#so it's not as applicable to this platform per se

[naeldeus]

jjk 251

Megumi is a background character to his own tragedy

Chapter 251 dropped, and a certain character is not coming out unscathed. Our cast is trying to seperate Sukuna and Megumi, and after a few tries, Yuuji finally reaches Megumi. But Megumi denies Yuuji's help, having lost the will to live, allowing Sukuna to launch a counter-attack once more. For this, Megumi is called a bum and slandered all over the internet. Yuuji and Megumi's suffering is pitted against each other by the fandom. Part of it is memes, sure, but it's clearly more than that.

Realistically, Megumi and Yuuji are going through very similar events. Megumi lost his sister and teacher while under Sukuna's possession. Yuuji lost his friend, his mentor right in front of him in the span of minutes. Sukuna killed an untold amount of people in their bodies. Both went fetal after it happened. So why is the response so contrasting?

Yuuji's trauma in Shibuya is front, right, and center. His relationships were developed on-page, the reader is just as shocked by the loss of his loved ones, we're grieving right along with him.

Meanwhile, the events Megumi goes through aren't given the same care. Ever since he got fed the Finger Special, at no point does the narrative slow down so the reader can digest what's happening. Megumi's plot and struggles gets glossed over, skipped, or is a complete tonal disconnect to what's actually happening.

Tsumiki wakes up: the only on-page interaction is Megumi telling Tsumiki to go back to sleep, even though she woke up from a nearly two-year coma. She doesn't show up the entire Culling Games arc even though Megumi's participation was to save his sister

Tsumiki turns out to be an incarnated sorcerer: Megumi's reaction to his sister being dead and possessed is practically non-existent because Sukuna takes over Megumi right after

Tsumiki gets killed by Megumi's own technique: This is the worst one, imho. Yorozu is completely in control during this fight, we learn nothing about Tsumiki. There is almost no acknowledgment on how horrifying this situation really is. The narrative focuses more on Sukuna trying to kill Yorozu, creating this disconnect where Tsumiki is seemingly already dead but she has to die again for Megumi's angst. Does it really matter that Tsumiki's body needs to be killed by the 10 Shadows? Isn't the fact that Megumi will forever remember her dying by his own hand not enough? There is accidental pseudo-incest in this arc and it's completely unacknowledged. The tone is just all over the place.

Megumi takes the damage of 5 Domain Expansions: Is he brain dead? Was his soul damaged? Is he fine? What are birds? We just don't know

Gojo, Megumi's guardian, gets killed while possessed: Megumi and Gojo's relationship is a hotly debated topic amongst fans. Is Gojo Megumi's father figure? Are they even close? Did Gojo hold back from trying to kill Megumi or did he think Megumi was a lost cause? Is Megumi even aware of what's going on?

And the ultimate kicker to all of this: Megumi has shown up for a handful of panels for most of the events described. His story is absolutely horrifying and would cripple any man, but it's all off-screened or shrouded in vagueness.

But to large parts of the fandom none of that matters. If Megumi's friends put aside all their pain, why can't Megumi? Setting aside that Yuuji very definitely did not when it was him, I believe this is a direct consequence of the lack of character work. For months now, character after character dies, and no one reacts to it. Gojo, the biggest hope to most of the current cast, died and the story moves on to the next contender in the same chapter he kicks it. They all just jump into the fight like they're swapping party members in an RPG. It's no wonder Megumi gets disrespected for being the one guy who breaks down to the shit he goes through like a real human being. Why should the fandom care when the story itself does the same thing?

There's a lot of parellels Gege could have drawn between Yuuji and Megumi, and while that might still happen, the way Megumi has been treated as a plot device makes the entire experience incredibly unsatisfying.

[worrywrite]

I think the failure of this entire approach is stated in this passage: "the default position should always be that the user does not know how to navigate the application."

This assumes that the app is not the problem, per se, but the following points contradict or do not solve the problem introduced.

See, if a user does not have the literacy to navigate and engage on a platform then they will be less likely to want to use the platform regardless of their literacy on its use. Whereas a user that has the platform/tech literacy to use the platform will enjoy it. You don't make the platform for the lowest common denominator, because then you get a really bland platform. You make a platform the best experience for the average user. And that's a big appeal and why I've always come back to Tumblr. I've been able to understand how, mechanically, the platform works (though the social mechanics of it often allude me), and so I've been able to make the most out of the features and mechanics of it. But if you simplified the platform and made it easier to use for everyone (people with less tech literacy) I would enjoy it less because my experience would be cut down; I would be able to engage with the platform less because the platform would be too simple for me, the average current user.

Is the average user changing over time. Probably. And that's sad. But I think part of the problem with that is that younger users have less tech literacy overall because platforms continue to simplify the way that they can be interacted with. Tumblr can attempt to follow that pattern, but I think it will lose a lot of legacy users that drive popular content in the process. And I think that those big legacy users represent more brand identity for the platform than anything else.

In order to solve the problems the platform currently faces, I suggest leaning into the exist platform identity that exists outside of it's user base. Get rid of live. Improve SEO so that Tumblr becomes a higher average rank across all engines when searching content generally online. Add better methods of distinguishing content on the platform (like a core tagging system where you have to have at least two-four tags that define the principle categories of a given post and these have distinct colors or a separate distinguishing space on the UI). Consider ditching or severely altering the comment system so that comments attach to specific versions of a post rather than the post generally or where you can adjust whether the comment is general to to a specific reblogger on the reblog chain. Preserve and strengthen the custom blog creation side of the platform; we have options for making individual blogs really cool, and I think we should focus on that side of the platform more. Gut the vestigial features that are lingering from old failed changes (like dragging the post button around, or the various buttons that post different things when all types of posts can be made from essentially the same screen).

Tumblr’s Core Product Strategy

Here at Tumblr, we’ve been working hard on reorganizing how we work in a bid to gain more users. A larger user base means a more sustainable company, and means we get to stick around and do this thing with you all a bit longer. What follows is the strategy we're using to accomplish the goal of user growth. The @labs group has published a bit already, but this is bigger. We’re publishing it publicly for the first time, in an effort to work more transparently with all of you in the Tumblr community. This strategy provides guidance amid limited resources, allowing our teams to focus on specific key areas to ensure Tumblr’s future.

The Diagnosis

In order for Tumblr to grow, we need to fix the core experience that makes Tumblr a useful place for users. The underlying problem is that Tumblr is not easy to use. Historically, we have expected users to curate their feeds and lean into curating their experience. But this expectation introduces friction to the user experience and only serves a small portion of our audience. 

Tumblr’s competitive advantage lies in its unique content and vibrant communities. As the forerunner of internet culture, Tumblr encompasses a wide range of interests, such as entertainment, art, gaming, fandom, fashion, and music. People come to Tumblr to immerse themselves in this culture, making it essential for us to ensure a seamless connection between people and content. 

To guarantee Tumblr’s continued success, we’ve got to prioritize fostering that seamless connection between people and content. This involves attracting and retaining new users and creators, nurturing their growth, and encouraging frequent engagement with the platform.

Our Guiding Principles

To enhance Tumblr’s usability, we must address these core guiding principles.

Expand the ways new users can discover and sign up for Tumblr.

Provide high-quality content with every app launch.

Facilitate easier user participation in conversations.

Retain and grow our creator base.

Create patterns that encourage users to keep returning to Tumblr.

Improve the platform’s performance, stability, and quality.

Below is a deep dive into each of these principles.

Principle 1: Expand the ways new users can discover and sign up for Tumblr.

Tumblr has a “top of the funnel” issue in converting non-users into engaged logged-in users. We also have not invested in industry standard SEO practices to ensure a robust top of the funnel. The referral traffic that we do get from external sources is dispersed across different pages with inconsistent user experiences, which results in a missed opportunity to convert these users into regular Tumblr users. For example, users from search engines often land on pages within the blog network and blog view—where there isn’t much of a reason to sign up. 

We need to experiment with logged-out tumblr.com to ensure we are capturing the highest potential conversion rate for visitors into sign-ups and log-ins. We might want to explore showing the potential future user the full breadth of content that Tumblr has to offer on our logged-out pages. We want people to be able to easily understand the potential behind Tumblr without having to navigate multiple tabs and pages to figure it out. Our current logged-out explore page does very little to help users understand “what is Tumblr.” which is a missed opportunity to get people excited about joining the site.

Actions & Next Steps

Improving Tumblr’s search engine optimization (SEO) practices to be in line with industry standards.

Experiment with logged out tumblr.com to achieve the highest conversion rate for sign-ups and log-ins, explore ways for visitors to “get” Tumblr and entice them to sign up.

Principle 2: Provide high-quality content with every app launch.

