets for Dashcon 2 and if I get ripped off? Buddy you won’t need to tell me so, I will know it was entirely my fault,” one user posted on X. “I just found out DashCon 2 is occurring,” another wrote. “We cannot escape the curse.” In fact, there have already been bumps along the road. In regards to the current venue, the organizers admitted, “The JCCC wasn’t our first pick. Our first pick, who we won’t name, dropped us unexpectedly after months of negotiations.” The date also had to be changed from the same weekend as the original DashCon to the day after the American Fourth of July celebrations. “In our defense, we didn’t really think of that,” the team wrote. “We’re Canadian.” Of course, the main question is will there be a ball pit? The answer is yes. View the full article

It seems every tech company on the planet has something AI-related to tout these days, but to most people, I'd wager "AI" is synonymous with ChatGPT. Sure, plenty of other AI platforms are out there, from Google Gemini, to Microsoft Copilot, to Apple Intelligence, but ChatGPT holds the enviable position of both having been the "first" to the generative AI boom, and having kept the crown in the years since. At least, that was the case—but now, a Chinese startup is threatening to take that crown for itself. That company is DeepSeek, a name you're likely familiar with if you have been following AI news. Like ChatGPT's OpenAI, DeepSeek develops generative AI models. The company's latest, R1, rolled out on Jan. 20, and made headlines for two key reasons: The model performs as well (if not a bit better) than OpenAI's o1 model, and it does so while requiring far fewer resources. R1's power and efficiency were great enough to make an impact on the stock market, as shares of companies that are heavily invested in AI, including Nvidia, Alphabet (Google's parent company), Meta, and Oracle tumbled in the wake of news about DeepSeek's latest rollout. (These stocks have largely bumped back up since.) The general public is taking note too: As of this article, DeepSeek is the number one free app in both the iOS and Android app stores—ChatGPT is number two on iOS, and number eight on Android. Long-story short, DeepSeek is the latest ChatGPT competitor to enter the AI race. Trying it out isn't complicated (if you can even access it), but, on the flip side, there are reasons you might not want to. How to try DeepSeekDeepSeek is currently available as an app on iOS or Android, or available on the web. Unfortunately, accessing the service is currently somewhat difficult. Using the app, you can try signing up for an account, either by providing an email or phone number and a password, or connecting your Google or Apple account. But you likely won't have a ton of success doing so, unless you're persistent. I wasn't able to make an account the first time I tried, nor could I access the model on the website. After some time passed, the app finally let me in, but I still can't get the web version to do so. Perhaps once the hype dies down a bit, it'll be easier to access. But for the moment, good luck. Once you are in, you'll find the chatbot is quite similar to other generative AI bots you have tried. You can write out prompts for DeepSeek to answer, upload images and documents for analysis, or share a live camera feed. Like o1, DeepSeek has a reasoning model (DeepThink) that "thinks" through questions and prompts in an effort to provide more detailed and accurate results. You can also search the web, if you choose. DeepSeek may censor more topics than other botsHowever, where DeepSeek differs is in the content it censors from users. Like other chatbots, DeepThink shouldn't return results for prompts it considers inappropriate, offensive, or dangerous. However, since DeepSeek is a Chinese-based company, its chatbot censors any result that, “incites to subvert state power and overthrow the socialist system,” or “endangers national security and interests and damages the national image," as reported by The Guardian. As such, ask it about information regarding the Tiananmen Square massacre of 1989, or why Xi Jinping is often compared to Winnie the Pooh, and you'll get back, "Sorry, that's beyond my current scope. Let's talk about something else." The Guardian found that the bot will sometimes respond with answers to potentially controversial questions. When asked whether Taiwan was a country or not, DeepSeek did answer, albeit with an response that would likely be endorsed by the Chinese government. Notably, though, the outlet also found that while other chatbots offer fuller or more nuanced responses to these questions, they weren't always forthcoming either: Gemini, for instance, also refused to answer certain questions, so it's not like American-based chatbots are free from this type of censorship. When I asked DeepSeek about the marginalized Uyghur people of China, the chatbot started to generate a full report, before deleting it and replacing it with the same error message. (The Chinese government has been accused of human-right violations and even genocide of the Uyghur population in Xinjiang.) The Guardian found similar "glitches" when testing these types of prompts with DeepSeek. It does seem like there are workarounds that trick the model into generating uncensored responses, although you might have to deal with some unconventional text formatting. In general, don't expect to see DeepSeek results that might piss off the Chinese government. Other than that, it's basically ChatGPT. Why you might not want to try DeepSeek (it's a privacy nightmare)It's no secret that tech companies scrape a lot