#TechCrunch

[nyancrimew]

new blog post! part 2 of the #FuckStalkerware series, this one is pretty big!

also exclusively covered by techcrunch (less technical but more analysis than my post) here:

content warning: mentions of abuse/controlling behaviour

[boobachu]

Bad news, everyone in the 21st century

[shinnith]

The first AR laptop was just released.... to think it went from those weird ass 3DS cards to this is fucking wild????

Im fuckING LOSING IT RIGHT NOW. Everyone??? Meet fucking Spacetop??

You thought your 3DS AR Kirby cards were peak shit?? Think again.

Here's the link to the promo but if you want to hear my excited ass rant, it's below the cut lol:

Spacetop: Own Your Space (youtube)

Seeing how CNET talked about it, and actually seeing the promo made me realize this isn't some wish shit- this is actually happening. As someone who grew up obsessed with sci-fi, my heart is absolutely pounding.

No, this isn't Virtual Reality. It's Augmented Reality (AR). Meaning, despite having glasses on like a headset, your seeing the software literally floating in your living room/bathroom/local @dennys . This is totally in the starter stages, (remember when VR began popping off and it was... yeah) so don't expect it to be some perfect Star Trek shit, but it functions as intended.

Unlike VR, I am getting the impression this AR Laptop is more spatially aware and doesn't make you break your neck to look to the left. I could literally go on for years on this new technology but I'm gonna leave it here- or I'll never stop lol.

[desert-palm]

Tumblr will add support for ActivityPub, the open, decentralized social networking protocol that today is powering social networking software like Twitter alternative Mastodon, the Instagram-like Pixelfed, video streaming service PeerTube, and others. The news was revealed in response to a Twitter user’s complaint about Mastodon’s complexities. Automattic CEO Matt Mullenweg — whose company acquired Tumblr from Verizon in 2019 — suggested the user “come to Tumblr” as the site would soon “add activitypub for interconnect.”

“Don’t stress,” he said, before clarifying that Tumblr first has to deal with the waves of new users coming in right now from Twitter but that support for “interop and activitypub” were due to come “ASAP.”

In short, this announcement means Tumblr would move from being only a niche blogging platform to becoming a part of a larger, decentralized social network of sorts — and one whose user base has grown in size in recent days as people flee Elon Musk’s Twitter in search of new communities.

[notchainedtotrauma]

Mullenweg took the debate off platform to X, where he commented on a post from the user who was banned on Tumblr. Then, on one of his Tumblr posts, Mullenweg shared numerous of her side blog names, which is not public information (Tumblr users often make empty side blogs with no content in order to squat on URLs).

“On the adult content mistagging, I added context to say it has nothing to do with clothed transition photos, she had 20+ other blogs and multiple accounts with names so explicit I can’t post them here without a mature tag,” Mullenweg wrote, then listing some of the accounts by name.

Aside from Elon Musk since he took over Twitter (now X), it’s uncommon to see the CEOs of social platforms commenting directly on individual content moderation decisions. It’s even more uncommon for those CEOs to share private information about that user’s account.

Bluesky faced a similar situation last year, but it played out in an opposite manner. One user said that they hoped a prominent Black user would get pushed off of “somewhere real high.” In that case, Bluesky’s team decided it wasn’t a legitimate death threat, which strained the burgeoning platform’s relationship with its Black users.

[nando161mando]

Because they feed off of actual ingenuity. They’re not Teslas. They’re Edisons.

[nr1-logo-design-inspiration]

Cool N + R monogram design ☆☆☆

PM us if you need a monogram design at:

Creativelogodesigns01@gmail.com

[infinitemonkeytheory]

More than 40 founders, investors, engineers and others in the tech industry are today announcing a coalition called Tech for Palestine to build open source projects, tools and data to help others in the industry advocate for the Palestinian people.

The launch of the group comes during a tense time in the region. Hamas’s October 7th attack on Israel led to the deaths of more than 1,100 individuals. The war in the Gaza Strip that followed has seen the displacement of millions of Palestinians and tens of thousands of deaths.

[…]

Paul Biggar, the founder of Tech for Palestine, hopes to raise more awareness of the war in Gaza, fight for a permanent ceasefire and provide ways for those who are afraid to speak publicly in support of Palestine to still offer support. It is one of the first tech initiatives to take a public stance supporting Palestine and could represent a turning point in the venture industry’s posture regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict as more people seek to speak out in favor of a ceasefire.

[wonder-yrs]

Apple iMac G3 “flower power” 2001

[techvizor-surat]

Unlocking Success: Digital Transformation Strategies for Modern Businesses

In an age where digital technology is reshaping industries and customer expectations, businesses are continually challenged to adapt or risk falling behind. This phenomenon has given birth to a buzzword in corporate boardrooms and IT Companies alike: Digital Transformation.

Digital Transformation isn't just about adopting the latest technology trends; it's a holistic approach to fundamentally altering how a business operates and delivers value to its customers. To succeed in this ever-evolving landscape, organizations must develop effective strategies. In this blog, we'll explore the essence of Digital Transformation and provide actionable strategies for your business.

