In an era dominated by technological advancements and sustainability drives, jumps into the future are no longer imaginary flights of fancy but materialized realities. A striking manifestation of this progress is the soaring popularity of electric vehicles (EVs). With their undeniable value in championing a clean, green future, EVs represent not only a sustainable choice for consumers but also a unique opportunity for businesses. But, have you considered what these electric vehicles need to thrive? What bridges the gap between just owning EVs and optimally utilizing them? The answer lies in one critical piece of the puzzle – comprehensive Electric Vehicle Car Park Management Solutions. Herein, we delve into these futuristic solutions that could enable businesses to provide robust yet user-friendly EV charging infrastructures, fostering customer satisfaction, enhancing brand image and propelling the global push towards sustainability. As the world is increasingly shifting towards electrification, the number of electric vehicles (EVs) on our roads is a testament to this trend. An integral part of this revolution is the electric vehicle car park management solution. This serves as the backbone for a seamless and worry-free EV experience, facilitating the provision of adequate charging facilities for EV owners. This robust infrastructure is not just crucial for EV owners, but it also presents a lucrative opportunity to businesses. Adopting a well-rounded EV charging solution signifies their support for sustainability and presents ways to cater better to an evolving clientele, thereby gaining a crucial competitive edge. Benefits Of Electric Vehicle Car Park Management Solutions Implementing electric vehicle (EV) car park management solutions presents substantial benefits for businesses. For one, such solutions inevitably allure the growing number of EV owners, increasing customer footfall. Customers with the option to charge their vehicles while engaging with your business stay longer and are therefore, likelier to spend more, driving up your profits. Moreover, offering an EV charging solution is a direct manifestation of your commitment to sustainability and environmental protection, enhancing your brand image. This will not only attract more clients but also resonate with the eco-conscious public and potential stakeholders. In this age where sustainability is priceless, having an EV charging station in your car park positions you as a forward-thinking, responsible company, providing a competitive edge in your respective market. In essence, EV charging solutions significantly contribute to your business popularity, customer satisfaction, and operational efficiency. Features Of EV Charging Solutions Electric Vehicle Charging Solutions have a number of key features designed to streamline the EV charging process, enhance user experience, and contribute towards energy efficiency. One of the critical elements includes various types of charging stations. This feature allows businesses to cater to diverse EV needs, offering level 1, 2, and highly coveted fast chargers that can re-energize electric vehicles in less than an hour. Another pivotal feature is the ease of use. EV charging solutions often incorporate intuitive user interfaces, allowing EV drivers to monitor charging progress, payment, and even reserve a charging spot in advance. This significantly reduces any charging related conflicts or frustration. On safety and reliability, businesses can build trust among their customers. Employing charging solutions that comply with international safety standards is paramount. They provide protection against overcharging, electric shocks and are equipped with emergency stop buttons. Moreover, the robust and weather-resistant design ensures reliable operation regardless of the climatic conditions. As discussed in the past section, providing EV charging solutions not only reinforces sustainable business practices but also promotes customer satisfaction. Choosing a system with these features is crucial in offering the best electric vehicle car park management. What Is The Importance Of Electric Vehicles? In the contemporary era of advancing technology and environmental consciousness, the significance of electric vehicles (EVs) cannot be overstated. These vehicles are instrumental in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and decreasing pollution, thereby promoting a healthier environment. According to recent statistics, electric vehicles account for substantially fewer emissions compared to conventional vehicles, adding to their growing popularity in the world. Moreover, another major draw for EVs is the long-term cost savings. While the upfront cost might be higher, the operating costs are significantly lower, considering the average electricity rate is comparatively cheaper than gasoline. This form of transportation is also remarkably energy efficient. For example, an EV motor is about 95% efficient, considerably outperforming internal combustion engines which are roughly 25-30% efficient. As we move forward toward cleaner, more sustainable modes of transportation, the relevance of electric vehicles and their need for easy access to charging continues to grow. Choosing The Right Electric Vehicle Car Park Management Solution The selection of the appropriate electric vehicle car park management solution for your business is a critical decision that requires careful consideration. A bespoke solution tailored to fit your requirements can significantly enhance your business’s long-term performance and sustainability. But how do you make this pivotal choice? Key factors to consider include the charging capacity of the system, the scalability of the management solution to accommodate