There is a lot of concern about tech companies getting bigger, but it makes no sense to cripple a US tech company in a competitive market particularly if the beneficiary of such an action would likely be a non-US company or if the result would be the failure of another US Company. This was one of several FTC cases in recent years, another was the Qualcomm case (which they lost on appeal), where the FTC seemed to be out of touch with the needs of the Nation and was seemingly operating on the policy that US tech companies needed to be punished without any consideration for how much damage such punishment would do to the nation.  

Let’s look at this recent Activision/Bizzard effort and suggest that the FTC needs to have a far deeper understanding of the competitive dynamics in a market before acting against any company’s best interests let alone a company like Microsoft which is critical to assuring US dominance in tech.   

Gaming Competitive Landscape

If Microsoft was massively dominant with their Xbox gaming system and were they abusing this dominance against other US gaming vendors, the FTC would have had grounds to block this merger, but neither is the case. While Microsoft’s reputation back in the 1990s was one of a company abusing monopoly power, they have changed out virtually all their senior managers and board members since then and are currently poster children for good behavior, interoperability, Open Source, and they even aggressively support Linux.  

Currently, and it appears the courts agree, there isn’t any real evidence that Microsoft is behaving badly. In addition, they aren’t dominant in gaming. They have the only US gaming platform and compete against two platforms out of Japan Nintendo and Sony PlayStation with PlayStation arguably the most powerful of the three.   

And the entire segment is under threat from Smartphone gaming and the potential for a VR gaming effort from Apple which will again challenge Sony much like they did with the iPod years back. Apple is a US vendor but currently not a major gaming player but they aren’t being restricted by Microsoft, more by their own software store practices which have led to litigation about Apple’s alleged misbehavior where Apple appears to have prevailed. 

So other than just wanting to make sure Microsoft got no bigger (and getting bigger isn’t currently illegal) the FTC didn’t appear to have a case.  

Saving Activision/Blizzard

What made the FTC action particularly disturbing was that Activision/Blizzard was in deep trouble and needed a significant change in operational management or it was likely to go under resulting in both substantial US job loss and an overall weakening of the US’s technology leadership in gaming.  The company has strong titles, is storied, and is worth saving for its position in the gaming market and as a large US employer.

While Microsoft has often struggled with non-software companies like NOKIA, they tend to do far better with software companies having acquired and integrated many of them over the years. In addition, Microsoft’s culture was once in deep trouble as well and they, under Satya Nadella, largely turned that culture around suggesting they have the internal skills to fix Activision/Blizzard, and the company desperately needed fixing. The gaming industry in general has been highlighted as problematic ever since Gamergate highlighted practices that should have long been unacceptable to any industry but have clearly not been discontinued timely at Activision/Blizzard. It is my belief that had this merger not been approved that Activision/Blizzard would have likely failed making the likely outcome of the FTC’s success significant damage to the US tech market positions.  

The FTC action didn’t make sense for competition, it didn’t make sense for the acquired company, and were it successful, it would only damage the US’s competitive position without any apparent upside other than being able to say “we took down another US tech company” which shouldn’t be the goal for a US regulatory body. 

Wrapping Up:

I’m not arguing that large Tech companies don’t need to be regulated, we’ve certainly seen the massive unintended consequences of giving Social Media companies too little oversight, and clearly, Microsoft did mis-act in the past and needed to be brought to heal. However, just looking for opportunities to block US interests shouldn’t be what drives regulatory bodies like FTC, it should be protecting US citizen interests and preserving competition which is where they shine. 

But I think the FTC’s leadership wanted to show they were being hard on big companies with this and the Qualcomm action without fully researching the related market and making the logical determination that their actions would have a positive impact on the US and thus again lost their way. Where regulatory bodies go wrong is when they are driven not by the needs of the people they protect or the countries they operate in, but by political imperatives to show they are doing something regardless of what is done.  

In this instance, the FTC in their rush to punish someone mistakenly went after this Microsoft deal and the courts ruled, again, as they did in the Qualcomm case, that they were out of line. I expect this will continue to happen, until and unless the FTC focuses back on protecting the US and US Citizens rather than trying to look like they are only focused on trying to punish big companies from wanting to get bigger (which, again, isn’t illegal yet). In this case, the merger was good for Microsoft, good for Activision/Blizzard, and by increasing Microsoft’s competitive gaming posture against two Japanese companies, good for the US. The FTC needs to pick its targets more carefully.

Source: TG Daily – Microsoft Cleared To Buy Activision/Blizzard: Why The FTC Block Made No Sense

If you are looking to market your online business and you recognise the fact that you may need to outsource these requirements to a third-party SEO agency, you are likely feeling a little overwhelmed. How can you tell if an SEO agency is legitimate or if you are in danger of being scammed by them? And similarly, how can you know for sure if an SEO agency knows what they are doing or if they are ill-prepared to help you achieve your long-term goals?