Understanding Digital Transformation

Digital Transformation is the integration of digital technology into all areas of a business, fundamentally changing how it operates and delivers value to customers. It's not a one-size-fits-all process; it varies depending on an organization's unique goals, industry, and starting point. Here are some key elements to understand:

1. Customer-Centric Approach: At the heart of Digital Transformation is a focus on meeting customer needs and expectations more effectively. This involves leveraging technology to enhance customer experiences and gain insights into their preferences.

2. Data-Driven Decision Making: Collecting and analyzing data is critical for making informed decisions. Digital Transformation often involves implementing robust data analytics and business intelligence tools.

3. Process Optimization: Streamlining and automating processes can significantly increase efficiency and reduce costs. This often includes the adoption of workflow automation tools and customer relationship management software (CRM).

4. Cultural Shift: Changing the organization's culture to be more agile, innovative, and open to technology-driven changes is vital. This requires strong leadership and employee buy-in.

Strategies for Digital Transformation Success

1. Define Clear Objectives: Start by setting specific, measurable, and achievable goals for your Digital Transformation. Understand why you are embarking on this journey and what outcomes you hope to achieve.

2. Customer-Centricity: Understand your customers' needs and preferences through data analysis and feedback. Tailor your products, services, and interactions accordingly.

3. Data-Driven Insights: Invest in robust data analytics tools to gain actionable insights from your data. Use these insights to make informed decisions and create personalized customer experiences.

4. Agile Methodologies: Adopt agile project management methodologies to increase flexibility and adaptability in your organization. This allows you to respond quickly to changing market conditions and customer demands.

5. Innovation Culture: Encourage a culture of innovation by fostering collaboration and experimentation. Provide employees with the tools and resources to innovate and stay ahead of the competition.

6. Cybersecurity and Compliance: Ensure that your Digital Transformation initiatives include robust cybersecurity measures and compliance with relevant regulations, protecting both your data and your customers' data.

7. Talent Development: Invest in training and upskilling your workforce to equip them with the skills needed for the digital age. This includes technology training, data literacy, and digital marketing skills.

8. Partnerships and Ecosystems: Collaborate with technology partners and participate in industry ecosystems to access expertise and stay current with the latest technological advancements.

9. Continuous Improvement: Digital Transformation is an ongoing process. Regularly assess your progress, gather feedback, and adjust your strategies to stay relevant and competitive.

10. Leadership Commitment: Finally, strong leadership commitment is essential. Leaders should champion the Digital Transformation journey and lead by example.

Digital Transformation is not just a trend; it's a necessity for businesses to thrive in the digital age. To succeed, organizations must embrace change, put the customer at the centre of their strategies, and leverage technology effectively. With a well-defined strategy and commitment to continuous improvement, your business can navigate the evolving landscape and unlock new opportunities for growth and innovation in the digital era. 

[superglitterstranger]

Flipper Zero Hacking Device On Track To Earn $80 Million In Sales

[developerb2]

🏏📈 Ready to hit a six with your cricket stats? Join me in my new project using #reactnative and #firebase and let's create an app that's both informative and entertaining! 🌟🔥

Are you a cricket fan who loves to keep track of the latest scores and stats? Let's create an app that's both user-friendly and packed with features! 💪🌎

What kind of features would you like to see in a cricket stats app? Comment below and let's make it happen together! 🤩

[alisheaburgess]

Dev Diary: Day 2/7... Let’s Go!!!

Dear Dev Diary, Masterlist

Welp, I’m thoroughly exhausted from yesterday. 😜

Have no fear though! I can just take my courses in bed. It’s 2023, we still stop for nothing, but now we do it from bed! Lol

I am super lucky to be able to just use my phone to take courses, in all seriousness.

I am struggling to get started though 😅😂 So I’m gonna start with some lighter topics that don’t require so much focus.

Todays Goals:

I was really kind to myself yesterday and made my list for today while I was still overly hyped up.

Figma course (4hrs) and another course for an hour that I don’t know what it’s about yet… it’s software I haven’t learned about yet… these will finish up a full course 😊🎉

Typography Basics (2hrs) fun, but slow

A Wix course (1hr) this is just for me to feel more at home when I go to build my portfolio… and because I found it, so therefore I learn it…

CSS Stare-down!!! We are meeting at Sundown

HTML courses (2hrs) Finishing up the one from yesterday and a new one

Agile for Devs- (2hrs) I think this is what I need… we shall see lol 😝 it’s perfectly packaged up so I hope so. Searching the courses is dangerous…

Programming Database course (1.5hrs)

There are others but not as important and shorter…

Today is starting a bit more chill than yesterday so I may not get as much done as yesterday. These should all be relevant though 😂

Once I finish these basic HTML courses I’ll start the beefy CSS course. Hopefully that will be tomorrow. I’d really like to get the JavaScript basics in too before the end of the week, but I’ll have to see how these courses go. They have so many for HTML and CSS. I like completing things so I may finish those completely instead.

