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Aviation entrepreneur Christopher Harborne’s record £9mn donation described as ‘game-changer’ for Reform UK View the full article

I've been seeing a number of videos on my feeds circulating a serious, but perhaps not unbelievable, claim: The idea is, come Dec. 16, 2025, Meta will update its privacy policy to give itself permission to scrape direct messages from users on Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp, all in the name of training its generative AI models. While Meta is no bastion of user privacy by any stretch of the imagination, this particular claim is, fortunately, not true. You shouldn't expect the company to necessarily respect your data, but you also don't need to worry that future iterations of Meta AI will be generating text based on your Instagram DMs. What's going on with Meta's Dec. 16 privacy policy?If you've seen these claims on your feeds, too, you know they're often quite stark and hyperbolic. Snopes highlights one such viral Instagram post that reads, "Every conversation. Every photo. Every voice message. Fed into AI." Users scrolling through Instagram might understandably stop to read these claims, and may, also understandably, feel concerned about their data across their various Meta accounts. The issue is, these claims are misinterpreting a real change Meta plans for its privacy policy. Once the policy updates on Dec. 16, Meta is making changes to the way it collects data from user interactions with Meta AI. Going forward, the data generated when using Meta's AI products can be used to personalize the content you see on Meta platforms, as well as the ads that are placed in your feeds. Once again, it's just more data collection in the pursuit of promoting user engagement and ad relevancy. Part of the confusion is in the way this privacy policy is worded. Take the following statement, a part of Meta's explanation of the user information it uses: "Interactions with AI at Meta and related metadata. For example, information you or others exchange with AI at Meta like content and messages." That might sound like Meta is scraping your DMs to train its AI, but it's saying content and messages you share with Meta's AI are what's fair game. Just sending messages and attachments to users on Meta platforms doesn't end up in Meta AI's training data, but if you share those messages and attachments with the AI, then it might. Meta confirmed as much with outlets, sending the following statement: “The update mentioned in the viral rumor isn’t about DMs at all, it’s about how we’ll use people’s interactions with our AI features to further personalize their experience. We do not use the content of your private messages with friends and family to train our AIs unless you or someone in the chat chooses to share those messages with our AIs. This also isn’t new, nor is it part of this Dec. 16 privacy policy update.” Meta does collect data on your messagesMake no mistake, of course: If you're using a Meta messaging platform, the company does collect your data. In both the current and upcoming privacy policies, Meta does say messages you send and receive, including their content as well as their metadata, subject to applicable law, can be used by Meta for a number of functions. That might include personalizing Meta products to fit each user; improving Meta products in general; promoting safety and security on its platforms; storing, moving, and processing your data around the world; and processing information when the law requires. Now, there are categories Meta will not use your messages for, unless you share those messages with its AI. That includes using your data for analytics and services for business; "providing a seamless experience" across Meta products; personalizing ads on Meta Audience Network; research and innovation for "social good;" anonymizing your info; and sharing data with law enforcement. In some of these cases, Meta will collect metadata about your messages—perhaps things like time or location sent—but not the message data itself. Again, this article is not meant to flatter Meta; rather, it's to debunk unnecessary concerns. Social media posts often misrepresent these nuanced privacy and security points—especially when those posts turn up the dramatics. Understand if you're using Meta products, your data is constantly being collected—but, in this case, your messages aren't suddenly being scraped to train AI. The best thing you can do to preserve your privacy and security with your Meta messages is to use end-to-end encryption (E2EE) whenever possible. WhatsApp has E2EE built-in, and Meta has automatically started rolling it out for Messenger, but you might need to manually start an E2EE chat for existing conversations in the app. The same goes for Instagram: Meta offers E2EE, but you need to enable it yourself. In either app, tap the name of the chat to check whether or not that conversation is currently E2EE. View the full article

It’s been less than two months since President The President began his demolition of the White House’s East Wing to make room for his “big, beautiful White House Ballroom,” and the President is already parting ways with the original architect behind the project. On December 4, a White House spokesperson confirmed to The Washington Post that the original ballroom architect, McCrery Architects, has been traded in favor of the firm Shalom Baranes Associates. The swap comes after multiple reports that The President and Jim McCrery, CEO of McCrery Architects, clashed repeatedly over the size and scope of the new ballroom. The construction of a giant ballroom is only one part of The President’s plan to remake the White House in his image. Over the past several months, he’s updated the building’s interiors with his own Rococo-inspired aesthetics, overhauled the Oval Office into a gold-laden spectacle, and turned the Rose Garden patio into a Mar-a-Lago lookalike. Still, his plans to tear down the White House’s East Wing to build a $250 million, 90,000-square-foot ballroom—a process that’s already underway—is by far his most extreme renovation. And now, it seems he’s opting for a new architect who’s more willing to bend to his personal vision for the project. Here’s everything you need to know about the shake-up, in a handy timeline: July 31 Late this summer, the The President administration officially announced its plans to construct a White House ballroom. At the time, the administration named McCrery Architects as the team heading up the project. McCrery himself has been a vocal supporter of President The President’s push to make classical architecture a federal standard, once stating, “Americans love classical architecture because it is our nation’s formative architecture and we love our nation’s formation.” His firm is most known for designing Catholic churches and academic buildings. October 20 In October, the The President administration began tearing down major sections of the East Wing to make way for the massive ballroom. The move came despite both The President and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt’s earlier assurances that the project would not interfere with the existing structure. November 26 The Washington Post was the first to report tensions between McCrery and The President. According to the publication, four people close to the project reported that McCrery repeatedly advised The President to bring down the proposed size of the ballroom, pointing out that a 90,000-square-foot addition would overshadow the original White House. In a later report from The New York Times, further details about the disagreement emerged. Several sources told the publication that The President’s plans for the ballroom’s size have grown dramatically since the plan was first proposed. In addition, The President reportedly told people working on the ballroom that they did not need to follow permitting, zoning, or code requirements, and encouraged contractors to work quickly to meet the tight timetable of completion before 2029. It appears that McCrery may have always been doomed to exit the project at some point. One source told The Post that the small size of his workforce made it difficult to meet such intense deadlines. On top of that, McCrery Architects’ relative inexperience with a project of such massive scale and inherent public scrutiny likely set the stage for problems down the line. December 4 The President’s split with McCrery Architects was officially confirmed to The Washington Post via a statement from White House spokesperson Davis Ingle, who named Shalom Baranes as the next in line to head up the project. Per The Post, McCrery will remain tied to the effort on a consulting basis. Baranes, who runs the firm Shalom Baranes Associates, is most known for leading a $1 billion renovation of the Pentagon back in 2001, though his firm has worked on other large-scale projects throughout D.C. Unlike McCrery, he’s embraced a neo-traditionalist style. Back in 2017, he subtly spoke out against The President’s immigration ban in an op-ed for The Washington Post, wherein he described himself as a “refugee” and argued that his own success would be impossible without his fellow immigrants. “My hope is that the The President administration will take actions to ensure that the travel ban is indeed temporary, so that good, hard-working individuals fleeing tyranny can find a new home as I did—and that each of them will be given the same opportunity to help build this great nation that I had,” Baranes wrote at the time. View the full article

