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The beginner’s guide to mobile apps as a startup owner

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Startup owners are known to juggle multiple tasks simultaneously, as startup management can be an overwhelming job for most. Of course, they’re used to the hectic hustle and bustle of business management, but there’s no need to worry about taking in everything at once.

Just as it can be overwhelming to deal with multiple tasks as a new business owner, there are many solutions to help ease the burden. Mobile apps, in particular, are pretty good at helping small business owners make the most out of opportunities.

New business owners have a habit of outsourcing and using cloud services, which means it’s crucial to look into the various mobile apps that can get you started.

Project management apps

One of the more crucial pieces of the puzzle includes project management apps. It helps keep everyone on the same page, and such apps are especially useful for company owners running businesses remotely. One example of a fantastic project management app is Trello, as it’s a relatively intuitive interface that’s easy enough to learn for everyone.

It’s easy to assign due dates, projects, files, and much more using the app. While there are many more project management apps out there, Trello is a great place to start.

Real-time media monitoring

Most savvy business owners know that real-time data management and monitoring is one of the most crucial aspects of running a company. No matter the marketing campaign or the promotional push, real-time media monitoring is vital. There are even services centered around dark web monitoring, which can help keep startup owners up-to-date as well as protected from potential scams.

Real-time data is what helps companies gain an edge over the rest of the competition. Mobile apps with monitoring capabilities are vital, as company owners have to get as much information as possible early into campaigns to ensure they tweak it and make changes while it still matters.

VPN (Virtual Private Network)

It comes as no surprise that VPNs are more popular than ever before — not just for business owners but for individuals looking to protect their data online. As a small business owner, you’ll be managing many of your company processes through mobile apps (with any luck). As a result, it’s crucial to keep your data encrypted through VPNs. As far as which one is the best, there are plenty considered to be a great choice. One is ExpressVPN, and another is NordVPN.

Apps for accepting payments

As far as apps for accepting payments go, it can be a little tricky to figure out. For example, apps such as Square are fantastic for new businesses in low-risk industries, but there comes a time when businesses have to expand. It’s a good idea to keep an eye on the latest trends with payment apps to ensure you’re making the right decision.

Conclusion

Aside from the different examples above, all you need is a decent messaging app to keep everyone on the same page, and you have a decent list of apps to help keep your new business afloat.

Image by Jo_Johnston from Pixabay

POCO X4 Pro 5G review

Scott Webster
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The smartphone mid-range is a crowded space with no signs of slowing. Whether you’re talking about the United States or the global market as a whole, there is a seemingly endless stream of new and interesting handsets.

POCO, a sub-brand of Xiaomi, is one of those brands which continuously pump out new models with intriguing designs and packages. The X4 Pro 5G, which comes in as low as $330 USD, offers up a fairly robust set of hardware for the money.

The POCOX4 Pro 5G checks a number of boxes for “important” features for a lot of consumer needs. That is to say it has a big screen, generous battery capacity with fast charging, 5G support, and a multiple camera system.

The specifications put it firmly in the middle of the smartphone pack but its price comes in considerably lower than the typical competition. How does it fare? I’ve spent a few weeks using one of these in tandem with a few other models and have some feedback and impressions to share.

Design

The X4 Pro 5G has the look and feel of a more expensive “premium” phone with its slim bezels, flat edges, refractive finish, and thin profile. While it is made from plastic with aluminum framing, it’s more stylish than it sounds on paper. Light moves nicely across the rear it catches the eye, especially in sunlight.

It feels great in the hand; when many phones feel curved and tapered, this one comes across as more crisp and sharp. It’s a nice departure from some of the models I’ve used over the last few years.

Available in three colors (Laser Black, Laser Blue, and POCOYellow), my review unit is technically black but skews more grey and steel. The refraction effect calls to mind spotlights shining in the night sky. I cannot speak of the other colors but this one picks up fingerprints easily but cleans up without fuss.

The IP53 rating protects it against dust and water but it’s not a fully waterproof experience. You may be alright if caught in a sprinkle or splash but you’ll want to keep it away from pools just to be safe.

Pretty much every phone maker has its own take on the multi-camera array and the POCO X4 Pro 5G is no exception. Here, the module takes up a fair amount of space across the top quarter. The main camera is 108-megapixels with 8-megapixel ultra-wide and 2-megapixel macro complimenting the shooter.

The 6.67-inch display looks stunning with its incredibly high brightness and 120Hz refresh rate. The 1080 x 2400 pixel resolution and 20:9 aspect ratio make for a comfortable reading and video experience.

The side-mounted fingerprint reader doubles as the power button. The more I find this with phone makers, the more I come to enjoy it. While I can set my devices to wake on pickup or tapping, more often I push the power button.