future expansion, the system’s ability to seamlessly integrate with existing infrastructure, and the operational and maintenance requirements of the solution. It’s important to remember that your electric vehicle charging solution isn’t just for immediate use, but a long-term investment. Therefore, a scalable solution that can accommodate future growth and advancements in electric vehicle technology is a wise choice. It’s equally important to choose a system that is user-friendly and reliable, to encourage usage and ensure customer satisfaction. Understanding the needs of electric vehicle owners who will use these facilities is crucial in making an informed decision. Providing a seamless, intuitive charging experience can turn first-time EV drivers into regular patrons of your business. In the process of making your decision, remember that our company is at your disposal to offer expert guidance and develop an optimal, customized Wevo EV charging solution tailored to your businesses’ unique needs and future growth plans. In sum, adopting electric vehicle car park management solutions offers numerous benefits for businesses, from enhancing customer satisfaction to boosting sustainability efforts. This forward-thinking approach is vital in today’s

Starting a new business is something that you may not have experience in, but you need to get things right straight away. Everyone you hire will be looking at you to have the solution for every problem that arises, so you had better have an idea of what you are doing. While you may not be able to find immediate success in every situation, having the essentials in place can give you the head start that you need. As such, here are the essential steps that every new business leader must take. 1. Cultivating Self-Awareness The first step a new business leader must undertake is to cultivate self-awareness. This entails understanding one’s strengths and weaknesses and acknowledging how they affect others within the business environment. It is imperative that you develop emotional intelligence, as your decisions will have a direct impact on your employees’ motivation and productivity. For example, you may be presented with some new technology or software that you have not had time to learn how to use. Instead of pretending to know what to do, a self-aware leader will admit that they are unaware of what to do with the new challenge. Doing so prevents you from making any unnecessary mistakes and instils the notion that you are someone who is willing to accept help from others. 2. Business Understanding The next step involves gaining an in-depth understanding of your business. While you may not be instantly familiar with the new tech that arrives in your office, you can familiarise yourself with your business model, its products and services, any current market trends, customer profiles, and the competitive landscape. Having a detailed knowledge of these areas will help you make informed decisions and set a clear strategic direction. This also helps to establish your role as a leader. Everyone who works for you will be looking to you for these answers, so it is valuable to have them at the ready. 3. Build Your Vision As a business leader, your role involves more than managing day-to-day operations; you are also responsible for setting the company’s direction. You should articulate a clear vision that resonates with employees and stakeholders alike, driving both engagement and commitment toward achieving the set goals. 4. Assemble Your Team No business leader can achieve success single-handedly. You will need a team of competent, dedicated individuals who complement your skills and capabilities. Surround yourself with people who share your vision and can assist you in realising it. Although, simply bringing in a talented group of employees isn’t the only way to achieve success. You must also establish a positive working culture. The culture within your business significantly influences the behaviour, attitudes, and performance of your employees. Strive to create a culture that promotes openness, collaboration, respect, and diversity. Encouraging these values will not only increase staff morale but also boost productivity. 5. Use The Right Tools Once you have your team assembled, you need to give them the best tools to complete their job. While many workplace tools are constantly changing to fit the new technology landscape, some reliable software tools have remained as useful as ever. For example, PDF tools have always been a wise choice for any type of business. Although, new businesses require PDF tools to ensure streamlined operations and efficiency. They serve vital functions like creating professional invoices, preserving the integrity of contracts, and making document sharing seamless. Perhaps more crucially, PDF files are universal, ensuring no formatting issues regardless of the recipient’s software. So, for startups aiming for optimal productivity and professionalism, investing in PDF tools is not a luxury, but a necessity. 6. Develop Effective Communication Effective communication is key in any leadership role. As a business leader, you need to convey your vision, goals, and expectations clearly and consistently. Now that you have the right tools in place, there is no excuse for dropping the ball in this area. Good communication also involves active listening, providing feedback, and encouraging dialogue among team members. 