We need to ensure the highest quality user experience by presenting fresh and relevant content tailored to the user’s diverse interests during each session. If the user has a bad content experience, the fault lies with the product.

The default position should always be that the user does not know how to navigate the application. Additionally, we need to ensure that when people search for content related to their interests, it is easily accessible without any confusing limitations or unexpected roadblocks in their journey.

Being a 15-year-old brand is tough because the brand carries the baggage of a person’s preconceived impressions of Tumblr. On average, a user only sees 25 posts per session, so the first 25 posts have to convey the value of Tumblr: it is a vibrant community with lots of untapped potential. We never want to leave the user believing that Tumblr is a place that is stale and not relevant. 

Actions & Next Steps

Deliver great content each time the app is opened.

Make it easier for users to understand where the vibrant communities on Tumblr are. 

Improve our algorithmic ranking capabilities across all feeds. 

Principle 3: Facilitate easier user participation in conversations.

Part of Tumblr’s charm lies in its capacity to showcase the evolution of conversations and the clever remarks found within reblog chains and replies. Engaging in these discussions should be enjoyable and effortless.

Unfortunately, the current way that conversations work on Tumblr across replies and reblogs is confusing for new users. The limitations around engaging with individual reblogs, replies only applying to the original post, and the inability to easily follow threaded conversations make it difficult for users to join the conversation.

Actions & Next Steps

Address the confusion within replies and reblogs.

Improve the conversational posting features around replies and reblogs. 

Allow engagements on individual replies and reblogs.

Make it easier for users to follow the various conversation paths within a reblog thread. 

Remove clutter in the conversation by collapsing reblog threads. 

Explore the feasibility of removing duplicate reblogs within a user’s Following feed. 

Principle 4: Retain and grow our creator base.

Creators are essential to the Tumblr community. However, we haven’t always had a consistent and coordinated effort around retaining, nurturing, and growing our creator base.  

Being a new creator on Tumblr can be intimidating, with a high likelihood of leaving or disappointment upon sharing creations without receiving engagement or feedback. We need to ensure that we have the expected creator tools and foster the rewarding feedback loops that keep creators around and enable them to thrive.

The lack of feedback stems from the outdated decision to only show content from followed blogs on the main dashboard feed (“Following”), perpetuating a cycle where popular blogs continue to gain more visibility at the expense of helping new creators. To address this, we need to prioritize supporting and nurturing the growth of new creators on the platform.

It is also imperative that creators, like everyone on Tumblr, feel safe and in control of their experience. Whether it be an ask from the community or engagement on a post, being successful on Tumblr should never feel like a punishing experience.

Actions & Next Steps

Get creators’ new content in front of people who are interested in it. 

Improve the feedback loop for creators, incentivizing them to continue posting.

Build mechanisms to protect creators from being spammed by notifications when they go viral.

Expand ways to co-create content, such as by adding the capability to embed Tumblr links in posts.

Principle 5: Create patterns that encourage users to keep returning to Tumblr.

Push notifications and emails are essential tools to increase user engagement, improve user retention, and facilitate content discovery. Our strategy of reaching out to you, the user, should be well-coordinated across product, commercial, and marketing teams.

Our messaging strategy needs to be personalized and adapt to a user’s shifting interests. Our messages should keep users in the know on the latest activity in their community, as well as keeping Tumblr top of mind as the place to go for witty takes and remixes of the latest shows and real-life events.  

Most importantly, our messages should be thoughtful and should never come across as spammy.  

Actions & Next Steps

Conduct an audit of our messaging strategy.

Address the issue of notifications getting too noisy; throttle, collapse or mute notifications where necessary.  

Identify opportunities for personalization within our email messages. 

Test what the right daily push notification limit is. 

Send emails when a user has push notifications switched off.

Principle 6: Performance, stability and quality.

The stability and performance of our mobile apps have declined. There is a large backlog of production issues, with more bugs created than resolved over the last 300 days. If this continues, roughly one new unresolved production issue will be created every two days. Apps and backend systems that work well and don't crash are the foundation of a great Tumblr experience. Improving performance, stability, and quality will help us achieve sustainable operations for Tumblr.

Improve performance and stability: deliver crash-free, responsive, and fast-loading apps on Android, iOS, and web.

Improve quality: deliver the highest quality Tumblr experience to our users. 

Move faster: provide APIs and services to unblock core product initiatives and launch new features coming out of Labs.

Conclusion

Our mission has always been to empower the world’s creators. We are wholly committed to ensuring Tumblr evolves in a way that supports our current users while improving areas that attract new creators, artists, and users. You deserve a digital home that works for you. You deserve the best tools and features to connect with your communities on a platform that prioritizes the easy discoverability of high-quality content. This is an invigorating time for Tumblr, and we couldn’t be more excited about our current strategy.

[reddyannabook4545]

Reddy Anna: The Most Reliable Platform for Authentic Online Book Cricket IDs in India

Reddy Anna Online Book became known as the top place for cricket enthusiasts looking for authentic gaming experiences in India. As a member of the prestigious Reddy Anna Club, this platform is well-known for its firm dedication to trust and dependability setting a standard for ID service providers across the country. With a natural interface and user-friendly features, Reddy Anna Online Book allows players to easily use a wide range of online book cricket options according to their favorites.

Why Rs 18 Crore Cap for Overseas Players? IPL Chairman's Blunt Response

The Indian Premier League (IPL) Governing Council introduced a few tough rules, especially about overseas players in a media statement on Saturday. In addition to drawing the salary scales and retention policies for IPL teams, the statement is helpless to suspend foreign players for up to two years for misbehavior at the auction which has harmed teams in recent years. To stop foreign players from abusing the system the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has implemented checks and safeguards, such as exclusion players who cancel at the last minute or favoring smaller auctions over larger ones.

One of the rules applicable from the IPL 2026 mini-auction is that no overseas player would earn more money than the highest booked or sold player in the mega auction (whichever of the two is lower). Fans and experts are debating the regulation incessantly, with many questioning whether it is suitable to limit a foreign player's earnings in mini-auctions.

But Arun Dhumal, the chairman of the Indian Premier League, supported the move and explained that the intention was to promote more foreign celebrities to participate in huge auctions.

"A player receives only Rs 18 crore if they are selected at a higher price than, say, Rs 18 crore per se. The remaining funds are returned to the league and used for player welfare by the BCCI. "The goal is to have as many players available at the larger auction as possible, as that allows the franchises to plan a team for the next three years" he stated in response to the query in an Indian Express interview.

Dhumal was questioned over the possible two-year suspension that foreign players would face if they were sold at the super auction and then decided not to play in the IPL.

To which he responded: "It has come to our observation that at times players are not making themselves available for bigger auctions but are coming at the smaller sale so that they can get a better value."

"We wanted to ensure that people who are offering themselves up for a high-profile auction are not the ones who wind up winning. If they are selected at the auction but are unable to appear, they must justify. It isn't because they are in the auction; after being selected for a certain price, they decline to participate. The basis is that each player plays a crucial part in whatever position they are selected for, and the franchise owners and the club are exactly collecting the greatest team possible for the competition. If he does not make himself available, it will be a risk to the team as a whole" he added.

Dhumal and other members of the IPL Governing Council believe that only external stars who are 100% committed should participate. Those who find to abuse the system's flaws are not welcome.

"It is a team game at the end of the day. So the idea is that they need to validate their complete dedication. If they have said that I would be available then they have to be available. Otherwise, it must be a medical reason with the home board confirming in writing that it is a real medical condition for which the player is unable to participate" he stated.

Play with Confidence with Reddy Anna

Reddy Anna Online Book is changing the way cricket fans connect with their beloved sport by starting itself as India's leading site for obtaining genuine cricket IDs. Reddy Anna Club, known for its continuous dedication to transparency and client satisfaction, has emerged as the nation's most trusted ID service provider. With an easy-to-use interface and a large database of verified profiles, Reddy Anna Online Book ensures that each player receives an authentic identity tailored to their online gaming experience.

Conclusion

Reddy Anna Online Book is well-known as India's first site for cricket enthusiasts looking for authentic ID services. Reddy Anna Club known as the best ID service provider in the country provides users with a perfect experience that blends dependability and matchless knowledge. With an inflexible dedication to transparency and honesty, Reddy Anna separates by assuring that every ID is genuine and fully compliant with industry requirements.

[calaycay]

My boyfriend asked me what’s Tumblr? And thanks to him, I was motivated to write here today — yeah, blame his curiosity.

