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Cricket Wireless adds a pair of low-cost Motorola phones

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Cricket Wireless on Thursday announced the Moto G Stylus and Moto G Power are coming to the prepaid carrier starting April 8. Priced $190 and $140, respectively, they feature big screens and even bigger batteries.

Customers looking for a clean Android build with nice customization features may be interested in checking either of the phones out.

While the two handsets share a number of specifications in common, they speak to slightly different demographics. The Moto G Stylus is more for your productivity and notetaking needs while the Moto G Power is built to last with a three-day battery.

Moto G Stylus (2022)

  • Built-In Stylus: Sketch freely, add handwritten notes to photos and edit images with pinpoint precision using the built-in stylus.
  • Elevated Views: See your favorite entertainment, sketches and more come to life on the 6.8″ Max Vision FHD+ display that stretches from edge to edge for an ultra-wide view.
  • Two-Day Battery: Work, study, and game on the go without any worries thanks to the 5000mAh battery that lasts up to has up to two days on a single charge.
  • Find Your Best Angle: Take high-resolution portraits, ultra-wide images, extreme close-ups, and selfies with the dual-capture multipurpose 50 MP triple camera system.
  • Powerful Performance: Get the power needed to create effortlessly with the octa-core processor and enjoy plenty of room for notes, sketches, games and more with 128 GB of built-in storage available

Moto G Power (2022)

  • Charged Up: Feel comfortable on the go without a charger with a massive 5000mAh battery that can go up to three days on a single charge.
  • Big Screen: Bring games, video chats and more to life through the 6.5” Max Vision HD+ display with maximum viewing thanks to a 20:9 aspect ratio.
  • Crystal-Clear Views: Take the perfect shot from multiple angles with the 50 MP triple camera system, equipped with Quad Pixel technology for incredibly sharp and bright images.
  • Expandable Storage: Capture and save life’s best moments with the 64GB built-in storage that can be expanded up to 512GB with a micro-SD card.
  • Water-repellent design: No longer worry about spills and splashes thanks to a water-repellent design.
  • Safety and Protection: Securely unlock your phone with just a touch on the fingerprint reader or through face recognition via the front camera.

Cricket Wireless is a prepaid carrier that utilizes AT&T’s wireless network. It currently offers unlimited rate plans for as low as $25 per line for a four-line account.

The best E-learning apps for remote students

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You never really know how long is 500 words, until you have an academic assignment that you can’t complete. 

There is a compromise in systems design: a system can be resilient, or it can be efficient. Usually, these two are inversely proportional. The problem with our modern world is that it is made to be as efficient as possible. 

We order food, and it’s at our door in less than an hour. Products from across the planet can arrive in days. Until recently, everything was high-speed and low cost. 

However, these circumstances didn’t fall out of the sky. There is a global logistics supply chain, with thousands of moving parts. Every disruption is felt and can cripple the entire effort. 

Online learning and lessons from the Pandemic 

What does system design have to do with learning? Well, the recent Covid pandemic exposed the fundamental weakness of modern education systems. Overnight, millions of children could not go to school, and governments struggled to adapt. 

A wrench was thrown into every education department on the planet. The basis of modern society was apparently very fragile. Lacking their own infrastructure, educators were forced to rely on a third-party company’s product, namely Zoom. 

In addition, the results were abysmal even for kids who attended online classes. Teachers learned that you can’t just copy paste lesson plans and just implement them via Zoom. Adaptation is needed, with the specific challenges of teaching online. 

So, we had to learn on our feet, and learn fast. Meanwhile, the world isn’t getting any calmer, richer, or more peaceful. These emergency situations may be appearing more frequently, and online learning is by far, the best and safest alternative to traditional schooling. 

Let’s take a look at some promising applications that facilitate interactive e-learning, according to the TampaBayTimes:

Zoom Education 

As previously mentioned, Zoom practically saved the education of millions of kids. Sure, there were other video communication tools such as MS Teams or Skype, but Zoom could consistently and regularly handle calls with dozens of people without too many problems. 

It uses a cloud-based service and an intuitive interface that even a preschooler can handle. Also, Zoom has some nifty features such as allowing you to generate a digital whiteboard so you can scribble or draw. You can even show your screen with ease, as the process only requires a single click. 

Seesaw

This software is one of the most popular online learning apps on the planet. Overall, it incorporates tools that allow teachers and parents to generate a stimulating online virtual classroom. 

You will be able to highlight the student’s strong points, but also see areas where he is failing. You can also get a bird’s eye view of the general trajectory of his learning journey. 

Even homeschoolers tend to use this software in certain situations. 