7. Strategic Planning Strategic planning is a crucial aspect of business leadership. It involves setting objectives, identifying key performance indicators, and determining the actions required to achieve your goals. Regularly review your plans and adjust them as necessary to respond to changing business conditions. Effective planning helps align resources optimally, drive sustainable growth, and encourage innovation. In the volatile business environment, a comprehensive strategic plan allows firms to respond promptly to market changes, maintaining competitiveness. This process fosters forward-thinking, thus supporting a proactive rather than reactive approach. While it requires time and effort, the benefits of strategic planning warrant its place at the heart of every business’s practices. 8. Foster Innovation In today’s competitive business environment, fostering innovation is key. Encourage your team to come up with fresh ideas and creative solutions. Make sure to create an environment that supports risk-taking and rewards creativity. To foster this kind of innovation among employees, several strategies can be implemented within the workplace. Try to cultivate a supportive and inclusive environment, where diverse perspectives are valued, enabling individuals to feel comfortable expressing new ideas. Also, try and establish flexible work arrangements. Providing autonomy for your employees empowers them to take ownership of their work and explore creative solutions. 9. Encourage Continuous Learning Your employees will be great as soon as you hire them. However, the workplace and modern technology are always changing. Make sure that you promote a culture of continuous learning within your business. Encourage your team to pursue professional development opportunities and continually update their skills. This not only benefits your employees but also enhances the overall competency of your business. 10. Manage Risks As a business leader, it’s essential to anticipate and manage risks. This involves identifying potential threats to your business and implementing strategies to mitigate them. Regular risk assessments can help you remain prepared for unforeseen challenges. The most important risk for a new business leader is financial risk. You will face erratic cash flow, low profitability, or insufficient capital. Secondly,

Urban Company claimed that its net loss declined over 40% in FY23 from INR 514 Cr in FY22 Revenue from operations jumped 45% to INR 637 Cr in FY23 from INR 438 Cr in FY22 The startup also said that its India business broke even in Q1 FY24 at an adjusted EBITDA level with negative working capital Gurugram-based hyperlocal services platform Urban Company said its net loss declined over 40% to INR 308 Cr in the financial year 2022-23 (FY23) from INR 514 Cr in the previous fiscal year on the back of a strong growth in its business. In a statement, the startup also claimed that its India business broke even in Q1 FY24 at an adjusted EBITDA level with negative working capital. “Our India business contributes approximately 90% of our revenues… Our strong unit economics with focused cost control will help us drive EBITDA improvement as the business scales,” said the startup.  Besides India, the startup has operations in the UAE, Australia, Singapore, and Saudi Arabia.  In FY23, Urban Company’s adjusted EBITDA loss reduced to INR 297 Cr from INR 377 Cr in the previous fiscal. Meanwhile, the startup’s revenue from operations jumped 45% to INR 637 Cr during the year under review from INR 438 Cr in FY22. Urban Company said that the growth in FY23 came on the back of investments in service quality, partner training and enablement, new innovations, brand building, and technology development.  It is pertinent to note here that the startup has seen several protests by gig workers working with it, whom it calls its partners, in India this year for alleged unfair employment practices  However, the company vouched for its ESG practices in its annual business summary FY23, published on Friday (August 18). Talking about its Partner Earnings Index for H1 2023, Urban Company said that the top 20% of its partners earned an average of about INR 40,000 per month, net of all commissions and other related costs (travel, product expenses, etc.). The average net earnings of partners delivering more than 30 services per month were about INR 32,000, it said. Besides, the startup said that all its active partners are provided with multiple social security benefits, including free life insurance cover of INR 6 Lakh, free disability insurance cover of INR 6 Lakh, free health insurance cover of up to INR 1 Lakh, up to 12 free medical consultations per year, and more. Urban Company’s consolidated employee expenses, excluding employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs), stood at INR 311 Cr in FY23 as against INR 262 Cr in FY22. The company spent INR 73 Cr on employee expenses in Q1 FY24, of which INR 60 Cr was spent on the India business. The ESOP/ Partner Stock Option Plan (PSOP) cost for the consolidated business declined to INR 95 Cr in FY23 from INR 203 Cr in FY22. In Q1 FY24, it stood at INR 28 Cr. “In FY23, we granted stocks to 500 service partners, of whom 30% were women,” said the company. Founded in 2014 by Abhiraj Bahl, Raghav Chandra, and Varun Khaitan, Urban Company offers a range of services such as salon and massage, home cleaning, appliance repair services, and painting. It is backed by marquee investors including Tiger Global, Steadview Capital, and Vy Capital. The company has raised a total funding of $445 Mn till date. In July last year, it raised $225 Mn in its Series F funding round, at a valuation of $2.1 Bn, led by Prosus Ventures, Wellington Management, and Dragoneer. Emphasising on its focus on customer excellence, Urban Company said in its statement today that its repeat customers (acquired in years prior to FY23) contributed about 77% of the net transaction value of the platform during FY23. The startup said this number would surpass the 90% mark in the coming years.

