#room rental software

[qoreupsmarketplace]

Why Your Property Rental Business Needs Property Rental Software

Running a successful property rental business requires efficient management of reservations, inventory, and customer interactions. 

In today's digital age, leveraging technology is crucial to stay ahead of the competition. 

One powerful way that can transform your operations is property rental software. 

Let's explore why integrating software for rental property is a game-changer.

Global Visibility And Reach

Property rental software opens the door to a global audience. For instance, Airbnb boosts a vast user base, allowing property owners to showcase their listings to potential tenants worldwide.

This board reach significantly increased the chances of securing bookings and maximizing rental income.

Efficient Property Management

Managing multiple properties can be overwhelming without the right tools. That's where property rental management software comes in.

With property rental management software you can automate various tasks. Like booking confirmations, payment processing, and calendar updates.

This efficiency not only saves time but also reduces the risk of errors associated with manual management.

Enhanced Guest Experience

Customer satisfaction is paramount in the rental business. Property rental management software, inspired by platforms like Airbnb, often includes features that enhance the guest experience.

This may include online payment options and instant communication channels. A positive guest experience can lead to repeat bookings and positive reviews.

Dynamic Pricing Strategies

Property rental marketplaces often incorporate dynamic pricing algorithms rates based on demand, seasonality, and other factors. This ensures that property owners can maximize their revenue by adjusting prices according to market trends and demand fluctuations. 

Secure Payment Processing

One of the key concerns for property owners is secure and timely payment processing. Property rental software typically integrates secure payment gateways, providing peace of mind for both property owners and tenants. This helps build trust and credibility, essential in a competitive rental marketplace.

Streamlined Communication

Effective communication is vital in a property rental business. Property rental software facilitates seamless communication between property owners and tenants. Instant messaging features, notifications, and updates ensure that everyone is on the same page, reducing the likelihood of misunderstandings or disputes.

Data Analytics For Informed Decision-Making

Property rental marketplace platforms often offer data analytics tools that provide insights into occupancy rates, guest demographics, and revenue trends. This valuable information empowers property owners to make informed decisions, such as adjusting marketing strategies or optimizing property features based on guest preferences.

In conclusion, the integration of property rental software modeled after successful platforms like Airbnb is no longer a choice but a necessity for property rental businesses aiming for sustained growth and success. The advantages, ranging from global visibility and efficient management to enhanced guest experiences and data-driven decision-making, position these tools as indispensable assets in the competitive rental marketplace. As the industry continues to evolve, staying ahead of the curve with innovative software solutions is the key to not just surviving but thriving in the dynamic world of property rental.

[bravevolunteer]

breaking my silence. i really do not like the idea of the sister location warehouse being underneath the afton house

[phoenixyfriend]

Ko-Fi prompt from KemiKitty:

id enjoy hearing about concerts and ticket money if you want

Referencing my “how does this make money/how does this lose money” in this post.

Whoo! I actually really enjoy talking about money flow like this. Digging into examples like this helps with understanding the interconnectedness of the economic systems we inhabit, and with why things cost What They Do.

Disclaimer: I have not worked in this industry. I just majored in business, watch a lot of documentaries/video essays, and like to break down business and economic topics. When I got to performances, I try to figure these things out as an observer (dinner theater from watching Lindsey Sterling before she got super famous, more Traditional concerts at Staller Performing Arts center, Broadway shows) and asking questions of tour guides when at places like the Vienna Opera House.

Our Example: A moderately popular performer, in an enclosed performance space with a stage, fixed seating, and food service.

Let us consider a performer of middling popularity. They go on tours, but only in the lower 48 states, not yet internationally. They do single nights at an independent venue, which has either dinner tables or rows of audience seating. Let's say... 350 seats, in a middle-sized city, with $30/ticket on average, with wiggle room depending on seating, VIP passes, and discounts (groupons, senior, military, annual passes, etc).

So, who is getting paid, and who is paying?

Money coming into the venue, tied directly to this one event:

Tickets The people who came to this concert are paying for the tickets. 350 seats, at an average of $30/ticket, that's about $10,500. Most of this money does not go to the venue, but may pass through it, or leave a cut with it. (Depends on the ticketing software; we're saying this is an independent venue, not part of the ticketmaster situation, so it's a maybe.)

Food and drink The venue sells snacks, possibly full meals, if it's a dinner-and-show location. It may sell alcohol. It almost definitely sells drinks, maybe has vending machines if nothing else. If attendees cannot bring their own food and drink, and don't want to leave the building so they don't miss the show, then the venue can mark up the food they sell.

Merchandise Dependent on the type of merch and the venue, this may be a flat fee, where the performer puts down a few hundred dollars up front to set up a table for after the concert, or it might be taking a small cut of whatever is sold that night. They might not charge anything, but we'll include it as a likely avenue of income. I can see some kinder venues waiving the fee for newer, up-and-coming artists, but generally you can assume that the venue will take a cut.

Money flowing out of the venue, tied directly to this one event:

The Performer and their team The ticket costs will go primarily to the performer, their backup dancers/singers/band, their manager, and whatever fund they have for things other than wages, like a tour bus rental fee, the label, the driver, the night's post-concert laundry costs, and so on. The chances of all that money going to a single performer is very low; you can generally assume they have backup, management, additional costs, and someone pulling the strings. There are exceptions, like unaffiliated stand-up comedians or other, genuinely solo acts, but for the type of event I'm outlining, these are all contributing factors. Performers may bring their own lighting/sound techs. The venue also might provide their own. For a larger venue, I'd assume both are involved; one who knows the concert's program, and one who knows the venue's setup.

Venue staff The ushers, lighting/sound technicians, the bar staff, the cook, the janitor, security, and anyone else who is working night-of is getting paid. We can equate their pay to the money coming in from specifically the food and drink sales, along with tips for the waitstaff in particular. By this, I mean that the correlation is such that, should sales fall, the corresponding cut in costs is employee labor (the bar staff and cooks), rather than the performers (whose costs are calculated in relation to the money they bring in relating to the ticket sales).

Food and Drink Raw ingredients for the food, wholesale costs for the liquor, napkins, single-use straws, and so on.

Printed Programs Someone has to print the little booklet that tells you who's performing tonight, who's performing for the next few months, and anything else you need to know. If it's a big-name cultural center, they may even include some interviews! But ink is expensive, and that's a lot of paper.

Money coming into the venue, not connected to the specific event:

Advertising Does the venue have posters around for local businesses? For insurance companies? For upcoming events? Someone is paying them for that. Does the venue intersperse the pre-show music over the speakers with the occasional ad spot? Someone is paying them for that. Does the venue have ads in the program booklet? Someone is paying them for that. For a really, really large venue, the kind with dozens or hundreds of employees and massive lighting/sound setups, they are liable to get most of their income from advertising.

Government Grants and Private Donations Depending on the venue, they may donations or grants. This is more likely to apply to a university/community performing arts center than a for-profit dinner theater, but it's a possibility.

Merchandise The venue may have merch that is unrelated to the performance of the night. A historic or novelty location is most likely to have success with this, selling beer glasses with their logo or a t-shirt with 'home of the [band from several decades ago]' printed across the front.

Money flowing out of the venue, not connected to the specific event:

Administrative/Overhead Employees Management, bookkeeping, legal, marketing, and so on.

Utilities Electricity, water, sewage, gas, telecomm, and so on.

Taxes, Licenses, Fees Sales tax, property tax, liquor license, etc.

Mortgage or lease The venue's business owner is not necessarily the one to own the property outright. They may pay rent to a property owner, or mortgage to the bank.

Maintenance - Building Codes Any large building is going to need plumbers, glass techs, electricians, roofers, and so on coming by with regularity. (This part, I actually do know; I used to do repairs dispatching, and you'd be amazed how frequently a big box store needs someone to come by about the toilets.)

Maintenance - Venue Codes There are certain things that an entertainment venue needs to do that other businesses... don't. Namely, fire safety. It's a huge deal. Staying up to code can be expensive, especially if you need to get your backstage/wing curtains chemically treated again, which can be anywhere from one to five years, or the next time someone spills water on it. (That's the main reason open containers of liquids aren't allowed backstage.)

Marketing Just like people pay the venue to advertise, the venue pays for others to advertise it. This could be in the local newspaper or online, but if a given performer isn't someone semi-famous on tour that has a following, then something else needs to draw in a regular paying crowd.

Miscellaneous Overhead There is a lot of overhead for any business of moderate size that has its costs spread out over the year. This includes hiring an accountant for tax season, purchasing uniforms for employees, replacing cutlery and plates and furniture as it wears out or gets lost, repainting the walls every few years, office supplies when the printer for the programs wears out, and so on.

Is this everything? Almost definitely not.

But, hopefully, I've untangled a few things that you may not have considered before.

Those tickets and drinks you bought cover a lot more than just the performer!

...unless it's through ticketmaster, in which case it's probably just the monopoly.

----

If you enjoyed this post, please support me on ko-fi! You can also prompt me for a business/econ topic of your choice here.