I was pleasantly surprised to find the POCO X4 Pro 5G features a 3.5mm headphone jack. Located on the top, I like having one of these available even in 2022.

Specifications

In terms of power, the X4 Pro 5G comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G processor with at least 6GB RAM and 128GB storage. An 8GB/256GB variant is also offered should one want to bump things up a smidge.

These are mid-range specs for handsets today but they’re certainly far more than what your typical user might need. If you’re considering this model, I suggest opting for the 8GB/256GB edition just for the extra peace of mind and longevity.

The 5,000mAh battery is good for around two days of typical usage. If you charge up your devices while you sleep, you’ll rarely run into a situation where the battery dips to yellow or red ranges.

The POCO X4 Pro 5G supports up to 67W fast charging but it does not allow for wireless charging. This wasn’t much of a concern for me as I have been long accustomed to plugging in once a day with the random top-up in the car.

For what it’s worth, my review unit came with the 67W brick but it’s not compatible with US outlets. I’ve found that a half hour on the charger is all it takes to get the battery from nearly dead to around 75% full. I cannot imagine myself needing more than a commute’s worth of time being plugged in.

Software

Android 11 runs the show but it’s dressed up with MIUI 13 for POCO. This more or less means it sprinkles in extra customizations and capabilities but doesn’t change the appearance all that much from the “stock” Android experience.

Coming from the Pixel line, I appreciate when a phone maker gives me the ability to make the UI feel uniquely mine. There’s plenty on offer here including live wallpapers, themes, lock screen settings, text colors, and more. If you like to tinker without installing extra apps, you’ll dig this stuff.

Things can get a little quirky or feel somewhat out of order, but that’s something I’ve seen in other Chinese phone makers, too.

Having only spent short amounts of time with review units I cannot speak on how well the brand does with software updates. The phones I’ve tested come with current software builds and patches but I don’t think the manufacturer will make any hard commitments on upgrades.

Similar to what we find with US-based BLU, I think there’s a trade-off or unspoken understanding that you get more hardware for your money and take your chances with the long-term software.

Performance

The POCO X4 Pro 5G is an impressive little bundle, delivering on my expectations across the board. I’m not the kind of user to push phones to their limits; I don’t play high-end or graphic intensive games. With that said, the titles I do dabble in performed just fine.

Obviously one doesn’t typically see any speed issues or lag in a new device with this much hardware, at least in the first few weeks. Over time I added new apps and games, slowly introducing accounts and dialing up the demands. I’ve yet to run into anything that signals a weak spot in the area of general performance.

The battery life has been great, often getting me two days at a clip. I’ve become more comfortable with not plugging my phones in over night and the X4 Pro 5G hasn’t changed my habit. I can plug in while having my coffee or breakfast and feel confident that I’ll be just fine over the rest of the day.

There’s no wireless charging here but that’s a non-starter for me. While I own a number of wireless chargers, power banks, and docks, I rarely turn to them. I’m happy to swap out wireless charging for incredibly fast charging. At 67W, I get more than 50% worth of battery in just 15 minutes.

The 108-megapixel main camera is complimented by an 8-megapixel ultra-wide (118-degree) and 2-megapixel macro shooter. There’s pixel binning at play in the main camera so it’s more or less a 12-megapixel snapper.

I found the primary camera captures quite detailed images with a nice balanced exposure. Colors are accurate and often do not require any post processing before sharing to social media.

Low-light scenarios can be a little irksome for the phone and night shots are hit and miss. I don’t take many pictures after sunset but on the occasion that I would, the POCO X4 Pro 5G would be a bit of a gamble.

The ultra-wide and macro lenses are passable, but I’m a little more demanding than my friends and family. Whereas I would sometimes scowl at a photo I had acquaintances who would have no issue sharing the pic online. I’ve certainly seen much worse on social media but I do think the camera experience is generally average. Don’t buy the POCO X4 Pro 5G because the 108-megapixel camera sounds top-tier.

Conclusion

Given the $330 price tag for the 6GB/128GB model, I’m more than happy to recommend the phone for consumers. It’s all of the things that I need in a device and I suspect all your typical user might need, too. It just happens to be priced lower than the competition.

In a time when the Pixel line looks to have completely removed the headphone jack, I’m happy to see it’s present here. I also like the inclusion of NFC, an IR blaster, and the fingerprint reader in the side-mounted power button.

Coupled with a fully customizable UI experience, the POCO X4 Pro 5G feels like something a little different, and dare I say, welcome.

I wish the camera system were a bit better but I’m willing to admit that I’m being a tad critical. The average user may take no issue with what’s at play.

Also, given that the phone is an unlocked global handset, the 5G support may not be true to what you’re currently getting from the US carriers. If you’re content with 4G LTE, or spend most of your time on Wi-Fi, you should be good to go.