In this article, we’re going to share some tips to help you make the right decision when investing in an SEO agency. Follow these tips and you’ll have no trouble avoiding the inequitable.

1. Study their online presence

The first step in determining whether an SEO agency is legit or not is to study its online presence. Type their brand name into Google and see what kind of information comes up.

If you find next to nothing online about them, then they are not worth your time or money. Similarly, if it comes up with negative reviews and horror stories from other businesses who have been scammed by them in the past then run a mile.

On the other hand, if you find their website, a GMB profile, lots of socials, and a wealth of other information then it is clear that they are a real and well-established agency.

You could always take to LinkedIn and type their brand name into the search bar to see what you can find. If you find a number of professionals who work for them, a thriving business page, and multiple posts from other professionals engaging with them then take that as a good sign.

2. Look for social proof

Next, you want to see what other people are saying about your prospective SEO agency. Don’t take their word for it; instead, look for feedback and reviews from real-life people who have engaged with their services.

If you find an overwhelming number of five-star reviews, then it is usually a very good sign that they are doing something right.

If they don’t have many reviews at all – or if their average is rather low, then move along and find an agency worthy of your time and money.

3. Ask for case studies and client testimonials

Any legit SEO agency worth their salt will have a number of client success stories to share with you. If they don’t, then at the very least they should have client testimonials from recognised brands who have experienced success in doing business with them.

If a prospective SEO agency refuses to offer both, then look elsewhere. Unless you can view their previous successes, how can you know for certain that they are legitimate?

You shouldn’t have to hire an SEO agency on blind faith alone. There are tons of well-established agencies out there who will be more than happy to provide you with proof of their performance.

4. Press them with some difficult questions

A highly effective way of separating the wheat from the chaff is by asking difficult questions. Here are some examples:

• What is your approach to delivering superior results? Which strategies do you use?
• How will you adapt your strategies to suit my niche?
• What metrics do you use to measure success?
• How long until we can expect results?
• What is your approach to link-building?
• Which tools do you use?
• How do you report on progress?
• What do you need from us in order to be effective?

These are just a handful of the questions that you can ask, however, you’ll learn a lot about a prospective SEO agency by the way they respond to you.

If they come back with very vague responses or seem to try and dodge many of the questions, then run a mile. These are all very reasonable questions to ask and the best SEO agencies will gladly answer them in detail.

5. If you get a bad gut feeling

It might sound silly, but the ultimate deciding factor when choosing an SEO agency should come down to your gut feeling. Yes, do all of the necessary research and press them with difficult questions. However, if you get a bad gut feeling about an agency and you really do not feel too good about them then trust your intuition.

In reality, you should feel excited when moving forward with a new SEO agency. If you don’t feel excited by the prospect, then it is usually a pretty good sign that something is off.

Conclusion: Be unforgiving

We are talking about the future of your business. When you invest in the right digital marketing services, it can be transformative for your business. However, waste your money with the wrong people and it can be devastating.

Save yourself the heartache, take your time, do your due diligence, trust your gut, and you’ll be well on your way to long-term success. 

Source: TG Daily – How Can You Tell If An SEO Agency Is Legitimate Or If You Are In Danger Of Being Scammed?

This week, NVIDIA had another design win with its self-driving cars, this time with XPENG’s new G6 coup (they are already in the G9 EV). I’ve been watching reviews of some of China’s latest electric cars. While initially many were of such poor quality they’d never sell anyplace else, some of the latest cars are arguably better than Teslas. While they may lag in performance, they seem to provide a greater luxury experience and more fun at a far lower price than a Tesla, and Tesla is the world’s gold standard when it comes to electric vehicles (or it was). And with NVIDIA’s technology, this is how self-driving should work.

But when it comes to self-driving, Tesla has really hurt the market by presenting its Level 2+ system (basically enhanced cruise control) as self-driving and naming it Autopilot, which resulted in an impressive number of deaths and scared consumers away from the technology. Consumer Reports was not amused.

But Tesla isn’t the only one scaring consumers. The self-driving taxis in places like San Francisco continue to act up publicly and scare people away from the technology just a few years (almost months) before it will be available in a workable form.  

Let’s talk about self-driving, why you should want it, and what still needs to be done.  

NVIDIA Orin and self-driving benefits

NVIDIA Orin is currently the best technology for self-driving cars. What makes it the best is not only its hardware that benefits from NVIDIA’s nearly two-decade focus on AI which has catapulted it to one of the most valuable technology companies in the world, but also NVIDIA’s Drive Sim powered by Omniverse. This simulation platform allows it to train its driving AI in hours to a level that would be equivalent to putting cars on the road for years because the training happens at machine speeds that are significantly faster than real-time.     

