#Camera Straps Market Industry-Competitors

[data-bridge]

Camera Straps Market Surge to Witness Huge Demand at a CAGR of 5.50% during the forecast period 2029

Industry Analysis

Data Bridge Market Research analyses that the camera straps market was valued at USD 315.78 million in 2021 and is expected to reach the value of USD 484.62 million by 2029, at a CAGR of 5.50% during the forecast period.

Additionally, the credible Camera Straps Market report helps the manufacturer in finding out the effectiveness of the existing channels of distribution, advertising programs, or media, selling methods and the best way of distributing the goods to the eventual consumers. Taking up such market research report is all the time beneficial for any company whether it is a small scale or large scale, for marketing of products or services. It makes effortless for FMCG industry to visualize what is already available in the market, what market anticipates, the competitive environment, and what should be done to surpass the competitor.

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Market Insights and Scope        

Camera straps are flat strips tied to a camera and wrapped around a photographer's neck, allowing them to photograph without additional equipment such as a tripod stand. These straps help to keep the camera in place while allowing it to hang comfortably and preventing accidental falls.

Growth in the global entertainment and media industry is expected to play a critical role in increasing the use of these straps among photography and videography enthusiasts.

The Camera Straps Market report encompasses various segments linked to FMCG industry and market with comprehensive research and analysis. These comprise industry outlook with respect to critical success factors (CSFs), industry dynamics that mainly covers drivers and restraints, market segmentation & value chain analysis, key opportunities, application and technology outlook, regional or geographical insight, country-level analysis, key company profiles, competitive landscape, and company market share analysis. All the data, figures and information are backed up by well recognized analysis tools which include SWOT analysis and Porter’s Five Forces analysis. So, take business to the peak level of growth with the all-inclusive Data Bridge Market research report.

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Industry Segmentation and Size

The camera straps market is segmented on the basis of type, end-use, distribution channel, and application. The growth amongst these segments will help you analyze meagre growth segments in the industries and provide the users with a valuable market overview and market insights to help them make strategic decisions for identifying core market applications.

Type

Nylon Material

Polyester Material

Fabric Material

Cotton Material

Other Material

Application

Professional Photographers

Shutterbugs

Distribution channel

Online

Offline

End Users

Commercial

Personal

Market Country Level Analysis

The countries covered in the camera straps market report are

U.S., Canada and Mexico in North America, Germany, France, U.K., Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, Russia, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Rest of Europe in Europe, China, Japan, India, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Rest of Asia-Pacific (APAC) in the Asia-Pacific (APAC), Saudi Arabia, U.A.E, South Africa, Egypt, Israel, Rest of Middle East and Africa (MEA) as a part of Middle East and Africa (MEA), Brazil, Argentina and Rest of South America as part of South America.

A reliable Camera Straps Market marketing report proves to be the finest and excellent market research report as it is formulated with the following critical factors. These consist of primary research, benchmarking studies, secondary research, company profiles, competitive intelligence & reporting, syndicated research, data collection, data processing and analysis, survey design, and survey programming. The report performs market study and analysis to provide market data by considering new product development from beginning to launch. The FMCG business report also provides evaluations based on the market type, organization size, availability on-premises, end-users’ organization type, and the availability in areas such as North America, South America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Middle East & Africa.

Industry Share Analysis

Some of the major players operating in the camera straps market are:

SAMSUNG (South Korea)

FUJIFILM Holdings Corporation (South Korea)

Black Rapid Inc. (U.S.)

gordy's camera straps. (U.S.)

Tethys Technology (U.S.)

ALTURAPHOTO. (U.S.)

Clo's General Leather Co. (U.S.)

OP/TECH USA. (U.S.)

Couch Guitar Straps. (U.S.)

ORIGINAL FUZZ (U.S.)

Lanyard Company India. (India)

DOMO Inc. (U.S.)

Credenzy International (India)

Fuzhou Bison Import and Export Co., Ltd. (China)

THE BLACK CANVAS (U.S.)

GGS DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY CO.LIMITED (China)

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[articlesfood]

Smart Sport Accessories Market Size, Revenue, Trends, Growth Factors, Region Analysis & Forecast 2021-2027

“The Smart Sport Accessories Market is latest report published by Fusion Market Research provides comprehensive information, overview of the demands and and describe Impact of Covid-19 of the market during the forecast period 2021–2027”

When it comes to surviving in a highly competitive market, then proper marketing plan is an essential thing to apply. Different competitors are entering into the market now and then with their new products. The wise way to leg up with this ongoing market competition is to fulfil customers’ requirements and demands by providing the best quality products & services. And the global Smart Sport Accessories Market achieves good heights by implementing all high-quality required strategies.

This Smart Sport Accessories Market keeps on extending its product lines by adding new product innovations in various market regions. There are various diversified aspects that a market needs to consider for its entire development, and Smart Sport Accessories Market equally evaluates all aspects. This market’s important stakeholders and significant players ensure a long term sustainability guarantee to this market. Also, the products & services of this market correctly reach up to each end-users. Along with that, customers and clients have shown a positive response towards its service and product quality. For conducting this analysis, analysts have taken as their forecast period and predicted a good outcome for this market.

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In this report, Fusion Market Research discusses the Global & USA industrial policies, economic environment, and the impact of covid-19 on the Smart Sport Accessories industry and its cost structure. Besides, this report covers the basic market dynamics, market size and companies competition data. In addition, the report also conducts basic market research on major product type, market end-use and regional trade.

Market Segment as follows: Product Type Segmentation Includes

Smartwatch

Smart Wristband

Sports Watch

Sports Camera

Chest strap

Others

Application Segmentation Includes

Running

Hiking

Triathlete

Boating&Sailing

Flying

Swimming

Golfing

Multisport

Others

Companies Includes

Fitbit

Apple

Samsung

Sony

Motorola/Lenovo

LG

Pebble

Garmin

Huawei

XIAO MI

Polar

wahoo fitness

Zepp

GoPro

Casio

Suunto

Swatch Group

Seiko

Citizen

TIMEX

Richemont

EZON

Fossil

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Table Of Content

1 Market Overview 1.1 Market Segment Overview 1.1.1 Product Definition 1.1.2 Market by Type 1.1.2.1 Traditional type 1.1.2.2 Digital type 1.1.3 Market by Application 1.1.3.1 Industrial Use 1.1.3.2 Medical Use 1.1.3.3 Security Use 1.2 Global & USA Market Size & Forecast 1.2.1 Global Market (2015-2020 & 2021-2026) 1.2.2 USA Market (2015-2020 & 2021-2026) 2 Global & USA Market by Company 2.1 Global Sales by Company 2.2 USA Sales by Company 3 Global & USA Market by Type 3.1 Global Sales by Product Type 3.2 USA Sales by Product Type 4 Global & USA Market by Application 4.1 Global Sales by Application 4.2 USA Sales by Application 5 USA Trade 5.1 Export Overview 5.2 Import Overview 6 Key Companies List …

… 8 Policies & Market Environment 8.1 Policies 8.1.1 Major Regions Policies 8.1.2 Policies in USA 8.2 Market Environment 8.2.1 Porter’s Five Forces 8.2.2 Impact of COVID-19 9 Research Conclusion

ABOUT US :

Fusion Market Research is one of the largest collections of market research reports from numerous publishers. We have a team of industry specialists providing unbiased insights on reports to best meet the requirements of our clients. We offer a comprehensive collection of competitive market research reports from a number of global leaders across industry segments.

CONTACT US

sales@fusionmarketresearch.com

PH : +(210) 775-2636

https://ipsnews.net/business/2021/06/15/mis-sacroiliac-joint-fusion-market-insights-leading-key-players-and-top-factors-driving-2021-2027/

https://ipsnews.net/business/2021/06/14/sustainability-consulting-market-2021-industry-analysis-size-share-growth-trends-and-forecast-to-2027/

https://ipsnews.net/business/2021/06/14/software-testing-and-qa-services-market-2021-industry-analysis-size-share-growth-trends-and-forecast-to-2027/

[phoenixtakaramono]

Finders Keepers ch5 Sneak Peek

It was an unspoken fact that history was written by its victors and its sufferers. It culminates in a selective retelling of events that is passed down via the education systems located throughout the galaxies.

During the time of the Last Corporate War—with the survivors being Anshin, Atlas, Dahl, Hyperion, Jakobs, Maliwan, Pangolin, S&S Munitions, Tediore, Vladof, and other megacorporations—only one emerged to stand at the forefront of innovation. With the fortunate excavation on the planet Promethea, Atlas Corporation had reverse-engineered the alien Eridian technology to give themselves an edge over their competitors.

With the discovery came a new line of machines, starships, and weaponry that were to be manufactured, as well as the earlier prototypes of the digistruct technology. Eventually all that led to the colonization of the planet Pandora and a monopoly of the interplanetary scale, allowing Atlas control over a significant portion of the market for goods and services. Their success had spurred on other megacorporations to explore other frontier planets in search of more alien technology and similar resources.

Yet of the numerous planets that made up the solar system, only a few of them were well-known intergalactically.

Many knew Aquator to be a scenic tourist hotspot with its many small islands to vacation on.

Athenas was known to be a planet governed by the Order of the Impending Storm—a religious monastic sect whose influence reached all aspects of their civilization.

Dionysus was a party planet, known for visitors’ drunken escapees and the tourist tagline “what happens in Dionysus, stays in Dionysus.”

Hermes was a planet with a thin atmosphere that was rich in helium, orbiting around a giant blue star instead of the sun.

Pandora was one of the frontier planets, recently colonized by Atlas—and other megacorporations like Dahl and Hyperion—as a research test site and as a settlement.

The last was Promethea, an environment of harsh extraterrestrial living conditions because of the excessive mining, rapid industrialization, martial law, and the like.

Planets like Artemis, Demophon, Eden-5, Eden-6, Eden-7, Epitah, Eunomia, Grophic IV, Hephaestus, Hera, Hestias, Hieronymous, Honus 4651, Isolus, Menoetius, Tantalus, Themis, and Thrace had their own reputations, but they were universally regarded to be on the same respectable level as the old planetary system.

Modeled after Earth, all of the Edens founded were known to be settlements of research, boasting of academic excellence, selectivity in admissions, and social elitism. Only the brightest—or the wealthy—were allowed citizenship or temporary student visas, to learn at the competing prestigious institutions and to increase their prospects of being hired by a megacorporation. Largely peaceful, the citizens of these planets were accustomed to a life of high-tech luxuries.

And unlike Eden-5 whose reputation was overshadowed by their corrupt police force, Eden-7 had some of the largest university financial endowments which allowed for many resources for their academic programs and research endeavors.

Bordering the main hub of the city was a tall building. Not quite a skyscraper, the architecture resembled that of an industrial hangar that had been elongated to touch the skies.

Pulling into the nearest available parking spot, a well-dressed long-limbed man emerged from a black vehicle. His hair seemed to have a burnished bronze luster from the sun.

Smoothing out the nonexistent wrinkles in his suit and anxiously adjusting his tie, he walked around to the passenger side to retrieve a clunky robotic prototype. Pressing the ON/OFF button, he waited for it to finish activation.

Snatching the laptop briefcase in the meanwhile, he murmured to the floating device, “Alright, it’s our moment to shine, Dumpy.” Closing the door with a nudge of his hip, he pocketed the key fob after hearing the car beep. “We got this in the bag.” He smacked the briefcase. “Confidence is the key.”

A deep, synthetic baritone—the voice package belonged to the deceased actor James Earl Jones—replied in the affirmative.

Deliberately tilting his chin up, Rhys left the parking with Dumpy whirring in the air quietly beside him. Not once did he allow himself to look down at his feet or to avoid eye contact.

At this time, even with the employees retiring for the night, it seemed the world was at its usual and undisturbed.

The uniforms that Atlas personnel wore was a curious mix of business and military dress code, which was what distinguished one from the other. Red accents were intermingled in a mostly dark or neutral color palette.

Cyborgs—humans having undergone cybernetic enhancement surgery such as bionic limbs or microchip implants—and androids were virtually indistinguishable. A usual sight, they shambled along with the rest of the unaugmented humans.

Soon, Rhys spotted an interesting individual among the crowd that wound around a giant statue. The first thought that came to his head was the word “white;” her hair and skin were bleached of all color, like a ghost.

The woman was dressed in a furred-collar military vest worn over a black T- shirt that exposed her midriff. Leather trousers hugged her figure, as well as her knee-high boots. Even as she marched her back was ramrod-straight, like a sword forged of steel. Likely due to the leather material of the long opera-length gloves she wore, they reminded Rhys of the black rubber gloves that a butcher would use instead of a fashionable evening accessory.

There was even a large Bowie knife strapped to the belt and a gun holster. Since the sight of her didn’t cause anyone alarm, he could only assume that she was authorized to carry weapons in plain sight.

She drew several stares from passersby, which Rhys suspected wasn’t only for her distinguishing features.

He narrowed his eyes. There was the smallest sense of recognition, although it escaped his memory of how and where he has seen her before. As they traveled, the waning sun could be seen through the openings placed strategically throughout the compound. A gradience of crimsons, oranges, and golds was suffused over the rigid gunmetal grays.

The building was once a product of its times—an outdated corporate steel-and-glass facade—before the property on the real estate market had been purchased by the CEO. During the initial remodeling phase, the exposed foundation and rusted structure made it appear like a skeleton with its flesh peeled off.

The soles of his shoes were clacking against the industrial-sized plates as Rhys craned his neck, spotting the Atlas logo affixed overhead. Neon yellow LED tubing was installed throughout the architecture.

The crowd had thinned at the entrance, where the woman was headed toward. By this time, the premises was mostly deserted.

That illusion of calm was shattered when the woman jerked to a sudden halt.

A split second later, she evaded the gunshots by pitching her body into a barrel roll. Scorched dents were left in the metal where she once stood.

Slamming her hand and feet onto the ground, the woman regained balance. She had already been in mid-motion of reaching into her holster, but she froze up at the sight of the two guns trained on her.

A spear of ice pierced Rhys from the top of his head to the soles of his feet.

Hastily retreating a few steps back, he felt his back collide roughly against the pedestal of the Greek titan Atlas. Looming overhead, the statue was hoisting a massive sphere meant to represent Earth.

“Don’t let them see you,” he hissed, snatching Dumpy from midair. Sweat was adhering his dress shirt to his skin. He leaned slightly forward, ignoring the simulated heavy breathing from the robot’s voice modulator. “Let me see what you see. Enhance.”

Much like a video recorder, Dumpy was recording the situation live. The zoom function allowed Rhys to see a close-up of the two armed assailants who had trodden forth. They’d worn nondescript clothing meant to blend in and catch their target off-guard. If it hadn’t been for their faces, he wouldn’t have been able to ascertain the gender from just their builds alone.

Rhys wasn’t much of an expert on firearms—his knowledge of guns was limited to movies and video games—but the make and model appeared vintage, likely contraband. Guns made on Earth were considered outdated and weak compared to the advanced arms mass-produced by megacorporations today.

Rhys was too far to hear the quieter words being exchanged, but the volume of the shouting was clearly agitated. They were yelling at her to drop her gun and to kick it away.