To effectively boost engagement, you need to implement a variety of content strategies. Consider sharing customer testimonials to improve trust, or incorporating user-generated content for a more relatable approach. Hosting interactive polls can provide valuable insights about your audience, as promoting live events keeps your community informed. As you explore these ideas, you’ll find that exploring your content can lead to deeper connections with your audience. What strategies have you considered so far? Key Takeaways Create interactive polls on social media to gather audience insights and encourage participation. Share customer testimonials and user-generated content to build trust and foster community. Promote live events with countdowns and behind-the-scenes content to generate excitement. Utilize high-quality visuals and engaging videos to capture audience attention and boost interaction. Incorporate thought-provoking questions in posts to stimulate discussions and increase comments. Connect Content to Current Events Connecting your content to current events can greatly improve audience engagement, as people are often more interested in timely topics. By incorporating seasonal holidays or industry conferences into your content marketing ideas, you attract more attention and boost shareability. Engaging with trending topics not only makes your brand more relatable but additionally increases visibility, leading to up to 50% more interactions. Utilizing relevant hashtags can further improve discoverability, aligning your posts with popular conversations. Sharing insights or opinions on recent news positions your brand as a thought leader, cultivating trust among your audience. These good content ideas can create meaningful dialogue and encourage audience participation, ultimately driving engagement and increasing the likelihood of conversions. Share Customer Testimonials Sharing customer testimonials is an impactful way to build trust and showcase real success stories. When potential customers see authentic feedback and measurable results, it can greatly influence their purchasing decisions. Regularly featuring these testimonials not only improves credibility but likewise nurtures a deeper connection with your audience, in the end driving engagement and sales growth. Build Trust Effectively Building trust effectively with your audience involves more than just delivering quality products or services; it requires showcasing real experiences from your customers. Sharing customer testimonials can greatly improve your brand’s credibility, as 79% of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations. Incorporating video testimonials can further boost engagement, since video content receives 1200% more shares than text and images combined. Highlighting diverse customer experiences may resonate with a broader audience, making 70% of consumers more likely to support brands that reflect their values. Regularly featuring customer feedback in social media posts nurtures a sense of community, with 66% of consumers feeling more loyal to brands that actively engage with their customers’ stories. Showcase Real Success Stories Customer testimonials serve as influential tools in showcasing real success stories that resonate with potential buyers. By sharing these testimonials, you can greatly increase trust and credibility; 79% of consumers report that user-generated content impacts their purchasing decisions. Incorporating these success stories into your social media posts can boost engagement by 28%, as audiences relate to authentic experiences. Highlighting real-world applications of your products or services demonstrates their effectiveness, potentially increasing customer spending by 20-40%. Using visual testimonials, like video snippets, captures attention and improves engagement rates by 120% compared to text-only posts. Regularly showcasing success stories not just builds a loyal community but also encourages satisfied customers to share their experiences, broadening your organic reach. Host Interactive Polls Hosting interactive polls is a straightforward way to encourage participation and gather insights from your audience. By utilizing engaging visuals and built-in polling features on platforms like Instagram and LinkedIn, you can make it easy for followers to share their opinions. Sharing the results afterward not just validates their input but additionally nurtures a sense of community and drives further engagement. Encourage Participation and Insights Interactive polls can be an effective tool for encouraging audience participation and gathering valuable insights. By hosting these polls on social media platforms, you can markedly improve engagement, with posts featuring polls generating up to 50% more comments than standard ones. Utilizing built-in polling features on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn makes participation quick and effortless, inviting users to share their opinions. This not only stimulates discussions among followers but likewise nurtures a sense of community, as users feel valued in the conversation. Additionally, engaging your audience through polls helps you tailor your content and products to meet their preferences, ultimately increasing brand loyalty. Involving them in the decision-making process builds a stronger connection with your brand. Share Poll Results Sharing poll results is an essential step in the engagement process that can greatly improve your connection with your audience. When you host interactive polls, you not only gather opinions but also encourage participation, leading to posts with up to 50% more comments and interactions. Poll results provide valuable insights into your audience’s preferences, enabling you to tailor content more effectively. By utilizing built-in polling features on platforms like Instagram and X, you make it easy for followers to engage. Sharing these results cultivates a sense of community, inviting further discussions around the topic. Moreover, responding to comments and sharing insights from the poll boosts your brand visibility and strengthens relationships with your followers, promoting ongoing engagement. Utilize Engaging Visuals Utilizing engaging visuals can greatly improve the effectiveness of your polls, as eye-catching graphics or videos draw attention and encourage participation. When you host interactive polls, you can see up to 50% more comments on your posts compared to standard content. By leveraging platform-specific features like Instagram Stories or Twitter polls, you seamlessly integrate these visuals into your content strategy, boosting visibility and interaction. Polls not only promote quick audience participation but also provide valuable insights into preferences and behaviors, helping you tailor future content. Engaging with poll results by sharing insights or follow-up questions nurtures community involvement, encouraging ongoing conversations among your followers. This approach amplifies your connection with the audience and strengthens brand loyalty. Promote Live Events Promoting live events effectively can greatly improve audience engagement and boost attendance. To generate excitement and anticipation, start your promotions well in advance. Here are some strategies you can use: Utilize countdowns and teaser posts on platforms like Instagram and Facebook to build momentum. Share behind-the-scenes content leading up to the event, creating a sense of exclusivity and connection with your audience. After the event, follow up with highlights, key takeaways, and recordings to maintain engagement for those who couldn’t attend live. Encourage Audience Questions How can you improve interaction with your audience? One effective way is by encouraging questions. Posts that include questions can receive up to 50% more comments, boosting engagement considerably. Utilize tools like question stickers in Instagram Stories for easy responses and increased interaction. By asking thought-provoking or relatable questions, you can stimulate discussions that nurture community involvement and elevate brand loyalty. Furthermore, during live sessions or Q&A events, inviting audience questions engages participants and offers insights into their interests and concerns. Highlighting user-generated questions and addressing them publicly not merely builds trust but also reinforces your brand’s commitment to customer interaction, making your audience feel valued and heard. Highlight Blog Posts Blog posts serve as a potent tool for enhancing your brand’s online presence and engagement. By regularly sharing your blog content on social media, you can greatly increase traffic and establish authority in your industry. Consider the following benefits: Companies that blog attract 55% more website visitors than those that don’t. Content marketing, including blog posts, boosts brand visibility and trust, with 68% of marketers reporting positive results. Posts featuring blog links receive 97% more backlinks from other websites. Moreover, 78% of consumers prefer learning about a company through articles rather than ads. Create Engaging Visual Content Creating engaging visual content is crucial for capturing your audience’s attention, especially in a digital environment where people are inundated with information. High-quality visuals can increase views by up to 94%, making them indispensable for effective engagement. Incorporating videos into your strategy is a smart move since 80% of users prefer video over text. Infographics can boost engagement rates by as much as 300%, simplifying complex ideas into digestible formats. Moreover, using captions or text overlays can improve focus, with posts that include text seeing 40% more interaction. In addition, integrating user-generated content, like customer photos or testimonials, builds trust and relatability, leading to a 28% increase in engagement rates. Prioritize these elements to improve your content strategy. Frequently Asked Questions What Type of Content Gets the Most Engagement? To maximize engagement, you should focus on visual content, especially videos, as they generate considerably more shares. Incorporating questions in your posts can lead to increased comments and discussions. Encourage user-generated content to build trust and authenticity. Polls and quizzes are effective for quick interactions, providing insights into audience preferences. Finally, celebrate milestones to humanize your brand and create emotional connections, nurturing a community that actively engages with your content. What Is the 5 5 5 Rule on Social Media? The 5 5 5 Rule on social media suggests that for every five posts promoting your business, you should share five posts from others and five posts that are entertaining or engaging for your audience. This strategy helps you maintain a balanced content approach, nurturing audience connection and loyalty. How to Come up With Engaging Content? To come up with engaging content, start by connecting your posts to current events or trends, as this can greatly increase audience interest. Use testimonials and case studies to establish credibility, as many consumers trust user-generated content. Incorporate open-ended questions, polls, and surveys to encourage interaction, and share behind-the-scenes insights to humanize your brand. What Is the 50 30 20 Rule for Social Media? The 50 30 20 rule for social media suggests that you should allocate your content as follows: 50% should be engaging and entertaining, 30% should provide valuable insights or information, and 20% should focus on promoting your products or services. This balanced approach helps you connect with your audience, avoiding overwhelming them with constant promotions. Conclusion Incorporating these seven content ideas can greatly improve your audience engagement. By connecting your content to current events, sharing testimonials, and utilizing interactive elements like polls, you create a more dynamic environment. Promoting live events and encouraging audience questions nurtures a sense of community. Highlighting blog posts and using visually engaging formats further captures attention. By diversifying your approach, you not just inform your audience but additionally build a more interactive and connected brand presence. Image via Google Gemini This article, "7 Good Content Ideas to Boost Engagement" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