Lastly, you may want to consider picking up a new charger with support for up to 67W because the one that comes in the box is not compatible with US power outlets.

I’ve become increasingly interested in lesser known phone makers in the US and am happy to consider alternatives to the bigger names. POCO has intrigued me thus far with some of its models and I look forward to more.

BLUETTI launches Veterans & Military Benefits Program

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In May, red poppies will bloom across the country. Memorial Day is slowly approaching, too; It’s a day of remembrance, also a self-reflection time for a more peaceful future. The luxury freedom—family dinner, backyard barbecue, and the like summer activities are what we’re expected to cherish today. While the power outages may mess everything up, BLUETTI launches the Veteran & Military Benefits Program for the upcoming Memorial Day— 10% off the EP500/EP500Pro, AC200MAX bundle, AC200P, EB70S, and EB55 for military personnel, whether they are discharged or in service.

EP500/EP500Pro-Home Backup Makes Perfect Sense.   

(EP500-original price $4,599, sale price $4,399; EP500Pro-original price $5,999, sale price $4,999; )  

Power Outage US reported 1.48million outage hours in 2020, a 73% increase from 2019. The growth has fluctuated yearly, which doesn’t look better in 2022. The EP500/EP500Pro store the same 5,100Wh capacity to keep household essentials running for days. While they’re designed to care for electrical appliances rated below 2000W or 3000W. Once connected to the grid, they will automatically detect power failures and instantly provide backup power for the entire house. Finally, the BLUETTI app allows for remote control and over-the-air(OTA) firmware upgrades.

AC200MAX+B230: All Comes From the Sun.
(original price $3,299, sale price $3,099)

Solar generator, expansion battery, and solar panel—all in one bundle. The BLUETTI AC200MAX is capable of running high-drain appliances that have a rated power lower than 2,200W, and can handle up to 4,800W instant startup power. It’s BLUETTI’s first expandable solar power station and is able to attain a maximum 8,192Wh capacity by hooking up two B300 battery packs(3,072Wh per pack).

AC200MAX takes the utmost 900W solar input and 500W AC input. When charging with solar panels and an AC adapter together, it will get to full capacity within two hours. Set up this solar system in the great outdoors or just for home backup; this bundle will provide as much power as quickly possible. For RV or camping enthusiasts, AC200MAX makes powering car electrical appliances easy with a 30A NEMA TT-30 outlet and 12V/30A Super DC outlet. The BLUETTI app masters everything about AC200MAX at any time from anywhere.

AC200P: Power Anything, Anywhere.

(original price $1,599, sale price $1,499)

AC200P is typical of the BLUETTI style, comprising portability and power capability. “RV trips, camping, fishing, wilderness adventure,… have been trending upward, our portable solar products are designed for literature carrying convenience as well as powerful output.” BLUETTI CPO, James Ray once said. AC200P delivers a maximum of 2,000W continuous AC power (4,800W surge) and is built with a 2,000Wh or 40Ah Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) battery. Such battery cells will remain 80% of their original capacity after 3,500 full cycles and last 6-8 times longer than the alternatives, like Lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC) and lithium nickel cobalt aluminum oxide (NCA).

AC200P also can draw 900W power from solar panels and 500W from the AC power sources. When connected to both at the same time, it will be charged up in less than 2 hours. AC200P is able to power 17 devices at once. Its output options include the classic 100-120V AC outlet, Type-C, USB-A, DC5521, car socket, 12V/25A RV port, and wireless charger on the top; these would cover almost daily electronics. 

EB70S+EB55: Good Things Come in Small Packages.
(EB70S-Original price $599, sale price $549)  

These two BLUETTI portable power stations are small but complete in every detail. They closely resemble each other, except for the battery capacity and output power. The EB70S packs with a 716Wh LiFePO4 battery and 800W AC pure sine wave inverter, while the EB55 with a 537Wh battery and 700W inverter. 

After 2,500 discharges and charges, the EB70S and EB55 will retain approximately 80% of their rated capacity, also thanks to the LiFePO4 battery chemistry. They both feature 12 outlets to charge multiple devices simultaneously. The charging is also similar, supporting dual charging with 200W solar and 200W AC input. The folding handle on top of the unit is advantageous for on-the-go or outdoor getaways.

When and How to Join the Program

The BLUETTI Veteran & Military Benefits Program starts at PDT 7:00 PM on May 26 and will end at the same time on May 31.

Visit the BLUETTI site and start the process by verifying the military or veteran status. The program is for personal use only.

To protect the information security of applicants and validate their eligibility for BLUETTI Veteran & Military Benefits Program, BLUETTI cooperates with the ID.me company to provide secure and simple verification access. The information entered will be only used to confirm the applicant’s military or veteran status.

