TECH

In the volatile social media market, platforms can skyrocket in popularity or sink without a trace surprisingly quickly.

In 2018 the most dominant services have not changed significantly, but looking ahead to 2019 it seems likely that there could be quite a bit of an upheaval on the horizon.

Here are a few poignant predictions for the year ahead, highlighting the trends and events that will shape social media in the near future.

Twitter Will Face Troubled Waters

While its user numbers have somewhat stagnated and its platform is taking a pounding, the challenges facing Twitter will not get any easier to overcome in 2019. In fact, it could face even tougher scrutiny from regulators and politicians, as well as from its devoted fans, unless it makes some major changes.

Complaints about the corruption of the timeline by tweets from people that users don’t follow are just the start. It continues to face criticism for the way that it handles abuse, as well as the means by which it may have been hijacked to distort political debates and even interfere in elections.

Even if upstarts like Mastodon seek to dethrone Twitter or profit from the potential exodus of its users, it still seems like a vital part of the social media conversation at the moment. That could change if its decision-makers do not do more to address its faults next year.

Of course, companies like Casumo are leveraging this platform effectively to engage with customers and attract new users. You can follow them on Twitter to see why there may well be a ray of sunshine peeking out from behind the dark clouds that hang over this particular service.

Instagram Will Keep Growing

While even behemoths like Facebook have seen growth rates reduced to a trickle, image-focused platform Instagram has proven that it is the king of engagement once more in 2018. It recently hit a billion active users and is projected to pull down $5.48 billion in ad revenue this year, when solely looking at its US performance.

What this means for rival services like Snapchat is uncertain, although it does seem likely that as Instagram monopolises more of the marketplace and also eats up more screen time for smartphone addicts, its power and value as a brand will only increase.

That is not to say that the company is without its own issues; the recent departure of one of its founders has raised questions about how well Facebook is managing its acquisition. Critics claim that Mark Zuckerberg’s team are meddling too frequently and could cause more disruption unless they take a bit more of a hands-off approach with the platform.

Instagram is unlikely to outgrow Facebook in the next 12 months, but its inevitably explosive expansion will surely raise questions about how much it even needs the stewardship of a company responsible for a social media service that has reached saturation point.

E-Commerce Integration Will Expand

Monetising social media has largely relied on ad revenues generated by promotional posts, but in 2019 there will be ongoing attempts to combine in-app shopping experiences with existing functions.

Snapchat has already announced the work it is doing to incorporate Amazon’s e-commerce platform with its Gen-Z oriented image and video sharing service. This will continue to be relevant in 2019 when people who use social media will have even more ways to buy the items that are being marketed to them without having to head to a different service to complete the transaction.

Addressing security fears will be necessary if social media sites gain greater access to personal, financial info. So perhaps it is also sensible to predict that unforeseen privacy scandals will emerge in 2019, once e-commerce integration gains momentum.

This is the age of the mobile internet. Google saw it coming all of three years ago and started to prepare its mobile-first strategy, and the fact that 85 percent of UK adults now have a smartphone tells its own story.

A side effect of the smartphone age, however, is that we actually use web browsers far less than we used to. Critically assess your own mobile browsing habits and you will notice that the vast majority of time is spent using apps. Three years ago, this was as high as 85 percent, and today it is almost certainly higher.  

It’s an app-y world

That ad campaign from years ago with the tagline “there’s an app for that” has proved to be prophetic. There are well over three million apps on Google Play for anything and everything you can think of. More than 94 percent of them are free to download, so there is little wonder that everyone has gone a little app-crazy. After all, they cost nothing and when a globally recognised company like Google is involved, they must be safe, right? Not necessarily.

Malware found in Play Store apps

Of course, Google has security measures in place for screening the apps it makes available, but the instances of malware being found on its apps show that these measures are far from infallible. Last year, investigators found the HummingBad Android malware on 46 new apps. Shockingly, 20 of these were available to download from Google Play.

Once installed, the malware is able to download other apps and to automatically click on ads to generate revenue for its owners. HummingBad is also able to leave positive reviews for infected apps on Google Play, in order to make unsuspecting users more confident in the quality of the app and therefore more likely to download it.

Look beyond Google

Part of the problem here is that Google has cornered certain markets so completely that people have a tendency to forget there are alternatives. It has happened in the world of search, and, at least as far as Android devices are concerned, a similar pattern is emerging for apps. The truth is there are other alternatives, and often they are better and safer. A perfect example is the Uptrivial app store. For one thing, it is a convenient one-stop shop for those who use multiple platforms, as it contains both Android and iOS apps. The biggest advantage, however, is from a security perspective. Uptrivial scans every app for viruses and is actively on the lookout for HummingBad and other malware of this type.

