#Pay Per Head Software

[priceperplayer]

Upgrade Your Sportsbook for the Football Season

There are many reasons to Upgrade Your Sportsbook for the Football Season. For one, the football season is one of the most lucrative sports for American bookies and sportsbooks. Last year, football betting made-up 26.3% share of the total legal sports betting handle of 2023. Furthermore, 81% of gamblers wagered on football during the football season. Therefore, it is only natural that bookies…

[mostlysignssomeportents]

A sexy, skinny defeat device for your HP ink cartridge

Animals keep evolving into crabs; it's a process called "carcinisation" and it's pretty weird. Crabs just turn out to be extremely evolutionarily fit for our current environment:

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-do-animals-keep-evolving-into-crabs/

By the same token, all kinds of business keep evolving into something like a printer company. It turns out that in this enshittified, poorly regulated, rentier-friendly world, the parasitic, inkjet business model is extremely adaptive. Printerinisation is everywhere.

All that stuff you hate about your car? Trapping you into using their mechanics, spying on you, planned obsolescence? All lifted from the inkjet printer business model:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/07/24/rent-to-pwn/#kitt-is-a-demon

That GE fridge that won't make ice or dispense water unless you spend $50 for a proprietary charcoal filter instead of using a $10 generic? Pure printerism:

https://pluralistic.net/2020/06/12/digital-feudalism/#filtergate

The software update to your Sonos speakers that makes them half as useful and takes away your right to play your stored music, forcing you to buy streaming music subscriptions? Straight out of the HP playbook:

https://www.wired.com/story/sonos-admits-its-recent-app-update-was-a-colossal-mistake/

But as printerinized as all these gadgets are, none can quite attain the level of high enshittification that the OG inkjet bastards attain on a daily basis. In the world championships of effortlessly authentic fuckery, no one can lay a glove on the sociopathic monsters of HP.

For example: when HP wanted to soften us all up for a new world of "subscription ink" (where you have to pre-pay every month for a certain number of pages' worth of printing, which your printer enforces by spying on you and ratting you out to HP over the internet), they offered a "lifetime subscription" plan. With this "lifetime" plan, you paid just once and your HP printer would print out 15 pages a month for so long as you owned your printer, with HP shipping you new ink every time you ran low.

Well, eventually, HP got bored of not making you pay rent on your own fucking printer, so they just turned that plan off. Yeah, it was a lifetime plan, but the "lifetime" in question was the lifetime of HP's patience for not fucking you over, and that patience has the longevity of a mayfly:

https://pluralistic.net/2020/11/06/horrible-products/#inkwars

It would take many pages to list all of HP's sins here. This is a company that ships printers with half-full ink cartridges and charges more than the printer cost to buy a replacement set. The company that won't let you print a black-and-white page if you're out of yellow ink. The company that won't let you scan or send a fax if you're out of any of your ink.

They make you "recalibrate" your printer or "clean your heads" by forcing you to print sheets of ink-dense paper. They also refuse to let you use your ink cartridges after they "expire."

HP raised the price of ink to over $10,000 per gallon, then went to war against third-party ink cartridge makers, cartridge remanufacturers, and cartridge refillers. They added "security chips" to their cartridges whose job was to watch the ink levels in your cartridge and, when they dip below a certain level (long before the cartridge is actually empty), declare the cartridge to be dry and permanently out of use.

Even if you refill that cartridge, it will still declare itself to be empty to your printer, which will therefore refuse to print.

Third party ink companies have options here. One thing they could do is reverse-engineer the security chip, and make compatible ones that say, "Actually, I'm full." The problem with this is that laws like Section 1201 of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) potentially makes this into a felony punishable by a five-year prison sentence and a $500k fine, for a first offense.

DMCA 1201 bans bypassing "an effective means of access control" to a copyrighted work. So if HP writes a copyrighted "I'm empty" program for its security chip and then adds some kind of access restriction to prevent you from dumping and reverse-engineering that program, you can end up a felon, thanks to the DMCA.

Another countermove is to harvest security chips out of dead cartridges that have been sent overseas as e-waste (one consequence of HP's $10,000/gallon ink racket is that it generates mountains of immortal, toxic e-waste that mostly ends up poisoning poor countries in the global south). These can be integrated into new cartridges, or remanufactured ones.

In practice, ink companies do all of this and more, and total normie HP printer owners go to extremely improbable lengths to find third party ink cartridges and figure out how to use them. It turns out that even people who find technology tinkering intimidating or confusing or dull can be motivated to learn and practice a lot of esoteric tech stuff as an alternative to paying $10,000/gallon for colored water.

HP has lots of countermoves for this. One truly unhinged piece of fuckery is to ask Customs and Border Patrol to block third-party ink cartridges with genuine HP security chips that have been pried loose from e-waste shipments. HP claims that these are "counterfeits" (because they were removed and re-used without permission), even though they came out of real HP cartridges, and CBP takes them at their word, seizing shipments.

Even sleazier: HP pushes out fake security updates to its printers. You get a message telling you there's an urgent security update, you click OK, and your printer shows you a downloading/installing progress bar and reboots itself. As far as you can tell, nothing has changed. But these aren't "security" updates, they're updates that block third-party ink, and HP has designed them not to kick in for several months. That way, HP owners who get tricked into installing this downgrade don't raise hell online and warn everyone else until they've installed it too, and it's too late:

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2020/11/ink-stained-wretches-battle-soul-digital-freedom-taking-place-inside-your-printer

This is the infectious pathogen business model: one reason covid spread so quickly was that people were infectious before they developed symptoms. That meant that the virus could spread before the spreader knew they had it. By adding a long fuse to its logic bomb, HP greatly increases the spread of its malware.

But life finds a way. $10,000/gallon ink is an irresistible target for tinkerers, security researchers and competitors. Necessity may be the mother of invention, but the true parent of jaw-dropping ingenuity is callous, sadistic greed. That's why America's army of prisoners are the source of so many of the most beautiful and exciting forms of innovation seen today:

https://pluralistic.net/2021/06/09/king-rat/#mother-of-invention

Despite harsh legal penalties and the vast resources of HP, third-party ink continues to thrive, and every time HP figures out how to block one technique, three even cooler ones pop up.

Last week, Jay Summet published a video tearing down a third-party ink cartridge compatible with an HP 61XL:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0ya184uaTE

The third-party cartridge has what appears to be a genuine HP security chip, but it is overlaid with a paper-thin, flexible, adhesive-backed circuit board that is skinny enough that the cartridge still fits in an HP printer.

This flexible circuit board has its own little microchip. Summet theorizes that it is designed to pass the "are you a real HP cartridge" challenge pass to the security chip, but to block the followup "are you empty or full?" message. When the printer issues that challenge, the "man in the middle" chip answers, "Oh, I'm definitely full."

In their writeup, Hackaday identifies the chip as "a single IC in a QFN package." This is just so clever and delightful:

https://hackaday.com/2024/09/28/man-in-the-middle-pcb-unlocks-hp-ink-cartridges/

Hackaday also notes that HP CEO Enrique J Lores recently threatened to brick any printer discovered to be using third-party ink:

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2024/01/hp-ceo-blocking-third-party-ink-from-printers-fights-viruses/

As William Gibson famously quipped, "the future is here, it's just not evenly distributed." As our enshittification-rich environment drives more and more companies to evolve into rent-seeking enterprises through printerinisation, HP offers us a glimpse of the horrors of the late enshittocene.

It's just as Orwell prophesied: "If you want a picture of the future, imagine a HP installing malware on your printer to force you to spend $10,000/gallon on ink – forever."

Tor Books as just published two new, free LITTLE BROTHER stories: VIGILANT, about creepy surveillance in distance education; and SPILL, about oil pipelines and indigenous landback.

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/09/30/life-finds-a-way/#ink-stained-wretches

Image: Jay Summet https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0ya184uaTE

[gloomwitchwrites]

Bar Crawl

Kyle "Gaz" Garrick x Female Reader

Content & Warnings (per the warnings MDNI): swearing, suggestive themes, dirty thoughts, flirting, alcohol, kissing

Word Count: 1.5k

On a night out, Kyle takes a chance and makes a move.

ao3 // taglist // main masterlist // summer 2024 masterlist

It’s late, and the alcohol is buzzing beneath your skin like a drone of angry bees.

You rarely go out with the rest of the SAS crowd. It’s not like you’re actually part of the organization. This is a simple transfer. A few months at the most before you head back home. And you’re not in the field anyway. You’re behind the desk, drowning in paperwork.

There is no bloodshed. No metallic tang with a burst of lead.

You only know ink, computer screens, and editing software.

This entire outing is a treat. A way to let loose. Something you haven’t really done since you set foot in England.

And it isn’t only a night out. Someone has their eye on you.

It’s subtle, and you don’t think anyone else notices. But you do. How could you not? Kyle Garrick—also known as Gaz—is incredibly handsome, and entirely sweet on you.

Right now, he’s across the pub with his team, a beer in hand. Captain Price and Sergeant MacTavish are talking while Kyle and Lieutenant Riley listen. While Kyle’s body is turned in their direction, his gaze keeps drifting. It floats away, landing on you every time.