of our data in exchange for using their products, but that usually doesn't deter users from downloading interesting new apps. But DeepSeek is a little more aggressive with its data collection policies than most. Taking a look at DeepSeek's privacy policy, you see some of the usual suspects: The company collects the information you provide when setting up an account, like date of birth, username, email address, phone number, even your password. It also collects information as you use the app, including what device you're using, which OS it's running, your IP address, system language, and general diagnostic information. Third-parties can share information they've collected about you with DeepSeek, so they know more about you as you use their service. They also employ cookies to track your activity, but you can disable this tracking in settings. DeepSeek users a keyloggerFrom here, it's important to know that DeepSeek is collecting everything you do with the AI model. All text inputs, audio inputs, prompts, files, feedback, or any other way you interact with the model are saved by the company. Again, this isn't necessarily unique—you shouldn't share any confidential or private information with any AI bot—but if you're not comfortable with a company storing documents or recordings of your voice, think twice about what you share with DeepSeek. It's not awesome for DeepSeek to collect some of these data points, but they are far from the only company to do so. However, they push beyond the norm: Not only will DeepSeek collect any text you send its model, it tracks your keystroke patterns or rhythms as well. That means any time you interact with your keyboard while using DeepSeek, the company is analyzing both what you type, as well as how you type. Yikes. DeepSeek stores your data in ChinaAlso concerning is how DeepSeek stores the data it collects. Per the privacy policy, DeepSeek stores all information in servers in China, which was part of the reasoning behind the U.S. government's push to ban TikTok. There is also no time limit on how long DeepSeek keeps your data, other than "as long as necessary." This is also how Meta handles user data, but other companies have time limits: OpenAI has a similar clause about keeping data for as long as necessary, but says temporary chats are deleted from servers after 30 days. Meanwhile, Google says it'll keep data for up to three years. It's no secret that big tech is rarely privacy friendly, and AI is no exception. Even in those terms, however,DeepSeek is not a fantastic option for the privacy-minded. If you want to try it while preserving some privacy, I recommend signing in with Apple, which lets you hide your real email address from the company. If you don't have an Apple account, you could use an email platform like Proton or DuckDuckGo that offer similar shielding services. Just remember that even if DeepSeek can't see your email, it's still paying attention to how you type. View the full article

Brothers Jake Paul and Logan Paul made social media announcements Tuesday that suggested their next fight will be against each other and aired on HBO Max. Calling it the “moment you’ve waited a decade for,” the posts featured a head-to-head shot of the brothers with a March 27 date and the HBO Max logo. Further details were not included in the posts. Jake Paul, 28, and Logan Paul, 29, are both YouTube stars who know how to create a buzz. Their exhibitions have drawn the interest of the biggest names in combat sports. Jake Paul defeated Mike Tyson in November in an eight-round unanimous decision. Logan Paul went the distance in an exhibition against Floyd Mayweather in 2021. An HBO Max fight would be a first for the Pauls, who have had their bouts aired on other platforms including DAZN, Showtime, Fanmio, ESPN+ and Netflix. Jake Paul and Tyson, the former heavyweight champion, broke records. Promoters said in November that the Tyson-Paul fight was the highest-grossing combat sports event ever in Texas, pulling in $18.1 million. BetMGM said the bout was by far its most-bet boxing or mixed-martial arts fight, taking three times the number of bets and four times the money of any combat sport in its history. Logan Paul is a part-time performer for World Wrestling Entertainment. He has been wildly successful in WWE, having claimed the United States Championship and participated in several premium live events. The fight with his brother would be just weeks before WrestleMania, the biggest event on the pro wrestling calendar. It’s unclear whether a fight between Logan Paul and former UFC champion Conor McGregor will happen. McGregor said in December that he was in “preliminary agreements” with the family of billionaire industrialist Mukesh Ambani to fight Logan Paul in India. View the full article

About 35,000 feet (10,670 meters) over the Mojave Desert, northwest of Los Angeles, Boom Supersonic’s XB-1 became the first privately funded airplane to break the sound barrier during a test flight on Tuesday. “She was real happy supersonic,” Boom Chief Test Pilot Tristan “Geppetto” Brandenburg said after landing, in a video posted by Boom Supersonic. “That’s the best she’s ever flown, was supersonic.” After getting to altitude, Brandenburg opened up the test plane’s throttles, accelerating to Mach 1.1, or about 845 mph (1,360 kph) — faster than the speed at which sound travels. In 1947, Chuck Yeager became the first human to break the sound barrier when he pushed the Bell X-1 past Mach 1 during a flight over the Mojave Desert. Boom Supersonic’s XB-1 is a stepping stone in its plan to develop a commercially viable supersonic airliner, the Overture, capable of carrying 64-80 passengers across the Atlantic in about 3 1/2 hours. The company has 130 orders and pre-orders from American Airlines, United Airlines and Japan Airlines. Last year, it completed construction on its Overture Superfactory in Greensboro, North Carolina, where it plans to build 66 Overture aircraft per year. —Dan Catchpole, Reuters View the full article