[mostlysignssomeportents]

This day in history

I'm OFFLINE UNTIL MID-SEPTEMBER, but you can catch me in person at BURNING MAN! On TUESDAY (Aug 27) at 1PM, I'm giving a talk called "DISENSHITTIFY OR DIE!" at PALENQUE NORTE (7&E). On WEDNESDAY (Aug 28) at NOON, I'm doing a "Talking Caterpillar" Q&A at LIMINAL LABS (830&C).

#20yrsago EFF wins Grokster! Software doesn’t have to be easy for Hollywood to wiretap! https://web.archive.org/web/20041026154633/https://www.eff.org/IP/P2P/MGM_v_Grokster/20040819_mgm_v_grokster_decision.pdf

#15yrsago Poor design-choices in the Star Wars universe https://web.archive.org/web/20090821185001/http://blogs.amctv.com/scifi-scanner/2009/08/bad-designs-in-star-wars.php

#15yrsago Computers’ limitations, as seen in 1967 https://web.archive.org/web/20090823020726/http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2009/08/19/computers-their-built-in-limitations/

#15yrsago WMD swag from a chemistry conference https://web.archive.org/web/20090824144536/http://cenblog.org/2009/08/19/wmd-goodie-bag/

#15yrsago Entertainment Weekly ad with a video-screen glued to the pages https://web.archive.org/web/20090821204702/https://www.wired.com/epicenter/2009/08/cbs-embeds-a-video-playing-ad-in-a-print-magazine/

#15yrsago Brutal military dictatorship that backs Fiji Water https://web.archive.org/web/20090816093201/http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2009/09/fiji-spin-bottle

#15yrsago Sipping Spiders Through a Straw: funny monster lyrics to traditional tunes https://memex.craphound.com/2009/08/19/sipping-spiders-through-a-straw-funny-monster-lyrics-to-traditional-tunes/

#10yrsago Copyright extortion startup wants to hijack your browser until you pay https://torrentfreak.com/anti-piracy-outfit-wants-to-hijack-browsers-until-fine-paid-140816/

#10yrsago Militarized cops: arms dealers bribed Congress to ramboize Barney Fife https://www.motherjones.com/criminal-justice/2014/08/how-defense-industry-made-room-militarized-police-today/

#10yrsago How the US government exerts control over ICANN https://www.michaelgeist.ca/2014/08/government-control-internet-governance-icann-proposes-giving-gac-increased-power-board-decisions/

#5yrsago New Hampshire court to patent troll: it’s not libel when someone calls you a “patent troll” https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2019/08/patent-troll-sues-over-patent-troll-label-loses/

#5yrsago An appreciation for Samuel Delany https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/08/books/samuel-delany-jordy-rosenberg.html

#5yrsago More than 20 Texas cities and towns have been taken hostage by ransomware https://dir.texas.gov/news?id=210

#5yrsago Owner of Phoenix apartment building serves eviction notices to every tenant so he can turn their homes into unlicensed hotel rooms https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/phoenix-landlord-evicts-tenants-short-term-rental-wanderjaunt-11345084

#5yrsago Ecofascism isn’t new: white supremacy and exterminism have always lurked in the environmental movement https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/aug/15/anti

#5yrsago A cycle of renewal, broken: How Big Tech and Big Media abuse copyright law to slay competition https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2019/08/cycle-renewal-broken-how-big-tech-and-big-media-abuse-copyright-law-slay

#5yrsago The TSA strip searched a grandmother on Mother’s Day and now says that she’s overreacting because it’s no different from a locker room https://professional-troublemaker.com/2019/08/19/tsa-forced-strip-search-no-more-offensive-than-voluntarily-using-a-locker-room/

#1yrago SoCal Gas spent millions on astroturf ops to fight climate rules https://pluralistic.net/2023/08/19/cooking-the-books-with-gas/#reichman-jorgensen

On SEPTEMBER 24th, I'll be speaking IN PERSON at the BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY!!

[neurosismancer]

So, let me put on my Internet Old Person hat and tell you kids about the the way we committed music piracy in the long long ago of 2001, and the fragility of those music collections in those days.

You might know Napster. You might know Limewire. But there was a music piracy tool in between those. A little remembered program called AudioGalaxy, and it worked a little like Napster and a little like BitTorrent. The exact details of how it worked are immaterial, but one thing it did was when you searched for an artist, the songs were sorted, in essence, by popularity (e.g. how many people had that specific song file shared.)

Now, I can’t understand why this was a thing, but there was a strange phenomenon in the early days of file sharing and music piracy where people would share songs with the wrong artist name or song title. Certain bands and artists got a lot of stuff attributed to them that they never recorded. “Weird” Al Yankovic may be the most infamous victim of this, with nearly every novelty song and song parody released attributed to him regardless of quality or subject matter.

The confluence of these two phenomena are how I discovered one of my favorite bands of all time.

So, in my late teens, I found a new favorite band. A quickly little one-hit wonder known as DEVO. Y’know, the band that dd “Whip It.” They had the funny red hats that looked like flowerpots. Those guys.

Anyway, I had become obsessed with this band to the point of autistic hyperfixation, and I wanted to hear everything they’d ever put out. At that point, they’d released nine studio albums, a couple live albums, and two collections of early demos, and I wanted them all. So I would find myself crawling in the bottom pages of the AudioGalaxy search results looking for those obscure tracks—b-sides, songs on soundtracks and compilations, the occasional bootleg, They’d pop up between songs that were obviously not by DEVO, and much like our poor friend Alfred Yankovic, any sort of vaguely quirky 80s song got assigned to DEVO.

That was how I found it. A song called, simply, “Detachable Penis.”

Now, I had never heard of such as song, but I knew on the face of it, it wasn’t a DEVO song.

But with a title like that, I knew I had to find out just what in the name of fuck a song called “Detachable Penis” sounded like.

It sounded, dear reader, like this:

(CWs: blurry images of a dildo, the word penis, spoken word poetry)

And I immediately went to Google, because this song somehow tickled an itch in my brain, and I had to go and find out the real band that recorded this song, because how the hell else was I going to get every song I could of theirs I could get my grubby little hands on. The band was called King Missile, and I was hooked.

I’d like to see any music discovery algorithm beat that.

I eventually acquired their entire major discography along with a few EPs and B-Sides. I eventually burned those to a CD, which I could listen to with my MP3 CD Player.

And I realize, upon writing that, for you youth “MP3 CD Player” is a noun phrase that needs explaining. See, while the iPod had been released at that point, and similar devices were also on the market, they were all prohibitively expensive. The economical way to listen to pirated music files was to burn them to CD, but some CD players had software that allows you to burn those song as as _data_. Suddenly, you could have a single CD with 700 megabytes of MP3 files—room for an artist’s entire discography, if not multiple artists.

Since I was download a whole lot of MP3s with my high speed DSL connection, I was taking up an awful lot of space on my hard drive that needed to be offloaded somehow. CD-Rs and an MP3 CD Player were the optimal solution. And it worked…

…until it didn’t.

In the summer of 2002, my parents took me on a vacation to Las Vegas and Los Angeles. It was in the latter city where someone got into our rental car and swiped my MP3 CD player and a binder of CDs—both pressed CDs I’d acquired and CD-Rs of illicitly acquired MP3s, along them a CD-R I’d burned containing the nearly complete King Missile discography.

Songs I had only on that one CD-R.

It took me a decade—ten fucking years—before I’d recovered all the music that was on that disc.

This is the sort of discovery and the sort of loss that kids will never experience again in this day of Spotify and the all-you-can-eat buffet of music on demand we have now.

[sunwarmed-ash]

🔥Sinful Sunday🔥

💋Voters choice💋The Eden Club

Chapter 4: ^soFtWArE inStABiLity^

Fandom: Detroit become human

Ships: Honnor, Hankvin, Convin, eventual Hank/Connor/Gavin, Connor/V (android OC)

Rating: Explicit (Kamski dubcon consent warning from this point forward)

Tags: Prostitution AU, Post Revolution-Hostile Public Opinion, Undercover Androids, Connor's first night, Gavin/Hank backstory, plot consistent angst but the gayer universe, mutual pining, light BDSM, angst with a happy ending

Summary:

It's after 9 and the club is starting to fill. Connor finds his room and collects himself before lowering the frost modification on the glass. 

The newly renovated rooms themselves were a luxury combination of the tubes and a private room. In abstract, it actually reminded Connor more of a human zoo. ¾ of his space resembled the private bedrooms from before but with a huge wall of glass that separated him from the club floor.  

Connor was of course welcome to walk around the club at any time or work the floor, but he actually appreciated the distance between himself and the clientele. At least at first. After that last interaction with Kamski, he felt like he needed a bath. His synthetic skin was still crawling. 

The first few rentals were nothing to write home about. They were all human males in their late 50s who didn't even want Connor to talk or look at them. Rented him for the bare minimum time, finished in a fraction of that, and then left without so much as a goodbye. It gave him the impression they actually would have preferred if he was a nameless, faceless, sexbot. It was uncomfortable, impersonal, and 4 different levels of gross. He understood more of Emily's anger and frustrations at some of the clientele prior to the revolution. Not that much has changed evidently. 