This did not seem like a drill.

Only the three individuals were found up ahead. With no one else emerging from the sliding doors, it seemed the building had gone under lockdown. Security cameras were pointed down at the scene.

The inactivity was making him restless. “What’s taking so long?” he demanded. “Why isn’t anyone doing anything?”

“It is likely the result of the bystander effect and other causes,” Dumpy commented in its deep, measured intonation. “Do you want me to call the authorities? It is prudent to reduce fatal casualties.”

The robot’s unaffected droning had managed to steady his nerves somewhat, helping him regain a semblance of self-control. Rhys worried his lower lip.

The sun was slowly falling below the horizon, and darkness threatened to swallow the world.

Waiting for the police to arrive might be a risk that he wasn’t certain the lady could afford to have. On the other hand, he would likely be gunned down the instant that he called attention to himself; running was not ideal.

He had to create a distraction.

“No.” Rhys sank down into a crouch. His hands were trembling. “We’re going to do one better.”

Managing to enter the correct numeric sequence into the holographic lock, he snapped the briefcase open and disengaged the laptop from Sleep mode. His fingers fumbled across the keyboard, entering the lengthy password.

Forcing his fear back, he whispered, “I’m going to disable the lights. It’ll give you a narrow window before the backup generator starts. I’ll need you to activate your defense matrix and take out those two guys. Don’t overdo the voltage.” He glanced up. “Do you think we can pull that off?”

Processing the command, Dumpy calculated the plan’s estimated percentage of success aloud. It also warned that what Rhys was doing was illegal.

“Well, we’re going to try.” Every movement was essentially muscle memory, like a choreographed dance. Brown eyes darted across the screen. “Good thing I still have remote access to the server. This is child’s play. ...Sorry, buddy. You’re gonna be the hero. I believe in you.”

The sun had set completely, with only the artificial lights illuminating the compound. Switching off the electricity supply a few precious minutes later, they were plunged into absolute darkness.

For a few seconds, he could make out nothing but dark lumps—silhouettes who were startled by the abrupt power outage. There was not much time. Motioning rapidly, Rhys hissed under his breath, “Go, go, go!”

He was crossing his fingers.

For a moment, the shape of Dumpy could be seen hovering over one of the men.

There was an unnatural humming, before white-blue light abruptly burst into vision, temporarily igniting the night. The man’s limbs were flailing as though a live wire had been attached to each of his nerves, his body convulsing like a rag doll as the violent electrical current pulsed through him. Not a moment too soon, the tased man collapsed, paralyzed, and his partner shouted his name.

Like machine fire, shots were unloaded blindly at the crackling light. They sounded like fireworks going off, with missed bullets shaking the entire building structure.

Despite Dumpy’s best attempts at evasion—dodging, flying like an erratic pendulum—sparks could be seen when bullets struck sheet metal.

Rhys’ heart plummeted. To his horror, even with the bulletproof design, the robot was soon spiraling out of control. Crashing into the ground like a small meteor, upon impact its emotionless “ow, ow, ow” distorted in volume, becoming an unintelligible screech.

“Nooo! Dumpy!”

“Atlas will never fall!” The voice was female and vaguely familiar; it had come slicing through the shadows as sharp as a knife.

In the distraction, semi-translucent wings, reminding Rhys of crackling electricity, unfurled from the lithe woman’s back like a butterfly from a cocoon. Half of her body was glowing, where the Siren birthmarks were.

It was over in a second.

By the time the man whirled on his feet, a dime-sized hole had been left between his eyes, revealing liquefied brain matter. The woman could be seen standing upright, the barrel of her customized pearlescent revolver smoking slightly from the discharged elemental round. Her finger only left the trigger when the assailant fell.

Nobody in this place moved a muscle, and it was so quiet that even the sound of their breathing could be heard.

(Ch 1-4 of the scifi AU Finders Keepers can be found on AO3! Ch5 is currently in progress.)

[neptunecreek]

Ink-Stained Wretches: The Battle for the Soul of Digital Freedom Taking Place Inside Your Printer

Since its founding in the 1930s, Hewlett-Packard has been synonymous with innovation, and many's the engineer who had cause to praise its workhorse oscillators, minicomputers, servers, and PCs. But since the turn of this century, the company's changed its name to HP and its focus to sleazy ways to part unhappy printer owners from their money. Printer companies have long excelled at this dishonorable practice, but HP is truly an innovator, the industry-leading Darth Vader of sleaze, always ready to strong-arm you into a "deal" and then alter it later to tilt things even further to its advantage.

The company's just beat its own record, converting its "Free ink for life" plan into a "Pay us $0.99 every month for the rest of your life or your printer stops working" plan.

Plenty of businesses offer some of their products on the cheap in the hopes of stimulating sales of their higher-margin items: you've probably heard of the "razors and blades" model (falsely) attributed to Gillette, but the same goes for cheap Vegas hotel rooms and buffets that you can only reach by running a gauntlet of casino "games," and cheap cell phones that come locked into a punishing, eternally recurring monthly plan.

Printers are grifter magnets, and the whole industry has been fighting a cold war with its customers since the first clever entrepreneur got the idea of refilling a cartridge and settling for mere astronomical profits, thus undercutting the manufacturers' truly galactic margins. This prompted an arms race in which the printer manufacturers devote ever more ingenuity to locking third-party refills, chips, and cartridges out of printers, despite the fact that no customer has ever asked for this.

Lexmark: First-Mover Advantage

But for all the dishonorable achievements of the printer industry's anti-user engineers, we mustn't forget the innovations their legal departments have pioneered in the field of ink- and toner-based bullying. First-mover advantage here goes to IBM, whose lawyers ginned up an (unsuccessful) bid to use copyright law to prevent a competitor, Static Controls, from modifying used Lexmark toner cartridges so they'd work after they were refilled.

A little more than a decade after its failure to get the courts to snuff out Static Controls, Lexmark was actually sold off to Static Controls' parent company. Sadly, Lexmark's aggressive legal culture came along with its other assets, and within a year of the acquisition, Lexmark's lawyers were advancing a radical theory of patent law to fight companies that refilled its toner cartridges.

HP: A Challenger Appears

Lexmark's fights were over laser-printer cartridges, filled with fine carbon powder that retailed at prices that rivaled diamonds and other exotic forms that element. But laser printers are a relatively niche part of the printer market: the real volume action is in inkjet printers: dirt-cheap, semi-disposable, and sporting cartridges (half-) full of ink priced to rival vintage Veuve-Clicquot.

For the inkjet industry, ink was liquid gold, and they innovated endlessly in finding ways to wring every drop of profit from it. Companies manufactured special cartridges that were only half-full for inclusion with new printers, so you'd have to quickly replace them. They designed calibration tests that used vast quantities of ink, and, despite all this calibration, never could quite seem to get a printer to register that there was still lots of ink left in the cartridge that it was inexplicably calling "empty" and refusing to draw from.

But all this ingenuity was at the mercy of printer owners, who simply did not respect the printer companies' shareholders enough to voluntarily empty their bank accounts to refill their printers. Every time the printer companies found a way to charge more for less ink, their faithless customers stubbornly sought out competitors who'd patronize rival companies who'd refill or remanufacture their cartridges, or offer compatible cartridges.

Security Is Job One

Shutting out these rivals became job one. When your customers reject your products, you can always win their business back by depriving them of the choice to patronize a competitor. Printer cartridges soon bristled with "security chips" that use cryptographic protocols to identify and lock out refilled, third-party, and remanufactured cartridges. These chips were usually swiftly reverse-engineered or sourced out of discarded cartridges, but then the printer companies used dubious patent claims to have them confiscated by customs authorities as they entered the USA. (We’ve endorsed legislation that would end this practice.)

Here again, we see the beautiful synergy of anti-user engineering and anti-competition lawyering. It's really heartwarming to see these two traditional rival camps in large companies cease hostilities and join forces.

Alas, the effort that went into securing HP from its customers left precious few resources to protect HP customers from the rest of the world. In 2011, the security researcher Ang Cui presented his research on HP printer vulnerabilities, "Print Me If You Dare."

Cui found that simply by hiding code inside a malicious document, he could silently update the operating system of HP printers when the document was printed. His proof-of-concept code was able to seek out and harvest Social Security and credit-card numbers; probe the local area network; and penetrate the network's firewall and allow him to freely roam it using the compromised printer as a gateway. He didn't even have to trick people into printing his gimmicked documents to take over their printers: thanks to bad defaults, he was able to find millions of HP printers exposed on the public Internet, any one of which he could have hijacked with unremovable malware merely by sending it a print-job.

The security risks posed by defects in HP's engineering are serious. Criminals who hack embedded systems like printers and routers and CCTV cameras aren't content with attacking the devices' owners—they also use these devices as botnets for devastating denial of service and ransomware attacks.

For HP, though, the "security update" mechanism built into its printers was a means for securing HP against its customers, not securing those customers against joining botnets or having the credit card numbers they printed stolen and sent off to criminals.

In March 2016, HP inkjet owners received a "security update available" message on their printers' screens. When they tapped the button to install this update, their printers exhibited the normal security update behavior: a progress bar, a reboot, and then nothing. But this "security update" was actually a ticking bomb: a countdown timer that waited for five months before it went off in September 2016, activating a hidden feature that could detect and reject all third-party ink cartridges.

HP had designed this malicious update so that infected printers would be asymptomatic for months, until after parents had bought their back-to-school supplies. The delay ensured that warnings about the "security update" came too late for HP printer owners, who had by then installed the update themselves.

HP printer owners were outraged and told the company so. The company tried to weather the storm, first by telling customers that they'd never been promised their printers would work with third-party ink, then by insisting that the lockouts were to ensure printer owners didn't get "tricked" with "counterfeit" cartridges, and finally by promising that future fake security updates would be clearly labeled.

HP never did disclose which printer models it attacked with its update, and a year later, they did it again, once again waiting until after the back-to-school season to stage its sneak attack, stranding cash-strapped parents with a year's worth of useless ink cartridges for their kids' school assignments.

You Don't Own Anything

Other printer companies have imitated HP's tactics but HP never lost its edge, finding new ways to transfer money from printer owners to its tax-free offshore accounts.

HP's latest gambit challenges the basis of private property itself: a bold scheme! With the HP Instant Ink program, printer owners no longer own their ink cartridges or the ink in them. Instead, HP's customers have to pay a recurring monthly fee based on the number of pages they anticipate printing from month to month; HP mails subscribers cartridges with enough ink to cover their anticipated needs. If you exceed your estimated page-count, HP bills you for every page (if you choose not to pay, your printer refuses to print, even if there's ink in the cartridges).

If you don't print all your pages, you can "roll over" a few of those pages to the next month, but you can't bank a year's worth of pages to, say, print out your novel or tax paperwork. Once you hit your maximum number of "banked" pages, HP annihilates any other pages you've paid for (but continues to bill you every month).

Now, you may be thinking, "All right, but at least HP's customers know what they're getting into when they take out one of these subscriptions," but you've underestimated HP's ingenuity.

HP takes the position that its offers can be retracted at any time. For example, HP's “Free Ink for Life” subscription plan offered printer owners 15 pages per month as a means of tempting users to try out its ink subscription plan and of picking up some extra revenue in those months when these customers exceeded their 15-page limit.

But Free Ink for Life customers got a nasty shock at the end of last month: HP had unilaterally canceled their "free ink for life" plan and replaced it with "a $0.99/month for all eternity or your printer stops working" plan.

Ink in the Time of Pandemic

During the pandemic, home printers have become far more important to our lives. Our kids' teachers want them to print out assignments, fill them in, and upload pictures of the completed work to Google Classroom. Government forms and contracts have to be printed, signed, and photographed. With schools and offices mostly closed, these documents are being printed from our homes.

The lockdown has also thrown millions out of work and subjected millions more to financial hardship. It's hard to imagine a worse time for HP to shove its hands deeper into its customers' pockets.

Industry Leaders

The printer industry leads the world when it comes to using technology to confiscate value from the public, and HP leads the printer industry.

But these are infectious grifts. For would-be robber-barons, "smart" gadgets are a moral hazard, an irresistible temptation to use those smarts to reconfigure the very nature of private property, such that only companies can truly own things, and the rest of us are mere licensors, whose use of the devices we purchase is bound by the ever-shifting terms and conditions set in distant boardrooms.

From Apple to John Deere to GM to Tesla to Medtronic, the legal fiction that you don't own anything is used to force you to arrange your affairs to benefit corporate shareholders at your own expense.

And when it comes to "razors and blades" business-model, embedded systems offer techno-dystopian possibilities that no shaving company ever dreamed of: the ability to use law and technology to prevent competitors from offering their own consumables. From coffee pods to juice packets, from kitty litter to light-bulbs, the printer-ink cartridge business-model has inspired many imitators.

HP has come a long way since the 1930s, reinventing itself several times, pioneering personal computers and servers. But the company's latest reinvention as a wallet-siphoning ink grifter is a sad turn indeed, and the only thing worse than HP’s decline is the many imitators it has inspired.

from Deeplinks https://ift.tt/2TZl3Fw

[magzoso-tech]

New Post has been published on https://magzoso.com/tech/atrium-lays-off-lawyers-explains-pivot-to-legal-tech/

Atrium lays off lawyers, explains pivot to legal tech

$75 million-funded legal services startup Atrium doesn’t want to be the next company to implode as the tech industry tightens its belt and businesses chase margins instead of growth via unsustainable economics. That’s why Atrium is laying off most of its   in-house lawyers.

Now, Atrium will focus on its software for startups navigating fundraising, hiring, and collaborating with lawyers. Atrium plans to ramp up its startup advising services. And it’s also doubling down on its year-old network of professional service providers that help clients navigate day-to-day legal work. Atrium’s laid off attorneys will be offered spots as preferred providers in that network if they start their own firm or join another.

“It’s a natural evolution for us to create a sustainable model” Atrium co-founder and CEO Justin Kan tells TechCrunch. “We’ve made the tough decision to restructure the company to accommodate growth into new business services through our existing professional services network” Kan wrote on Atrium’s blog. He wouldn’t give exact figures but confirmed that over 10 but under 50 staffers are impacted by the change, with Atrium having a headcount of 150 as of June.

The change could make Atrium more efficient by keeping fewer expensive lawyers on staff. However, it could weaken its $500 per month Atrium membership that included some services from its in-house lawyers that might be more complicated for clients to attain through its professional network. Atrium will also now have to prove the its client-lawyer collaboration software can survive in the market with firms paying for it rather than it being bundled with its in-house lawyers’ services.

“We’re making these changes to move Atrium to a sustainable model that provides high quality services to our clients. We’re doing it proactively because we see the writing on the wall that it’s important to have a sustainable business” Kan says. “That’s what we’re doing now. We don’t anticipate any disrupt of services to clients. We’re still here.”

Justin Kan (Atrium) at TechCrunch Disrupt SF 2017

Founded in 2017, Atrium promised to merge software with human lawyers to provide quicker and cheaper legal services. Its technology can help automatically generate fundraising contracts, hiring offers, and cap tables for startups while using machine learning to recommend procedures and clauses based on anonymized data from its clients. It also serves like a Dropbox for legal, organizing all of a startup’s documents to ensure everything’s properly signed and teams are working off the latest versions without digging through email.