So what’s with Tumblr? I would say it’s a blog site. It’s like Facebook but different. It’s a platform where you are free to write anything without people judging you. I would say X (Twitter) was like that before but now, everyone is criticizing you for anything that you say or post per se—- at least for the celebrities, I am not a celebrity but surely there are people that judge me, and I already accepted that it is just how people are. Is it part of our genetics? I don’t know. Anyways, this post is not about them. This is about my first public Tumblr post in the longest time (2 or 3 years since). And I hope that Tumblr is still the same —- the artsy, weird, inspirational, and freedom platform that I know. (Don’t mind the noun among the adjectives, I can’t find the right word to describe further ksks).

So what’s the update about me? Number 1 is the second word in this post. Yeah! I got my loves after four years of tears, pandemic, and school. A reward? No. He just came at the right time. We call each other Aki — no, it is not a shortcut for Akin. It comes from a japanese word that means autumn or serenity. He is truly my serenity. My peace and my rest. He’s the best cook, I swear! Blame him for my weight increase. He’s good at singing too. Hopefully we can agree with the genre tho, he’s the Beyonce and I am the Paramore.

Number 2 - I finally got my MBA from UP Diliman! I had a long post about my MBA application journey here and I am so glad I was able to finish my studies and graduate. I graduated last July 2023. I was planning to post here last year about that but I just rarely use social media except for Twitter and I became more lazy on my writings so, I apologize to my calaycay blog.

After I graduate (yeah you can’t stop me from repeating it over and over, it’s my pride!), I was able to get a part-time teaching job (Number 3) from our affiliate school. It’s a whole lot different experience. I think I need to post about this in a separate narrative. But I am very happy to be able to do that at least for a sem. They did not give me a load for this sem. They did asked me to teach Research but I don’t think it’s my forte so I declined. I am not ashamed to admit that I am a lazy reader. I would read only if I had to. I would rather be sleepless binge watching than reading. Sorry this MBA is not a reader. Ksksks.

I traveled to Coron (number 4)! I posted my reels on my private account. Don’t worry, I will finish our long-length vlog and post it here. I am thankful to be with Aki on this trip. I crossed out one of my bucket list with him. Coron is such a treasure. Definitely one of the best beaches in the country! I wanna go back.

I got my ebike (number 5) last year. I would say it is an expensive but good decision. Luigi, the name of my ebike, gives us convenience. I drive him only once a week since I am still working onsite and only goes home on Thursdays to weekend. At least I have something that I acquired for convenience. :)

There are a lot more that happened—- my Tatay and Inay are very healthy and I pray that they would stay that way; I am now an iPhone user but I am still a big fan of Andriod; Othelo and Pepper still cannot get along.; We have a new cat named Sab because he is a substitute to Pepper’s kitten who got escaped from the cage before he was given to us; I travelled to Vietnam with my persons. Vietnam is very reach in culture —- definitely a must-visit country but I recommend Hanoi than Ho Chi Minh; and I got promoted at work (will have separate post about this). There’s a lot more!

I would try be as active as possible in writing here. I also need this to have something to look back in the future.

It’s good to be back, Tumblr!

[mamun258]

Product Weekly Report Issue 281 | OpenAI launches online store GPT Store, NetEase Cloud Music App officially announces new revision

Good morning, it’s Friday again! Let’s see what happened this week~

On Wednesday (January 10) local time, the artificial intelligence research company OpenAI launched the online store "GPT Store ''. The HE Tuber company had previously delayed the launch of this feature due to personal turmoil. According to a press release, the GPT Store began rolling out to paying users, team and enterprise users on Wednesday.

On January 9, NetEase Cloud Music App officially announced a new revision. According to the official introduction, this NetEase Cloud Music revision focuses on optimizing the listening experience.

1. Worth paying attention to

OpenAI launches online store GPT Store

On Wednesday (January 10) local time, the artificial intelligence research company OpenAI launched the online store "GPT Store ''. The company had previously delayed the launch of this feature due to personal turmoil. According to a press release, the GPT Store has been launched to paid users, teams and enterprise users on Wednesday. The store brings together customized versions of ChatGPT created by users for various tasks, such as chatbots that can teach children math, as well as programming tutors, Reading guides, etc. At the same time, OpenAI also launched a new paid package "ChatGPT Team '' for enterprise users with smaller team sizes: each user in the package is $25 per month when billed annually; when billed monthly, it is $25 per month. $30. Like Enterprise users, Team's plans also come with data privacy protection features.

Apple announces Vision Pro will be available in the US on February 2

Apple announced that the Apple Vision Pro will be officially released in all U.S. Apple Stores and Apple’s official website on February 2, local time, with pre-orders starting on Friday, January 19. Apple CEO Tim Cook said in a press release: "The era of spatial computing has arrived. Apple Vision Pro is the most advanced consumer electronics device ever. Its revolutionary and magical user interface will redefine the way we connect, create and explore. .”

Musk’s X Company will launch P2P payment service this year

Elon Musk's social media platform X announced in a blog post on Tuesday that it will launch a peer-to-peer (P2P) payments service this year. X said these payments will unlock "more user utility and business opportunities" as the platform works toward "the revolution of 2024." The blog post did not provide specific details on how the payments service will work or when it will officially launch. According to the U.S. Multi-State Licensing System website, X’s payment subsidiary, X Payments LLC, has so far only obtained money transfer licenses in 14 states.

Meituan KeeTa becomes Hong Kong’s second largest food delivery platform

According to Bloomberg, Meituan’s overseas application KeeTa has become Hong Kong’s second largest food delivery platform since its launch in Hong Kong in May last year. Data from market research agency Measurable AI shows that KeeTa occupied 37% of the local food delivery market share in Hong Kong last year, trailing only Delivery Hero SE's Foodpanda (42%) but exceeding Deliveroo Plc's 20%. However, Measurable AI co-founder Charlie Shen said that although Keea’s market share is growing rapidly, its average order value is still low. It is reported that in December last year, the average price of takeout on KeeTa was only HK$102, while the price per order on Foodpanda was HK$168, and the price per order on Deliveroo reached HK$185.

OPPO officially established an AI center to pool internal resources to strengthen R&D capabilities

OPPO product officer Liu Zuohu revealed that the company has integrated AI resources from various internal departments and officially established an AI center. This move shows that AI will become OPPO’s core investment direction in the future. OPPO's AI center will focus the company's research and development efforts in the field of artificial intelligence and promote the widespread application of AI technology in OPPO products and services. By aggregating internal resources, OPPO aims to strengthen the research and development and application capabilities of AI technology and improve user experience.

2. Product dynamics

NetEase Cloud Music App officially announced a new revision, optimizing around the music listening experience

On January 9, NetEase Cloud Music App officially announced a new revision. According to the official introduction, the revision of NetEase Cloud Music focuses on optimizing the listening experience, which is mainly reflected in the dual homepage design of personalized homepage and professional recommendations from the platform; the roaming function has been upgraded to a first-level tab, allowing one-click direct access to the music discovery journey; Yuncun Community The "dynamics" page has been completely simplified; in addition, the classic vinyl playback interface and the "My" page have also been fully upgraded around the music listening experience; the new version has also deleted a large number of advertising spaces that affect the music listening experience.

DingTalk has reached a cooperation with Microsoft China and will promote the DingTalk Office suite for 35 yuan per person per month.

DingTalk officially announced that it has reached a product-level cooperation with Microsoft China and will launch the DingTalk Office suite, integrating products including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. DingTalk Office will be connected with the document scenes in DingTalk, and is compatible with Office formats and operating habits, and also supports Microsoft mobile system creation. DingTalk said that the DingTalk Office Premium Edition is priced at 35 yuan per person per month, and reservation applications will be open from January 9.

Honor’s self-developed terminal-side magic model released

Honor's self-developed terminal-side platform-level AI large model "Magic Model" has been released, which can realize functions such as intelligent film production, semantic search of galleries, and one-stop scheduling. The large magic model with 7 billion parameters will be launched in the Honor Magic6 series. In addition, Honor MagicOS has built a large model service ecosystem for the first time, enabling safe and efficient connections between multiple large models. Baidu Smart Cloud and Honor Large Models have become ecological strategic partners and will achieve device-cloud collaboration through the Qianfan Large Model platform.

iFLYTEK releases series of digital employee products

On January 9, iFlytek's enterprise digital "Spark Digital Rebirth" product launch conference was held, and digital employees were newly launched. Among them, the "Management Digital Employee Products" are mainly oriented to enterprise management scenarios, including intelligent bid evaluation digital employees, smart contract digital employees and generative smart cockpit digital employees; the "Marketing Digital Employee" product is mainly oriented to sales scenarios, integrating business research, business Three major product solutions: insight analysis and marketing business application; "Office Digital Employee" products, including Content Operation Master, iFlytek Zhiwen, Customer Service Training, etc., integrate multiple office digital employee products of iFlytek Spark.

