#Increase Software Exposure

[digitalgrowth1]

Online Directory Software: 9 Top Picks and Why You Need One | Zumvu Software Directory

In today’s digital landscape, online directory software has become an essential tool for associations, chambers, and nonprofits. These platforms help organizations manage and showcase their members, services, and resources effectively while boosting their online presence. Let’s explore why you need online directory software and look at the top picks in this category.

The Rise of Online Directory Software

With the increasing demand for organized and accessible information, online directories have evolved into a necessity. Businesses and organizations no longer rely on printed directories, which are costly to update and lack real-time information. Online directory software offers a dynamic, user-friendly solution for managing directories and keeping data accurate. These tools are particularly useful for organizations looking to improve their networking capabilities and SEO performance.

Benefits of Having an Online Directory

Investing in an online directory software comes with numerous advantages, including:

Increased Visibility: A well-maintained directory can enhance your organization’s search engine rankings.

Efficient Management: Manage members, listings, and updates in real time with ease.

Revenue Opportunities: Monetize your directory through premium listings or advertisements.

Improved User Experience: Provide a seamless and accessible platform for users to find information.

Data Analytics: Gain insights into user behavior and optimize your listings.

An Association’s Membership Directory Helps With:

Networking: Facilitates connections among members by offering a centralized platform for communication.

Branding: Elevates the visibility of both the organization and its members.

Event Management: Serves as a resource for promoting events and gathering RSVPs.

Resource Sharing: Provides members with easy access to industry-specific tools and materials.

Using Online Directory Software

Online directory software simplifies the process of managing a directory by automating tasks such as:

Adding and updating member profiles

Tracking interactions and analytics

Offering advanced search and filtering options for users

Integrating with your website for a cohesive brand presence

This level of efficiency ensures that your directory remains up-to-date and continues to serve as a valuable resource for your audience.

Choosing the Perfect Online Directory Software for Your Association, Chamber, or Nonprofit

When selecting directory software, consider the following factors:

Ease of Use: The platform should be intuitive for both administrators and users.

Customization Options: Look for software that allows you to brand and tailor the directory to your needs.

Integration Capabilities: Ensure compatibility with your existing systems, such as CRMs and email marketing tools.

Scalability: Choose a platform that can grow with your organization.

Cost: Evaluate pricing models to ensure they align with your budget.

One excellent option is the Zumvu Software Directory, which is designed to meet these criteria and offers features tailored to organizations of all sizes. With its user-friendly interface and powerful customization tools, it is a leading choice for those seeking the Best Software Directory solution.

Also Read: Top 28 Software Directory and Review Sites - Complete Guide 2024

Top Software Directories and Review Sites

1. Zumvu Software Directory

Global Rank: 42,513

Domain Authority: 55

Website: https://zumvu.com/directory/software

2. Hivebrite

Global Rank: 38,922

Domain Authority: 59

Website: https://hivebrite.io/

3. MemberClicks

Global Rank: 112,789

Domain Authority: 55

Website: https://memberclicks.com/

4. Wild Apricot

Global Rank: 54,113

Domain Authority: 56

Website: https://www.wildapricot.com/

5. DirectorySpot

Global Rank: 79,234

Domain Authority: 45

Website: https://www.directoryspot.net/

6. Yext

Global Rank: 7,213

Domain Authority: 62

Website: https://www.yext.com/index.html

7. Brilliant Directories

Global Rank: 32,451

Domain Authority: 45

Website: https://www.brilliantdirectories.com/

8. ChamberMaster

Global Rank: 28,364

Domain Authority: 58

Website: https://helpdesk.chambermaster.com/home/

9. CiviCRM

Global Rank: 65,428

Domain Authority: 61

Website: https://civicrm.org/

9 Top Picks for Online Directory Software

1. Zumvu Software Directory

This platform offers a comprehensive listing for businesses across industries, simplifying the process of discovering services and tools. With its intuitive interface and SEO-friendly features, it is ideal for increasing visibility. Zumvu's "Best Software Directory" caters specifically to SaaS providers and tech companies.

2. Hivebrite

Hivebrite empowers organizations to create robust, customized directories for memberships or communities. Its features include advanced filters, integrations, and analytics. Ideal for nonprofits and professional associations, Hivebrite strengthens member engagement.

3. MemberClicks

Tailored for associations, MemberClicks offers directory management and member engagement tools. It enables seamless event management, automated communications, and professional networking opportunities within associations.

4. Wild Apricot

Designed for nonprofits and small organizations, Wild Apricot offers directory software with member portals, payment tracking, and customizable templates. Its ease of use and affordability make it a popular choice for community-focused groups.

5. DirectorySpot

DirectorySpot specializes in creating simple yet effective online directories for schools, organizations, and businesses. Its mobile-first approach ensures accessibility, while features like password protection maintain data security.

6. Yext

A leading name in digital presence management, Yext ensures businesses maintain accurate listings across multiple platforms. It is especially beneficial for multi-location businesses aiming to enhance local SEO.

7. Brilliant Directories

Brilliant Directories provides all-in-one directory solutions with monetization tools like subscription management, ad placements, and pay-per-listing. Its adaptability suits various industries.

8. ChamberMaster

Built for chambers of commerce, ChamberMaster features robust directory solutions, event tracking, and member communication tools, fostering business and community connections.

9. CiviCRM

CiviCRM is a free, open-source CRM with built-in directory tools. Its flexibility makes it suitable for associations, nonprofits, and civic organizations seeking low-cost directory solutions.

Each of these platforms provides distinct features to address different organizational needs. Be sure to match their capabilities with your specific goals before making a decision.

Conclusion:

An online directory can significantly enhance your organization’s visibility and operational efficiency. By selecting the right Directory Software, you can streamline your directory management while offering a valuable resource for your members and audience. Tools like the Zumvu Software Directory are excellent options to explore for their reliability and advanced features.

Invest in the Best Software Directory today to elevate your organization’s online presence and drive long-term growth!

[inbabylontheywept]

Want Better Things

“You thought that was a bioweapon?” 

The translator broke down for a second as the creature did a sort of broken exhale. Connotations were all that came through. Vague implications. Pity, the software flashed. Disgust. Anger.

A pause as it decided.  

Sadism. 

Valta was already backing away. The final decision didn’t change his behavior, it just made the hall feel far, far too short. 

“I didn’t order it deployed. I didn’t make it.” 

The thing was staring at him, and he couldn’t look away. The two eyes moved in such perfect tandem that he didn’t think it was conscious. It only had binocular vision because it only needed binocular vision. Always the predator, never the prey. 

And now it was moving in on him. 

“Oh, but what if you had? Then I could tell you all the things that were wrong with it.” 

One of its hands - a sprawling, five fingered  spindly thing - traced carelessly along the station's walls. 

“No incubation period. Symptoms arrive within 40 minutes of exposure. No time to spread undetected. Minimum should be one week. Embarrassingly low.” 

The pressure the thing was putting on the wall increased, the gentle glide turning into a buzzing scratch. Humans were strong, but not strong enough to cut through metal like this. The suit had to be powered and clawed. 

“Spread through contact. Limited waterborne. No airborne. Intended mechanism of infection is viral load being put on hands from scratching, and then passed into the environment. Pathetically inefficient.” 

The translator was working, but the thing was overeunounciating each word. The meaning was being passed along by a clean, helpful voice in his suit, even as the sound was being passed on through the environmental speakers. And the sound was dreadful - clicks of ceramized bone jarring against each other, wet muscles modulating air into something sharp and rasping. 

“Mechanism of death? Lysis overload. Could be dangerous if it was transmitted into the lungs, but since the initial load tends to be dermal all we wind up with-”

It took its helmet off. 

It took its helmet off. 

It took its helmet off it took its helmet off it took its helmet off in a biozone it - 

It looked a little pink, actually. A little scratchy. It lifted a delicate, taloned hand and rubbed its face against it for a moment before finishing. 

“-is a rash.”

Valta’s prey drive had glued him to the spot. It was too close. The stupid, stupid part of his brain that still thought he was grazing on Duranga hoped that if he stood still long enough, it might not notice him. 