At each meeting of your gazes, Kyle smiles. It’s not sweet exactly. It’s knowing. Nearly seductive. A teasing look from across the room. Perhaps Kyle is feeling the alcohol as you are. Feeling the heat and buzz beneath the skin. The growing sense of need that won’t seem to abate.

The pub is dark, and the lighting only comes from candles and small lamps on the walls. This place was once an old house, but the interior as been converted, and the rooms gutted. Most of the space is just a series of rooms packed with tables. The walls are covered in paintings and all sorts of oddities. It’s eclectic. Fun. But no one is really paying attention to the pub around them.

You really aren’t either. But you’re also not including yourself in the conversation around you. All you can think about is Kyle. He is absorbing into your blood just like the alcohol. Every time you glance away, you find him, no matter where he is in the room.

It is electric. Magnetic.

Building like a brewing storm.

Your heart is hammering. It’s so loud the rest of the pub seems distant. And Kyle is right there, as if you’re looking at him through binoculars. Everything is out of focus. Except him. Only him.

“Are you listening to me?”

You turn abruptly, and give your best smile to Jane, one of the secretaries. “Sorry,” you sigh. “A bit tired.”

Jane and the rest of the women are you nod in agreement. She brings her glass to her lips. “I hear that,” she mutters, taking a long drink, grimacing slightly as the glass returns to the table.

Work has been hell the last couple weeks. It’s a slew of never-ending paperwork. You’ve been stuck at a desk, pouring over reports, consuming more coffee than you probably should be.

A reply begins to form your lips, but then you hear your name being called in a voice you recognize. Everyone at the table startles, turning in the direction of the voice. For a second, you do not follow their movements, only staring down at the table.

But you hear your name again, and this time the urge to glance in Kyle’s direction is instant.

“Sergeant,” you say in greeting.

He grins at you, and then flashes that stunning smile at the women sitting around the table. “Don’t mind if I borrow her for a bit?”

“Not at all,” says Jane quickly.

The other women shake their heads, gazes astonished as you abandon your drink and take Kyle’s offered hand. While his hold is strong, there is gentleness there. You like it. You want to sink down into that feeling forever.

Kyle leads you out into a little hallway, and the clamor of the pub disappears slightly.

“Heard you’re leaving soon,” says Kyle, stepping to the side to allow an employee to pass.

It’s true. You likely only have a couple weeks left before you head home.

“Did you?” you ask. “Who from?”

You haven’t told anyone. Not really. But it’s not a big secret.

Kyle shrugs. “Does it matter?”

You mimic is shrug, and Kyle laughs softly. “Not really. This post was supposed to be temporary anyway. But you know that.”

Kyle shifts a bit closer. His heat is everywhere, warming your limbs. Kyle’s fingers playfully pull at the hem of your shirt. “Planning to leave without saying goodbye to your favorite sergeant?”

You lightly tug on his jacket in response. “Bold of you to think you’re my favorite.”

Kyle barks a laugh, and you smile demurely at your boldness.

This is nice. This is fun.

The two of you have always been a bit sweet on each other. Kyle is always making a point to come see you when he can. He knows your coffee order, and occasionally brought you snacks and lunch. The two of you would hang out and talk. He checks on you, and it softened you to him.

Eventually, you offered up a few kisses, and Kyle greedily seized them.

“Been kissing MacTavish?” asks Kyle.

“Maybe,” you tease.

Kyle tugs on your shirt, and the momentum brings you closer to him. “Maybe?” he replies, tone dropping to something dark and heated. His brow creases in the middle, and you suddenly sense a change in him. “You like his kisses better than mine?”

No.

But you haven’t actually kissed Sergeant MacTavish. He’s cute, but not your type. Kyle is. Kyle is who you want.

You shrug. “It’s been a while. Might need a reminder,” you say softly, leaning in.

The corner of Kyle’s mouth quirks with amusement. “You want to kiss me where everyone can see?”

“Nervous, Garrick?” you counter.

“Never,” smirks Kyle.

Then his hand is on the back of your neck. Kyle’s lips meet yours, and then you’re drowning in him, remembering all the ways you want to be with him.

Kissing isn’t enough. It’s not nearly enough.

You want this man between your legs, to know what he’ll feel like inside you, to have him own you body and soul. Kyle is who you’ve wanted these last few months, and all this flirting and tension has come to this.

The pub seems so distant. A far speck on the horizon. Just an annoying buzz in the background. Right now, all there is for you is Kyle. It’s delicious. Sweet, but with honey on the tongue. All those previous kisses were rather chaste and soft. This is nothing like those. It’s passion laced with salt.

These kisses drip with need, and you breathe it in, wanting more. The warm buzzing beneath your skin is transforming into an inferno.

Kyle pulls away, and you nearly stumble forward when he draws back. The loss of his lips is starling.

“I’ve been wanting to kiss you all evening,” he says, voice husky.

You feel your cheeks heat. You’re suddenly hot everywhere. Burning internally. Ready to explode.

Glancing around, you find the hallway empty. But there are people nearby. Anyone could walk into this hallway and find the two of you wrapped in each other’s arms. While you want to take this further, you don’t want to do it here in the open where people can see.

Wanting Kyle is a deep desire that sits in your ribcage, but you do not want others to be part of this. This connection is only for the two of you.

Kyle’s hand brushes against your cheek, and he guides your gaze back to him.

“Want to get out of here?” he asks, as if reading your mind.

“And go where?” you laugh.

People expect the two of you to be present. But then again, the two of you have been at this function for over an hour. You’ve made a proper appearance. Do you really have to stay for the whole thing? Will anyone actually miss either of you?

“Wherever you want.”

“Wherever I want?” you ask, slightly confused. “You don’t want to stay here?”

Kyle shakes his head. “Fuck everyone else,” he says sharply. “This might be my last night with you. Want to make the most of it.”

It’s true. With everything going on at work, this might be the only time the two of you can properly have together before you’re sent home. You can get his number, but finding time seems daunting.

Kyle is giving you the rope, and all you need to do is take. To take the leap and trust him.

He draws you in for another kiss, and this one is slow and sweet.

“Let’s go,” you murmur against his lips.

He smiles, and you melt.

“Where to?”

taglist:

@km-ffluv @glitterypirateduck @tiredmetalenthusiast @miaraei @cherryofdeath

@enarien @saoirse06 @ferns-fics @unhinged-reader-36 @miss-mistinguett

@ravenpoe67 @tulipsun-flower @sageyxbabey @mudisgranapat @ninman82

@lulurubberduckie @leed-bbg @yawning-grave81 @azkza @nishim

@haven-1307 @voids-universe @itsberrydreemurstuff @spicyspicyliving @keiva1000

@littlemisscriesherselftosleep @statixx-x @umno-yeah @blackhawkfanatic @talooolaaloolla

@sadlonelybagel @kadeeesworld @iloveslasher @sammysinger04 @dakotakazansky

@suhmie @jaggersinclair @jackrabbitem @lxblm @beebeechaos

@no-oneelsebutnsu @kidd3ath @certainlygay @thewulf @lovely-ateez

@arrozyfrijoles23 @gingergirl06 @eternallyvenus @smileykiddie08 @vrb8im

[mlm-writer]

Test Ride Pt. 2 (Peter Parker x Android!Reader)

Pairing: Peter Parker (TH ver.) x Android Reader (with a robovagina) Rating: Explicit Words: 1189 POV: Second Summary: The Big Tober Day 10 - Robotfucking Note: A sequel to a piece I did for kinktober 2020. Reader is a robot and has no gender. Last time reader got a robopenis and I thought it only fair to give reader a robovagina this time. Reader's chest is unmentioned. Tags: robotfucking, unnecessary use of fancy words to make it more sci-fi, at least I don't put 'quantum' in front of everything to make it science, dom/sub dynamics, overstimulation, safeword ignored(?), robot tentacles as restraints, vibrating pussy, nipple play and software/hardware updates gone ' wrong'

A new HUD interface greeted you as you booted up after your last upgrade. Your physical statistics and environmental parameters were found in new places, but that mattered little. Your optics activated after a short delay, visual input now also available to you. Your creator stood before you, his lips moving, but you received no audio input. “Audio module connection failed,” you replied to whatever he said. You saw him curse, or at least that was your best prediction of what his expression conveyed. He motioned your head down. You bent at the hips, allowed him to unplug and reconnect your audio modules. 

Once the cables reconnected, you could hear Peter clearly. “Please, don’t be ruined, please don’t be ruined,” he muttered to himself. 

“All modules operational,” you informed him. He jumped at your voice, but let out a sigh of relief right after. “Awaiting command,” you added. As per usual after an update, Peter started poking and prodding your frame, confirming your sensory input was still operational. When he was done testing your basic functions, he dragged you to his bed. 

“Program D.O.M. version V, please,” he spoke nervously. You detected an increase in heart rate and blood flow to the genitals. You confirmed the break command, as it was standard protocol, before you could execute the D.O.M. program. Once the safety protocols were satisfied, you had your digits on Peter’s clothes. You unbuttoned his flannel, revealing his pale chest underneath. There was minor bruising, but a quick scan revealed no serious injuries that were contraindications to the program. You pushed him onto the bed and started running your tongue over his chest, paying extra attention to his nipples. 

