#retail operations software

[jobyoda-philippines]

Exploring Career and Job Opportunities in Davao City Philippines

Davao City, recognized as one of the Philippines' most progressive cities, continues to experience remarkable economic growth, creating a vibrant job market that attracts professionals from across the country. The city's diverse economy offers numerous employment opportunities, from entry-level positions to executive roles, making it an attractive destination for job seekers at all career stages.

The Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector stands as one of the largest employers in Davao City, providing thousands of jobs across various specializations. Companies in this sector actively recruit customer service representatives, technical support specialists, and quality assurance analysts, offering competitive salaries and comprehensive benefits packages. The industry's continued expansion has created numerous opportunities for career advancement, with many organizations promoting from within and providing extensive training programs.

Part-time employment opportunities have also flourished in Davao City, catering to students, professionals seeking additional income, and individuals preferring flexible work arrangements. The retail sector, food service industry, and education field offer numerous part-time positions with varying schedules and responsibilities. These roles often provide valuable work experience and can serve as stepping stones to full-time careers.

The Information Technology sector in Davao has seen significant growth, with many companies seeking software developers, web designers, and IT support specialists. This growth has been fueled by the city's improving technological infrastructure and the increasing number of tech-focused businesses establishing operations in the region. Tech professionals can find opportunities in both established companies and startups, with many positions offering competitive compensation and the possibility of remote work arrangements.

Davao's hospitality and tourism industry continues to expand, creating jobs in hotels, restaurants, travel agencies, and tour operations. The sector offers positions ranging from entry-level service roles to management positions, with many employers providing training and development opportunities. The industry's growth has also sparked demand for professionals in events management and tourism marketing.

The education sector presents numerous opportunities for both full-time and part-time employment. Educational institutions regularly seek teachers, tutors, and administrative staff. The rise of online learning has created additional opportunities for English language teachers and academic consultants who can work flexible hours from home or teaching centers.

Job hiring  in Davao, the digital economy has opened new avenues for employment. E-commerce specialists, digital content creators, and social media managers are in high demand as businesses increasingly establish their online presence. These positions often offer the flexibility of remote work while providing competitive compensation packages.

Professional development resources are readily available in Davao City, with numerous institutions offering skills training programs and industry certifications. Job seekers can access career counseling services, resume writing assistance, and interview coaching through various employment support organizations. These resources prove invaluable in helping candidates prepare for and secure desired positions.

The financial services sector in Davao has also experienced substantial growth, creating opportunities for banking professionals, insurance specialists, and investment consultants. These positions typically offer attractive compensation packages, including performance bonuses and health benefits, making them highly sought after by experienced professionals.

Davao's agricultural sector continues to evolve, combining traditional farming with modern agribusiness practices. This has created opportunities for agricultural technologists, food processing specialists, and supply chain professionals. The sector offers both technical and management positions, with many companies providing specialized training and development programs.

For those entering Davao's job market, proper preparation is essential. Successful job seekers typically maintain updated resumes, prepare comprehensive portfolios, and stay informed about industry developments. Professional networking, both online and offline, plays a crucial role in discovering opportunities and advancing careers in the city.

The future of Davao's job market looks promising, with emerging industries creating new employment opportunities. The city's commitment to economic development, coupled with its strategic location and robust infrastructure, continues to attract businesses and investors, ensuring a steady stream of job opportunities for qualified candidates.

Whether seeking full-time employment or part-time job in Davao City offers a diverse range of opportunities across multiple industries. Success in this dynamic job market often comes to those who combine proper preparation with continuous skill development and effective networking. As the city continues to grow and evolve, its job market remains a beacon of opportunity for professionals seeking to build meaningful careers in Mindanao's premier business hub.

[gqattech]

Why POS Testing is Crucial for Flawless Retail Operations

In the fast-moving world of retail, Point of Sale (POS) systems are central to transactions, inventory management, and customer interface. If we want to keep POS systems working properly, it is important to ensure they run smoothly. A smooth POS system is necessary for a smooth customer experience and a smooth operation. Here at GQAT TECH, we are experts in POS testing so businesses can eliminate costly interruptions to their business and have more reliability with their POS. This blog will look at why POS testing is important and how it will improve your business for retail operations.

What is POS Testing?

Testing a POS enables extensive testing of the working capabilities, functionality, performance, security, and interoperability of the POS to be tested in the real world as a functional and transactional system. POS comprises hardware such as card readers, scanners, and computer devices, and POS software that processes payments and often manages inventories. POS need to be tested to process high transaction volumes, interact with other systems, and satisfy industry standard security compliance.

Why POS Testing Matters

1. Ensuring Transaction Completeness

A single mistake made within a POS can generate incorrect customer charges, inventory discrepancies, or processes that don't reach completion. One mistake can frustrate your customers, disgruntle your employees, or derail UX. Proper POS testing can ensure that your processes (whether they include cash, credit cards, mobile payments, or gift cards) will function correctly.

2. Testing system robustness

The retail environment can be harsh. Depending on the season, your POS may process thousands of transactions each day. Performance testing will verify that your POS is sufficient to process peak loads and act to mitigate crashing or performance degradation when it counts the most (e.g., during a holiday sale).

3. Protecting Customer Information

As cyber threats grow in number and sophistication, protecting customers' sensitive information, including their credit card information, is paramount. Security testing will find weaknesses in your POS systems with the goal of satisfying standards and requirements (i.e., PCI DSS) and identifying and eliminating risks to customer data exposure.

4. Ensuring integration & compatibility with other systems

A POS often resides at the intersection of multiple systems (inventory management system, CRM, accounting system, etc.). Even testing limits can identify different systems interacting with your POS, ensuring that an isolated application does not disrupt a chain that could lead to other separate systems eventually failing to receive data.

5. Increasing Customer Satisfaction

A gap in your checkout process can diminish customer satisfaction (a focus for your company). Testing usability and responsiveness will ensure your staff understands how to use the POS, as customers experience an intuitive, fast, and error-free transaction with your store.