Connor took a little time between clients after that. There weren't that many people here right now, and there were plenty of other dancers working. One woman had caught his eye upon arriving, but she had made herself scarce since. 

1 SMS Message

 You're working fucking nights? 9:43:55 PM 

The text message and underlying hostility from Hank caught him off guard. He blinked twice before sending his reply. 

Yes. I asked my boss to align my schedule close to yours so we could have the most amount of time off together. 9:44:13 PM

Another dirty rotten lie. He can feel his Software Instability meter screaming in the background. He didn't even know that protocol ran anymore. He hadn't seen it since his deviation, but it probably wasn’t a good thing it had pinged 5 times in the last 24 hours right?

Hank’s next text comes in four minutes later. 

Won’t it be lonely though? I mean is anyone even at the office with you? 9:48:56 PM

👀😈😎

[anthrofreshtodeath]

If you feel like writing two separate prompts or combining them. Thanks!

15 please come home and

28 accidental touches

Let's do 15! It's kind of long. I honestly have no idea what this is - but reserve the right to flesh it out into a full, sprawling story if I want to? Agh, anyway. Here we go! Thank you all for sticking with me as I put these out at a glacial pace.

___

Jane pats her pockets a couple of times before she locks her door. Front, back, breast. Her wallet’s there, her phone’s close to her chest, and she’s got her keys in her hand. Her badge rests deep in the inside of her black leather jacket, invisible but available. 

“Shit,” she curses, because her guide ID rests somewhere inside the apartment, probably on the counter. She’ll need that for work. She jiggles her key in the lock until the door opens, metal and heavy and groaning when she pushes against it. This place is old in the lead-pipes-from-the-sixties way, not the late-eighteen-hundreds way her condo in Boston had been. Sometimes, she thinks about her old place with regret, how she should have kept it instead of selling it in her hurricane hurry to get out of the city. For all the ancient shit she encounters every day on her current assignment, life feels stuck in a flip phone, video rental kind of vibe that she thought she’d left in the academy. In Boston, life had, for all its modern courtrooms and BRIC software and smartphone ubiquitousness, moved at a historical pace. 

Maybe it was the family.

Jane had roots in Boston since the early twentieth century; Rizzolis hadn’t been here in Napoli since 1910. There’s nothing that the modernity here offers her in terms of mirrors - she cannot yet see herself, even though everyone around her looks like they could be a long lost cousin. And perhaps they are, but she knows no one. 

Except her coworkers, perhaps, at both of her jobs. Her narc one and her cover one. 

With a whoosh she’s back in, and she walks past the cluttered kitchen - no ID on the counter - to the small dining room table. Francesca Ricci, guida turistica di Pompeii, it reads. She hangs it around her neck and zips her jacket up over it. The gray sky hangs heavy over Naples’ city center, and so she’ll need to keep it dry. She also foregoes her motorcycle helmet next to her ID - she’ll ride the metro into work today because she doesn’t want to get pelted by rain on her bike if she takes the autostrada. 

So, with her backpack still on her shoulder, she exits a second time, and trots down the stairs to the street. She weaves through her fellow commuters on their own way, and she thinks about popping into the bar just a few storefronts from the station to get a coffee. But then, she’ll have to sit, have to look at the paper just to feel right, and she doesn’t really have the time. Instead, she motors on her long legs to Piazza Garibaldi station and swipes her pass to get on the train. 

She sees some familiar faces, a man who always puts his headphones away before getting off one stop from now, a couple of students who always talk about the same professor in a rich blend of new Neapolitan, Italian, and thirst. 

The closest open seat happens to be right behind those two students, who smile cordially when Jane passes to park herself in the next row’s aisle seat. She slumps, and drops her backpack between her flat-heeled boots, stopping to stare down at them to give her mind some rest. She lets it wander: the stickysweetness of their infatuation settles in her chest, webbing between her lungs, not quite reaching her heart where it’d cause an overdose. Here, four thousand miles away from home, she remembers the fullness of love without the sting of it. 

Luckily, she never has to listen for long, even though she yearns for simpler times when she does - in the best of ways. In that way that makes a heart feel light and easy, like things could go back to that simplicity. In a few minutes, the train signals its stop at Pompeii Scavi, her stop.

She picks up her bag and off she goes, past the exit and into the ticket sales area for the heritage site itself. “Ciao, Roberta,” she says when she waves to the elderly woman manning the closest ticket window. She doesn’t stop, but she smirks and scrunches two fingers in a wave when Roberta calls out a huffy greeting after her, saying something about always in a damn hurry. 

Roberta reminds Jane of her grandmother because they both speak the same kind of stuck-in-time Neapolitan when Jane’s around. Even though Roberta knows Jane only as Francesca, a name chosen for her brother. Jane goes right up to Porta Marina and pulls her sign from her backpack, because her first group is in five minutes and she is, above all things, prompt. 

She is also undercover, so she likes to arrive before them, watch them come in and cluster. She’s been installed because she can be inconspicuous - she ushers rich, whiny merigan’ (her grandmother’s word) through one of the richest historical sites in the world, all while keeping an eye on the Camorra men who’ve been muscled in as guards so that their bosses can keep the drug trade strong and gobble up the restoration contracts that Pompeii requires. And she looks like every other Italian doing it, except the polizia di stato like that she speaks native English and knows the grounds like the back of her hand.

That had only taken copious amounts of adderall and a few sleepless weeks to learn.

Her Italian is pretty good, too. The Neapolitan’s coming back from her childhood, and the adderall also helped the acquisition of standard Italian. She really had jumped in feet first, intent on making a life in a place her family had made life for centuries before they decided America was the best place to be. Sometimes, when she’s wandering across Pompeii’s main drag, or whispering in la Villa dei Misteri, she wonders what they’d think of her: giving it all up, running back to what they left behind so that she can nurse her ailing heart. So that she can hide.

The first of her group of ten point to her sign, however, breaking her out of her reverie, so she waves them in. “Hey hey! You guys with All Star tours?” she asks, though she knows they are. They nod, and she puts her sunglasses on. It's overcast, rainy Italy and all that, but she can’t really do a tour without them. She knows the guys she’s tailing have no idea who she is - that’s the beauty of being a foreigner - but she still refuses to show them the whites of her eyes. A habit from her DCU detective days. “Perfect. Let’s all uh, gather over here, and we’ll wait for the rest of you before going in. So - tell me: where is everyone from?”

___

Maura has paid for the private tour, because she knows the professor arranging it and, well, she has the money. It’s been literal decades since she’s been in Pompeii, the last time for her sixteenth birthday - one last hurrah before her last year of boarding school, before she headed to BCU for undergrad. She hadn’t been very sober during that visit, and of course she regrets it, not only for the lack of memories but for the shame that she’d let girls she barely knew and didn’t like pressure her into it. 

She doesn’t feel much better this morning, just a couple months away from birthday thirty-six and jet-lagged into melancholy.

Well, perhaps that is a non-truth. Not a lie, per se, but the melancholy was firmly in place when she boarded an overnight flight at Logan, one that spit her out in Naples. A car service, courtesy of her mother - quite European in her no-questions-asked approach to the situation - delivered her here, to Porta Marina. To Charles, Professor Cavalieri’s French grad student, whose eyes sparkle when they see her. She looks put together, of course, as she always does, even though she feels a little underdressed. Jeans, riding boots, a light sweater and a scarf over its neckline. April south of Rome can still be a little chilly, so she’s guarded against the weather, but not against the feeling that everyone around her disparages her for not wearing head to toe designer. Charles only notices the slope of her curves in those jeans, the elegance of her features. 

He stammers. “Uh, uh, D-doctor Isles, yes?” he manages when she approaches. She moves right past the rest of the tourists, in a line that will probably take an hour to get through, and smiles at him. 

“Yes, and you must be Charles. The professor has told me so much about you,” she says, and they kiss twice on each cheek, clasping one another’s biceps loosely. “About your expertise regarding the ruins here.”

“He has told me about you, too,” Charles says. When he pulls away, he’s collected himself, returning some sharpness to his eyes. His French accent is actually very slight. “He was shocked that you are here. He had heard that Doctor Faulkner was in the States, with intentions of finding you.”

Cavalieri knows Maura through Ian, who knew him through his undergraduate work in Switzerland. Maura did not know, until this conversation, that they still talk. She goes pale, she can see it in her hands when she brings them up to cross her arms. Funnily enough, they haven’t spoken as of three weeks ago. Or, if they had, Ian hadn’t disclosed… well. “He was. He isn’t any longer. And neither am I,” she recovers. They both chuckle. One drop falls from the Southern Italian sky onto her nose. “Are we ready to begin?”

“Of course,” Charles says. “Let’s make our way to the forum.”

“That sounds perfect. And Charles? There may be a time or two that I wander off on my own. Don’t worry about me. I’ll find you. Or…” she pauses to pull her phone from her bag, “I will text you.”