Photomath 

The human brain is very bad with numbers, that’s why we had to invent computers. Being “good” at math is a very rare skill, but every person has to at least be competent. 

Photomath is an application that many older people wish that they had in grade or high school. 

As the name suggests: you take a photo of a math problem, and then the application helps you to solve it. 

I appreciate the fact that the answer is not binary. It doesn’t just say “right” or “wrong”. It walks you through the necessary steps and shows you where you went wrong.  This is how people actually learn, namely by tracing back to the point where they made a mistake.

In math, one of the most frustrating things is that you can misapply a formula or copy a wrong number from the sheet, and continue to work on the exercise for a long time. Nothing will stop you from wasting time, and you don’t even know from which point you started to deviate. 

This is how most people fail math tests; by pouring all of their time into one failed exercise, instead of cutting losses and analyzing mistakes if they have time left.

Overall, this app’s benefits are enormous. 

Socrative 

Named after the parent of philosophy and (by extension) science, Socrative is an application that seeks to simplify and enhance the e-learning process. 

Overall, Socrative stands out not by the quality of its learning material, but by the degree of customization that it enables. Teachers are able to track the progress of each student and send out personalized reports, corrections, and reviews. 

In addition, it can serve as a baseline assessment tool for commissions and people who are responsible for lesson plans. Everyone from teachers to the ministry of education workers can get some good value out of this app. 

There is also a library of quizzes that are ready to be used, acting as time-saving tools for overworked teachers. 

Animoto

Humans are profoundly visual creatures. A stunning percentage of our brain is dedicated to processing the information incoming from our eyes. And here lies the problem, there is little to no visual stimulus in the learning process. 

You are expected to sit down, shut up, and listen. Taking notes or reading does help, but ultimately it is profoundly uninteresting for most students. This is why documentaries are so popular: you are putting info in a video, visual format. 

Animoto is an application that allows teachers or parents to create stunning visual content for their students or children. Of course, you will also be able to affect the accompanying audio content. This app gives you a much greater chance to capture and hold someone’s attention. 

Conclusion 

We are a long way from replacing teachers with electronic applications. In fact, seeing teachers and technology as competitors is fundamentally flawed. As is everything in life, technology is supposed to enhance what is already there. 

Construction workers didn’t vanish just because cement mixers and cranes were invented. 

Using e-Learning applications, teachers can gain two major advantages. First, they will be able to automate a lot of tedious work. Apps can be used to track progress instantly or correct tests. Second, and most importantly, it will make learning more interesting. 

Considering that it is very difficult to store memories of things that do not interest you, we better invest in making learning more engaging.

Anker is making a 3D printer with AnkerMake M5

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Anker has made its brand more and more recognizable every year. One of the reasons is the fast diversification the company has done recently. From the home line with eufy and AnkerWork targeting the work from home warrior, Anker has many consumer markets covered. Now, the expansion continues with the AnkerMake branding and a new 3D Printer.

AnkerMake M5 3D Printer

Starting today, you can invest in this new venture by Anker and purchase the new AnkerMake M5 3D printer on Kickstarter. Getting in as an early adopter gets a massive discount from $760 to a much more manageable $430 fee.

Anker’s CEO recognizes that current 3D printers come with many hurdles to get the end-user up to speed and hopes the M5 can elevate some of those issues.

“3D printers help us imagine a world where ideas and creative concepts can be instantly
transformed into physical form. However, the reality is 3D printing can be slow, cumbersome
and difficult to figure out,” said Steven Yang, CEO of Anker Innovations. “AnkerMake is
committed to removing these pain points so that artists, inventors, hobbyists and DIY
enthusiasts can take advantage of a more practical tool to bring their creations to life.”​

Anker also believes that easy assembly is a part of the equation it can eliminate as well. The company claims that with just three parts to assemble the M5 3D Printer can be functional in around 15 minutes with no previous experience with 3D printers. We’ve included more bullet points below of essential features found in the AnkerMake 3D Printer.

  • 5× Faster Printing: With the powerful motor and custom drive, the printing speed can reach 250mm/s (acceleration can reach 2,500 mm/s²), it slices print time by 70%.
  • Stable Print Quality: The aluminum alloy die-casting base increases the weight of the base, reducing the center of gravity of the machine and making the printing more stable. The installation error of the base is also reduced, improving the accuracy of the printing tool and surface.
  • AI Visual Recognition: The built-in AI camera monitors your printing 24/7. The integrated
    camera detects printing issues (e.g., layer splitting, spaghetti mess, nozzle plugging) with up to 95% accuracy to avoid wasting the user’s time and printing materials.
  • Cloud Connection: Connect your printer, app, and slicing software together to print remotely. Multi-device management and remote messaging notifications allow you to start printing from your phone or computer anytime, anywhere.
  • Timelapse Photography: Timelapse videos are automatically generated after your printing finishes. With an adaptive light-sensing algorithm, you can see it clearly even at night.
  • Easy to Use: A bundle of user-friendly features, including Auto-leveling, PEI platform, Resume after a power outage, Multiple notifications, and more. It comes half-assembled and can be set up in 3 easy steps.