JD.com announces launch of Hongmeng native application development

JD.com and Huawei announced their cooperation on January 10 and officially launched the development of Hongmeng native applications. Xu Ran, CEO and executive director of JD.com, said at the signing ceremony that JD.com and Huawei are highly matched in terms of consumer groups, and at the same time, both parties will jointly build AI capabilities; Huawei Managing Director, Terminal BG CEO, and Smart Car Solutions BU Director CEO Yu Chengdong said that Huawei will further cooperate with JD.com in terms of business model and Hongmeng ecology.

3. Operational dynamics

Dong Yuhui’s new account sold over 100 million yuan in its first broadcast, third party: sales nearly four times that of Oriental Selection

At 7 pm on January 9, 2024, "Walking with Hui" will be broadcast on time. According to data from Cicada Mama, as of press time, the total number of fans of "Walking with Hui" is 7.369 million, the cumulative sales of live broadcasts exceed 1 million, and the cumulative sales of live broadcasts exceed 100 million yuan. Corresponding to the surge in the number of fans and sales of the "Walking with Hui" live broadcast room, the growth rate of the Oriental Selection live broadcast room has slowed down. Cicada Mama data shows that in the past ten days, the total number of fans in the Oriental Selection live broadcast room has continued to decline, from 31.608 million on December 31, 2023 to the current 31.501 million, and sales have also dropped from 31.608 million on December 18, 2023. 100 million yuan fell to the 10 million to 25 million yuan range on the 9th.

Last year, the WeChat video account's GMV for live streaming increased three times year-on-year, and orders increased by 244%.

According to news on January 11, at the 2024 WeChat Open Course PRO held in Guangzhou, Tencent announced the results of some WeChat video accounts’ live streaming of goods. Among them, GMV (gross merchandise transactions) in 2023 increased three times compared with the previous year, and the number of supplies increased. More than 300%, the number of orders increased by more than 244%.

Douyin releases 2023 annual review of cyber violence management: 858,000 accounts are reminded to speak rationally throughout the year

On January 9, Douyin released the 2023 annual review of cyber violence control. An inventory shows that Douyin warned and dealt with 5,004 inappropriate speech-related incidents throughout the year, launched a "No Internet Violence Zone", reminded 858,000 accounts to speak rationally, and introduced free third-party legal aid for the first time. In 2023, more than 2.2 million users participated in the anti-cyber violence initiative launched by Douyin, and the average daily comments and reports of cyberviolence on the platform have dropped by 51% year-on-year. Douyin stated that it will be committed to upgrading its technology iteration strategy for a long time and continue to work with all sectors of society to oppose and resist online violence.

Cainiao launches container shipping service in the United States, allowing Chinese products to be delivered online in as fast as 5 days

Recently, Cainiao announced its official entry into the U.S. container shipping market, providing stable and reliable ecommerce parcel shipping services to overseas Chinese and international students across the United States. According to the relevant person in charge of the Cainiao Overseas Shopping Export Logistics Department, in the U.S. market, Cainiao provides two major consolidation products: air freight and sea freight. Air freight products focus on timeliness, and can be delivered within 5 days at the earliest after shipment from the container warehouse. Sea freight products are extremely cost-effective, and the lowest shipping fee for individual group bookings is only 12 yuan.

Xiaohongshu E-commerce: The number of merchants with a transaction scale of over 100 million in 2023 will increase by 500% year-on-year

The "rise100 e-commerce annual list" released by Xiaohongshu E-commerce shows that its ecosystem has continued to prosper in the past year, with the number of merchants with annual transactions exceeding 100 million increasing by 500% year-on-year, and the number of merchants with annual transactions exceeding 10 million increasing by 380% year-on-year. Buyers with single sales of over 100 million yuan or tens of millions of yuan have emerged on Xiaohongshu e-commerce.

4. Recommend good articles

"Summary at the end of 2023: Reasons for ineffective marketing, I discovered these truths that may have been ignored" author @Caocao阿瀹

Editor's recommendation: Whether you are selling products or services, whether you are a large company or a small business, marketing operations and maintenance play an important role in the entire process. Good marketing will bring more customers and profits to the company, and bad marketing will bring more customers and profits to the company. Marketing or ineffective marketing will not only delay the time and efficiency of market competition, but may also have a negative impact and hinder the development of the enterprise.

"(Wanzi dry information) How to train and optimize the "AI neural network" model? 

Editor's recommendation: Abstract mathematical models can achieve intelligence similar to that of the human brain. How does a neural network achieve such wonderful effects through data training? This article will use this issue as an entry point to start talking about it.

"Practice of mid- and back-end products: Taking the smart city scenario [data fusion governance platform] product as an example" author @南伟道

Editor’s recommendation: How to build smart city governance products? Based on his own experience, the author summarizes the products and projects he has been responsible for in the past, sorts out and builds the overall business structure of urban governance (smart city), and analyzes the development trends and market conditions of urban governance through research and design products for its needs.

[ling584]

Web Development Frameworks: A Guide to Popular Choices

Web development frameworks are essential tools that simplify and expedite the process of creating web applications and websites. They provide a structured foundation, reusable components, and a set of best practices to streamline development. Here's a guide to some popular web development frameworks as of my last knowledge update in September 2021. Keep in mind that the landscape can change quickly, so always check for the latest updates and trends.

Front-End Frameworks:

React:

Developed by Facebook, React is a JavaScript library for building user interfaces. It's known for its component-based architecture, which makes it easy to manage complex UIs.

Angular:

Developed and maintained by Google, Angular is a full-fledged front-end framework. It provides a comprehensive solution for building dynamic web applications.

Vue.js:

Vue.js is a progressive JavaScript framework that's known for its simplicity and ease of integration into existing projects. It's highly adaptable and suitable for building single-page applications.

Svelte:

Svelte is a relatively new framework that compiles components into highly efficient JavaScript at build time. This results in smaller bundle sizes and better performance.

Back-End Frameworks:

Node.js:

While not a framework per se, Node.js is a runtime that allows you to build back-end applications using JavaScript. Popular Node.js frameworks include Express, Koa, and Nest.js.

Ruby on Rails:

Ruby on Rails, often referred to as Rails, is a robust and opinionated framework that encourages convention over configuration. It's known for its developer-friendly environment.

Django:

Django is a high-level Python web framework that follows the "batteries-included" philosophy, providing a wide range of built-in features for rapid development.

Laravel:

Laravel is a PHP framework that prioritizes developer productivity and expressive code syntax. It's especially well-suited for building web applications quickly.

Full-Stack Frameworks:

Meteor:

Meteor is a full-stack JavaScript framework that allows you to build real-time web applications with ease. It includes both front-end and back-end components.

Spring Boot:

Spring Boot is a popular Java framework for building robust and scalable web applications. It's widely used in enterprise-level projects.

Ruby on Rails:

As mentioned earlier, Ruby on Rails is a full-stack framework that includes both front-end and back-end components.

Mobile App Development:

React Native:

If you're looking to build mobile apps with a web development background, React Native allows you to create cross-platform mobile applications using React.

Flutter:

Developed by Google, Flutter is a UI toolkit for building natively compiled applications for mobile, web, and desktop from a single codebase.

Content Management Systems (CMS):

WordPress:

While primarily a blogging platform, WordPress has evolved into a versatile CMS, making it an accessible choice for building websites and web applications.

Drupal:

Drupal is an open-source CMS known for its flexibility and scalability. It's often used for complex, content-rich websites.

Joomla:

Joomla is another open-source CMS that offers a balance between user-friendliness and extensibility.

Static Site Generators:

Gatsby:

Gatsby is a popular static site generator that uses React to build fast, efficient websites that can be hosted on content delivery networks (CDNs).

Hugo:

Hugo is a static site generator written in Go, known for its blazing-fast performance and simplicity.

[sameertope]

Integrated Platform as a Service (IPaaS) Market 2030: Exploring Trends, Applications, Competitive Scenario, Regional Dynamics, and Future Projections

As per the latest research report released by Kings Research, the globally integrated platform as a service market was valued at USD 6.68 Billion in 2022 and is estimated to grow to USD 61.67 Billion by 2030, recording a robust 32.47% CAGR from 2023-2030. The study covers segmentation analysis, restraints, drivers, lucrative growth opportunities, challenges, regional analysis, and competitive landscape, along with an in-depth study of the key players leading the market.

An in-depth analysis of the globally integrated platform as a service market has been conducted on the basis of various research methodologies, such as primary and secondary research, qualitative and quantitative research, and Porter's five forces model, among others. The goal of the research study is to provide industry leaders with lucrative growth opportunities and insights into the latest trends, as well as continuously evolving market dynamics on a global level.