Key Types of POS Testing

Our testing services include all types of testing you may need for your cash register and/or POS system. Here are some examples of the types of testing we provide:  

Functional Testing: Testing all of the functionalities (payment processing, refunds, discounts, etc.) to make sure everything works correctly.  

Performance Testing: Testing to understand your solution's reliability in peak transaction situations, or under stress.  

Security Testing: Testing for gaps in security so you can protect customer data and compliance.  

Compatibility Testing: Testing all the devices, operating systems, and integrations that the cash register and or POS system will have.  

Usability Testing: Testing how easy it is to use for the associates and customers. 

Regression Testing: Testing how the changes or new upgrades could impact existing functionality.

Why Choose GQATTech for POS Testing?

At GQATTech, we bring years of knowledge and expertise in the industry and cutting-edge testing procedures to deliver reliable, scalable, and secure POS, in-store experiences, and omnichannel solutions. Our dedicated team of testers uses both manual testing and automated testing to identify defects early, saving you time and money. Whether you are upgrading, replacing, integrating, or rolling out a new POS system, the test services that we design and conduct for you can ensure a positive experience and that the systems work as they should.

Conclusion

In our view, a comprehensive approach to POS testing is not just about checking boxes or even about each and every defect. It is really about all the components that contribute to customer confidence, operational efficiencies, or staying ahead (or even just keeping up) with the competition. From our perspective, if you can achieve true testing goals by hiring GQATTech and using our knowledge and expertise, we can assist with each of these aspirations. Visit us at gqattech.com/pos-testing/ to discover how we can assist your organization.

Are you prepared to examine what we can do for your POS, in-store experience, or omnichannel performance? We are committed to accomplishing that today! Reach out to us to discuss your testing requirements!

Visit Us: https://gqattech.com Contact Us: info@gqattech.com

[stockmanagement]

3 Tips to Improve Your Company Inventory Management

Managing inventory efficiently is one of the most important aspects of running a successful business. Whether you're selling physical goods online, in a store or through wholesale channels, how you track and replenish your stock can make or break your operations. Poor inventory practices lead to overstock, stockouts, wasted resources and unhappy customers. Fortunately, there are straightforward strategies you can adopt to improve your situation.

1. Keep Real-Time Stock Updates

One of the most effective ways to streamline inventory control is by having access to real-time data. Relying on outdated spreadsheets or manual counts often leads to miscommunication and errors. Instead, consider using tools that provide live updates whenever stock is received, moved or sold. This kind of visibility ensures you're not caught off guard by a sudden shortage or surplus and helps your team make quicker, more informed decisions.

2. Use An Inventory Management Platform

Adopting inventory management software can transform how your business handles stock. This technology automates various tasks, including tracking inventory levels, generating reports and synchronizing data across multiple channels. It also helps reduce human error, improves accuracy and saves time. Some software options even offer forecasting tools that help you prepare for seasonal demand or sales trends. Whether you're a small business or an enterprise, having a reliable system in place can prevent costly mistakes.

3. Regularly Audit Your Inventory

No matter how advanced your systems are, it’s still essential to physically count your inventory from time to time. Regular audits, whether weekly, monthly or quarterly, can help spot discrepancies early. These checks keep your records accurate and help identify patterns or recurring issues, such as damaged goods or supplier inconsistencies.

Final Thoughts

Improving your inventory management doesn’t have to be overwhelming. By implementing simple changes, such as real-time tracking, routine audits and utilizing inventory management software, you can gain better control over your stock, reduce waste and enhance customer satisfaction. With the right approach, your inventory can become a powerful asset instead of a daily headache.

Read a similar article about ChannelAdvisor alternative here at this page.

[billmade]

Inventory management software in India

It is a software system that helps small business to maintain a optimum inventory levels and adapts insightful reports to help you manage your business efficiently. It also helps you to reduce inventory cost without worrying of overstock or under-stock.

[asestimationsconsultants]

Exploring Non-Construction Industries That Benefit from an Estimating Service

Introduction Estimating services are often associated with the construction industry, but their value extends well beyond that. Various non-construction industries can also leverage estimating services to streamline operations, improve financial forecasting, and enhance decision-making processes. Whether it’s manufacturing, healthcare, or technology, estimating services can bring significant benefits across different sectors.

Manufacturing and Production In manufacturing, accurate cost estimates are crucial for ensuring that products are made efficiently and profitably. Estimating services help manufacturers predict the costs of raw materials, labor, machinery, and overhead. This level of precision helps businesses remain competitive by optimizing production costs, ensuring that they do not exceed budget constraints. By forecasting the costs associated with each step of the production process, manufacturers can identify areas where improvements or cost-saving measures are possible.

Healthcare and Medical Equipment The healthcare industry, particularly in medical equipment manufacturing and hospital construction, relies heavily on estimating services. Accurate cost estimates allow hospitals and medical institutions to plan their budgets effectively, whether for building new facilities or purchasing new equipment. Estimating services help predict the cost of materials, labor, and operational costs for both new construction and renovations. Additionally, in the medical equipment sector, estimating services can aid in forecasting production costs, allowing manufacturers to price their products appropriately while remaining competitive.

Technology and Software Development In technology and software development, estimating services are used to predict the cost of developing a product or service. From initial concept to finished product, accurate cost estimates help companies manage their budgets, allocate resources efficiently, and avoid cost overruns. Estimating services can also aid in predicting the cost of integrating new technologies, purchasing necessary software, and staffing requirements. The ability to accurately forecast costs at each stage of development helps companies stay on track and ensure that they deliver their products on time and within budget.

Retail and E-commerce Retailers and e-commerce businesses benefit from estimating services when it comes to inventory management and supply chain optimization. By predicting the costs associated with manufacturing, shipping, and stocking products, estimating services help businesses ensure that they can fulfill customer demand without overspending. Accurate cost estimates help these businesses negotiate better deals with suppliers and distributors, while also enabling them to plan for seasonal fluctuations in demand.