To effectively boost engagement, you need to implement a variety of content strategies. Consider sharing customer testimonials to improve trust, or incorporating user-generated content for a more relatable approach. Hosting interactive polls can provide valuable insights about your audience, as promoting live events keeps your community informed. As you explore these ideas, you’ll find that exploring your content can lead to deeper connections with your audience. What strategies have you considered so far? Key Takeaways Create interactive polls on social media to gather audience insights and encourage participation. Share customer testimonials and user-generated content to build trust and foster community. Promote live events with countdowns and behind-the-scenes content to generate excitement. Utilize high-quality visuals and engaging videos to capture audience attention and boost interaction. Incorporate thought-provoking questions in posts to stimulate discussions and increase comments. Connect Content to Current Events Connecting your content to current events can greatly improve audience engagement, as people are often more interested in timely topics. By incorporating seasonal holidays or industry conferences into your content marketing ideas, you attract more attention and boost shareability. Engaging with trending topics not only makes your brand more relatable but additionally increases visibility, leading to up to 50% more interactions. Utilizing relevant hashtags can further improve discoverability, aligning your posts with popular conversations. Sharing insights or opinions on recent news positions your brand as a thought leader, cultivating trust among your audience. These good content ideas can create meaningful dialogue and encourage audience participation, ultimately driving engagement and increasing the likelihood of conversions. Share Customer Testimonials Sharing customer testimonials is an impactful way to build trust and showcase real success stories. When potential customers see authentic feedback and measurable results, it can greatly influence their purchasing decisions. Regularly featuring these testimonials not only improves credibility but likewise nurtures a deeper connection with your audience, in the end driving engagement and sales growth. Build Trust Effectively Building trust effectively with your audience involves more than just delivering quality products or services; it requires showcasing real experiences from your customers. Sharing customer testimonials can greatly improve your brand’s credibility, as 79% of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations. Incorporating video testimonials can further boost engagement, since video content receives 1200% more shares than text and images combined. Highlighting diverse customer experiences may resonate with a broader audience, making 70% of consumers more likely to support brands that reflect their values. Regularly featuring customer feedback in social media posts nurtures a sense of community, with 66% of consumers feeling more loyal to brands that actively engage with their customers’ stories. Showcase Real Success Stories Customer testimonials serve as influential tools in showcasing real success stories that resonate with potential buyers. By sharing these testimonials, you can greatly increase trust and credibility; 79% of consumers report that user-generated content impacts their purchasing decisions. Incorporating these success stories into your social media posts can boost engagement by 28%, as audiences relate to authentic experiences. Highlighting real-world applications of your products or services demonstrates their effectiveness, potentially increasing customer spending by 20-40%. Using visual testimonials, like video snippets, captures attention and improves engagement rates by 120% compared to text-only posts. Regularly showcasing success stories not just builds a loyal community but also encourages satisfied customers to share their experiences, broadening your organic reach. Host Interactive Polls Hosting interactive polls is a straightforward way to encourage participation and gather insights from your audience. By utilizing engaging visuals and built-in polling features on platforms like Instagram and LinkedIn, you can make it easy for followers to share their opinions. Sharing the results afterward not just validates their input but additionally nurtures a sense of community and drives further engagement. Encourage Participation and Insights Interactive polls can be an effective tool for encouraging audience participation and gathering valuable insights. By hosting these polls on social media platforms, you can markedly improve engagement, with posts featuring polls generating up to 50% more comments than standard ones. Utilizing built-in polling features on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn makes participation quick and effortless, inviting users to share their opinions. This not only stimulates discussions among followers but likewise nurtures a sense of community, as users feel valued in the conversation. Additionally, engaging your audience through polls helps you tailor your content and products to meet their preferences, ultimately increasing brand loyalty. Involving them in the decision-making process builds a stronger connection with your brand. Share Poll Results Sharing poll results is an essential step in the engagement process that can greatly improve your connection with your audience. When you host interactive polls, you not only gather opinions but also encourage participation, leading to posts with up to 50% more comments and interactions. Poll results provide valuable insights into your audience’s preferences, enabling you to tailor content more effectively. By utilizing built-in polling features on platforms like Instagram and X, you make it easy for followers to engage. Sharing these results cultivates a sense of community, inviting further discussions around the topic. Moreover, responding to comments and sharing insights from the poll boosts your brand visibility and strengthens relationships with your followers, promoting ongoing engagement. Utilize Engaging Visuals Utilizing engaging visuals can greatly improve the effectiveness of your polls, as eye-catching graphics or videos draw attention and encourage participation. When you host interactive polls, you can see up to 50% more comments on your posts compared to standard content. By leveraging platform-specific features like Instagram Stories or Twitter polls, you seamlessly integrate these visuals into your content strategy, boosting visibility and interaction. Polls not only promote quick audience participation but also provide valuable insights into preferences and behaviors, helping you tailor future content. Engaging with poll results by sharing insights or follow-up questions nurtures community involvement, encouraging ongoing conversations among your followers. This approach amplifies your connection with the audience and strengthens brand loyalty. Promote Live Events Promoting live events effectively can greatly improve audience engagement and boost attendance. To generate excitement and anticipation, start your promotions well in advance. Here are some strategies you can use: Utilize countdowns and teaser posts on platforms like Instagram and Facebook to build momentum. Share behind-the-scenes content leading up to the event, creating a sense of exclusivity and connection with your audience. After the event, follow up with highlights, key takeaways, and recordings to maintain engagement for those who couldn’t attend live. Encourage Audience Questions How can you improve interaction with your audience? One effective way is by encouraging questions. Posts that include questions can receive up to 50% more comments, boosting engagement considerably. Utilize tools like question stickers in Instagram Stories for easy responses and increased interaction. By asking thought-provoking or relatable questions, you can stimulate discussions that nurture community involvement and elevate brand loyalty. Furthermore, during live sessions or Q&A events, inviting audience questions engages participants and offers insights into their interests and concerns. Highlighting user-generated questions and addressing them publicly not merely builds trust but also reinforces your brand’s commitment to customer interaction, making your audience feel valued and heard. Highlight Blog Posts Blog posts serve as a potent tool for enhancing your brand’s online presence and engagement. By regularly sharing your blog content on social media, you can greatly increase traffic and establish authority in your industry. Consider the following benefits: Companies that blog attract 55% more website visitors than those that don’t. Content marketing, including blog posts, boosts brand visibility and trust, with 68% of marketers reporting positive results. Posts featuring blog links receive 97% more backlinks from other websites. Moreover, 78% of consumers prefer learning about a company through articles rather than ads. Create Engaging Visual Content Creating engaging visual content is crucial for capturing your audience’s attention, especially in a digital environment where people are inundated with information. High-quality visuals can increase views by up to 94%, making them indispensable for effective engagement. Incorporating videos into your strategy is a smart move since 80% of users prefer video over text. Infographics can boost engagement rates by as much as 300%, simplifying complex ideas into digestible formats. Moreover, using captions or text overlays can improve focus, with posts that include text seeing 40% more interaction. In addition, integrating user-generated content, like customer photos or testimonials, builds trust and relatability, leading to a 28% increase in engagement rates. Prioritize these elements to improve your content strategy. Frequently Asked Questions What Type of Content Gets the Most Engagement? To maximize engagement, you should focus on visual content, especially videos, as they generate considerably more shares. Incorporating questions in your posts can lead to increased comments and discussions. Encourage user-generated content to build trust and authenticity. Polls and quizzes are effective for quick interactions, providing insights into audience preferences. Finally, celebrate milestones to humanize your brand and create emotional connections, nurturing a community that actively engages with your content. What Is the 5 5 5 Rule on Social Media? The 5 5 5 Rule on social media suggests that for every five posts promoting your business, you should share five posts from others and five posts that are entertaining or engaging for your audience. This strategy helps you maintain a balanced content approach, nurturing audience connection and loyalty. How to Come up With Engaging Content? To come up with engaging content, start by connecting your posts to current events or trends, as this can greatly increase audience interest. Use testimonials and case studies to establish credibility, as many consumers trust user-generated content. Incorporate open-ended questions, polls, and surveys to encourage interaction, and share behind-the-scenes insights to humanize your brand. What Is the 50 30 20 Rule for Social Media? The 50 30 20 rule for social media suggests that you should allocate your content as follows: 50% should be engaging and entertaining, 30% should provide valuable insights or information, and 20% should focus on promoting your products or services. This balanced approach helps you connect with your audience, avoiding overwhelming them with constant promotions. Conclusion Incorporating these seven content ideas can greatly improve your audience engagement. By connecting your content to current events, sharing testimonials, and utilizing interactive elements like polls, you create a more dynamic environment. Promoting live events and encouraging audience questions nurtures a sense of community. Highlighting blog posts and using visually engaging formats further captures attention. By diversifying your approach, you not just inform your audience but additionally build a more interactive and connected brand presence. Image via Google Gemini This article, "7 Good Content Ideas to Boost Engagement" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Small business owners are always on the lookout for innovations that simplify processes and enhance productivity. Android recently announced an exciting development that caters to this need for seamless connectivity. They unveiled a feature that allows Quick Share to work with AirDrop, enabling effortless file transfers between Android and iPhone devices. This rollout begins today with the Pixel 10 family, offering a direct solution to the most common frustrations surrounding cross-device sharing. The ability to share files effortlessly across different platforms not only promotes better communication but is also essential for collaboration in diverse work environments. Imagine sharing important documents or marketing materials between a team of Android users and a client or partner using an iPhone without the usual hassle of email attachments or third-party applications. This feature eliminates barriers, fostering smoother interactions that can enhance business relationships. As businesses increasingly rely on mobile devices for daily operations, the integration of Quick Share with AirDrop represents a significant step forward in making cross-compatibility a priority. According to Android, “We built this with security at its core, protecting your data with strong safeguards.” This focus on security is particularly crucial for small businesses that handle sensitive information and cannot afford data breaches. The compatibility work follows Android’s efforts with RCS (Rich Communication Services) and unknown tracker alerts, signifying a broader commitment to enhancing user experiences across platforms. The implications for small business owners are significant. For example, this new functionality can streamline workflows in multi-device environments. Team members can now exchange presentations or software updates instantaneously, which can be a game-changer in industries like marketing, consulting, or tech development. As articulated by Android, “We’re looking forward to improving the experience and expanding it to more Android devices.” This future expansion bodes well for businesses that use diverse tools and platforms. However, as every innovation comes with its own considerations, small business owners should remain vigilant. While the Quick Share and AirDrop integration paves the way for easier file sharing, it may also require users to adopt new habits or familiarize themselves with the updated settings on their devices. Transitioning to new features often demands initial training or adjustments, which could impact productivity in the short term. Additionally, the rollout is currently limited to the Pixel 10 series, so businesses using older models or different brands of Android devices may have to wait for broader compatibility. Furthermore, while the focus on security is reassuring, business owners must stay informed about the settings and permissions required for this feature to work effectively. Ensuring that all team members are educated about secure sharing practices can further reduce the risk of mishaps or data exposure. As Android continues to push for better interoperability between systems, small business owners can look forward to fewer obstacles in their daily operations. The advantages of having a single file-sharing solution for mixed-platform scenarios present a clear opportunity for increased collaboration and efficiency. For small business owners eager to improve their cross-device communication, exploring the benefits of this new feature can lead to significant operational improvements. As this integration rolls out more broadly, staying ahead of technology advancements like these will allow businesses to optimize their tools and methods for success in an increasingly interconnected world. For further details, check out the original announcement from Android here. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Android Enables Cross-Platform File Sharing with AirDrop Integration" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Small business owners are always on the lookout for innovations that simplify processes and enhance productivity. Android recently announced an exciting development that caters to this need for seamless connectivity. They unveiled a feature that allows Quick Share to work with AirDrop, enabling effortless file transfers between Android and iPhone devices. This rollout begins today with the Pixel 10 family, offering a direct solution to the most common frustrations surrounding cross-device sharing. The ability to share files effortlessly across different platforms not only promotes better communication but is also essential for collaboration in diverse work environments. Imagine sharing important documents or marketing materials between a team of Android users and a client or partner using an iPhone without the usual hassle of email attachments or third-party applications. This feature eliminates barriers, fostering smoother interactions that can enhance business relationships. As businesses increasingly rely on mobile devices for daily operations, the integration of Quick Share with AirDrop represents a significant step forward in making cross-compatibility a priority. According to Android, “We built this with security at its core, protecting your data with strong safeguards.” This focus on security is particularly crucial for small businesses that handle sensitive information and cannot afford data breaches. The compatibility work follows Android’s efforts with RCS (Rich Communication Services) and unknown tracker alerts, signifying a broader commitment to enhancing user experiences across platforms. The implications for small business owners are significant. For example, this new functionality can streamline workflows in multi-device environments. Team members can now exchange presentations or software updates instantaneously, which can be a game-changer in industries like marketing, consulting, or tech development. As articulated by Android, “We’re looking forward to improving the experience and expanding it to more Android devices.” This future expansion bodes well for businesses that use diverse tools and platforms. However, as every innovation comes with its own considerations, small business owners should remain vigilant. While the Quick Share and AirDrop integration paves the way for easier file sharing, it may also require users to adopt new habits or familiarize themselves with the updated settings on their devices. Transitioning to new features often demands initial training or adjustments, which could impact productivity in the short term. Additionally, the rollout is currently limited to the Pixel 10 series, so businesses using older models or different brands of Android devices may have to wait for broader compatibility. Furthermore, while the focus on security is reassuring, business owners must stay informed about the settings and permissions required for this feature to work effectively. Ensuring that all team members are educated about secure sharing practices can further reduce the risk of mishaps or data exposure. As Android continues to push for better interoperability between systems, small business owners can look forward to fewer obstacles in their daily operations. The advantages of having a single file-sharing solution for mixed-platform scenarios present a clear opportunity for increased collaboration and efficiency. For small business owners eager to improve their cross-device communication, exploring the benefits of this new feature can lead to significant operational improvements. As this integration rolls out more broadly, staying ahead of technology advancements like these will allow businesses to optimize their tools and methods for success in an increasingly interconnected world. For further details, check out the original announcement from Android here. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Android Enables Cross-Platform File Sharing with AirDrop Integration" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Draft text also calls for ‘home’ fees for European students at UK universitiesView the full article