Things I’ve gotten hooked on on YouTube are the bad driver videos. I try to see the problem that causes the accident with enough time to avoid it. Watching those videos likely saved my life when, the other day, I was entering an intersection on a green light only to have a semi run the red light going around 60. Regardless of how heavy my electric Jaguar is, the semi would have crushed me if I hadn’t developed a habit of looking for this kind of mistake and being ready to brake. 

Why you should want self-driving

Often, the threat on the video comes from a direction where I either can’t see (back, or blind-side) or where I’m not looking. Even parking lot accidents often occur because you are not looking at where the threat is coming from: pedestrian, a car backing out the same time you are, a car driving too fast in a parking lot, or just being distracted at the wrong time. One time I started backing up while looking at the car’s radio expecting it to be a reverse camera because that is what I’d been doing for years (luckily, I didn’t hit anyone).  

It is in situations like these that self-driving technology could literally save your life. These systems use a variety of sensors to look all around the car and can use vehicle-to-vehicle technology to see things outside of the range of these various sensors.  And if you want to drive yourself, you can as the car will drop down into something called Guardian Angel mode where the AI will take control of the vehicle if it sees a potential accident you haven’t seen.  

This capability will save countless lives. People with kids and/or pets on board, those too addicted to social media or texting, or those that are impaired are all catastrophic accidents waiting to happen. Self-driving technology should be able to mitigate most of that exposure.  

One little distraction and a fun Sunday drive can turn into a catastrophic event where people are permanently crippled or killed. I would personally pay a lot to never have to deal with such an event.  

Wrapping up: What still needs to be done.

Self-driving cars that aren’t self-driving will emerge as the biggest threats. AIs can talk to each other, they don’t drive impaired, and they can help each other avoid accidents. But humans can get road rage when they think they’ve been disrespected, or drive under the influence, and often drive distracted. No matter how good an AI is, it can’t overcome physics. If your car stops to avoid an accident, there is a good chance the human-driven car behind you will not stop in time and you’ll still become a statistic. 

So, what still needs to be done is to begin getting people excited about this technology so that it quickly propagates to all the cars around us as well as our own. The life this technology saves may very well be ours. We need to build demand for self-driving cars because if folks don’t want it, we will remain at risk of losing what is most valuable to us: the lives of our loved ones. I don’t know about you, but I’m rather attached to my life and would rather not lose it, either.  

Source: TG Daily – NVIDIA and the Big Unaddressed Problem with Self-Driving Cars

In today’s fast-paced world, ensuring the safety of our homes and loved ones has become paramount. Traditional security measures are no longer enough to deter modern-day threats. That’s where intelligent security systems like Ajax come into play. This piece will explore the significance of security systems and delve into a comprehensive review of the Ajax security system, a cutting-edge solution that takes home protection to the next level.

The Importance of Security Systems

Securing your home is not just about preventing burglaries but peace of mind. With the rise in criminal activities, having a reliable security system is crucial. Here are a few key reasons why security systems matter:

• Deterrence: Visible security systems are a powerful deterrent, dissuading potential intruders from targeting your property. Burglars are likely to move on to easier targets when they see security cameras and sensors.
• Prompt Emergency Response: Modern security systems are equipped with features that promptly alert homeowners and authorities in case of a breach. Early detection and swift response can prevent significant losses and damage.
• Remote Monitoring: With smart security systems, you can now monitor your home from anywhere in the world using your smartphone or computer. Remote access allows you to monitor your property, receive real-time notifications, and take appropriate action when necessary.

Ajax Security System Overview

Ajax is a state-of-the-art wireless security system combining cutting-edge technology and user-friendly features. It has gained recognition due to its reliability, effectiveness, and ease of use. Let’s explore some key aspects of the Ajax security system:

• Wireless and Easy Installation: Ajax is a wireless system that eliminates the need for complex wiring during installation. The devices can be easily mounted and connected using the intuitive mobile application by professional installers making the system work seamlessly.
• Advanced Motion Detection: Ajax employs advanced motion sensors that can accurately detect human presence while effectively filtering out false alarms caused by pets or environmental factors. This ensures you receive only relevant alerts, saving you from unnecessary anxiety.
• Comprehensive Sensor Range: The Ajax security system offers a wide range of sensors, including door/window sensors, glass break detectors, smoke detectors, and flood detectors. These sensors work seamlessly together to provide comprehensive coverage for your home.
• Intelligent Notifications: Through the Ajax mobile app, you receive intelligent notifications that include real-time images and videos of the triggered event. This enables you to assess the situation quickly and take appropriate action.
• Integration and Automation: Ajax integrates seamlessly with other smart home devices, allowing you to create an interconnected ecosystem. You can automate tasks such as turning on lights when motion is detected or locking doors remotely, enhancing security and convenience.