The $500 per month Atrium membership offered this technology plus limited access to an in-house startup lawyer for consultation, plus access to guide books and events. Clients could pay extra if they needed special help such as with finalizing an acquisition deal, or access to its Fundraising Concierge service for aid with developing a pitch and lining up investor meetings.

Kan tells me Atrium still have some in-house lawyers on staff which will help it honor all its existing membership contracts and power its new emphasis on advising services. He wouldn’t say if Atrium is paid any equity for advising, or just cash. The membership plan may change for future clients so lawyer services are provided through its professional network instead.

“What we noticed was that Atrium has done a really good job of building a brand with startups. Often what they wanted from attorneys was…advice on how to set my company up, how to set my sales and marketing team up, how to get great terms in my fundraising process” so Atrium is pursuing advising, Kan tells me. “As we sat down to look at what’s working and what’s not working, our focus has been to help founders with their super-hero story, connect them with the right providers and advisors, and then helping quarterback everything you need with our in-house specialists.”

LawSites first reported Saturday that Atrium was laying off in-house lawyers. A source says that Atrium’s lawyers only found out a week ago about the changes, and they’ve been trying to pitch Atrium clients on working with them when they leave. One Atrium client said they weren’t surprised by the changes since they got so much legal advice for just $500 per month, which they suspected meant Atrium was losing money on the lawyers’ time since it was so much less expensive than competitors. They also said these cheap legal services rather than the software platform were the main draw of Atrium, and they’re unsure if the tech on its own is valuable enough.

One concern is Atrium might not learn as quickly about what services to translate into software if it doesn’t have as many lawyers in-house. But Kan believes third-party lawyers might be more clear and direct about what they need from legal technology. “I feel like having a true market for the software you’re building is better than having an internal market” he says. “We get feedback from the outside firms we work with. I think in some ways that’s the most valuable feedback. I think there’s a lot of false signals that can happen when you’re the both the employer and the supplier.”

It was critical for Atrium to correct course before getting any bigger given the fundraising problems hitting late-stage startups with poor economics in the wake of the WeWork debacle and SoftBank’s troubles. Atrium had raised a $10.5 million Series A in 2017 led by General Catalyst alongside Kleiner, Founders Fund, Initialized, and Kindred Ventures. The in September 2018 it scored a huge $65 million Series B led by Andresseen Horowitz.

Raising even bigger rounds might have been impossible if Atrium was offering consultations with lawyers at far below market rate. Now it might be in a better position to attract funding. But the question is whether clients will stick with Atrium if they get less access to a lawyer for the same price, and whether the collaboration platform is useful enough for outside law firms to pay for.

Kan had gone through tough pivots in the past. He had strapped a camera to his head to create content for his livestreaming startup Justin.tv, but wisely recentered on the 3% of users letting people watch them play video games. Justin.tv became Twitch and eventually sold to Amazon for $970 million. His on-demand personal assistant startup Exec had to switch to just cleaning in 2013 before shutting down due to rotten economics.

Rather than deny the inevitable and wait until the last minute, with Atrium Kan tried to make the hard decision early.

[shopifyshoguns-blog]

Seven Trending products to sell on eCommerce this 2019

Want to start an online brand this year? With platforms like Shopify, Magento, BigCommerce giving wings to peoples dream, you should go for the kill.  Why not begin with trends in 2019? Trendy products are demanding and difficult to discover but finding that niche ensures a loyal client base and a serious profit.

We at Shopify Shoguns are going to showcase some products which are trending right now.

If you are preparing to get onto eCommerce you should be prepared to be unique, remain alert and experiment with distinct products and finally make your brand stand out of the crowd.

Let’s look at some of the trends in various categories of eCommerce products.

Also Read: 10 eCommerce trends that will drive sales this 2019

What makes for a trendy product? 1. Unique or Eye-catchy Make sure that your item is special. It should not be easy to find or tend to have a duplicate. Make sure the product you zero upon is not easy to find in brick and mortar shops in your region. 2. Difficult to find If the item is special customers are sure to seek it which means it is prone to high demand. Many e-shop operators are going to make a serious attempt to bring the product into their store. Now you must rise to the challenge and market it uniquely. 3. Price is not available Make damn sure that the real price of the product can not be found by customers. Most shipowners buy AliExpress products and sell them on their branding. Make sure the cost of the item is not readily found by your clients or even competitors. 4. Not selling inland Ensure that the item is not accessible in the region you sell. Why would your customer purchase the products from your e-store if the item is accessible in your region, via brick and mortar shops? It simply ceases being unique 5. Price does matter Dropshipping goods vary from $10 to $40 on average, for a decent markup. This is because individuals can readily invest this quantity to purchase products digitally. The attitude is called an impulse purchase. Anything more than this cost label is skeptical to individuals. And, they start to suspect the quality of the item or is it worth the price tag? And then they finally compare and purchase from the ones with the lowest cost on multiple e-Commerce shops. 7 trendy products that you should consider selling on your e-commerce store 1. Wireless Chargers Wireless charger against a white background

The next big thing in android equipment is wireless mobile chargers. Why? People are sick and tired of standard appliances for charging. Which comes with wires attached.

Starting to sell wireless phone chargers on your e-commerce store after white labeling them is a pretty good idea. You can purchase mobile chargers straight from suppliers or dropship the item to your store.

2. Mobile Camera Lens Trending product Camera glass against a white background

Mobile Camera lens assists in capturing pictures that are better. They are accessible in various configurations. Seek out suppliers with a strong network who can supply the required volume of orders to you on the fly. Mobile camera lenses have been on the market for the past couple of years and remain a viable-sales item for most of the brands. It’s good to see that they haven’t lost their appeal yet.

In the portable phone industry, camera lenses have acquired a unique and niche reputation. They are renowned to double the magnification of captured images and allow viewers to take fascinating pictures with just a quick tap.

3. Inflatable Animal Collar Trending product Inflatable dog collar against a white background

Inflatable animal collars are a fresh market trend. These inflatable pet collars can be used by both cats and dogs during sleep or travel. The primary aim of the swollen pet collars, however, is to safeguard your animals against facial wounds or to assist them in healing following an accident. If you have a pet shop, it is certainly an excellent idea to sell pet collars in 2019 given the lengths people go to pamper their pets.

4. Eyeshadow Stamp Trending product Inflatable eye shadow stamp against a white background

The eyeshadow stamp helps make up connoisseurs to make eye shadows in seconds by merely stamping the paste or eyeshadow and pressing it on the eyelid. In today’s social media savvy world selling this product to Instagram, youtube influencers and makeup artists is a real scenario. The eyeshadow stamp will operate almost on all kinds of eye sizes. And a single eyeshadow stamp can also be used by more than one individual.

5. Strapless Bra Trending product strapless bra against a pinkish background

Women can now go for sleeveless clothes any time of the day thanks to the adhesive strapless backless bra. These strapless bras are simple to carry and very convenient to wear. Through-silicon suckers they will adhere to the breasts to prevent a wardrobe malfunction. Selling strapless backless bras and their various variants is certainly an extremely lucrative option if you’re eyeing the fashion apparel and accessory industry.

6. Wrist Leash Trending product wrist leash against a white background

Many mothers lose their kids while shopping in malls, it just happens we understand (No pun intended). The wrist leash of the kid will help in preventing such an embarrassing situation. When you are a parent, all you have to do is wrap a strap around the wrist of the child and know whenever (s)he tries to make an unnoticed move to break free from your shopping free. The children’s wrist leash is a popular item in the US market when most females go to shopping malls. Sell it in your e-commerce store by targeting the right interest groups.

7. Front Facing Child Carrier Trending product front baby carrier against a white background

We’re going, to be honest here even if it earns us a bruised eye. Women must work, and at all times they can’t care for children no matter how particular they are about their child’s care. This is why the child carrier facing the front is actually a useful item. With this, females can look after their housework and also keep an eye on their children. If you are into baby products or are eyeing this particular niche white label this product get into the market and start targeting the right market and create a niche.

Conclusion

Shopify Shoguns is a premium agency with its footprint all over the world. We have helped numerous brands develop in their niches like Dishes only and Men-Varaosat.

If you are a business looking to develop customized eCommerce solutions then we have a team of 70+ experienced programmers who specialize in various platforms. Magento, Shopify, PrestaShop, WooCommerce name your pick and we can develop a kickass store for you.

[vrvisioninc]

The State of the Industry: Virtual & Augmented Reality in 2019

We’ve come a long way since the Oculus Rift and HTC VIVE launched in 2016. Many thought Virtual Reality had finally landed, but costly equipment and a lack of compatible hardware–among other issues– threw up barriers to the technology’s mass appeal. Today, Virtual Reality is more accessible than ever before. According to a report by Zion Market Research, the global value of the Virtual and Augmented Reality markets are projected to reach $814.7 billion USD by 2025. The technology, which has been widely associated with gaming, has developed use cases across a variety of industries. From farming to manufacturing, these immersive tools offer enterprise solutions that are transforming day-to-day business activities.

With a new breed of headsets hitting the market this year–specifically the standalones–Virtual Reality is about to turn a corner, for consumers and businesses alike.

Facebook Brings Us the Oculus Rift S and Oculus Quest Last year, reports swirled that Facebook would abandon PC-based VR in favour of standalone headsets like the Oculus GO, but in March the company announced the Oculus Rift S ($399 USD). With a higher resolution display, and the new Oculus Insight with Passthrough feature, Facebook’s latest tethered headset provides a much-needed update from its predecessor. Oculus Insight replaces the external sensors required for tracking and opts for embedded cameras, allowing it to track and understand its position in the space. The headset has also moved from LCD to OLED screens which minimize the screen door effect (a mesh-like appearance which occurs when there are visible gaps between pixels) that will help to boost the sense of immersion. The Rift S swaps out the tri-strap headset design and replaces it with an adjustable halo shape, which is said to increase comfort for extended play.

In addition to the launch of the Rift S, the Oculus Quest ($399 USD) is the latest untethered headset which is designed to deliver a PC-like experience with high fidelity audio and compelling graphics. The new standalone headset is a hybrid that combines the best elements from Facebook’s former standalone headset Oculus Go and the original Rift. Unlike the Go, the Quest incorporates Oculus Insight which grants the user 6-degrees-of-freedom (6DoF), so they can move freely around a space. Powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chipset–which also powers the Samsung Galaxy S8–the processor is paired with a cooling system which allows it to run at peak performance without overheating.

HTC VIVE Competes with Oculus Quest Announced at the VIVE Ecosystem conference in China, the VIVE Focus Plus ($800 USD) is a standalone headset with built-in head and hand-tracking. As a direct competitor to the Oculus Quest, the headsets share very similar features. Both units have 2,880 x 1,600 total resolution, is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chipset, feature 6DoF and pair with a set of hand-controllers. Where the headsets differ is the field-of-view (FOV). The Focus Plus boasts a 110-degree FOV, while the Quest has 100 degrees. With a refresh rate of 75 Hz, the Focus Plus outperforms the Quest’s 72 Hz. An important distinction between the two head-mounted displays is the price; the HTC VIVE is double that of its rival.

Oculus and HTC VIVE Bet on Business with Enterprise Programs Originally launched in 2017, Facebook introduced Oculus for Business. The enterprise solution was developed to foster Virtual Reality in the workplace and has expanded its initiative to include the Oculus Quest in their suite of tools. The program works with businesses who are creating custom applications for employee onboarding, remote collaboration, and data visualization. For many of the partners that previously signed on with the program, their initiatives have transformed their companies and, VR has become an essential tool for their business.

HTC VIVE has continued to concentrate on the enterprise market with the launch of the VIVE Focus Plus. The headset includes several professional features including Kiosk Mode, Multi-Mode Support, Gaze Support, and a series of device management tools which allow you to remotely manage and monitor multiple headsets simultaneously. The VIVE Enterprise Advantage updates easily and securely while providing small and large companies with the flexibility and control to manage VIVE deployments.

Oculus and HTC VIVE will continue to champion the enterprise market and help integrate VR into workflows and services that businesses are already using.

It’s Time to Add Virtual Reality to Your Marketing Strategy Today’s consumers are more enlightened and empowered. They are looking for experiences that are not only authentic but engaging and interactive. As customers become increasingly skeptical, brands are faced with the challenge of keeping up with the demands of their audience.

Using immersive technologies to sell products and services has become an important marketing tool that brands are leveraging. According to Greenlight Insights, the top 100 global manufacturers by revenue will be incorporating VR/AR marketing solutions that will assist with B2B and B2C sales by 2025.

Incorporating Virtual Reality into the marketing strategy can increase brand awareness, enhance consumer engagement, and improve the overall client experience. According to Touchstone Research, 80% of consumers feel positive towards a branded VR experience, which shows that jaded audiences are ready for new and innovative methods of marketing.

An example of a business who found success by integrating VR into their marketing strategy was Rinnai America. Launched at the 2018 International Builders’ Show in Atlanta, the company showcased their Yank the Tank VR experience. Designed for DIY’ers and professional installers, the application was used to showcase just how easy it is to install a tankless water heater. Understanding that many people find it overwhelming to perform an installation, Rinnai America asked tradeshow attendees to give their VR experience a try. To put the user at ease–and provide them with a sense of play–they started by choosing a “weapon of choice” to destroy the old tank. Once they had demolished the tank, they began the step-by-step installation process. By simulating this procedure, the user gained more confidence then if they had watched a demonstration. In addition to inspiring potential customer’s confidence, the activation increased their sales leads by 50%.

Including an immersive activation at a conference, tradeshow, or retail store provides potential customers with the understanding of how a product or service would function in their own lives. By showcasing how a product interacts and behaves, the consumer can form a deeper connection with the brand without interference from external distractions.

While Virtual Reality immerses a user in a simulated environment, Augmented Reality layers graphics or animations on the user’s pre-existing space. Proving to be a powerful marketing tool, AR has been utilized by brands in a variety of industries. Earlier this year one of the most famous whiskey brands in the world, Jack Daniel’s, released an AR app designed to tell the brand’s history. When a user opens the mobile app the bottle’s label unfolds like an illustrated diorama. The three-part story features a miniature version of the distillery, a step-by-step walkthrough of the whiskey-making process, and the last installment features stories of Jack Daniel, himself. Unlike the VR activation, the AR app allows for the brand’s story to be explored in the consumer’s own home or space. The Jack Daniel’s app is being heralded as the application that will define best practices for future AR-driven campaigns.

The Future of Corporate Training is Virtual When it comes to training employees–particularly ones that work in potentially dangerous environments–how can a company adequately prepare them for situations that can be stressful and highly complex? For decades, companies have been training employees with a combination of videos, role-playing, demonstrations, and text-based materials. When a problematic situation arises will these training methods have prepared workers to make the right decisions in a stressful environment?

According to a study from the University of Maryland, which analyzed whether people learn better through virtual, immersive stimuli versus traditional methods like computers or tablets, they found that people have a better recall when information is presented to them in an immersive form.

Virtual Reality is revolutionizing how companies are preparing employees for their working worlds. Offering the same benefits of training in the physical space, Virtual Reality can create engaging learning experiences but without the safety risks.