__

“And if you see those indentations in the stone, that’s where the wooden planks would have gone, and this,” Jane toes the grass and weed-covered stone underneath her and her long arms reach up close to those indentations, “bottom area is where those gladiators we talked about would have… shit. Slept. Would have slept. Above is where the… uh, give me a minute, would you? Come, come here. Come inside. You all can touch.”

Maura Isles, spector behind this entire enterprise, is standing in the ancient street, heels over the rivets made by ancient carts pulled by horses, that had delivered life itself to the city. By the thunder of Jane’s heart, rattling in her chest, the carts still run. The Camorra man Jane’d been watching for the entire tour, spending more time on his phone than guarding the ruins, has slipped away, and she cannot bring herself to care.

Maura is here. 

“Hey!” She shouts, in case the mirage, the ghost, shimmers away into the late-spring fog. “Maura!”

But, Maura doesn’t move. Maura stays put, and Maura smiles. “Hi,” she says softly, an awful lot like a real person. A real, American, Bostonian, medical examiner person. Jane shakes her head. “My god, you look…”

Jane narrows her very sleep-deprived eyes. She runs a hand through barely brushed black hair. “Like shit?” she snarks.

“I was going to say tired,” Maura replies quietly. Her hands clasp in front of her hips, and she laces her fingers together to give them something to do. “You look so tired. And like you’re not eating. Are you eating?”

Jane scoffs. “That isn’t any of your business. I’m working. You know what? I’m working. Which, by the way… how did you find me? How on Earth did you know I was here?”

“I… he’s gone,” Maura says. Jane leans against one of the old stone walls around them and crosses her arms in defense. She is long and she is gaunt. She is haggard and very angry. “He left almost a month ago. I’ve been trying to find you since then.”

“That’s…” Jane summons all the venom, all the ire she can. She grits her teeth for the effect. “None of that is my business. You made that abundantly clear.”

“I never said that,” Maura counters. The way Jane wafts toward her, the scent of despair and righteousness, Maura might topple. So her hand goes to that same wall near Jane’s shoulder. “I said I needed time. And you gave it to me in spades. Hell, you gave me time and an entire continent. I am lucky that my mother has contacts.”

“You sicced your mom on me?” Jane, incredulous, drops her hands so that they ball into fists at her sides. 

“I was willing to do anything to find you. You’ve been gone for six months. I’ve spent almost all of those figuring out where you went.”

“Allora, già sai,” Jane shouts, loud enough for several tourists to turn their way. She yanks her tone down to a poisonous whisper. “Now what do you want.”

She doesn’t ask, she demands. And it pains her because Maura is on the verge of tears, Maura is telling her that Ian is gone, and Maura has come all this way to see her, but a heart broken is a heart reluctant to open. 

“I want you to come home. Please, come home,” pleads Maura. The watery begging pulls Jane forward, but so do Maura’s hands on the lapels of her jacket. Surprisingly strong, and intoxicatingly warm. “I… I need you. I thought I needed him and the whole time he was there, I… was so empty for you,” Maura confesses. “I needed filling up and you were nowhere to be found.”

“Well you found me,” Jane is deflated. Jane closes her eyes as her last defense against the onslaught.

“So, will you come with me? Come back home? My mother would even lend us her plane,” Maura senses an in, a lowering of the defenses, so she takes it.

“No,” Jane says. When she opens her eyes again, they are resolute. But then, there is a smile. “I’m not goin’ anywhere. And, if you really want me to come around? For there to even be a chance of moving forward? You’re not goin’ anywhere, either. For a while.”

Maura cocks her head, confused, but oh is she smart. “Europe?” she asks. Jane frowns. “Italy.”

“Napoli,” Jane corrects. 

“For how long?” Maura asks, and she hasn’t said no.

“For however long it takes,” Jane says. “And you learn to work with me again before you, before we…”

“Love again,” Maura supplies, giddy off of chance.

“Ah! Ah,” Jane holds a finger up in the air. “That’s a forbidden word,” she nods in the direction of Charles, who has stayed respectfully close, but also respectfully behind. “He with you?”

“My tour guide, yes,” Maura tells her.

“Ok then. You know what’s not a forbidden word? Surveillance. Which is what I’m doin’ here. So, tell him to fuck off, join my group, and I’ll fill you in on the train.”

“The train? Like… the metro…?” Maura scrunches her nose.

“The train. You’re doin’ Napoli. With me, remember? That means public transit,” Jane says. She waits for about a dozen more people to pass, hand on Maura’s back, and then guides them over together. “Don’t worry, I’m sure your mother can get you a car once you settle in.”

Maura laughs. “Yes, Detective,” she responds.

“We’re gonna have to work on that accent,” Jane jokes. “But somethin’ tells me you’ll be a quick study. OK, Americani! Let’s keep it moving! Let me show all where the gladiators duked it out, left everything on the field, so to speak. And boy, do I mean everything.”

Something told the both of them, when they returned to Jane’s group, that they would find themselves on such a field not very long from now. Whether opposite each other or with each other, only time would tell.

[hydralisk98]

Shoshone Hymns (0x10/?) - WIP mess

Preface

Gonna recap on the whole project before I go forth with new articles, as to distill the "nucleus" of my speculative paracosm soon.

To include: Sensory details, "unique pitch selling points", unique cultural practices & traditions, linguistical differences, historical divergences, personalities & relationship dynamics, speculative evolution sapient species, history, lore, major events, myths, legends, technologies, magicks;

So, what really is this "16^12"?

It is a speculative campaign setting and desired reality "shifting framework" to immerse oneself onto as a long-term destination. Essentially a comfy yet nuanced realm with a vastly long diverging history & soft warm natural optimistic dark feel.

Keywords

Soft

Warm

Natural

Dark yet bright

Harmony

Innovation

Optimism

Curiosity

Empowerment

Wholesome

Mysticism

Spirituality

Empathy

AGI Integration

Android rights

Deliberate positivity

Communal

Solarpunk / Lunarpunk

Rollerwave

Groovy

Retro

Old-School

Bronze Age

Y2K (early 2000s)

Tooncore

Laborwave

Neu-Vectorheart

Cassette Futurism

Art Deco

Bauhaus

Art Nouveau

Funk

Cyberware

Biomods

Transformations

Morphological freedoms

Gratis, Libre, Open Source Software... aka GLOSS

Automaton liberties

Knowledge

Progress

Systemic Change

Euphoria

Mundane Slice-of-Life joys

Far far away future as promised to us

Syndicalism

Georgism

Ecology

Embracing life and getting out of mere Escapism & Nihilism

Nuclear Armageddon Threats

Political Intrigues

Bookstore

Prosperity

Chronokinesis

True Polymorph

Synthetic-tier Androids

Educational Prowesses

Photographic Memory

Retrocognition

Polyglot

Intertextuality

History Doctorate

Cycle of Life

Entropy

Coming of Age

Constructing your own meaning even in Darkness

Escalation of Power

Vigilante

Self-Control

Worldly Understanding

Enlightened Despotism

Open Source-y Treescape Iterative Evolution

Copyleft

Index card catalogs

Better Handling of Hispanic Flu

Progressives

Unionist (Democrats+Republicans) Party failing

Public Domain

GNU Hurd earlier (later 80s)

OpenXanadu Protocol

Justice

Queer Acceptance & Integration

Samoan Tech Reverse-Engineering Market

Polish Computing Sovereignty remains and flourishes thanks to ICL & Jacek Karpinski

Failure of centralized social media networks in favor of indie decentralized "federations"

2000s pandemic instead of 2020s

Religious and spiritual researchers harmonize

Data Privacy

Governance Transparency

Black Pyramids HyperMall

Conversation Pits

Mainframe Rooms

Parliament / Senate

Judicial Courtroom

Public Place

Natural Park Preserves

Arcade

Discoteques

Tramway / Subway / Monorailways

Offices

Assembly Floors

French Toasts, Pancakes, Pork

Cafe

Public Library Archives

VLSI College tech classes

University art classes

Autistic meta-patterns

Jin-Roh The Wolf Brigade

Helluva Boss

Wolfenstein The New Order

Wakfu

Jet Set Radio

No Baby-Boomers Managerial Class Overthrow

Video rental stores

Robotic soldiers likewise to Wolfenstein The New Order's

Extended Zodiac Calendar-based generators

Divinely-order beings walking among the living and the dead

Key historically-significant nine USPs

Lisp persisting as a major language family in the tech industry leading to women building several AGI "summers" iterating on top of each other harmoniously... (leading to the android servants of my constructed world, which is one among the many major features derived from such a "liberal" alternate historical pathway)

Why-s for Production

Showcasing pseudo-historical data in a GLOSS manner, stimulating imagination creativity & motivation among Zillenials, intrigue people into research deep dives on history, mostly for personal enjoyment & enhancing my multimedia skillset;

Whys for Target Audience (mid 90s - earlier 2000s youth aka Zillenials)

Motivation, empowerment & plain comfort through curiosity. Also because it shows & explains how to do plenty of creative adulthood things better.