About BLUETTI

From the very beginning, BLUETTI has tried to stay true to a sustainable future through green energy storage solutions for both indoor and outdoor use while delivering an exceptional eco-friendly experience for everyone and the world. BLUETTI is making its presence in 70+ countries and is trusted by millions of customers across the globe. For more information, please visit BLUETTI online at https://www.bluettipower.com/ or follow BLUETTI on:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/bluettiofficial 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bluetti_official/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bluetti.inc
Twitter: https://twitter.com/bluetti_inc 

BLUETTI to launch ultra-portable power station EB3A with 268Wh capacity and 600W Inverter

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BLUETTI first announced the EB3A solar generator at CES 2022. And finally, it will officially hit the shelf in the US on June 14, 10 PM EDT. 

Product Overview

  1. As lightweight as 10 pounds, the BLUETTI EB3A is easy to carry and travel-friendly.
  2. The EB3A enhances the BLUETTI power station line with more refinement and feature enhancements, making it a reliable power source for mobile use in RV and camping to keep essential devices powered along the road.
  3. The EB3A is an affordable unit that delivers an impressive 268Wh capacity and 600W pure sine-wave inverter output.
  4. EB3A can charge at up to 268W rate in standard mode, and 430W in Turbo charging mode.
  5. EB3A uses only the safest, most stable, and most prolonged lifespan LiFeP04 battery technology. 
  6. To optimize portability, AC charging is via a single industry-standard AC cable – no power brick required.
  7. With innovative Turbo charge mode, EB3A can be recharged from 0% to 80% in just 30 minutes at up to 430W charge rate.
  8. Monitor and control at the fingertips with BLUETTI APP (via Bluetooth). Moreover, you can enjoy the latest firmware by OTA update over Wi-Fi directly. 

How to Charge The BLUETTI EB3A

Always stay powered and be ready to go. Multiple charging methods are available to meet all your needs in different scenarios. Flexible to recharge the EB3A via AC charging cable, solar, car, or generator–that is, via DC solar and AC sources simultaneously. That is particularly important for those on the go or living in remote locations, or experiencing limited access to charge the power station.

As the pioneer in technology innovation in the portable power station industry, BLUETTI rolls out three AC Charging modes for the EB3A. For example, charging under the silent mode where the fan will not operate allows you to sleep with comfort and peace.

  • Turbo up to 430W
  • Standard up to 268W
  • Silent up to 100W

Charging time (for reference ONLY)

  • 200W MPPT solar charge: ≈2.5 hours
  • AC Charging: ≈1.3 hours (In Turbo Mode)/ ≈1.5 hours (In Standard Mode)
  • 12V/24V Car charge (100W): ≈3.2 hours
  • AC charging cable and Solar (430W total): ≈1.1 hours
  • AC charging cable and T200 adapter (430W total): ≈1.1 hours

All The Output Ports You Will Need

Charge up to 9 devices at once. The EB3A power station has two AC outlets that can put out 600W. And two regular USB-A ports and one 100W USB-C port, which allows a MacBook to charge at full speed.

EB3A can accommodate almost all electronic devices for outdoor travel, emergency, disasters, and other scenarios. Whether charging your smartphone, laptop, digital camera, or other devices, with the BLUETTI EB3A, you get it done quickly, efficiently, and with optimal convenience.

LiFePO4 – Longer Battery Life Span

BLUETTI adopted the LiFePO4 battery cell for long-term durability and ensured 2,500+ charging cycles to 80% of its original capacity. 

Compared to the lithium-ion battery that most power stations and battery banks use right now, the LiFePO4 battery type can charge faster, last longer, and offers optimal safety.

Innovation Brings Convenience

Thanks to the BLUETTI APP control, you can operate and monitor the EB3A on your phone anytime and even update the hardware worldwide.

BLUETTI EB3A features a brand new LCD screen to display the important info like remaining capacity percentage, recharge time, and input/output power more clearly and intuitively. 

Secure Operation

Security is the priority to consider from hardware selection to the software design. The built-in Battery Management System (BMS) improves battery utilization. It extends battery service life through short circuit protection, over-current protection, over-voltage protection, overload protection, overheating protection, and other functions.

Powerlifting Mode and UPS Bypass Mode

Under powerlifting mode, the EB3A can power up to 1200W resistive devices such as hairdryers, vacuum cleaners, kettles, and resistive heaters.

UPS bypass mode allows the AC power to directly support the loads on AC output ports and charge the EB3A. So you get some UPS-type power pass-through and continuous-power features as an extra offering.

Availability & Date

BLUETTI will launch the EB3A on their official website https://www.bluettipower.com/ on June 14 and initiate shipments as quickly as one week. Wait no further. Join the BLUETTI Official Facebook Group, subscribe to the BLUETTI newsletter for the latest product information and even be eligible for the early bird price (23% off). 