What makes VR a crucial training tool is the ability to evoke emotional and physiological responses to a simulated experience. Training exercises mimic real-life situations and provide controlled exposure to stressful stimuli. From managing irate customers to assembling an aircraft, the user can be exposed to multiple levels of intensity without the risks. Similar to exposure therapy by psychologists, the “dosage” or intensity level of the experience can be increased over time to bolster the adverse effects that stress produces in that particular situation. In addition to preparing the user for a complex and possibly distressing event, VR training allows companies to construct simulations that would otherwise be difficult, expensive, or dangerous to execute in a real-life environment.

To prepare the New York Police Department (NYPD) for everything from hostage situations to terrorist attacks, the Department of Homeland Security and Louisiana State University provided hundreds of officers with a week-long Virtual Reality training program. Running a number of simulations which placed officers into chaotic, stress-inducing situations while having to perform their duties, the program recorded the participant’s behaviour in order to facilitate further training. The pilot project also noted if multiple officers responded to a virtual event in a similar manner. This will help the NYPD gain a better understanding of how to plan and execute their emergency response based on the behaviours of their officers. After the pilot project has been completed Louisiana State University plans on working with other police departs and taking their training nationwide.

While Virtual Reality training is beneficial to users who are facing dangerous situations, it can also benefit other aspects of on-the-job training. When it comes to manufacturing or engineering recreating a training scenario can be incredibly expensive. Virtual Reality can save time, money, and can free up equipment that would otherwise have to be used for training.

When Qatar Airlines found training their engineers on the Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines difficult, they turned to Virtual Reality. Familiar with the technology, as they had used it to simulate real air-side conditions for their ground operating teams, Qatar Airways decided to provide similar training for their engineering department. Before implementing this approach to training, the aircraft would have to be taken out of service or separated and shipped back to Doha for the engineers to take part in the refresher training. This process was not only costly but risked damaging the equipment. The Rolls-Royce team developed the VR program–which uses an HTC Vive headset–and allowed users to “separate” the engine and carry out training in a virtual environment.

Saving Lives with Virtual Reality While immersive technologies have proven to be successful across many industries, healthcare has become one of the major adopters of Virtual and Augmented Reality. From surgery simulations to treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the medical community has embraced these mediums as an important industry asset. According to a report by Goldman-Sachs, the VR and AR healthcare market is predicted to reach $5.1 billion in value by 2025. Factors contributing to the industry’s growth include the steady stream of research and development and an increase in investments.

In a report published by Zion Market Research, the North American VR/AR industry is forecast to dominate the healthcare market from 2019 to 2025. This projection is attributed to a variety of factors including the prevalence of psychological and neurological disorders amongst North Americans, adoption of advanced technologies in the healthcare sector, and increasing investments by the government. Last year, Europe was also a significant player in the global market while the Asia-Pacific industry is estimated to show the highest growth in the coming years.

Many industries have welcomed Virtual and Augmented Reality as a training tool, and the medical community is no different. Combining VR and haptic technology–which creates a sense of touch by applying forces, vibrations, or motions to the user–a new surgery training simulation was developed. Launched in August of 2018, the simulation provides doctors with the opportunity to rehearse, practice, and test out real-life surgical procedures.

While students traditionally practice procedures on human cadavers–which is expensive–an immersive training program can help reduce a medical institution’s costs without limiting their training needs. Surgical residents can develop new skills or can practice procedures that they rarely perform. In addition to the cost-savings and the ability to hone their skills, the program also helps to minimize medical errors.

Providing tactile feedback, the program mirrors the sensation of touching a physical object. With the help with of a PC-based VR headset and a Geomagic Touch unit, the user is able to interact with a variety of tissue textures and tools. The program is currently focused on the orthopedic surgical fields but will expand its offerings in the future.

Immersive healthcare experiences are not exclusively developed for medical staff and also offer patients relief and peace of mind. Last year, Rockyview General in Calgary was the first hospital in Canada to use Virtual Reality to help wound care patients alleviate the pain and stress of treatment. Using Samsung Gear headsets featuring 12 VR experiences, patients were able to escape to distracting and relaxing environments. This complementary therapy reported no side effects, unlike the reactions caused by painkillers or sedatives. The patients who received the VR treatment reported a 75 percent reduction in discomfort.

Although there have been great strides in developing immersive tools which can improve the healthcare industry, the technology is still in its infancy. While these solutions are enticing and transformative, they will have to continue to navigate the technical safeguards and industry regulations. Unlike the world of gaming–where virtual reality is most prominent–the healthcare industry is wrought with strict regulating bodies. Once the governing infrastructure finds the ability to properly manage Virtual & Augmented Reality, these tools and treatments will no longer be labelled as experimental or complimentary, but mainstream and primary.

In Conclusion… The VR/AR landscape has changed dramatically over the past couple of years. Manufacturers are making strides with important hardware and software improvements and 2019 is set to be an important year for the industry. With the boundless uses for immersive applications, businesses and consumers alike are ready to have our work and play transformed.

[operawindow9-blog]

This UK startup allows fans to earn royalties from an artist’s music

Songbook has a fairly simple USP.

It lets fans crowdfund an artist’s next album, EP or single; in turn, it gives them a cut of the master/publishing rights, from which they earn royalties from three to 25 years.

It’s an interesting, yet somewhat unusual proposition.

While most crowdfunding platforms offer rewards in the form of early releases or access to concert tickets or exclusive merchandise, Songbook enables fans to become ‘real players’ in the music industry.

“Existing crowdfunding, for me, feels a little charitable / desperate, plus the hassle of posting out physical rewards is a hardship artists don’t want or need,” argues the company’s founder and CEO Chris Read.

He insists however, that his London-based startup is not ‘trying to disrupt the market’.

“Songbook is very much a commercial deal – not charity or a desperate move.”

Chris Read, Songbook

“We are an investment platform solving the two main problems artists and labels have,” explains Read. “[A] lack of cash and sustained promotion – whilst making music exciting again for music fans.

“Why sustained promotion? In the long-tail earnings model streaming has created artists need long-tail promotion. Vested fans can do this. A three month marketing burst is no longer sufficient and labels simply do not have the resource to execute sustained promotion.”

He adds: “Songbook is very much a commercial deal – not charity or a desperate move. Songbook / music journalists write the campaign piece and there is no cringey piece to camera from the artist.”

The company’s first successful campaign was for an artist called Albert Gold to record three covers – Under The Westway by Blur, London Calling by The Clash and Fix You by Coldplay. A resultant record will be released via Fierce Panda Records soon.

The campaign took investment from 33 fans, who will earn recording rights income on these three songs for seven years post-release.

Read, the founder of another music biz company, The Composers.tv, explains that the idea for Songbook came about because he works with ad agencies in the UK and a few in the US and gets sent a lot of music from artists who don’t have the money or resource of getting their music noticed.

“Songbook could help these guys,” he says. “I also think music fans want something more from music today.

“Hitting play on your phone isn’t enough, but being a ‘real player’ in the music industry – investing to promoting to earning royalties, to me – is.”

“We’re a very attractive funding and promotional option for all parties to use.”

In addition to Chris Read, the Songbook team consists of Chairman Keith Harris OBE Phil Sellick (CTIO, Virgin Media), CFO Ray O’Malley (ex Price Waterhouse Cooper) andSir John Hegarty, who is tasked with helping to build the brand, media partnerships and later stage funding.

Although crowdfunding has obviously proved to be a popular option with the Artist Direct market, Read explains that he foresees the company working with labels and publishers as much as with artists directly.

“We’re a very attractive funding and promotional option for all parties to use,” he says.

“We want to evolve it and work with labels (Fierce Panda & Pussyfoot currently) and publishers as well as artists direct. We are a very attractive funding option to these guys not a direct competitor.”

By now you’re probably wondering how the splits work between fan, artist and songbook.

Read says that it differs depending on the campaign, but right now Songbook is offering deals ranging from 10% to 30% with a duration of 3 to 25 years.

“So, for example if an artist is looking to raise £3,000 for 30% of the recording rights for 10 years – if 30 people invest £100 into a £3,000 raise they will all receive royalty income of 1% of the recording rights for 10 years,” explains Read. “Our minimum invest is £10. We can cap the maximum amount.”

He adds that Songbook would prefer not to have one person investing the full amount in each project, because you wouldn’t get the potential “promotional reach hundreds if not thousands of fans could deliver”.

Songbook’s CEO says that the company is “flexible” on the maximum percentage of rights revenue that an artist can receive – for example, it could be 100% of publishing and 60% for recordings, or 80% publishing and 80% recording rights.

For Songbook’s cut, the startup currently draws from two revenue streams: 10% of the crowdfunding raise and between 10-20% of the rights revenue.

“Plus, and this is really important, continues Read, “We invest, not advance.

“Therefore the artist earns their percentage from the first stream, sync or sale, not after the sum of the advance has been repaid. [This approach is] great for cash flow for cash strapped labels and managers.”Music Business Worldwide

Source: https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/this-uk-startup-allows-fans-to-earn-royalties-from-an-artists-music/

[vijaykurane]

Wearable Healthcare/Medical Devices Market Overview Along With Competitive Landscape Company Profiles With Product Details and Competitors and Forecast 2027

Global Wearable Healthcare/Medical Devices Market presents information on the current and future industry speculations, enabling the users of this report to identify the products and services, which drive revenue growth and profitability. The study provides an analysis of all the factors impacting the market on a global and regional scale. It also includes threats, drivers, constraints, opportunities, challenges, and industry-specific trends. Moreover, the report depicts the present market scenario and the downstream and upstream industry chain.

The report includes the latest coverage of the impact of COVID-19 on the Wearable Healthcare/Medical Devices industry. The incidence has affected nearly every aspect of the business domain. This study evaluates the current scenario and predicts future outcomes of the pandemic on the global economy.

To look at the PDF Sample Report and get 30 minutes of a free consultation @https://www.reportsanddata.com/sample-enquiry-form/1054

The Wearable Healthcare/Medical Devices market report intends to give all the potential investors and participants an overview of all the details related to growth factors, restraints, threats, and the upcoming opportunities that the market will have. The report encompasses the revenue trends, consumer requirements, market forecasts, cost-effective methods of production for an increased understanding of the competitive landscape of the market.

Top Key Players in the Wearable Healthcare/Medical Devices Market:

Fitbit, Philips, Garmin, Lifewatch, Medtronic, NeuroMetrix, Qardio and Omron. Fitbit

Competitive landscape

The Wearable Healthcare/Medical Devices Industry is booming owing to the varied established players in this market who are constantly attempting to increase their market share. The suppliers in the market are segmented based on price, product portfolio, product differentiation, brand, and quality. The present supplier’s primary focus is achieving a better customer customization technique, providing the customers with a product, which is more to their liking.

Wearable Healthcare/Medical Devices Market segment by Regions/Countries:

 U.S.

 Germany

 UK

 China

 India

 South-east Asia

 Brazil

Ask Here to Get customization & Check for irresistible discount rates on this report @

Segmentation by Types:

·          

 Fitness Trackers

 Body Sensors

Wearable Patches

Wrist Devices

Heart Straps

Headbands

Posture Monitors

Movement Sensors

Wearable Defibrillator

·          

 Smart Clothing

 Smart Glasses

 Wearable Camera

 Others

Segmentation by Application:

Sports & Fitness

Remote Patient Monitoring

Home Healthcare

Emergency Medical Care

Others

Features of the Wearable Healthcare/Medical Devices market report:

A. The report include the competitive landscape of the Wearable Healthcare/Medical Devices market.

B. proper profiling of the major participants is carried out in the report.

C. The future strategies, production, manufacture, sales and the technological capabilities of the influential market players is encompassed by the report

D. The drivers of the Wearable Healthcare/Medical Devices market are explained in detail for the user to optimize his chances of benefitting

E. The report also talks about the key application areas of the global market, thereby providing an accurate description of the market to the readers/users.

F. The study conducted a SWOT analysis of the market. In the concluding chapters, the report focuses on the predictions and opinions given by our expert analysts. The drivers and the regulatory policies by the government that provide a boost to the Wearable Healthcare/Medical Devices market are highlighted in the study.

G. The report on the Global Wearable Healthcare/Medical Devices Market is a reliable source of information for policymakers, investors, stakeholders, service providers, manufacturers, suppliers, and market players interested in the industry.

Go through our meticulously drafted TOC, Tables, Statistics, Charts, and Company profiles: -https://www.reportsanddata.com/report-detail/wearable-healthcare-medical-devices-market

What the Wearable Healthcare/Medical Devices global market provides the users with:

A. Helps the user to get an edge over the other competitors in the market by giving a detailed overview of the market scenario.

B. Highlights drivers and restraints of the markets.

C. The six-year forecast in the report helps the investors or potential players of the market to make informed decisions and profit in the Wearable Healthcare/Medical Devices market.

D. It aids the investor by disclosing the prospects of the market. Thus, the user makes informed business decisions. The report is also segmented and sub-segmented to better the results of the forecast.

Customized reports based on market segmentation according to regions and competitors are also available on request.

Reports and Data: About Us: Reports and Data is a market research and consulting company that provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. Our solutions purely focus on your purpose to locate, target and analyze consumer behavior shifts across demographics, across industries and help client’s make a smarter business decision. We offer market intelligence studies ensuring relevant and fact-based research across a multiple industries including Healthcare, Technology, Chemicals, Power and Energy. We consistently update our research offerings to ensure our clients are aware about the latest trends existent in the market. Contact Us: John Watson Head of Business Development Direct Line: +1-212-710-1370 E-mail: sales@reportsanddata.com Reports and Data | Web: www.reportsanddata.com

[minnievirizarry]

How to promote your YouTube channel to maximize views

There’s no better time than now to figure out how to promote your YouTube channel.

Why “now,” though?

For starters, YouTube recently overtook Facebook as the second most-visited site on the web.

In a day and age where we’re spending up to six hours per day consuming video, the writing is on the wall: we need to appeal to our customers’ binge-watching tendencies.

Of course, the boom of video content has resulted in a flood of brands trying to master YouTube channel marketing all at once.

And so if you want to stand out on YouTube, you need to take advantage of as many promotional tactics as possible.

Below we’ve broken down step-by-step how to promote your YouTube channel to maximize your viewership. Whether you’re just getting started or want to see your numbers tick upward, these tips are all fair game.

1. Write engaging, must-see titles

YouTube marketing is all about presentation.

Like, literally.

Titles are make-or-break when it comes to your video’s performance. Ask yourself: are you presenting your content as “must-see” or “meh?”

The key to crafting killer titles is grabbing your audience’s attention without resorting to clickbait headlines. People crave content that’s entertaining, and they likewise want to know what your video is about from the word “go.”

For example, you can take a page out of the playbooks of YouTube giants like BuzzFeed and WhatCulture. Such videos often rely on listicles, question-based titles or hyperbole (“insane,” “…of all time”) to rack up the views.

Athlean X’s fitness-based videos are another good example. The channel’s content manages to sneak in relevant keywords in its titles while also coming across as conversational.