The human paused a moment before continuing. 

“Do you know why they sent me? Alphonse Ericsen, PhD, MD, civilian doctor, here to speak with you?”

Valta’s snout twitched. The suit translated the gesture for him. 

“No.” 

“Because one of our grunts is a dumb fuck,” the human said simply. “And he spent two days fighting on your station with his helmet off. He got infected that way and brought back your stupid, itchy plague to our carrier ship, and now we’ve all spent the last 8 hours scratching ourselves raw. But the jokes on you, because when we were treating that guy you know what we found? That he was in the asymptomatic phase of a COVID infection. So if this-”

It gestured to its pink face with a snarl. 

“-is your idea of a bioweapon, then COVID is going to be your apocalypse. But if you work with me, and shut everything the fuck down for the next three or four months, I might be able to save most of you.” 

Valta unstuck at that. He’d spent weeks down here, worrying about nothing more than the next skirmish. Now he was looking at a genuine existential threat. 

“...What? Why would you help us? We wanted you to die. All of you. I wanted-”

The human cut him off with an exasperated wave of his hand. 

“You wanted something stupid. Doesn’t mean I have to join you. Best I can do to fix you is keep you alive and hope that you feel ashamed later. That, I genuinely look forward to. Now come on, you��re going to be the one explaining to all your friends what’s at stake here. My bedside manner is so bad that they limited my patients to virology slides and USMC marines. I think that’s actually one rung below the guys that just dissect cadavers.” 

Valta would’ve made an amused hum at that, but something already felt scratchy inside his throat. 

[seat-safety-switch]

"Hold on there, pardner. This here's a cognition hazard." said the holographic cowboy in the corner of my vision. He then took a series of poses that the designer must have thought looked heroic and protective, before flickering back to his original position and repeating the process. My artificial ranch-hand was not incorrect: the thing I was attempting to do would cause me unpredictable amounts of psychic damage, likely impacting my relationships with those around me and even my mental state at rest. Even so, I pushed the button and waited.

Software development used to be a sort of reckless task, undergone without care. Decades ago, hundreds of folks would cram themselves into a single building and then work hard on their computers to develop computer programs. Originally, these programs performed useful but difficult tasks, speeding them up dramatically for the varied needs of government and industry. At first, life improved. And then, as with every prior machine in human history, we looked for harder jobs for it to do.

A funny thing happens when a computer program gets longer than about a page of typewritten code. You have to hold a lot of it in your head. The best programmers could commit an entire system to memory, gliding through it like barracuda through a disreputable motel's swimming pool. We didn't know then how much trauma it caused. The doctors had no idea what was happening with all those isolated burnouts freaking out, moving into the woods, and hunting men for sport.

Watching the old newsreels now, seeing the 20th-century equivalent of coal miners delving willingly into fold-out charts of MFC inheritance diagrams, it's a little hard to stomach. It only took about twenty years of continued exposure to this kind of thing before the human mind rebelled, the manmade logical constructs providing a kind of sharp edge that ripped through sanity like a hot wire. Thing is, it still had to be done, and the folks who did it seemed to enjoy it up until The Void caught up to them too. So the government did what the government does best, and compromise. We'd all have warnings that what we were doing was insanely dangerous and life-shortening, and our employers would keep demanding that we heap more complexity atop ever-increasing mountains of irreducible cruft.

A good deal for all involved, especially the folks who got the contract to make the warning holograms about fifteen years ago. They must have loved their jobs, putting the little cowboy hats on them. You can tell in all the little complex details of his haunted face, begging me to turn back from my route to oblivion. One day I'd like to make something cool like that.

[artsekey]

Procreate Dreams

I've been playing around in Procreate Dreams for about a week or so now, and I think I've got enough of a handle on the software to offer a fair review! If you're interested in hearing my thoughts, click the read-more below.

A little context before we get started; I have two degrees in animation, but they're both in 3D. My personal specialty is tech and articulation/rigging, but I think my background puts me in a unique position with Procreate Dreams; I know all of the theory behind animation, but I'm not going into Procreate Dreams and comparing it to a professional-grade software I generally prefer to use (like Toon Boom Harmony, for example).

So, let's get into it!

First Impressions

I hated it. I opened the software, it crashed. I couldn't figure out how to enable onion skins. I couldn't increase or decrease the exposure of my frames. I couldn't figure out how to swap to the eraser. I was confused, I was frustrated, and then I realized that I was expecting to jump in and animate without taking the time to learn the software first.

Once I stopped trying to strong-arm it and started looking up documentation, things got a little easier.

Re-Thinking My Approach

Procreate Dreams isn't comparable to any other animation software I've used before. The UI is different, there's a focus on gesture over buttons, and everything about it is meant to be minimalistic. None of this reflects poorly on the program, in my opinion. It's different. You can't go to Procreate Dreams and get mad at it for not being like the other software out there in terms of how it's used. In fact, I think one area of Dreams that should be applauded is the sheer ambition on display. It's a hybrid of traditional frame-by-frame animation and offers a slimmed down version of some of After Effects' most useful compositing & motion graphics tools. That's just plain cool.

The Good

For those of you who've used Procreate Dreams, you may find it's a little... difficult to see all the good it has to offer through the muddied waters it's launch-day bugs kicked up, but under all the grime, there's a little bit of gold.

Dreams is a one time, $20 USD purchase. That's huge in terms of affordability and accessibility in the software market right now.

The "Perform" option is great, and I think we'll see the longer that it's out, the more creative people are going to get in using it. I've already seen people create gorgeous parallax on their illustrations.

Simple compatibility with Procreate is a huge win. I'm finding my pipeline uses both software together.

The UI is a mixed bag overall, but I find the ability to move between flipnote mode and timeline mode to be great. It keeps the screen free, but I can still access the features I need while doing frame-by-frame.

The move/filters option is a great way to add a little compositing magic to your work.

The Bad

The "bad" here exclusively covers issues with the software as intended. Bugs will be covered under "The Ugly" below.

The lack of a lasso tool is a huge setback. I've seen people saying that it doesn't make sense not to have that feature at launch, especially when it's part of Procreate, but I understand why it may have been difficult to implement in conjunction with the move/perform/warp options. If you save a warp on top of an illustration, then cut and move part of the drawing, how is the warp/local translation data applied to that image? Does the pixel remember it's movement, or is it applied on top of the drawing? There's a lot to consider.

Similarly, the "reference" tool in Procreate would be an excellent tool to add color to layers beneath current layers. "Add Reference Track" would be great! That said, I think this conflicts with the move/warp tools like the above.

The timeline is a time sink. I should be able to adjust the exposure of my frames easily and consistently. As of right now, I have an 80-20 shot of selecting my layer or grabbing the handle for exposure. A small button on the edge of each frame (like a dot) would improve this considerably.

As far as I can tell, you can't mask a group onto another group.

No double-tap on the Apple Pencil 2 to swap to the eraser. This one I'm not sure about; it runs in Procreate, it seems simple to implement here... though it'd be great to see it customizable.

The Ugly

This includes bugs and other issues that are separate from the features (or lack thereof) of Procreate Dreams.

Crashes are frequent. I haven't used the software reliably during any of my sessions so far, but Dreams' autosave feature is extremely strong and very forgiving, so I have lost no work.

My pen pressure become erratic at times, necessitating a restart of the software.

Sometimes my pen will stop working, though other features in the app will continue to run.

The good news is, I think that Dreams is overall a huge win for artists and animators worldwide. Everything that's not working about Dreams will hopefully be resolved in future updates. I'd encourage anyone who wants to try animating for the first time to pick it up-- with the understanding it might take some time to get used to/master.

[starqueensthings]

Hi pals!

I’ll still be travelling when you’re seeing this and haven’t watched the finale, so I don’t have any new content to share, but last week (maybe longer? I don’t know— rainforest brain lol) I posted a poll asking if anyone was interested in seeing a snippet of my editing process, so here it is feat. possibly one of my favourite Wrecker moments.

I use a myriad of different software depending on: my mood, what computer/tablet I’m using, what the image looks like, and how much energy I’m willing to put into it lol In this video, I’m using Lightroom on my iPad.