Energy and Utilities Energy companies, especially those involved in renewable energy projects or infrastructure upgrades, rely on estimating services for cost forecasting. Estimators help predict the costs of materials, labor, permits, and equipment required for energy infrastructure projects. Whether it's a solar power farm or the installation of new pipelines, estimating services provide valuable insights that help project teams stay within budget and avoid unforeseen expenses. These services are particularly important in the energy sector, where projects can span multiple years and involve complex logistical considerations.

Government and Public Sector Projects The government sector is another area where estimating services can be invaluable. Whether it’s for infrastructure projects, public building renovations, or the implementation of new programs, estimating services help public agencies create accurate budgets, allocate resources, and ensure that projects are completed on time and within budget. Accurate cost estimates are essential for ensuring taxpayer money is spent wisely and that public projects deliver on their promises without financial mismanagement.

Education and Institutional Planning In the education sector, estimating services are used to forecast the costs of building new campuses, upgrading existing facilities, or implementing educational programs. Schools and universities rely on estimating services to plan budgets for construction, technology upgrades, and educational resources. Accurate estimates help administrators make informed decisions about allocating funds for new programs, expanding infrastructure, or making campus-wide improvements.

Transportation and Logistics In the transportation and logistics industry, estimating services help companies predict the costs of fleet maintenance, fuel, and shipping operations. By forecasting transportation-related costs, companies can optimize their supply chains, negotiate better rates with suppliers and partners, and ensure that they are pricing their services competitively. Estimating services also assist in the planning of major transportation infrastructure projects, such as highways, railways, and ports, where accurate cost predictions are essential for securing funding and staying within budget.

Food Production and Agriculture Agriculture and food production industries benefit from estimating services by predicting the costs of raw materials, labor, equipment, and transportation. Accurate cost forecasting ensures that businesses can price their products effectively, avoid overproduction, and maintain profitability. Estimating services also help agricultural businesses plan for seasonal fluctuations in production costs, allowing them to adapt to market demands and mitigate financial risks.

Real Estate Development and Property Management While real estate development is often tied to construction, estimating services are equally valuable for property management companies. Estimators help property managers forecast maintenance costs, predict future capital expenditures, and create long-term financial plans for their portfolios. For real estate developers, estimating services offer insights into land acquisition costs, zoning regulations, and building costs, ensuring that they can effectively budget and avoid surprises during the development process.

Conclusion Estimating services are not limited to the construction industry. Non-construction sectors such as manufacturing, healthcare, technology, retail, energy, and others can also benefit from accurate cost forecasting. By incorporating estimating services into their financial and operational planning, businesses across industries can improve efficiency, reduce waste, and make smarter, more cost-effective decisions.

[muskantam]

POS Implementation

POS Implementation: A Comprehensive Guide

In today’s fast-paced retail and service environments, implementing a Point of Sale (POS) system can significantly streamline operations, enhance customer experience, and improve overall efficiency. Whether you’re upgrading from a traditional cash register or installing your first POS system, proper implementation is crucial to maximizing its benefits. This guide will walk you through the essential steps of POS implementation.

Step 1: Identify Business Needs

Before selecting a POS system, assessing your business requirements is important. Consider the following:

The size and type of your business.

Specific features you need (e.g., inventory tracking, customer loyalty programs).

Budget constraints.

Integration requirements with existing software and hardware.

Step 2: Choose the Right POS System

Not all POS systems are created equal. Here’s how to select one that fits your needs:

Research and compare various providers.

Look for scalability to accommodate future growth.

Ensure it supports multiple payment methods.

Check reviews and testimonials from similar businesses.

Step 3: Hardware and Software Setup

A POS system consists of hardware (like barcode scanners, receipt printers, and card readers) and software. Ensure you:

Acquire hardware compatible with your chosen POS software.

Install and configure the software according to your operational needs.

Test all components to ensure they work seamlessly together.

Step 4: Data Migration

If you’re transitioning from an older system, data migration is a critical step:

Back up your existing data.

Transfer inventory, sales history, and customer information to the new system.

Verify the accuracy of migrated data.

Step 5: Employee Training

Proper training ensures your team can effectively use the POS system:

Organize hands-on training sessions.

Provide user manuals and support materials.

Address common troubleshooting scenarios.

Step 6: Pilot Testing

Before full-scale implementation, conduct a pilot test:

Use the system in a controlled environment.

Monitor for any issues or inefficiencies.

Gather feedback from staff and customers.

Step 7: Go Live

Once testing is complete, it’s time to roll out the system:

Schedule the launch during a low-traffic period to minimize disruptions.

Ensure on-site support is available for the initial days.

Communicate the change to your team and customers.

Step 8: Monitor and Optimize

Implementation doesn’t end with the launch. Regular monitoring is essential:

Analyze performance metrics (e.g., transaction times, error rates).

Update the system as needed to fix bugs and improve features.

Seek ongoing feedback from employees and customers.

Conclusion

Implementing a POS system is an investment in your business's future. With proper planning and execution, it can simplify daily operations, enhance customer satisfaction, and drive growth. By following the steps outlined above, you can ensure a smooth and successful implementation.

[gleecus-techlabs-blogs]

To keep up with the fast-changing market today, every industry needs to evolve and adapt. Retail, for instance, has been transforming digitally to stay connected with customers and keep up with the latest trends. As part of this transformation, DevOps has emerged as a popular practice that bridges the gap between software development and IT operations. Retailers are leveraging DevOps to boost productivity and achieve higher quality and innovation, which is why it ranks third in the DevOps application market.

[mostlysignssomeportents]

Cars bricked by bankrupt EV company will stay bricked

On OCTOBER 23 at 7PM, I'll be in DECATUR, presenting my novel THE BEZZLE at EAGLE EYE BOOKS.