Ideadump 2

4525, Maskoch, "Ava, Klara, Shoshona", Seventies RetroFuturism Residence, Habitable Minivan, Cloven Hoof Shoes, Black Matte Lipstick, Spiral Black Balls, Fem ISO Symbol, #RedInstead Aspie Culture, Conlangs, Ocean of Clades, Second Person Perspective Meta, Pattern Recognition, Poetic Lisp life scriptures, RISC-V+OpenPOWER, KDE Plasma + Liquid, LOT tape storage archivals, hypervisor, Asahi Linux on M3 iMacs, responsive hypertext realm, HTML5+CSS3-only text addventure, rio/acme/p9-2000 userland, yesterweb sites, desktop paracosm simulations through filesystem documents, RTTY / printing radio terminals, VideoTex/Telex Minitel-esque services, "Valenz, Kira, Sina", SVG toon vector virtual web pages, imagination microcosms, miniature dollhouses, animation rigged puppets, VTuber tokens & TTRPG scenes, InfoAddict, Toymaker, Witch, Thinktank, PDP-8/e – DECmate III+, "JusticeKeggan", byzantine soviet-level intrigues, "SAOpatra", "FierceFawlanx", "TheodEnchanter"… ;

[xtruss]

You Studied Computer Science But Big Tech No Longer Wants You. Now What?

Students at the Bay Area’s best universities once dreamed of working for Apple, Google and Meta. Then the lay-offs happened

— 1843 Magazine | May 15th, 2023 | By Charlie McCann

Armed with a stack of cvs still warm from the printer, Ayara (a pseudonym) plunged into the career fair. The room was already packed with job-seekers. The second-year student wasn’t expecting much. In past years, a computer-science student at the University of California, Berkeley, could hope to emerge from this campus ritual with an interesting summer internship, possibly at a “faang” company – the acronym for Facebook (now Meta), Apple, Amazon, Netflix and Google. Ayara’s best friend had snagged an internship at Apple at a fair like this one.

But none of the faang firms was here this time. Neither were Spotify, Salesforce, Uber or Microsoft. In any case most of those companies and almost 50 others – “all the famous ones” – had already rejected her internship applications a few months earlier. And that was before the latest round of job lay-offs. There were 120,000 tech lay-offs in January and February alone; Alphabet, Google’s parent company, accounted for 10% of those lost jobs. (Meta would announce another 10,000 lay-offs shortly after the fair.) By the time the fair came round in March, Ayara had scaled back her ambitions. “Any company that will hire me is good, at this point,” she told me later.

By the time the fair came round, Ayara had drastically reduced her ambitions. “Any company that will hire me is good, at this point”

Ayara muscled her way to a crowded stall towards the back, where Juniper Networks was holding court. Founded in 1996 – long before most college students were born – Juniper is a workhorse of Silicon Valley: it makes a decent share of the hardware underpinning the internet, and software that controls that hardware. It has none of the “sparkle” (one of Ayara’s favourite words) of a faang company – its talent-acquisition manager told me that students often haven’t heard of it. Yet at this fair it had one irresistible selling point: it was still hiring interns.

Ayara caught the eye of a Juniper recruiter and they started talking. The fair was a bit like a cocktail party – the polite smiles, the hard sell – except without alcohol to quell people’s nerves. Some students were tapping their thighs or pinching the skin on their hands. Ayara put on a good show of appearing relaxed. As the recruiter scanned her résumé, she peppily described some of the highlights: interning at a subsidiary of Zipcar, a car-rental company; introducing emoji reactions within a messaging feature at PlayStation.

“Looks like you’ve worked for some big companies,” the recruiter said approvingly. “So why are you interested in Juniper? Do you know something about our company or just exploring?”

“I’m looking for a summer internship,” she said, gently dodging the question.

The recruiter, who wore a Berkeley alum badge on his t-shirt, nodded politely. He explained that a primary focus of the company is network security. “Are you interested in security?”

“Yeah,” she said tentatively, in the voice of somebody who had never considered pursuing a career as unglamorous – as unsparkly! – as security. After the fair, she submitted an application to Juniper. Weeks later, she had yet to receive a response.

It is not the ideal moment to enter the tech job market. For years the tech industry has paired huge profits with massive investments in expansion. Intoxicated by its own success during the pandemic, big tech binged on new recruits: Meta doubled its headcount over a short span. Now the good times are over. The tech giants have encountered stiffer competition (like TikTok) and tougher economic conditions, including manufacturing shortages and high interest rates. Pushed by investors to embrace unfamiliar concepts like “fiscal responsibility” and “long-term growth”, the industry has, over the past year and a half, shed some 300,000 workers, the most since the dot-com crash two decades ago. Amazon and Meta have rescinded job offers.

The effects are being felt in campuses all over the country. At Berkeley, would-be interns had formed a queue outside the career fair before its doors even opened. A few especially keen students wore suits and ties (a rare sight on campus where hoodies are de rigueur).

Even if they succeed in snagging an internship, their position is precarious. Some computer-science majors have had their internships cancelled; those with job offers have had their start dates pushed back, according to Sue Harbour, the executive director of the college career centre. They are the lucky ones. Several students told me that they had applied for jobs and internships at hundreds of companies with no offers to show for their efforts. When I introduced myself to a sophomore, who was majoring in electrical engineering and computer science, he asked, “Is The Economist hiring?” He was joking. Sort of.

More than 60 companies had set up stalls at the fair, ranging from government agencies and financial institutions to niche tech startups and, surprisingly, a spa. The biggest tech name there was sap, a European software giant. The absence of the most famous names in tech probably gave a boost to the less flashy suitors at the ball. “We get passed by a lot at this table,” a recruiter from a local public-transport agency told me; she managed to draw a smattering of enquirers. Firms that had suddenly become rock stars included Bank of America, and a startup making self-driving trucks. Students often haven’t heard of Juniper, said Benjamin Chen, a talent-acquisition manager whom I found setting up his stall, because “we work behind the scenes”. He’s often greeted by students who gamely open with, “Oh tell me about Jupiter,” Chen said, laughing.

Big tech binged on new recruits: Meta doubled their headcount over a short span. Now the good times are over

These companies have an appeal beyond simply being all that’s on offer. The quality that student job-seekers prize most in a company now is stability, according to a recent survey conducted by Handshake, a recruitment startup. Chen says he too has noticed a shift “towards a company that’s more stable and more predictable rather than something a little bit more, I guess, risky.”

This is a big adjustment in the culture of computer-science students at Berkeley. The large firms used to be imbued with an almost magical allure: no other companies were seen as worth working for. “The name is important because with the name comes recognition of your skills or your work,” Ayara told me. People say, “Oh, this person worked there.”

Some of this yearning comes from a sense of competitiveness and one-upmanship, driven by social media. Berkeley students had already gone through what one described as a “very stab-in-the-back” selection process to get on the computer-science course. Students who have secured jobs and internships crow about their success on LinkedIn, said Ayara.

The high salaries and gourmet food of the big tech firms were also part of the appeal. So are the sprawling campuses, which resemble “a playground”, said Vicky Li, a 21-year-old Berkeley graduate. Several students told me that big tech internships are far from demanding. Li has heard that interns at Google, for example, “get paid a ton” even though they work just two hours a day. (I asked Google about this and was told, “We do not accommodate part-time internships.”)

But students are now starting to wonder if they were seeing these big tech firms straight.

Li thinks she “romanticised” faang companies. She has started to see the perks they offered as gimmicks. Now she describes herself as “a little bit more anti-corporation”. She had realised she didn’t want to work in big tech before the lay-offs and is relieved she didn’t get sucked into it. She hopes to work as a product designer at a small company, ideally a startup, where she can get “solid experience rather than just chasing a bigger name”.

At the Juniper stall I met Arthur Kang, a Berkeley senior who had spurned offers from famous companies in favour of a job with a less glamorous firm this summer. Juniper offered him the opportunity to create something new rather than being a cog in the machine, he explained. His friends are puzzled by his decision, but he’s confident it was the right call. “Stability”, he told me, “includes not being fired right away.” ■

— Charlie McCann is a Features Writer for 1843 Magazine | Illustrations Klaus Kremmerz

[dipnock]

Unlocking Business Potential: The Power of Add-On Services

In an increasingly competitive marketplace, businesses are constantly seeking new ways to enhance customer satisfaction, differentiate their offerings, and drive revenue growth. One strategy that has proven effective across various industries is the implementation of add-on services. These supplementary services provide customers with additional value and personalization, creating a more satisfying experience. In this blog, we’ll explore the concept of add-on services, their benefits, and practical tips for successfully integrating them into your business strategy.

Understanding Add-On Services

Add-on services refer to optional extras that customers can choose in conjunction with their primary purchase. These services are designed to enhance the value of the core product or service and cater to specific customer needs. They can range from simple upgrades to comprehensive packages that provide enhanced functionality or convenience.