To purchase the AnkerMake M5 3D Printer, hit the link below to Kickstarter and have your wallets ready.

Kickstarter Page for AnkerMake M5 3D Printer

Anker announces several new devices for 2022

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Anker has announced a bevy of new devices for this year 2022. The new additions spread across the company’s many brands and markets. From the home security eufy line to the good ole fashioned Anker battery lineup, there are several units the company is proud to unveil.

eufy Security 4G Starlight Camera

This is the star of this new lineup. eufy has quickly been building a great offering for folks that want to build a home security system without all the fuss and contracts. This new wireless camera checks a ton of boxes including 4G and an optional solar panel that ensures you never run out of power.

  • True Wireless 4G – avoid the cords and wires, install anywhere without Wifi coverage
    for easy monitoring.
  • All-Day 2K Color Clarity – See color night vision without turning on a spotlight in ultra-
    dark environments (light intensity above 0.3 lx).
  • Identify even the tiniest details in 2K clarity anytime with a powerful 5MP lens.
  • Smart AI Detection – reduce up to 95% of false alarms with built-in AI, 5 times faster
    than cloud AI.
  • Long-lasting Power – the built-in battery provides 3 months of standby power, which is
    twice the battery life of ordinary 4G cameras. With its 2.6W high-efficiency solar panel, just a few hours of direct sunlight each day is enough to continuously power the camera.
  • Protection from Thieves and Damage – easily find the camera if it’s stolen or lost with
    the built-in GPS. You can also use a camouflage silicone cover* to prevent the camera
    from being stolen or damaged by weather or vandals.
  • Withstands rain, dust, and extreme temps – (-4°F-131°F, -20°C-55°C) with its IP67
    rating and sturdy build.
  • No Monthly Fee for local data storage.

The eufy Security Starlight Camera with 4G will be available in the US starting April 15. The retail price is set at $250 without the solar panel and $270 with it. There will also be a camo cover available at a later date.

eufy Smart Scale P2 Pro

Anker will also be refreshing its eufy Smart Scale with the P2 Pro. The previous generation was a favorite of ours with the ability to give you that accountability when trying to change your body.

  • 16 Measurements, Including Heart Rate Measurement. Equipped with 16 measurements
    including heart rate, body weight, body fat, BMI, and more.
  • 3D U-Body™️ model. Input your body measurements to generate a virtual model of yourself,
    giving you a visualization of your body shape changing.
  •  More Accurate. The weighing accuracy can be limited to 0.1lbs(50g), which supports the baby & pet measurement mode.
  • eufyLife app – tracking your health data. Set your personal fitness goals via the calorie
    manager. We also support unlimited users.
  • ITO surface with IPX5 Waterproof. Don’t have to be restricted to touchpoints, and can use
    worry-free in the bathroom.
  • Wifi & Bluetooth connection. Ensure that your data can be uploaded to the EufyLife app even
    if your phone is not around.

The eufy Smart Scale P2 Pro will also be available to purchase in the United States starting April 15. The full retail price will be set at $60.

Nebule Cosmos Laser 4K

Nebula has become the home entertainment division of Anker’s brands. This new projector seems to reset the most premium unit Nebula has to offer with the Cosmos Laser 4K. With a plethora of top-end features, it deserves that top spot.

  • Laser-Powered Brightness: 2,400 ISO Lumens, 4K Resolution and ALPD 3.0 technology bring bright and stunning images even with lights on.
  • Move Your Home Theater: Easily carry around your house with its ergonomically designed handle.
  • Setup is a Snap: Instantly create a cinema with InstaSet Display Technology. In only 3 seconds,
    Gridless Auto Keystone Correction aligns the image without a grid and Seamless Autofocus quickly clears up the display.
  • Android TV 10.0: Provide 7000+ Mainstream Apps including Netflix (Access with included 4K streaming dongle).
  • 30W Speakers with AiFi technology and Dolby Audio: Heighten the intensity of the soundtrack and the intimacy of whispers to provide immersive cinema-quality sound. Plus, AiFi technology and Dolby Audio create a true 3D soundscape.
  • Eye Guard technology: Provides intelligent eye protection with a distance sensor.