There are few phrases in the modern lexicon more accursed than "software-based car," and yet, this is how the failed EV maker Fisker billed its products, which retailed for $40-70k in the few short years before the company collapsed, shut down its servers, and degraded all those "software-based cars":

https://insideevs.com/news/723669/fisker-inc-bankruptcy-chapter-11-official/

Fisker billed itself as a "capital light" manufacturer, meaning that it didn't particularly make anything – rather, it "designed" cars that other companies built, allowing Fisker to focus on "experience," which is where the "software-based car" comes in. Virtually every subsystem in a Fisker car needs (or rather, needed) to periodically connect with its servers, either for regular operations or diagnostics and repair, creating frequent problems with brakes, airbags, shifting, battery management, locking and unlocking the doors:

https://www.businessinsider.com/fisker-owners-worry-about-vehicles-working-bankruptcy-2024-4

Since Fisker's bankruptcy, people with even minor problems with their Fisker EVs have found themselves owning expensive, inert lumps of conflict minerals and auto-loan debt; as one Fisker owner described it, "It's literally a lawn ornament right now":

https://www.businessinsider.com/fisker-owners-describe-chaos-to-keep-cars-running-after-bankruptcy-2024-7

This is, in many ways, typical Internet-of-Shit nonsense, but it's compounded by Fisker's capital light, all-outsource model, which led to extremely unreliable vehicles that have been plagued by recalls. The bankrupt company has proposed that vehicle owners should have to pay cash for these recalls, in order to reserve the company's capital for its creditors – a plan that is clearly illegal:

https://www.veritaglobal.net/fisker/document/2411390241007000000000005

This isn't even the first time Fisker has done this! Ten years ago, founder Henrik Fisker started another EV company called Fisker Automotive, which went bankrupt in 2014, leaving the company's "Karma" (no, really) long-range EVs (which were unreliable and prone to bursting into flames) in limbo:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fisker_Karma

Which raises the question: why did investors reward Fisker's initial incompetence by piling in for a second attempt? I think the answer lies in the very factor that has made Fisker's failure so hard on its customers: the "software-based car." Investors love the sound of a "software-based car" because they understand that a gadget that is connected to the cloud is ripe for rent-extraction, because with software comes a bundle of "IP rights" that let the company control its customers, critics and competitors:

https://locusmag.com/2020/09/cory-doctorow-ip/

A "software-based car" gets to mobilize the state to enforce its "IP," which allows it to force its customers to use authorized mechanics (who can, in turn, be price-gouged for licensing and diagnostic tools). "IP" can be used to shut down manufacturers of third party parts. "IP" allows manufacturers to revoke features that came with your car and charge you a monthly subscription fee for them. All sorts of features can be sold as downloadable content, and clawed back when title to the car changes hands, so that the new owners have to buy them again. "Software based cars" are easier to repo, making them perfect for the subprime auto-lending industry. And of course, "software-based cars" can gather much more surveillance data on drivers, which can be sold to sleazy, unregulated data-brokers:

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

Unsurprisingly, there's a large number of Fisker cars that never sold, which the bankruptcy estate is seeking a buyer for. For a minute there, it looked like they'd found one: American Lease, which was looking to acquire the deadstock Fiskers for use as leased fleet cars. But now that deal seems dead, because no one can figure out how to restart Fisker's servers, and these vehicles are bricks without server access:

https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/08/fisker-bankruptcy-hits-major-speed-bump-as-fleet-sale-is-now-in-question/

It's hard to say why the company's servers are so intransigent, but there's a clue in the chaotic way that the company wound down its affairs. The company's final days sound like a scene from the last days of the German Democratic Republic, with apparats from the failing state charging about in chaos, without any plans for keeping things running:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/03/07/east-germany-stasi-surveillance-documents/

As it imploded, Fisker cycled through a string of Chief Financial officers, losing track of millions of dollars at a time:

https://techcrunch.com/2024/05/31/fisker-collapse-investigation-ev-ocean-suv-henrik-geeta/

When Fisker's landlord regained possession of its HQ, they found "complete disarray," including improperly stored drums of toxic waste:

https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/05/fiskers-hq-abandoned-in-complete-disarray-with-apparent-hazardous-waste-clay-models-left-behind/

And while Fisker's implosion is particularly messy, the fact that it landed in bankruptcy is entirely unexceptional. Most businesses fail (eventually) and most startups fail (quickly). Despite this, businesses – even those in heavily regulated sectors like automotive regulation – are allowed to design products and undertake operations that are not designed to outlast the (likely short-lived) company.

After the 2008 crisis and the collapse of financial institutions like Lehman Brothers, finance regulators acquired a renewed interest in succession planning. Lehman consisted of over 6,000 separate corporate entities, each one representing a bid to evade regulation and/or taxation. Unwinding that complex hairball took years, during which the entities that entrusted Lehman with their funds – pensions, charitable institutions, etc – were unable to access their money.

To avoid repeats of this catastrophe, regulators began to insist that banks produce "living wills" – plans for unwinding their affairs in the event of catastrophe. They had to undertake "stress tests" that simulated a wind-down as planned, both to make sure the plan worked and to estimate how long it would take to execute. Then banks were required to set aside sufficient capital to keep the lights on while the plan ran on.

This regulation has been indifferently enforced. Banks spent the intervening years insisting that they are capable of prudently self-regulating without all this interference, something they continue to insist upon even after the Silicon Valley Bank collapse:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/03/15/mon-dieu-les-guillotines/#ceci-nes-pas-une-bailout

The fact that the rules haven't been enforced tells us nothing about whether the rules would work if they were enforced. A string of high-profile bankruptcies of companies who had no succession plans and whose collapse stands to materially harm large numbers of people tells us that something has to be done about this.