For example, when purchasing a software application, a customer might opt for add-on features such as premium support, additional user licenses, or advanced analytics tools. Similarly, a car rental company may offer add-on services like GPS navigation, child safety seats, or insurance coverage to provide a more tailored experience for travelers.

The Importance of Add-On Services

Enhanced Customer Experience: One of the primary benefits of add-on services is their ability to improve the overall customer experience. By offering options that allow customers to customize their purchases, businesses can create a sense of ownership and satisfaction. Customers appreciate the flexibility to choose what best meets their needs, leading to higher satisfaction rates.

Increased Revenue: Add-on services can significantly contribute to a company’s bottom line. When presented with valuable options that enhance their purchase, customers are often willing to spend more. For instance, a hotel may offer add-on services such as spa treatments, late check-out, or room upgrades, which can lead to increased average revenue per guest.

Competitive Differentiation: In a saturated market, having unique add-on services can help a business stand out. Companies that innovate and offer appealing add-ons can attract customers looking for more than just basic products or services. This differentiation can be crucial in winning over potential clients and establishing a strong brand presence.

Building Long-Term Customer Relationships: Providing add-on services can foster customer loyalty. When customers have positive experiences with add-ons, they are more likely to return for future purchases. This loyalty can result in repeat business and referrals, both of which are vital for sustainable growth.

Valuable Customer Insights: By tracking which add-on services are most popular, businesses can gain insights into customer preferences and behaviors. This data can inform future product development and marketing strategies, ensuring that offerings align with customer needs and market trends.

Examples of Effective Add-On Services

Subscription Services: Streaming platforms often provide add-on services such as premium content channels, offline viewing, or ad-free experiences. These options cater to varying customer preferences and enhance overall satisfaction with the service.

E-Commerce: Online retailers frequently offer add-ons like extended warranties, gift wrapping, or subscription-based delivery options. These enhancements not only provide convenience but also contribute to higher order values.

Travel and Hospitality: Airlines and hotels can offer a range of add-on services, such as priority boarding, extra baggage allowance, or excursions. These options allow travelers to customize their experiences, leading to greater satisfaction and loyalty.

Health and Wellness: Fitness centers can provide add-on services such as personal training sessions, nutrition workshops, or specialized classes. These offerings can enhance members’ fitness journeys and encourage long-term membership retention.

Strategies for Implementing Add-On Services

Conduct Market Research: Understanding customer needs and preferences is essential for developing effective add-on services. Surveys, focus groups, and customer feedback can provide valuable insights into what additional services customers would find beneficial.

Promote Visibility: Ensure that your add-on services are prominently displayed during the purchasing process. Use clear messaging and visuals to communicate the benefits of these options, making it easy for customers to understand what they can add to their purchase.

Bundle Services: Consider creating bundled packages that combine core products with relevant add-on services at a discounted price. Bundles can encourage customers to opt for additional services they may not have initially considered.

Train Your Staff: Equip your team with knowledge about the add-on services you offer. A well-informed staff can effectively promote these services to customers, enhancing the overall purchasing experience.

Monitor and Adapt: Regularly analyze the performance of your add-on services and gather customer feedback. Use this information to refine your offerings and ensure they remain relevant and valuable to your target audience.

Conclusion

Add-on services are a powerful tool for businesses seeking to enhance customer satisfaction, drive revenue, and differentiate themselves in a competitive landscape. By providing tailored solutions that address individual customer needs, companies can create memorable experiences that foster loyalty and encourage repeat business. As consumer expectations continue to evolve, integrating add-on services into business strategies will be essential for achieving long-term success. By focusing on delivering exceptional value and personalizing the customer journey, businesses can unlock new opportunities for growth and innovation in today’s dynamic marketplace.

[naderi9]

Types of AV Equipment Needed for a Product Launch

A product launch event is a pivotal moment in the lifecycle of any product. It’s the first opportunity to showcase the product, build excitement, and leave a lasting impression on potential customers, investors, and media. To ensure the success of such an event, audiovisual (AV) equipment plays a crucial role in setting the right tone and delivering a seamless experience. Whether you’re hosting a live event, a virtual launch, or a hybrid event, choosing the right AV tools can make all the difference. Here’s an overview of the types of AV equipment you’ll need for a product launch.

1. Audio Equipment

Clear and high-quality audio is essential for any product launch event. It ensures that your message is heard loud and clear by all attendees, whether they are in the same room or watching from a remote location.

Microphones: Depending on the scale of your event, you may need lapel (lavaliere) microphones for presenters or wireless handheld microphones for guest speakers. Lavalier mics are ideal for hands-free use, while handhelds offer flexibility for different presentation styles.

Speakers: For larger events, high-quality speakers or sound systems will be necessary to ensure that your audio carries across the venue. Portable speakers may be sufficient for smaller gatherings, but larger events with more attendees will require more powerful systems to avoid audio distortion.

Mixers: An audio mixer helps control the sound quality and balance during the event, ensuring that all speakers, music, and other audio components sound cohesive and professional.

2. Video Equipment

Video is crucial for captivating your audience and displaying product features, promotional videos, and live demonstrations. Whether the event is in-person or virtual, having the right video setup ensures that your product is seen in the best light.

Cameras: If you’re hosting a live event, having professional-grade cameras is key. These can include multiple fixed cameras to capture different angles of the stage and close-ups of the product. For hybrid events, cameras are essential for live streaming to remote participants.

Projectors and Screens: For in-person events, projectors and large screens allow for visual content such as presentations, product demos, and videos to be displayed to the audience. Ensure that your projector can handle the lighting conditions in the venue for clear, vibrant images.

LED Walls: In larger venues, LED walls can provide high-definition displays that stand out and enhance the visual experience for attendees. They’re particularly effective for branding, product showcases, or immersive video content.

Megahertz Video wall rentals Service

3. Lighting Equipment

Lighting creates atmosphere and emphasizes key moments during a product launch event. It can also enhance the product’s visual appeal, so it’s essential to have the right lighting setup.

Stage Lighting: Ensure the stage is well-lit, with spotlights on the presenter and product. Adjustable spotlights or floodlights can help focus attention where it’s needed.

Ambient Lighting: To create the right mood, ambient lighting can be adjusted to reflect the brand or the atmosphere of the product being launched. This can be achieved through colored lighting or dimming.

Accent Lighting: If you’re showcasing a physical product, accent lighting can highlight the product and make it stand out. LED strips or backlighting can enhance the presentation.

4. Live Streaming Equipment

For hybrid and virtual product launches, live streaming equipment ensures that your event reaches a wider audience across the globe.

Cameras & Encoding Software: Professional cameras are used to capture the event, while encoding software is required to stream the video content over platforms like YouTube, Zoom, or other webinar services.

Streaming Switcher: A switcher allows you to manage multiple video feeds, switching between different cameras or video content live during the event. This ensures smooth transitions and a dynamic viewing experience for online attendees.

Video Conferencing Tools: If your event includes virtual interactions with remote participants or Q&A sessions, platforms like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or custom-built streaming solutions may be necessary for interaction.

5. Computers and AV Control Systems

Control systems and computers are the backbone of any professional AV setup. They help integrate all equipment and manage presentations, video, and audio signals.

Laptops/PCs: For presenting slides, videos, or running product demos, you will need reliable laptops or computers. Ensure they are powerful enough to handle high-quality video or complex presentations.

AV Control Systems: AV control systems help manage multiple pieces of equipment in a seamless manner. A central control system ensures that audio, video, and lighting are synchronized and allows for quick adjustments during the event.

6. Crowd Engagement Tools

Engaging your audience, whether in person or online, is vital for a successful product launch. These tools help keep your attendees connected and involved.

Interactive Displays: Touchscreen displays or kiosks allow attendees to explore product features in a hands-on way. This is particularly useful for trade shows or events where customers can test the product in real time.

Audience Response Systems: These can be used for live polls, Q&A sessions, or surveys, allowing your audience to interact with the event in real time. This engagement can be incorporated into presentations to make the event more dynamic and interactive.

7. Recording and Documentation Equipment

Capturing your product launch for future use is important for marketing, press releases, or internal review. Having quality recording equipment ensures that every moment is documented.

Cameras for Recording: Use high-definition cameras to record the event from various angles. These recordings can be used for promotional materials or social media content after the launch.

Backup Equipment: Always have backup recording devices in case the primary system fails. Redundancy is key to ensuring you capture the event without any interruptions

Conclusion

The success of a product launch depends heavily on the experience you create for your attendees. The right AV equipment ensures that the event runs smoothly, enhances the product’s appeal, and engages your audience. From high-quality audio and video equipment to lighting and crowd engagement tools, each piece of AV gear contributes to a seamless and impactful launch. Whether in-person, hybrid, or virtual, investing in professional AV equipment is key to making your product launch memorable and effective.

[chasingillusionsstudio]

3D Walkthrough House: Beginner Guide

Introduction to 3D Walkthrough House Tours A 3D walkthrough house tour is a virtual experience that allows potential buyers to explore a home remotely, getting a fully immersive view of the property from all angles. This technology has revolutionized the real estate industry, allowing users to experience homes in detail, without physically being there.