The three main factors I look mostly closely at when I’m editing shots are 1. lighting, 2. noise, and 3. resolution (read: clarity).

This image required pretty minimal work so it’s probably not the best example, but ah well. The process in the above video is as follows, and please note the video had been sped up to 2x for file size reasons lol

The first thing I’ll do is see what the auto edit function defaults to. Often times it overexposes the image, resulting in significant colour noise, but it gives me a decent idea of what I should expect in terms of colour corrections and exposure mapping. The auto edit function wasn’t terrible in this case, but did produce some colour noise, mainly on Wrecker’s chest plate, his sleeves, and the officers hat. Once I’m done the initial scope out, I’ll exposure the image as high as possible to crop it— usually with the subject being as centered as possible.

This software lets the user tweak the bones of the image individually in three ways, all of them very quickly demonstrated here. The first is the curve method which I despise and NEVER use— because it alters multiple aspects at once, I don’t feel like I have the same degree of control as the other methods. Next is HDR setting (the default upon import) using the sliders on the right. This is effective for images that are already pretty well lit, and does give me a little more control, but most of the time because the screenshots are so dark, I’m editing in SDR mode.

Once I’m satisfied with the exposure/lighting, I’ll move on to correcting colour distortion and saturating the image. This software also provides three methods for colour alternation and I’ll typically use all three in conjunction with each other. Colour mixing is extremely crucial when it comes to reducing odour noise and distortion. Because this software lets me isolate certain colours to adjust their hue, saturation, and luminance, I can typically reduce most of or all of the colour noise. However, it does have its limitations. In this particular post, desaturating the colour noise in Crosshair’s rifle coincided with blanching his skin tone, because this software does not let me isolate certain areas of an image. It was also important to me to emphasize the warm tones from the sunset in the background for the overall mood of the shot, so I opted to remove what colour noise I could and leave the rest. (You can’t win em all… especially when the starting image is near-black lol)

Correcting the colour distortion in this image was not particularly difficult, desaturating all purple tones removed the noise from his chest plate, and shifting green tones to something near a yellow instead removed the noise from his sleeve. I didn’t notice the colour noise on the officers hat until a little later, but that was pretty easily corrected too.

Once I’ve fixed the colour noise, I’ll shift to toning the overall image. Wrecker particularly looks good in cool tones, but It’s nice to contrast a cool tone background with the warmth of his skin.

Once the toning is done, I’ll move on the image clarity. I don’t have the means to alter the actual resolution of the image, but I’m particularly picky with balancing texture and clarity. Wrecker always looks the best with texture and clarity increased, because it brings out the scarring on his face and further humanizes him, but overdoing the texture can also emphasize pixelation. Once that’s done, I’ll reduce the overall noise only slightly (doing too much makes them look airbrushed and unnatural), and whatever is left of the colour noise (too much of this setting makes them look like ghouls LOL)

This software also offers a series of preset alterations/filters briefly shown in this video… but I’m not the biggest fan of any of them. I’m a bit of a control freak and would rather tweak each aspect individually to the degree that I like, instead blanketing the image with present modifications and then undoing certain aspects.

Before exporting the image I’ll do another once over and make sure I’m happy! In this case, I opted to go back in and add some darker tones back into the image. I don’t do this often, particularly when they start so damn dark, but I wanted to keep the focus centrally on Wrecker’s radiance lol

That’s about it. If I’m working on multiple edits in a set, this software lets me just copy and paste the settings, so the following images only require extremely light tweaks and take almost no time. And that, I’ll export, autograph, and upload!

Thank you for attending this unprofessional Ted Talk.

[cosmokrill]

I hate Toon Boom. I want to BURN Toon Boom. I want to kill it with fire. I am never fucking using it again until I have read and memorized the entire MANUAL and every single possible BUG. IT TOOK ME MORE TIME TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO INCREASE EXPOSURE, MOVE CELLS, AND EXPORT IT WITH SOUND THAN IT TOOK TO ACTUALLY DRAW THE DAMN THING. I'm sticking with pencil2d, no matter how shitty and old the software is.

[mariacallous]

Generative AI tools such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Microsoft’s Copilot are rapidly evolving, fueling concerns that the technology could open the door to multiple privacy and security issues, particularly in the workplace.

In May, privacy campaigners dubbed Microsoft’s new Recall tool a potential “privacy nightmare” due to its ability to take screenshots of your laptop every few seconds. The feature has caught the attention of UK regulator the Information Commissioner’s Office, which is asking Microsoft to reveal more about the safety of the product launching soon in its Copilot+ PCs.

Concerns are also mounting over OpenAI’s ChatGPT, which has demonstrated screenshotting abilities in its soon-to-launch macOS app that privacy experts say could result in the capture of sensitive data.

The US House of Representatives has banned the use of Microsoft’s Copilot among staff members after it was deemed by the Office of Cybersecurity to be a risk to users due to “the threat of leaking House data to non-House approved cloud services.”

Meanwhile, market analyst Gartner has cautioned that “using Copilot for Microsoft 365 exposes the risks of sensitive data and content exposure internally and externally.” And last month, Google was forced to make adjustments to its new search feature, AI Overviews, after screenshots of bizarre and misleading answers to queries went viral.

Overexposed

For those using generative AI at work, one of the biggest challenges is the risk of inadvertently exposing sensitive data. Most generative AI systems are “essentially big sponges,” says Camden Woollven, group head of AI at risk management firm GRC International Group. “They soak up huge amounts of information from the internet to train their language models.”

AI companies are “hungry for data to train their models,” and are “seemingly making it behaviorally attractive” to do so, says Steve Elcock, CEO and founder at software firm Elementsuite. This vast amount of data collection means there’s the potential for sensitive information to be put “into somebody else’s ecosystem,” says Jeff Watkins, chief product and technology officer at digital consultancy xDesign. “It could also later be extracted through clever prompting.”

At the same time, there’s the threat of AI systems themselves being targeted by hackers. “Theoretically, if an attacker managed to gain access to the large language model (LLM) that powers a company's AI tools, they could siphon off sensitive data, plant false or misleading outputs, or use the AI to spread malware,” says Woollven.

Consumer-grade AI tools can create obvious risks. However, an increasing number of potential issues are arising with “proprietary” AI offerings broadly deemed safe for work such as Microsoft Copilot, says Phil Robinson, principal consultant at security consultancy Prism Infosec.

“This could theoretically be used to look at sensitive data if access privileges have not been locked down. We could see employees asking to see pay scales, M&A activity, or documents containing credentials, which could then be leaked or sold.”

Another concern centers around AI tools that could be used to monitor staff, potentially infringing their privacy. Microsoft’s Recall feature states that “your snapshots are yours; they stay locally on your PC” and “you are always in control with privacy you can trust.”

Yet “it doesn’t seem very long before this technology could be used for monitoring employees,” says Elcock.

Self-Censorship

Generative AI does pose several potential risks, but there are steps businesses and individual employees can take to improve privacy and security. First, do not put confidential information into a prompt for a publicly available tool such as ChatGPT or Google’s Gemini, says Lisa Avvocato, vice president of marketing and community at data firm Sama.

When crafting a prompt, be generic to avoid sharing too much. “Ask, ‘Write a proposal template for budget expenditure,’ not ‘Here is my budget, write a proposal for expenditure on a sensitive project,’” she says. “Use AI as your first draft, then layer in the sensitive information you need to include.”

If you use it for research, avoid issues such as those seen with Google’s AI Overviews by validating what it provides, says Avvocato. “Ask it to provide references and links to its sources. If you ask AI to write code, you still need to review it, rather than assuming it’s good to go.”

Microsoft has itself stated that Copilot needs to be configured correctly and the “least privilege”—the concept that users should only have access to the information they need—should be applied. This is “a crucial point,” says Prism Infosec’s Robinson. “Organizations must lay the groundwork for these systems and not just trust the technology and assume everything will be OK.”

It’s also worth noting that ChatGPT uses the data you share to train its models, unless you turn it off in the settings or use the enterprise version.