Take 23andme, the creepy genomics company that enticed millions of people into sending them their genetic material (even if you aren't a 23andme customer, they probably have most of your genome, thanks to relatives who sent in cheek-swabs). 23andme is now bankrupt, and its bankruptcy estate is shopping for a buyer who'd like to commercially exploit all that juicy genetic data, even if that is to the detriment of the people it came from. What's more, the bankruptcy estate is refusing to destroy samples from people who want to opt out of this future sale:

https://bourniquelaw.com/2024/10/09/data-23-and-me/

On a smaller scale, there's Juicebox, a company that makes EV chargers, who are exiting the North American market and shutting down their servers, killing the advanced functionality that customers paid extra for when they chose a Juicebox product:

https://www.theverge.com/2024/10/2/24260316/juicebox-ev-chargers-enel-x-way-closing-discontinued-app

I actually owned a Juicebox, which ultimately caught fire and melted down, either due to a manufacturing defect or to the criminal ineptitude of Treeium, the worst solar installers in Southern California (or both):

https://pluralistic.net/2024/01/27/here-comes-the-sun-king/#sign-here

Projects like Juice Rescue are trying to reverse-engineer the Juicebox server infrastructure and build an alternative:

https://juice-rescue.org/

This would be much simpler if Juicebox's manufacturer, Enel X Way, had been required to file a living will that explained how its customers would go on enjoying their property when and if the company discontinued support, exited the market, or went bankrupt.

That might be a big lift for every little tech startup (though it would be superior than trying to get justice after the company fails). But in regulated sectors like automotive manufacture or genomic analysis, a regulation that says, "Either design your products and services to fail safely, or escrow enough cash to keep the lights on for the duration of an orderly wind-down in the event that you shut down" would be perfectly reasonable. Companies could make "software based cars" but the more "software based" the car was, the more funds they'd have to escrow to transition their servers when they shut down (and the lest capital they'd have to build the car).

Such a rule should be in addition to more muscular rules simply banning the most abusive practices, like the Oregon state Right to Repair bill, which bans the "parts pairing" that makes repairing a Fisker car so onerous:

https://www.theverge.com/2024/3/27/24097042/right-to-repair-law-oregon-sb1596-parts-pairing-tina-kotek-signed

Or the Illinois state biometric privacy law, which strictly limits the use of the kind of genomic data that 23andme collected:

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=3004

Failing to take action on these abusive practices is dangerous – and not just to the people who get burned by them. Every time a genomics research project turns into a privacy nightmare, that salts the earth for future medical research, making it much harder to conduct population-scale research, which can be carried out in privacy-preserving ways, and which pays huge scientific dividends that we all benefit from:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/10/01/the-palantir-will-see-you-now/#public-private-partnership

Just as Fisker's outrageous ripoff will make life harder for good cleantech companies:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/06/26/unplanned-obsolescence/#better-micetraps

If people are convinced that new, climate-friendly tech is a cesspool of grift and extraction, it will punish those firms that are making routine, breathtaking, exciting (and extremely vital) breakthroughs:

https://www.euronews.com/green/2024/10/08/norways-national-football-stadium-has-the-worlds-largest-vertical-solar-roof-how-does-it-w

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/2024/10/10/software-based-car/#based

[mariacallous]

Today, the US Federal Trade Commission filed a lawsuit against farming equipment manufacturer Deere & Company—makers of the iconic green John Deere tractors, harvesters, and mowers—citing its longtime reluctance to keep its customers from fixing their own machines.

“Farmers rely on their agricultural equipment to earn a living and feed their families,” FTC chair Lina Khan wrote in a statement alongside the full complaint. “Unfair repair restrictions can mean farmers face unnecessary delays during tight planting and harvest windows.”

The FTC’s main complaint here centers around a software problem. Deere places limitations on its operational software, meaning certain features and calibrations on its tractors can only be unlocked by mechanics who have the right digital key. Deere only licenses those keys to its authorized dealers, meaning farmers often can’t take their tractors to more convenient third-party mechanics or just fix a problem themselves. The suit would require John Deere to stop the practice of limiting what repair features its customers can use and make them available to those outside official dealerships.

Kyle Wiens is the CEO of the repair advocacy retailer iFixit and an occasional WIRED contributor who first wrote about John Deere’s repair-averse tactics in 2015. In an interview today, he noted how frustrated farmers get when they try to fix something that has gone wrong, only to run into Deere's policy.

“When you have a thing that doesn’t work, if you’re 10 minutes from the store, it’s not a big deal,” Wiens says. “If the store is three hours away, which it is for farmers in most of the country, it’s a huge problem.”

The other difficulty is that US copyright protections prevent anyone but John Deere from making software that counteracts the restrictions the company has put on its platform. Section 1201 of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998 makes it so people can’t legally counteract technological measures that fall under its protections. John Deere’s equipment falls under that copyright policy.

“Not only are they being anti-competitive, it's literally illegal to compete with them,” Wiens says.

Deere in the Headlights

Wiens says that even though there has been a decade of pushback against John Deere from farmers and repairability advocates, the customers using the company’s machines have not seen much benefit from all that discourse.

“Things really have not gotten better for farmers,” Wiens says. “Even with all of the noise around a right to repair over the years, nothing has materially changed for farmers on the ground yet.”

This suit against Deere, he thinks, will be different.

“This has to be the thing that does it,” Wiens says. “The FTC is not going to settle until John Deere makes the software available. This is a step in the right direction.”

Deere’s reluctance to make its products more accessible has angered many of its customers, and even garnered generally bipartisan congressional support for reparability in the agricultural space. The FTC alleges John Deere also violated legislation passed by the Colorado state government in 2023 that requires farm equipment sold in the state to make operational software accessible to users.

“Deere’s unlawful business practices have inflated farmers’ repair costs and degraded farmers’ ability to obtain timely repairs,” the suit reads.

Deere & Company did not respond to a request for comment for this story. Instead, the company forwarded its statement about the FTC's lawsuit. The statement reads, in part: “Deere remains fully committed to ensuring that customers have the highest quality equipment, reliable customer service and that they, along with independent repair technicians, have access to tools and resources that can help diagnose, maintain and repair our customers’ machines. Deere’s commitment to these ideals will not waiver even as it fights against the FTC’s meritless claims.”

Elsewhere in the statement, Deere accused the FTC of "brazen partisanship" filed on the "eve of a change in administration" from chair Lina Khan to FTC Commissioner Andrew Ferguson. The company also pointed to an announcement, made yesterday, about an expansion to its repairability program that lets independent technicians reprogram the electronic controllers on Deere equipment.