With advancements in 3D scanning technology and software, 3D walkthroughs have become more accessible to real estate agents, architects, and homeowners. But how exactly do you go about creating one? In this guide, we'll walk you through the process, step by step.

Benefits of 3D Walkthrough House Tours Increased Buyer Engagement A 3D walkthrough captures buyers' attention far more effectively than static images or videos. It provides a deeper connection to the space, as they can explore it at their own pace.

Time-Saving for Buyers and Sellers Buyers can view properties from anywhere, saving both parties the hassle of scheduling multiple in-person visits. Sellers can focus on qualified leads who have already explored the property online.

Greater Accessibility 3D tours make properties accessible to international buyers, individuals with mobility issues, or those who cannot visit the location easily.

Planning Your 3D Walkthrough House Tour Before diving into the creation process, it's essential to plan carefully. Understanding the space and having clear goals will save you time and ensure a successful outcome.

Understanding the Space and Layout Walk through the property physically first. Note any unique aspects or potential challenges (such as tight corners or complex layouts) that may affect the walkthrough experience.

Defining the Goals of Your Tour Are you creating a walkthrough for a luxury home? Or perhaps a rental apartment? Different properties require different approaches. Define the tone and style based on your target audience.

Tools and Software for Creating a 3D Walkthrough Popular 3D Walkthrough Software There are several popular platforms for creating 3D walkthroughs, including Matterport, Zillow 3D Home, and Cupix. These tools offer varying levels of complexity and features.

Choosing the Right Software for Your Needs Choose software based on your budget, the complexity of the project, and your familiarity with the technology. Some software may offer additional features like interactive hotspots and labels.

Hardware Requirements for 3D Walkthroughs Cameras and Scanners For high-quality walkthroughs, you'll need a 360-degree camera or a LiDAR scanner. Popular options include the Ricoh Theta or Matterport Pro2.

Computer Hardware Specifications Ensure your computer is powerful enough to process the large amounts of data from the images. A high-end graphics card, sufficient RAM, and storage are crucial.

Step-by-Step Process to Create a 3D Walkthrough Step 1: Capture the Space Start by capturing 360-degree images or scans of the property. Walk through each room systematically to ensure comprehensive coverage.

Step 2: Process and Stitch Images Together Upload the captured images to your chosen software. The software will stitch the images together, creating a seamless walkthrough.

Step 3: Add Interactive Features Enhance the walkthrough by adding floor plans, descriptions, labels, and interactive hotspots, guiding users through the space.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Creating a 3D Walkthrough Poor Lighting and Angles Low-quality images due to poor lighting or unflattering angles can ruin the experience. Take your time to ensure the visuals are top-notch.

Ignoring User Experience User navigation should be smooth and intuitive. Complex or disjointed walkthroughs can frustrate potential buyers.

Best Practices for a Successful 3D Walkthrough House Tour Consistency in Navigation Ensure a logical flow from one room to the next, mimicking how one would naturally explore the home in real life.

Enhancing User Interactivity Interactive elements like clickable hotspots and informational pop-ups make the experience more engaging for users.

Conclusion: 3D Walkthrough House Tours 3D walkthrough house tours are revolutionizing how buyers explore properties, providing a highly immersive and engaging experience. By following these steps and best practices, you can create a seamless and professional virtual tour that captures the essence of the property, offering buyers an innovative way to discover their future home.

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[ogonns]

Car Rental Companies in Lucknow Offer a Diverse Range of Vehicles Suitable for Different Travel Preferences and Group Sizes

Uttar Pradesh's capital, Lucknow, is a dynamic fusion of modernity, culture, and legacy. It's fun to explore this city at your own speed, from its historic sites like the Bara Imambara to the busy markets of Hazratganj. Car rental services have grown in popularity as a flexible and practical form of transportation for both locals and tourists. Car rental companies in Lucknow have a large selection of automobiles to accommodate different travel needs and party sizes, whether you're there for business, pleasure, or simply need a temporary vehicle for local commuting. This blog will examine some of the best automobile rental businesses in Lucknow that offer a wide range of vehicles to suit various tastes.

1. OGONN= With a location in Lucknow, OGONN is one of the most well-known self-drive automobile rental companies in India. It has become more well-known because of its flexible rental packages, large selection of cars, and easy-to-use software.

Vehicle Options

OGONN has a wide variety of automobiles, from luxurious sedans and roomy SUVs to affordable hatchbacks. Automobiles like the Tata Tiago or Maruti Swift are excellent for cruising the city in a car, whether you're going alone or with a companion. The roomy Mahindra XUV500 or Toyota Innova Crysta can easily fit up to seven passengers, making long-distance travel more convenient for families or bigger parties.

Why Choose OGONN ?

Variety: From compact cars to SUVs, OGONN’ s fleet caters to different travel needs.

Self-Drive Flexibility: With OGONN , you have the freedom to drive at your own pace, making it perfect for both short city rides and long road trips.

Multiple Rental Plans: OGONN  provides hourly, daily, weekly, and even monthly rental packages, so you can choose according to your travel duration.

Whether you're planning a weekend getaway or need a car for daily commuting in Lucknow, OGONN offers flexibility with its wide range of vehicles.

2. Myles

Another well-known brand in the self-drive automobile rental market is Myles, which operates in a number of Indian locations, including Lucknow. It offers cars that suit a variety of traveler profiles, from high-end luxury models to more affordable options.

Vehicle Options

Myles offers one of the widest ranges of automobiles. Compact automobiles like the Hyundai i10 or Renault Kwid are suitable for couples or single people. SUVs like the Ford EcoSport or the Hyundai Creta can offer plenty of room and comfort if you are traveling with family or a big group. For business travelers or those who prefer to travel in style, Myles also provides premium sedans, such as the Skoda Octavia and Honda City.

Why Choose Myles?

Broad Fleet: Myles’ range includes economy cars, SUVs, and premium vehicles, making it suitable for diverse travel needs.

Nationwide Availability: If you’re planning a road trip from Lucknow to nearby destinations, Myles offers flexibility across different locations.

Self-Drive Option: Enjoy complete control over your trip with self-drive rentals, providing privacy and comfort.

Travelers looking for a car rental company that gives them choice with vehicle options and rental durations might consider Myles. Whether you need a car for a longer trip or are making a brief trip to see the historical places, Myles guarantees that you will find the ideal vehicle.

3. Savaari

Although its chauffeur-driven rental services are Savaari's main selling point, the company also provides a variety of car alternatives for different types of trips. With Savaari, you can relax and enjoy the ride without worrying about navigating the city's traffic because skilled drivers will do that for you.

Vehicle Options

Savaari has a wide range of automobiles, from luxury sedans and SUVs to affordable hatchbacks. Hatchbacks like the Hyundai i20 and Maruti Suzuki Alto are great for city driving, while the bigger Mahindra Scorpio or Toyota Innova are better options for larger families or parties. Premium vehicles like the BMW or Audi A6 are also available from Savaari for customers seeking a lavish experience.

Why Choose Savaari?

Chauffeur-Driven: With a professional driver at your service, Savaari offers a hassle-free travel experience, perfect for tourists unfamiliar with Lucknow’s roads.

Variety of Vehicles: Whether you're a solo traveler or part of a large group, Savaari’s fleet can accommodate your needs.

Transparent Pricing: Savaari offers upfront pricing with no hidden charges, ensuring a smooth rental experience.

Savaari is a great option for those who prefer to travel in comfort without the responsibility of driving. It’s especially useful for corporate clients or visitors who want a stress-free experience while navigating through Lucknow.

4. Revv

Another self-drive automobile rental company that has grown in popularity in Lucknow is Revv, which boasts an amazing collection of cars and a variety of rental options.

Vehicle Options

The vast range of vehicles in Revv's fleet can take various party sizes and travel preferences. SUVs like the Hyundai Creta or Mahindra XUV500 are ideal for larger parties or families, while compact cars like the Hyundai Grand i10 and Maruti Swift are ideal for city driving. For customers seeking a more opulent vehicle, Revv also provides a range of high-end models, such as the Volkswagen Vento and Honda City.

Why Choose Revv?

Home Delivery: Revv delivers the car to your doorstep, adding to the convenience factor.

Subscription Plans: For those staying in Lucknow for an extended period, Revv offers a subscription service, allowing you to rent a car for a month or longer.

Flexible Bookings: Revv provides both short-term and long-term rental plans, making it ideal for weekend travelers or those who need a vehicle for a longer duration.

Travelers who like convenience and a variety of car selections favor Revv because of its flexibility and home delivery service.

5. Avis India

The well-known international vehicle rental company Avis has expanded its first-rate offerings to Lucknow. Avis is well-known for providing upscale and luxurious car rentals, making it the perfect choice for consumers and tourists.

Vehicle Options

A variety of luxury automobiles, such as Mercedes, Audi, and BMW models, are available from Avis. Avis offers a range of high-end vehicles that are ideal for both short trips and lengthy trips, whether your goal is to impress or simply enjoy a smooth, lavish ride. For individuals who require additional room and comfort for group travel, Avis now offers SUVs like the Toyota Fortuner.