Wix shares how to develop a marketing team that works at peak performance and how to avoid pitfalls like AI silos The post Wix Shares How To Optimize Enterprise Marketing appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. It wouldn’t be fair to say that I bought an air fryer simply to reheat french fries, but it would be disingenuous to claim that my desire to reheat french fries had nothing to do with the purchase. A few years ago—when we were young and the air was sweet—I wrote a blog claiming that waffling sad, cold fries was a first-rate way to reheat them. Almost immediately, the comments started rolling in. “You fool, you absolute imbecile,” they said. “An air fryer is the only tool you should use to reheat french fries, and you are an idiot for suggesting otherwise.” (I am paraphrasing, but this was the feel of the comments, at least as I recall it.) “Maybe I should get an air fryer,” I thought, before waiting another eight months to get one. (I finally got the Instant Pot Vortex Mini, because it is small and red and $50.) The tiny, powerful convection oven—which does not technically fry anything—is quite handy. I’ve already integrated it into my everyday cooking rotation, but I started with cold fries (and ate them for breakfast), because that’s what brought us to this point in the first place. My friends, you (and everyone else who yelled at me) were not lying. When it comes to restoring limp, cardboard-like fries to their former crisp, golden glory, the air fryer kicks the waffle maker’s ass (though I maintain waffled leftover fries make excellent breakfast potatoes). That said, not everyone has an air fryer. (Though if you're in the market for one, I suggest these.) You can also use the conventional oven or a frying pan to get your spuds crispy again. Here are the three best ways to reheat french fries. What makes leftover fries so sad?Leftover fries are sad and soggy due to moisture migration, and the air fryer takes care of that nonsense in short order. Once a fry starts to cool, the water inside the fluffy starch granules moves out towards the crust, rendering the insides of the fry grainy and the outsides mushy. How to reheat fries in the air fryerBeyond reheating completely cold fries, this is a great way to revive takeout fries that may have sat in a paper bag or plastic container for too long. Just five to 10 minutes in a 375-degree air fryer perks ‘em right back up. Timing will vary from air fryer to air fryer but, unlike the Instant Pot or a sous-vide circulator, it’s very easy to check on your air fried food mid-cook—just slide the little basket out. Try not to over-pack the air fryer; you want the hot air to be able to circulate around each fry. It took my air fryer a mere five minutes at 375℉ to restore cold, lifeless, fairly thick-cut breakfast fries to their former glory, which is dangerously quick, particularly in a household that is prone to over-ordering french fries. While a little overlapping is fine, try not to crowd your fries. Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann Why reheat fries with an air fryer?An air fryer can’t rehydrate those starch granules, but it certainly revives a fry’s soggy outsides. The hot, circulating air drives off moisture and gets any dormant fry grease movin’ and groovin’, re-crisping the potato’s crust. And while the insides aren’t quite as tender and fluffy as they are when you first take them out of a deep fryer, they are pretty damn close. The ones I ate for breakfast this morning were almost indistinguishable from fresh fries, though it’s worth noting that they seemed to be a “fresh-cut, once cooked” kind of fry, so this may have only been their second (not third) heating. How to reheat fries in the ovenReheating french fries in the oven is the second best way because you can do big batches and it's a much more hands-off method than the frying pan method below. Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann To reheat fries in the oven, preheat the oven to 400℉. While that's heating up, arrange a metal wire rack over a sheet pan. Spread out the cold fries over the rack so they're not overlapping. The elevated rack will allow the hot air to circulate underneath and around the fries so you don't have to do any flipping. Bake the fries for 15 to 25 minutes. I suggest checking on them after 15 minutes to assess their crispiness. Depending on how thick or thin they are, it's possible to dry them out if they bake too long. How to reheat fries in a frying panIf you don't have any other choice, or you have only a handful of fries that you're trying to revive, there's the frying pan method. Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann Grab a relatively large frying pan. There should be enough room for the fries to lay flat in a single layer. Unlike in the oven or the air fryer, it's the direct contact with the hot surface that's going to heat up the oil that imbues the crust of each fry. Some other folks recommend adding oil to the pan, but I disagree. This only made my fries oily in a gross way. Heat the fries over medium-low heat. They'll begin to sizzle after two minutes or so. Proceed to rotate them every minute or two so the other sides crisp. After about 10 minutes of flipping the fries, all of the sides should be hot and crispy. This is a great idea if you only have a single serving of fries and you don't mind tending to them the entire time. It's quicker than the oven method, but if you're inconsistent you might end up with scorched spots on some fries. Tips for reheating friesDon't crowd. Lay the french fries in a single layer and try to avoid a lot of overlapping. This will prevent any steam from getting trapped and allow your taters to crisp faster. If you have a lot of fries to reheat, it might be best to do it in batches or just use the oven. Spritz 'em lightly with oil. For a just-out-of-the-fryer sizzle, give your fries a light spritz with a neutral cooking oil. Specifically for the air fryer, a fresh layer of fat conducts the heat that much more effectively. Check on them mid-cook. Cooking time varies depending on the thickness of the french fry you're reheating (steak cut? shoestring? crinkle?), so it's important to check on your spuds once or twice. Especially with the speed of the air fryer, a few minutes too long is the difference between crisp and fluffy or hard and dry. View the full article

In an effort to monetize the social media platform, Elon Musk’s X announced Tuesday it would be partnering with Visa on a digital wallet and peer-to-peer payment services for its upcoming X Money Account. The product, which is likely to launch in the first quarter of this year, would enable users to move funds between their bank accounts and a digital wallet in real time, similar to Venmo or Zelle, with more deals on the horizon, CNBC reported. CEO Linda Yaccarino said on X it will launch later in 2025 and is just the “first of many big announcements about X Money this year.” Musk, who bought Twitter for $44 billion in 2022, has struggled to make X profitable and to prevent users from fleeing to Bluesky and Threads due to its increasing right-wing tone and content. The announcement comes days after the Wall Street Journal reported banks are ready to sell billions of dollars of debt Musk borrowed to buy X—and revealed Musk told employees in an email that “revenue is unimpressive, and we’re barely breaking even.” Visa, which is the largest credit card network in the country, will use Visa Direct, its financial solution for instant money transfers, according to TechCrunch. Musk has previously said he wants to transform X into an “everything app” similar to China’s WeChat: “a single application that encompasses everything,” from digital town square to banking platform, where users could “do payments, messages, video, calling, whatever you’d like, from one single, convenient place,” The Verge reported. View the full article

Quartet has launched the Quartet® Dry-Erase Desktop Computer Pad, a budget-friendly workspace solution designed to enhance productivity and organization. The new product aims to simplify workspaces by providing a clutter-free and efficient tool for home, office, or classroom use. The Quartet Dry-Erase Desktop Pad combines durability, functionality, and convenience. Positioned between the keyboard and computer screen, the pad offers a sleek angled surface for jotting down reminders, ideas, or to-do lists without relying on sticky notes. The durable painted steel writing surface is resistant to stains and ghosting, ensuring long-term use. The desktop pad is designed with several thoughtful features to promote productivity and organization: Integrated Keyboard Storage: A felt pad allows for smooth, scratch-free sliding of the keyboard underneath the desktop pad, keeping desks tidy. Accessory Storage: An accessory channel and magnetic marker cap provide a dedicated space for the included dry-erase marker, ensuring tools are always within reach. Comprehensive Kit: The product comes with a felt keyboard pad, a Quartet dry-erase marker, and a microfiber towel for easy cleaning. Magnetic Surface: Important notes and photos can be secured directly onto the painted steel surface using magnets. Compact and Portable Design: Weighing just 1.5 pounds, the 21” x 7.75” dry-erase board features fold-down legs, making it easy to transport, store, and ship. “The Quartet Dry-Erase Desktop Pad was designed to simplify and elevate any workspace,” said Aaron DiStefano, Senior Marketing Manager at ACCO Brands. “We’re excited to offer a budget-conscious solution that combines innovation and functionality, helping users stay organized while keeping their desks clutter-free.” The desktop pad is suitable for various environments, including offices, classrooms, and home workstations. Its compatibility with standing desks and traditional setups adds to its versatility as a workspace essential. Priced at $21.99, the Quartet Dry-Erase Desktop Pad offers an affordable solution for those looking to streamline their workspaces. The Quartet Dry-Erase Desktop Pad is now available for purchase at Meijer’s stores, as well as online through Amazon and Quartet.com. With its innovative design and accessible price point, this new offering continues Quartet’s tradition of providing high-quality dry-erase products that enhance productivity and organization. This article, "Quartet Introduces Dry-Erase Desktop Pad for Organized Workspaces" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Whether you’re still trying to hold down those New Year’s resolutions or you’re just generally trying to stay on top of your productivity, we can always benefit from having some accountability checks. You can do these yourself, sure, but having a little outside help from a well-made app can make a big difference. For