The global Integrated Platform as a Service (IPaaS) Market was valued at USD 6.68 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach USD 61.67 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 32.47% from 2023 to 2030.

Get Updates on Growth Rate | Download Sample PDF: https://www.kingsresearch.com/request-sample/integrated-platform-as-a-service-market-11

The Integrated Platform as a Service (IPaaS) market is experiencing robust growth, fueled by the increasing adoption of cloud-based solutions and the need for seamless integration of diverse applications and data sources. Organizations are recognizing the value of IPaaS in streamlining workflows, enhancing efficiency, and enabling real-time data exchange across platforms. As businesses strive for digital transformation, the IPaaS market is poised to expand further, offering agile, scalable, and user-friendly solutions that bridge the gap between various systems and technologies. This growth trajectory is set to continue as more enterprises recognize the strategic advantages of IPaaS in achieving operational excellence and driving innovation.

Segmentation Analysis

The global integrated platform as a service market study will provide readers with detailed information about various segments such as application, type, and so forth. The primary goal of segmentation analysis is to understand the diverse needs, preferences, and behaviors of different customer segments, enabling businesses to tailor their marketing strategies and offerings more effectively.

Competitive Landscape

The competitive landscape covered in the global integrated platform as a service market report offers insights into the overall market environment specifically focusing on the companies that are operating in the sector to gain a superior industry footing, attract customers, and accomplish corporate objectives. The study gives a detailed analysis of key players, highlighting their strengths, weaknesses, strategies, and market positioning.

Key players dominant in the integrated platform as a service market include:

Amdocs

Boomi, LP

Celigo, Inc.

Jitterbit

Microsoft Corporation

Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.

Oracle Corporation

QlikTech International AB

Salesforce, Inc.

IBM Corporation

KEMET Corporation

SAP SE

VIRTUOSO PARTNERS Limited

The Global Integrated Platform as a Service (IPaaS) Market is segmented as:

By Service

API Management

Data Integration

Real Time Monitoring & Integration

Data Transformation

By Organization Type

Large Enterprise

SMEs

By Vertical

IT & Telecom

BFSI

Consumer Goods & Retail

Education

Healthcare & Lifesciences

Government

Others

Market Dynamics

The research report on the global integrated platform as a service market includes factors that are expected to influence consumer behavior, trends, and changes within a market over the forecast period. These dynamics are driven by the interactions between supply and demand, consumer behavior, competition, technological advancements, economic conditions, government policies, and other external influences.

Regional Analysis

While studying specific markets, it is necessary to understand and analyze market trends, customer behavior, and business performance at a regional or geographical level. Regional analysis involves dividing a larger market or territory into smaller geographic areas to gain insights into specific regional patterns and variations.

The global integrated platform as a service market is meticulously segmented into various regions, namely North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. This approach enables the provision of region-specific information.

Why Buy This Report?

●             Gain comprehensive insights into market trends and growth drivers.

●             Make informed business decisions with accurate market forecasts.

●             Stay ahead in the industry with a thorough competitive analysis.

●             Identify lucrative regional and segment opportunities.

●             Strategically plan investments and expansions in the globally integrated platform as a service market.

About Us:

Kings Research stands as a renowned global market research firm. With a collaborative approach, we work closely with industry leaders, conducting thorough assessments of trends and developments. Our primary objective is to provide decision-makers with tailored research reports that align with their unique business objectives. Through our comprehensive research studies, we strive to empower leaders to make informed decisions.

Our team comprises individuals with diverse backgrounds and a wealth of knowledge in various industries. At Kings Research, we offer a comprehensive range of services aimed at assisting you in formulating efficient strategies to achieve your desired outcomes. Our objective is to significantly enhance your long-term progress through these tailored solutions.

[sterlingtechnolabs]

Benefits and Perspectives of Artificial Intelligence in Software Development

The concept of automation was nothing more than a fantasy as close as three decades ago. However the dawn of the new century brought forward an array of opportunities and allowed people from different professions to expand their skill set and resources. A major contributor to this phenomenon has been AI or artificial intelligence.

Artificial intelligence has created quite a dominant presence in various fields such as engineering, content creation etc, but the one field where it has had the most influence has without a doubt been software development and engineering.

The mainstream notion that revolves around the presence of artificial intelligence in the software development industry is that it is a threat to human employment and will soon force software developers and engineers out of work, by a hostile takeover. While a lot of evidence has been presented to support the same argument, to blindly trust this notion and regard artificial intelligence and its influence as an ulterior threat would be extremely foolish. The threat, or if there is one, is extremely minor and yet to be realised, the benefits that developers cultivate from the practical day to day application of artificial intelligence while developing various web applications, software or mobile applications.

Artificial intelligence and it’s assistance to software developers

Increased speed and reduced development time

Starting off with the basics, we have reduced development time and an increased speed of production, an advantage which is not exclusive to the software development industry per se. A common notion associated with machines is that they are faster, relatively more efficient and simply better, which is true also. When it comes to software development, creating lengthy codes for an application becomes a tedious job for a developer who cannot fulfill it unless given sufficient time. Artificial intelligence on the other hand requires a tiny fraction of the time and can present a fully functional error free code within a couple of minutes at best and hours at worst, thus significantly reducing the development time required by engineers to create a complex application.

Enhanced user experience

A common misconception surrounding ai and the software development industry is that the former’s role is limited to development and behind the scenes tasks. When in reality, it is so much more. Artificial intelligence or AI powered chatbots provide users with a platform to communicate with a particular firm or company and express their concerns in an organised manner. Not only is it easier for grieving users who can expect quick responses and follow ups on their complaints but it is also more efficient for firms since they are able to store the data collected by these ai platforms to further improve their product.

Eliminates errors

Human made products and services are bound to have errors or mistakes, even if they are the most minute and insignificant. Machines made on the other hand have been known to be held synonymous with error free, perfect and pristine. The same can definitely be held true. Applications and output created using artificial intelligence are bound to be error free. This is obviously beneficial for developers and consumers alike because it kills two birds with one stone. Not only does it improve customer experience and provide them with pristine service quality but it also helps firms and developers retain clients.

These were the primary values that artificial intelligence adds to the software development industry. However to mistake these to be the only positive contributions of ai would be Naive and foolish.

Answering questions in your mind

Q1. Is it true that artificial intelligence has the power to replace human developers?

While artificial intelligence is known to constantly evolve and learn from its mistakes to improve, to think that it poses a threat of eliminating human participation in any industry with little to no repercussions would be foolish and simply far-fetched.

Q2. Is there much of a difference between applications developed by humans and those developed using Artificial intelligence?

Even the work of something as complex as artificial intelligence is overseen by an experienced developer to ensure that the software developed has elements indicating its holistic development. To discriminate between products developed by either of the two would not only be unfair but also nothing more than a missed opportunity for consumers and clients.

Q3. Why can’t we get artificial intelligence to build an application for us, why does one need to pay a developer to do the same?

Artificial intelligence is a concept which hasn’t been fully understood. It is believed that ai in today’s times is the answer to any and every question, and while it is mostly true most consumers forget that there is another side to the coin, which is knowing what questions to ask. Artificial intelligence is trained to take your word as is. If you are looking to get your hands on a quality output that incorporates every element you desire in your application you need to contact an experienced developer or a firm like sterling technolabs who ensure that the output produced is a balanced blend of human skills and artificial development.

Wrapping up

You can hate artificial intelligence or you can be all for it, but one thing that no one can deny is the fact that it is here to stay. The influence and chokehold that ai has on certain industries is only increasing. It is in times like these, it becomes important for professionals especially like software developers to understand how they can best utilise this technology in the favor of themselves and their clients.

[mrmobileappdeveloper21]

How much does it cost to develop an insurance app?

In today's world, where everything is going digital, insurance companies are not far behind. With the rise of smartphones and mobile applications, developing an insurance mobile app development has become a necessity for many companies to stay ahead in the game. 

Not only does it provide convenience to customers, but it also helps insurers streamline their processes and reduce costs. However, one question that lingers on every insurer's mind is how much will it cost to develop an insurance app?

As a freelance insurance app developer, I can develop different apps like android and iOS. 

1- Why develop an insurance app?

Insurance apps have started gaining popularity because they allow companies to provide their services directly to clients. With the increasing use of smartphones and technology, insurance companies are now developing mobile applications for policyholders. Developing an app development insurance, is a way to stay competitive in the market as well as offer clients convenience and ease-of-use. One of the main reasons why an insurance company should develop a mobile application is that it provides accessibility. Policyholders can easily access their policy information, update their details, and even file claims using the app. This eliminates long waiting times on phone calls or in-person visits to offices. Another reason to develop an insurance app is customer engagement. Clients who use your app will feel more connected with your brand due to the personalized experience offered by these apps. You can also incorporate features like push notifications that keep them updated on changes in policies or new offers available.