Amazon India is celebrating World Photography Day with a new sale. Photography enthusiasts can avail of attractive discounts on products from several top brands during this sale. The e-commerce giant is offering discounts on cameras and accessories from top brands including Canon, Sony, Fujifilm, Panasonic, GoPro, Digitech and more. At this sale, customers can avail of an instant discount of up to Rs 4,000 on HDFC bank credit/debit card EMI transactions and up to 12 months of no-cost EMI.Amazon World Photography Day sale: Products and dealsHere are some products to choose from the Amazon World Photography Day sale that are available with multiple deals and offers from sellers:Amazon Basics Smartphone Gimbal:Say goodbye to shakes and jerks while shooting photographs, selfies, vlogs and live streams.Get smooth, steady footage and upgrade your vlogging skills with the Gimbal stabiliser available on Amazon for Rs 5,499.Canon EOS R10 Mirrorless camera: Find your story with EOS R10. This camera is an ideal travel companion and serves as the ultimate hybrid content creation tool. Get this on Amazon for Rs 96,490Canon M50 MKII Mirrorless camera: The lightweight and stylish EOS M50 Mark II has user-friendly features like Wi-Fi connectivity. Get this Canon’s flagship mirrorless camera on Amazon with an additional Rs 4,000 bank discount for Rs 58,990DJI OM6 Smartphone Gimbal: DJI’s premier OM6 gimbal can improve shooting skills as it features integrated advanced stabilisation technology that counteracts unwanted movements and captures moments with cinematic smoothness. Get this on Amazon for Rs 14,490Digitek DSG 007 Smartphone Gimbal: Capture precious moments with Digitek gimbal that comes with 3 creative operation modes that include all follow mode, half follow mode and all lock mode for precise shooting. Get this on Amazon at an additional Rs 200 off for Rs 5,799Digitek 14-inch Ring Light with Tripod: Upgrade your vlogging skills with the light effects from Digitek ring lights. It comes with intensity control, colour temperature control and a power button making it easier to operate. Additionally, it has a step-less adjustment of colour temperature to maintain product tone or create subject details. Get this on Amazon at 60% off for Rs 1,399.FitSpark Eagle i9 Plus Action Camera: FitSpark Eagle i9 is the first-in-class action camera to offer dual screens. It comes with a Pro Wi-Fi-enabled smartphone-controlled remote to capture the scenes from a long distance. Get this on Amazon for Rs 9,499.Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 Instant Camera (Purple): Capture photos regardless of the time and place with Instax Mini 12 and present them as instant memories. It can also be a gift for your loved ones. Get this on Amazon for Rs 5,999GoPro Hero 9 Action Camera Bundle: The Hero 9 Black features a 23.6MP sensor enabling 5K videos and 20MP photos. A new front display offers a live preview for framing alongside a rear touch screen with touch zoom providing swift and intuitive control. Get this on Amazon for Rs 27,490 along with a free original GoPro battery.Hohem iSteady Smartphone Gimbal: The iSteady M6 gimbal integrates the iSteady 7.0 stabilisation algorithms enabling users to capture creations while on the move, free from shakes. Whether walking or running, it ensures filming with stabilisation resulting in smooth footage creation. Get this on Amazon for Rs 16,990IZI Dual Screen Action Camera: Unleash your creativity with this action camera that boasts a 48MP camera resolution and offers 5K at 30fps and 4K at 60fps. It captures breathtaking moments in stunning detail and fluid motion pushing the boundaries of adventure. Get this on Amazon for Rs 9,499. Kodak Instant Camera: The Kodak Mini Shot 3 