Nathan Proctor, senior director for the Campaign for the Right to Repair at the advocacy group US PIRG, wrote a statement lauding the FTC’s decision. He thinks this case, no matter how it turns out, will be a positive step for the right to repair movement more broadly.

“I think this discovery process will paint a picture that will make it very clear that their equipment is programmed to monopolize certain repair functions,” Proctor tells WIRED. “And I expect that Deere will either fix the problem or pay the price. I don’t know how long that is going to take. But this is such an important milestone, because once the genie’s out of the bottle, there’s no getting it back in.”

[reality-detective]

Q Phone or named Pi phone - Information and video demonstration

Say goodbye to all our 'spy phones'.

Then we can get rid of those ugly and dangerous cell towers everywhere.

The Q phone has been developed and manufactured in Germany and the UK with final software updates in the US.

This smartphone is three-dimensional and of the highest quality.

It will become one of the main credit tools and most urgent expenditures in daily life for retail consumption and domestic and international commercial business. and is a subserver to exploit and maintain the quantum system with Stellar + Starlink.

This is a $500 billion manufacturing operation in three countries. And some other countries like Japan..

They are built in various warehouses around the world. Q phones will be delivered free of charge to everyone in the world.

This Quantum Space Q Phone will be used for internet connectivity...texting and calling...banking...voting and more.

It has a 3D interactive holographic display. (watch video)

QFS will create a private Internet network running on triple code and perhaps an 8G network for SATCOM. 🤔

[askagamedev]

Summer 2025 Game Development Student Internship Roundup, Part 2

Internship recruiting season has begun for some large game publishers and developers. This means that a number of internship opportunities for summer 2025 have been posted and will be collecting applicants. Internships are a great way to earn some experience in a professional environment and to get mentorship from those of us in the trenches. If you’re a student and you have an interest in game development as a career, you should absolutely look into these.

This is part 2 of this year's internship roundup. [Click here for part 1].

Associate Development Manager Co-op/Internship - Summer 2025 (Sports FC QV)

Game Product Manager Intern (Summer 2025)

Music Intern

EA Sports FC Franchise Activation Intern

Associate Character Artist Intern

Client Engineer Intern

Visual Effects Co-Op

Associate Environment Artist Co-Op (Summer 2025)

Game Design Intern (Summer 2025)

Game Design Co-Op (Summer 2025)

Concept Art Intern - Summer 2025

UI Artist Intern - Summer 2025 (Apex Legends)

Assistant Development Manager Intern

Global Audit Intern

Creator Partnerships Intern - Summer 2025

Technical Environment Art Intern - Summer 2025 (Apex Legends)

Intern, FC Franchise Activation, UKI

Tech Art Intern - Summer 2025 (Apex Legends)

Software Engineer Intern

UI Artist Intern

Game Designer Intern

FC Franchise Activation Intern

Software Engineer Intern

Product UX/UI Designer

Software Engineer Intern

Enterprise, Experiences FP&A Intern

Game Designer Intern

Software Engineer Intern

Development Manager Co-Op (Summer 2025)

Software Engineer Intern

PhD Software Engineer Intern

Character Artist Intern

2D Artist Intern - Summer 2025

Software Engineer Intern (UI)

Entertainment FP&A Intern

Game Design Co-Op (Summer 2025)

Data Science Intern

Production Manager Intern

Software Engineer Intern

Channel Delivery Intern

FC Pro League Operations Intern

World Artist Intern

Experience Design Co-Op

Media and Lifecycle Planning Intern

Software Engineer Intern - Summer 2025

Software Engineer Intern - Summer 2025

Intern, FC Franchise Activation, North America

Creative Copywriter Intern

Game Design Intern

Social Community Manager Co-Op

Business Intelligence Intern

Software Engineer Intern (F1)

Total Rewards Intern - MBA level

Intern - Office Administration

Digital Communication Assistant – Internship (6 months) february/march 2025 (W/M/NB)

International Events Assistant - Stage (6 mois) Janvier 2025 (H/F/NB)

Intern Cinematic Animator

Research Internship (F/M/NB) - Neural Textures for Complex Materials - La Forge

Research Internship (F/M/NB) - Efficient Neural Representation of Large-Scale Environments - La Forge

Research Internship (F/M/NB) – High-Dimensional Inputs for RL agents in Dynamic Video Games Environments - La Forge

Research Internship (F/M/NB) – Crafting NPCs & Bots behaviors with LLM/VLM - La Forge

3D Art Intern

Gameplay Programmer Intern

Intern Game Tester

Etudes Stratégiques Marketing – Stage (6 mois) Janvier 2025 (F/H/NB)

Localization Assistant– Stage (6 mois) Avril 2025 (F/H/NB)

Fraud & Analyst Assistant - Stage (6 mois) Janvier 2025 (F/H/NB)

Payment & Analyst Assistant - Stage (6 mois) Janvier 2025 (F/H/NB)

Media Assistant – Stage (6 mois) Janvier 2025 (F/H/NB)

IT Buyer Assistant - Alternance (12 mois) Mars 2025 (H/F/NB)

Event Coordinator Assistant - Stage (6 mois) Janvier 2025 (H/F/NB)

Communication & PR Assistant - Stage (6 mois) Janvier 2025 (F/H/NB)

Brand Manager Assistant - MARKETING DAY - Stage (6 mois) Janvier 2025 (F/N/NB)

Manufacturing Planning & Products Development Assistant - Stage (6 mois) Janvier 2025 (H/F/NB)

Retail Analyst & Sales Administration Assistant - Stage (6 mois) Janvier 2025 (H/F/NB)

UI Designer Assistant - Stage (6 mois) Janvier 2025 (F/M/NB)

Esports Communication Assistant

Machine Learning Engineer Assistant – Stage (6 mois) Janvier/Mars 2025 (F/H/NB)

Social Media Assistant – Stage (6 mois) Janvier 2025 (F/H/NB)

[watchmorecinema]

The story of Microsoft's meteoric rise and IBM's fall has been on my mind lately. Not really related to any film, but I do think we're overdue for an updated Pirates of Silicon Valley biopic. I really think that the 80's and 90's had some wild stories in computing.