one-on-one accountability: FocusmateA major component of productivity is planning your day, so if you’re planning on doing a certain task, like clearing your inbox or consolidating notes, try using Focusmate to get paired with an accountability partner who’s working at the same time. You get put into a video chat with the person, both share what you’re working on, and then get cracking. This relies on the principle of “body doubling,” or the idea that people work harder when someone else is around. If you’ve ever pushed yourself at the gym because you’re surrounded by other people or invited a friend over to sit on your couch while you clean, you get it. Focusmate lets you set up three sessions a week for free, but if you want unlimited sessions it’ll be $9.99 per month or about $84 per year. Credit: Lindsey Ellefson Focusmate pros: You can pick your date, time, and partner You can be sorted into focus rooms depending on the kind of activity you want to do, whether it's desk work or physical activity You get a sizable amount of access with the free version Focusmate cons: This really only works if you have a desktop setup and isn't as accessible if you're on the go The pricing for unlimited sessions is a little steep If you want an accountability group: FlownFlown hosts group sessions that function like virtual study groups, allowing you to work “alongside” others who are also trying to get things done. From the comfort of your home, you can surround yourself with people who are working on their tasks at the same time, giving you the same feeling you’d get if you were at a coffee shop, in a library, or working in a large group of people. There are virtual quiet rooms to sit in during the day and coworking sessions you can join with smaller groups of people for an hour or two, led by facilitators, plus solo working experiences called "portholes" that play hour-long footage of skilled craftspeople working on their particular trade. There’s a 30-day free trial, but even after that expires, you can join free sessions on Fridays. If you’re really feeling it after the trial (which doesn’t require you to put down your card info), it’s $25 per month, $228 per year, or $900 for a lifetime membership. Credit: Lindsey Ellefson Flown pros: It's customizable and tailored: You input whether you work remotely, feel overwhelmed, think you may have ADHD, etc. There are a variety of options available, from facilitator-led groups to quiet working rooms Free access on Fridays can help you build a solid schedule even if you don't want to pay Flown cons: This is best suited for a desktop setup, not while you're working on something out and about If you just need a personal push: Loop Habit TrackerMaybe you don’t need a virtual coworking space, but just need a way to track your own progress and push yourself. Loop might be your answer, as it provides a platform for tracking progress, scheduling work, and getting helpful reminders via notifications. You enter your progress into the app and get a Habit Score, which is based on how often you do what you set out to do. Gamification is a major motivator for some people, so if all you need is to see a number go up, up, up, try Loop, which is free for up to seven habits and $9.99 per month if you want to track more than that. Credit: Beth Skwarecki Loop pros: A simple interface allows you to see your goal progress using a calendar view or more detailed infographics It's low-pressure, so you feel good when you accomplish the tasks and stay with your habits, but it doesn't shame you for missing days (unlike other tools, which are valuable for people who need that kind of push) It's very customizable, so you can even change the question it prompts you with when you're filling out your habit completion Loop cons: It's only available for Android The interface is simple, which is good, but perhaps a little boring To work on goals with friends: HabitatThe Habitat app allows you to work in groups with people you already know, so it's great if you've set goals together with others, like family members or friends. It gives you a few easy ideas for habits to build, like exercising more often or making your bed consistently, and once you set your first habit, you can invite friends to join you. Then, you'll work together to create a "group streak," with each of you inputting when you work on your habit. I just set one up with a friend where we are both committing to work out five times per week. The interface is simple and the streaks grow visually, so you can see your progress, plus the free version allows you to see who out of your group is atop the leaderboard. You can even access in-app direct messages to communicate with your group about the task. The benefit here is that you don't want to let down people you know, so you may be more motivated to hit the gym if you know you're not only harming your own health by skipping, but also jeopardizing a loved one's streak. It's $35.99 per year or $5.99 per month to access a premium account, which lets you be part of more than four habitat streaks and view detailed statistics about your progress as well as set notifications and reminders. Credit: Lindsey Ellefson Habitat pros: It's easy to use and understand from the moment you download it You can use the free version in a limited capacity, so it's great for if you only have one or two habits to build Habitat cons: The paid version has a significantly greater amount of features It really only works if you have friends who are willing to do it with you, unlike the apps above, where you deal with strangers who are already motivated