What to look for in a security system

Now that we have discussed the features of the Ajax security system, here are some compelling reasons why it stands out among its competitors and what is preferable for a convenient system to include:

• Ajax is renowned for its outstanding reliability. Because of the system’s usage of Jeweller technology, devices can communicate securely and reliably even in difficult situations.
• Ajax places a strong priority on preserving user privacy and data security. You can feel secure knowing that the system upholds the most significant security standards and encrypts all data being exchanged between devices.
• User-Friendly Interface: The user-friendly interface of the Ajax mobile app makes it simple for homeowners to explore and manage their security systems. You can arm or disarm the system with just a few clicks, see live feeds, and change settings.

Conclusion

A reliable security system is essential to safeguard our homes and those we care about. Visible security measures and quick emergency response capabilities are essential for deterring possible intruders and minimising significant losses in light of increased criminal activity. Intelligent notifications and remote monitoring provide us peace of mind and enable us to respond appropriately when required. Reliability, privacy, and user-friendliness should be considered when choosing a security system to ensure sufficient home safety.

Source: TG Daily – Protect Your Home with Ajax Security System: The Future of Smart Security

Back when we started talking about Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG), most tech firms kind of treated it like a joke, promising to plant trees for every sale, then often not even doing that.  Things have changed dramatically over the last couple of decades. There isn’t a tech company I cover that doesn’t take ESG efforts seriously. Now tech firms are fighting to see who can do ESG better. 

This is particularly difficult for truly international firms like Lenovo because, in a few countries where Lenovo operates, ESG efforts like diversity and inclusion are more the exception than the rule, and the kind of government support that exists in more developed nations may not be available in the emerging economies that Lenovo also operates in. So, Lenovo’s degree of difficulty when it comes to making real progress appears to me to be higher than its peers.  

Against that higher degree of difficulty, Lenovo is making impressive progress. Let’s talk about some of what it has accomplished. 

Who is Lenovo?

Lenovo is one of the few truly multi-national companies with leadership hired from and residing all over the world.  Annual revenue is in the $60B to $70B range, and the company is ranked 171^st in the Fortune Global 500. Current employment is close to 80K people, and the firm covers 180 international markets. After the acquisition of the IBM PC company, Lenovo became the world’s largest PC company, and after the acquisition of IBM’s X86 server business, it became one of the most powerful infrastructure companies in the world, as well.  

To my knowledge, Lenovo is the only firm that has successfully bridged west and east and is one of the better resources to use when trying to understand east/west dynamics in terms of trade and business operations. It is relatively unique in a world with strong global resources and the ability to work through regional conflicts. 

Lenovo ESG

Lenovo has made impressive progress in this area over the last several years. Highlights include a 3X increase in renewable energy generation since FY 2-18/19 and having its 2030 and 2050 targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative. Lenovo has upped its philanthropic efforts, growing them to $30M and impacting communities all over the world to the tune of 16M people benefitting from these efforts. Its supply chain has advanced as well and now is ranked #8 in Gartner’s Top 25 Global Supply Chains report. 

On the staffing side, Lenovo has made significant progress on diversity. Women make up 37% of the overall workforce, and 28% of tech positions are held by women. Lenovo has been recognized in the 2023 Bloomberg Gender-Equality index as a result.  

On recycling, Lenovo has also been aggressive with impressive moves towards “closed loop” recycling. It reports nearly 300 separate products that were built using recycled parts.  

Lenovo’s philanthropy efforts, as noted, were up to $30M last year with a focus on empowering underrepresented communities and helping them get access to STEM education so they can work themselves out of poverty. 

Lenovo’s employees are heavily involved and volunteer for programs like “Love on Month of Service”. They increased the number of beneficiaries for this effort by 49%+, and the number of hours volunteered by over 20% while the number of volunteers grew by 2.5%. 

Wrapping up: Lenovo is serious about ESG

If you take nothing else away from this, take away that Lenovo is serious about its ESG efforts which are substantial and trending to be segment-leading. Lenovo’s unique geographic spread creates unique headwinds, but it’s effectively working to overcome them to become one of the most aggressive ESG execution companies on the planet.  

Lenovo, like most of its peers, is stepping up strongly to mitigate the potential damage being done to the environment by tech companies and helping to set the ESG bar ever higher. Let’s hope Lenovo’s example will create competitive motivation for its peers to advance their own game.   

One thing is sure: Lenovo is serious about ESG.  

Source: TG Daily – Lenovo’s ESG Progress: One Step at a Time

Negligence—the word alone carries weight, evoking images of accidents, injuries, and unanticipated repercussions. Negligence can have a significant financial impact on businesses, particularly when personal injury claims are involved.

Running a business is a delicate balancing act with profitability, growth, and success at the forefront. But when the unexpected happens—a slip and fall, a workplace accident, or a product malfunction—business owners are forced to concentrate on the financial storm that ensues. The price tag of negligence extends beyond the initial expenses of medical care and property damage.