So being a freelance android app developer, i will help you to develop apps as per your requirements. So this means, obtaining insurance app development services with me can deliver tons of benefits.

An important benefit of having an insurance app is cost reduction for both customers and businesses alike. With a self-service solution, there's less need for staff at call centers which saves money while providing 24/7 support service for users.

Developing an insurance app isn't just about staying up-to-date with current trends; it's about improving services provided by insurers altogether while offering clients convenience at their fingertips!

2- How to get benefits with an insurance app?

An insurance app offers a wide range of benefits to both users and insurers. People can access their policy details, pay premiums, file claims instantly and get real-time updates about the status of their claim through an insurance app. On the other hand, insurers can collect valuable data on customer behavior patterns and preferences that enable them to tailor policies accordingly. One of the significant advantages of using an insurance app is convenience. Users do not need to visit physical offices anymore; they can complete all processes from anywhere at any time using mobile or computer devices with internet connectivity. Another benefit is transparency in policy terms and conditions. Before purchasing any coverage plan, customers can read detailed information about what it covers and what it doesn't cover. In addition, by tracking user behavior patterns in-app analytics datasets generated by AI models helps insurers offer personalized policies tailored for individual needs instead of a one-size-fits-all approach. With improved efficiency in processing claims coupled with reduced overhead costs for traditional methods such as paper-based forms, digital platforms like insurance apps are becoming more prevalent today than ever before as they bring numerous benefits to both parties involved - users & providers alike!

So all of the benefits can be delivered by insurance for app developers

3- Cost to develop insurance app

Insurance app development can provide a range of benefits to users and companies. But, the cost to develop this type of application may vary depending on several factors. The development cost for an insurance app will depend on various stages such as planning, designing, developing, testing and deployment. The cost of hiring skilled developers would also be a major factor in determining the total expenses involved. Moreover, you should consider additional features such as payment gateway integration, chatbots or AI-assisted services which could add up to your overall expenses. The complexity of these features might increase the expense even further. Another aspect that needs consideration is whether you want native or hybrid development- each option comes with pros and cons when it comes to costs. There isn't a one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to calculating the exact costs required for developing an insurance app. However, if done right with careful planning and budgeting from beginning-to-end; overall expenses can be minimized without sacrificing quality standards or user experience.

Conclusion

To sum it up, developing an insurance app is a wise decision for any insurance company or startup. It can bring numerous benefits to the business by providing customers with easy access to various services and features. The cost of developing an insurance app depends on many factors such as platform, complexity, functionality, and developer's location. However, investing in creating a high-quality mobile application is worth the effort and money since it will attract more clients and increase sales revenue. Additionally, it helps in building brand recognition that fosters customer loyalty. So if you're planning to develop an insurance app for your business or startup now would be the perfect time! 

With technological advancements taking place every day, having a well-designed mobile application can make all the difference between success and failure in today’s fast-paced digital world. As a insurance app developer, reach me to get started to develop the best app.

[lithiumfox]

Stream Status Scenes!

Okay, so this is an interesting use of vRacer I've been kinda working up. Not something built in, per se, but something that I'm doing as a proof of concept.

Basically, my biggest goal with vracer isn't just to be vtuber sim racing software, but to also work as vtuber BROADCASTING software. Allowing vtubers to configure and find places to stream on the track within iRacing (and maybe other sims if I can integrate as well as I currently can in iRacing)

Currently, the only one I have completed is the "ending" scene, which I'm currently using for all 3 status scenes. I am trying to sort out what I'll do for the other 2, but my goal is to do a morning, afternoon, night scene for Starting, BRB, and Ending.

Down the road, I want to make it easier to work within the platform to do this within the app, but for now I'm just simply doing it via a very basic "just render myself in the app in the scene and make the changes I need to make myself" type of thing.

The problem is that within iRacing we do not get any camera location info from the app. This is to prevent cheating with third party applications.

So, for now, it's kinda jank how I have to accomplish this. Which is... a little depressing. I'm hoping that with this proof of concept, though, that we can possibly get some detail for specific-camera types that don't track other cars.

But yeah, that's the current project. Next goal is to try and fix up some of the lighting situation, at least some sort of horizon-blocking to some degree.

[veryutils]

VeryUtils Email Marketing Application with Multiple SMTP Rotation

VeryUtils Email Marketing Application is an open-source, self-hosted software tool written in PHP. It allows you to send high-volume marketing emails through your own server or other email service providers (SMTP). With VeryUtils Email Marketing, you can have full control over your email marketing system without the need for expensive services like Mailchimp and ActiveCampaign. The application can be configured to send emails through your own SMTP servers or integrate with other email service providers like Mailgun, SendGrid, SparkPost, ElasticEmail, and Amazon SES. Additionally, the VeryUtils Email Marketing Script is designed as a SaaS platform, enabling you to manage and sell your email sending services to others.

VeryUtils Email Marketing Application is a bulk email sender tool that offers a range of advanced features to help you send effective and personalized email campaigns. With VeryUtils Email Marketing Application, you can easily import your email lists from text files and create customized messages with or without attachments.

One of the standout features of VeryUtils Email Marketing Application is its SMTP management tools, which include unlimited SMTP servers. VeryUtils Email Marketing Application supports SMTP rotation, which enables you to send unlimited emails from the same campaign using different SMTP servers and different email accounts. This can be particularly useful if you need to send large volumes of emails or if you want to ensure that your emails are delivered even if one server experiences issues.

Rotating SMTP servers without any limits, send your campaign using as many smtp servers as you need. ex. 3 smtp's will work that way: 1 mail -> 1 smtp 2 mail -> 2 smtp 3 mail -> 3 smtp 4 mail -> 1 smtp 5 mail -> 2 smtp etc. … till end of your campaign.

Lifetime license. Use as long as you wish:

All features available all the time.

No fees.

No limits.

No restrictions.

No additionall payment.

No subscribtion payment.

VeryUtils Email Marketing Application is a powerful and versatile tool that allows you to send an unlimited number of email campaigns to an unlimited number of subscribers. Whether you're handling newsletters for multiple websites or sending personalized email campaigns to your own list of subscribers, VeryUtils Email Marketing Application has you covered. And best of all, it allows you to do all of this without incurring any per-email costs. So, it's a great choice for anyone looking to send high-quality email campaigns without breaking the bank.

[trylkstopocket]

Three New Google Maps Features That Make Other Navigation Apps Look Outdated

It’s not a secret, however, that Google Maps’ audience is also the target of several other large companies, including even long-time rival Apple.

But while the market as a whole keeps evolving, so does Google Maps, as the Mountain View-based search giant keeps on adding more and more capabilities that prepare its platform for the modern world.

The latest announcements are intriguing, to say the least, especially for diehard Google Maps users, so here are three of the features you should totally be excited about.

First and foremost, the eco-friendly routing.

Announced a long time ago, the eco-friendly routes are now live in Google Maps as a feature whose purpose is as simple as it could be.

With this new functionality, the navigation app isn’t only looking for the fastest route to a user-defined destination but also the one that’s the most fuel-efficient. In other words, Google Maps will now help users save gas while also reducing their carbon footprint by taking into account various factors, such as the traveling speed and the road incline.

Whenever you are setting up the navigation to a new destination, Google Maps now looks for both the fastest and the eco-friendly routes, so you can see a comparison between the two and choose the one that suits you best. Google Maps can also provide an estimate of the fuel saving and the ETA.

Needless to say, Google Maps can still default to the fastest route, with a dedicated option added to settings, but overall, the eco-friendly navigation is precisely what everybody needs these days given the skyrocketing gas prices.

Then, it’s the immersive view.

This isn’t exactly a navigation feature per se, but its purpose is to allow you to explore a certain place before going there.

The immersive view is a combination of the latest-generation technology, including Street View data and aerial images, which helps generate a digital model of the world. With immersive mode, Google Maps lets you see a 3D version of the most popular locations with rich details that closely resemble what you see in the real life.

At first, the immersive mode will only let you explore popular landmarks, with dedicated settings to see each location both during the day and during the night.

The rollout of this super-advanced feature is happening in stages, and earlier this week, Google started the release of photorealistic aerial views of close to 100 locations, such as Barcelona, London, New York, and San Francisco.

And last but not least, it’s the lite navigation for cyclists.

As pretty much everybody knows already, Google Maps also comes with a cycling navigation component, so if instead of driving a car you prefer to ride a bike, the application can also offer step-by-step guidance to the destination.

Because using a mobile device while biking isn’t obviously a recommended thing, Google Maps is getting a refreshed UI for the cycling navigation that includes additional information such as the ETA updated in real-time, the elevation of the route, and the trip progress.