Peter whimpered as you played with his chest, artificial tongue and teeth taking turns with your digits pinching his sensitive nubs. You kept track of his arousal, only stopping your onslaught once his involuntary noises got a little louder. You sat up, retracting your pelvic panel and rubbing your wet hole over Peter’s crotch. He whined as you slowly soaked through his jeans and underwear, until he could feel your wetness on his cock through his clothes. “Please, I need to be inside you,” Peter eventually moaned, his mind tethering on the edge of madness. 

He was hard underneath you, so you deemed him ready for the next stage. With superhuman deftness, you removed his clothes until he was naked on the bed. His cock protruded from his body, the tip red and leaking. You wrapped a servo around his rod, stroking slowly as to tease him. When he started thrusting into the tightness, you placed your other servo on his hip, your mechanical strength counteracting his. He was forced to only take what you gave, which was exactly what he programmed you to give. It was not enough to get him even remotely close to orgasm, but the build-up was perfect to make him start begging. Once the begging got frequent enough, you proceeded on to the next stage; you mounted him, letting his cock slide into your wet and soft hole. Peter moaned, his eyes rolling back as you rode him at a decent pace. “Please, give me more, I’ve been good. I will be even better, I swear.” 

His moans filled the room. You took his dick all the way inside and paused on top of him. “I will grant you more. However, unpermitted orgasms will be reciprocated with punishment.” He nodded, promising he would not cum. You decreased the elasticity of your inner walls, giving him a tighter squeeze as you proceeded to ride him. Your movements were quicker than before, fully intending to make him cum without permission. Peter was moaning to the ceiling, eyes squeezed closed sometimes and other times wide open. His mouth stayed wide open, tongue peeking over his lower lip. 

Just as predicted, your inner sensors detected his cum painting your inner workings. You rode him until the spurts seized. Then you planted yourself firmly on him. Tendrils extended from your body and wrapped around his appendages. “You have disobeyed my orders,” you stated as you held him down and turned on the vibrations of your inner walls. Peter wailed as his sensitive cock was forced to endure the intense vibrations. He writhed against your restraints, but not even his super strength could remove you. Just like he had begged you before to fuck him, he was now begging for your mercy. You bent your upper body, putting a servo around his throat. You put a little pressure on the blood vessels below his jaw. Tears poured down Peter’s eyes as you forced a second orgasm out of him. You detected more cum inside you as he cried out. 

After his second orgasm, you ran a scan on him, the analysis showing that he had enough. You removed your servo from his throat and turned off the stimulation or at least… attempted to. “Error: deprecated code, V-module unresponsive.” You stated, your tendrils no longer retracting and your hole vibrating on and on. 

“What?” Peter exclaimed, clearly in panic. You ran a diagnostic check, your hole trying to reboot by first ramping the vibrations all the way up, so it could be brought down again. Peter screamed during the process, his brain unable to process the stimulation. 

The tactic worked fine, but the module got stuck again at the same level of vibrations you started at. “Tendril module interfering with V-module. Attempting tendril reboot.” Peter did not perceive a word you said. As the tendrils rebooted, they lifted up a little, Peter’s body now hanging in the air except for his pelvis, where you still sat, vibrating his cock. 

Peter cried, feeling like his brain had melted away from the intense pleasure. “Stark! Stark!” He screamed the break command. You tried to terminate the program immediately, but the backlog of reboots and diagnostic checks made it impossible. Your creator, against your predictions, came again, barely a drop of cum leaving him. He kept screaming, trying to get through to you. Just after his third orgasm, you regained control of the tendrils. In a flash, they were retracted and you uncoupled the module for now. 

Peter’s cock was gradually turning limp inside of you. The poor boy was hoarse from screaming. Without the tendrils, you regained full control, the vibrations stopping instantly. “Thank you, thank you,” Peter whispered over and over as you lifted your frame off him. 

“Program D.O.M. paused,” you stated, “do you wish to continue after a delay or shall I proceed with aftercare protocols?” 

Peter laid starfish-style on the bed. His chest was heaving. He could use some aftercare, but it was hard to trust you right now. “Terminate the program all together,” he groaned, “initiate shutdown.” A second later, he was met with the sound of your vents shutting down and your pelvic plate closing to protect what was behind it. He was left in silence. As far as updates went, it still wasn’t as bad as that time Windows went from XP to Vista. He counted it as a win.  

—————

REBLOG TO SUPPORT YOUR FANFIC WRITERS

Likes do not help exposure!A comment in tags or replies can sustain a writer for months!

[copperbadge]

Ho Bisogno di Aiuto, Per Favore

Okay, I give up, I cannot find this on my own.

I'm reaching a point with Italian where I can move away from Duolingo into more independent learning. It's not that I'm good at the language, it's that I understand the theory well enough that I now just need practice, and the best way to do that is to find Italian texts and start translating them. Finding them is no issue; Archive Of Our Own has Italian-language fanfic, which has the benefit of sometimes having translations already posted so I can check my work.

But what I'm looking for is a program that will help me structurally, and all the keywords I can think of are just returning 1. software that does the translation for you, 2. language learning apps I don't need, and 3. professional translation software that is far beyond what I need and also very expensive. What I want is simple and yet I don't know if it exists or how to rig a homebrewed version if it doesn't.

I want a program (preferably with a mobile app but I'll take what I can get) where you can paste a page of Italian text into it and it will automatically put a line beneath every line of Italian where you can write an English translation. Basically I want the digital version of this, but for grownups learning a language instead of kids learning handwriting:

and I really just have no idea how to source that.

Anyone got any ideas? Fanfic translators, what do you use? Professional translators, are there basic free or low-cost programs that will do this? I've got a budget of around $150 for a one-time purchase or I'm willing to pay up to about $10 a month for a subscription. Or if there's a way to rig this myself in Office or Drive, I'm willing to do the work. I just don't know how to find this. Which is embarrassing to admit as a researcher, but sometimes being a good researcher is knowing when you have to ask a human instead of continuing to bang your head against the internet.

[minzart]

Do you think sinners who are part tech objects have to replace their parts when broken or does it regenerate like what's implicitly happening with the organic sinners, when they aren't killed by exterminators

And, the point of this post, do you think Voxtech does the ultimate evil capitalist thing that is put adds and paywalls in those parts, imagine changing your head, be it a pc, a phone, music box, and suddenly it starts showing adds and every 3 days there's a software update.

AND THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THAT SHIT. Is to pay more money, or to the "only by 99.9 per month you get your head free of adds. Did you hear that? LIFE WITHOUT HEADACHES BY FREE-ADD-V" orrrr to other tech savvy demons with the high risk of losing half your organs to trafficking?

There's of course the option that you yourself do it, learn in the hard way, but it would be like a non graduated surgeon learning to do surgery by opening their own guts.

[mariacallous]

Just days after people gleefully posted their Spotify Wrapped, bad news came for the music streaming giant. Spotify announced today that it would cut 17 percent of its workforce, a chunk that equates to an estimated 1,500 people. It’s the third time the world’s largest music streamer has cut jobs this year.

The news came after Spotify posted its first profitable quarter since 2021. In a memo to staff, CEO Daniel Ek said the company had expanded its workforce and offerings significantly throughout 2020 and 2021, thanks to lower-cost capital, but is now bumping up against the same problems startups across industries are facing, like high capital costs and slowed economic growth.

Ek said the cuts may seem “surprisingly large given the recent positive earnings report and our performance,” but due to “the gap between our financial goal state and our current operational costs,” Spotify would take “substantial action.”

Despite its popularity (Spotify held 30 percent of the music streaming market by late 2022), the company has long struggled to turn consistent profits. The layoffs wrap up a bad year: Spotify cut 6 percent of its workforce last January, followed by another 2 percent in June as it slimmed down its podcasting business. Even as the world’s most recognizable music streaming service, Spotify is plagued by an unreliable business model, one in which record companies sit back and rake in royalty payments while artists can struggle to bring in enough cash.

“Investors are increasingly impatient in 2023 for tech firms to start making money,” says Phil Bird, head of rights and royalties at the software development company Vistex. Spotify isn’t alone—tech companies have slashed jobs throughout the year, with more than 250,000 people losing jobs worldwide in 2023, according to layoffs.fyi, a site that tracks job cuts in tech.

Many major tech companies that overhired during the pandemic have taken steps to rightsize—and that’s what Ek says Spotify is doing now. But Spotify’s high cost to license music adds to its financial strain. “The cost of doing business is huge for streaming companies,” Bird says.

Spotify gained momentum in the third quarter of 2023, earning €32 million ($34.6 million) in operating income. It now has 226 million subscribers and 574 million monthly users. “On the surface, it looks great,” says Simon Dyson, senior principal analyst of music and digital audio at consultancy firm Omdia. “It’s [those] nagging costs that it can’t get on top of.”

Spotify and the recording industry have a deeply entwined and sticky relationship: Spotify is seen by some as a savior of the music industry, which flailed after Napster upended music downloading in 1999, but artists earn wildly different incomes based on how Spotify pays. According to a calculation from Billboard, Taylor Swift may have earned nearly $100 million from streaming on Spotify so far this year. Smaller artists earn far less, and music streaming models have long been accused of exploiting them.