Calculating the Tangible Costs

When it comes to personal injury claims, the financial impact on businesses goes well beyond medical costs. Tangible costs such as medical bills, rehabilitation, and property damage quickly pile up. These debts deplete resources and inhibit business growth.

However, that is not the only financial impact that businesses must consider. The consequences of lost wages can significantly impact cash flow for the injured party and any employed parties involved in the incident. The cost of negligence also includes things like short-term or long-term disability payments, required equipment or modifications, and legal expenses.

The Intangible Factors

Businesses must also deal with intangible factors in the aftermath of a personal injury incident. Non-economic damages like physical and emotional pain and suffering, and long-term emotional distress can be significant factors in determining compensation. 

It is essential to recognize the emotional toll the incident has taken on both the victim and the company. Emotional distress and trauma endured by those involved can impact their productivity, teamwork, and morale. These intangible factors also have a significant impact on the overall health of a business.

The Ripple Effects

Negligence in personal injury cases can have a chain reaction of consequences that reverberate throughout an organization. Lawsuits and court battles are time-consuming and expensive, wrecking the business’s assets and reputation. Loss of goodwill can lead to lower sales, fewer new business opportunities, and difficulties attracting and retaining top talent. This can temporarily or even permanently disrupt operations. Production bottlenecks, longer downtime, and increased administrative work can exacerbate financial losses.

Mitigating the Financial Impact

The financial impact of negligence in business-related personal injury claims can be significant, but there are proactive measures businesses can take to mitigate the risks. Comprehensive safety protocols, thorough employee training, and regular risk assessments are critical steps to reducing the likelihood of accidents and subsequent personal injury claims.

Maintaining adequate insurance coverage is also essential. Businesses can shield themselves from the cost of personal injury claims with the aid of general liability insurance, workers’ compensation insurance, and product liability coverage. Working with insurance professionals to ensure sufficient coverage based on the nature of the business and potential hazards is a wise investment.

Resilient and Responsible Business Practices

The price tag of negligence in business-related personal injury claims is complex and multifaceted. Beyond the tangible costs of medical care and property damage, businesses must consider intangible factors contributing to the overall financial toll. 

When a personal injury occurs due to negligence, the impact can be felt throughout an entire business, causing a ripple effect that affects everyone involved. Reputation damage, loss of customer trust, decreased sales, and business interruption are just a few consequences that can exacerbate the financial burden.

Businesses can protect themselves from the financial impact of negligence by prioritizing safety, implementing preventative measures, and obtaining appropriate insurance. A resilient and responsible business prioritizes protecting its customers, staff, and brand and maintaining business continuity.

Take proactive steps today to protect your business from the consequences of negligence before an accident occurs. You may visit our website to arm yourself with the knowledge and tools you need to navigate the complexities of personal injury claims and protect your bottom line. Your company and its stakeholders deserve peace of mind.

Source: TG Daily – Unveiling the Price Tag: Assessing the Financial Impact of Negligence in Business-Related Personal Injury Claims

HP released their annual climate change report back on June 20^th and some of the findings are concerning. Morning Consult did the report, and it covers India, Mexico, Singapore, United Kingdom, and the US. One of the most concerning results in this report is that 91% of parents have concerns about the climate crisis, and 53% say that it makes having more children impractical. A whopping 64% of these parents are also choosing products that come from companies they believe are sustainable, but 84% are also concerned about the rise in the cost of living and that personal environmental practices take up a lot (maybe too much?) time.  

HP uses this report to help prioritize its own climate efforts and generally leads its class of companies regarding their sustainability efforts. While most of this comes from their printer division which admittedly has the greatest opportunities for sustainability actions due to the nature of paper and ink cartridges, still the company continues to step up to the leadership position in their class.  

Let’s talk about climate change and focus on HP’s efforts to make a difference this week. 

HP’s Sustainability Goals and Progress

HP wants to be number one when it comes to sustainability and has set aggressive goals in three areas where executive management believes the company can make the biggest difference. These three areas are – Climate Action, Human Rights, and Digital Equity.  

Against these goals, HP reports that it has reduced its carbon footprint by 18% since 2019 with a goal to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2040. They have already reduced single-use plastic packaging by 55% showing impressive progress since 2018. Given paper contributes to deforestation, they have counteracted deforestation by 32% related to HP’s products so far toward their goal of 100%. (At a prior meeting I’d suggested they even look into Hemp paper instead of wood to accelerate this effort, as hemp is far more renewable than wood is but it is more expensive to make, a problem that HP might be able to correct). 

In addition, HP has accelerated digital equity for more than 21 million people on a path to reach 150 by 20130. And they remain committed to building a pipeline of diverse talent with 46% of the new U.S. hires coming from racial or ethnic minorities.  