Retro is a Polaroid camera with a built-in photo printer, allowing users to print their images or discard them after capture. With this instant camera, one can also print photos directly from their mobile gallery via Bluetooth. It is compatible with Apple iPhone, iPad and Android devices. Get this on Amazon for Rs 12,999.Osaka 55-inch Professional Tripod: This tripod is equipped with 3 adjustable quick-turn leg locks and 4-stage upright legs featuring quick-release lever locks. These allow one to adjust the working height from 16 inches to 55 inches within seconds, making it 5 inches longer than other common tripods. It can be swiftly set up and disassembled rendering it suitable for diverse shooting environments and various photography needs. Get this on Amazon for Rs 899.Panasonic Lumix G7 Mirrorless Camera: This is the most budget-friendly mirrorless camera from Panasonic. Equipped with a 16MP Micro Four Thirds sensor, it boasts no low-pass filter ensuring the capture of sharp images with improved dynamic range and artifact-free performance. Get this on Amazon extra 23% off for Rs 42,490Sony 7M3K Mirrorless Camera: The Alpha 7 III gives the power, precision and flexibility to capture moments in a compact body. Get this premium mirrorless camera from Sony on Amazon now at an extra 20% off for Rs 1,43,990Sony ZV1 Vlog Camera: ZV 1 is tailored for content creators and bloggers. Accompanied by a Sony Bluetooth wireless shooting grip, it is crafted for handheld shots and vlogging. The camera ensures the assurance of blur- and shake-free shots. Get this affordable vlogging camera on Amazon at 20% off for Rs 62,990Sigma 150-600 mm for Canon cameras: Now take long-range shots with ease and zoom into the subject with Sigma’s hyper-telephoto lens. Get this on Amazon at 20% off for Rs 79,990.

Almost two weeks back, the government of India announced new rules on importing laptops, tablets, and all kinds of computers. The idea is to promote made in India products and reduced the cost of these electronic items. The move clearly hasn’t gone down well with the likes of Apple, Intel and other US-based companies. According to a report by Bloomberg, Apple and others have urged the Indian government to reconsider its decision and written a protest letter. The report states that about eight US-based trade groups have urged officials to urge India to reconsider the decision. The government of India has set November 1 as the deadline to impose the new rules.According to the report, the trade groups — which Apple, Intel are part of — have said that the new licensing rules “could significantly disrupt trade, hamper efforts to more closely integrate India into global supply chains, and harm businesses and consumers in both countries.”Why are the US trade groups complaining?The trade groups have said that the rules will complicate operations for all the countries involved. “This potential will only be achieved if businesses have assurance about a predictable regulatory climate,” said the trade groups in the letter, as per Bloomberg. In India, most of the laptops and personal computers sold are assembled in China. Only HP and Dell are among the few brands that offer made-in-India products. This is because China has a lower cost of labour than India, which makes it more cost-effective for companies to assemble their products there. However, with the imposition of new licensing rules, the government is betting on more companies manufacturing electronics items within the country.Earlier, the government had said the ban would come into effect immediately. However, the date was then pushed to October 31. There has been no comment from the government of India as of now on the letter of protest signed by the eight major trade groups.