List of Assurances

The firms integrating generative AI into their products say they’re doing everything they can to protect security and privacy. Microsoft is keen to outline security and privacy considerations in its Recall product and the ability to control the feature in Settings > Privacy & security > Recall & snapshots.

Google says generative AI in Workspace “does not change our foundational privacy protections for giving users choice and control over their data,” and stipulates that information is not used for advertising.

OpenAI reiterates how it maintains security and privacy in its products, while enterprise versions are available with extra controls. “We want our AI models to learn about the world, not private individuals—and we take steps to protect people’s data and privacy,” an OpenAI spokesperson tells WIRED.

OpenAI says it offers ways to control how data is used, including self-service tools to access, export, and delete personal information, as well as the ability to opt out of use of content to improve its models. ChatGPT Team, ChatGPT Enterprise, and its API are not trained on data or conversations, and its models don’t learn from usage by default, according to the company.

Either way, it looks like your AI coworker is here to stay. As these systems become more sophisticated and omnipresent in the workplace, the risks are only going to intensify, says Woollven. “We're already seeing the emergence of multimodal AI such as GPT-4o that can analyze and generate images, audio, and video. So now it's not just text-based data that companies need to worry about safeguarding.”

With this in mind, people—and businesses—need to get in the mindset of treating AI like any other third-party service, says Woollven. “Don't share anything you wouldn't want publicly broadcasted.”

[spacetimewithstuartgary]

Hera asteroid mission's CubeSat passengers signal home

The two CubeSat passengers aboard ESA's Hera mission for planetary defense have exchanged their first signals with Earth, confirming their nominal status. The pair were switched on to check out all their systems, marking the first operation of ESA CubeSats in deep space.

"Each CubeSat was activated for about an hour in turn, in live sessions with the ground to perform commissioning—what we call 'are you alive?' and 'stowed checkout' tests," explains ESA's Hera CubeSats Engineer Franco Perez Lissi.

"The pair are currently stowed within their Deep Space Deployers, but we were able to activate every onboard system in turn, including their platform avionics, instruments and the inter-satellite links they will use to talk to Hera, as well as spinning up and down their reaction wheels which will be employed for attitude control."

Launched on 7 October, Hera is ESA's first planetary defense mission, headed to the first solar system body to have had its orbit shifted by human action: the Dimorphos asteroid, which was impacted by NASA's DART spacecraft in 2022.

Traveling with Hera are two shoebox-sized "CubeSats" built up from standardized 10-cm boxes. These miniature spacecraft will fly closer to the asteroid than their mothership, taking additional risks to acquire valuable bonus data.

Juventas, produced for ESA by GOMspace in Luxembourg, will make the first radar probe within an asteroid. while Milani, produced for ESA by Tyvak International in Italy, will perform multispectral mineral prospecting.

he commissioning took place from ESA's ESOC mission control center in Darmstadt in Germany, linked in turn to ESEC, the European Space Security and Education Center, at Redu in Belgium. This site hosts Hera's CubeSat Mission Operations Center, from where the CubeSats will be overseen once they are flying freely in space.

Juventas was activated on 17 October, at 4 million km away from Earth, while Milani followed on 24 October, nearly twice as far at 7.9 million km away.

The distances involved meant the team had to put up with tense waits for signals to pass between Earth and deep space, involving a 32.6 second round-trip delay for Juventas and a 52 second round-trip delay for Milani.

"During this CubeSat commissioning, we have not only confirmed the CubeSat instruments and systems work as planned but also validated the entire ground command infrastructure," explains Sylvain Lodiot, Hera Operations Manager.

"This involves a complex setup where data are received here at the Hera Missions Operations Center at ESOC but telemetry also goes to the CMOC at Redu, overseen by a Spacebel team, passed in turn to the CubeSat Mission Control Centers of the respective companies, to be checked in real time. Verification of this arrangement is good preparation for the free-flying operational phase once Hera reaches Dimorphos."

Andrea Zanotti, Milani's Lead Software Engineer at Tyvak, adds, "Milani didn't experience any computer resets or out of limits currents or voltages, despite its deep space environment which involves increased exposure to cosmic rays. The same is true of Juventas."

Camiel Plevier, Juventas's Lead Software Engineer at GomSpace, notes, "More than a week after launch, with 'fridge' temperatures of around 5°C in the Deep Space Deployers, the batteries of both CubeSats maintained a proper high state of charge. And it was nice to see how the checkout activity inside the CubeSats consistently warmed the temperature sensors throughout the CubeSats and the Deep Space Deployers."

The CubeSats will stay within their Deployers until the mission reaches Dimorphos towards the end of 2026, when they will be deployed at very low velocity of just a few centimeters per second. Any faster and—in the ultra-low gravitational field of the Great Pyramid-sized asteroid—they might risk being lost in space.

Franco adds, "This commissioning is a significant achievement for ESA and our industrial partners, involving many different interfaces that all had to work as planned: all the centers on Earth, then also on the Hera side, including the dedicated Life Support Interface Boards that connects the main spacecraft with the Deployers and CubeSats.

"The concept that a spacecraft can work with smaller companion spacecraft aboard them has been successfully demonstrated, which is going to be followed by more missions in the future, starting with ESA's Ramses mission for planetary defense and then the Comet Interceptor spacecraft."

From this point, the CubeSats will be switched on every two months during Hera's cruise phase, to undergo routine operations such as checkouts, battery conditioning and software updates.

TOP IMAGE: Juventas studies asteroid's internal structure. Credit: ESA/Science Office

LOWER IMAGE: Milani studies asteroid dust. Credit: ESA-Science Office

[eve-be-sleep-deprived]

How do you get such nice shots in captura? I wanna get better at it could you share some tips? Been trying to figure it out but I admit I'm not the most knowledgeable in photography etc.

Well.... It's a bit of a complicated process and it relies very very much on personal preference. Much like with any type of art there are different styles that each individual artist will gravitate toward. I can only show you how I do things, so I'd recommend asking other Captura folks on here about their own styles to see where our processes and preferences differ.

I'll also include some extremely helpful videos at the bottom, they go extremely in depth as to best practices and technical exploits.

Alright, lets get started with the background stuff... the tools! ReShade: Shader injection, a MUST if you want to take dynamic and customized captura without using a program like Photoshop to do everything in post.

SRWE: Simple Runtime Window Editor.... the god among programs... It's an upscaler, allowing you to increase the resolution of the game beyond the bounds of your monitor. It's how I was able to get 15K panoramas at one point in time.

Any image editing software. Since I rely mainly on compositing to get the lighting I do, I need something to overlay and mesh the images with. I use GIMP cuz it's free, but even Microsoft Paint will work as soon as it add the ability to layer images.

Those are the tools... what about the tactics?

Well, I generally prefer moodier shots with the Warframe being the central focus (though, that's also the side effect of me cropping the image). Just a note! Moody doesn't mean dark, moody is the enigmatic space between dark and light where there is more dark than light... but there's still a good amount of light to be had. Occasionally you can have overexposure in a moody shot even.

Important to note, the overall exposure level of the environment, even is the scene lighting is low, will effect how brightly your Warframe can be lit. Both the Scene Light and Exposure sliders need to be fine-tuned otherwise you won't be able to light your Warframe at all.

Now, for shot composition I prefer low angles with either a cluttered but familiar/recognizable background, or a simple but abstract background. The Subject, be it a Warframe, an enemy, or an NPC, reside in the center with their feet out of shot.

Like so:

Each of these shots also demonstrate well the way I like to pose my subjects: Symmetry and.... not... not symmetry. The official term for this is Contrapposto, which is Italian for Counterpoise. Basically, even though the Wisp is sedentary, her body is still giving off the impression of movement based on how her waist is curving and hips are tilted, forming a loose 'S' shape. There's a handful of animation sets, Khora (Urushu) Noble, Mesa Noble, and Wisp Noble are excellent for this.

Some examples:

But... what about the lighting? This is where things get technical. So, the standard Captura's three-point lighting system is generally inadequate at properly lighting the entire Warframe. This is where compositing enters the picture, in a very literal sense. Each of these shots, shown above, are composites of between two and four separate images, each with different lighting angles. I actually have an example I made for an earlier explanation made already (thank goodness)

Getting the different lighting angles is really simple, just rotate the 3-way lighting without moving the camera. Then you overlay them in some photo editing software and just start going layer by layer, erasing bits of the topmost layer to reveal your desired highlights or shadows from the shot underneath.