There are so many coding courses out there for free that I’m not as worried about not having the info after this…

[slinkywhat]

Opportunity Cost & AI

[An off-the-cuff essay no one asked for but I word-vomited anyway because I am exhausted]

I literally started a Python coding course on Friday so that I can ask ChatGPT or other AI tools to write me scripts to execute basic, tedious tasks that currently take up an absurd amount of my time.

I work a highly-paid role that’s supposed to be very strategic, but I’m easily spending 40-60% of my time executing repetitive, tactical tasks across multiple, disparate systems because my company (and every company prior—it’s not unique to this place) won’t pay for productivity software, automation plug-ins for our project management software, actual project managers, or additional junior headcount, our third-party agency partners don't have access to work inside internal systems, etc. etc. etc.

People spend more than half their day doing busywork, according to survey of 10,000 plus workers | CNBC, 2022

“The amount of time office workers have to spend doing their primary job duties decreased in 2016, from 46% to 39%. When asked what gets in the way of work the most, workers say wasteful meetings (59%) and excessive emails (43%) are the biggest offenders.” U.S. State of Enterprise Work Report | Workfront, 2016-2017

If you take just my salary and calculate the opportunity cost there, it more than justifies the cost of at least one or two these tools—then multiply that by all of the other employees in the company with the same or similar barriers to actual productivity and it’s literally a no-brainer.

opportunity cost (noun) • the loss of potential gain from other alternatives when one alternative is chosen; can be implicit (intangible) or explicit (tangible, dollar amounts); often calculated as the difference between the return on investment (ROI) between the most profitable business decision and the current/chosen one.

Alas, almost every company I’ve been at or heard about from others is short-sighted when it comes to realizing opportunity cost—whether from the ROI on investments like software, ongoing training, professional development, employee satisfaction and retention, systems maintenance and technological upgrades, user experience, or bare minimum marketing strategies—because they “cost money.”

I’ve never understood this, because humans have an inherent loss-aversion cognitive bias—psychologically, we’re twice as motivated by avoiding potential loss than we are by pursuing potential gain, and we’re more likely to take risks to prevent loss. I suppose the problem is that the culture of busywork is so ingrained that it’s perceived as the baseline, where “increased” productivity is viewed as a potential gain, rather than decreased productivity as a major loss.

Hasn’t anyone ever heard of short-term pain for long-term gain?

So, please hit me up if you have ideas on how to leverage ChatGPT and other tools to do things like batch cloning Jira tickets and generating documentation from templates; managing an overflowing email inbox; logging system data into disparate, static spreadsheets instead of intelligent, connected systems; manually searching old Jira tickets to append implementation dates to that data; finding and replacing duplicative instances of copy that aren’t using global elements/a single database source for management; pulling, consolidating, and analyzing reports from multiple disconnected systems; etc.

I’m really, really tired of spending my time and energy on easily automated work that does not challenge me or contribute to my sense of pride or satisfaction in my work, but does radically waste my time and my employer’s money.

Let’s help each other automate some shit and work smarter, not harder. It’s 2023 and we have not made all of these technological advancements just to ignore them and perpetuate the arbitrary 40-hour work week.

If we can spend half the time or less to reach our goals at work, then we can actually focus on the strategic parts of our roles to move the needle and invest more time in ourselves. We have the tools to be able to spend more of our time on personal passions and pursuits, family and friends, travel, leisure, hobbies, community engagement, volunteering, political activism, exercise and health, financial planning and management, home improvement, or whatever is currently being neglected or would improve our quality of life, happiness, and in return, our contributions to our workplaces.

Automation is the future. Contrary to much of the fear-mongering around the topic of work automation, four out of five knowledge workers see it as a chance to rethink work in new and exciting ways. Sixty-nine percent believe work automation will give them back time to perform their primary job duties better. The only hesitation that exists seems to lie in how much of work will ultimately be done by machines and how much will still require the human touch.” The State of Enterprise Work, U.S. Edition | Workfront, 2017 - 2018

It’s literally a win-win—except, perhaps, for the politicians and systems of power that seek to limit our financial flexibility, ability to organize, and the security to push for change.

P.S. Call and email your representatives—repeatedly—and tell them you will donate, campaign, and vote for their opponents in the next election if they do not vote NO on The Restrict Act.

——————

More reading for the nerds:

“Digital workers won’t settle for bad tech - Nearly half of workers say they’re likely to leave their current job if they’re unhappy or frustrated with workplace tech. (49%)” The 2021 State of Work — How Covid-19 changed digital work. | Adobe Experience Cloud, 2022

“Wasteful practices and tools—namely email and meetings—continue to thwart worker productivity. As in years past, poorly used meetings and email topped the list of things that keep knowledge workers from getting work done, with U.S. workers having an average of 199 unopened emails in their inboxes at any given time. This report certainly makes the case that email has reached the limits of its effectiveness as a work management tool.” The State of Enterprise Work, U.S. Edition | Workfront, 2017 - 2018

Why Busywork Is Making Your Employees Spend Less Time Doing Their Actual Jobs | Inc., 2016

Opportunity Cost: Missing the Mark on Motivation for Two Types of Employees | Maxim Kind, LinkedIn, 2018