It is interesting to note that HP’s sustainability efforts have a foundation in their founders Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard who believed there always is a better way, a smarter way, a more responsible way to do business and that reducing harm is part of that better approach to business.  (I should note they still maintain the founders’ old offices, untouched, at their corporate headquarters. I’ve seen the offices and they feel like the founders just left for a short while and will return shortly; it is kind of surreal.)

This culture of doing more carries forward to their current CEO Enrique Lores who I’ve come to know is a caring, focused, and even-tempered CEO (something that is far more unusual than you’d think) and just a pleasant guy to talk to.  

HP’s Most Sustainable Products

Like every tech company, there are products that set the bar in sustainability in HP’s portfolio. They include the HP Dragonfly and Elite 1000 Series PCs that contain 90% recycled magnesium, 5% ocean-borne plastics, and the use of used cooking oil to help lower CO2 emissions. In addition, their packaging is 100% sustainably sourced.  With printers, the Color LaserJet Managed MFP E877 series of printers stand out as EPEAT Gold certified and they consume 17% less energy than their predecessors. In addition, they are built using 16% recycled plastics, and their supplies use 60% recycled plastics. And with 3D printing, they have made massive inroads in their ability to render body parts in 3D and create personal prosthetics for those that have lost a limb. One interesting product is they have a HP D100 Single-Cell Dispenser which is used for medical research.  

Wrapping Up:

Kids learn from parents and if parents, as this report delineates, are making major decisions (including not to have more kids) these decisions will impact how kids grow up to view the world. These results suggest that the next generations will be far more focused on climate change, sustainability will have an even greater impact on their decisions ranging from what to buy to where to work, and that we are likely looking at even more aggressive climate actions from them in the future.  

In the end, HP is doing its part, here is hoping everyone else follows their lead as we strive to make a better, cleaner, more inclusive, and diverse planet.  

Source: TG Daily – HP’s Climate Report: Impact Of Global Warming Causing Parents To Not Have Kids

Robinhood will offer customers a 1% match on its traditional or Roth IRAs, the company said Tuesday. 

Users can start investing on deposits of up to $1,000 before contributions settle into their accounts. 

Prospective customers can apply to be waitlisted for Robinhood Retirement starting Tuesday and can expect to receive access on a rolling basis in the coming weeks, but full availability on the offering is set to begin in January.

Robinhood to pay a 1% ‘match’ on customer contributions to retail individual retirement accounts

The retail brokerage will match 1% of each dollar saved in its individual retirement accounts. Experts think it’s a way to get attention in a crowded market.

Continue reading on CNBC

Robinhood Pivots From Day Trading With New Offering As Millennials, Gen Z Age Out – Robinhood Markets (NASDAQ:HOOD)

Robinhood Markets Inc (NASDAQ: HOOD), the trading app that helped revolutionize and democratize finance, introduced a new product Tuesday. Here’s what you need to know. 

Continue reading on Benzinga

Will Robinhood be the biggest IPO on global markets in 2021?

Continue reading on The Motley Fool Australia

Source: TG Daily – Robinhood Offers 1% Retirement Match to Users of Its Mobile App

Data observability is a critical factor in achieving sustainability goals. This concept has been around for some time and is gaining more attention recently as companies strive to become more efficient and cost-effective. By monitoring, understanding, and analyzing data in real-time, the experts at Databand.ai believe organizations can adapt quickly to changing circumstances, prevent errors, and find solutions faster.

The Basics Of Data Observability

Data observability is the ability to monitor and analyze data across various sources, looking for patterns and trends to inform decisions about an organization’s operations. It helps to identify areas of improvement and where resources should be allocated for maximum efficiency. 

One of the most important aspects of data observability is the ability to monitor data from various sources. By collecting data from multiple sources, organizations can get a complete view of what is happening within the business. This allows them to identify patterns and trends that may not be visible when looking at data from a single source. Additionally, monitoring data from multiple sources can help identify issues that may not be apparent when looking at information from a limited perspective.

Gain Insight On Customer Behavior

Data observability can also help organizations gain insights into customer behavior and preferences. By looking at data from different sources, businesses can better understand what customers are interested in and what they want. Additionally, data observability can help identify trends in customer behavior. This information improves customer service and creates products that people want to buy.

Organizations can also learn how customers interact with their products or services.  By studying data from sources such as social media, the company can understand how customers respond to their offerings. This understanding can be used to improve customer engagement and ultimately increase sales.

Predict Future Trends

Observing data can also help an organization stay ahead of the curve by providing insight into emerging trends. By analyzing data from multiple sources, businesses can get an idea of where the market is going and what changes will likely occur soon. This information can help inform decisions about investments, new business initiatives, and product launches, helping to ensure that the organization remains competitive in a changing marketplace.