Anker 735 Charger (Nano II 65W)

You can’t have a new year of Anker devices without a charger. Anker is bringing back the GaN tech to expand the Nano series with an updated 65W charger with triple ports.

  • Small Build with Big Power: Power up your devices conveniently wherever you go.
    Pioneered in GaN technology since 2018, Anker’s award-winning GaN II technology
    makes 735 Charger (Nano II 65W) 53% smaller than an original 61W charger without
    sacrificing any power.
  • High-Power 65W Charger for Different Devices: Fully charged MacBook Air 13”
    (2020) in just 2 hours when connected to a single device. Power will be distributed
    efficiently between ports to ensure you get the best charge.
  • No More Queuing When Charging: Charge three devices at the same time, making
    your work-from-home experience more efficient.
  • Universal Compatibility with Various Fast-Charging Protocols: Featuring Anker-
    exclusive PowerIQ 3.0 that has a wide range of fast-charging protocol compatibility with
    Qualcomm Quick Charge, Power Delivery, Samsung Fast Charging, and more. Charge
    phones, tablets, laptops, and other devices from a single USB-C port—at their fastest
    possible speed.

WaterField Packable Sling review

I am absolutely obsessed with packable/compact things; I currently own of a packable Duffel bag and packable ottoman, as well as a packable backpack and tote bag. It’s pretty easy to understand why I jumped at the opportunity to review the Waterfield Packable Sling backpack.

My previous packable backpack was a black, formless bag that all in all feels flimsy. Oftentimes, bags of this nature can be sometime come across as cheaply made, or almost trashy looking. Waterfield’s approach is anything but.

The Packable Sling is a sling backpack that holds its form well, thanks to a solid construction with minor padding inside and reinforced stitching. It is also water-resistant, something that doesn’t happen all that regularly with bags like this.

In my experience, the WaterField can easily, if not routinely hold two water bottles, a tablet, notepad, reading glasses and some pens. It expands nicely to allow for more storage than you might expect. But, to me, the best part is that the bag folds up to about half the size of a paperback book when not in use.

Waterfield Packable Sling packed up

The Packable Sling is designed for day trips to the beach, a hike in the hills, or hopping around town. It’s the sort of thing you’ll want to have on you if you’re tired of carrying keys, cables, and other small items in your pocket or hands.

It’s not quite a bag for laptops or tablets, but it can accommodate an 11-inch iPad Pro or a Surface Go. If you’re doing that, you’ll want to put them into a sleeve first so it has cushion and protection.

The bag can be worn on either side of the body, on the front or the back. Just note that when you purchase it you’ll decide whether it’s a left or right shoulder design.

I like that there are a number of pockets here and that it’s not just one big pouch. The exterior one is great for tossing in a wallet and earbuds; an attached hook is located inside so you can clip your keys or fob.

The Packable Sling is currently available for $99 from Waterfield in four colorways (Black, Olive, Burgundy, and Khaki). I personally think the price is overshooting a bit. In a market where these types of products run you $20-$30, this bag, while amazing, costs around three times that.

Now, to be fair, every other product we’ve tested from WaterField Bags has held up over time. The build quality is as promised and the lifetime warranty (defects in materials and workmanship) are both certainly worth extra money.

The SwitchBot Smart LED Strip Lights is dirt cheap right now

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One of the easiest, and most fun ways, to add some smarts to your home or office is with a strip of LED lights. Setting them to a particular color, scene, or pattern can go a long way to livening up an otherwise dull affair.

We’re a big fan of the myriad ways you can incorporate LED strips into your life. Whether it’s placing them behind a TV, under a window ledge, or running across the top of a wall, having them in place can spruce things up and refresh an environment.

Then there’s the different ways to to use the lights, including an app, remote control, and via voice.

The SwitchBot Smart LED Strip Lights, available for $20 at Amazon, are a great way to add more than a pop of color to your home. Offered in rolls of around 16 feet, the lights can be configured to any one of 16 million colors.

Can’t decide on the exact color you want for the party? Perhaps you’d enjoy using some of the preset “scenes” or letting them dance to the music. That’s right, the SwitchBot Smart LED Strip Lights can automatically flicker and pulse to the music from your speakers.

Other cool features include the ability to control via your preferred smart assistant or automation. Between Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, Siri, IFTTT, SmartThings, and CLOVA you’ve got pretty much all your bases covered. Use your voice to switch things from crimson to chartreuse or tie the lights to an automation so they change to blue when rain is in the forecast.