to use the software It's only available on iOS If you want real stakes: ForfeitForfeit has an interesting premise that isn’t for the faint of heart: You put down money (between $1 and $50) and if you meet your goal, you get to keep it; if you fail to accomplish the goal you tie to it, you lose that money. A member of the app’s team will review evidence—like gym selfies, recordings of yourself working, or whatever else—to make sure you met the goal you set(or you can have your goals reviewed by AI instead). You pre-determine what you’ll do, like, “I’ll send a time lapse of myself reading before 11 a.m. tomorrow or forfeit $10.” According to the company, there’s been $3 million staked across 238,000 sessions with a 94.2% success rate—meaning most people are motivated to keep their money and don’t lose it. You don’t have to pay for the app in the traditional sense, but you do pay if you fail to accomplish your goal. Forfeit can keep that money or you can opt to have it given to a charity or even a group of friends using the app. I should also mention you can do lower-stakes Forfeits, as well: You can tell the app to text your friends, for instance, if you don't complete a goal by a certain time. You can even customize the message they'll receive, like, "Lindsey failed to clean her living room this afternoon! How embarrassing!" Credit: Lindsey Ellefson Forfeit pros: This app actually forces you to do what you say you are going to do It's only as mean or as nice as you set it to be, so you can make all of your text inputs really positive (but still risk losing actual money, of course) There are a lot of ways to use it so it works for you, whether you opt to let AI review your evidence submissions, bet money on yourself, set up repeat Forfeits, or more Forfeit cons: You can actually lose money View the full article

This post was written by Alison Green and published on Ask a Manager. Last week we talked about jerks getting their comeuppance, and here are eight of the most satisfying stories you shared. 1. The thief At an old job, I was continually denied raises by the bully finance director (who somehow was always able to find money for his own raises.) He oversaw all purchases for the business’s renovation, which included lots of furniture, TVs, tech stuff, etc. All expensive stuff. He was one of many jerks and I eventually moved on, but I heard from a coworker a couple years later that he was fired one day when an expensive TV that went missing from storage was suddenly discovered. In a picture his wife posted on Facebook of their new living room. This caused an audit and it turned out he was stealing A LOT of stuff and money from work, so he and his cronies all got fired and he had a very public trial. All I wanted was a raise when my job duties expanded, and instead his ass went to jail. 2. The coffee When I was 30, I looked like a 15-year-old and many assumed I was an intern or perhaps a lowly admin they could disrespect. I had had enough of this when an old man leaned over to me before a commission meeting started (I was the staff liaison to this commission and basically led the meetings but he didn’t know that yet). He asked me to go get him coffee (!) without even looking at me. I said in a neutral tone, “No thank you” and then got up to start the meeting. I said, “Hey everyone, just a quick note, Bob here says he’d fetch (I really emphasized this word) coffee for anyone who needs it, so just tell him how you take it.” He got very flustered and muttered something like, “uh, uh” and I turned to him and said, “So are we good here?” and I paused for effect and let him memorize my shape, face, and tone until he said, “Yep, got it” and barely spoke up again for the rest of the year. 3. The file poacher I did an external benchmarking project in Excel for my boss, sent it off, and forgot about it. 12+ months later, one of the “too cool to wear a suit” marketing team presented the exact same file to the executive team (I was there to present something else). It even still had my quirky choice of colors in the conditional formatting. He stood there saying it had been a lot of research and work and just needed to be updated for the latest year’s data. Then he was asked to make some changes on the spot. He needed to get into the source sheet, which he couldn’t find. I meekly suggested it was a hidden sheet and told him how to unhide it. But then there was no data on the source sheet. I pointed out it the columns started at AW so there must be some hidden columns. He tried and tried to unhide them and nothing happened. He muttered the sheet must have corrupted. He also struggled to remove some colors on the output sheet. I said nothing else, but raised my eyebrow at my boss. Finally my boss suggested I try, as I was known for being good with Excel. I walked down to his laptop and, without saying a word, took the page protection off the sheet using my password. Someone jokingly asked if I had an all powerful admin password. I shook my head and said no, that I remembered the password for the file. I was then asked why I knew the password to a marketing file, to which I replied that they hadn’t changed the password on the file since I created it 18 months ago, and that I’d had to hide and password protect the detail as some of the numbers were still confidential at that point. I also said the random colors on the front sheet which he couldn’t remove were due to conditional formatting based on criteria my boss had asked for the year before. I took my seat again (back of the room) and watched as Mr. Marketing squirmed as he was asked why he was taking credit for another team’s work. My boss smirked and Mr. Marketing never poached another file off me again. 