Like Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music are each charging $10.99 per month for premium subscriptions, and each give access to 100 million songs. But unlike Spotify, Apple and Amazon have massive streams of revenue elsewhere to fall back on. So Spotify has spent the past few years looking for that standout content. It spent more than $1 billion building its podcast world and acquiring exclusive deals to shows like The Joe Rogan Experience. This fall, it began offering paying subscribers in the UK and Australia free audiobook access for 15 hours each month.

The music streaming fight isn’t like the streaming wars, where Max, Netflix, Hulu, and others can each lure in subscribers with a combination of classic and original movies and shows. If Spotify were to charge more for music (it already increased monthly prices from $9.99 to 10.99 in the US this summer), it would risk losing people to comparable services, where people can find the same songs. But unless it can convince people to pay more for music, it might continue to struggle.

“It’s too cheap,” says Dyson. “To have access to every single piece of music that’s ever been released—and ever will be released—for $10 a month is just astounding.” The same is true of Spotify today as was true when it was founded 17 years ago: It’s a business that’s good for listeners and labels but bad for both streamers and artists.

[connectinfosofttechnologies]

Top Ten Web Development Companies in India

Although many organisations strive to minimise the benefits of web development to the global market, statistics indicate the truth. According to statistics, everybody with an internet connection can browse around 1.88 billion webpages.

Given that the majority of websites increase firm sales and ROI, web development can create exceptional outcomes for any business. Web development can benefit both a start-up and a huge organisation. Custom Web Development Companies in India that are skilled in web development are best equipped to handle business needs because they always have enough talent to meet all the demands.

The Best Web Development Companies in India keep their resources up to date with the most recent trends and technologies in the digital world, in addition to their skill sets. Despite the fact that every other web development firm claims to be the finest, it's straightforward to identify the top web developers in India based on their service offerings and work portfolios.

We've produced a list of the top 10 web development companies in India so you can pick the finest one for your next project! So, let's get started.

1. Connect Infosoft Technologies Pvt. Ltd.

Connect Infosoft Technologies Pvt. Ltd. is a well-known web development service company that provides a comprehensive range of web development services. Our web creation services are targeted to your company's specific demands, allowing you to create a website that fits those objectives. We offer website design, development and Digital marketing organization situated in New Delhi. We were established in 1999 and have been serving our customers everywhere throughout the world. Connect Infosoft's Head Office is based in New Delhi, India and has Branch Office in Orissa. It also has a portrayal in the United States.

Our skilled web developers are well-versed in the latest web technologies and can provide you with the best web development solutions that match your budget and schedule restrictions. We also have a team of SEO and digital marketing professionals who can assist you in improving your search .

Major Service Offerings:

Web Application Development

ETL Services -SaaS & MVP Development

Mobile App Development

Data Science & Analytics

Artificial Intelligence

Digital Marketing

Search Engine Optimization

Pay-Per-Click advertising campaigns

Blockchain

DevOps

Amazon Web Services

Product Engineering

UI/UX

Client Success Stories:

Our success is intricately woven with the success stories of our clients. We take pride in delivering successful projects that align with client requirements and contribute to their growth.

We are always ready to start new projects and establish long-term work relationships. We work in any time zone for full-time and part-time-based projects.

Hire Developer for $10 per hour approx.

Book Appointments  or Start To Chat:

Email: info@connectinfosoft.com M: +1 323-522-5635

Web: https://www.connectinfosoft.com/lets-work-together/

2. Infosys

Infosys is a well-known global leader in IT services and consulting based in India. Founded in 1981, Infosys has grown to become one of the largest IT companies in India and has a strong presence worldwide. The company offers a wide range of services, including web development, software development, consulting and business process outsourcing.

In the field of web development, Infosys provides comprehensive solutions to its clients. They have expertise in building custom web applications, e-commerce platforms, content management systems and mobile-responsive websites. Their web development team is skilled in various programming languages, frameworks and technologies to create robust and scalable web solutions.

Infosys has a track record of working with clients from diverse industries, including banking and finance, healthcare, retail, manufacturing and more. They leverage their deep industry knowledge and technical expertise to deliver innovative web development solutions tailored to meet their clients' specific requirements.

Additionally, Infosys focuses on utilizing emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning, blockchain and cloud computing to enhance the web development process and deliver cutting-edge solutions.

3. TCS (Tata Consultancy Services)

TCS (Tata Consultancy Services) is one of the largest and most renowned IT services companies in India and a part of the Tata Group conglomerate. Established in 1968, TCS has a global presence and provides a wide range of services, including web development, software development, consulting and IT outsourcing.

TCS offers comprehensive web development solutions to its clients across various industries. Their web development services encompass front-end and back-end development, web application development, e-commerce platforms, content management systems and mobile-responsive websites. They have expertise in various programming languages, frameworks and technologies to build robust and scalable web solutions.

TCS has a customer-centric approach and works closely with its clients to understand their business requirements and goals. They leverage their deep industry knowledge and technological expertise to provide innovative and tailored web development solutions that align with their clients' specific needs.

4. Wipro

Wipro is a prominent global IT consulting and services company based in India. Established in 1945, Wipro has evolved into a multinational organization with a presence in over 60 countries. The company offers a wide range of services, including web development, software development, consulting and digital transformation.

In the realm of web development, Wipro provides comprehensive solutions to its clients. They have a team of skilled professionals proficient in various programming languages, frameworks and technologies. Their web development services cover front-end and back-end development, web application development, e-commerce platforms, content management systems and mobile-responsive websites.

Wipro emphasizes delivering customer-centric web development solutions. They collaborate closely with their clients to understand their specific requirements and business objectives. This enables them to create tailored solutions that align with the clients' goals and provide a competitive

5. HCL Technologies

HCL Technologies is a leading global IT services company headquartered in India. Established in 1976, HCL Technologies has grown to become one of the prominent players in the IT industry. The company offers a wide range of services, including web development, software development, digital transformation, consulting and infrastructure management.

HCL Technologies provides comprehensive web development solutions to its clients worldwide. They have a dedicated team of skilled professionals proficient in various programming languages, frameworks and technologies. Their web development services cover front-end and back-end development, web application development, e-commerce platforms, content management systems and mobile-responsive websites.

HCL Technologies has a broad industry presence and serves clients across various sectors such as banking and financial services, healthcare, retail, manufacturing and more. They leverage their deep industry expertise to deliver web solutions that are not only technologically robust but also address the unique challenges and requirements of each industry.

6. Mindtree

Mindtree is a global technology consulting and services company based in India. Founded in 1999, Mindtree has grown to become a well-known player in the IT industry. The company offers a wide range of services, including web development, software development, digital transformation, cloud services and data analytics.

Mindtree provides comprehensive web development solutions to its clients. They have a team of skilled professionals with expertise in various programming languages, frameworks and technologies. Their web development services encompass front-end and back-end development, web application development, e-commerce platforms, content management systems and mobile-responsive websites.

One of the key strengths of Mindtree is its focus on delivering customer-centric solutions. They work closely with their clients to understand their specific business requirements, goals and target audience. This enables them to create tailored web development solutions that meet the clients' unique needs and deliver a seamless user experience.

Mindtree serves clients across multiple industries, including banking and financial services, healthcare, retail, manufacturing and more. They leverage their industry knowledge and experience to provide web solutions that align with the specific challenges and regulations of each sector.

7. Tech Mahindra

Tech Mahindra is a multinational IT services and consulting company based in India. Established in 1986, Tech Mahindra is part of the Mahindra Group conglomerate. The company offers a wide range of services, including web development, software development, consulting, digital transformation and IT outsourcing.

Tech Mahindra provides comprehensive web development solutions to its clients across various industries. They have a team of skilled professionals proficient in various programming languages, frameworks and technologies. Their web development services cover front-end and back-end development, web application development, e-commerce platforms, content management systems and mobile-responsive websites.

Tech Mahindra focuses on delivering customer-centric web development solutions. They work closely with their clients to understand their specific requirements, business objectives and target audience. This enables them to create customized web solutions that meet the clients' unique needs, enhance user experience and drive business growth.

The company serves clients across diverse sectors, including telecommunications, banking and financial services, healthcare, retail, manufacturing and more. They leverage their industry expertise and domain knowledge to provide web solutions that are tailored to the specific challenges and requirements of each industry.

Tech Mahindra embraces emerging technologies in their web development services. They leverage artificial intelligence, machine learning, blockchain, cloud computing and other advanced technologies to enhance the functionality, security and scalability of the web solutions they deliver.

8. Mphasis

Mphasis is an IT services company headquartered in India. Established in 2000, Mphasis has a global presence and offers a wide range of services, including web development, software development, digital transformation, consulting and infrastructure services.

Mphasis provides comprehensive web development solutions to its clients worldwide. They have a team of skilled professionals proficient in various programming languages, frameworks and technologies. Their web development services encompass front-end and back-end development, web application development, e-commerce platforms, content management systems and mobile-responsive websites.

Mphasis focuses on delivering customer-centric web development solutions tailored to meet their clients' specific requirements. They work closely with their clients to understand their business objectives, target audience and desired outcomes. This allows them to create customized web solutions that align with their clients' goals and provide a competitive edge.

9. L&T Infotech

L&T Infotech (LTI) is a global IT solutions and services company headquartered in India. LTI is a subsidiary of Larsen & Toubro, one of India's largest conglomerates. The company provides a wide range of services, including web development, software development, consulting, digital transformation and infrastructure management.