One example of how data observability can help identify emerging trends is by looking at data from social media. By studying data from sources such as social media, the company can understand how customers respond to their offerings. This understanding can be used to improve customer engagement and ultimately increase sales. Additionally, data observability can help predict future trends by providing insights into changing customer behavior.

Enhance Operations Efficiency

Data observability can also help organizations enhance operational efficiency. Businesses can identify areas where resources and processes need to be optimized by analyzing data from multiple sources. This may include streamlining production processes, improving customer service delivery, or identifying new products or services that customers are interested in. As a result, the organization can reduce costs and increase profitability.

Data observability can also help organizations identify potential risks and opportunities. Businesses can detect emerging issues that may impact the organization’s operations by analyzing data from different sources. Proactively responding to these issues can help reduce losses and ensure the company remains competitive in the market. Additionally, data observability can provide insights into market trends, allowing organizations to make informed decisions and capitalize on opportunities.

Final Thoughts

Data observability can be an invaluable tool for businesses that want to maximize efficiency, gain insights into customer behavior, predict future trends, and enhance operational efficiency. By leveraging observability with Databand.ai, companies can become more agile and stay ahead of the competition in a rapidly changing market. With access to insights from multiple sources, companies can respond quickly to changing customer needs, identify emerging trends, and optimize their operations for maximum profitability. In short, data observability can help businesses remain competitive and thrive in a rapidly evolving marketplace.   

Written by Adam Eaton                                  

Source: TG Daily – Why Data Observability Is Critical For Sustainability

Ukrainian embassies and consulates in countries across Europe have received blood-soaked packages with “animal eyes” in them in the aftermath of the explosion of an apparent letter bomb at Ukraine’s embassy in Madrid, according to Ukraine’s foreign affairs ministry.

“The packages contained animal eyes,” Oleg Nikolenko, a spokesperson for Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said in a Facebook post on Friday.

In a later Facebook post, Nikolenko said that the Embassy of Ukraine in Madrid, Spain, also got a blood-stained package “like those previously received by other Ukrainian diplomatic institutions.”

Source: TG Daily – Ukrainian Embassies in Europe Have Been Receiving Bloodstained Packages With Animal Eyes

For a lot of us, ARM is on a deathwatch largely because of the failed acquisition attempt by NVIDIA. This failed attempt made us aware of ARM’s underlying financial issues that drove it to sue Qualcomm in what appears to be an ill-advised attempt to force Qualcomm to pay more for something that isn’t even successful yet. This desperation and apparent path to ARM’s obsolescence is driving resources to RISC V at what looks like an increasing rate and creating doubt about ARM’s future, making a successful IPO all but impossible to execute. Even if the IPO is executed, the money would flow to the current owner of the firm, not ARM, leaving it with new owners who may not appreciate they invested in a firm on a path to failure. In short, not only is ARM likely to lose its case against Qualcomm, but the litigation is hurting both entities, potentially terminally for ARM because Qualcomm could switch to RISC V if ARM fails.  

One of the common questions that analysts are asked is, “how would you fix ARM?” I used to run a field turn-around team at IBM, and I’ve been thinking about this for several weeks now. 

Here is my shot at the answer.

Identify the Problem

First, fully flesh out why ARM is so cash-starved. It looks like it is because the firm’s parent has a huge cash problem which is leaving ARM in desperate need of revenue. I think this is what drove the ill-advised decision to sue Qualcomm. It may also be that Apple was paying more and their “most-favored nation’s clause” will, when Qualcomm’s price is disclosed in an internal review, result in ARM getting even less revenue.

But these are the problems from an outside observer perspective. The causes could also include poor expense management, inadequate vendor collections and bad contract practices. That list isn’t inclusive, but an internal review should identify the full extent of the problems, something that will be needed in order to craft an equally comprehensive solution.

Second, depending on what is found, craft a solution to address the cost side of the problem. In other words, reduce the bleeding by eliminating unneeded costs like offices (most employees appear to be working from home) and unnecessary travel (it wasn’t uncommon for me to find employees abusing travel policies). 

Third, and in parallel to the item above, create a small skunk works team and send them off-site with solid instructions and a three-month delivery date to propose ways for ARM to utilize its assets, IP and human, to profitably generate more revenue. Recall that AWS, which has been surprisingly successful, spun off an effort to turn IT from a cost to a profit center for Amazon, something that up until then was thought to be impossible. 

The team will need members from all the line organizations in the firm, participants from Finance, and someone that knows ARM as an expert on how the company operates on it. It would also be wise to include an operational industry expert from one of ARM’s larger clients (like an ex-Qualcomm employee). 

The goal would be to craft a business plan for some additional way to generate profitable revenue using ARM’s existing resources or an alternative that would leverage ARM’s existing customers as a sales channel but create a new and distinct subsidiary for the company. These two things aren’t necessarily mutually exclusive.