For bookworms, reading a headline like “School District Uses ChatGPT to Help Remove Library Books” can be blood boiling. As Vulture put it earlier this week, it creates the sense that the artificial intelligence tool is once again “[taking] out its No. 1 enemy: original work.” And it is. Using ChatGPT’s guidance, the Mason City Community School District removed 19 titles—including Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale and Toni Morrison’s Beloved—from its library shelves. But there is another truth: Educators who must comply with vague laws about “age-appropriate” books with “descriptions or visual depictions of a sex act” have only so many options. Signed into law by Governor Kim Reynolds in May, Iowa’s SF 496 is one of those “parental rights” bills that have become popular with Republican lawmakers of late and seek to limit discussion of sexuality and gender identity in schools. (Some have likened Iowa’s bill to Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” legislation.) Its stipulations are a sweeping attempt at eradicating any discussion of sex or sexuality, and as Mason City School District’s assistant superintendent Bridgette Exman explained in a statement to the Mason City Globe Gazette, “it is simply not feasible to read every book and filter for these new requirements.” Under the surface of this is a unique conundrum. Broad bans on sexual content that use vague language like “age-appropriate” already leave too much room for interpretation. It doesn’t matter if what’s in the book is the equivalent of softcore slashfic or a harrowing account of childhood molestation. Now, in Iowa, there’s a case of AI—which doesn’t always fully comprehend nuance in written language—being asked to interpret a law that already lacks nuance. The result, then, is districts like Mason City asking ChatGPT, “Does [insert book here] contain a description or depiction of a sex act?” If the answer was yes, the book was removed from the district’s libraries and stored. But what about when the answer was neither yes nor no? The Bible, for example, “does contain passages that address sexual topics and relationships, but it generally avoids explicit descriptions of sexual acts,” according to ChatGPT. The Bible isn’t on the list of 19 books that got banned, but you can see how quickly this can get confusing. (David going to bed with Bathsheba isn’t a description of a sex act? Uh, OK.) When I relate this story to Exman, she says she got similar answers, where ChatGPT would say a particular book had sexual depictions but then give context. The example she gives is Patricia McCormick’s Sold, about a young girl who gets sold into prostitution. “ChatGPT did give me what I would characterize as a ‘Yes, but’ answer,” Exman says, but “the law doesn’t have a ‘yes, but.’” Ergo, McCormick’s book is one of the 19 on her district’s list. The Monitor is a weekly column devoted to everything happening in the WIRED world of culture, from movies to memes, TV to Twitter.

Microsoft has just retired the dedicated app for Cortana on Windows in favour of its new AI-based Copilot that the company is set to introduce in the coming weeks on Windows. Announced back in May during the Build conference, the Windows Copilot is finally here — in preview. For those unaware, Microsoft Windows Copilot will be a digital assistant on the platform that will help users get things done faster and more efficiently. Windows Copilot is now in preview modeMicrosoft has confirmed that the Windows Copilot is now available for users to try in preview mode. It has been made available to Windows Insiders in the Beta channel through a controlled feature rollout. Moving ahead, the company also confirmed that more features will be added to the Copilot in coming updates. Insiders who are in the Beta channel and have installed the latest beta version can now click on the new Copilot button or press Win + C to launch Windows Copilot. How does it look and feel on WindowsWindows Copilot appears as a sidebar docked on the right side. The company says, the placement keeps it from overlapping over other desktop content and will run unobstructed alongside your open app windows, allowing you to interact with Windows Copilot anytime you need.What all users can do right now using Windows CopilotIn this first preview, you can ask Windows Copilot a range of questions or to take actions such as:“Change to dark mode.”“Turn on, do not disturb.”“Take a screenshot”“Summarise this website” (Active tab in Microsoft Edge)“Write a story about a dog who lives on the moon.”“Make me a picture of a serene koi fishpond with lily pads.”Just click the “…” icon at the top right of the sidebar in Windows Copilot to submit feedback on any issues you run into.With Windows Copilot, the future of Windows 11 is brighter than ever. Embrace the power of AI assistance and get ready to be amazed!

Hackers are reportedly targeting several LinkedInaccounts. This is causing multiple accounts to be locked out for security reasons or getting hijacked by attackers. According to a report by Cyberint, several LinkedIn users have complained about account takeovers or lockouts. The report also notes that these users were unable to resolve the problems through LinkedIn support.“Some have even been pressured into paying a ransom to regain control or faced with the permanent deletion of their accounts. While LinkedIn has not yet issued an official announcement, it appears that their support response time has lengthened, with reports of a high volume of support requests.” Cyberint’s researcher Coral Tayar said. Several LinkedIn users have shared their complaints on multiple platforms including Reddit, Twitter and Microsoft forums. These users noted that LinkedIn support has not helped with recovering the breached accounts. The users also expressed their frustration caused due to lack of response from LinkedIn support. How LinkedIn users were affected“My account was hacked 6 days ago. Email was changed in the middle of the night and I had no ability to confirm the change or prevent it. No response from them anywhere. It’s pathetic. I tried reporting my hacked account, going through identity verification, and even DMing them on @linkedinhelp on Twitter. No responses anywhere. What a joke of a company..” an affected user wrote on Reddit.The report also mentioned that search terms about LinkedIn account hacks or recovery records on Google Trends have increased by 5,000% over the past few months. How hackers are attacking LinkedIn accountsAs per the report, the attackers are using leaked credentials or brute-forcing their way to take control of a huge number of LinkedIn accounts. Hackers were unable to take over some accounts as they were properly protected by strong passwords and/or two-factor authentication. For such accounts, the multiple takeover attempts resulted in a temporary account lock which was imposed by the platform as a safety measure. LinkedIn asked the owners of these accounts to verify ownership by providing additional information. The job searching platform also asked affected users to update their passwords before they’re allowed to sign in again.Meanwhile, for the LinkedIn accounts that were poorly protected, hackers were able to successfully take over them. After getting control over these accounts, the hackers quickly swapped the associated email address with one from the “rambler.ru” service. After this, the attackers changed the account password and prevented the original owners from accessing their accounts. Some users also reported that the hackers turned on 2FA after hijacking the account. This made the account recovery process for these users even more difficult.In some cases, the attackers also demanded a small ransom to give the accounts back to the original owners. Meanwhile, the hackers deleted some of the accounts without asking the original owners.