4. The building I took a fundraising job at a nonprofit, and it didn’t take long to realize that the place was toxic. The CEO, who was also the founder, was an absolute terror, which was apparently known to everyone but me. I started looking for another job because I just couldn’t deal with the abuse, and somehow my boss found out and fired me before I had the chance to quit, despite the fact that I was absolutely destroying my fundraising goals. The board refused to manage the CEO in any way, shape, or form, despite these well-known issues. About five years later, when the org was in its 30th year, the org finally had the funds and build a gorgeous new building for its operations, it was everything they’d all dreamed of, especially the toxic founder … who the board then promptly fired for his years of toxic behavior, and specifically cited my firing five years prior as one of the reasons. Knowing that he never got to enjoy his magnificent new space was just the best chef’s kiss ever. 5. The accreditation Ten years ago, I was a trainer working for a very well-known organization which was in a highly visible dispute with the government, and was regularly in the headlines. If you were remotely engaged with current affairs in my country then, you would recognize both the dispute and the company. Our part of the organization ran credentialled training for a highly-trusted, highly-regulated profession — think legal, engineering, that kind of thing. Our training was accredited by the regulator, and our clients had to take 50 accredited hours every year as a condition of keeping their licenses. All the training courses had had the content approved, but for each individual session, the dates, times, venue, trainer, and bullet-pointed list of content had to be sent to the regulator. My lovely manager was away for a year on maternity leave, and single most useless man I have ever met was employed in her stead, through the Old Boys network. He was unbelievably useless in every possible way, and chauvinist. Not actively toxic, just incompetent and a waste of space, and extremely condescending to us little ladies. So the two other trainers and I and the admin team who supported us just bypassed him and got on with things. A few months in, the admin responsible for getting all our courses accredited left. Before she left, she informed Useless Manager about the process for getting courses accredited and said that the other admin didn’t have time to do this and he would need to figure something out. About five months after that, just before Lovely Manager returned, we found out that Useless Manager’s solution had been to ignore it. For nearly six months, we had been delivering “accredited” courses to our highly-regulated profession, which they needed to complete annually to keep their licenses, and not a single one of them was actually accredited. My co-trainers and I (all women) scheduled a meeting with our manager to “understand the issue,” and we basically treated it like a Select Committee. First, we made him explain what had happened and how. Then we asked questions like, “But you were aware that this was a requirement, yes or no?” “Just so we are clear, do you understand that if any of the thousand or so clients we’ve seen in the last few months got audited, they could lose their licence because they’d claimed 50 accredited hours and these hours weren’t accredited? And that would be entirely on us?” “Could I just ask you to reflect on the impact of Company’s highly visible dispute with the government if this got into the media?” Frankly, we shouldn’t have been allowed to do it and he shouldn’t have sat through it. But he was Useless, so he didn’t actually know how to shut us down. He squirmed. He stuttered. He blustered. We sat very and looked at him very, very disapprovingly. At some point, I sighed and said, “All I can say is that I’m very, very disappointed.” (Which was the point where one of my colleagues nearly lost it.) After half an hour, we told him he could go, waited until he’d left the room, and then all cracked up laughing and repeating the highlights back to each other. He worked out the rest of the month without contacting or speaking to any of us again. He’s probably now CEO of something because useless, chauvinist men fail upwards. The resolution was that Lovely Manager came back, worked with the regulator, and got them to agree to backdate approval and treat it as an admin issue. I still get chills thinking about how bad it could have been though. 6. The apology In my last job, I helped salespeople with proposals, and a lot of them had very specific requirements that we would be thrown out for not following. On one proposal, we had to have a “wet signature” from the salesman handling the proposal (meaning, we couldn’t use his digital signature on file, he had to sign it with a pen himself). This salesman was notorious for putting things off until the last minute, and since this municipality was a few hours’ drive away and fairly rural (so there was no guarantee of overnight delivery), I told him I had to have the signature by X date in order to be able to guarantee it would get here. I was very, very clear with him, many times, in different formats, about this requirement and the timeline. He kept putting it off, and finally came the afternoon before it had to be submitted to sign it. I told him, again, that I couldn’t guarantee it would get there, and he brushed me off, saying basically, “It’ll be fine.” Of course, it wasn’t, and