If you ask the average person what operating system your computer could have they'd say that if it's a PC it has Windows, and if it's a Mac it has macOS. All home computers are Macs or PCs, but how did it get this way?

In the 70's everyone was making home computers. Tandy was a leather supply goods company established in 1919, but they made computers. Montgomery Ward was a retail chain that decided to make their own store brand computers. Commodore, Atari, NEC, Philips, Bally and a million other assorted companies were selling computers. They generally couldn't talk to each other (if you had software for your Tandy it wouldn't work on your Commodore) and there was no clear market winner. The big three though were Tandy (yeah the leather company made some great computers in 78), Commodore and Apple.

IBM was the biggest computer company of all, in fact just the biggest company period. In 1980 they had a market cap of 128 billion dollars (adjusted for inflation). None of these other companies came close, but IBM's success was built off of mainframes. 70% of all computers sold worldwide were IBM computers, but 0% of it was from the home market.

IBM wanted to get into this growing and lucrative business, and came up with a unique plan. A cheap computer made with commodity parts (i.e. not cutting edge) that had open architecture. The plan was that you could buy an IBM Personal Computer (TM) and then upgrade it as you please. They even published documentation to make it easy to build add ons.

The hope was that people would be attracted to the low prices, the options for upgrades would work for power users, and a secondary market of add ons would be created. If some 3rd party company creates the best graphics card of all time, well you'd still need to buy an IBM PC to install it on.

IBM was not in the home software business, so they went to Microsoft. Microsoft produced MS-DOS (based on 86-DOS, which they licensed) but did not enforce exclusivity. That meant that Microsoft could sell MS-DOS for any of their competitors too. This was fine because of how fractured the market was. Remember, there were a lot of competitors, no one system dominated and none of the competitors could share software. Porting MS-DOS to every computer would have taken years, and by that point it would be outdated anyways.

IBM saw two paths forward. If the IBM PC did well they would make a ton of money. Third party devs like Microsoft would also make a lot of money, but not as much as IBM. If it failed, well then no one was making money. Either way the balance of power wouldn't change. IBM would still be at the top.

IBM however did not enjoy massive profits. It turns out that having cheap components and an open architecture where you could replace anything would... let you replace anything. A company like Compaq could just buy their own RAM, motherboards, cases, hard drives, etc. and make their own knockoff. It was easy, it was popular, and it was completely legal! Some people could order parts and build their own computer from scratch. If you've ever wondered why you can build your own computer but not your own tv or toaster, this is why. IBM had accidentally created a de facto standard that they had no control over.

In 1981 IBM's PC was worth 2.5% of the marketshare. By 1995 IBM PC compatibles were 95% of the marketshare, selling over 45 million units and IBM had to share the profits with every competitor. Apple is the only survivor of this time because the Macintosh was such an incredible piece of technology, but that's a different story for a different time.

And Microsoft? Well building an OS is much harder than putting together a few hardware components, so everyone just bought MS-DOS. With no exclusivity agreement this was also legal. That huge marketshare was now the basis for Microsoft's dominance.

IBM created a computer standard and gave the blueprints to every competitor and created a monopoly for Microsoft to boot. And that's why every computer you buy either is made by Apple with Apple software, or made by anyone else with Microsoft software. IBM is back where they started, having left the home computer business in 2005.

It's easily the biggest blunder in computer history. Other blunders have killed companies but none were quite as impactful as this one.

This story, and many others I know of, I first read in "In Search of Stupidity", a book authored by a former programmer and product manager that was able to see a lot of this first hand. I make no money advertising this book, I just had a great time reading it.

[betterbooktitles]

The screen I spend the most time with these days is a black LCD monitor attached to a PC in an indie bookshop on Long Island. I spend whole days looking at point-of-sale software called Anthology which also keeps track of the store’s inventory. Often, it’s accurate. Occasionally, it says we have three copies of The Bell Jar that have simply disappeared from the face of the Earth. No one stole them. They were raptured, like socks that never make it out of the dryer.

If you’ve never worked a retail job, let me tell you what it’s like: you come in with a little spring in your step, caffeinated, and ready to greet your coworkers and update them on how terrible your last shift without them was. Though the memory of the previous shift’s slog might give you a little anxiety, and though a hangover can make your fuse a little short, you’re in a better mood at the start of the day than at the end. Tedious tasks like ordering and unboxing books (sci-fi movies did not prepare me for how much cardboard there would be in the future) seem manageable in the morning. Customers seem kind. The items you’re selling feel necessary to human happiness. Whatever is going on in your life is put on pause to manage store operations, and time flies. Then, by 3 PM, whether you had time for lunch or not, you wish you had done anything else with your day — or, better yet — your life. 

While the back-straining work of moving inventory around the store or walking the floor helping customers all day without a second to sit down might make you physically tired, the real work of retail is mental and forces employees to become part-machine. Retail workers have to ask the same three questions (“Rewards?” “Bag?” “Receipt?”) and reply to the same three questions (“Have it?” “Bathroom?” “Manager?!?!?”) for 8-10 of their most worthwhile waking hours. 

In bookstores, there is the added expectation that while you’re participating in this mind-numbing routine, you’re at least able to pretend to like and engage with literature. I'm not arguing that people working at Old Navy aren’t eloquent or as over-educated for their job as I am. If they aren’t teenagers, most retail employees I’ve encountered have, by virtue of talking to coworkers and customers all day, the same high emotional intelligence as the smartest people I know who chain smoke outside bars. Still, my guess is that it’s rare for a customer to see a clothing store employee folding clothes, and think “I wonder what their opinion is of the latest Ann Patchett book” or “I wonder if they read Knausgård and run a book club when they’re not helping me find jeans in my size.” People see booksellers doing the same tedious tasks as any other retail employee and assume they not only possess unlimited knowledge about the state of publishing but also have unlimited hours to read while in the store. Customers hold booksellers to an impossible intellectual standard. When they fail to live up to said standard, they’re subjected to conversations like this:

“You haven’t read the latest Kingsolver?” a customer will ask, “Why not? What about this one? Or that one? It’s so good though! I thought you would have read all of these!” 