Why it is a cornerstone of value. By Hitendra Patil Client Accounting Services: The Definitive Success Guide Go PRO for members-only access to more Hitendra Patil. View the full article

Why it is a cornerstone of value. By Hitendra Patil Client Accounting Services: The Definitive Success Guide Go PRO for members-only access to more Hitendra Patil. View the full article

Normally, it's illegal to chop down a tree in a national forest. This month, however, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is all for it—provided you get yourself a Forest Service-issued permit first. In fact, cutting your own tree on federal land is actually a pretty affordable and ethical way to source a Christmas tree. The only catch is you must follow specific guidelines, which can vary from forest to forest. Before you grab your axe and head into the woods this holiday season, here’s what you need to know about the USDA's tree-cutting permit program. Why you should cut your own tree from a national forest What's cool is that securing yourself a tree-cutting permit isn't just allowed—it's encouraged. Cutting down and carrying out your own holiday tree helps contribute to good overall forest health. Through this permit program, you’ll be helping to thin densely populated stands of small-diameter trees. Removing the trees already designated for removal by the Forest Service allows other trees to grow bigger and stronger. Plus, you’ll get the pride and satisfaction of chopping down the perfect Christmas tree for your home. It’s a true win-win. But let's say you don't care about the environment—this is all about your needs and experiences. Well, then: In addition to helping maintain a healthy forest, cutting a holiday tree is a special tradition that can be shared with families and friends to create memorable holiday experience. For many families, venturing into the forest to cut a Christmas tree for the holidays is a treasured tradition carried on for generations. And most important of all: It can be a lot cheaper than buying one from a tree lot. How to cut your own tree from a national forestThe USDA Forest Service sells Christmas Tree permits through Recreation.gov. Prices range from $5 to $20, depending on the location of the forest. To buy your permit in advance and find your local participating forest, use this site, which also provides guidelines for the allowable cutting areas that you’ll need to review before you start choppin’. In three simple steps, you can begin your quest to find and bring home your own Christmas tree: Choose your forest. Determine which participating forest works best for your Christmas tree outing. Each forest will have specific guidelines and season dates for cutting a holiday tree. Be safe and prepared. Carefully read the details and rules of the applicable permit, and consider the Need to Know suggestions to prepare for your visit. Buy a permit. Purchase and print your permit before heading out to the forest. Tips for cutting your own Christmas treeI spoke with the Recreation.gov team to get some additional tips as families looking to prepare for their Christmas tree cutting adventure. Measure the space in your house so you can pick the right size tree once you are in the forest. (Don't assume you can eyeball it, or you'll find yourself with a Griswold situation on your hands.) Check road and forest conditions and prepare for adverse weather. Before cutting, make sure you are in a designated cutting area, and follow all guidelines for locations where tree cutting is allowed. Avoid venturing onto private property. Choose a tree in an overcrowded stand to help thin it out. Cut your tree close to the ground. The stump you leave behind should be about 6 inches tall. Bring a rope and tarp to move your tree from the cutting area to your vehicle. Secure your tree to your vehicle to ensure it remains in place for your trip home. What else you need to know Again: You can only cut down trees located in designated and approved areas in the forest. This permit program is run by the USDA Forest Service, which is not the same thing as U.S. National Parks. If you’re unsure whether you’re allowed to snag a tree in a certain area, visit this page and type in either the name of your state, or the name of the forest you have in mind. Christmas tree permit sale dates may vary by national forest. Recreation.gov encourages families to check local forest guidelines to gather all information before purchasing to ensure they are prepared. A new permit is required each year to cut your own Christmas tree. View the full article

Be sure to loop in the people who will use them. By Jody Grunden Building the Virtual CFO Firm in the Cloud Go PRO for members-only access to more Jody Grunden. View the full article

Be sure to loop in the people who will use them. By Jody Grunden Building the Virtual CFO Firm in the Cloud Go PRO for members-only access to more Jody Grunden. View the full article

We don’t knowView the full article

The year is quickly coming to an end, and that means tech platforms are tripping over themselves to roll out their year-end recaps—all hoping to capture the virality that Spotify’s Wrapped year-in-review recap commands each year. Already in December, we’ve seen Spotify Wrapped, Apple Music Replay, Amazon Music Delivered, and YouTube Recap, with more, like the popular Snapchat Recap, set to debut in the coming weeks. One of those debuts has occurred today, as well. Popular chat platform Discord has now released its personalized Wrapped-like recap: Discord Checkpoint. Here’s what to know about it and how to view yours. Discord announced Discord Checkpoint 2025 Discord has announced that its personalized Discord Checkpoint recap will be rolling out to its users over the next few days. In previous years, Discord has announced a Checkpoint recap, but the start it released for it encompassed its global user base. Discord Checkpoint 2025 is the first time the platform is offering a year-in-review personalized for each of its individual users, provided they were active on the service enough to generate a Checkpoint recap, and that their privacy settings allowed the use of their data. What’s included in my Discord Checkpoint 2025? There are two main components of your Discord Checkpoint 2025. The first is a recap of your usage and interactions on the platform. Here’s some of what your Discord Checkpoint 2025 will show you: How many messages you sent How many minutes in voice chat you spent How many emojis you posted What other Discord users you spent the most time with The servers you used the most But Discord 2025 Checkpoint will also display one of 10 Checkpoint cards. These cards represent 10 different types of Discord users. Your card will come with a matching avatar you can choose to display on your profile so other Discord users can see if you’re in the same group. How can I access my Discord Checkpoint 2025? To access your Discord Checkpoint 2025, make sure you have the latest version of the desktop or mobile app. If you are using the desktop app: Click the flag option in the top-right corner. Your Checkpoint will be displayed. If you are using the mobile app: Tap the You tab in the bottom-right corner. Tap the Checkpoint banner. Your Checkpoint will be displayed. Can I share my Discord Checkpoint 2025? Yes, users can choose to share their Discord Checkpoint 2025. To share your Discrod Checkpoint, tap the Share button on the Summary page and then choose where you’d like to share it. Discord Checkpoint 2025 will be available to Discord users until January 15, 2026. View the full article

Being tired is practically a personality trait in corporate America — especially in 2025. Everybody is exhausted, it seems. Folks are doing fiftyleven jobs. You’re always juggling tasks, always late for the next meeting because the last one ran long. But when you’re one of the few Black employees at the gig, there’s a subconscious fear of looking like you’re in over your head, especially with the looming fear of layoffs. So you push through, even when you’re running on fumes. You go harder, telling yourself you’ll rest once you get through the busy patch. But that’s a lie. The job is a perpetual busy patch. For months, I kept telling myself I was just tired. Regular tired. The kind of tired you fix with a good night’s sleep and maybe a WFH power nap between meetings. But one random Tuesday, as I stared blankly at my laptop trying to decipher a three-sentence Slack message like it was hieroglyphics, it hit me: This wasn’t normal fatigue. My mind was cooked. The exhaustion hit back in the spring, but it was nothing like the dramatics you see in movies. There were no panic attacks in the bathroom or conference room crashouts on Kyle. It showed up subtly, in little ways that I dismissed. I’d reread emails multiple times because the words refused to connect in my mind. I had the attention span of a goldfish. I’d get irrationally annoyed by people asking me perfectly reasonable questions. I was just… over it. I chalked it up to adulting, the natural byproduct of ambition and bills. This too shall pass, I thought. The breaking point wasn’t cinematic. I was in a brainstorming session when I realized my mind felt blank. I managed to offer a few contributions to the meeting, but they were all cliché rehashes, none of the outside-of-the-box ideas I’d usually bring to the table. I felt like Charles Barkley in Space Jam after the Monstars stole the NBA players’ skills — like a whole scrub. Shortly after, I took a week off. Booked a trip. But a change of scenery didn’t fix anything. I came back just as fried, which was more depressing. I tried damn-near all of the things Solange sings about in “Cranes in the Sky.” Then I realized I required a factory reset. I began to make some real changes to improve my work-life balance. It wasn’t just that I needed time away from the office; I needed better boundaries and mental-health maintenance. I began closing my laptop at a designated time, and keeping it closed until it was time to clock in the next day. I blocked off meeting-free focus time during workdays. I got a biweekly gym routine going. I stopped thinking of myself as a machine that could operate nonstop. Somewhere along my come up, I had convinced myself that I needed to treat my job like I was back in college. In those undergrad days, I felt the need to pile on electives and explore diverse fields of study. I wanted to be well-rounded and sure of my career path. But once I was in the workplace, it became about being marketable. I took on fringe projects outside of my job description to open myself up to new opportunities and, ideally, more moola. The game plan served me well until it didn’t. I’ve been taking it easy since then. I have nothing to prove to anyone else, or to myself. So I stay in my lane. I delegate more. I turn down things that aren’t my responsibility. I’ve unlearned the foolish idea that rest is a reward, something I had to earn by pushing myself to the brink. Doing the most is a thing of the past. It took burning out for me to learn a simple truth: Nothing at work is worth losing yourself over. Not the project, not the promotion, not the pat on the back. Protect your energy like it’s finite, because it is. If you’re feeling the kind of tiredness that sleep can’t fix, follow the sage guidance of Ice Cube: Check yourself before you wreck yourself. View the full article