Don't feel obligated to do this compositing process though! Sometimes the 3-way lighting works perfectly well for a shot or environment, don't feel obligated to complicate this process.

And this segues in nicely to the final part of the shot-making process, post-processing and fog layers.

Now, fog layers are important to the overall appearance and vibe of my Captura. They add texture the image that the game doesn't impart naturally, removing large swathes of solid color from the background and foreground. An added bonus is that the added texture makes the image look somewhat better (imo) when compressed, or when viewed at lower resolutions.

The same image with and without Fog

This shot contains two individual fog layers, one in the foreground, washing out the foliage, giving the general uniformity of it texture and implied depth, it also serves to cover up the manual blurring I did (poorly) around his legs. Then there's the background Fog, which is the deeper blue you see in the sky. It adds a more dynamic air to the generally dour set of greys. And, again, the fog is just something I personally like to add, even if it doesn't serve a practical purpose in a shot. No shade if someone feels the fog ruins the shot, I almost always keep a fog-free version about.

After the fog is added, blended, and blurred slightly, I will apply a few gentle blurring filters to remove any jarring or jagged pixelation from the shot, giving the Frame a somewhat smoother appearance and reducing the file-size dramatically.

That's just how I do it though, it's not a particularly popular style, but it's how I do it and how I love to do it! :3 Remember to ask around, I'm sure there's lotsa Captura Artists out there willing to explain their methods and processes.

Helpful vids! How to Captura by Vash Cowaii Hotsampling in Warframe for High Res Shots by PurpleFlurp

good luck, and happy snapping!

[colonelrajyavardhanrathore]

Integrated Cluster Development Scheme: A Visionary Initiative by Col Rajyavardhan Rathore

The Integrated Cluster Development Scheme (ICDS), launched under the leadership of Colonel Rajyavardhan Rathore, marks a significant milestone in fostering economic growth and social development across Rajasthan. Focused on empowering small-scale industries, artisans, and rural entrepreneurs, this initiative is set to transform traditional production clusters into engines of innovation, employment, and sustainability.

In this article, we’ll explore the goals, features, and potential impact of this scheme on Rajasthan’s economy and its people.

What is the Integrated Cluster Development Scheme?

The ICDS aims to modernize and strengthen production clusters in Rajasthan, encompassing sectors like handicrafts, textiles, food processing, and small-scale manufacturing. By integrating infrastructure development, skill training, and financial incentives, this scheme provides a holistic framework to promote regional growth.

Col Rajyavardhan Rathore’s Vision Behind the Scheme

Col Rajyavardhan Rathore, a staunch advocate for rural development and economic empowerment, believes that: “Clusters are the backbone of our economy. Strengthening them means empowering our artisans, entrepreneurs, and communities for a brighter, self-reliant Rajasthan.”

His leadership in shaping the scheme reflects a commitment to harnessing the state’s cultural heritage and industrial potential for sustainable development.

Key Objectives of the ICDS

Economic Growth: Enhance the productivity and profitability of Rajasthan’s traditional and emerging clusters.

Job Creation: Generate employment opportunities, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas.

Skill Development: Provide training to workers and entrepreneurs in modern techniques and global standards.

Sustainability: Promote eco-friendly practices in production and infrastructure.

Global Competitiveness: Enable clusters to compete effectively in national and international markets.

Highlights of the Integrated Cluster Development Scheme

1. Infrastructure Upgradation

Establishment of common facility centers (CFCs) equipped with modern tools and machinery.

Development of dedicated industrial parks and cluster zones.

Improved connectivity through roads, railways, and digital infrastructure.

2. Financial Support

Subsidies and Grants: Financial assistance for purchasing equipment and upgrading technology.

Cluster Development Funds: Allocation of funds for infrastructure, marketing, and research.

Low-Interest Loans: Easy access to credit for small businesses and artisans.

3. Capacity Building

Skill Training Programs: Workshops on modern production techniques, quality control, and innovation.

Entrepreneurship Development: Training in business management and digital marketing.

Global Exposure: Participation in national and international trade fairs.

4. Promoting Innovation and Technology

Establishment of innovation hubs within clusters to encourage research and development.

Integration of digital tools such as e-commerce platforms and management software.

5. Focus on Key Sectors

Handicrafts and Textiles: Revitalizing traditional crafts with modern designs.

Food Processing: Expanding the scope of agro-based industries with value addition.

Renewable Energy Clusters: Promoting solar and wind energy production units.

Impact of the Scheme on Rajasthan

Economic Benefits

An estimated 20–30% increase in cluster productivity within the first three years.

Boost in state GDP through enhanced industrial output and exports.

Social Empowerment

Improved livelihood opportunities for over 50,000 workers and artisans.

Empowerment of women and marginalized communities through focused support programs.

Sustainability

Adoption of eco-friendly production techniques, reducing the environmental footprint.

Examples of Targeted Clusters

Jaipur Handicrafts Cluster

Known for its exquisite jewelry, blue pottery, and textiles, Jaipur’s cluster will benefit from marketing support and infrastructure development.

Jodhpur Furniture Cluster

Famous for its wooden furniture, this cluster will see investments in modern tools and export promotion.

Bikaner Agro Cluster

A hub for food processing and agricultural produce, Bikaner’s cluster will receive funding for value-added processing units.

How the Scheme Promotes Self-Reliance

Aligned with the “Make in India” and “Atmanirbhar Bharat” initiatives, the ICDS focuses on reducing import dependency by enhancing local production capabilities. By enabling small businesses to scale up and reach global markets, it fosters a self-reliant ecosystem.

Col Rajyavardhan Rathore’s Commitment to Progress

Col Rathore has been instrumental in advocating policies that blend tradition with technology. His leadership ensures that the ICDS not only preserves Rajasthan’s cultural identity but also propels it into the future.

In his words: “This scheme is a tribute to the hardworking people of Rajasthan who keep our traditions alive while embracing the opportunities of the modern world.”

A New Dawn for Rajasthan’s Clusters

The Integrated Cluster Development Scheme is a game-changer for Rajasthan’s economy. By focusing on modernization, skill enhancement, and financial support, it promises to uplift thousands of artisans, workers, and entrepreneurs while showcasing Rajasthan’s rich heritage to the world.

This initiative is not just about economic development; it’s about empowering communities, celebrating culture, and creating a sustainable future for all.

[digitalgrowth1]

Top 28 Software Directory and Review Sites - Complete Guide 2024

In the fast-paced digital landscape, software directories and review sites have emerged as vital tools for SaaS companies aiming to gain visibility and credibility. Whether you're a startup looking to establish a presence or an established brand seeking to expand, these platforms are crucial. This guide will explore the top 28 software directories and review sites, their benefits, and how to leverage them effectively.

About This Guide - Software Directory and Review Sites

This guide is a comprehensive resource designed to help businesses navigate the world of software directories and review sites in 2024. By listing your products on these platforms, you can:

Increase visibility in your niche.

Boost user trust with genuine customer reviews.

Improve your search engine rankings.

Additionally, we'll touch on strategies like the 80/20 Rule and discuss whether to wait for customer reviews before listing.

Software Directory and Review Site Benefits

Listing your SaaS product on software directories and review sites can yield multiple advantages:

Enhanced Visibility: Many directories rank well on search engines, giving your software additional exposure.

Credibility Boost: Authentic reviews build trust with potential users.

Lead Generation: Targeted traffic from these directories often converts better than generic sources.

Improved SEO: Backlinks from high-authority directories positively impact your website’s domain authority.

For example, Software Directory is a leading platform to consider. It's ideal for companies looking for the best software directory to improve their online visibility and gain an edge.

80/20 Rule of SaaS Directory and Review Sites

The 80/20 Rule, or Pareto Principle, applies to software directories. This principle suggests:

80% of your results will come from 20% of the directories you list on.

Focus on high-authority, niche-specific platforms that align closely with your target audience.