About BLUETTI 

Now BLUETTI has made its presence in 70+ countries and is trusted by millions of users across the globe. We strive to develop more innovative products to optimize the way people access sustainable energy and ensure a constant power supply for home and outdoor without leaving any footprints on the environment. Said James Ray, Marketing Director of BLUETTI. 

With over 10 years of experience in the energy storage industry, BLUETTI is committed to building the world’s best power stations for van dwellers, explorers, and off-grid life. For more information, please visit https://www.bluettipower.com/. 

Trifo Lucy Robot Vacuum review

Greg Baker
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Security is becoming a more and more prevalent issue and being able to monitor your home is the only way to have peace of mind while away. Instead of buying a security system, Trifo allows you to use their AI home robot vacuum, Lucy, to monitor your house while you are away.

From testing this robot, it is clear that this device is built to be a security tool as well as a cleaning tool for your home.

User Experience

I must say that based on the way this vacuum looks, and bhow it is boxed, it has a very modern and sleek feel. The setup process is quite easy if you have your own Wi-Fi and do not rely on a host. The camera on the robot makes the setup easier as well since the robot can directly scan a QR code displayed on your phone.

Once set up you can control just about everything through the app. This vacuum offers the most user control I have ever seen; it even gives you the option to directly control it like an RC car. Furthermore, you can lower the suction power of the robot if wanted.

The first time the robot runs it makes an accurate map of the home and from this you can section off different areas for cleaning. The auto-created map accurately splits up your house into its rooms, so you can select individual rooms as well. The app also makes it so that you can block off areas of the house by expanding red squares over the areas you want to avoid on the map.

Cleaning Capabilities

The vacuum works well on tile and hard services and picks up all dust, hair, and dirt. It does a good job at cleaning shallow carpets, but for deep shag carpets it has trouble picking up dirt deep within the carpet. In its defense, I’ve found that most vacuums struggle with this.

In terms of area rugs, in my experience, this vacuum was unable to get up onto my lighter area rugs that move easily. However, if the area rug is stationed in place, the vacuum can clean it.

The mopping feature of this robot works well for dirt that isn’t just sitting on the surface but which may be really shoved into the floor. In terms of obstacles while vacuuming, this robot can use its camera and sensors very well to avoid anything that could be in its path. It does not get right up against walls and objects though; the closest it gets is about an inch away. The dust bin located under the plastic flap on top of the vacuum is bigger than I have seen before and it does not get full often.

House Monitoring

Although the camera on this vacuum is incorporated in the setup and how it can sense objects, its main purpose is for security. At all times in the app, you are able to see the view from the robot’s camera, and with the ability to control the robot you can view anywhere you decide to drive it.

There is also a feature that detects motion within the house and anytime the camera senses motion it will give you a notification on your phone and record the segment for your viewing. The sensor is even able to catch and record movements in the dark! The robot does allow this feature to be used at the viewer’s discretion as this can be turned off in the app. 

Battery Life

I live in a smaller house and because of that Trifo Lucy is able to clean my home without having to charge itself. For testing purposes, I did measure the battery life by forcing it to continuously clean and it was able to vacuum for about an hour and 50 minutes before needing to be charged.

If it needs to be charged mid-clean, the vacuum takes itself back to its conveniently small dock, charges itself, and then finishes the cleaning.

Conclusion

What really sets this robot vacuum apart form others is its ability to not only vacuum and mop, but also to monitor your home.

With impressive features such as it 1080p HD camera and super sensing abilities that allow it to detect more than the average robot, this robot is really able to differentiate itself. To purchase this vacuum, you can use the Amazon trackable link https://amzn.to/3jZBSNg and for 5% off use the coupon code 4QR6VPZP (valid until May 31st).

How inflation is having an impact on families paying their bills

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  • Sky-high inflation, a volatile economy, and a growing divide between wages, cost of living, education, and healthcare, makes affording and paying bills tougher on consumers.
  • Tech companies are innovating to centralize cash flow management and bill pay.  
  • TifiPay is resetting expectations with its easy to use app that facilitates monthly bill pay in one convenient place, providing users insights that may save them money in the long run. 

Nearly two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, the economic impact of inflation and the growing divide between wages and expenses is being felt across the country, and around the world. 

Food. Gas. Housing. The costs of living have been going up since inflation hit 6.8 percent in 2021 — the highest rate in nineteen years. Families are feeling the pinch and tightening their belts by scaling back on purchasing items. Some are even going into debt.

With higher inflation comes higher interest rates, affecting monthly spending, budgets and bill paying. For accounts with variable interest rates, this means that expenses will change often, making it confusing, tedious and difficult to keep up with paying bills and managing cash flow.