The The President administration's decision not to seek funding for the CFPB and transferring remaining enforcement cases to the Department of Justice were cited as reasons for the resignation of Michael G. Salemi, who took over as CFPB enforcement chief earlier this year. View the full article

Grasping the concept of a product line is critical for any business looking to improve its market strategy. A product line encompasses a group of related products that share similar features and cater to the same audience. This connection allows businesses to streamline marketing efforts and build brand loyalty. As you explore the nuances of product lines, you’ll discover how effective management can lead to increased revenue and competitive advantages in your industry. Key Takeaways A product line is a collection of related products sharing a brand name and targeting the same market segment. Effective product lines enhance brand recognition and foster consumer trust, encouraging repeat purchases. Different types of product lines, such as seasonal and specialty, cater to various market needs and demographics. Managing product lines involves analyzing sales data, optimizing pricing strategies, and rationalizing SKUs for better inventory. Successful examples of product lines include Apple and Nike, which effectively target specific consumer needs while nurturing brand loyalty. What Is a Product Line? A product line is fundamentally a collection of related products that a company markets under a unified brand name. Comprehending the product line definition helps you grasp its significance in the business environment. Each product line typically shares common characteristics, targeting the same market segment, which improves brand recognition. For example, a beverage company may have a product line consisting of sodas, juices, and teas, all marketed under one brand. The business product meaning extends beyond individual items, encompassing the entire line’s strategy and performance. Companies often manage multiple product lines based on price, quality, and consumer demographics, utilizing various types such as convenience and specialty lines. This strategic management drives sales and promotes customer loyalty as it addresses specific market needs. The Importance of Product Lines for Businesses Comprehending the significance of product lines for businesses is key to grasping how they operate and succeed in competitive markets. Product lines improve brand recognition, making it easier for consumers to trust your brand. By targeting different customer demographics, you can create customized marketing strategies that maximize your market reach. A well-managed product line nurtures customer loyalty, encouraging repeat purchases. Moreover, product line extensions, such as new sizes or flavors, can attract new customers and boost overall revenue. Analyzing product line performance through metrics helps you identify trends for better market positioning. Benefit Description Brand Recognition Groups related products for trust Target Demographics Allows customized marketing strategies Customer Loyalty Encourages exploration of new products Types of Product Lines and Their Applications Comprehension of the different types of product lines is essential for businesses aiming to tailor their offerings to specific market needs. Seasonal product lines, like holiday decorations and summer apparel, capitalize on trends to boost revenue during peak times. Specialty product lines, including luxury watches and gourmet foods, cater to niche markets and often come with higher price points. Convenience product lines consist of low-cost, frequently purchased items such as snacks and personal care products, which are heavily marketed for shelf space. Conversely, shopping product lines, like electronics and furniture, require consumers to compare qualities and prices. Finally, unsought product lines, including life insurance and emergency repair kits, need targeted marketing since consumers rarely think of them until a need arises. Managing and Optimizing Product Lines Managing and optimizing product lines is crucial for maintaining a competitive edge in today’s market. To do this effectively, regularly analyze sales data and market trends, identifying underperforming products for potential adjustments or discontinuations. Implementing a product line filling strategy can address customer needs by introducing new variants, enhancing satisfaction. A well-defined pricing strategy allows you to offer different price points within the same line, maximizing revenue and catering to diverse budgets. Furthermore, cross-selling and upselling can greatly increase your average order value, as customers often purchase complementary products. Finally, conduct regular SKU rationalization to remove low-performing items, streamlining inventory management and improving overall profitability, ensuring your product lines remain relevant and profitable. Real-World Examples of Successful Product Lines Successful product lines can serve as benchmarks for best practices across various industries, showcasing how companies effectively cater to consumer demands. For instance, Apple’s iPhones, iPads, and MacBooks each target specific consumer needs during nurturing brand loyalty. Nike’s Air Jordan and Nike Pro lines illustrate how distinct offerings appeal to different demographics, with Air Jordans attracting basketball fans and Nike Pro focusing on athletic performance. Coca-Cola‘s segmentation with products like Coca-Cola Classic, Diet Coke, and Coca-Cola Zero Sugar meets diverse consumer tastes. Unilever leverages brand strength across personal care and food with products like Dove and Knorr. Finally, Procter & Gamble’s Tide and Pampers address various consumer needs, enhancing brand recognition and loyalty within their markets. Frequently Asked Questions What Does Product Line Mean in Business? In business, a product line refers to a group of related products offered under one brand name. These products are designed to fulfill similar customer needs and preferences, allowing you to strengthen brand loyalty. For instance, a cosmetics brand may have a product line that includes foundations, lipsticks, and skincare items. What Are the 4 Ways Companies Classify Product Lines? Companies classify product lines in four primary ways. First, they group products by functionality, like kitchen appliances or skincare items. Second, they categorize items by price range, offering budget, mid-range, and premium options. Third, demographic segmentation targets specific groups, such as children’s toys or men’s grooming products. Finally, geographic classification tailors products to regional preferences, like food brands with localized flavors. These strategies help businesses plunge into diverse consumer needs effectively. What Are Four Different Product Line Classifications? There are four main classifications of product lines. Seasonal product lines focus on specific times of the year, like holiday decorations. Specialty product lines cater to niche markets, offering unique items at higher prices, such as luxury watches. Convenience product lines consist of low-cost items for everyday use, like snacks. Ultimately, shopping product lines involve higher-cost items, requiring more planning, such as electronics. Each classification serves different consumer needs and market segments. What Are the Different Types of Product Lines? There are several types of product lines, each catering to different consumer needs. Seasonal product lines, like holiday decorations, sell during specific times of the year. Specialty lines focus on niche markets, offering exclusive items, such as luxury watches. Convenience product lines include everyday items, like snacks, purchased with little effort. Finally, shopping product lines involve higher-priced goods, like electronics, where you compare features and prices before making a decision. Conclusion In summary, comprehension of product lines is crucial for your business’s success. By defining a cohesive collection of related products, you can improve brand recognition and nurture customer loyalty. Implementing effective management strategies for your product lines will allow you to optimize marketing efforts and drive revenue growth. Whether you’re launching a new product or refining an existing line, a clear focus on your product line definition will help you meet consumer needs and stand out in the marketplace. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Understanding Product Line Definition: A Guide for Businesses" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Grasping the concept of a product line is critical for any business looking to improve its market strategy. A product line encompasses a group of related products that share similar features and cater to the same audience. This connection allows businesses to streamline marketing efforts and build brand loyalty. As you explore the nuances of product lines, you’ll discover how effective management can lead to increased revenue and competitive advantages in your industry. Key Takeaways A product line is a collection of related products sharing a brand name and targeting the same market segment. Effective product lines enhance brand recognition and foster consumer trust, encouraging repeat purchases. Different types of product lines, such as seasonal and specialty, cater to various market needs and demographics. Managing product lines involves analyzing sales data, optimizing pricing strategies, and rationalizing SKUs for better inventory. Successful examples of product lines include Apple and Nike, which effectively target specific consumer needs while nurturing brand loyalty. What Is a Product Line? A product line is fundamentally a collection of related products that a company markets under a unified brand name. Comprehending the product line definition helps you grasp its significance in the business environment. Each product line typically shares common characteristics, targeting the same market segment, which improves brand recognition. For example, a beverage company may have a product line consisting of sodas, juices, and teas, all marketed under one brand. The business product meaning extends beyond individual items, encompassing the entire line’s strategy and performance. Companies often manage multiple product lines based on price, quality, and consumer demographics, utilizing various types such as convenience and specialty lines. This strategic management drives sales and promotes customer loyalty as it addresses specific market needs. The Importance of Product Lines for Businesses Comprehending the significance of product lines for businesses is key to grasping how they operate and succeed in competitive markets. Product lines improve brand recognition, making it easier for consumers to trust your brand. By targeting different customer demographics, you can create customized marketing strategies that maximize your market reach. A well-managed product line nurtures customer loyalty, encouraging repeat purchases. Moreover, product line extensions, such as new sizes or flavors, can attract new customers and boost overall