Rather than spreading your efforts thin, prioritize directories known for quality traffic and credible reviews. This approach maximizes ROI while reducing unnecessary effort.

How Do Software and Review Sites Impact SEO?

Directories and review sites influence SEO in multiple ways:

Backlinks: Many directories allow backlinks to your website, which enhances domain authority.

Keyword Ranking: User-generated content, such as reviews, helps diversify keywords associated with your product.

Referral Traffic: High-quality traffic from these sites signals to search engines that your product is valuable.

Brand Mentions: Mentions on popular directories improve brand recognition.

Also Read: Discover the Best Software Directory to Skyrocket Your Business Growth! | Zumvu Software Directory

Should I Wait Until I Have Enough Customer Reviews?

One common misconception is that you need a wealth of customer reviews before listing your product. Here's why that's not always necessary:

Early Listings Attract Reviews: Listing your product early invites initial reviews, which snowball over time.

Beta Feedback: Early users often provide insightful feedback that helps refine your software.

Visibility Matters: A listing without reviews is still visible to potential customers, which can lead to inquiries and sales.

However, ensure that your listing is compelling and highlights unique selling points to compensate for the lack of reviews.

Top Software Directories and Review Sites

1. Capterra

SimilarWeb Global Rank : 11,000

Domain Authority (DA) : 87

Website: https://www.capterra.com

Capterra is a leading software directory offering user reviews, ratings, and comparisons for thousands of software products across industries. Its easy-to-navigate interface allows businesses to evaluate tools based on features, pricing, and customer feedback, making it invaluable for informed software purchasing decisions.

2. G2

SimilarWeb Global Rank : 2,700

Domain Authority (DA) : 92

Website: https://www.g2.com/

G2 is a trusted platform for software reviews and peer-to-peer advice. It helps users make better technology decisions by aggregating authentic reviews, real-time pricing data, and software performance metrics. Known for its vibrant user community, G2 is particularly popular among SaaS buyers.

3. GetApp

SimilarWeb Global Rank : 20,000

Domain Authority (DA) : 80

Website: https://www.getapp.com/

GetApp simplifies the software selection process with tailored recommendations and a robust database of user reviews. Targeting small and medium businesses, it offers side-by-side comparisons and industry-specific filters, ensuring users find the best fit for their needs.

4. TrustRadius

SimilarWeb Global Rank : 21,000

Domain Authority (DA) : 82

Website: https://www.trustradius.com/

TrustRadius is a reliable review site for professionals looking to assess software tools and enterprise solutions. Known for its focus on verified reviews and in-depth product insights, it caters to decision-makers in IT and business management.

5. Software Advice

SimilarWeb Global Rank : 37,000

Domain Authority (DA) : 73

Website: https://www.softwareadvice.com/

Software Advice provides expert consultations and personalized recommendations for businesses seeking software solutions. With a rich library of user reviews and product comparisons, it helps users across industries find tools tailored to their operational needs.

6. SourceForge

SimilarWeb Global Rank : 7,000

Domain Authority (DA) : 93

Website: https://sourceforge.net/

SourceForge is a premier platform for open-source software. It connects developers and users by hosting and reviewing thousands of free and commercial tools, fostering a collaborative software development ecosystem.

7. AlternativeTo

SimilarWeb Global Rank : 8,600

Domain Authority (DA) : 89

Website: https://alternativeto.net/

AlternativeTo specializes in suggesting software alternatives based on user preferences. With a clean, ad-free interface, it offers curated lists and user-generated insights, helping individuals find comparable tools to meet their requirements.

8. IT Central Station

SimilarWeb Global Rank : 182,000

Domain Authority (DA) : 60

Website: https://www.itcentralstation.com

IT Central Station is a review platform for enterprise technology. It enables CIOs and IT leaders to discover and compare software solutions through unbiased user reviews and detailed product analyses.

9. Zumvu

SimilarWeb Global Rank : 593,016

Domain Authority (DA) : 53

Website: https://zumvu.com/

Zumvu provides a comprehensive directory for software and digital tools. Its detailed listings and focus on user-friendly categorization help businesses and individuals discover suitable solutions tailored to their needs.

10. Product Hunt

SimilarWeb Global Rank : 1,600

Domain Authority (DA) : 91

Website: https://www.producthunt.com/

Product Hunt showcases new tech products and startups, allowing users to discover innovative software, tools, and platforms. Its community-driven voting system highlights trending products, making it a favorite among early adopters.

11. Spiceworks

SimilarWeb Global Rank : 25,000

Domain Authority (DA) : 85

Website: https://www.spiceworks.com/

Spiceworks combines a software directory with IT community forums. It focuses on IT management tools, helping tech professionals explore, compare, and adopt solutions for business needs.

12. FinancesOnline

SimilarWeb Global Rank : 35,000

Domain Authority (DA) : 76

Website: https://financesonline.com/

FinancesOnline reviews and compares software and financial tools. It provides in-depth reports, expert opinions, and customer reviews, catering to businesses searching for financial software solutions.

13. GoodFirms

SimilarWeb Global Rank : 28,000

Domain Authority (DA) : 77

Website: https://www.goodfirms.co/

GoodFirms evaluates software and services, highlighting top performers in various categories. With a focus on verified client reviews, it assists businesses in finding trustworthy software vendors and service providers.

14. Clutch

SimilarWeb Global Rank : 9,000

Domain Authority (DA) : 85

Website: https://clutch.co/

Clutch is a B2B review platform that evaluates software and professional services. It emphasizes client feedback and detailed case studies, helping businesses select reliable vendors.

15. SoftwareSuggest

SimilarWeb Global Rank : 59,000

Domain Authority (DA) : 52

Website: https://www.softwaresuggest.com/

SoftwareSuggest connects businesses with the right software tools. Offering extensive filters and user reviews, it simplifies decision-making for organizations across diverse industries.

16. Crunchbase

SimilarWeb Global Rank : 3,000

Domain Authority (DA) : 92

Website: https://www.crunchbase.com/

Crunchbase focuses on startup profiles, including software companies. It provides valuable insights into company growth, funding, and performance metrics, making it ideal for investors and B2B software buyers.

17. BetaList

SimilarWeb Global Rank : 180,000

Domain Authority (DA) : 54

Website: https://betalist.com/

BetaList showcases early-stage startups and beta-phase software. It’s a go-to platform for innovators and early adopters seeking to explore new technologies before mainstream adoption.

18. AppSumo

SimilarWeb Global Rank : 5,800

Domain Authority (DA) : 61

Website: https://appsumo.com/

AppSumo offers lifetime deals on software and digital tools. Targeting startups and freelancers, it curates affordable solutions, often featuring SaaS products and marketing tools.

19. TechRadar Pro

SimilarWeb Global Rank : 13,000 Domain Authority (DA) : 90 Website: https://www.techradar.com/pro

TechRadar Pro offers reviews and buying guides for business software and tech solutions. Its expert analysis and industry insights make it a trusted resource for professionals and decision-makers in tech procurement.

20. Gartner Peer Insights

SimilarWeb Global Rank : 23,000

Domain Authority (DA) : 82

Website: https://www.gartner.com/peer-insights/home

Gartner Peer Insights collects verified enterprise software reviews from IT professionals. Its reports and real-world user insights are valuable for organizations making large-scale tech investments.

21. PCMag

SimilarWeb Global Rank : 1,200

Domain Authority (DA) : 92

Website: https://www.pcmag.com/

PCMag reviews consumer and business technology, including software tools. Its expert-led content and performance benchmarks make it a reliable guide for evaluating digital solutions.

22. TopTenReviews

SimilarWeb Global Rank : 18,000

Domain Authority (DA) : 74

Website: https://www.toptenreviews.com/

TopTenReviews ranks software products across various categories, focusing on usability, pricing, and features. Its straightforward comparisons simplify the selection process for everyday users.

23. Softonic

SimilarWeb Global Rank : 900

Domain Authority (DA) : 94

Website: https://en.softonic.com/

Softonic specializes in software downloads and reviews. It caters to global audiences, offering detailed descriptions and user ratings for thousands of applications across multiple platforms.