as I guessed, it didn’t get delivered on time and was not considered. He raised an absolute stink and was so mad. We had a conversation about it with my boss where I explained, again, why it happened and that he couldn’t keep putting things off until the last minute. He said he understood, apologized, asked me to be clearer about the timeline next time (????), and we parted ways. After that conversation, I thought we were on the same page until the next morning he sent an email to his boss, with me, my boss, and the entire senior leadership team CC’ed, where he said he had talked to me about the issue, explained why it couldn’t happen again, and had gotten my word that I wouldn’t let it happen again. I was FUMING. I left the office to go on a walk because I was so angry I couldn’t think straight. When I got back, my boss had replied all to the email saying, “[Salesman], this email does not accurately represent what happened at all, and I think you know that.” She laid out the entire issue from beginning to end, and a few hours later, the salesman’s boss came by my desk with him to apologize and promise that he would follow my timelines in the future. The organization was, in general, very salesperson-friendly (which mostly meant they let them run roughshod over everyone and never made them do anything they didn’t want to), so this forced apology was a very gratifying experience for me and, vicariously, for everyone else who had ever been burned by this salesman. 7. The ultimatum I worked in an office that had the worst receptionist. She held grudges and did as little work as possible. She was so difficult in the seven years I was there that she was switched around to different managers. She did not like her last manager. She marched into the CEO’s office and said, “Get me a different manager or I quit.” The CEO responded, “Go pack up your desk.” She was stunned. You really shouldn’t give an ultimatum unless you are willing to suffer the consequences. 8. The course review A number of years ago, I was hired as an instructional designer to help support a large group of faculty who were creating online asynchronous courses for a new degree program. A key part of my job was ensuring that all the courses fulfilled certain mission-critical standards like accessibility and learning outcomes. I had a checklist with these deliverables and I was required to regularly review all the courses throughout their development cycle. One of the faculty assigned to this project was an absolute diva. Dr. Diva had convinced college leadership that he was a GROUNDBREAKING ONLINE EDUCATION MIRACLE WORKER and so far ahead of the curve that it was practically a circle. He was invited to conferences to talk about his magical methods and featured in college promotional materials and he was on a first-name basis with all of the muckety-mucks. In other words, he was a VERY. BIG. DEAL. around campus. He was also very unhappy that his course was being included in the review process. Reviews were fine for other faculty but certainly not for him. Nonetheless, I do my first review, and it’s a bloodbath. His course is a half-baked disaster. Cherry on top, it also had two very serious “doing it this way could open the institution to serious liability” concerns. I give my boss a heads-up on what I find, and he gives me the go-ahead to write my report and send an email outlining the shortcomings to the faculty. Dr. Diva goes nuclear. He responds by sending me this huge, vitriolic email, a 9.8 on the email Richter scale. But berating me is not enough. He also calls my manager and demands that I be fired! Immediately! When my manager refuses, he gets really angry. So he decides to cash in all his VIP IOUs and organizes a huge meeting about me and my review, ostensibly under the guise of urgent concerns about instructional designers impinging on academic freedom. He corrals a couple of senior VPs, the head of the faculty union, a bunch of senior managers, an associate dean or two, my boss, and my boss’s boss to attend. If there’d been a natural disaster on the day of the meeting, a third of the college leadership might have been wiped out. Unfortunately for Dr. Diva, the meeting did not go as planned. The powers-that-be start by reviewing my report. They ask my boss questions about my review processes and the project’s goals, and they start to get a little confused. What they’re seeing and reading doesn’t seem to match up at all with the sky-is-falling academic freedoms are at risk disaster that their superstar had claimed. In fact, when they dig a little further, they begin to realize that my report is actually very fair and accurate and that all of the pedagogical superpowers he’s long claimed to have don’t actually exist. Hmm … Would Dr. Diva like to speak about how he plans to address these deficits to ensure alignment with the program’s outcomes and college standards? And why did Dr. Diva think that receiving a routine review warranted both my firing and a meeting with such a large and busy group of people? I’m pleased to report that Dr. Diva burned pretty much all of his chips that day, and his visibility in all things promotional went from very high to practically invisible. Rumor also had it that a number of his other courses suddenly found themselves being audited for program alignment. There was even a nice coda to all the stress and tumult. Months later, I found myself in an elevator with my boss and one of the VPs who’d attended the meeting with Dr. Diva. When my boss introduced me, the VP just looked at me, nodded, and said, “You do good work.” View the full article