revenue. Analyzing product line performance through metrics helps you identify trends for better market positioning. Benefit Description Brand Recognition Groups related products for trust Target Demographics Allows customized marketing strategies Customer Loyalty Encourages exploration of new products Types of Product Lines and Their Applications Comprehension of the different types of product lines is essential for businesses aiming to tailor their offerings to specific market needs. Seasonal product lines, like holiday decorations and summer apparel, capitalize on trends to boost revenue during peak times. Specialty product lines, including luxury watches and gourmet foods, cater to niche markets and often come with higher price points. Convenience product lines consist of low-cost, frequently purchased items such as snacks and personal care products, which are heavily marketed for shelf space. Conversely, shopping product lines, like electronics and furniture, require consumers to compare qualities and prices. Finally, unsought product lines, including life insurance and emergency repair kits, need targeted marketing since consumers rarely think of them until a need arises. Managing and Optimizing Product Lines Managing and optimizing product lines is crucial for maintaining a competitive edge in today’s market. To do this effectively, regularly analyze sales data and market trends, identifying underperforming products for potential adjustments or discontinuations. Implementing a product line filling strategy can address customer needs by introducing new variants, enhancing satisfaction. A well-defined pricing strategy allows you to offer different price points within the same line, maximizing revenue and catering to diverse budgets. Furthermore, cross-selling and upselling can greatly increase your average order value, as customers often purchase complementary products. Finally, conduct regular SKU rationalization to remove low-performing items, streamlining inventory management and improving overall profitability, ensuring your product lines remain relevant and profitable. Real-World Examples of Successful Product Lines Successful product lines can serve as benchmarks for best practices across various industries, showcasing how companies effectively cater to consumer demands. For instance, Apple’s iPhones, iPads, and MacBooks each target specific consumer needs during nurturing brand loyalty. Nike’s Air Jordan and Nike Pro lines illustrate how distinct offerings appeal to different demographics, with Air Jordans attracting basketball fans and Nike Pro focusing on athletic performance. Coca-Cola‘s segmentation with products like Coca-Cola Classic, Diet Coke, and Coca-Cola Zero Sugar meets diverse consumer tastes. Unilever leverages brand strength across personal care and food with products like Dove and Knorr. Finally, Procter & Gamble’s Tide and Pampers address various consumer needs, enhancing brand recognition and loyalty within their markets. Frequently Asked Questions What Does Product Line Mean in Business? In business, a product line refers to a group of related products offered under one brand name. These products are designed to fulfill similar customer needs and preferences, allowing you to strengthen brand loyalty. For instance, a cosmetics brand may have a product line that includes foundations, lipsticks, and skincare items. What Are the 4 Ways Companies Classify Product Lines? Companies classify product lines in four primary ways. First, they group products by functionality, like kitchen appliances or skincare items. Second, they categorize items by price range, offering budget, mid-range, and premium options. Third, demographic segmentation targets specific groups, such as children’s toys or men’s grooming products. Finally, geographic classification tailors products to regional preferences, like food brands with localized flavors. These strategies help businesses plunge into diverse consumer needs effectively. What Are Four Different Product Line Classifications? There are four main classifications of product lines. Seasonal product lines focus on specific times of the year, like holiday decorations. Specialty product lines cater to niche markets, offering unique items at higher prices, such as luxury watches. Convenience product lines consist of low-cost items for everyday use, like snacks. Ultimately, shopping product lines involve higher-cost items, requiring more planning, such as electronics. Each classification serves different consumer needs and market segments. What Are the Different Types of Product Lines? There are several types of product lines, each catering to different consumer needs. Seasonal product lines, like holiday decorations, sell during specific times of the year. Specialty lines focus on niche markets, offering exclusive items, such as luxury watches. Convenience product lines include everyday items, like snacks, purchased with little effort. Finally, shopping product lines involve higher-priced goods, like electronics, where you compare features and prices before making a decision. Conclusion In summary, comprehension of product lines is crucial for your business’s success. By defining a cohesive collection of related products, you can improve brand recognition and nurture customer loyalty. Implementing effective management strategies for your product lines will allow you to optimize marketing efforts and drive revenue growth. Whether you’re launching a new product or refining an existing line, a clear focus on your product line definition will help you meet consumer needs and stand out in the marketplace. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Understanding Product Line Definition: A Guide for Businesses" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Every year, open enrollment forces Americans to confront a familiar dilemma: Pay more for coverage that delivers less, or gamble on going without it. This year, that choice has become even starker. Employers are shifting more costs to workers, marketplace premiums are poised to rise, fewer prescription drugs are covered by insurance, and 3.8 million people could lose insurance annually if Affordable Care Act subsidies aren’t extended. Together, these developments represent a structural break in the U.S. healthcare system. It’s a perfect storm that will price many Americans out of health insurance altogether—many involuntarily, but some voluntarily. Fed up with skyrocketing premiums and deductibles that offer little protection, they’ll instead pay out-of-pocket for medical needs, hoping that they won’t face catastrophic expenses. What’s emerging is not a temporary coverage gap. It’s a permanent coverage squeeze. One that will fundamentally reorder consumer behavior and redefine what “access” means. The implications for healthcare organizations are profound, and those who fail to adapt will struggle to stay relevant. SHIFT FROM COVERAGE TO CONTROL For decades, the U.S. healthcare model has been built on the assumption that insurance is the gateway to care. But when premiums and deductibles reach levels that rival a second mortgage, consumers start to ask a different question: What am I actually getting for this? Increasingly, the answer feels out of step with consumer expectations. High deductibles mean many people pay full price for most of their care anyway. Network limitations constrain choice. Surprise bills erode trust. And the complexity of benefits makes it nearly impossible to be an informed consumer. As a result, we’re seeing a quiet but significant reorientation. Consumers are moving from a coverage-first mindset to a control-first mindset. They want to understand costs upfront. They want to choose where they go for treatment. They want the ability to pay in ways that fit their budgets. And when the value equation breaks, they’re willing to bypass the system entirely. THE CONSUMER HEALTHCARE MARKET WILL EXPAND If current trends hold, 2026 could mark one of the largest expansions of the uninsured and underinsured population in more than a decade. But instead of disengaging from the healthcare system, these consumers are building a parallel path through it. They are demanding the same things they expect from the best retail and digital experiences: clarity, predictability, immediacy, and trust. This creates a massive opportunity, and a significant responsibility, for the industry. Companies that can simplify access, make pricing transparent, and deliver affordable pathways to care will become essential partners. Those that cling to legacy models built around opaque reimbursement flows will watch consumers go elsewhere. We already see evidence of this shift. People are embracing subscription-based care for predictable costs, using telehealth for speed and convenience, and relying on platforms like GoodRx to access lower prescription prices. Services like my company GoodRx’s newly-launched telemedicine subscriptions for erectile dysfunction, hair loss, and weight loss are examples of how companies are meeting this demand, offering affordable, accessible healthcare options outside traditional insurance frameworks. WHAT HEALTHCARE LEADERS MUST DO NOW Healthcare has historically been built around the needs of institutions, not individuals. That era is ending. The organizations that thrive in the next phase will redesign around consumer agency and economic reality. Three shifts are essential: Make cash pricing a standard, not a contingency. If people are paying out-of-pocket, they need to see the cost clearly, consistently, and upfront. Transparent pricing should be a baseline expectation across providers, pharmacies, and manufacturers. Embed affordability into clinical decision making. Cost isn’t a “back office” issue. It should be integrated into prescribing tools, clinical workflows, and patient conversations. Providers need real-time insights into cash prices and savings options so they can help patients make informed choices before they reach the pharmacy counter. Build care models that meet consumers where they are. Telehealth, retail clinics, asynchronous care, and hybrid models represent the way consumers want to access routine, preventive, and even chronic care. Healthcare companies must expand their presence in these channels or risk losing relevance. BUILD A CONSUMER-CENTRIC FUTURE The coverage squeeze is exposing something important: Consumers are demanding value, not just benefits. They want care that feels intuitive and affordable. They want to make decisions with clear information rather than insurance complexity. And they want healthcare that adapts to their lives. If we meet that demand, we have a chance to rebuild trust and deliver a healthcare experience that works for more people, regardless of their coverage status. If we don’t, consumers will continue to chart their own path, with or without the traditional system. The next chapter of American healthcare won’t be defined by the rise or fall of insurance premiums. It will be defined by whether we, as industry leaders, embrace a radically simple idea: When we design for the consumer first, everyone benefits. Wendy Barnes is president and CEO of GoodRx. View the full article