Light strips such as these come with a 3M adhesive backing which makes it easy to adhere them to nearly any flat surface. And because of the way they are designed, you can cut them off at the length you need. There’s no unnecessary LEDs wrapping around or doubling up; it’s just what you need to fit the space.

Features

  • Easy to install: Simply use the 3M adhesive on the back of LED Strip Light to install your lighting and attach it anywhere, it’s that easy.
  • Cuttable, bendable, magical.: You can even cut your LED Strip Light to get a length perfectly suited for wherever you want to attach it, it is also flexible and can be used even for corners or hard to reach places.
  • Set timers & schedules: You can also set timers and schedules to have your LED Strip Light turn on automatically at preset times.
  • Control from anywhere: Can be controlled using either Bluetooth or Wi-Fi to help you control your LED Strip Light no matter where you are.

Save Right Now!

Normally, the SwitchBot Smart LED Strip Lights run about $20 but right now you can get them for as low as $13 if you use the coupon code 15SBLIGHTSB at checkout. Doing so from now until April 15 will keep money in your pocket.

Head to Amazon to pick up a set of SwitchBot Smart LED Lights today!

Looking for something else?

Here are many other fun and interesting products you can check out.

Things you must know about buying followers for TikTok

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There is no wonder in saying that TikTok is becoming one of the most famous applications right now. Millions of people are using this application at present time for making videos. If you are a TikTok user then you must know how important it is to have great numbers of followers. People who have millions of followers on their TikTok are treated and also recognized as a celebrity. If you have a high number of followers you can earn some money from your post, various brands will also get associated with you. 

Do you know you can buy followers on TikTok? Yes you have heard right, if you want to know how to buy TikTok followers then consider reading our blog post. Here we have discussed how you can buy followers on TikTok.

How to buy followers on TikTok

In this section we have discussed how you can buy followers on TikTok. The very first thing that you must know is that buying followers on TikTok is no rocket science; you can easily buy a huge number of followers for your TikTok account. You don’t have to go door to door and ask them to follow you, all you need to do is go to a certain website to buy followers from them. Yes, it is that easy to buy followers for your TikTok account. 

You will see various websites offering you some different packages, for example, you can buy 200 followers by paying $2.8. If you are interested in buying followers that way, all you have to do is give your account details, and pay the money via bank transfer, credit or debit card. And you can see the result immediately after you complete the procedure. 

But when you buy followers that way, there is one thing that keeps going on inside your head that is whether it is safe to buy followers like this or not. You might wonder whether your account will get banned if you buy followers like this or not. 

Therefore, to help you understand whether it is safe to buy followers for your TikTok account, we have provided an analysis that will help you to get your answer. 

Is it safe to buy TikTok followers?

Now that you know about how you can buy followers for your TikTok account, let us understand whether it is safe to buy followers this way or not. The one important thing that you should always remember is that it is 100% safe to buy followers for your TikTok account. There is no such risk that you will face if you purchase followers for your TikTok account. Do you know there are millions of people out there who buy followers? Yes, it is true, there are millions of people who buy followers from various websites to grow their account quickly and safely. 

You must understand that when you buy followers from trusted websites you will get real people as your followers. Thus, choosing the right website is also an important thing you must keep in mind. 

The bottom line

In the end we would like to suggest to you that, undoubtedly buying followers is a great way to quickly grow your account but you must also think about making an engagement with these followers. 

Photo by Ron Lach : https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-man-doing-bottle-flip-challenge-8360449/

How to Run a Non-Profit Organization Efficiently

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Non-profit organizations have a significant role in communities all around the world by providing services that help people in need. Helping others is rewarding work. Yet, running a non-profit is hard work. 

Like businesses, non-profit organizations need to be run like a well-oiled machine. And believe it or not, a great way to do that is to make sure that it operates similar to a modern-day business. No matter the type of non-profit organization you have, to create a lasting impact and have the ability to help as many people as possible, you need to invest in your non-profit, just like a business does. In other words, you need to invest in your team, structure, marketing, and long-term relationships with donors. 

Here are a few tips on how to run your non-profit efficiently: 

Gather Volunteers 

Like most non-profits, yours also functions based on volunteer involvement. In other words, you need people who can give their time and effort to help your organization help others. 

Volunteers can help with a number of things, from raising funds to finding people who can benefit from your services, gathering supplies for people in need, helping your non-profit with fundraising events, and many others. So, you need to make sure that you have a significant number of volunteers who can help your organization for free. Easier said than done, right? 

Well, one essential aspect of running a non-profit is to learn how to gather volunteers. Start by understanding the type of volunteers you need. Based on the nature of your non-profit, you likely need volunteers that have a particular skill set. For example, you likely need people with strong soft skills who can easily interact with people in need. 