Podcasts are usually two or more people talking things over, and Spotify has spent over a billion dollars in the last year and two, bringing in all the big names it could, introducing new shows, and even video podcasts. However, it is also spending a lot of money on podcasts that do not actually involve any talking, rather known as white noise podcasts. These white noise podcasts, where no one talks, are costing Spotify $38 million a year, reports Bloomberg. Spotify could make that money back if it gets users away from these no-talk podcasts, but who is to blame? Well, it is Spotify itself. Spotify’s algorithm has been centring these types of podcasts to listeners as it pushes ‘talk’ content versus music. White noise podcasts, which are basically the sounds of waves, fans, and vacuums, have become increasingly popular and lucrative on Spotify. These have been accounting for around 3 million listening hours each day, with creators making almost $18,000 per month. Spotify is undoubtedly not happy about it. While listeners seem to like them, and creators are making quite a handful of money, it is eating a considerable chunk out of Spotify’s revenue. The company considered removing white noise podcasts from its talk feeds and nudging users towards other content, which could have given a significant boost but decided not to go through with the move. “The proposal in question did not come to fruition — we continue to have white noise podcasts on our platform,” a Spotify spokesperson told Bloomberg. While the white noise podcasts continue to be available on Spotify, there seems to be something going on behind the scenes. Some podcasters told Bloomberg that they have had episodes disappear from the platform. Listeners have also

Next week, Samsung‘s Galaxy Store and Galaxy Themes may remain unavailable for a few hours. The company has informed Galaxy device users (spotted by Sammobile) that it will temporarily suspend its app store and Themes service for system maintenance work. As per the notice, the Galaxy Store and Themes servers will be down on August 22 between 2:30 pm – 5:30 pm IST. However, the notice didn’t confirm if the servers will remain down globally or only for Indian users. Samsung Galaxy Store, Themes to go offline: What it means for usersAs the servers of the Galaxy Store and Themes services go down, Galaxy device users won’t be able to access these services on their phones, tablets and the web. Here’s a list of things that users won’t be able to access while the maintenance work is ongoing: Download and update of all apps or content through Galaxy Store/Galaxy Themes will be temporarily suspended. Emergency updates/security updates provided by Samsung Galaxy devices are temporarily suspended. Access is not possible if you move directly from the other apps to GalaxyStore/Galaxy Themes. Galaxy Store that can be accessed from manufacturers other than Samsung is not available either, and download and update of Galaxy Store/Galaxy Themes apps or content are stopped Access to Galaxy Store/Galaxy Themes or use of Galaxy Store/Galaxy Themes servers is temporarily suspended. Samsung Galaxy Store, Themes maintenance workAs mentioned above, during this time security patch releases will also be temporarily halted. Users won’t be able to download and apply new firmware during this maintenance period. However, Samsung will allow users to download official firmware files from its website if they need to.Not even app developers will have access to the Store and won’t be able to update their apps. Samsung is expected to bring the Store and Themes services online after a few hours. However, the company hasn’t denied the possibility that the end time may change depending on the progress of the maintenance work.It is important to note that the maintenance period will affect only the Galaxy App Store and not the company’s Galaxy device e-shop. This means customers will be able to order Samsung products on August 22. But the company won’t allow users to set up their new devices with the latest app updates until the maintenance work is completed.