24. Download.com (CNET)

SimilarWeb Global Rank : 4,000

Domain Authority (DA) : 91

Website: https://download.cnet.com/

Download.com, powered by CNET, provides free software downloads and trusted reviews. Known for its extensive library of applications, it’s a go-to resource for tech enthusiasts.

25. ZDNet

SimilarWeb Global Rank : 7,000

Domain Authority (DA) : 90

Website: https://www.zdnet.com/

ZDNet focuses on business software and IT tools. Its in-depth analysis, coupled with industry news, caters to enterprise professionals seeking software recommendations.

26. Tom’s Guide

SimilarWeb Global Rank : 2,300

Domain Authority (DA) : 91

Website: https://www.tomsguide.com/

Tom’s Guide evaluates software, gadgets, and online services. Known for its comprehensive reviews, it’s a useful platform for comparing the latest digital tools and applications.

27. CloudTango

SimilarWeb Global Rank : 230,000

Domain Authority (DA) : 57

Website: https://www.cloudtango.net/

CloudTango connects businesses with managed service providers and software vendors. Its directory includes reviews and insights to help companies find reliable IT solutions.

28. Slant

SimilarWeb Global Rank : 58,000

Domain Authority (DA) : 70

Website: https://www.slant.co/

Slant offers crowdsourced recommendations for software and tools. Its interactive comparison features and personalized suggestions make it ideal for niche software searches.

Each of these platforms brings unique value for software discovery and reviews, ensuring businesses and users find tools tailored to their goals. Let me know if you need additional customization or details!

Why These Platforms?

Each platform on this list has been selected for its ability to drive traffic, boost credibility, and offer quality backlinks to improve your SEO. Many, like G2 and Capterra, are renowned for their high authority, while niche directories like EdSurge focus on specific industries, ensuring better-targeted exposure.

Benefits of Listing Across Multiple Platforms

Wide Reach: Appearing in multiple directories ensures your product is visible to diverse audiences.

Industry Authority: Being listed alongside competitors establishes trust.

SEO Boost: Backlinks from these platforms drive referral traffic and improve rankings.

Conclusion:

Software directories and review sites are indispensable tools for SaaS businesses in 2024. Leveraging the right platforms with a focused strategy can elevate your visibility, attract leads, and improve SEO.

For those seeking a reliable platform, Software Directory is an excellent choice. By listing your product on the best software directory, you tap into its vast potential to drive traffic, boost credibility, and gain a competitive edge in the market.

Focus on quality over quantity, apply the 80/20 Rule, and begin your journey toward enhanced software visibility today!

[yvetteheiser]

Yvette Heiser - Mastering Night-time Food Photography in the Heart of Texas

Texas is renowned for its vibrant food scene, from sizzling BBQ and Tex-Mex delicacies to gourmet farm-to-table experiences. As the sun sets and the city lights twinkle, capturing the essence of nighttime dining becomes an art form of its own. Discover Photography in Texas with Yvette Heiser, as mastering night-time food photography allows you to showcase the delicious offerings and unique ambiance of Texas restaurants and street food vendors. In this article, we will explore practical tips and techniques to elevate your nighttime food photography, making your images as mouthwatering as the dishes themselves.

Understanding the Importance of Lighting

Lighting serves as the foundation of any outstanding photograph, particularly in the realm of food photography. At night, natural light is scarce, so you’ll need to rely on artificial lighting sources to bring your images to life. Here are several important factors to keep in mind:

- Use Soft Light: Harsh, direct lighting can create unflattering shadows. Instead, opt for soft light sources such as table lamps, candles, or string lights. Position these lights strategically around your food to create a warm, inviting atmosphere.

- Experiment with Exposure Settings: When photographing at night, you may need to adjust your camera’s exposure settings. A longer exposure time can help capture more light, but be cautious of motion blur. Use a tripod to keep your camera steady, allowing for sharper images even in low light.

Choosing the Right Angles

The angle from which you photograph your food can dramatically change the viewer's perception. Here are some angles to consider when capturing nighttime food scenes:

- Top-Down Shots: This angle works well for flat dishes, such as pizzas or tapas. It allows you to capture multiple items and showcase the table's overall aesthetic. Enhance this shot by including utensils, drinks, and other elements that create a lively dining atmosphere.

- 45-Degree Angles: This angle strikes a balance between a top-down and side shot, offering depth and dimension to your images. It’s ideal for dishes served in bowls or with layers, allowing viewers to see both the surface and the interior of the food.

- Close-Ups: Don’t hesitate to get up close and personal with your food. Close-up shots can highlight textures and intricate details that make dishes appealing. A close-up of a juicy steak or a decadent dessert can leave viewers craving more.

Utilizing Props and Backgrounds

The right props and backgrounds can elevate your food photography. Here are a few suggestions to elevate your nighttime food photography:

- Textured Surfaces: Use wooden tables, rustic cutting boards, or slate plates to create a contrasting background. The texture can add depth to your images and make the food stand out.

- Include Contextual Elements: Incorporate elements that represent the Texas culture, such as vintage cowboy hats, mason jars, or fresh herbs. These items can tell a story and enhance the narrative of your food photography.

- Play with Colors: The warm tones of Texas cuisine can be beautifully complemented by contrasting backgrounds. For example, vibrant dishes can pop against darker surfaces, while cooler dishes may benefit from warmer, earthy tones.

Post-Processing Techniques

Editing is a crucial step in food photography that can help enhance the overall aesthetic of your images. Consider the following techniques:

- Adjust Brightness and Contrast: Increase brightness slightly to compensate for low-light conditions and enhance the contrast to make the colors pop.

- Enhance Colors: Use editing software to boost the saturation and vibrancy of the food without overdoing it. The aim is to present the food in a way that reflects its delicious flavor.

- Sharpen Details: Use the sharpening tool to highlight textures, making the food look even more appetizing.

Conclusion

Mastering night-time food photography in the heart of Texas allows you to showcase the unique flavors and ambiance of this vibrant state. By understanding the importance of lighting, choosing the right angles, incorporating props, and employing effective post-processing techniques, you can create stunning images that capture the essence of Texas cuisine. As outlined in Yvette Heiser: Deliciously Dark Guide to Night-time Food Photography, these elements are crucial for achieving captivating results. So grab your camera, head out into the lively Texas night, and start capturing those delicious moments!

[studymaterialanindita]

The Value of a BCA Degree: Is It Worth Pursuing?

In the rapidly evolving landscape of technology and business, the Bachelor of Computer Applications (BCA) degree has emerged as a popular choice for students aiming to carve out a career in the IT sector. As technology continues to influence every aspect of our lives, the demand for skilled professionals in the field has never been higher. But is a BCA degree truly worth pursuing? Let’s explore the benefits and considerations to help you determine if this path aligns with your career goals.

What is a BCA Degree?

A Bachelor of Computer Applications (BCA) is a three-year undergraduate program designed to provide students with a strong foundation in computer science and applications. The curriculum typically covers programming languages, software development, database management, networking, and other core areas of IT. In addition to technical skills, BCA programs often include training in problem-solving and project management.

Benefits of Pursuing a BCA Degree

Foundation in IT Skills: The BCA program equips students with essential IT skills, including proficiency in programming languages like Java, C++, and Python. This foundation is crucial for any career in technology and prepares students for various technical roles.

Diverse Career Opportunities: Graduates of BCA programs can pursue a wide range of careers in IT and related fields. Job roles such as software developer, web developer, system analyst, and network administrator are just a few examples. Additionally, the skills gained from a BCA degree can also be applicable in sectors such as finance, healthcare, and education.

Gateway to Advanced Studies: For those interested in further specialization, a BCA degree can serve as a stepping stone to advanced degrees such as a Master’s in Computer Applications (MCA) or a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA). These advanced degrees can open doors to higher-level positions and increased earning potential.

Practical Experience: Many BCA programs emphasize practical experience through internships, projects, and industry collaborations. This hands-on approach helps students gain real-world experience, making them more attractive to potential employers.

Growing Demand for IT Professionals: The tech industry continues to expand globally, and the demand for skilled IT professionals is on the rise. A BCA degree can provide a competitive edge in a job market that increasingly values technological expertise.