Once you figure out what you are looking for in volunteers, make sure to develop a clear volunteer job description that tells all that and share it on every possible platform, including your websites, social media, job sites, and others. This will increase your chances to gather the right volunteers and decrease your efforts to screen a vast number of volunteers who may not hold the right abilities for your non-profit’s activity.  

Work with A Fundraising Consultant 

Non-profits run on donations. You need money to do good and help others. So, it’s clear that some of your efforts need to be directed towards attracting donors and keeping them loyal (but more on that later). 

One good way to find donors who can support your activity is to work with a fundraising consultant who can offer you support and guidance in developing long-term contracts with major donors. A consultant can help you find donors among local businesses or even international brands. 

A fundraising consultant has the know-how and skills to convince brands to support your cause and activity. They are also familiar with all the paperwork involved in signing contracts with donors. This will give you more time to focus on other essential decisions and tasks to keep your non-profit thriving. 

Hire A Virtual Assistant 

Just like it is when you’re running a business, running a non-profit comes with a plethora of tasks. Oftentimes, these tasks end up on your plate, taking a lot of time and effort from you. You have to take care of accounting, marketing, relationships with donors, and many others. All these tasks can be really time-consuming, leaving you with no or very little time to deal with more organizational decisions. But it doesn’t have to be this way. A virtual assistant can help free up your to-do list. 

Virtual assistants are independent contractors who can support all types of businesses and organizations. They own a complex skill set that involves know-how and experience with a number of things, including data entry, accounting, web design, marketing, customer relationship management and many others. If you hire a UK Virtual Assistant, you will get help with various administrative and creative tasks that you can barely handle on your own. A VA will perform multiple tasks that are essential but time-consuming for you. 

Have A Powerful Marketing Strategy 

Businesses need marketing to attract customers who will buy their services and products. Non-profit organizations need marketing to attract donors who can financially support their activity. Your non-profit is no exception to the rule. 

Marketing is essential in attracting more donors who will give money to support you to help others. It also helps attract more volunteers to help you with your services. So, make sure to develop a strong marketing strategy. 

In today’s digital world, you have plenty of options when it comes to marketing strategies. You can promote your non-profit on social media, have a website, use email marketing, and many others. However, due to the humanitarian nature of your organization, make sure that you don’t ignore real face-to-face interactions. Offline marketing is also important to attract more people to support your cause. So, combine offline and online strategies for a more efficient marketing impact. For example, you can organize an in-person fundraising event and use online channels like social media or your website to promote it. 

Treat Donors as Customers or Investors 

When a donor decides to donate their time and money to your cause, they are actually investing in your services and the community you are helping. Looking at donors as investors or customers helps you treat them the right way to keep them engaged in supporting your non-profit more in the future. 

Businesses can’t succeed without customers and investors. Neither can non-profits. So, make sure that you use various strategies to keep your donors engaged and loyal, including: 

  • Show them the impact of their donations
  • Make them feel necessary for the activity of your non-profit
  • Stay in touch and keep them up-to-date with what’s new with your non-profit and projects. 

Diversify Your Revenue Streams 

Another critical strategy to run a successful non-profit is to find ways to make sure that you don’t only rely on donations. There will be moments when donors will be less active or have smaller budgets to donate. During those times, you need to have other revenue streams you can count on to keep your non-profit on the right track and continue to help others. 

So, find ways to diversify your revenue streams. For example, one idea would be to develop merchandise products and sell them on your website. 

Photo by Katt Yukawa on Unsplash

POWERUP 4.0 smartphone controlled paper airplane kit review

The PowerUp 4.0 is a smartphone-controlled paper airplane that allows you to get creative, either folding your own unique wing shapes or following along with suggested designs. The plane is controlled by a Bluetooth connection with smartphone; a very simple app lets you pair with the plane and start flying right away.

PowerUp offers this neat little toy in many different packages on its website ranging from the starter package for $69.99 all the way to their “Ultimate Bundle” for $219.00. PowerUp was kind enough to send me their Flight Manual Bundle, which comes with a couple of paper templates as well as the PowerUp Paper Airplane Book.

Personally I would suggest a package that contains the book, as it contains tons of information on the history of the company and the product, 10 different folding tutorials, and even some interesting physics about how the paper airplane works!

First Impressions

Right off of the bat, I was very happy with the PowerUp 4.0. The package I received contained the plane skeleton, a charging cable, two extra propellers, and a clear plastic stand to store or display the plane.