“Best-of” lists and “how-to” titles are always a safe bet, too. Here are some click-worthy titles from Disney Food Blog:

The takeaway here is that you should definitely spend time mulling over engaging titles rather than sticking with the first idea that pops into your head.

In terms of specifics, an oft-cited study from Tubular Insights notes that YouTube video titles should stick between 41 and 70 characters. Meanwhile, tools such as CoSchedule’s headline analyzer recommends 55 characters for an engaging headline. CoSchedule’s tool isn’t specifically meant for video titles but is awesome for brainstorming YouTube-friendly titles to help promote your YouTube channel.

2. Step up your YouTube SEO

Here’s some food for thought: YouTube videos show up in 70% of the top 100 Google search results.

Heck, see for yourself. Any given product or “how-to” query on Google will return something from YouTube.

In fact, YouTube results sometimes even pop up before traditional blog posts or websites.

Listen: YouTube is the second-largest search engine in the world in and of itself. Just like people search for products and need problems solved via Google, the same rings true on YouTube.

Think of your YouTube videos like any other piece of content that needs to be optimized in terms of keywords, tags and so on.

In order to increase your chances of showing up, you’ll want to follow some of the best practices for YouTube SEO:

Titles and description: Include target keywords in your titles and descriptions. You can use a tool like Keywordtool.io to help you find keyword ideas.

Mention keywords in your video: According to Brian Dean of Backlinko, saying your target keywords in your video can help YouTube better understand what your video is about.

Engagement: YouTube uses engagement (likes, comments, views) to help determine where videos rank in its search results.

Categories: Use categories to help YouTube get a better understanding of who to show your videos to.

Tags: In addition to categories, you can also add tags to your videos to give YouTube more context about your content. You can use quite a few tags, so add as many as you can think of.

Just like with SEO for your website, don’t keyword stuff. Use keywords when it makes sense, not just for the sake of having them. You can check out our guide on how to optimize your YouTube videos for more specifics.

3. Figure out what your audience wants

With any type of content you produce, you want to make sure it’s aligned with what your audience wants. Whether you’re writing a blog post or creating a video, start by getting to know your audience and what type of content they want to see from you.

If you’re just starting to promote your YouTube channel, take a look at your competitors or other video creators in your industry. Look at which of their videos get the most views and engagement. This will give you an idea of what topics your audience wants to learn about and what style of videos they prefer.

Another solution is to look at your YouTube Analytics if you’ve already uploaded videos. YouTube gives you detailed information on audience demographics, location, engagement and other helpful stats.

4. Engage with the YouTube community

Although you might not think of YouTube as a social network per se, the platform does represent a thriving community where users are engaging via content via profiles, “likes” and comments.

Sounds pretty “social” if you ask us.

As noted earlier, any sort of interaction with your viewers is seen as a positive signal to YouTube. If nothing else, engaging with your subscribers can help you foster a stronger connection with your audience. “Liking” comments only takes a few seconds, as does pinning a top comment as a sort of personal note to your subscribers.

For example, music channel Artzie Musik regularly “likes” and responds to comments on its recent uploads. The channel’s creator regularly goes back-and-forth with subscribers to show appreciation and answer questions, too.

Just as you’d respond to comments and engage with your followers on any other social network, YouTube is no different.

5. Customize your thumbnails

One of the simplest yet effective tactics to promote your YouTube channel is creating custom thumbnails.

Think of your title and thumbnail as a sort of one-two punch to grab a viewer’s attention.

By default, YouTube snags a screenshot from any given video and uses it for the thumbnail. Unfortunately, sometimes the image it grabs will be a blurry shot of you adjusting the camera or a transition.

Not a good look, right?

Creating thumbnails yourself not only makes your videos look more appealing at a glance but also signals a certain sense of professionalism.

Thumbnails don’t have to be rocket science, either. You can even create a template with a particular font and style to make it more consistent and on-brand. This is made especially easy with the help of image creation tools such as Canva. Here’s a good example from Binging with Babish:

6. Cross-promote your videos on YouTube

Chances are you’re covering similar topics on YouTube that overlap with each other.

To squeeze more out of your older content, make a point to cross-promote your videos when it makes sense.

For example, you can drop links in the description of a video and encourage viewers to check them out as a sort of call-to-action. Although some might be disappointed by the recent removal of YouTube’s annotation system, linking in your description encourages viewers to watch your videos all the way through without clicking away.

7. Target the SERPs

As noted, YouTube is totally killing it when it comes to SEO.

And while you shouldn’t totally create content for search engines versus people, you should promote your YouTube channel with SEO in mind.

Specifically, product reviews, how-to’s and long-form (10+ minutes) videos covering keyword-specific topics tend to rank well. If you’re strapped for content ideas or want to capitalize on a trending buzzword in your industry, consider how you can do so through your YouTube channel marketing.

8. Run a contest or giveaway

If there’s one thing YouTube users love, it’s a giveaway. Host a YouTube contest or giveaway to encourage people to subscribe to your channel and engage.

To keep your contests simple, have people like your video, leave a comment and subscribe to your channel to enter.

Follow some of our best practices for running any social media contest:

Make sure you’re following YouTube’s policies.

Give away a gift that’s related to your brand: you want to attract more than just freebie-seekers.

Get creative by incorporating user-generated content and other non-traditional entry requirements.

Be careful with hosting frequent YouTube contests, though. You want to make sure you’re getting results from your efforts: otherwise, you’ll end up wasting time, money and resources. After doing one contest, wait a while and look at your subscriber drop-off rate and engagement numbers. If you aren’t bringing in engaged subscribers, you could just be attracting people who want free prizes.

9. Encourage viewers to follow your series

A smart way to promote your YouTube channel is by creating a specific video series that covers a recurring theme or topic.

Popular foodie channel Bon Appétit actually has a variety of different series that make up their YouTube presence, including their ongoing “From the Test Kitchen” videos.

Series are a win-win for creators and viewers alike. For creators, you hold yourself accountable for creating fresh YouTube content and don’t have to rack your brain for ideas. For your audience, they have something to look forward to and likewise a reason to keep returning to your channel.

10. Embed your YouTube videos on-site

Some of the best places to promote your YouTube channel are beyond YouTube itself.

Case in point, video content is proven to improve conversion rates and lower bounce rate on-site. If you want visitors to stick around a product page or blog post longer, embed a video (like we did below).

Remember: any opportunity you have to funnel your on-site (or social!) traffic to YouTube is a plus.

11. Create playlists to organize your YouTube content

The more videos you create, the more difficult it becomes for people to navigate through your channel.

That’s why playlists are so important. Not only do playlists allow you to group your videos into categories to organize your channel, but also appeal to your viewers’ desire to binge.

For example, Beardbrand’s grooming channel uploads daily and therefore has amassed hundreds of videos covering tons of topics. The channel’s various playlists help guide subscribers to relevant content without having to dig for it.

12. When in doubt, ask for engagement

Sometimes simply asking for engagement is the best way to get your videos spread.

After all, not everyone who enjoys your video is going to drop a “like.”

Especially if you’re an up-and-coming channel, there’s no shame in asking for some love directly. In fact, asking visitors a question to answer in the comments suggestion or to check out another video are perfect ways to keep the engagement rolling. You can likewise link to other videos or drop an external link to your site to serve as a sort of CTA.

13. Give live streaming a try

Live video is one of the biggest social media trends and it isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

With apps like Facebook, Periscope and Instagram making it easier than ever to stream live video, more and more brands are getting on board.

YouTube has been offering live videos for years but has only recently started picking up steam. You can take a look at some popular YouTube Live videos to get a sense of how other brands are using the platform.

Some examples of how you can use YouTube Live are:

Webinars

Live tutorials

Q&A sessions

Product demonstrations

Don’t worry if your streams don’t go as smoothly as you’d like. Part of the fun (and risk) of live video is you never know what’s going to happen. The unpolished, organic nature of live video is exactly what makes it compelling. For more tips on how to get started with YouTube Live, check out Google’s introduction to live streaming.

14. Collaborate with other creators and brands

A tactic some of the biggest YouTube stars used to grow their following is collaborating with other users. Each collaboration gives you exposure to a new audience. And the best part is those new viewers are more likely to subscribe to your channel since you’re working with a content creator they already know, like and trust.

The key to a successful YouTube collaboration is finding the right partner. You want to collaborate with content creators that share similar passions with your brand so your video comes off as authentic. This now-classic collaboration between BuzzFeed and Purina is a prime example of a thoughtful collaboration that doesn’t feel overly promotional.

15. Run a paid YouTube ad campaign

With marketing in general becoming more pay-to-play, you always have the option to promote your YouTube channel via ads. YouTube offers a variety of ad formats to choose from:

Display ads: These ads show up on the right-hand sidebar of videos, and are only available on desktop.

Overlay ads: These are semi-transparent ads that are displayed on the bottom part of a video. They’re only available on desktop.

Skippable and non-skippable video ads: These ads show up before, during or after a video. Skippable ads can be skipped after five seconds, but non-skippable ads have to be watched all the way through before the viewer can watch their video.

Bumper ads: These are non-skippable ads that have to be watched before the viewer can watch their video. They can be a maximum of six seconds.

Sponsored cards: These are cards that get displayed within relevant videos. You can use them to promote your products or other content.

For your ad creatives, you can either use an existing video or create something new for a specific campaign. The advantage of using an existing video is you can choose a clip you know has been effective in the past. If a video has already gotten a lot of views and engagement organically, running paid ads can amplify your results.

On the flip side, creating a new video for your ads will allow you to create a more targeted piece of content that you have more control over. For instance, you can create an ad with a specific call-to-action at the end to direct viewers to a landing page or another video. You can learn more about YouTube’s video ad formats here.

16. Regularly publish your YouTube content to social media

It’s no secret that video content crushes it on social media in terms of engagement and performance.

As a result, you should regularly promote your YouTube channel to your social followers to encourage them to become subscribers. As soon as a video goes live, make a point to let your followers on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn know about it. You can likewise create snippets or previews for each social platform that also link to your latest production.

With the help of Sprout Social, you can schedule your content and cross-promote it without having to jump from platform to platform. Features such as ViralPost can also help ensure that your content goes live based on when your social audiences are engaged.

And with that, we wrap up our guide to YouTube channel marketing!

How do you promote your YouTube channel?

Growing a YouTube audience doesn’t happen by accident.

And yes, it can certainly feel like a grind if your space is crowded with competition.

That’s exactly why it pays to have a variety of promotional tactics in your back pocket. Although some of the tips above require more effort than others, each one can help you get more eyes on your channel and more subscribers as a result.

We want to hear from you, though. Are you struggling to promote your YouTube channel? Any advice to fellow creators? Let us know in the comments below!

This post How to promote your YouTube channel to maximize views originally appeared on Sprout Social.

from SM Tips By Minnie https://sproutsocial.com/insights/how-to-promote-your-youtube-channel/

[topicprinter]