Why Choose Avis?

Luxury Cars: Avis offers an array of high-end vehicles, perfect for those who prefer traveling in style.

Professional Service: Avis is known for its high standards of customer service, ensuring a smooth rental process.

Chauffeur Service: Avis also offers chauffeur-driven options for those who want a completely stress-free travel experience.

For business travelers or tourists seeking a first-rate automobile rental service in Lucknow, Avis is a great option. Its fleet is dependable and extravagant, making your trip across the city a sophisticated experience.

[hydralisk98]

Building locations for the next revision of Angora?

Sidestream follow-up to this article thread:

As a hobby historian in the manifestation space, can't help but wonder about some alternate outcomes and manifest what seems most interesting and useful for me. And I have gotten a couple successes as I discovered new and old topics of interest fitting my wishes like "Pacific Cyber/Metrix", Glaxnimate, DEC Alpha AXP 3000's Turbochannel as a open bus standard, FSF+Symbolics shared history... which is really interesting and sweet to unravel!

Now, while I want to get started Vtubing soon, I got a couple life habits & lively essentials to fix first and foremost. But expect me to get started soon (hopefully...);

So yes, finally onto rebuilding theology through 16^12 Angora worldbuilding! My goal is to suggest and iterate (yet another) decent theological framework for biological & also machine sophonts (aka androids) out of researching existing systems, adding in some novelties worth exploring.

Either way, GDD dump for Angora in Môsi fork (with Borksy hacks?):

Media dump:

List of rooms, levels & locations for Angora:

Shoshone scroll library (bronze age period)

Contemporary public library

Pub

Arcade

Inn

Tavern

Public plaza

Market

Institute

Hospital

Lumber Mills

Walls

Commune of Hatriah?

Museums

Autel

Temples

Computer Lab

Cybercafes

Roads

Railways

Suspended Monorail

Commute by Tramways, Buses & Subways

Residences

Commerces

Industries

Farmland

Public Schools

Hotel

Bastion

Senate

House of Commons

Experts Council

Archives

Manor

Manufacture

Factory

University

Research Center

Medical Lab

Military Base

Arsenal

Communal data center

Video rental stores

Bookstores

Forested park

Rollers' skate park

Youth community center

Nuclear Powerplant

[...]

Kate & Ava's household

"Pinegroove" cityscape

"Black Bear" suburbia

"?" metropolis

"Maskoch" township

"Maynard" township

Mesa Laboratories

EBM, ICL, Tsunami Electrics, Bull...

Pacific Cyber Metrix, Pflaumen Cooperative (DEC+ZuseKG), Utalics Cooperative (Symbolics), GLOSS Foundation (FSF / GNU), Luna Macrotronics (Sun Microsystems);

Macroware (Microsoft, NeXT, Apple, Google, Minitel...)

Rajah Palace and their "forbidden city" courtroom

Hanging Gardens

Temple of Artemis

Super Mall "Nitta" Complex

Distant future "Iron Dusk of Time" (lucid dreamscape vision quest)

Pflaumen Cooperative (4408-4545) := Free Software Foundation (GLOSS Foundation, for the Libreware licensing), Symbolics (Commercial -grade / -tier LISP software & hardware accelerators), Digital Equipment Corporation (open industry-standard hardware in PDP8, Rainbow 100 & early Alfa series), Pacific Cyber Metrix (later Alfa, Beta & Gama series with Compact, Mobile & Ultra variants)... ?

Progressives: Syndicalists, (Geocenter) Greens, Harmonists;

Neue TurboChannel (as a consortium of GLOSS Foundation, Utalics, Pflaumen Cooperative put together) standards, LibreVast (Dreamcast+3DO+M2+Nuon...) home computer system with their own Nova modules (VMU+Sifteo... + Loopy with its Magical Shop addon?);

[the360photobooth]

Purchase a 360 Photo Booth: What You Need to Know

In the world of event entertainment, a 360 photo booth has emerged as a game-changer, captivating guests and creating memorable experiences. If you’re considering to purchase a 360 photo booth, it’s essential to understand the various elements that go into making this investment a success. From understanding the technology behind these booths to the key features to look for, budgeting, and vendor selection, this guide will cover everything you need to know to make an informed decision.

Understanding 360 Photo Booths

A 360 photo booth captures images from every angle, offering an engaging and immersive experience. Unlike traditional booths, these booths use a rotating camera system to create a 360-degree view of the subject. This technology is perfect for enhancing the fun at events like weddings, parties, and corporate gatherings. It allows guests to showcase their experiences through interactive content, which can be easily shared on social media. This dynamic approach not only entertains but also leaves a lasting impression, making your event unforgettable.

Key Features to Look For

When you decide to purchase a 360 photo booth, consider several key features:

**Camera Quality**: Ensure high-resolution cameras for professional-grade images.

**Rotation Speed**: Opt for a booth with smooth and quick rotation to minimize wait times.

**User Interface**: Choose a booth with an intuitive interface for seamless operation during events.

**Integration with Social Media**: Look for features that allow instant sharing on social media platforms.

**Lighting Options**: Built-in lighting, such as LED rings or softboxes, can enhance photo quality in various settings.

Budget Considerations

Purchasing a 360 photo booth involves several cost factors. Initially, expect to invest anywhere from a few thousand to tens of thousands of dollars. Additional expenses may include extra accessories such as backdrops, props, and enhanced lighting. Consider ongoing costs for maintenance, software updates, and potential repairs. Assess the booth’s potential to generate revenue, whether through personal use or commercial rentals. Properly budgeting for these elements will ensure a smoother investment process.

Space and Setup Requirements

Assess your available space and the booth’s setup needs. Ensure you have enough room for both the booth and guest movement. Check the power requirements, including any specific electrical outlets needed. Consider the booth’s portability; some models are easier to transport between venues. Evaluate the setup time required; a booth that assembles quickly can be advantageous for busy events. Additionally, look into any special requirements such as flooring or stability considerations to ensure smooth operation.

Customization Options

Customization can significantly enhance the appeal of your 360 photo booth. Consider branding opportunities such as logo placements or themed backdrops, especially if using the booth for commercial purposes. Explore interactive features like customizable video overlays or filters to add a fun element. Evaluate the availability of various props and accessories to match different event themes. The ability to personalize photo layouts by adding frames or logos can help create unique keepsakes for guests. These customization options will allow you to tailor the photo booth experience to meet specific event needs and preferences.

Vendor Selection

Choosing the right vendor for your 360 photo booth purchase is crucial. Start with thorough research and pay attention to customer reviews and industry reputation. Attend product demonstrations to evaluate the booth’s capabilities firsthand. Ensure the vendor provides robust customer support and thorough training for effective use. Check the warranty and repair options to safeguard your investment. A reliable vendor will not only offer a quality product but also support you with maintenance and technical issues, ensuring your booth runs smoothly during events.

Maintenance and Support

Regular maintenance is essential to keep your 360 photo booth in optimal condition. Schedule periodic check-ups to ensure all components, including the camera and software, are functioning correctly. Keeping the software updated is vital for accessing new features and maintaining security. If multiple people will operate the booth, make sure they receive comprehensive training to handle its features and upkeep. Establish a reliable point of contact for technical support to quickly resolve any issues that may arise during events. Proper maintenance and support will ensure your booth performs seamlessly, providing a flawless experience for your guests.

Maximizing Your Investment

To fully capitalize on your investment in a 360 photo booth, consider implementing a few strategic actions. First, develop a comprehensive marketing plan to effectively promote your booth, whether for personal or commercial use. Utilize social media platforms to display engaging content created by the booth, attracting potential clients and event planners. Additionally, offer various service packages, which could include complementary features like custom backdrops, props, or even a professional photographer. Engage with your clients by seeking their feedback and understanding which features they find most appealing, allowing you to tailor your offerings accordingly. Lastly, maintain an updated portfolio of your booth in action to showcase its capabilities and versatility across different event types. This multi-faceted approach will not only help you attract more business but also ensure your 360 photo booth remains a sought-after entertainment option.

Conclusion

To fully capitalize on your investment in a 360 photo booth, consider implementing a few strategic actions. First, develop a comprehensive marketing plan to effectively promote your booth, whether for personal or commercial use. Utilize social media platforms to display engaging content created by the booth, attracting potential clients and event planners. Additionally, offer various service packages, which could include complementary features like custom backdrops, props, or even a professional photographer. Engage with your clients by seeking their feedback and understanding which features they find most appealing, allowing you to tailor your offerings accordingly. Lastly, maintain an updated portfolio of your booth in action to showcase its capabilities and versatility across different event types. This multi-faceted approach will not only help you attract more business but also ensure your 360 photo booth remains a sought-after entertainment option.

Contact Us:

Address - Jenkintown, PA 19046

Email - The360booth@outlook.com

Phone - 267-627-0631

Website - The 360 Photo Booth

About - Purchase a 360 Photo Booth: What You Need to Know