L&T Infotech offers comprehensive web development solutions to its clients. They have a team of skilled professionals who are proficient in various programming languages, frameworks and technologies. Their web development services cover front-end and back-end development, web application development, e-commerce platforms, content management systems and mobile-responsive websites.

One of the key strengths of L&T Infotech is its customer-centric approach. They work closely with their clients to understand their specific business requirements, objectives and target audience. This enables them to create tailored web development solutions that align with the clients' unique needs and deliver tangible business value.

10. Cybage

Cybage is a technology consulting and product engineering company headquartered in Pune, India. Established in 1995, Cybage has grown to become a global organization with a presence in multiple countries. The company offers a range of services, including web development, software development, quality assurance, digital solutions and IT consulting.

Cybage provides comprehensive web development solutions to its clients. They have a team of skilled professionals who are proficient in various programming languages, frameworks and technologies. Their web development services encompass front-end and back-end development, web application development, e-commerce platforms, content management systems and mobile-responsive websites.

Cybage focuses on delivering customer-centric web development solutions. They collaborate closely with their clients to understand their specific business requirements, goals and target audience. This enables them to create customized web solutions that meet the clients' unique needs, enhance user experience and drive business growth.

The company serves clients across diverse industries, including healthcare, retail, e-commerce, banking and finance and more. They leverage their industry knowledge and domain expertise to provide web solutions that address the unique challenges and requirements of each industry.

Cybage emphasizes the use of emerging technologies in their web development services. They incorporate artificial intelligence, machine learning, cloud computing, blockchain and other innovative technologies to enhance the functionality, scalability and security of the web solutions they deliver.

[bllsbailey]

Musk And Ramaswamy’s DOGE Is Hiring 'A Small Number' Of Full-Time Salaried Employees

Tesla CEO Elon Musk (R), Co-Chair of the newly announced Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) carries his son on his shoulders at the U.S. Capitol following a meeting with businessman Vivek Ramaswamy (L), Co-Chair of the newly announced Department of Government Efficiency

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Trump allies Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, recently announced that the new organization is recruiting for a “very small number” of full-time positions.

Although DOGE is not an official government entity, President-elect Donald Trump had his hand in its inception, nominating Musk and Ramaswamy to co-head the organization.

It aims to detect inefficiencies and wasteful spending in the federal government.

“Together, these two wonderful Americans will pave the way for my Administration to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies – Essential to the ‘Save America’ Movement,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post, adding that it could potentially become “‘The Manhattan Project’ of our time.”

Musk revealed that the goal of DOGE is to cut $2 trillion in government spending, along with slashing unnecessary regulations limiting economic growth.

“Recruiting for a very small number of full-time salaried HR, IT, and Finance positions. If interested, please DM us your resume and a few bullet points about why you are interested in DOGE,” the official DOGE X account posted at the end of December.

The organization followed up the initial X post with another recruitment-related post, adding that it is also seeking “a very small number of full-time salaried Software Engineers and InfoSec Engineers. If interested, please DM us a few bullet points demonstrating exceptional ability, and your cell phone number.”

Recruiting for a very small number of full-time salaried Software Engineers and InfoSec Engineers. If interested, please DM us a few bullet points demonstrating exceptional ability, and your cell phone number.— Department of Government Efficiency (@DOGE) January 7, 2025

Previously, Elon seemingly implied that DOGE employees would work on a volunteer basis, stating: “This will be tedious work, make lots of enemies, & compensation is zero.”

However, he could have been referring to himself personally not paying workers, rather than other entities that would pay its employees. The salary ranges for the requested positions are currently unclear. It is also unclear whether DOGE employees will be funded by taxpayers, private support, or from Musk and Ramaswamy themselves.

Musk and Ramaswamy stated that they would only review the top 1% of applicants, seeking “super high-IQ” individuals after reportedly receiving thousands of applications.

“We are grateful to the thousands of Americans who have expressed interest in helping us at DOGE. We don’t need more part-time idea generators. We need super high-IQ small-government revolutionaries willing to work 80+ hours per week on unglamorous cost-cutting. If that’s you, DM this account with your CV. Elon & Vivek will review the top 1% of applicants,” DOGE announced in December.

Additionally, Musk and Ramaswamy stated that DOGE specifically plans to audit the Pentagon, “delete” unnecessary federal agencies, simplify the ever growing U.S. tax code, and root out billions in fraud, among other objectives.

Stay informed! Receive breaking news blasts directly to your inbox for free. Subscribe here. https://www.oann.com/alerts

[educationtech]

M.tech. Salaries 2025 in India, Average salary ₹10 lakhs - Arya College

The average salary for M.Tech in India varies significantly based on factors such as specialization, industry, and experience. Here are the key insights: There are so many Good Colleges in Jaipur but The best Collage in Jaipur is Arya College of Engineering & I.T.

A) Average Salary of M.Tech Graduates

General Average: The average salary for M.Tech graduates is approximately ₹22.7 lakhs per annum, with a range typically between ₹16.5 lakhs and ₹50 lakhs depending on various factors including the type of job and employer.

Median Salary: The median salary is around ₹19.5 lakhs per annum, indicating that half of the graduates earn below this amount

B) Salary Packages for M.Tech Graduates

Different specializations can lead to varying salary expectations: Computer Science & Engineering: Average salaries can range from ₹4 lakhs to ₹20 lakhs, with high-demand roles like Data Scientist or AI Engineer often offering higher pay. Civil Engineering: Salaries typically range from ₹3.5 lakhs to ₹10 lakhs depending on the role and company. Electronics & Communication Engineering: Average salaries range from ₹3 lakhs to ₹6 lakhs.

C) Highest Paying M.Tech Jobs

1.  Lead Product Manager

Salary: ₹53 lakhs per annum

 Role: Oversees product development and strategy, ensuring alignment with market needs.

2. Group Product Manager

Salary: ₹51 lakhs per annum

Role: Manages a team of product managers and coordinates product initiatives across departments.

3. Group Chief Information Officer (CIO)

Salary: ₹50 lakhs per annum

Role: Responsible for the overall technology strategy and IT operations of an organization.

4.  Vice President of Technology

Salary: ₹50 lakhs per annum

Role: Leads technological development and innovation within the company.

5. Head of IT

Salary: ₹48 lakhs per annum

Role: Manages IT infrastructure and strategy for the organization.

D) M.Tech Salary vs B.Tech Salary

M.Tech Graduates

Average Salary: Approximately ₹22.7 lakhs per annum.

Salary Range: Typically between ₹16.5 lakhs and ₹50 lakhs, with some exceptional roles offering even higher salaries, such as ₹196 lakhs for top positions.

Entry-Level Salary: Freshers can expect salaries starting around ₹6 lakhs, but this can go up to ₹15 lakhs depending on the specialization and company.

B.Tech Graduates

Average Salary: Generally ranges from ₹3 lakhs to ₹10 lakhs per annum, depending on the role and industry.

Salary Range: Starting salaries for B.Tech graduates typically fall between ₹3 lakhs and can reach up to about ₹12 lakhs for experienced professionals in high-demand fields.

Common Roles and Salaries:

Software Engineer: ₹6 - 7 LPA

Senior Software Engineer: ₹7 - 10 LPA

Software Developer: ₹4 - 5 LPA

Factors Influencing Salary

1. Specialization:

M.Tech in India in fields like Computer Science, Data Science, or AI tend to earn significantly higher than their B.Tech counterparts.

 B.Tech graduates may have lower starting salaries, especially in traditional engineering roles.

2. Experience:

M.Tech in India often enter the workforce with more specialized knowledge and skills, leading to higher starting salaries compared to B.Tech graduates.

3.  Industry Demand:

The tech industry generally offers better salary prospects for both M.Tech and B.Tech graduates, but M.Tech roles often come with more responsibilities and higher pay due to advanced qualifications.

Salary Distribution

The top 10% of M.Tech graduates earn more than ₹38 lakhs per annum, while the highest reported salary can reach up to ₹181.7 lakhs for exceptional roles. Entry-level positions such as Software Engineers typically start around ₹6 to ₹17 lakhs per annum, depending on the company and location.

Factors Influencing Salary

Specialization: Fields like Data Science, AI, and Software Development generally offer higher salaries due to market demand. Industry: Graduates entering tech giants or consulting firms tend to earn more compared to those in traditional engineering roles. Experience and Skills: Advanced skills in programming, project management, and emerging technologies can significantly enhance earning potential.

Conclusion

while the average salary for M.Tech graduates is quite high, actual earnings can vary widely based on numerous factors including specialization, location, and individual capabilities. The job market for M.Tech graduates is robust, particularly in fields like computer science and electronics. Graduates from premier institutes such as IITs often secure the highest-paying positions due to their advanced skills and training. As industries increasingly rely on technology and innovation, the demand for specialized M.Tech professionals continues to grow. In summary, M.Tech graduates typically enjoy higher average salaries compared to B.Tech graduates due to their advanced education, specialized skills, and the increasing demand for expertise in technology-driven fields. While both degrees offer promising career paths, pursuing an M.Tech can lead to significantly enhanced earning potential and career opportunities in the long term.