In addition to this, the plane came with tons of paper with cool templates and printed designs on it to help guide you through the folding process. Also, the actual engineering of the plane is absolutely great. I’m no aerospace engineer, but the build quality was very sturdy and the frame was lightweight.

The plane comes with a crossbar that you can and definitely should attach so as to keep the fragile paper wings from folding upwards under the force of lift. The “cockpit” portion of the frame is made of clear plastic so that you can see the computer ship inside as well as the battery, which I think is pretty cool.

The front nose is made of soft rubber material to protect the plane from my poor landing skills. The book that came with it has tons of information about the relative speed, maneuverability and endurance of each different plane, as well as a step-by-step guide to folding the wings. I decided to start with PowerUp’s “Invader” design, which seemed pretty basic and easy to fold.

Let’s Go

Upon assembling your airplane, you will next have to install the PowerUp 4.0 application and then connect the plane to your mobile device by Bluetooth.

One of my biggest concerns with this was the usually limited range of Bluetooth connection, however the PowerUp 4.0 mitigates this with a fairly small antenna at the top of the computer chip and battery housing.

The application gives you even more information about the plane, as well as a couple of videos to get your plane prepared for your first takeoff. I was also very impressed with the app’s stat-tracking abilities. The plane can recognize when it is level with the ground as well as the moment it touches down.

The PowerUp 4.0 can track your flying abilities and record how long you were in the air. They have created a convenient log of the telemetry so that you can analyze your own skills as well as identify your best performance with each airplane so as to make it a personalized experience.

Ready for Takeoff

To preface this, I am by no means any more than a novice pilot, so my first flight I expected very little. My first opportunity (mid-winter in Ohio) to fly the plane was not in the best of conditions, and I didn’t have much space to work with at school.

Given the amount of wind, and my extremely limited time with the PowerUp, it was not too hard to handle. The plane has a couple different control modes in the app. One controls the plane using the gyroscope in your phone with the throttle controlled by a simple button that you slide up and down.

While this was the first mode I used — I thought it would be easiest — later I preferred the joystick mode in which the plane throttle and direction were controlled by their own respective “joysticks” on your phone screen.

The PowerUp 4.0 was just plain easy and equally entertaining to fly. Without any sort of controllable ailerons I was worried about the maneuverability of a lightweight paper airplane, but I was absolutely shocked by it as I racked up flight time.

I sat on the plane for a few weeks and took it out in March when weather was more cooperative. I was able to find a bigger field on a much less windy day and gave it another shot. I then switched to a new freshly folded “Onslaught” design with a much smaller wingspan and surface area.

The Onslaught design proved to handle much better and it was evident that by improving my origami skills I was also improving the maneuverability and stability of the plane.

With some practice and maybe a couple of different designs, I’m sure just about anyone could find a way to become a pretty decent pilot of the PowerUp 4.0.

Features

The book that came with this plane has got to be the most important feature of the entire piloting experience. It has way more knowledge in it than I could ever hope to summarize. All I will say is that Kyle Boyer and Shai Goitein, the creators of the PowerUp paper airplane lineup, give tons of useful information about how to ensure you have the most stable and fun flight possible. If you are struggling with flying your plane, the first place you will want to go will be this book. 

The Bluetooth capabilities of the plane were also a pleasant surprise. The plane usually connected quickly to my phone and was ready to go within seconds after turning it on. I did find, however, that occasionally the plane would disconnect from my phone upon landing.

Normal Bluetooth connections between devices are hardly ever good for more than 30 feet, yet the airplane had no problems maintaining a connection to my phone from more than 150 feet away. I never was able to find an open space big enough to discover the limits of its range, but PowerUp claims that the range will reach up to 240 feet, assuming no interference. The application shows what I believe is a real-time measurement of the strength of the signal from the plane, measured in dB.

The battery level is also shown on the app while you are flying and leaves yet another good impression. PowerUp claims that the battery will last you only about 10 minutes of flight time, but considering my longest flight was only 1 minute and 6 seconds long, I find that to be plenty. I felt that in reality the battery did last much longer than 10 minutes, so I assume that to be based on the plane in air continuously.

While 10 minutes doesn’t seem like much, that 1 minute flight felt like forever and I was very satisfied after only a couple of flights. Regardless, in my time with it and for what it’s worth, the battery life was plenty.

The application comes with an acrobatic mode, but I couldn’t quite figure out how it modified the overall flying abilities of the plane. If you happen to somehow lose the plane in some tall grass, the app has a convenient method of locating it. Your mobile device will ping the plane to beep faster and faster as you approach it. Fortunately, I did not have to take advantage of this feature.

Final Thoughts

I think the PowerUp 4.0 is an absolutely amazing starter RC plane that is bound to make anyone who flies it a fan.