Hey - Pat from StarterStory.com here with another interview.Today's interview is with Brandon Wong of Photobooth Supply Co., a brand that makes and sells photo booths.Ever been to a wedding or event that has a fun photo booth? Well, these guys design a very fancy version of those photobooths.It's also an interesting business model - not only did they design these photobooths on their own, but they sell them to other entrepreneurs - those that want to make some decent money.Some stats:Product: PhotoboothRevenue/mo: $300,000Started: March 2013Location: Orange County, CaliforniaFounders: 2Employees: 10Hello! Who are you and what are you working on?Hello! I’m Brandon Wong, the CEO and part of the husband and wife team that started Photobooth Supply Co.Trying to start a business? It can be complicated, expensive, and time consuming. We provide a meaningful business opportunity through a photobooth that allows you to capture memories while making some serious profit!In this experience economy, the event industry is exploding and nothing is coming up faster than photo booths. In fact, from 2005 to 2012 more people searched online for photo booth rentals than for wedding DJs. It’s not uncommon to see seven figure photo booth rental companies, and six figure ones are a dime a dozen. We specialize in making that happen for you.If you’re only familiar with the old boxes with black and white prints, you’d probably be surprised to see our flagship photobooth, Queso. It looks more like an Apple product than something you’d see in a train station or mall.And we take not only beautiful photos, but videos, boomerangs, GIFs, and more… all shareable instantly on social media via it’s secondary share screen.I think the most important thing about what we do is the fact that we’ve transformed over 1,000 people’s lives. It’s not about the money for me, it’s about the fact that the company I started with my wife has given so many fantastic opportunities for people to achieve their full potential, while having a lot of fun while at it.What's your backstory and how did you come up with the idea?My wife and I were wedding photographers. If you’ve been to a wedding lately, you’ve probably seen a photobooth.The same was true 8 years ago. We saw booths everywhere, and started thinking… why not add one of those? We purchased the “old” style photobooth, the enclosed box. It became clear very quickly that at least two things could be done better. It wasn’t really portable and it didn’t take the prettiest pictures.I contacted a few metal suppliers down here in Orange County and asked if they could put something together for me. I wanted something sleek and portable, but it also had to be able to take gorgeous pictures.My wife and I spent weeks trying to get the photos just perfect and we built a few very interesting looking prototypes. Right away, our friends came asking if we could put something together for them as well.So, we took everything out of our savings account and got a tiny space at the largest wedding photography expo… which was happening in three weeks at the time.In that time, we created a website, branding, literature, promotional videos, a trade show booth, a prototype unit, sales pitch, pricing, everything. At the show, we sold over 10 booths and doubled that number the week afterwards. A month later, we hand delivered one of the booths to a customer in Vegas and I used that money to buy an engagement ring. We were married six months afterwards.My wife and IFrom that trade show, we just kept spending time to create more resources and more value to help our customers make more money. We started including marketing materials, sample contracts, attendant training videos, educational webinars, and more. Things like that really set the entire product apart, but everybody came to it for the picture quality and portability.Within a short matter of time, we evolved from selling photo booths to selling a turnkey business opportunity, all without any franchise fees or the need for a large initial capital investment.Describe the process of designing, prototyping, and manufacturing the product.I’d argue that no one would buy anything unless it solves a problem. So our job as entrepreneurs is to identify which one we wish to tackle, survey, and then execute.As you can imagine, the process gets much easier when you are encountering the problem yourself. Our photography business was not scalable and unfortunately hit a revenue cap that was hard to break through. Creating additional services was the only way to move past this. Of course, this is where the photobooth came in.LPT (Life Pro Tip): Read UX Strategy: How to Devise Innovative Digital Products that People Want by Jaime Levy.DesignI’m hugely inspired by legendary product designer Dieter Rams. One of his principles that I live by is “Good design is as little design as possible.”Using that strategy, we started with the electronics of the booth that were mandatory (Computer, touch screen, camera, flash, printer, etc.) and devised a product that was the expression of those core components in the most elegant manner possible. Nothing more, nothing less.Moreover, I would draw inspiration from products that have similar functions to yours. I browsed kiosk designs, floor lamps, cameras, robots in sci-fi movies, and more!PrototypeWe did a quick Google search for a local fabricator to create our first alpha unit. Because our initial unit did not need any tooling, we had very low initial costs.An early prototypeKatrina is very glad that we didn’t release this.Within the three weeks leading up to our first trade show, we were able to execute a few rapid prototypes. We started as simple as possible and made things better from there. These quick iterations got us to market quicker and allowed us to do multiple rounds of UX testing which ultimately resulted in a better product.LPT: I’d recommend downloading Sketchup for a hardware product or Sketch for a software product. Use those tools that to make your first round of iterations. It doesn't have to be pretty, but it can communicate more effectively than a napkin sketch or even verbally.Moreover, it may help you discover new opportunities in your design. Doing this before making a prototype and hiring an engineer can save you thousands during the initial phases when you are strapped for cash.ManufactureWe really lucked out because that same fabricator was looking to grow from making one-off parts to a being a large manufacturer. It was a third generation family of welders who gave us the undivided attention we needed despite being a start up and having a low order quantity.In hindsight, we were lucky to start with a US based manufacturer. This removed the issues of language, distance, shipping, tariffs, and customs that come with using an overseas vendor.LPT: Use Maker’s Row, an Alibaba for US based suppliers to aid your search.Describe the process of launching the business.We first started off using Squarespace, which is by far the easiest, cheapest, and most elegant beginner web design solution I’ve ever encountered.Two years of using this service gave us the experiences to know which platform served our needs best. After much evaluation, we switched to Shopify for the powerful integrations and backend experience.I’d highly recommend a couple things:Website AuditHire someone off Fiverr to audit your website. For a few bucks someone will record their experience on your online store and critique it. This is valuable information.Moreover, you can test it with friend and family to see how they’re interacting with it. You want to see if they are clicking the right places and landing where you want them to go.Third Party LogisticsFocus on what you are good at. I doubt your company was built to do logistics well, so find a third party logistics company to pack, store, and ship for you. Amazon does this beautifully as well, but our product was not made for that type of infrastructure.Since launch, what has worked to attract and retain customers?We were lucky enough to have two major sales channels. We attend trade shows and gain customers that way, and we have a strong SEO presence. Let’s talk trade shows first, since they are a pretty big unknown for a lot of businesses.Trade showsA trade show is like having access to hundreds or thousands of hot leads, all at once, and while every competitor is right next to you. It’s brutal, and it’s exhausting, and it’s amazing.You truly have to stand out as a product, and as an experience, and as a company. We might spend $10,000 on a space and another $10,000 on staff, setup materials, and experience. Then we still have to have a show special and use that to drive sales. The margins get a lot tighter, but if you’re picking good shows, the kind your current customers go to, you’re going to do well.That’s the best advice I can give for picking shows—just ask your customers where they’re going to be, and go there. Partially to sell, and partially to meet your people in person. You can never spend enough time getting to know your customers. There is no more valuable time you can spend on your business than learning how to truly help people with what you do.We love attending photography focused trade shows. I think photographers are probably some of the most creative entrepreneurs out there. There is the business side, which takes a remarkable amount of creative skill, and there’s the actual photography.When you get a chance to talk to them, they realize very quickly that they’re entrepreneurs at heart and we’re a great solution!The best advice I can give anyone looking to stand out at a trade show is to make a booth that you’d want to go into. I know it’s pretty common and boring advice, but let think about it--what kind of trade show booth would you want to go into? And if the answer is, “I wouldn’t go to a trade show” then you should hire a marketing director to handle this part.Trade shows don’t have to be your thing to be profitable. Your company should mirror your spirit and interests, but sometimes we all have to do the things that are necessary for success.Moreover, there is a wonderful opportunity to iterate on your sales pitch. You are sometimes talking to dozens of people in person every day. By seeing their body language and how they interact with your product, you can immediately tell what aspects of your pitch are effective. By the end of it, you should have some solid strategies for your sales reps, ads, and website.SEOSEO is a pretty difficult world to understand. I suggest finding the best talent you can and letting them do what they’re best at.Sometimes that means bringing the service in house, sometimes it involves an outside agency. For us, the ROI on our spend here is huge. It goes back to what I said about picking the trade show your customers attend. Pick the channel your customers use.Don’t worry about what you like, where you think you’ll find them, or anything like that. We started hearing from our customers that they found us by searching and so we had to honor that. It has worked very well. The kind of entrepreneur who does research and compares their options tends to land with us. That’s great. Our SEO has changed alongside Google, of course.When we got started, a lot of people found us through our photography company. They eventually started landing on us for searches about which photobooths had the best picture quality. It’s a natural transition for sure. Trust is big with Google, and people immediately trusted a photographer to have made a great photobooth. It makes sense.How are you doing today and what does the future look like?We are doing fantastic! The launch of Queso, our flagship photo booth, really brought photobooths a huge step forward.I love to share that over 80% of Queso’s early adopters already owned our previous photobooth. Those are loyalty numbers comparable with Apple! Apple was at 86% on phones last year, and for car companies, Subaru was best at 67%. I could go on about stats forever.We have a 97% customer satisfaction rate on the post support surveys we send out. Globally that number is 86%. That all comes from us putting a focus on customer experience.Speaking of that customer experience, I think that a lot of questions tend to come up around the profit margins on something like a photobooth. How much of that $1,100 booking fee ends up in the pocket of our owners? We’d look at a booking fee like that and break it down like this in a very general sense:$1,100 - FeeIndividual Costs$100 - Attendant wages$15 - Paper for the printer$15 - Gas and transportation$10 - Misc (Business cards, equipment wear and tear, lost props)Amortized Costs$25 - Software$20 - Website Hosting$10 - Yearly Business Registration Costs$905 - ProfitMost people look at a breakdown like that and ask where to sign up. It’s not always that easy, or that clean cut. You do have to pay taxes. But there’s no reason to see this as a side hustle rather than a profession, if you put in the work. Four events a month is just somewhere to start. We have tons of owners with 6 or 8 booths. They’re working 300+ days a year.My biggest fear was that photo booths were a trend, but that’s just simply not the case. Our company has been growing every year since our inception and 2018 is looking to be the best year yet. We see this growth not only in private events, but also in retail locations, restaurants, nightclubs, and any other location where there’s a gathering of people.The future is exciting. We haven’t been resting at all, we have already gone into beta on an upcoming product for a completely different market segment. I can’t say too much about it, but it’s going to have a massive impact on the industry as a whole. I’m so excited that it’s going to be on the market soon, and it’s somewhere we’ll really be able to expand the horizons of Photobooth Supply Co.Through starting the business, have you learned anything particularly helpful or advantageous?Action over InactionI’m a big fan of saying yes and figuring out how to do it later. I understand that this method is highly controversial, but it forces you to figure out a way to accomplish goals under unreasonable circumstances.Stop being in your head and start taking action. The more you let things stop you, the more things can stop you. Sometimes it’s okay to be unreasonable!Develop a RoutineMore than likely you will be working from home. You can gain a lot of productivity from building out a routine for yourself.I find that waking up the same time, showering, getting dressed, and drinking that coffee at the same times every morning will allow you to stay focused throughout the day.It’s also a really good idea to segment your web browsers. You can use Chrome for business logins and Firefox for personal ones. It saves you a ton of time and helps keep you from browsing Reddit instead of working!Self AwarenessIt’s difficult to grow your company without discovering what it’s lacking. To do that, you will need to understand your strengths and weaknesses.If you’re like me, you’ve probably never taken the time to sit down and think about that. Luckily, there are wonderful tools out there like StrengthsFinder, Myers-Briggs, and the DISC assessment that access that for you.Once you discover your double edged sword, you’ll know what to delegate and whom to hire. My double edged sword was impatience and optimism, so I surrounded myself with meticulous pessimists. They consistently bring value to our meetings and overall strategy.In the beginning stages this might mean figuring out what tasks to farm out to services like Fiverr or a Virtual Assistant. A fantastic book to read is of course, The 4 Hour Workweek.What tools do you use for your business?I don’t think we use anything unique on the grand scale. We host our online store on Shopify, we do customer support through Zendesk, have HubSpot as a CRM…I’d really like to make a suggestion here. Go with the best tools. It’s never worth holding your entire business back to save 10 or 20 bucks a month on an inferior platform. When the numbers get really big, like they do with HubSpot, you can definitely assess that platform constantly.For us, every time we do a review, we fall back in love with most of our tools. Anything that we aren’t using, we cut. We broke up with Later as soon as Instagram included scheduling tools. We just recently stopped using our VOIP platform because HubSpot offered recorded calls, and they were clearer. It would have cost more, but we negotiated on price until it cost less. Win-win!We now have over 15 team members who mostly work remote. Luckily, we use tools like Slack, Flow, Google Hangouts, and Google Drive to ensure that communication and tasks are transparent throughout the company despite not being physically next to each other.To increase the amount of interactivity, we deemed it mandatory to have all meetings done over Hangouts. This aids the loneliness that can come from working remote and increases communication through the use of body language.Don’t be afraid to negotiate the price of many of the services you use. It’s one of the best tips I can give you. Paying up front for a full year? Sometimes that’s worth 20% or more off the total price, as long as you talk to an agent about it.Need only a single feature from a higher tier of a SaaS service? Ask for it to be included with your current tier. If you don’t have these conversations, you’re going to overpay.What have been the most influential books, podcasts, or other resources?I always recommend a trifecta of books to entrepreneurs:How to Win Friends and Influence PeopleZero To One - To help you think bigger. This book can single handedly increase the size of your business tenfold just by making you think from a different perspective.Building Your Storybrand - Hands down the best book on marketing I’ve ever read.Advice for other entrepreneurs who want to get started or are just starting out?There are two schools of thought here. I could tell you how to avoid all the mistakes that I made, or I could tell you to make mistakes. I personally believe in the latter. If you go out and try to truly achieve great things, you’ll survive a few hiccups along the way.Our first trade show went smoothly, but there were so many things going on behind the scenes that went wrong. Any product launch is really just the sum of all the overcome failures.At the same time, you’ve probably heard that advice before. Let me talk a little bit about building a team, since it’s a difficult and complex topic. Here are a few suggestions.Hire people who can disagree with you. If everyone you hire thinks exactly the same way, you’re never going to get the feedback you need to confirm or reject an idea.In hindsight, Katrina’s analytical and pessimistic outlook on life perfectly balanced my impatience and optimism. If it wasn’t for these clashing perspectives our business would have been bound for failure. Always hire someone who can challenge you and isn’t afraid to do it. We were very fortunate that we had this naturally from our relationship.Hire people that you think are 11/10. Don’t tolerate anything less than being blown away every day. Let other companies hire people who phone it in. You deserve the best employees, and you should pay and compensate them fairly for turning in work of the highest caliber.Hire slow, fire fast. Don’t be afraid to move on from someone who shouldn’t be there any more. We give everyone chances to improve and learn. If they aren’t invested in turning things around, they aren’t invested in the company. I can’t have that.Build a culture deck and a set of core values. We use our culture deck as part of an interview, letting people suggest a new slide they’d like to add. It helps us to know whether someone would truly be a good culture fit.Are you looking to hire for certain positions right now?We are always on the hunt for incredible talent. While half of our team is based in Southern California, we are always open to bringing in remote team members!Creative DirectorVP of SalesInside Sales RepresentativeOutside Sales RepresentativeSuccess ChampionWhere can we go to learn more?Instagram: @photoboothsupplycoTwitter: @pbsupplycoLiked this interview? Check out more founders that shared their story on StarterStory.com.

[muddyshuttermedia-blog]

 Alps OutdoorZ Commander Pack + Bag

“The Commander X + Pack is a complete system for the multi day backcountry hunter. The combination of an internal frame meat hauling pack with a detachable 4000 cu in pack bag offers the ability to pack in gear to a spike camp and haul out meat when the task is completed. The Commander X frame has lashing system that incorporates a compressed wing system and a lower shelf to secure loads to the frame. The pack bag can then be reattached with a series of compression straps over the load. When the meat-hauling frame is not needed the pack bag attaches to the frame with zippers for a secure fit to the frame for a comfortable carry. The frame is comprised of dual aluminum stays with channeled high-density polyethylene frame for rigid carry.” – AlpsoutdoorZ.com

The Commander pack works well in a multi-day hunt with a drop camp set up.

Company/Brand: ALPS OutdoorZ

Company/Brand Location: New Haven, MO

Manufactured/Made in: Vietnam

MSRP: $349.99

Product Number: 9994710

Sizes: One Size Fits All

Colors Available: Coyote Brown

Listed Features: 

1680D Nylon Ballistic and Robic™ Nylon Fabrics for unmatched strength

Pack bag attaches to frame with zippers or compression straps when frame is loaded

Improved waist belt includes pockets, anti-sway straps and accommodates clip-style holsters

Improved side fleece-lined spotting scope pocket with large opening for easy access

LED light included with pack

Rifle and bow drop-down pocket

Top loading with spindrift collar

Top pocket converts to a fanny pack

Front pocket can be removed for extra gear

Extra-large lower door – #10 zipper

Internal horizontal divider

Side pockets

Hydration pocket and port

Rain cover included

    The pack can slim itself down and function as a day pack. 

Bag Weight: 2 lbs. 9 oz.

Pack Weight: 4 lbs.

Frame Weight: 5 lbs. 3 oz.

Total Weight: 9 lbs. 3oz.

Scoring criteria:

Craftsmanship & Design

Performance & Durability

Fit & Sizing

Pricing & Affordability

Scoring will be out of 5 for each section and then calculated as a percentage out of 100% for ease of comparison.

Craftsmanship & Design

The design of the pack is well thought out and certainly does not lack in innovative designs. ALPS always does a great job of including design items that truly make a hunter’s life a little easier in the backcountry. Some of these items would be considered industry standard, such as a spotting scope pocket and waistbelt pouches.

However, design items like the bottom door, integrated fanny-pack and adjustable velcro lumbar are things that set it apart. Everything seemed to be designed very ergonomically and everything had its place. Pockets, zippers, and clasps seemed to fall right where someone would instinctively reach for without looking around too much on where to access certain items.

The craftsmanship of the pack and bag are extremely rugged and feels heavy to the touch – which on the downside makes the pack quite heavy. This would certainly be a trade-off between ruggedness and weight – all at a balanced price point. The seams, zippers, material, all held up over some rough elk hunts and made it out of them without a scratch.

Score: 5/5

Hunters are shown after dropping off their camp and slimming down to day packs.

Performance & Durability

Performance of the pack bags were tested over multiple camping trips, hikes, and two elk hunts in Montana – one in hot weather and one in cold weather. Both times during the seasons, the bag performed well. The pack was also tested on four different people throughout the season and performed well enough in multiple configurations and pack loads varying from 30 to 70 lbs.

In all cases, the pack came out of rain, snow, dirt, and wind intact and ready for its next adventure. This is a pack that you do not feel bad about tossing around a truck, plane, or pretty much anywhere. The one downside to the pack’s performance is under extreme loads, we noticed that the pack tends to “sag” about two inches due to the lack of grip on the waist-belt. This was quickly solved by adjusting the lumbar and pack to be worn slightly higher than usual. This was a big deal to us as a pack should be fitted once and left alone for the remainder of its life with a hunter/user – regardless of load.

The material that makes up the pack is definitely strong and physically durable enough to withstand being scrapped up against trees, rock outcroppings, rough brush, etc. It does a great job of keeping everything inside of it protected and out of the elements.