A notification that shows up in the notification center also includes additional information, including the ETA, and obviously, all these details come in super-handy to those who aren’t using Google Maps for turn-by-turn navigation.

This time, however, the feature isn’t ready for prime time, with Google projected to start the rollout to iPhones and Android devices at some point in the coming months.

[dazonntechnologies]

Optimize #WebsiteSpeed and Performance in #Laravel. In this video, you can watch a few simple tips on how to #speedupyourLaravelwebsite. It is essential for every website or application to load fast, which means your website should load in fewer seconds, like 4s or 5s. So if you want to squeeze more performance out of your #Laravelapp, this video is for you! As per Google Trends, Laravel has remained the most used and popular #PHPframework for building business-focused applications, including eCommerce platforms, over the last few years. Suppose you constantly face issues regarding #pageloadspeed, like improving website or #applicationspeedinlaravel and decreasing the #loadingtime of websites or applications. It is challenging because there are many aspects of the #softwaredevelopmentprocess. Many packages can increase or improve #websitepageloadingspeedinPHP, so the "laravel-page-speed" package helps us improve our #applicationloadtime. Moreover, if you are finding difficulty in enhancing #Laravelappperformance, hire #Laraveldevelopers from the #bestLaraveldevelopmentcompany. 👉For more, visit our website: https://dazonn.com/web-development-se... and contact us at +1-888-216-7282. 🙏 Please Subscribe to our channel and hit the bell Icon to stay notified.🙏 Sources: ► Official Website: https://dazonn.com/ ► Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dazonnTechno... ► Twitter: https://twitter.com/we_dazonn ► Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dazonn_tech... ► Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/technologie... Contact Information: ► Address: 1445 Woodmont Ln NW #1823, Atlanta, GA 30318 ► Call Us At India No.: +91-789-427-1374 ► Call Us At USA No.: +1-929-421-7136 ► Email: contactus@dazonn.com

[pub-lius]

A Debunking and, in my Humble Opinion, Superior Version of Weird History’s “Hardcore Facts About Alexander Hamilton”

I haven’t updated my blog in quite some time, and that is due to my schedule being primarily dominated by school. So, I decided my first step into posting semi-regularly once more shall be a more casual, more fun endeavor. 

If you have not heard of the Weird History youtube channel, good for you. It is yet another social media platform that misconstrues history to appeal to the public’s enjoyment of extremes and strangeness. I saw The Historical Fashion Queens make a video responding to their highly misinformed documentary on corsetry on Miss Abby Cox’s youtube channel, which I highly recommend. This intrigued me, and I decided to find a video I could dissect off my expertise, at first only for fun in my own time. This resulted in the production in a very long bullet list in the notes app of my phone. So here is my informal destruction of this godforsaken video.

Disclaimer: I am not at all excusing any of the awful things Alexander Hamilton did during his lifetime. I am absolutely the last person who would even come near to claiming that many of the things he did were justifiable in the slightest. Although, he might be the only historical figure which I have a very strong interest in the life of, as he was incredibly complex, and the part of me with a love of psychology finds him absolutely fascinating. There is also something to be said about the way we consider moral standards of historical figures. We are quite lucky to believe in the time that we do, and not all of our standards can apply to historical figures. This does not mean they should not be held accountable. I find that a way to criticize people while also praising them where it is due is by judging them based upon their intentions. In my opinion, Hamilton’s intentions were not to harm anyone in most situations, so I don’t think he was a terrible person, nor do I think he was a particularly good one. Then again, I don’t think either of those things about a mass majority of people, so let us proceed without further delay. (Note: I will also be referring to the collective Weird History channel as the Narrator to avoid any mental gymnastics, and all of my knowledge is coming from my memory of Hamilton’s writing and some biographies.)

Automatically, the video starts with mention of the musical, but that just reminds me that many use Ron Chernow’s biography of Hamilton as a basis of their statements about him without utilizing much critical thinking, so I am slightly nervous. 

The Narrator then refers to Hammy Ham man as “...one of America’s most undervalued founding fathers...” Now, it is debatable whether or not Mr. Hamilton is undervalued per se, but when it comes to the founding fathers, they are usually undervalued or overvalued. At this point, Hamilton is both.

I shall not subscribe, thank you for the offer though, Mr. Narrator.

Now for the first fact: “Historians don’t know when Hamilton was born.” Yes, this is correct, but I don’t believe this should be labeled as “hardcore”, but perhaps that is just me. One early document indicates that Hamilton was born in 1755, while all later ones point to 1757 as his year of birth. We know Hamilton was not always a completely honest man, so it is possible that he lied.

Also, they show an image of a baby, and I do not know if this is actually Hamilton, but they use a lot of strange imagery, which I found humorous.

“A self-made man born out of wedlock.” Now, this fact could indeed be “hardcore”, if this was not colonial America we are discussing. Hamilton actually wasn’t really special in this regard. Yes, his rise to fame was impressive considering his circumstances, but this wasn’t unheard of.

The Narrator then says that Hamilton’s mother, Rachel Faucette, was “estranged from her husband.” This caused me some confusion as it is a vast understatement. Her ex-husband was absolutely awful to her. 

Additionally, they claim that James Hamilton left his family behind for some reason that I did not write in my notes, but the most likely reason that he actually left was because of his awesome debt. James Hamilton also had a history of ambitious pursuits for money, so it would not be extreme to claim that he moved to another island to attempt to make a fortune in some trading endeavor.

They also cease to mention the Stevens family, who housed young Alexander while he was working for Beekman and Cruger, and had a great influence on him, but I digress.

“A college dropout who joined the Revolution.” Once again, this isn’t special. Many rowdy young Whigs left behind their careers and educations for pursuit of military fame in the Continental Army. They also do not mention anything of Hamilton’s expansive military career, which aside from being indicative of primitive research, but would produce more “hardcore facts.”

Although, they do discuss his application to Princeton college, which is interesting enough I suppose, although everyone who has heard the first two songs of the musical knows this story. His proposal for an “accelerated course of study” was likely inspired by Aaron Burr, as claimed by Chernow and Miranda, or James Madison, as supported by evidence provided by author Noah Feldman in his novel, The Three Lives of James Madison, which is an excellent read. Young Madison, having already completed a course, decided to do so again, but compacting a usually three year course into a shorter period of time. He hardly slept during this period, which was stressful upon his health, making Princeton more disinclined to allow a similar course to be taken.

The Narrator then claims that Hamilton “formed his own militia of 25 men.” Technically, yes? But not exactly. Hamilton joined a paramilitary group called the Hearts of Oak, and they drilled in Trinity Churchyard. This became ironic later. He then became a captain in the New York Artillery Company, and enlisted his own men, which was at one time around thirty or so, if my memory serves me correctly.

“Founded a bank that existed for over two centuries.” Ah, yes, a very hardcore fact indeed. Yes, Hamilton did establish the Bank of America, but Robert Morris was the one who inspired him to do so. Though, I do think the financial plan is a product of his own genius, but I will get into that much later.

I got an ad. :(

The Narrator also says that the misfortunes done to the New York shipping industry by the Articles of Confederation were the most prominent, if not sole, motivation for Hamilton to concoct his financial plan. He first recognized the need for a sound financial plan when he was in the army. You know, when he was watching men die of inadequate supplies because the government couldn’t tax the states.

This video, like Chernow’s biography and Miranda’s musical, claims that Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr were friends when, in actuality, they weren’t really. Yes, they knew each other, and they didn’t hate each other until the end of Hamilton’s life, but they really didn’t think about each other much before the Election of 1800.

“Hamilton authored over half of the Federalist Papers.” Indeed, he did! I enjoy this fact. It isn’t very “hardcore” but it is very impressive. The Federalist Papers were arguably Hamilton’s greatest accomplishment, as he organized the entire thing and, as previously stated, authored much of them. I very much enjoy the Federalist Papers, as they give some insight as to Hamilton’s political and philosophical theories, as well as how he thought of the world. It makes for an interesting read if you have something you’re looking for.

Now, this may be a hot take, but Madison’s essays are by far more effective, as they were better organized. Hamilton and I share a common flaw, and that is the lack of brevity. 

“Involved in America’s first sex scandal.” Yes, we all know. I’ll get into the Reynold’s affair later because it’s its own beast to conquer. Basically what you need to understand information I shall provide later in this post is that James Reynolds extorted money from Hamilton, and if Hamilton failed to pay, Reynolds would expose the affair Hamilton was having with his wife, Maria. Hamilton paid, but when Reynolds was arrested for something else, he exposed Hamilton anyway.