[priceperplayer]

Managing a Sportsbook with a Pay Per Head Software

The while idea behind becoming a successful bookie is to have quality players and a great sports betting service. However, that is just the beginning as owning a sportsbook is also about proper management to ensure a successful future. This includes managing finances, to lines management, player risk management and more. For a one-person operation, this is a difficult task that would require many…

[netpen-info]

[ad_1] Extremely technical expertise equivalent to 3D modeling and product administration are in sturdy demand and might ... [+] command salaries of $100,000 or extra, providing you with monetary freedomgetty About 60% of Gen Zers report being unable to afford their fundamental wants on their present wage, in keeping with a current Resume Templates survey, with one in 5 believing they need to be making $100,000 or extra at their job. The survey additionally revealed that an estimated 20% of those that battle to cowl fundamental wants nonetheless spend $500 or extra per 30 days on non-essential items. Nevertheless, that being stated, 19% agree that they would want to earn $100,000 or extra to afford their fundamental wants. The excellent news is, to earn throughout the six determine vary, you don’t essentially must spend hundreds of dollars on levels or costly coaching. A number of high-income expertise could be realized for a low value and even free of charge, due to the multiplicity of on-line sources and coaching platforms out there at our fingertips—actually. Let's check out three expertise (out of many) that may earn you over $100,000 in 2024, and how one can simply be taught and develop them to begin making extra money: 1. Product Administration Product administration is described by Product Plan as "the follow of strategically driving the event, market launch, and continuous assist and enchancment of an organization's merchandise." These merchandise could be bodily items, digital apps, or software program companies. Product managers (PMs) carry a product to market or work to improve an current one, and are positioned on the intersection of know-how, enterprise, and person expertise, coordinating a number of cross-functional groups to make sure the product aligns with customers' wants. Why Product Administration Pays Effectively Corporations are at all times searching for to innovate, and that is very true inside tech (simply check out the previous few years and observe the speedy developments of pc science and AI for instance). Due to this, the demand for expert PMs is skyrocketing. This function is integral to a company’s success, particularly for start-ups searching for to woo buyers. Based on Wage.com, the common wage for a product supervisor is $150,721. The place to Be taught Product Administration for Free Listed below are some platforms that present free studying sources on product administration: Product College Udacity Coursera (for instance IBM Product Supervisor Skilled Certificates) How To Monetize This Ability When you grasp product administration, you possibly can apply for roles as: Product supervisor Technical product supervisor Product lead or head of product Freelance product advisor AWS is a extremely transferable ability set, since many firms are transferring their knowledge to the ... [+] cloudgetty 2. Amazon Internet Companies (AWS) Amazon Internet Companies (AWS) is a number one cloud computing platform that gives scalable computing energy, storage, and networking companies, and is utilized by firms worldwide to host web sites, run functions, and handle knowledge facilities, amongst different issues. Why AWS Pays Effectively For those who grasp AWS, this could open the door to high-paying roles equivalent to options architect, cloud architect, or DevOps engineer, particularly since many firms are at the moment making the shift in the direction of cloud infrastructure. There are lots of roles that you may undertake with AWS, however for the sake of an instance wage, a options architect can earn as much as $155,306 on common, in keeping with Glassdoor. The place To Be taught AWS For Free Amazon supplies a variety of free sources that can assist you grasp AWS expertise, equivalent to: AWS free coaching and certifications AWS Educate YouTube How To Monetize This Ability With AWS expertise, you possibly can pursue high-paying roles equivalent to: AWS options architect AWS DevOps engineer

Cloud architect 3. 3D Modeling 3D modeling is once you create three-dimensional representations of objects utilizing specialised software program. That is extremely helpful for animation, product design, AR and VR (augmented/digital actuality), and even structure. Why 3D Modeling Pays Effectively The demand for expert 3D artists is rising, particularly as firms search to create merchandise that combine AR/VR applied sciences, and gaming. The 3D animation business alone is forecasted to be valued at $27 billion by 2026, primarily based on researchers at Statista. The place To Be taught 3D Modeling For Free Many on-line sources present free coaching for aspiring 3D modelers: How To Monetize This Ability When you’ve mastered 3D modeling as a ability, you possibly can discover roles and careers equivalent to: Freelance 3D artist Architect Animator Studying a brand new ability could not be simpler, due to the multiplicity of e-learning platforms and ... [+] sourcesgetty Do you see how simple and accessible it's to grasp high-income expertise free of charge? With the abundance of free on-line studying platforms out there, you possibly can actually begin constructing your experience at this time, and be effectively in your solution to incomes $100,000 or extra inside a 12 months. [ad_2]

[123gracker]

SEO vs SEM: Which is Right for Your Business?

In today’s competitive world of digital marketing, businesses face a common problem: how to drive more traffic and conversions while keeping marketing costs in check. Most businesses understand the importance of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Search Engine Marketing (SEM), but the challenge lies in deciding which approach best suits their goals.

Imagine a cybersecurity company looking for increased visibility despite offering key services. They are further unsure about whether to invest in growing organically through SEO or invest in paid ads via SEM to get instant visibility. The question, therefore, is: Should I invest in SEO for long-term growth or SEM for results today?

This blog breaks down the differences that will be brought forth between SEO and SEM; it will also look at their pros and cons and help pick the right approach for your business.

What is SEO?

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the process of improving a website’s visibility on search engines organically. Unlike SEM, SEO focuses on increasing rankings in unpaid (organic) search results. Effective SEO takes time but can deliver long-term, sustainable traffic.

SEO can be broken down into several key areas:

a. Keyword Research

The foundation of SEO starts with keyword research—identifying the search terms your target audience is using. For example, a cybersecurity company might focus on keywords like “cybersecurity services,” “network security,” or “threat detection.”

Tools like Google Keyword Planner or Ahrefs can help discover high-volume, low-competition keywords.

Long-tail keywords (e.g., “best cybersecurity software for small businesses”) are often easier to rank for and attract more targeted traffic.

b. On-Page SEO

This is an optimization technique that makes the content on your website search-engine-friendly. Key elements include:

Title Tags and Meta Descriptions: The inclusion of the primary and secondary keywords in the meta title and meta description will help gain more CTR.

Content Optimization: Comfortably use the target keyword once in the heading and 2-3 times within the content. However, this should not be overdone. Keep in mind that your content must be highly informative and add some intrinsic value.

Internal Linking: It helps the search engines understand the structure of a website and also keeps users engaging with related content.

c. Off-Page SEO

Off-page SEO is, for the most part, link building in which backlinks from other reputable websites are gained. Quality backlinks are votes of confidence that tell the search engines your site has authority. A cybersecurity company may want to get links from industry publications such as Dark Reading or SecurityWeek. More importantly, build authoritative backlinks rather than gathering quantity. A few links from well-respected sites weigh more than many low-quality links.

d. Technical SEO

Technical SEO ensures that your website is easy to crawl and index for search engines. This includes:

Site Speed: A fast-loading website ranks higher and gives much better value to users.

Mobile Optimization: With Google's mobile-first indexing, make sure your site is fully optimized for mobile devices.

XML Sitemap: Submission helps in efficiently crawling and indexing your content by the search engines.

What is SEM?

Search Engine Marketing (SEM) includes paid ways to be more visible in search engines. SEM encompasses many various paid promotional techniques, including one of the most common, called Pay-Per-Click advertising. The goal of SEM is to drive traffic and/or generate leads instantly.

Thus, in this case, for a cybersecurity company, SEM could include running ads on keyword searches like "cybersecurity consulting" or "penetration testing services" to capture potential clients looking for those kinds of services.

How Long Does SEM Take?

The time taken for SEM to yield results depends on a number of factors: your budget, keyword competitiveness, and ad and landing page quality. You could normally feel the results within weeks starting from the beginning of the campaign.

How Much Does SEM Cost?

The cost of SEM depends on your industry, location, and keyword competition. The average CPC may be a few cents to several dollars. In any case, you are in a position to control your spending by setting a daily budget and optimizing your campaigns.

Which Type of SEM is Best?

The type of SEM that works best for your business depends on your goals, budget, and target audience. PPC is perfect for urgent needs of the business, whereas display advertising is thought to be good for brand awareness.

What is PPC?

PPC means pay-per-click, and it's a model of online advertising wherein one pays each time someone clicks on his or her ad. These shows can appear on Google, Bing, or social media platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn.

a. Keyword Research:

Just like with SEO, keyword research in the case of PPC is believed to be of primary importance. You surely want to go after the keywords that have high commercial intent, such as buying cybersecurity software. You should find the ideal keywords for your ad campaigns with tools like Google Ads Keyword Planner.

b. Setting Bids

You will want to set how much you are going to pay per click, or CPC, against each keyword. Competitive keywords, such as "cybersecurity services," can be very costly, so make sure to budget only what makes sense in reaching your business goals.

c. Ad Creation

Create ads with strong calls of action to drive clicks—for example, "Get Free Security Assessment - Safeguard Business Now!"

d. Audience Targeting

One of the advantages of SEM is audience targeting. Besides, you can optimize the ads to appear for the right people by location, device type, and more.

Difference Between SEO and SEM

SEO vs SEM: How Long Does It Take to See Results?

SEO and SEM are only two of the powerful schemes for improving your visibility online, yet each radically differs in the length of time it takes to get their results.

SEO: A Long-Term Investment

Typical Timeline: Months to years.