Although the pack is quite well-rounded in durability and performance – we did notice a few weak points of the pack. The seams at the side pockets are very light and are not as rugged. One area that also seemed to be lacking was the draw strings on the top of the pack, which seemed like it was going to fray and was of lesser quality that an average pair of shoe laces.

Score: 4/5

The pack is comfortable enough for glassing while on the move.

Fit & Sizing

While the performance, craftsmanship, and design of the pack were great – the fit and sizing were definitely lacking. The pack was worn by 4 different people varying in height, weight, body type, and waist size. All testers had one comment that seemed to annoy them the most – the waist-belt. It seemed like no matter how much you pulled on the straps, adjusted, or fitted, the belt always got a little loose and never seemed to fit just right. As this is one of the most important fitting items in any pack – we definitely thought that it was severely lacking. The inside of the belt, while comfortable, did not grip the body very well – even when snug against the body. The material felt as if it was very “slick” and we had trouble with sagging across all users. While we understand the”One-Size-Fits-All” model, it could do a better job of staying fit and snug to the person that is wearing it.

In terms of the pack size, we collectively agreed that the it was the perfect size for multi-day trips into the backcountry. The packs versatility to perform as a large capacity pack bag, day pack, and meat hauler definitely redeems itself in the fit & sizing department.

Score: 3/5

Multiple configurations and versatility in use is where the pack truly shines.

Pricing & Affordability

Price. Pesos. Coin. At the end of the day, people will ultimately judge a product by its price tag and see if it is truly worth their hard-earned money. We would have to say that the pack is quite worth what it’s asking. While it is not the cheapest nor the most expensive – it does hit the middle market very well. For the price, one must truly discern what is balanced for them for the money. Weight, features and pockets, sizing, etc. these all have to be balanced to the value and it is easy to do so with this pack at $349.99. The true value of this pack is the versatility to use it in whatever configuration or load capacity that you want it to function at.

Score: 4/5

Overall Score & Thoughts:

The pack shines in its ability to really hit the middle of the market as a one size fits all pack. It can be adjusted to any persons desires for a backcountry pack and can adapt to multiple scenarios. The pricing is great and is quite affordable to someone looking into a hunting pack, as well as a general hiking pack. The craftsmanship and designs are very innovative, however, the myriad of features does make the pack a lot heavier than most of its backcountry competitors. For minimalist and super light packers, this pack is not for you, as it carries alot of bells and whistles with the weight to go with it.

However, if you are in need of a hearty pack that can pack in 40 pounds of camera gear, supplies for a 5 day hunt, and your food and water while staying organized in multiple pockets – this one is for you.

OVERALL SCORE: 16/20

80% / 100%

A hunter is shown with a completely full pack weighing in at 65 pounds.

Detail Shots

Check out our latest gear review of the ALPS OutdoorZ Commander X Extreme Pack! We tested this pack over 4 different users and multiple scenarios.  Alps OutdoorZ Commander Pack + Bag "The Commander X + Pack is a complete system for the multi day backcountry hunter.

[touristguidebuzz]

Royal Caribbean Is Rolling out New Tech to Make Cruising Easier

At an event last week in Brooklyn, Royal Caribbean Cruises showed off an app that lets users order a drink and have it delivered to wherever they are. It's one of a series of tech advances that the cruise company is rolling out. Diane Bondareff / Invision for Royal Caribbean Cruises

Skift Take: The cruise line tech race is heating up, and that means travelers should prepare for some changes. While ideas such as virtual reality dining are fun, more fundamental innovations including facial recognition, easier activity reservations, and drink delivery should have a greater impact on the cruise experience.

— Hannah Sampson

Royal Caribbean Cruises unveiled a vision of a cruising future that includes virtual reality dining, drinks that find passengers wherever they are, stateroom ceilings that show the sky, and boarding made simple by facial recognition technology.

Not to mention driverless shuttles.

At events last week at the Duggal Greenhouse in the Brooklyn Navy Yard, the cruise operator showed off some of the changes that are coming soon to ships, as well as ideas that may not materialize at all.

But the overarching theme was about innovating to remove hurdles that cruise passengers might encounter as they seek vacation bliss. The buzzwords were the same popular terms that are often invoked by travel companies: frictionless, on-demand, artificial intelligence, chat, virtual, automation.

“In today’s world, technology and making things easier is no longer a very nice thing to have,” said Royal Caribbean Cruises Chairman and CEO Richard Fain. “The truth is technology is simply something that people expect. It’s an entry requirement, it’s not an option.”

Under the “making things easier” category, the cruise operator showed off a facial recognition feature that is meant to streamline the boarding process, as long as passengers submit their photo in advance. That is expected to be in use by late next year at PortMiami when the new megaship Symphony of the Seas arrives.

Also coming soon: A more robust app that allows travelers to plan activities well in advance and even check out shore excursions through virtual reality videos. That app will also eventually include a virtual concierge — essentially a chatbot — as well as artificial intelligence capabilities that help make even the earliest planning decisions. Less practical uses are rolled into the app as well, including augmented reality boardwalk-style games and “x-ray vision” to see through walls.

One feature that the company showed off last week allows passengers to order a drink and have it delivered right to them. In the demonstration, servers carried a drink along with a phone that displayed the face of the person who made the order.

Ships are also being updated to replace old door locks with mechanisms that allow for keyless entry via the app.

The company, which owns the Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Azamara Club Cruises brands, also displayed some ideas that are still being tested or are in a very early conceptual phase. A driverless shuttle picked up guests at the event from the dock where they arrived via water taxi and took them a short distance to the building. Royal Caribbean is testing the vehicle for possible use at ports.

And a futuristic stateroom featured screens in the ceiling, floor, and walls that displayed images of the water below, sky above, and scenery outside. The idea was that live cameras would stream the images to the video screens. Executives said some of the ideas in that room could end up in future cabins.

Royal Caribbean is also testing a dining concept where passengers strap on a virtual reality headset — the scene changes with each course — and grab what looks like cartoonish bite-sized blobs of food to eat.

Cruise industry expert Stewart Chiron, CEO of CruiseGuy.com, said he thought the virtual reality elements stood out.

“Passengers being able to prescreen destinations and plan excursions in advance will be a huge help,” he said. “Virtual reality dining was very interesting. Being transported to an exotic destination and dine digitally was very novel.”

A Slow Rollout

The basic version of the app is expected to be in use of 13 percent of the 48-ship fleet by the end of this year, half of the ships by the end of next year and the entire fleet by the end of 2019. Fain said the app will be frequently updated.

He said the company was taking an “expanding universe” approach to introducing new technology, continually improving the product rather than a “big bang” strategy of perfecting the product before announcing it.

“The beauty of the big bang approach is it’s all there at once but you can never get it right the first time,” Fain said. “So we follow the expanding universe approach. We bring it out  slowly.”

Tim Klauda, vice president of product for digital experience, described the philosophy as “baby steps to awesome.”

The cruise company has been taking those steps for years already. In 2014, Royal Caribbean International launched what it described as “the world’s first Smartship,” Quantum of the Seas. That included many features that are being taken to a new level now, including luggage tracking, virtual balconies, and wristbands that unlocked doors and bought items.

Cruise Line Competition

And Royal Caribbean is not the only cruise company thinking about these issues. Larger rival Carnival Corp. announced in January at the electronics show CES that it was unveiling near wearable tech to allow for greater customization and personalization. The Ocean Medallion is meant to serve as a locating device, room key, and credit card substitute — and to generate data about each passenger’s preferences.

The first previews of the technology were supposed to be shown off to media this week, but a full launch on the initial ship has been delayed until early 2018. Instead, the disc-sized gadgets will be introduced first to one group of staterooms, with more added later.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, the world’s third-largest cruise company, has not sketched out its tech plans, though the CEO hinted recently that news is forthcoming.

Steve Wieczynski, an analyst with Stifel, asked about the issue during the company’s quarterly earnings call.

“When we look at your competitors, it seems they’ve been getting more aggressive on the technology side of things, trying to improve the customer experience both the fore-boarding and then post-boarding, also trying to capture more of that onboard spend,” he said. “Where do you guys stand in terms of trying to keep up with your competitors? We haven’t really heard any big over-the-top type of announcement from you guys, but I assume you’re not sitting back either and not doing anything on that front.”

Norwegian president and CEO Frank Del Rio said everyone should stay tuned.

“I’m pleased to see what others are doing,” he said. “We will be announcing our strategy very, very soon.”

Del Rio said the company has had success with tech-centered innovations for experiences on ships, including virtual reality games and a racetrack on the new Norwegian Joy.

“We expect to engage and be competitive — and like I said, stay tuned for more,” he said.

Fain offered a nod to earlier technology that has inspired cruise lines: Disney’s MagicBand.

“It was really quite special,” he said. “It was a big advance.”

Both Carnival and Royal Caribbean have hired former Disney employees to work on their digital innovations, including Klauda, who was vice president of digital design at Disney Parks & Resorts.

“We’re all chasing the same thing, which is an amazing guest experience,” Klauda said.

Capturing The Next Generation

Morningstar analyst Jaime Katz said in an interview that the tech she saw from Royal Caribbean reminds her of what Carnival has been talking about, just in app form.

“The question is do you want your phone or do you not want to bring your phone with you?” she said.

One big difference between the two projects is that Royal Caribbean is using an open-source model that revolves around an app, and Carnival is installing significant hardware in the form of cables, sensors, readers, and portals.

“For both of them, what it really means is you get to continue to capture consumer behavior and sort of toggle the onboard spend behavior,” she said.

“Everybody’s trying to be more relevant,” Katz said. “If you can get the next millennial on, they maybe stick with the brand longer. You have 40 years of cruising ahead for that cohort.”

In a note to investors, William Blair leisure analyst Sharon Zackfia pointed out that millennials will be in their “prime years for family cruising” by 2020.

“We believe Royal’s digital strategy should position the company well to attract the new- to-cruise market, particularly millennials, given its social connectivity and mobile platform,” she wrote.

For Chiron, the cruise expert and broker, the updates sounded like a good way to streamline an experience that can still have too much friction.

“New technologies will simplify cruising and remove unnecessary delays which includes boarding ships, making purchases and waiting in lines,” he said. “Definitely a step in the right direction.”

[rollinbrigittenv8]

Royal Caribbean Is Rolling out New Tech to Make Cruising Easier

At an event last week in Brooklyn, Royal Caribbean Cruises showed off an app that lets users order a drink and have it delivered to wherever they are. It's one of a series of tech advances that the cruise company is rolling out. Diane Bondareff / Invision for Royal Caribbean Cruises

Skift Take: The cruise line tech race is heating up, and that means travelers should prepare for some changes. While ideas such as virtual reality dining are fun, more fundamental innovations including facial recognition, easier activity reservations, and drink delivery should have a greater impact on the cruise experience.

— Hannah Sampson

Royal Caribbean Cruises unveiled a vision of a cruising future that includes virtual reality dining, drinks that find passengers wherever they are, stateroom ceilings that show the sky, and boarding made simple by facial recognition technology.

Not to mention driverless shuttles.

At events last week at the Duggal Greenhouse in the Brooklyn Navy Yard, the cruise operator showed off some of the changes that are coming soon to ships, as well as ideas that may not materialize at all.

But the overarching theme was about innovating to remove hurdles that cruise passengers might encounter as they seek vacation bliss. The buzzwords were the same popular terms that are often invoked by travel companies: frictionless, on-demand, artificial intelligence, chat, virtual, automation.

“In today’s world, technology and making things easier is no longer a very nice thing to have,” said Royal Caribbean Cruises Chairman and CEO Richard Fain. “The truth is technology is simply something that people expect. It’s an entry requirement, it’s not an option.”

Under the “making things easier” category, the cruise operator showed off a facial recognition feature that is meant to streamline the boarding process, as long as passengers submit their photo in advance. That is expected to be in use by late next year at PortMiami when the new megaship Symphony of the Seas arrives.

Also coming soon: A more robust app that allows travelers to plan activities well in advance and even check out shore excursions through virtual reality videos. That app will also eventually include a virtual concierge — essentially a chatbot — as well as artificial intelligence capabilities that help make even the earliest planning decisions. Less practical uses are rolled into the app as well, including augmented reality boardwalk-style games and “x-ray vision” to see through walls.

One feature that the company showed off last week allows passengers to order a drink and have it delivered right to them. In the demonstration, servers carried a drink along with a phone that displayed the face of the person who made the order.

Ships are also being updated to replace old door locks with mechanisms that allow for keyless entry via the app.

The company, which owns the Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Azamara Club Cruises brands, also displayed some ideas that are still being tested or are in a very early conceptual phase. A driverless shuttle picked up guests at the event from the dock where they arrived via water taxi and took them a short distance to the building. Royal Caribbean is testing the vehicle for possible use at ports.

And a futuristic stateroom featured screens in the ceiling, floor, and walls that displayed images of the water below, sky above, and scenery outside. The idea was that live cameras would stream the images to the video screens. Executives said some of the ideas in that room could end up in future cabins.

Royal Caribbean is also testing a dining concept where passengers strap on a virtual reality headset — the scene changes with each course — and grab what looks like cartoonish bite-sized blobs of food to eat.

Cruise industry expert Stewart Chiron, CEO of CruiseGuy.com, said he thought the virtual reality elements stood out.

“Passengers being able to prescreen destinations and plan excursions in advance will be a huge help,” he said. “Virtual reality dining was very interesting. Being transported to an exotic destination and dine digitally was very novel.”

A Slow Rollout

The basic version of the app is expected to be in use of 13 percent of the 48-ship fleet by the end of this year, half of the ships by the end of next year and the entire fleet by the end of 2019. Fain said the app will be frequently updated.

He said the company was taking an “expanding universe” approach to introducing new technology, continually improving the product rather than a “big bang” strategy of perfecting the product before announcing it.

“The beauty of the big bang approach is it’s all there at once but you can never get it right the first time,” Fain said. “So we follow the expanding universe approach. We bring it out  slowly.”

Tim Klauda, vice president of product for digital experience, described the philosophy as “baby steps to awesome.”

The cruise company has been taking those steps for years already. In 2014, Royal Caribbean International launched what it described as “the world’s first Smartship,” Quantum of the Seas. That included many features that are being taken to a new level now, including luggage tracking, virtual balconies, and wristbands that unlocked doors and bought items.

Cruise Line Competition

And Royal Caribbean is not the only cruise company thinking about these issues. Larger rival Carnival Corp. announced in January at the electronics show CES that it was unveiling near wearable tech to allow for greater customization and personalization. The Ocean Medallion is meant to serve as a locating device, room key, and credit card substitute — and to generate data about each passenger’s preferences.

The first previews of the technology were supposed to be shown off to media this week, but a full launch on the initial ship has been delayed until early 2018. Instead, the disc-sized gadgets will be introduced first to one group of staterooms, with more added later.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, the world’s third-largest cruise company, has not sketched out its tech plans, though the CEO hinted recently that news is forthcoming.

Steve Wieczynski, an analyst with Stifel, asked about the issue during the company’s quarterly earnings call.