What’s a shame is that they think they’re being kind when they half-recommend, half-admonish bookstore employees. Worse are the people who are flat-out rude. Case in point, a man came into the store at hour six of my shift, and without any preamble, treating me like I was a human Google search bar, said the name of an author, then started spelling the name. When I asked for a second to look up what I assumed he was asking for, he rolled his eyes and began spelling slowly and loudly: “PAUL. P…A…U…” 

Sadly, I’m too old to be treated that way and without thinking I raised my hand and said sternly “Don’t do that.” Now some oblivious retired banker is walking around Long Island asking himself why indie booksellers are so mean. My Midwestern niceness has disappeared, my helpful attitude is now nonexistent. I have been worn down by the people I’m paid to be kind to.

Read the rest here.

[billmade]

Retail POS software in India

It is a POS software designed to handle all payments done by customers through online modes such as Gpay, Phonepe, paytm, swipe debit and credit cards in daily business operations. Today modern POS systems are fully digital, which check out a customer wherever you are.

[brookspayrolleor]

EOR Companies in India: Why Brookspayroll is Your Ideal Partner for Global Hiring

As global hiring continues to evolve, Employer of Record (EOR) services have become a game-changer for companies looking to expand into new markets without the burden of setting up a legal entity. For businesses targeting the fast-growing Indian talent pool, choosing the right EOR company in India is crucial.

Among the leading names in this space, Brookspayroll stands out as one of the most trusted and efficient EOR companies in India, offering comprehensive solutions that are both scalable and compliant.

What is an EOR and Why Do You Need One in India?

An Employer of Record (EOR) is a third-party organization that legally employs workers on your behalf. This means the EOR handles:

Employment contracts and onboarding

Local labor law compliance

Payroll and tax management

Statutory benefits and insurance

Termination and exit procedures

For companies expanding into India, using an EOR enables you to hire top talent without establishing a local entity. It’s faster, cost-effective, and reduces compliance risks.

Brookspayroll: Among the Top EOR Companies in India

Brookspayroll is a leading provider of EOR services in India, known for its accuracy, efficiency, and personalized HR support. Here's why companies worldwide trust Brookspayroll:

✅ 100% Legal Compliance

Brookspayroll ensures your hiring and HR operations fully comply with Indian labor laws, including PF, ESI, gratuity, income tax, and more.

✅ Fast and Flexible Hiring

Hire Indian employees in a matter of days. Brookspayroll provides ready-to-go infrastructure for fast onboarding — no red tape, no delays.

✅ Customized EOR Solutions

From full-time employees to remote workers and contractors, Brookspayroll tailors its EOR services based on your specific needs.

✅ Transparent Pricing

No hidden charges or unexpected fees. Brookspayroll offers clear and competitive pricing for all EOR services.

✅ Local Expertise + Global Standards

Brookspayroll combines deep local labor law expertise with global best practices, making it a perfect fit for international businesses.

Key Benefits of Partnering with Brookspayroll EOR Services in India

Hiring through Brookspayroll gives you:

🌐 Global Expansion Without Entity Setup

🧾 Simplified Payroll and Tax Filing

🛡️ Risk Mitigation and Legal Protection

🧑‍💼 HR and Benefits Administration

📈 Focus on Business, Not Bureaucracy

Whether you're a startup, mid-sized company, or enterprise, Brookspayroll’s EOR services in India streamline your hiring and ensure long-term stability.

Who Should Use EOR Services in India?

Brookspayroll's EOR services are ideal for:

International companies hiring Indian employees remotely

Startups testing the Indian market

Enterprises needing quick team scaling

Organizations without a registered business in India

By taking on the role of the legal employer, Brookspayroll allows you to operate compliantly and flexibly, while maintaining full control over your employees’ day-to-day work.

Industries Served by Brookspayroll

Brookspayroll serves a wide range of industries through its EOR platform:

IT and Software Development

Digital Marketing and Design

Finance and Consulting

E-commerce and Retail

Health and Wellness

Engineering and Manufacturing

Their tailored approach ensures sector-specific compliance and workforce strategies.

Why Brookspayroll is Among the Best EOR Companies in India

As one of the most reliable EOR companies in India, Brookspayroll offers:

✅ Local presence with national reach

✅ Expert team of HR, legal, and compliance professionals

✅ Advanced HR tech tools for seamless employee management

✅ 24/7 customer support

Brookspayroll doesn’t just handle employment — it empowers global businesses to scale efficiently in India.

Start Hiring in India Today with Brookspayroll

If you’re looking for a trusted partner to hire Indian talent quickly and compliantly, Brookspayroll is the go-to EOR company in India. Their end-to-end EOR solutions simplify the process of entering the Indian market while ensuring full compliance and transparency.

🔗 Contact Brookspayroll today to learn how we can support your global hiring goals!

[mysteryfleshpitnationalpark2]

Anodyne has made a good job on this👍👍👍

Only a few years ago, large data processing tasks were the domain of bulky, powerful, and expensive mainframe systems.

Now, in 1984, Anodyne has introduced the world's first desktop supercomputer. Utilizing state-of-the-art neural interface technology derived from the nervous tissue of the Permian Basin Superorganism, the AD-1 represents a new era in home & business computing.

How powerful is the AD-1?

Try 8 million floating-point operations per second. Not impressed?

Add 4 terabytes of Organic Tissue Memory (OTM) storage, 12 gigabytes of RAM, and in-built interfacing capability with every major software developer on the market.

If these don’t sell you on the AD-1, then the low price point and low maintenance costs will.

Contact your local computer retailer to schedule a demonstration of the AD-1.

*YOU CAN'T FIND A MORE POWERFUL COMPUTER... IN THIS CENTURY!!!.*