“He worked with Aaron Burr to defend a man.” Once again, this isn’t very surprising. They were both capable lawyers in the same area, so it was basically inevitable. Though there was this one instance where Hamilton and Burr were working on a case together and Hamilton, being himself, insisted upon having the last word. Well, Burr was tired of him, and I can’t say I blame him, so he made every possible argument in his finishing speech, leaving Hamilton with virtually nothing. 

The Narrator also mentions Hamilton’s opposition to slavery, but he didn’t really outwardly oppose it as much as you would think listening to the musical or reading Chernow’s biography. Far from being the “fervent abolitionist” Chernow and Miranda glorify, Hamilton didn’t really do much for the enslaved. He helped John Laurens in his Black Plan and joined the Manumission Society, but other than that, he never made any attempt to progress the abolition of slavery. He also “purchased” slaves for his in-laws, and some argue that he “owned” some himself, but there is no contemporary evidence to support this that I have seen. The enslaved and servants that were in his household likely belonged to his wife.

“Founded a newspaper that still exists.” Ok.

“Died by duel.” I swear, this fact is by far the most unnecessary. They mention the duel so many times that it is already redundant. I completely skipped over this part, and the video ended, so I was thoroughly underwhelmed.

Well, seeing as this post is already longer than my attention span, I shall save you the pains of having to read any more in just one post. I shall make a follow-up to this where I give my own facts, which I believe are far more hardcore than “he founded a newspaper.” I hope you have enjoyed and this isn’t too terribly boring. I hope to get back to posting soon.

[titoist]

going to bed, tossing & turning, i came to some central realizations. well, perhaps not 'realizations', per se, but facts which i already grasped that were pushed to the forefront on account of finding myself in a situation so dire that it necessitated their coming to the forefront. the root of most of my issues - or most of the recognizable issues, anyway - is located in a quite paradoxical condition that arose when i was too young to meaningfully have a say over the conditions which gave rise to it. my extreme social and physical inability gave rise to an inferiority complex, while my heightened self-awareness in relation to my peers gave rise to a superiority complex as a complementary opposite, both of these complexes operating relatively undisturbed within their separate jurisdictions. for the wide majority of my life, i've both hated and loved myself at the same time, a very tense situation! but, ah, such a situation is... untenable at its best day. the self-revolt at my physicality has left me more-or-less completely withdrawn & retreating from it, while the obsession with my psychological faculties has left me exhaustedly gripping to my supposed intellect as a means to invite validation and approval of myself - either from myself or others, both of them becoming increasingly rare as my level of self-awareness has started becoming less and less notable, and more and more...normal, for my age. coupled with the unfortunate material circumstances surrounding me, all of this has led to a...very deep, pervasive, bitter envy that has increasingly surrounded all of my thoughts like a fine mist. i am not a developed person, and all developed people are objects of a mind-numbing jealousy thereof. the end-point of all this is a very unfortunate scenario in which i am turned to this platform as the sole means of validating my own existence, either directly or indirectly, developing an unhealthy obsession with the value of my own authenticity. but even when others' interaction and approval does give me a momentary sense of relief - it's not *real* relief, really. a sisyphean pursuit of a relief that never comes, at best. so, i am addicted to social media, but a very specific microcosm of social media that is of my own cultivation - an invented reality. and i am not mad at myself, in the same sense that you would not cruelly reprimand an addict for getting addicted when it was not their *decision* to do so in the first place - but that fact remains. and the first step, i suppose, is alleviating it. starting from now, i am going to do a bit of an *experiment*. i will use ublock origin and a variety of extensions to hide the notes and notifications on this site, continuing to use it as a journal, but removed of the aspect of *engagement* - trying my damndest not to check nor interact with other content. this means, functionally, that from here on out...if you wish to communicate with me, you'll have to either send an ask *or* a message. i ought that the former is applicable in most situations, but the latter exists as an option, as well. this will either go extremely well as i cut the head off the snake, or backfire horribly as i've deprived myself of my only 'contact' with the outside world. but, ah, let justice be served though the heavens fall - or whatnot. with all that time spent learning jurisprudence as a student, it is a miracle i am not more long-winded.

[snazzyjazzyazzy]

The Problems of Social Media, a Kinder View

This was originally written on another service, so there may be some issues with the paragraphing. Apologies in advance!

It was around 11 AM, when I usually wake up (I know, folks. I know.) I craved morning stimulation in order to properly feel awake, and trust me, mindlessly scrolling through Instagram, Twitter or checking my DMs on Discord wasn't gonna do the trick for me. I needed something intellectual, a topic for this newsletter even.

And then I read this fascinating article on Pocket that was rather long and detailed a lot of things about social media and society. I didn't agree with all the things stated, but I'd recommend reading it all the same, quite a fascinating read. It touched, albeit somewhat briefly, on the topic I actually wanted to dicuss this issue! Such luck! I have linked it here for you all to read if you wish. Right then, onto our topics!

Censorship- Is It Important?

Censorship has been a word that gets bounced around in various areas of our lives. Online and in the real world, it seems to pose a significant threat to freedom of speech. Or does it truly? The issue seems to get far more complicated when you factor in several things, especially online.

What the article I linked proposes is that social media as a whole has undone the fabric of society- that it enforces almost too much of an individuality rather than a sum of a whole. I would argue this to rather be a good thing, especially regarding politics, as things such as siding with political parties on every aspect is becoming a rather senseless idea. But then it brought me to a question. What about censorship? Certain social medias, if not all, have all practiced a degree of it. In some cases it was politics- i.e. Facebook and Twitter with political individuals. Tik Tok, Youtube, Instagram and most other socials often remove media that might be seen as racist, promoting violence or homophobic might be removed entirely from the platform.

Triggers and The Safety of Minors

THIS NEXT PART CAPTURES MOSTLY MY OPINION AND TOUCHES ON PTSD, ANXIETY AND THE RISKS OF BEING A MINOR ONLINE. IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO READ PLEASE SKIP TO THE PARAGRAPH AFTER A MESSAGE THAT STATES IT HAS BEEN CONCLUDED.

Respecting triggers but choosing whether it's individual responsibility or responsibility of a community is a touchy subject. I will admit I have PTSD and anxiety triggers myself, and at times triggers are unavoidable, to which one has to learn to manage their triggers themselves and heal over the trauma. But I will argue in certain respects triggers should be respected by the other individual. An example would be a private conversation. It would be considerate to respect the trigger of the individuals involved in that direct conversation. An example where it is not applicable however, would be a per se a server on Discord, unless the server itself is a mental health space. Of course, this is all my opinion, as many people have their own ways of handling their triggers and discussing the boundaries surrounding them.

For the cases of minors, things get even messier. I myself am not a minor, but being fair I've only been a consenting adult for three years. I remember being a minor on Discord, and the amount of risks involved with certain servers, spaces and even DMs. I even was groomed by an adult who was 10 years older than me, but that is a topic that is rather difficult to discuss. However it happens more often than many would like to admit, and the presence of social media, and it's anonymity has only worsened this factor.

It is important to remember, if you are a minor, that you have to either have a parent or guardian you can trust to communicate potential issues to. I didn't when I joined Discord and it's one of the biggest regrets of my life as it guided me toward a lot of pain, abuse and darkness. Though the freedom in a sense was healthy for me, too. But I do not ever personally recommend being online alone if you're 15 or younger.

You may resume reading if you skipped the previous paragaph.

Don't Forget the Trolls!

Ah yes, the trolls... Oh those "fun" folk who love poking your nerves in just the right places. We've all likely met a few in our lifetimes online, and in a sense in person as well. That one kid in the neighbourhood who just clowns on everyone and deliberately annoys the ever loving fuck out of you for no reason? Yea, you know I'm talking about you, Zach.

There's a lot of reasons one can become a troll, and it would take more than this issue to cover them all. So, I will instead link this article that does way better than I would and carry forward. Plus, trolls get way too much attention already. Best to shorten this, yea?

The Conclusion?

So then, as the article I linked earlier mentions, what of the fabric of society? Does social media really damn society as it suggests? Are these negatives too overwhelming for social media to be a good place at all? I would personally argue, yes and no. It's a fairly complicated issue, one I didn't even begin to really capture in this article at all. Instant messaging, long distance communication, practically unlimited access to information and more has made the internet a free ground, and that in itself provides both freedom, individuality and unleashed creativity, but it also provides ground for much more harmful and horrible things that one can't even begin to fathom.

However, in the words of one of my friends on Discord,

"I would say one benefit is you can make cool friends."

He's not wrong, he's one of my coolest friends ever.

This article might've been a bit of scrambled a mess, but I hope it more inspires you all to research into the issues yourselves! Next issue will be far cleaner, I promise! If you want to give an opinion on the future of this newsletter (yes, another poll, groan, I'm sorry sob) I will link the tweet below where you can give your opinion!