“When we look at your competitors, it seems they’ve been getting more aggressive on the technology side of things, trying to improve the customer experience both the fore-boarding and then post-boarding, also trying to capture more of that onboard spend,” he said. “Where do you guys stand in terms of trying to keep up with your competitors? We haven’t really heard any big over-the-top type of announcement from you guys, but I assume you’re not sitting back either and not doing anything on that front.”

Norwegian president and CEO Frank Del Rio said everyone should stay tuned.

“I’m pleased to see what others are doing,” he said. “We will be announcing our strategy very, very soon.”

Del Rio said the company has had success with tech-centered innovations for experiences on ships, including virtual reality games and a racetrack on the new Norwegian Joy.

“We expect to engage and be competitive — and like I said, stay tuned for more,” he said.

Fain offered a nod to earlier technology that has inspired cruise lines: Disney’s MagicBand.

“It was really quite special,” he said. “It was a big advance.”

Both Carnival and Royal Caribbean have hired former Disney employees to work on their digital innovations, including Klauda, who was vice president of digital design at Disney Parks & Resorts.

“We’re all chasing the same thing, which is an amazing guest experience,” Klauda said.

Capturing The Next Generation

Morningstar analyst Jaime Katz said in an interview that the tech she saw from Royal Caribbean reminds her of what Carnival has been talking about, just in app form.

“The question is do you want your phone or do you not want to bring your phone with you?” she said.

One big difference between the two projects is that Royal Caribbean is using an open-source model that revolves around an app, and Carnival is installing significant hardware in the form of cables, sensors, readers, and portals.

“For both of them, what it really means is you get to continue to capture consumer behavior and sort of toggle the onboard spend behavior,” she said.

“Everybody’s trying to be more relevant,” Katz said. “If you can get the next millennial on, they maybe stick with the brand longer. You have 40 years of cruising ahead for that cohort.”

In a note to investors, William Blair leisure analyst Sharon Zackfia pointed out that millennials will be in their “prime years for family cruising” by 2020.

“We believe Royal’s digital strategy should position the company well to attract the new- to-cruise market, particularly millennials, given its social connectivity and mobile platform,” she wrote.

For Chiron, the cruise expert and broker, the updates sounded like a good way to streamline an experience that can still have too much friction.

“New technologies will simplify cruising and remove unnecessary delays which includes boarding ships, making purchases and waiting in lines,” he said. “Definitely a step in the right direction.”

[lettingwordsmeetheartbeats-blog]

2020 Ford Fusion Changes and Rumors

New Post has been published on http://www.autocarns.com/2020-ford-fusion-changes-and-rumors/

2020 Ford Fusion Changes and Rumors

2020 Ford Fusion Changes and Rumors – The 2020 Ford Fusion is presently not expected in the industry until 2019. From the dependable info, the forthcoming complete redesign Ford Fusion is likely to follow a smaller design platform. Nonetheless, specific information has not been launched. It is now the fifth year given that Ford ventured into the super-aggressive mid-size sedan market section. In 2010, the automaker modified the Fusion that got brain-on competitors from products this kind of as Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Hyundai Sonata, Mazda 6, Nissan Altima and Chevy Malibu. Get ready for full redesigning external and interior as nicely as an engine. We are anticipating a new Fusion Crossbreed model that will add up to the previously current standard collection-up of S, SE, SEL and best of the range model, Sports cut.

2020 Ford Fusion Redesign

The 2020 Ford Fusion’s thorough graphic invigorate begins with some changes that give a sportier look and improved aerodynamics as well. This is created achievable using a mixture of lightweight aluminum supplies and high-durability metallic and carbon materials. This further enhances the fuel performance. The A-pillar has become retouched with increased prominent strength bulge on the hood, and elegantly flared fenders were bringing a bolder fascia, grille, and Guided headlamp remedy. This imparts a reduced and more substantial physical appearance. The redesign is done by the new underbody shields that help in channeling airflow more efficiently.The rear quarter gets other differences with revamped Directed taillights and reworked decklid as nicely. The S-cut degree gets 16-” aluminum alloy tires covered with 205/60 wheels, SE features 17-in. Metallic in 225/50 silicone car tires and the higher-performance Sport model trips on 18-” alloy wheels with 225/45 silicone tires.

All trim levels of the 2020 Ford Fusion is going to be built with regular functions. This including keyless far off access, top quality air conditioning system, lean/telescoping directing tires and 60/40 split/collapsable rear chair. Comfort continues to be improved using great leather-based covers on the entrance and back chairs. You get a more technical music system with Wireless Bluetooth online connectivity, AM/FM/Compact disc/MP3/MP4 player, USB 2. 0 port interface and satellite FM radio. The 2020 Ford Fusion boasts a new infotainment system featuring including a mobile phone integration with google android Auto and Apple inc CarPlay. Consumers will also get new Ford Sync3 feature, twin-area auto climate management and high-quality security features like adaptive vacation cruise manage, increased security straps and air handbags.

2020 Ford Fusion Engine

There is still no reliable information regarding the powertrain of the 2020 Ford Fusion. Nevertheless, there is the probability that the car maker will provide a 2.7-liter twin-turbocharged engine borrowed from the F-150 model. It is capable of making up to about 325 horsepower at 350 lb-ft of torque. It will likely be matched up to a standard six-pace transmission method. The 2020 Ford Fusion comes along with a pc-handled all-wheel-drive (AWD) settings along with the conventional front-tire push system. The high-performance sports cut stage is equipped of getting 60 miles per hour acceleration within 5.3 mere seconds. The producer is also tests personal-traveling that might be inserted in the new model.

2020 Ford Fusion Price and Release Date

The 2020 Ford Fusion will likely be released at the finish of the year 2019 as 2020 model. The prices details continue to continues to be a puzzle as the automaker had not yet but commented on the same.

[mediacalling]

8 Tips to Quickly Master Social Media For Businesses & Entrepreneurs [SSM065]

Much has been written on the Buffer Blog about social media strategy.

In the last month alone, we’ve covered (in great detail) everything from Facebook Messenger marketing and managing multiple social media accounts to creating remarkable content and the rise of micro-influencers.

One thing that often gets overlooked in all of the detail is a more general approach to social media for businesses and entrepreneurs.

What should businesses be thinking about? What are long-term trends that businesses can feel good about investing in? What makes for truly good social media content?

How to listen: iTunes | Google Play | SoundCloud | Stitcher | RSS

In episode #65 of The Science of Social Media, hosts Brian Peters and Hailley Griffis cover successful social media for businesses and entrepreneurs. After chatting with hundreds of businesses, we’ve dwindled it down to eight super important social media tips that businesses and entrepreneurs should consider on their way to social media success.

Let’s dive in!

8 Tips to Quickly Master Social Media for Businesses and Entrepreneurs

1. Make a commitment to social media

The first thing that businesses and entrepreneurs can do to find success is make a commitment to social media.

Like any other form of marketing, social media for businesses can be a real challenge. It’s hard to grow an audience, create great content, and increase engagement. All too often we see brands giving up on social media after just a few months.

We’ve found that it takes eight months to one year to really get the hang of social. Not only to get a consistent content stream going, but to figure out what your audience resonates with and what they don’t.

It all starts with planning. Create a social media strategy and write it down in order to hold your business accountable. Your strategy should include a basic company mission statement, content plan and goals. And most importantly, a powerful statement on “why” people would follow you on social media, what kind of content you plan on creating and posting, and what you hope to achieve.

The first thing that businesses can do to find success is make a commitment to social media. Click To Tweet

2. Show off your personality

The second social media tip for businesses and entrepreneurs is to always (authentically) be you on social media.

Take a second to think about the brands that you follow on social media…. What makes them special? What makes you follow them?

Chances are that there is something special about the content they post or the way in which they post it. We’re guessing they have a personality and aren’t just brand robots pushing out content.

Creating a great social media presence isn’t only about showing the value of your product or service to your audience. It’s about connection and experiences. The best brands out there share a common point of view with their fans.

One of our favorite examples of this idea in action is Merriam Webster Dictionary. They’re a dictionary and they’re seeing tremendous success on social media.

Success on social isn’t about showing off your product. It’s about connection and experiences. Click To Tweet

3. Listen to customers rather than promote

Tip #3 is that great social media programs are built around listening to customers, not promoting to them.

The way we like to think about it is that social media offers an incredible, open-ended platform that businesses can use to communicate and engage with customers. That’s why we recommend using it that way!

Social media is becoming a customer service platform and people are coming to expect it. The tricky part is, the better you get at social the more engagement you’ll get, and in turn, the more comments. So be prepared for an influx of love from your fans!

The other side is that your customers are the best source of inspiration for content. Lots of businesses are sitting on a never-ending gold mine of content ideas by simply looking at their frequently asked questions, or what people are asking on social media. If you’re stuck on what to post, look to your customers first for ideas before anything else.

You can also listen to competitor’s customers as well, as funny as that sounds. Tools like Twitter Lists, BuzzSumo, Facebook Pages to Watch, Google Keyword Planner, and YouTube are all great places to find what’s working in your industry.

Great social media programs are built around listening to customers, not promoting to them. Click To Tweet

4. Focus your efforts on a select networks

Social media networks are like shiny new objects. We want to be everywhere at once and try everything because we’re sure that this network will be the one for us. But the fact is we’re all strapped for resources. So if you try to focus on lots of social networks then you’re setting yourself up for a long road ahead.

We tried! At one time we were everywhere. We were on all of the standard networks along with lesser-known networks like Anchor, Beme, Tumblr, and Whale. What we found was that we were getting average results across the board. Not to mention it was taking full days to post content to each platform. It wasn’t sustainable.

It may seem counterintuitive, but focusing all your efforts on the two to three platforms which give you the best return on investment. Crafting content unique to each platform is critical.

For example, let’s say we write a blog post about social media marketing. Writing the copy that will get attention and clicks on LinkedIn is much different than what works on Facebook, which is dramatically different than what works on Instagram, Snapchat, or Twitter.

It’s an obsession-like focus on a particular platform that allows you to hone in on successful tactics.

Social media networks are like shiny new objects. Businesses want to be everywhere at once! Click To Tweet

5. Remember that success follows passion

Our last tip on the “strategy” side of social media for businesses and entrepreneurs is to remember that passion helps generate truly great and memorable content.

Success on social media is a long road. As we mentioned before, it took us minimum eight months of hard work to get to a point where we felt good about our social program.

Imagine if those 8 months were filled with posting content that we didn’t care about!

The only way to ensure long term commitment and that social media doesn’t become a burden is to follow your passion. The nice thing about social media is that your content doesn’t have to be directly related to your brand or industry. Meaning it doesn’t have to be what everyone else is doing.

We suggest that as business owners you pick a topic that they love and are truly passionate about.

Success follows passion on social media. Post content you’re passionate about to avoid burnout. Click To Tweet

6. Experiment with video marketing

Content Ideas:

Video marketing is one of the most talked about topics in social media right now and so we’d love to share a few strategies that you can use to create awesome video content.

Many marketers tell us that they struggle with “what” to create video about. The best solution we have for you when it comes to “what” is to start with what works. Sort your blog content in order of most traffic and create videos around those topics.

Again, use Facebook Pages to Watch to figure out what kinds of videos your competitors are making and generate topic ideas based off of that. Use your customers as resources. Look outside of your specific industry to your favorite brands. The key is to start with what works and gain some confidence.

Best-Practices:

In terms of video best-practices, there are some scientific factors that people are more likely to interact with. One is video length. On Facebook, for example, the highest engaging videos are between 60-90 seconds. The second highest are between 30-60 seconds. Same holds true for Twitter. So keep your videos short and to the point. Save the best for first, if you will.

If you’re going to feature a person (or group of people) in your video, you’ll need a good lavalier microphone, natural light from a window, and a tripod. Sound, lighting, and camera stability are key in creating a quality video.

If animated or text-only video are more your style (which we do a lot here at Buffer) all you’ll need is great resource for stock video, quality background music, and a video editor. My two must-have sites for stock video are Pexels and Videvo and Animoto is our go-to video editor.

There’s never been a better time to get started with video than right now on social media. Click To Tweet

7. Get the most out of your content

One of the most key aspects in social media marketing mastery is to get the most out of your content.

Businesses and entrepreneurs have so many things going on at once that it can be easy to forget that it’s not always necessary to continuously send out brand new content to be successful.

From what we’ve seen at Buffer, the more you can repurpose and make your content feel fresh in a variety of ways the less content you’ll actually have to put out and the more success you’ll have.

Experiment with creating shareable graphics throughout the post that people can use on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn. You can also create a series of Instagram Stories to help promote the post. Or you might try creating a short video for Facebook summarizing the post (or even a more in-depth YouTube video!)

Every piece of content you create should have at least 2-3 other pieces of shareable content to accompany it. That way if the link doesn’t resonate then the video might. Or if the video falls short, maybe it makes for good Instagram Stories.

Every piece of content you create should have at least 2-3 shareable assets for social media. Click To Tweet

8. Boost organic content to a targeted audience

What’s great about social media for businesses is that you don’t have to be an expert in order to see success with advertising.

Unless you have a team running your social ads or you’re able to invest a lot of time running experiments, you could end up wasting a lot of money on paid advertising.

The way we like to think about it is that organic social media posting (traditional posting) is the perfect testing ground for paid ads and boosted posts. In other words, you’re using organic reach to determine what posts you should put money behind.

The best part is that you can target specific users within many of the social platform ad managers.

For example, let’s say your goal is traffic to your website and you’ve identified a top performing post.

You can create an audience that is most likely to also enjoy that post. That could be a Lookalike Audience that is similar to your website visitors. Or maybe it’s an audience who has shown interest in your competitors. It also could be an audience based on demographics like location, age, or mobile device type.

You can then exclude traffic to your website in order to eliminate people who are already familiar with your brand.

You don’t have to be an expert in order to see success with social media advertising. Click To Tweet

More Podcast Episodes We Recommend

Creating Truly Remarkable Marketing and Social Media Content That Lasts – Ryan Holiday [SSM058]

5 Exciting Social Media and Marketing Trends to Know in 2017 – Noah Kagan [SSM055]

Awareness to Sales: Building a Social Media PRISM Funnel That Converts – Ian Cleary [SSM051]

On Entrepreneurship, Creativity, Social Media and Becoming a Better Marketer – Paul Jarvis [SSM047]

5 Key Elements of the Perfect Facebook Ad – Molly Pittman [SSM042]

Social Media Strategies for Small Businesses: Taking Your Company to the Next Level – Marie Forleo [SSM041]

How to Say Hello to Us

We would all love to say hello to you on social media – especially Twitter!

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Thanks for listening! Feel free to connect with our team at Buffer on Twitter, Buffer on Facebook, our Podcast Homepage, or with the hashtag #bufferpodcast.

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About the Show

The Science of Social Media is your weekly sandbox for social media stories, insights, experimentation, and inspiration. Every Monday (and sometimes more) we share the most cutting-edge social media marketing strategies from brands and influencers in every industry. If you’re a social media team of one, business owner, marketer, or someone simply interested in social media marketing, you’re sure to find something useful in each and every episode.  It’s our hope that you’ll join our 10,000+ weekly iTunes listeners and rock your social media channels as a result!

The Science of Social Media is proudly made by the Buffer team. Feel free to get in touch with us for any thoughts, ideas, or feedback.

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