Solutions for Smoother Bill Pay and Cash Management

Americans are drowning in debt. As of Dec 2021, the average American is carrying $92,727 in debt. The pandemic has only made it harder to keep up. We as Americans need a solution to lessen the hassle and inconvenience of paying bills in an ever-destabilized economy. 

TifiPay, is an app that revolutionizes bill paying. Set to launch in Q3 2022, this app empowers the user to receive, pay and manage their bills in one place. It also sends the user notifications when bills are due and facilitates a ‘one click’ pay option. Users can use multiple bank accounts and even schedule a future payment to align with cash flow (when they get paid) and view which bills are due in coming days to help plan payments for better cash management. 

“Our recent survey found that the main reasons people struggle with bill payments is not necessarily based on affordability, rather people feel that their bills are disorganized and unconsolidated, making it a nightmare to pay on time, often resulting in late fees. TiFiPay’s mission is to improve people’s financial lives by making bill paying easier and to bring joy and a sense of accomplishment to paying bills,” said Christine Loredo, President and COO of TifiPay.

Leveraging technology to deliver insights to consumers finances  

To facilitate bill paying and provide users with a much needed confidence to take control of their monthly finances and budgeting, bill pay apps, such as TiFiPay, come with the added advantage of transaction history, which shows historical analysis and insights on spending. This enables TiFiPay users to have a central location of all their financial information and activity – a plus for those who are not necessarily great bookkeepers. 

Image: TifiPay

Keep All Your Golden Eggs In One Basket

Consumers typically have a ‘system’ of paying their monthly bills – some bills are paid by a check, others are paid online. But keeping track of payments, due dates, and website log-in details has proven to be quite daunting for many.

“Providing historical analysis and valuable insight into where a user is spending money often translates to better budgeting in the long term. Providing consumers with a full picture of their bills (from due dates, to what was paid when) empowers consumers to take control of their household cash flow.” concluded, Loredo. With wages not yet parallel to rising inflation, this is exactly the right time for an app that provides the whole picture, possibly saving users money in the long run.    

A Final Thought

It’s certainly time for Americans to tighten their belts as inflation is expected to increase in 2022. But it’s also time to take control of your finances and use tech solutions that will help alleviate the time-consuming headache and confusion of paying bills every month. TifiPay and similar solutions will certainly be a part of the ‘new normal’.

Logitech Lift Vertical Ergonomic Mouse review

Connor Fricke
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Logitech has recently unveiled its new product, the Lift Vertical Ergonomic Mouse. It features Bluetooth connectivity between up to three devices at once, a 57-degree vertical design to increase comfort for those with small to medium-sized hands, and four different customizable buttons. All this, plus a DPI button with ultra-quiet clicks and a smooth, silent scroll wheel.

The Lift is truly designed with productivity and comfortability in mind. The mouse is offered on the Logitech website in both right and left-hand format as well as three colorways: graphite, off-white, and rose.

The mouse comes out of the box ready to pair with your devices through low-power Bluetooth connection or through the provided Logitech Bolt USB receiver in case you don’t have a PC or laptop with integrated Bluetooth.

Ergonomics

At first glance, the Lift is definitely an odd looking computer mouse. It has a unique lifted angle to adjust your hand to a more natural position and is very clearly meant to be form fitting, allowing your thumb to wrap around the mouse to reach two of the four customizable and silent buttons where it can rest.

The overall feel while using it is a bit more like that of a joystick, which is a weird adjustment to make from a regular old mouse but it did indeed feel much more natural after just a few minutes with it.

The ‘Zen’ Surface is a textured rubber material that adds to the aesthetics and grip of the mouse. I do have relatively small hands so the Lift’s size was of no issue to me, but I can definitely see where larger hands would get in the way, as you might find yourself unable to fit all of your hand onto the mouse.

I think this is one of the main focuses of the design here, so anyone with larger hands should definitely heed Logitech’s warning when considering making the purchase. While it won’t be impossible to use, I can’t imagine it would be a significant improvement over the regular computer mouse.

If that’s not an issue for you, then the Lift may be a great option for anyone who spends long hours in front of a screen each week. If you’re like me, you probably struggle consistently with the discomfort of having to rest the inside of your forearm on the sharp edge of a desk. With the Lift, your forearm will rest in a more natural rotated state so that this discomfort is hopefully eliminated.

Battery and Connectivity

The Lift is of course a Bluetooth mouse, so you won’t have to deal with pesky wires limiting your range and cluttering up your desk space. While this is a great feature for most people, it’s important to remember some of the drawbacks. First off, usually you have to ensure that your connected device is actually Bluetooth compatible.

Fortunately, anyone with an available USB port on their computer will not have to fret over this, thanks to Logitech’s USB receiver that can be found within the battery compartment on the underside of the mouse. However, if you want to take advantage of the Easy Pairing feature that allows you to connect with more than one device, your second and third device will need built-in Bluetooth. 