Fourth, review the plan created by the skunk works team and, if it is viable, execute against milestones. It might be interesting to have, in parallel to the internal team above, an outside team of subject matter experts creating a similar report from an entirely different perspective. This might identify additional opportunities or help refine the above generation recommendation.  

But now it is about executing, and this would require making sure the leadership of the company understands the direction the firm must now go to accomplish the tasks that the above teams identified.

Wrapping Up:

Fixing ARM is a growing concern for those that license, build, sell or use ARM technology. Since the NVIDIA failed merger, the company appears to have lost its way. But much like when a person is sick, the first step is to assure an accurate diagnosis before you craft and execute a cure. The relatively easy part of the cure for ARM is looking for and eliminating financial waste and fully fleshing out the cause of the operational cash shortfall driving the firm’s desperation. Desperate people make questionable decisions. Desperate firms make bad decisions. Remember DeLorean? 

Increasing revenue is far harder and it generally requires you create a skunk works team so that ideas aren’t prematurely killed because they violate some company tradition or fear of change. And finally, when a path is identified, assure leadership is adequate (both in breadth and depth) to execute the plan. Major efforts like this tend to have a high failure rate not because the idea was bad, but because the folks executing it were trying to learn on the job at great expense to the outcome.  Remember that, in the late 1990s, Apple was on a 12 month death watch and running out of cash but was still in far better shape than ARM is now. Steve Jobs, with a lot of help, cut costs first, then found the iPod as a path that eventually led Apple to its present rank as the most profitable company in the world.

Source: TG Daily – Fixing ARM

Whether it be for business or for personal use, it is important that we ensure the smooth user experience and functionalities of the tracking software or app when purchasing a GPS tracker. Difficult-to-use tracking software can be cumbersome to manage, and it makes tracking harder even though you have your tracker installed properly. In this article, we are going to look at some of the defining features of tracking software that you can use as a benchmark for filtering your buying options and easily finding out the precise location data of whatever or whomever you are tracking. 

An introduction of GPS tracking software

There are several GPS trackers in the market today. Some are better than others at tracking, and some offer more features too. While checking out the software or app for such trackers, here are some important factors to look for.

It must be intuitive to use. GPS tracking software needs to be user-friendly and must offer an intuitive experience for a smooth and seamless flow. In an emergency, the last thing you want to do is scrape through various menus and click random buttons to get to the exact feature you need. The major features must be easy to access and easy to find. 

Another important function that you need to look for while trying out GPS tracking software that comes with a tracker is its connectivity. Even though it also depends on the tracker device, the server, the architecture of the app/software, its response time, live updating of the data, etc., all apps up to make the flawless tracking experience. If any of this fails, the tracking becomes inaccurate, and you won’t be able to locate the tracker in real-time. 

Accessibility of the tracking software is yet another major factor that you need to consider while buying a GPS tracker. It means whether you must download it from the Google Play store/Apple store or if you must download it from another website and go through the hassle of installing it indirectly on your phone. The same goes for laptops and computers too. The best-case scenario is a web portal that you can access using a login id and password that ensures protection and accessibility no matter where you are. If you have a stable internet connection, you can easily log on to the tracking app and find out the location of your tracker. 

Feature to look for in your GPS tracking app

Once you are sure about the accessibility and usability of your tracking app/software, it’s then time to check out the features. Your tracking software must have certain features other than basic location tracking for it to be truly functional. 

Dashboards that allow you to access insights about travel history and other relevant info are very useful while using a GPS tracker. For instance, dashboards that give you information about the amount of time your tracker was moving and how long it was stationary allow you to calculate how much time it was moving. This is very useful when tracking vehicles. Similarly, a real-time speed chart can help you ensure the person carrying your tracker is safe. This is useful to ensure your kids are safe when you send them to school on the school bus. You can easily know if the school bus is speeding over the limit or not. 

Another useful feature is real-time alters. Push notifications for mobile apps and email alerts are crucial in getting quick updates when there is anything wrong so you can take immediate action. If the tracker with your child or an asset suddenly leaves the home premises in the middle of the day without any probable cause, you can quickly reach out to emergency service or check up on them to make sure they are safe. Delay in such alerts means you lose valuable time finding them, which can complicate the situation. 

There are numerous benefits of using GPS tracking software. However, it is important to check the features and the pricing of the software before you buy one. GPS tracking software is available in a wide range. Some of them might have advanced features, while others might have simple features. Ultimately, it all comes down to what you need and the features that you want. Therefore, you need to choose the tracking software that will suit your needs. If you are looking for the best GPS tracker, you need to ensure these features and properties in the GPS tracking software or application we discussed above.

Written by Barbara McGee

Source: TG Daily – How to assess the tracking software while buying a GPS tracker