Why it takes more time: SEO work involves optimization of the content of the website, its structure, and backlinks to it; search engines need some time to crawl and index those changes, which means that it may take a couple of months before your website starts rising higher in search results.

Benefit: It offers the benefit that, once your website achieves a good ranking, it will continue generating organic traffic without incurring running costs.

SEM: Instant Results

Typical Timeline: weeks - months.

Why it's faster: With SEM, you are paying for advertisements, so the minute your campaign gets approved and starts popping up in search results, you can expect to see results.

Benefits: SEM happens to be a great way to channel lots of traffic to one's website in the shortest period. This holds particularly if one targets competitive keywords.

Factors Affecting Timelines of Results

Here are some of the factors that may affect not only SEO but also SEM results:

Keyword competitiveness: The more competitive the targeted keywords happen to be, the time it takes to see results is further prolonged.

Website Quality: A well-optimized qualitative website would always rank higher than a poorly optimized one.

Campaign quality: The quality of your SEM campaigns mainly in terms of ad copy, landing page, and targeting can make all the difference in your results.

Updates to algorithms of the search: The performance of both SEO and SEM usually gets affected by updates to search algorithms.

SEO vs SEM: How Much Do They Cost?

Both SEO and SEM are quite effective in enhancing your online visibility, though they differ greatly in cost.

SEO: Free but Time-Consuming Investment

Cost Upfront: There is no upfront cost in SEO. However, you might need to invest time in learning all about SEO best practices or hiring an SEO professional.

Ongoing Charges: While SEO itself is free, there may be upkeep costs associated with the creation of good quality content, building backlinks, and maintaining current best practices for SEO.

SEM: A Pay-Per-Click Model

Costs Up-Front: You will have to create an account through any of the search engine advertising platforms, such as Google Ads or Bing Ads, and then set up your campaigns. This usually entails some minor initial investment.

Ongoing Costs: SEM is a pay-per-click model; hence, one pays each time someone clicks on any of his ads. The Cost per Click might vary widely depending upon several factors like keyword competition, ad quality, and targeting.

Factors Affecting Costs

The cost of both SEO and SEM may be affected by the following factors:

** Industry:** Competition in your industry epitomizes another factor that may raise both SEO and SEM costs.

Difficulty of keywords: The longer and more competitive your keywords are, the higher the CPC will be in SEM, while it is vice-versa for SEO.

Location: This could be a determining factor in cost, as the cost of living and competition varies from location to location if targeting one.

Campaign complexity: It's the complexity of your SEM campaigns, which includes all the targeting, ad copy, and destination landings.

SEO or PPC: Which to Concentrate on?

a. When to Focus on PPC

If you need immediate traffic and faster results.

If you're launching something new, be it a product or service, and want quick visibility.

This is when you have a well-defined paid advertisements budget.

b. When to Target SEO

When you're focused on long-term growth and want to build trust.

If you're working with limited marketing budgets and want to avoid ongoing ad spend.

c. When to Focus on Both

If you want to dominate both the organic and paid search results, focusing on both SEO and SEM will give you maximum visibility. Lead with SEM for quick wins, and layer in SEO for long-term growth.

SEO vs. SEM: Future Directions

As technology continues to change, so will the playing fields of SEO and SEM. Following are some important trends to keep watch for:

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

Better search algorithms: AI, or machine learning, is already being applied to boost the algorithms behind the searches; this makes them more sophisticated and better at guessing what a user wants.

Personalized results: With time, even the results brought forth by search engines could be more personalized, considering the preference and behavior of each user.

Voice Search

Increasing Popularity: Voice search is gaining more popularity with the inclusion of smart speakers like Amazon Echo and Google Home.

Voice Search Optimization: Businesses will have to optimize their content to voice searches by using natural speech and answering frequently asked questions.

Visual Search

Among the growing importance is visual search, which allows the user to perform a search with images.

Optimization of visual search: The businesses should ensure that their images are of high resolution with alt text descriptions.

Privacy Regulations

Impact of Advertising: Stricter privacy regulations, like the GDPR and CCPA, are already expected to strongly impact advertising in its entirety, including SEM.

Focus on consent by the user: Businesses should clearly describe how they collect and use user data, with specific consent required before using it for targeted advertising.

Mobile-First Indexing

Ongoing attention: Google gives priority to mobile-friendly websites when showing the results for a search with its mobile-first indexing.

Mobile optimization: This suggests that each and every business should ensure its website is fully optimized for mobile.

Social Media Integration

Greater importance: Social media platforms are increasingly becoming important in terms of traffic and brand awareness.

Integrations with SEO and SEM: Social media strategies should also be integrated with SEO and SEM initiatives.

Conclusion

Which one is appropriate for your company then: SEO or SEM? That all depends on your goals, budget, and timeline.

If you're a cybersecurity company looking to set up a long-term authoritative base, SEO is the way to go. On the other hand, SEM produces fast results immediately when you launch a new service and hope to compel instant traffic.

Theoretically, the best strategy should be that which amalgamates both approaches for maximum visibility both in the short and long term.

Through this, businesses can devise a digital marketing strategy that creates a balance between SEO, which is essential for their growth in the long run, and SEM, which instantly brings visibility. And, if one is flummoxed about where to start, then it would be a keyword audit that would help in determining immediate and long-term goals.

Visit for more info: https://gracker.ai/

[mjpro]

Why mjPRO is the Best Procurement Software Company for Modern Businesses

Procurement has become a critical function for companies striving to stay competitive. Efficient procurement processes can significantly impact cost savings, supply chain efficiency, and overall profitability. mjPRO, the best procurement software company, delivers innovative solutions that help modern businesses meet these challenges head-on. Here’s why mjPRO stands out as the best procurement software company for modern businesses:

Comprehensive eProcurement Solutions

mjPRO offers a comprehensive eProcurement software platform that digitizes the entire procurement lifecycle. From planning and sourcing to invoicing and payment, mjPRO's solutions provide businesses with the tools they need to streamline procurement operations. The platform integrates seamlessly with ERP systems or can function as a standalone system, offering flexibility for businesses of all sizes. With mjPRO’s procurement software, companies can manage every stage of the procurement process on a single platform. This eliminates the need for manual processes, reducing errors and delays while enhancing visibility and control.

AI-Driven Supplier Management and Insights

One of the unique advantages of mjPRO is its use of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance supplier management. The platform provides businesses with real-time insights into supplier performance, category management, and purchasing trends. By analyzing buying patterns, mjPRO’s AI tools offer intelligent recommendations for sourcing the best suppliers, making procurement decisions more data-driven and strategic. Additionally, mjPRO helps companies manage a growing supplier base, complete with supplier rating, profiling, and automated RFQs. This makes the procurement process more efficient and helps businesses build stronger, long-term relationships with their suppliers.

Scalability and Pay-Per-Use Model

mjPRO offers a cloud-based solution with a pay-per-use model, making it the ideal procurement software company for growing businesses. As companies scale, mjPRO’s flexible pricing ensures they only pay for the services they use, offering cost-effective solutions without compromising on features. This scalability is essential for modern businesses, especially those in fast-moving industries where procurement needs may fluctuate. mjPRO’s procurement software grows with your business, providing the support you need to scale your operations without incurring unnecessary costs.

Enhanced Speed and Efficiency

Modern businesses need to move quickly to stay competitive, and mjPRO’s procurement software significantly enhances procurement speed. The platform automates repetitive tasks such as purchase orders, approvals, and invoice processing, reducing procurement cycle times by 40%. This enables businesses to make faster decisions, respond to market changes promptly, and meet tight deadlines with ease. By improving speed and efficiency, mjPRO helps businesses reduce operational bottlenecks, allowing teams to focus on higher-value activities that drive growth and innovation.

Governance, Compliance, and Risk Mitigation

mjPRO prioritizes governance and compliance, ensuring that procurement processes follow industry regulations and best practices. The platform offers robust approval workflows, audit trails, and fraud prevention features, helping businesses minimize risks and avoid costly compliance violations. For modern businesses, especially those in regulated industries, strong governance is essential. mjPRO’s procurement software provides peace of mind by ensuring that every procurement decision is transparent, compliant, and well-documented.

Mobile Accessibility for On-the-Go Procurement

In today’s mobile-first world, accessibility is key. mjPRO offers a mobile app that allows procurement professionals to manage processes on the go. Whether approving purchase orders, monitoring supplier performance, or managing budgets, mjPRO’s mobile solution ensures that businesses can keep procurement operations running smoothly, even when teams are working remotely. This level of flexibility is crucial for modern businesses that need to stay agile in an increasingly global and decentralized work environment.

Faster ROI and Cost Savings

mjPRO’s focus on optimizing procurement processes helps businesses achieve a faster return on investment (ROI). By leveraging AI-driven insights, automation, and advanced supplier management tools, mjPRO enables companies to reduce procurement costs by up to 7%. With faster procurement cycles and smarter sourcing strategies, businesses can unlock significant savings and boost profitability.

In conclusion, mjPRO is the best procurement software company for modern businesses because it offers a complete, intelligent, and scalable solution that addresses today’s procurement challenges. Its innovative use of AI, automation, and cloud technology helps businesses improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance supplier relationships, making it an invaluable partner for long-term growth and success

[mariacallous]

Elon Musk hasn’t been sighted at the picket lines in Missouri, Ohio, or Michigan, where autoworkers are striking against the Big Three US carmakers. Yet the influence of Musk and his non-unionized company Tesla have been everywhere since the United Auto Workers called the strike last week. In some ways, Tesla—the world’s most valuable automaker by market capitalization—set the whole thing in motion.