This brings us to another drawback of a Bluetooth mouse: batteries. With no wire connecting you to your computer, you will have to take into account the likelihood of your mouse dying on you.

The Logitech Lift is powered by a single, non-rechargeable AA battery that Logitech rates at two years of life. Thanks to its low-power Bluetooth connection which, in my opinion is way more than what might be necessary for just about anyone, running out of juice is definitely not a daily concern.

 A third drawback that comes with these wireless computer mice is the connection itself. As anyone would expect, a wired connection is going to be much faster and more stable than wireless, so if you require a reliably snappy response from your mouse, the Lift may not fit your style.

Your input to the mouse won’t result in an instantaneous reaction from your laptop or PC, but for most realms outside of gaming, it’s not a noticeable issue. I did find that there was some rare erratic movement when using the wireless mouse that wasn’t present with my wired mouse, but in general I didn’t have any concerns about losing the connection completely. The interference or whatever may have been the cause was cleared up after just a few seconds.

In regards to Easy Pairing I find that this is a super cool feature that anyone who works with multiple devices can take advantage of. With the press of a single button on the bottom of the mouse you can operate up to three different devices at a time. The switch is easy and instantaneous, but I wish that the button would be in a more accessible location so that I don’t have to flip my mouse upside down every time I want to switch from my PC to a laptop. 

Aesthetics and Silence

If the look matters as much as the feel for your desk space, then Logitech has something for you. While the mouse definitely looks unique and a bit weird at first, I think it can look good in any desk environment. It has a relatively tall and bulky profile that sets it apart from other computer mice.

The Zen surface looks and feels very premium and I appreciate not having a cable running across my desk to my mouse. For the right-handed option you can find the Lift in graphite, off-white, or the rose colorway to match the theme of your workspace. It’s not the best looking mouse I’ve seen, but it definitely can fit into your space and even add a unique touch. 

As far as any potential noise, it is extremely silent and just as Logitech advertises. The buttons all have a tactile feel and produce almost no audible clicking sound so if your partner or coworker is tired of hearing you clicking away all day at your monitor, then you are definitely looking in the right place. The scroll wheel is also ultra-smooth and ultra-silent, and has a feature called SmartWheel that allows you to scroll through a few lines or many pages at a time.

Overall

If you’re trying to improve your comfort and productivity at home or in the office, the Logitech Lift is a worthy investment. It’s got some super neat features that allow you to quickly shift between tasks and its design is easy to adapt to.

With a smooth and comfortable surface and form-fitting shape, those with medium-sized or smaller hands won’t have to worry about getting cramps or marks from resting a forearm on the edge of a desk.

The customizable buttons are durable and silent to limit noise output and reduce distractions in whatever environment you may find yourself. The Bluetooth connection may not be as fast as a wired connection, but Logitech has done a great job of limiting the drawbacks such as battery consumption while maintaining unique aesthetics and the added benefit of cutting that cable. All of this comes from a well-known, trustworthy brand and at a completely respectable price.

Top tips to secure your website from possible hacks

AndroidGuys
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If you have a business you should have a website that allows you to connect with your audience and keep them updated and informed about your products and services. Websites today have become much more than just online portals because they offer an online experience to your audience and customers. Hence, you need to focus on how you can make your website engaging and responsive. However, on the other hand, you must also focus on how you can safeguard your website from potential hacks that can sneak into your business system and try to copy or steal your precious business information and customer data as well. 

Here are the top tips to secure your website from possible hacks.

Use the Right Platform

While there are many systems and platforms that you can use to build your website you need to focus on the ones that have the best security options. This would offer you the right start that you need to safeguard your business and personal information from hackers. If you are using website builders you need to look for the most secure website builder that you can find. Similarly, you must also focus on the purpose of your website because you can look for various platforms that are designed for blogs and e-commerce stores. 

Use SSL Certification

Even if you are not asking for the personal information of your users you would still want to make use of the SSL certification on your website that would use an encrypted SSL protocol to transfer user information from your website to the database. This ensures that the information is not read in the transit and certain protocols are being implemented to keep the data from being hacked. Using the right HTTPS protocol would ensure that you can protect data from hackers.

Tighten Up Access Control

The easiest way for a hacker to get into your website system is through a username and password that are predictable and easy to guess. Hence, you need to enforce user names and passwords that are not easy to guess. Similarly, you can reduce the number of login attempts made by the users in a certain period. When you tighten up the access control of your website you ensure that hackers have a tough time breaking into your website. 