PowerUp has plenty of options for anyone, whether you’re a novice pilot like myself looking for some entertainment or an avid pilot hobbyist. The battery life is enough to be satisfying and it can be recharged easily by any micro-USB cable and power bank combo.

For being a simple Bluetooth connection, the range is also very impressive, and I can’t imagine it would be too hard to stay well within the range.

For an inexperienced pilot, the ability to control the plane came very quickly and easily. The application isn’t complicated yet it provided me with everything I could have asked for from it. The book that was sent with it is undeniably valuable to the overall experience of this product and I highly recommend it.

PowerUp definitely didn’t cut any corners with this plane, and there are tons of nice little features here and there that really make this plane worth it.

6 simple steps you can take to fix a waterlogged phone

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Your Android isn’t always ready for a swim. But does that mean you have to buy a new mobile after an untimely dip? 

Maybe, but maybe not. 

Check out the following steps you can take to save your waterlogged mobile, plus how to handle the replacement costs if nothing else works. 

Step #1: Remove it from Water

You’ll want to act fast and rescue your phone from the water (or other liquid) as quickly as possible. Most water-resistant phones are rated for water exposure under controlled conditions, including time. So, the longer your phone stays submerged, the higher the chance it won’t turn back on again. 

Step #2: Power Down

The next thing you’ll want to do is turn it off. If the water reached its way deep inside, this step might prevent any electrical shortages. 

Step #3: Detach Removable Components

You’ll want to remove anything that you can physically detach from your phone, including your protective case, SIM card, and even the battery if your model allows it. This will help release any trapped liquid and expose air to more of your mobile. 

Step #4: Dry Carefully

Next, you’ll want to remove any standing water left on and around your phone. Gently pat your phone and any detachable components using a microfiber cloth.

Step #5: Rest it Standing Up

Once it’s dry, let it sit undisturbed for the next 12–24 hours so that it can dry out before you turn it back on again. Make sure to orient it so that the major jacks or ports face in a way that lets trapped water drip out.

Step #6: Do Not Do Any of the Following

Ask a friend or go online and you can find miracle cures for a waterlogged phone. But many of these popular tricks do more harm good. 

  • Rice: It’s said leaving your phone in a bag of rice will help draw out the moisture. But in reality, you run the risk of getting rice and dust stuck inside. A better alternative is letting your phone dry out in a bag of silica gel packets instead. 
  • Air Compressor: Spray a can of compressed air may give you something to do, but all it does it blow water deeper into your phone. It’s better to let air and gravity do the work. 
  • Hair Dryer: A hair dryer causes the same damage as an air compressor, but the added heat can accelerate corrosion.

What to Do if These Steps Don’t Work

You can follow all the steps above and your phone still won’t work. Or, it might start to glitch a week after you revive it. In either case, it’s time to think about your options.

Option #1: Ask Around for Quotes

The bad news is, water damage isn’t usually something covered by the original manufacturer’s warranty — whether you have a Google, Samsung, or LG device. That means you’ll be paying out of pocket for any repairs. 

The good news is, not all repairs will cost the same, and you can shop around to make sure you’re getting the best deal. Ask the manufacturer, your cell service provider, and any third-party repair shops near you for an estimate. 

Option #2: Finance a New Phone

Sometimes, a repair will be a quick and cheap solution. But sometimes, it’s just as expensive as getting a new mobile. In that case, you might as well make the upgrade. Talk to your cell service provider about your current contract. 

If you’ve paid off the old phone, you’ll be able to finance a replacement easily. But if you still have some charges outstanding, you might be able to balance things out by choosing an older, cheaper model.

Option #3: Buy a New Replacement

Unfortunately, if you just got your old phone, you may not have enough room on your contract or flex payment plan to finance a new one.

If you’re stuck buying a brand-new phone on your own dime, consider using an installment loan for backup. An installment loan might be an option when you need your phone for work, and you can’t possibly put off buying a new one. 

If you qualify for an installment loan, you can borrow money online to cover the cost of your mobile. Rather than paying a phone upfront out-of-pocket, you’ll have an installment loan you can pay off over multiple payments. 

To limit how big of an installment loan you need, look into refurbished or certified pre-owned models from your provider. Your provider will test these devices to ensure they run at factory standards. 

Don’t Let Your New Phone Take a Dip

Following all these steps and paying for a new phone (with or without an installment loan) isn’t easy. It takes a frustrating and potentially expensive toll on your day. So don’t let it happen again. Keep your phone away from water sources, and make sure to keep it safely zipped into a pocket whenever you’re out and about.

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