Considerations Before Pursuing a BCA Degree

Cost and Duration: While a BCA degree is often less expensive than a four-year engineering degree, it’s still a financial commitment. It’s important to weigh the cost of tuition against the potential return on investment in terms of job opportunities and salary.

Job Market Saturation: In some regions, the job market for IT professionals can be competitive. It’s important to research local job markets and employment trends to ensure that there are sufficient opportunities available.

Interest in IT: A BCA degree requires a strong interest in technology and computer science. If you’re not passionate about these fields, you might find the coursework challenging and less engaging.

Long-Term Career Goals: Consider how a BCA degree aligns with your long-term career goals. If you aim to work in highly specialized or advanced IT roles, you may need additional qualifications or experience beyond a BCA degree.

Alternative Paths: There are various alternative paths to a career in IT, such as coding bootcamps, certifications, and online courses. These alternatives can sometimes offer a more flexible or cost-effective route to entering the tech industry.

RERF , while primarily known for its research on radiation exposure and health effects, is not directly related to educational institutions like BCA colleges. However, for students interested in a Best BCA college in Kolkata, the city offers several reputable options that provide a solid foundation in computer applications and technology. These colleges prepare students for diverse IT careers and often include advanced research opportunities in their curriculum. If you're looking to pursue a BCA in Kolkata, you'll find institutions that can equip you with the skills needed for a successful career in the tech industry.

Conclusion

The Bachelor of Computer Applications (BCA) degree offers a solid foundation in computer science and opens doors to numerous career opportunities in the technology sector. For those with a passion for IT and a desire to work in a rapidly growing field, the BCA degree can be a worthwhile investment. However, it's essential to consider your personal interests, career goals, and the job market in your area before making a decision. By carefully evaluating these factors, you can determine if a BCA degree aligns with your aspirations and offers the value you’re seeking in your educational and professional journey.

[krunalsojitrablog]

What is Enterprise Fleet Management?

As is revealed in today’s world business environment, any organization must manage its resources appropriately. Thus, for companies and firms having major operations related to transportation and logistics, it becomes even more essential to manage their fleets.

Now, let’s start with the basics: what does enterprise fleet management mean? Now let’s discuss this idea and figure out how it can be of great benefit to the business processes.

Understanding what is Enterprise Fleet Management

Fleet management within an enterprise could be described as a strategic approach to managing and supervising such a company's vehicle fleet. The areas include its acquisition and maintenance, driver and vehicle management, and laws governing the automobile industry. Fleet management is prospective to optimize the operating costs and enhance the safety and productivity of both fleets and their drivers.

In an enterprise environment, fleet management goes beyond tracking the vehicles; it is more about getting improved ways of running organizations. Fleet management is important irrespective of whether it involves delivery vans, trucks, or even corporate cars if the business owns a set of cars for business use.

The outcome highlights the fundamental issues of fleet management.

Vehicle Acquisition and Disposal: Picking the correct car for your fleet, beginning from procurement to the time of disposal.

Maintenance and Repair: Managing to schedule vehicles for maintenance and repairs regularly to make sure that they are in good working condition to reduce time loss.

Fuel Management: Fuel efficiency management by controlling consumption and considering these to minimize fuel expenses by using fuel-efficient driving techniques and other energy resources.

Driver Management: Incorporating training and supervision of drivers as well as planning meals nt to support safety, compliance, and efficiency among the drivers.

Compliance and Risk Management: The safety of all the used vehicles as well as the used drivers with brutal and international requirements and managing of risk exposures of operating fleets.

Here we will discuss the concept of Fleet Management Software. Inefficiently managing all these components, many businesses turn to the use of fleet management software. This is because it acts as a platform for accessing any information regarding the fleet, including real-time data and automated operations of the fleet.

Key Features of Fleet Management Software

GPS Tracking: Precise vehicle location in real-time to increase efficiency and controllers. 

Maintenance Scheduling: Schedule reminders in case of preventive maintenance and repairs to avoid ‘bottlenecks Management: Proper equipment that tracks fuel usage and gives an indication of wasteful activities. 

Compliance Management: Material properties garages need to comply with set safety measures as well as regulatory requirements.

Driver Performance Monitoring: Measures to monitor and measure drivers’s performance, detect their training requirements, and incentivize them over safe behavior on roads. 

Why Enterprise Fleet Management is So Important

To large companies, fleet management is not only limited to planning on how to ensure that vehicles are running. It’s about being able to harness data and technology in a way that will put you ahead of the competition. Effective management of fleets is known to have numerous benefits, such as cutting costs, satisfying customers, and reducing risks involving drivers and cars, among others. 

However, due to emerging issues such as global warming, companies are now focusing on the use of fleets to be environmentally friendly. This is done through the optimization of routes, timely maintenance of vehicles, and training of the drivers to ensure they are conscious of the impact they make on the environment. 

Being a web-based service, the most advantageous aspect related to an FMS or a Fleet Management Software Development Service is that it can be easily and effectively utilized across the corporate fleet range.

This has led to the increasing need for the development of fleet management software to be able to meet the expanding market need. Custom software, as the name suggests, is designed to improve organizational operations to suit a company’s needs, making it more flexible than packaged software.

A fleet management software development service typically includes

Consultation and Needs Assessment: Ah, awareness of the particular requirements and objectives of your fleet. You need to hire a professional fleet management software development company.

Custom Software Development: Constructing a custom fit that incorporates into the complex structures of the organization and fits the needs of the organization perfectly.

Integration with IoT Devices: The use of Internet of Things (IoT) devices such as GPS trackers or sensors to input real-time information and data.

Ongoing Support and Maintenance: Needed to make sure the software will continue to include all the features and incorporate the latest technologies and that it will cover all current needs of the business.

Conclusion

Okay, then, Fleet management is a system that encompasses all activities that involve control of a company’s fleet of vehicles with the use of the latest technologies in software and quality practices. Fleet management is not only a good idea but a necessity for any business that depends on transportation, where proper management of the company’s fleet is critical to achieving success.

Let it be a handful of vehicles or a multitude, the appropriate strategy in fleet management as enhanced by software changes the equation, provides steps towards optimizing your operations, lowers costs, and enhances the performance of an organization. The fast advancement of technology means that the means and ways used in the implementation of the strategies by the f managers are ever-changing and therefore a very promising industry to follow.

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ha megkerestek linkedin-en (recruiter) h van egy X cegnel allaslehetoseg, gaz ha inkabb en magam kuldom el a paprijaimat a cegnek? (megtalaltam oket direktbe linkedinen es allast is hirdetnek (linkedin + sajat weboldalon) )

mondjuk pingpong asztalt nem hirdetnek, mega weboldalukon a soc media linkek fele halott (fb es twitter accountok deaktivaltak), de allitolag 11-50 ember dolgozik ott , de glassdoor-on nincsenek jelen

(Edit: saját weboldalukon nem lehet jelentkezni,van egy generic email cím, meg LinkedIn állás,mégis a recruiter út lesz, hátha van belső kapcsolata)

ez nem hangzik borzasztoan:

Responsibilities

Develop quality software and web applications

Analyze and maintain existing software applications

Design highly scalable, testable code

Discover and fix programming bugs

Qualifications

5+ years of C#

5+ years of SQL Server

2+ years of Cloud services, ideally Windows Azure

Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in Computer Science or related field

Desirable Skills or Exposure

AI and Large Language Models

Machine Learning

Big Data

The Package

Salary £55-65K per annum (depending on experience).

Remote & Physical Office (usually 1 day per week but not mandatory).

25 days holiday, plus UK bank holidays, plus discretionary extra Christmas leave (3 days). Increases after 3 years’ service to one additional day per year to a maximum of 30.

Share Options (EMEI Scheme).

4% employer pension contribution.

WFH allowance plus budget of £150 per year for home working expenses.

Simply Health Cashback plan.

Group Life Assurance upon death your family will receive 4x your salary.

Group Income Protection upon long term illness you will receive 75% of your salary.

Discretionary Bonuses in line with business performance.

Annual Salary review.

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