Manually or automatically wiping your browsing history is a well-established way of protecting your privacy and making sure the digital trail you leave behind you is as short as possible—but it's important to be aware of the limitations of the process, and to understand why deleting your browsing history isn't always as comprehensive an act as you might think. In short, the records of where you've been aren't only kept on your local computer or on your phone, they're found in various other places too. This is why fully wiping away your browsing history is more difficult than it initially appears. Modern browsers typically sync your browsing historyJust about every modern browser can now sync your browsing history across devices, from laptop to mobile and back again. There are benefits to this—being able to continue your browsing on a different device, for example—but it means that deleting the list of websites you've visited on one device won't necessarily clear it everywhere. Consider Apple's Safari, which by default will sync your online history, bookmarks, and open tabs between all of the iPhones, iPads, and Macs using the same Apple account. You can manage this by selecting your account name and then iCloud in Settings on iOS/iPadOS or in System Settings on macOS. Deleting browsing history in Safari. Credit: Lifehacker Whether or not Safari syncing is enabled through iCloud will affect how browsing history is deleted—when you try to delete this history on mobile or desktop, you'll see a message telling you what will happen on your other devices. In Safari on a Mac, choose History > Clear History; on an iPhone or iPad, choose Apps > Safari > Clear History and Website Data from Settings. Most other browsers work in the same way, with options for both syncing history and deleting history. In Chrome on the desktop, for example, open Settings via the three-dot menu (top right): You can manage syncing via You and Google > Sync and Google Services > Manage what you sync, and clearing your history via Privacy and security > Delete browsing data. The apps and sites you use are tracking youAside from all the history your actual web browser is collecting, you also need to think about the data being vacuumed up by the apps and websites you're using. If you log into Facebook, Meta will know about the comments you've left and the photos you've liked, no matter how much you scrub your history from Edge or Firefox. How much you can do about this really depends on the app or site. Amazon lets you clear your search history, for example: On the desktop site, click Browsing History on the toolbar at the top, then click the gear icon (top right). The next screen lets you delete all or some of your browsing history, and block future tracking—though you won't be able to reorder items as easily, and your recommendations will be affected. Clearing data from a Google account. Credit: Lifehacker Meta lets you clear your Instagram and Facebook search history, at least: You can take care of both from the Meta Accounts Center page in a desktop browser. Click Your information and permissions then Search history to look back at what you've been searching for. The next screen gives you options for manually and automatically wiping your search history. Google runs a whole host of online apps as well as a web browser. You can manage all your Google data from one central point from your desktop browser: Your Google Account page. Click Data and privacy to see everything Google has collected on you, and click through on any activity type to manually delete records or set them up to be automatically deleted after a certain period of time. Your internet provider always knows where you've beenThe final place there will be copies of your internet browsing history are on the servers of your internet service provider—that is, whichever company you're paying for access to the internet is keeping logs of the places you've been, for all kinds of purposes (from security to advertising). And yes, this includes sites that you open while in incognito mode. How this is handled varies from provider to provider. For example, AT&T's privacy notice states that the company will "automatically collect a variety of information", including "website and IP addresses," "videos watched," and "search terms entered." The company says this data will be kept for, "as long as we need it for business, tax, or legal purposes." A VPN can hide your browsing from your internet provider. Credit: Lifehacker There's not a whole lot you can do about this either—it's a trade-off you have to make if you want access to the web. Some providers, including AT&T, will let you opt out of certain types of information sharing if you get in touch with them directly, but you can't prevent the tracking from happening in the first place. What you can do is mask your browsing with a VPN (Lifehacker has previously picked the best paid VPNs and the best free VPNs for you to try out). As all your internet traffic will be routed through the VPN's servers, your internet provider will no longer be able to see what you're doing. Your VPN provider will, however—so find one that you can trust, and which has a no-logs policy that's been verified by a third-party security auditor. View the full article

We’ve been here before. At so many pivotal moments in our adoption of digital technology, people and businesses mistake a company’s walled garden for the broader, more powerful network underneath. In the 1990s, many people genuinely believed AOL was the internet. When I left Facebook in 2013, hundreds of people asked how I would function “without the web.” Over and over, packaged products—operating systems, app stores, streaming services—eclipse quieter, less expensive, bottom-up alternatives like Linux or torrents. We forget they exist. Today we’re making the same mistake with large language models. To many of us, “AI” now means choosing among a handful of commercial LLMs such as ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, or Grok—and perhaps even choosing the one that matches our cultural or political sensibilities. But these systems share important structural limitations: they are centralized, expensive, energy-intensive operations that depend on massive data centers, rare chips, and proprietary data stores. Because they’re trained on roughly the same public internet, they also tend to generate the same generalized, flattened results. Companies using them wholesale often end up substituting their own expertise with recombinations of whatever is already out there. This is how AI will do to businesses what social media did to publications, and what the early web did to retailers who went online without a strategy. Using the same generic tools as everyone else produces the same generic results. Worse, outsourcing core knowledge processes to a black-box service replaces the long-term development of internal capacity—especially junior employees learning through real practice—with cheaper but future-eroding automation. The limits of centralized AI Commercial language models are optimized for generality and scale. That scale is impressive, but it creates real constraints for organizations. Centralized LLMs require: Large volumes of training data scraped from the open web Expensive server infrastructure and power consumption Constant external connectivity Business models built around subscription, token fees, or upselling For many companies, these models become another outsourced dependency. Every time a commercial LLM updates itself—which can happen weekly—your workflows change underneath you. Your proprietary data may be exposed to third-party APIs. And your differentiation erodes, because the model’s knowledge is drawn from the same public corpus available to your competitors. Meanwhile, the narrative surrounding AI has encouraged businesses to believe that this centralized path is the only viable one—that achieving meaningful AI capability requires enormous data centers, billion-dollar training runs, and participation in a global race toward Artificial General Intelligence. But none of this is a requirement for using AI productively. A practical alternative already exists You do not need frontier-scale models to benefit from AI. A growing ecosystem of open-source, locally deployable language models provides organizations with far more autonomy, privacy, and control. A $100 Raspberry Pi—or any modest home or office server—can run a compact open-source model using tools like Ollama or GPT4All. These models don’t “learn” on the fly the way people do, but they can produce high-quality responses while remaining completely contained within your own environment. More importantly, they can be paired with a private knowledge base using retrieval systems. That means the model can reference your own research library, internal documentation, or curated public resources like Wikipedia—without training on the entire internet, and without sending your data to an external provider. These systems build on your own data instead of extracting it, strengthen your institutional memory instead of commoditizing it, and run at a fraction of the cost. This approach allows an organization to create an AI system aligned with its actual priorities, values, and domain expertise. It becomes a private assistant rather than a generalized product shaped by the incentives of a trillion-dollar platform. And the alternative doesn’t have to be a solitary effort. Neighborhoods, campuses, or company departments can form a “mesh network”—a set of devices connected directly through Wi-Fi or cables rather than through the public internet. One node can host a local model; others can contribute or withhold their own data stores. Instead of a single company owning the infrastructure and the knowledge, you get something closer to a community data commons or a digital library system. Projects like the High Desert Institute’s LoreKeeper’s Guild are already experimenting with this approach. Their “Librarian” initiative envisions local libraries acting as the data hubs for mesh-networked AI systems—resilient enough to function even during connectivity disruptions. But their deeper innovation is architectural. These systems give organizations access to powerful language capabilities without subscription costs, lock-in, data extraction, or exposure of proprietary information. Local or community models enable organizations to: Curate their own data Maintain complete privacy by keeping computation on-site Reduce latency to near zero Preserve and strengthen internal expertise Avoid recurring token or API costs And they do so using energy and computing resources that are orders of magnitude lower than those required by frontier-scale models. Why decentralized AI matters now The more institutions adopt localized or mesh-based AI, the less they are compelled to fund the centralized companies racing toward AGI. Those companies have made an effective argument: that sophisticated AI is only possible through their services. But much of what organizations pay for is not their own productivity—it is the construction of massive server farms, procurement of rare chips, and long-term bets on energy-intensive infrastructure. By contrast, in-house or community-run systems can be deployed once and maintained indefinitely. A week of setup can eliminate a decade of subscription payments. A small rural library has already demonstrated the feasibility of operating a self-hosted LLM node; a Fortune 500 company should have no trouble doing the same. Still, history suggests that most organizations will choose the convenient option rather than the autonomous one. Few people accessed the early internet directly; they chose AOL. Today, many will continue to choose centralized AI services, even when they offer the least control. But what social media companies did to businesses that mistook them for “the internet” will be mild compared to what comes when companies mistake these proprietary interfaces for “AI” itself. Decentralized AI already exists. The question now is whether we’ll choose to use it. View the full article