Tesla’s pioneering electric vehicles kicked off a new era that has turned the entire auto industry on its head. In a scramble to compete with Tesla and make that transition, the legacy automakers targeted by the current strike, General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis, have each pledged billions in global investment and have begun dramatically restructuring their operations. For workers, the “green jobs” being created can be scarcer and worse paying. Electric vehicle powertrains have many fewer moving parts than conventional gas-powered ones, and so they require 30 percent fewer vehicle assembly hours, according to one estimate. Plants that make EV batteries are generally outside the core, unionized auto supply chain. The United Auto Workers has seen a dramatic drop in membership due to jobs moving outside the US—it lost 45 percent of its members between 2001 and 2022. A future with more electric vehicles could mean fewer union jobs overall. “This strike is about electrification,” says Mark Barrott, an automotive analyst at the Michigan-based consultancy Plante Moran.

The new assembly plants that the legacy automakers need to pull off the transition have been stood up mostly in US states hostile to union organizing, such as Kentucky, Tennessee, and Alabama. And because many of these plants are joint ventures between automakers and foreign battery companies, they are not subject to previous union contracts.

The UAW did not respond to a request for comment, but UAW president Shawn Fain told CNBC last week that the electric transition can’t leave workers behind. “Workers deserve their share of equity in this economy,” he said.

Tesla’s rise over recent years has also put ever-ratcheting pressure on the legacy automakers to cut costs. Including benefits, Musk’s non-unionized EV company spends $45 per hour on labor, significantly less than the $63 per hour spent in the Big Three, according to industry analysts.

Musk’s willingness to upend auto manufacturing shibboleths has also forced his legacy competitors to seek new efficiencies. Tesla led the way in building large-scale car casts, stamping out very large metal components in one go rather than making a series of small casts that have to be joined together. And it pioneered an automotive chassis building process that can be easily adapted to produce different makes and models.

Tesla’s Silicon Valley roots also helped it become the first automaker to envision the car as a software-first, iPhone-like “platform” that can be modified via over-the-air updates. And the company aims to automate more of its factories, and extract more of the materials it needs to build its batteries itself.

Tesla’s novel production ideas could soon lead the company to put even more pressure on legacy automakers. Musk said earlier this year that Tesla plans to build a new, smaller vehicle that can be made for half the production cost of its most popular (and cheapest) vehicle, the Model 3.

Musk says a lot of things, and many don’t come to pass. (The world is still waiting for the 1 million Tesla robotaxis promised by the end of 2020.) But Tesla has been disruptive enough to leave legacy automakers, including Detroit’s Big Three, “in a quest for capital,” says Marick Masters, who studies labor and workplace issues at Wayne State University's School of Business. Detroit’s automakers have made good money in the past decade—some $250 billion in profits—but also paid a significant chunk of it out in dividends. Pressure from Tesla and the EV transition it catalyzed has left them feeling as if they need every penny they can corral to keep afloat as the industry changes.

“They have little money to concede for union demands,” says Masters. The UAW’s wants include significantly higher wages, especially for workers who have joined the companies since their Great Recession and bankruptcy-era reorganizations, which left some with less pay and reduced pension and health benefits.

So far, the UAW has shown little patience for the idea that the automakers it is pressuring are cash-strapped and under competitive pressure. “Competition is a code word for race to the bottom, and I'm not concerned about Elon Musk building more rocket ships so he can fly into outer space and stuff,” UAW president Fain told CNBC last week when asked about pressure from Tesla. He has argued that production workers should receive the same pay raise received by auto executives over recent years.

When automakers have taken the opposite tack, insisting that they’re well capitalized and making plans to put them ahead of the electric car maker—well, that set up conditions for this strike too. The three American automakers are forecasted to make $32 billion in profits this year, a slight dip from last year’s 10-year high. “The more they toot their own horns about profitability, the more the union looks at them and says, ‘We want our rightful share,’” says Masters.

Tesla did not respond to a request for comment, but Musk has, in typical fashion, chimed in. He posted on X last week to compare working conditions at his companies with the competition, apparently seeking to turn the dispute he helped foment into a recruiting pitch. “Tesla and SpaceX factories have a great vibe. We encourage playing music and having some fun,” he wrote. “We pay more than the UAW btw, but performance expectations are also higher.” A UAW attempt to organize Tesla workers in 2017 and 2018, as the company struggled to produce its Model 3, failed. The National Labor Board ruled that Tesla violated labor laws during the organizing drive; the carmaker has appealed the decision.

[news365timesindia]

[ad_1] From corporate leaders to politicians, celebrities, and general public, thousands of people gathered to pay tributes to Ratan Tata, (Photo: Reuters)5 min read Last Updated : Oct 11 2024 | 12:57 AM IST Industrialists, politicians, film stars, Tata group employees, friends, family members and admirers—running into thousands--queued up at the National Centre of Performing Arts (NCPA) at Nariman Point since Thursday morning to pay their last respects to Ratan Tata, 86. The patriarch and chairman emeritus of the salt-to-software conglomerate passed away late Wednesday night at Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital, where he was admitted in the wee hours of Monday. The crowd had started building up outside the hospital on Wednesday evening itself when news got out that Tata, who’s a household name, was critical in the intensive care unit. Soon after the Tata group made the announcement late night, rich tributes flowed in from across the country and around the world. Leaders and business honchos spoke about Tata’s acumen for his global vision, his generosity, his contributions beyond the boardroom and his love for dogs. In television studios and newsrooms, there were questions around succession and the next chapter in the Tata empire. The biggest question was whether Noel Tata, chairman of Trent and half brother of Ratan Tata, will be chosen as the head of Tata Trusts, which owns 66 per cent in Tata Sons. But this was a day to mourn the passing away of the titan who had presided over India’s largest corporate group for over two decades, and also to celebrate the legacy that he leaves behind.                                     Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp  As the last journey began, from his home in Colaba to NCPA in Nariman Point, Tata’s mortal remains--draped in tricolor—were escorted by the Mumbai police band. The last rites, with full state honours and gun salute, were performed at Mumbai’s Worli Crematorium. While VVIPs gathered there to pay their homage, the gates of the crematorium were thrown open to hundreds of emotionally charged employees after a while in the midst of Tata chants.       As Prime Minister Narendra Modi was away on an official trip to Laos, Home Minister Amit Shah represented the Union government at the funeral. Laying a wreath, Shah said he joins millions of Indians to grieve the sad demise of Ratan Tata.  “Tata led the Tata group with clean corporate governance, adhering to the rules, and made efforts to build a better society through the Tata Trusts. Ratan Tata Ji's legacy will continue to guide those who lead the industrial sector of the country for a long time to come,” Shah said. The previous night, the PM had said in a statement that  Tata was a visionary business leader, a compassionate soul and an extraordinary human being. Among those attending the last rites of Tata were Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, and Reserve Bank of India governor Shaktikanta Das. Captains of the industry including Mukesh Ambani, Kumar Mangalam Birla, Adi Godrej were there too. Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran and Noel Tata were seen interacting with the dignitaries. Cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, film star Aamir Khan and movie maker Madhur Bhandarkar also joined in to pay their tributes. It was here at the same crematorium that the last rites of Cyrus Mistry, former chairman of Tata Sons, were performed in September 2022. Ratan Tata and Mistry       had fought a bitter legal battle which culminated in the Supreme Court ruling in favour of the Tatas. Shapoorji Mistry, Chairman of SP Group, which owns 18.4 per cent stake in Tata Sons, said on Thursday that the Mistry family has had a long standing relationship with the Tata Group and with Ratan Tata. “Tata’s unfortunate passing marks the end of an era.

He will always be remembered as a leader who left a lasting mark on the evolution of the Tata Group,” he said. As Maharashtra government declared Thursday a day of mourning, national flags flew at half mast in all government buildings in the state. On a day when the world watched the end of an era, Maharashtra Chief Minister Shinde urged the Centre to posthumously award ‘Bharat Ratna’, India’s highest civilian honour, to Tata. In his last social media post on Monday, reacting to media reports that he was very unwell and admitted into Breach Candy’s ICU, Ratan Tata had assured the nation that he had gone to the hospital for a regular check up. ‘’Thank you for thinking of me,’’ he had said. Within a week, his admirers were thanking Tata while bidding him farewell.  Paying tributes One of the most unique aspects of Shri Ratan TataJi was his passion towards dreaming big and giving back “Narendra Modi, Prime Minister   ...A leader par excellence, visionary industrialist, and philanthropist “Nirmala Sitharaman, Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs  There are two things that stand out about Ratan Tata: First, he was a true visionary. Second, he was a strong believer in ethics in corporate governance” Shaktikanta Das, RBI Governor   Mr Tata took  India to the world and brought the best of the world to Bharat” Mukesh Ambani, Chairman and Managing Director, Reliance Industries (He) was instrumental in mentoring and developing the modern business leadership in India” Sundar Pichai, Alphabet CEO  First Published: Oct 11 2024 | 12:15 AM IST [ad_2] Source link