Keep Your Platform Software Updated

Even when you are using platforms like WordPress you want to ensure that you secure your WordPress website by keeping your version updated because you want to have the best and latest features that can offer you the highest level of protection. On the other hand, if you have firewalls and other third-party security systems you would want to update those as well to ensure that your website is secured against the latest malware and spyware threats. 

Avoid File Upload Options

If you are allowing your users to upload files to your website system some hackers will likely infiltrate the system using a malware or spyware file. This can make things hard for you to safeguard your website. Hence, you should avoid allowing users to upload files. This way you can ensure that no files are being uploaded to your system and you can keep track of the existing files that you have on your website system. 

Use Web Security Tools

Today, you can find many additional tools that you can add to your website that would analyze and monitor the health of your website. This would ensure that you can keep track of all the files on your website and that there is no spyware, malware and viruses on your website system. With this, you can have a peace of mind and focus on handling your website efficiently. 

Gunnar Optiks offers a full suite of blue light protection glasses

Scott Webster
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We spend a large segment of our day looking at screens. Be it a computer monitor, laptop, phone, tablet, TV, or even a Peloton bike, there are a lot of displays pushing blue light at our eyes.

Whether you realize it or not, these screens can do a real number on you. Sure, there’s the obvious stuff like eye strain, but there’s also headaches, dry eyes, inability to fall asleep easily, and general exhaustion.

How does one combat the ever-present threat? If you haven’t checked out a pair of blue light glasses, the time is now. One brand you may want to consider in this space is GUNNAR Optiks.

We were provided a couple of pairs of blue light filtering glasses from the GUNNAR team, one being the Pendleton and the other being the Lightning Bolt. That is to say the former is a pair of more traditional glasses while the latter are geared toward gaming. Both run about $80 a pair.

We found both pairs to be comfortable to wear, study, and solidly built. The two had Amber tint which is somewhere in the middle of what’s available for protection against blue light.

The glasses come with a protective carrying case and a microfiber cleaning cloth; they are backed by a 12-month warranty.

The Pendleton have a flexible hinge that allows for comfort at the temples while the Lightning Bolt have a unique shape to the arm that alleviates pressure.

Also cool, the gaming glasses come with a free interchangeable headset strap that snaps on at the temple. This way your ears don’t get fatigued, especially if you’re wearing a pair of headphones.

Take a look through the GUNNAR website and you’ll find that not only is there a variety of categories and respective designs but many of them come with options for different colors or lens tint. You should have no issue locating a pair that speak to your style and sensibilities.

And while you can typically opt for the GUNNAR-Focus lens for sharper focus at close range, you can also use your prescription, too. Going that route opens things up quite a bit in the area of lens tints as well as whether you want single focus, progressive, or something for computers.

If you spend more than a few hours per day looking at a computer screen, you owe it to yourself to start protecting your eyes against the harmful effects of blue light. When you’re ready, GUNNAR Optiks has a wide range of options.

Blurams Dome Lite 2: The $50 pan and tilt camera for the masses?

Scott Webster
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Building up a smart home doesn’t have to be an expensive endeavor, even if you’re dealing with security. Indeed, you don’t have to spend a lot of money to get started with putting cameras around the house. The Blurams Dome Lite 2 serves as a perfect example of a budget-priced device that works for most homes.

As a successor or refresh to an already-existing experience, the Dome Lite 2 is a tennis ball-sized dome unit of a camera with 2K resolution and a 109-degree viewing angle.

The camera will pan 355 degrees and tilt 95 degrees to provide pretty much a full perspective of a room. There are eight LED lights around the lens which provide up to 22 feet of low-light illumination. Also tucked into the camera are a microphone and speaker as well as a 110db siren.

As for storage options, the Dome Light 2 comes with a few include 24 hour loops recording in the cloud at no cost. Subscribe for $5 a month and you’ll get a 7-day loop; 15-day and 30-day loops are $59 and $139, respectively.

Alternatively, you can also save videos to a microSD card (up to 128GB). The camera will capture 10-second clips each time it recognizes a human, saving it in the cloud.

The Dome Lite 2 has a six-foot cable and can be placed on a tabletop, desk, or even mounted to a wall with the included hardware.

The camera lets users change resolution; adjust it based on how much bandwidth you want to use or the level of image quality you’d like to capture. Moreover, you can toggle it to whether you want it to switch to night vision when it’s dark. For most people the defaults will be perfect.

Other features worth noting including the ability to control the pan and tilt with an in-app virtual joystick, manual capturing of pictures and videos, motion detection, human recognition, and toggling a privacy shield.

If you’ve got a smart digital assistant like Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa, you’ll get a little extra capability, too. Similarly, it’s also possible to configure it with IFTTT for some automation.

Learn more about the Blurams Dome Lite 2 at the manufacturer’s website where it’s also available to purchase for about $50. You can also find it at Amazon where it’s currently offered for just $41.

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