Avant de pouvoir approuver un projet proposé, vous devez savoir s’il est réalisable. Cela implique de mener une étude de faisabilité approfondie pour examiner tous les aspects essentiels du projet proposé et déterminer s’il pourra réussir. Notre modèle d’étude de faisabilité vous aide à structurer cette analyse efficacement. Téléchargez notre modèle gratuit d’étude de faisabilité pour Word et découvrez si le projet que vous envisagez offrira un retour sur investissement et pourra être mené à bien avec les ressources financières et le temps dont vous disposez. Pour télécharger ce modèle gratuit d’étude de faisabilité, cliquez sur l’image ci-dessous. /wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Modele-detude-de-faisabilite-600x683.png Pourquoi avez-vous besoin d’un modèle d’étude de faisabilité ? Une étude de faisabilité permet aux chefs de projet d’évaluer les défis logistiques, financiers et commerciaux d’un projet proposé. Utiliser un modèle d’étude de faisabilité signifie que toutes ces zones critiques sont déjà définies et que la documentation reste cohérente d’un projet à l’autre. Un modèle d’étude de faisabilité aide les chefs de projet à prendre des décisions essentielles, comme estimer les fonds nécessaires à la réalisation du projet. Cela déterminera si le coût peut être récupéré ou si le projet entraînera une perte pour l’organisation, ce qui le rendrait non rentable. Un autre aspect important du modèle d’étude de faisabilité est qu’il évalue le potentiel commercial du projet et si ce potentiel permettra d’obtenir un retour sur l’investissement initial. Cela inclut l’analyse du marché dans lequel le projet va évoluer et la place disponible pour le produit ou service, tout en tenant compte des besoins des consommateurs et de la concurrence. Vous testerez à la fois le marché et les consommateurs pour vérifier si votre produit ou service répond à un besoin. Ce modèle d’étude de faisabilité pour Word vous permet d’identifier si les gens veulent ce que vous proposez ou si l’offre existante est insuffisante. S’il existe déjà un produit ou service offert par des concurrents, le modèle d’étude de faisabilité permet d’identifier ces concurrents et de créer un profil afin de déterminer où exploiter leurs faiblesses ou leur faible pénétration du marché. Toujours en lien avec les consommateurs, le modèle permet aussi de définir le prix acceptable pour votre livrable et d’estimer votre part de marché potentielle. Le logiciel transforme une étude de faisabilité en projet réel Si vous décidez d’approuver le projet, vous aurez alors besoin d’un logiciel de gestion de projet pour le planifier, le gérer et en assurer le suivi. ProjectManager est un logiciel de gestion de projet primé qui dispose des outils nécessaires pour organiser les tâches, établir un calendrier et gérer les ressources afin de livrer le projet dans les délais et le budget prévus. Nos diagrammes de Gantt relient les quatre types de dépendances entre tâches, filtrent le chemin critique et permettent de définir une ligne de base pour capturer votre plan. Vous pouvez ensuite comparer l’effort prévu à l’effort réel en temps réel pour rester sur la bonne voie. Commencez à utiliser ProjectManager gratuitement dès aujourd’hui. /wp-content/uploads/2025/06/FR-French-Gantt-CTA.jpgEn savoir plus Quand utiliser un modèle d’étude de faisabilité ? Vous avez peut-être déjà entendu dire qu’il ne sert à rien de réaliser une étude de faisabilité une fois le projet approuvé, mais ce n’est pas toujours le cas. Il vaut toujours mieux disposer d’informations que rester dans l’incertitude concernant le projet. Cependant, l’objectif principal d’une étude de faisabilité est de déterminer s’il faut réaliser le projet. C’est pourquoi une étude de faisabilité est réalisée avant le projet, que ce soit lors d’un appel d’offres ou de la proposition d’un projet, du lancement d’une nouvelle entreprise ou de l’ajout d’une nouvelle gamme de produits. En réalité, une étude de faisabilité est un excellent outil avant toute décision commerciale majeure, y compris l’acquisition d’une entreprise concurrente. Comme une étude de faisabilité analyse le potentiel de réussite d’un projet, elle est menée aux premières étapes de l’évaluation de la viabilité du projet. Elle le fait en recherchant les coûts prévus et les bénéfices que le projet proposé apportera à l’organisation. Le modèle d’étude de faisabilité est donc utilisé au cours de cette analyse pré-projet, avant qu’un engagement ne soit pris. Qui doit utiliser ce modèle d’étude de faisabilité ? Le modèle d’étude de faisabilité peut être rempli par un certain nombre de personnes, mais il est recommandé de choisir un professionnel ou un consultant qui ne fait pas partie du projet proposé. Vous ne voulez pas qu’une personne financièrement ou personnellement impliquée dans le projet réalise une étude qui doit rester impartiale. Même si elle le pouvait, il y aurait toujours une apparence de conflit d’intérêt. Bien sûr, il faut choisir quelqu’un de qualifié pour analyser efficacement le projet proposé. Cette personne doit avoir une expertise en lien avec le projet. Les qualifications académiques conviennent tout comme les certifications professionnelles et l’expérience, tant qu’elles sont pertinentes pour le projet. Il est également courant qu’un membre de votre équipe utilise ce document. En fait, lors des premières recherches, il n’est pas rare de réaliser l’étude de faisabilité en interne, mais il faudra équilibrer cette analyse avec l’avis d’un professionnel ou d’un consultant de confiance qui comprend le projet proposé et le contexte dans lequel il sera exécuté. Comment utiliser ce modèle d’étude de faisabilité ? Commencez par télécharger notre modèle gratuit d’étude de faisabilité pour Word. Vous trouverez un document Word personnalisable, formaté pour capturer toutes les données nécessaires à une étude de faisabilité complète. Si vous souhaitez ajouter davantage d’informations, copiez simplement l’un des blocs et modifiez le type afin de refléter ce que vous souhaitez couvrir. Voici ce que nous avons inclus : Résumé exécutif : pour le résumé exécutif, rédigez une vue d’ensemble du projet, de ses objectifs et de la manière dont il prévoit de les atteindre. Description du produit ou service : expliquez ce que sera le livrable final du projet, pourquoi il est recherché et quelle est la demande pour celui-ci. Considérations techniques : comment le produit ou service sera-t-il livré aux clients ? Listez les matériaux nécessaires, la main-d’œuvre, le transport et toutes les technologies requises pour que cela se produise. Marché du produit ou service : quel est le marché cible, la demande et qui sont les principaux concurrents ? Stratégie marketing : comment allez-vous atteindre le public cible ? Détaillez les actions marketing, qu’elles soient numériques, par courrier direct, etc. Organisation et effectifs : quels sont vos effectifs actuels et faudra-t-il recruter ou réorganiser pour répondre aux exigences du projet ? Calendrier : quel est le calendrier du projet ? Incluez toutes les contraintes, qu’il s’agisse du budget, des ressources, etc. Résultats et recommandations : résumez les conclusions de l’étude de faisabilité et formulez des recommandations pour décider de la suite à donner. Autres modèles gratuits pour vous aider après votre étude de faisabilité Notre modèle gratuit d’étude de faisabilité est seulement l’un des nombreux modèles de gestion de projet gratuits pour Excel et Word disponibles sur notre site. Nous proposons des modèles gratuits pour chaque phase du projet afin de vous aider si vous décidez d’aller de l’avant. Voici quelques exemples. Modèle de diagramme de Gantt Un diagramme de Gantt est un outil de gestion de projet qui organise vos tâches. Il ressemble à une feuille de calcul d’un côté, mais toutes les informations sont ensuite affichées de l’autre côté sous forme de chronologie visuelle. Notre diagramme de Gantt gratuit pour Excel est un outil essentiel de planification et d’ordonnancement. Modèle de tableau de bord de projet Une fois la phase d’exécution commencée, vous souhaiterez surveiller et contrôler votre projet. Notre modèle gratuit de tableau de bord de projet pour Excel vous offre une vue d’ensemble des principaux indicateurs du projet tels que le pourcentage de tâches terminées, la charge de travail de l’équipe, les coûts du projet et plus encore. ProjectManager est un logiciel de gestion de projet en ligne qui permet aux équipes de planifier, gérer et suivre leurs projets en temps réel. Ses fonctionnalités de gestion des risques, des ressources et des tâches vous aident à concrétiser les objectifs de votre étude de faisabilité et à livrer vos projets dans les délais et le budget impartis. Commencez dès aujourd’hui à utiliser ProjectManager gratuitement. The post Modèle d’étude de faisabilité pour Word (gratuit) appeared first on ProjectManager. View the full article

It’s the Friday open thread! The comment section on this post is open for discussion with other readers on any work-related questions that you want to talk about (that includes school). If you want an answer from me, emailing me is still your best bet*, but this is a chance to take your questions to other readers. * If you submitted a question to me recently, please do not repost it here, as it may be in my queue to answer. The post open thread – December 5, 2025 appeared first on Ask a Manager. 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. Are smart glasses worth the hype? If you’re looking for a stylish accessory that doubles as a camera, headphones, and AR display without needing to pull out a phone, they’re a life hack that’s worth the splurge. Right now, the Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 1) smart glasses are 25% off at $246.75 (originally $329), marking their lowest price ever. This version is matte black with polarized lenses, but you can also get a slightly less expensive version that’s shiny with clear lenses for $224.25. Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 1) $246.75 at Amazon $329.00 Save $82.25 Get Deal Get Deal $246.75 at Amazon $329.00 Save $82.25 The Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 1) AI glasses have the retro aesthetic of the iconic Wayfarers, and at 49 grams, they’re only slightly heavier than regular glasses (though with prescription lenses, that’ll be bumped up to 54 grams). They allow you to do everything from record 1080p video and capture photos to listen to music, make calls, text while driving, live-stream on the go, or get answers from Meta AI. They have a wide field of view and solid image stabilization, although they only shoot in a vertical aspect ratio. The glasses feature an ultra-wide 12 MP camera and have five mics, as well as built-in open-ear speakers that let you listen to audio without fully blocking out your surroundings. Meta AI is one of the main draws of this wearable tech, acting as a built-in personal assistant. There’s also live language translation that processes speech at a conversational pace, which is especially helpful when you’re traveling, and which we discuss in our in-depth Ray-Ban Metas review. They last up to four hours, and the case contains up to eight additional charges. While they can do a lot, they can’t perform complex tasks like book hotel researvations, and the battery life and weight may not be ideal for prescription lens wearers who rely on wearing their glasses all day. Still, they’re a highly giftable gadget that makes everyday tasks smoother and more functional, and at an all-time low price, the Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 1) smart glasses might be one of the top wearable tech buys of the season. Our Best Editor-Vetted Tech Deals Right Now Apple iPad Air 11" M3 128GB WiFi Tablet (Space Gray) — $499.99 (List Price $599.00) Dell 14 Premium DA14250 (Intel Core Ultra 7 255H, 512GB SSD, 16GB RAM, 2K Display) — $999.99 (List Price $1,549.99) Sony WH-1000XM5 — $278.00 (List Price $399.99) Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ 10.9" 64GB Wi-Fi Tablet (Graphite) — $149.99 (List Price $219.99) Apple Watch Series 11 [GPS 46mm] Smartwatch with Jet Black Aluminum Case with Black Sport Band - M/L. Sleep Score, Fitness Tracker, Health Monitoring, Always-On Display, Water Resistant — $359.99 (List Price $429.00) Deals are selected by our commerce team View the full article