Are you infected?

If you think your smartphone might be infected with HummingBad, there are several malware scanners out there that you can install, including household names like AVG and Avast. If they find the Malware, there is a simple solution, although it might not be one you like: The factory reset. There really is no better way of dealing with it, so if HummingBad is detected, back up everything you need and hit the reset. You will then need to reinstall all your favourite apps. Just think carefully about where you choose to download them from!   

Instagram is one of the most popular apps in the world and is used by hundreds of millions of users daily. Being an app that could make you famous worldwide, every person is trying to use it to achieve that success.

Instagram is an app that lets other people see your posts by following your activity. These Instagram followers, as they are called, like your pictures and can share them or show them to others. So, the more people see them, the more known you become.

People have started using this to either promote their businesses or personal campaigns or to simply show off what they consider to be worth knowing. Some even make money out of this. Thus, if you want to improve your advertising campaign, here are a few tips on how to make sure you’re reaching your target audience efficiently:

Post pictures that catch the eye in an instant  

In order for your account to become famous and gather a large number of followers, the content you post on it should be compelling, it should be original, and it should always stay true to what you’re trying to advertise. Do not post boring stuff or things that are not yours even more so if they are on a different subject that the one you are trying to promote.

Instagram ads can help you a lot

Think about investing in Instagram ads. This kind of tool should not be ignored because it might really help your campaign. Investing in these ads can help you promote your account on the platform, including on InstaStories, where more and more people are spending their time. Giving it time and patience will lead to a significant boost in your following.

Influencers are your friends

Influencers are the people who have already established a huge number of people that follow them. What these people promote and say in their posts is what their followers will consume in turn. Try to make friends with them and maybe they will, in turn, promote your page, which will skyrocket your campaign.

Validate what you’re promoting

When you’re doing a campaign, you should always give proof that what you’re promoting or what you are selling is indeed what you claim to be. Videos of this and statements from other people will need to be included in your advertising campaign.

Use Instagram tools in creating your content

The way in which you create your content will be seen in the number of followers you manage to gather. Using various Instagram tools that are available out there could enhance your content and make your campaign skyrocket.

There is a lot more than you could do when trying to promote your Instagram advertising campaign. These are only a few ideas to get you started but you have to find what exactly works for you. Once you’ve done that, success is guaranteed!

What is a social media platform?

The well known social media platforms are Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat. Even Myspace was popular back in 2005. Does anyone remember hi5 too? Where you could personalize your own social page, adding music from YouTube or creative glittery images? Well, these platforms nowadays, are adding games too. Facebook has numerous popular browser games like FarmVille, Candy Crush and so on. These games first started as apps on phones. The popular casino games, that started way back in a land-based casino, then evolved into online casino games, have also found a way into the social media platform. Facebook is the one that has integrated the most games, like slots, video poker, bingo or blackjack into their website. So what makes them so fascinating?

Casino Games and Social Features

Social casino games are mostly equipped with casino-related themes and rules.  Related to the casino, there is a studio called Ruby Seven Studios, that came out with some unique games. They work on the graphic content of casino games and companies like Konami, IGT and more seem to publish their creative works. Social casino games aren’t just about the games, there is also a community of people that are passionate about them.

Another well-known game developer company is Zynga which is mainly known by their work with Facebook. This gigantic social media platform is one of the main reasons why Zynga is so famous. Their fame came with the release of FarmVille and other slot and poker games. The game that blew up in popularity the most is Zynga Poker. It is found on Facebook and attracts players from all around the world who are familiar with poker. Zynga also offers a unique slot game called Wizards of Oz slots, where you can enjoy a classic story tale by playing a series of storytelling machines that change each time players hit a new level.

Slots Are the Favorite

Based around public online polls from different social platforms, in 2014 people voted that slots are the most favorite gambling games that are found in a regular casino. Slots are reached 48% while the second best game only 16%. We are not sure what’s the main reason that made people prefer slots but the fact that this game has short and easy rounds can be the answer. However, while slot games are on the first place of the player’s preference, social casinos demonstrate that poker is the player’s preference.

New Social Casino Platforms

With the rise of technology, new platforms have emerged that support casino games, especially slot games. These platforms help players find their preferred games and share their experiences with other players.

There are many online casinos that offer a wide variety of slot games with diverse themes and a unique feeling to them. Games like “Book of Ra”, ” Lord of the Ocean” and ” Shooting Stars” have been a few of the most played and most appreciated ones due to the fun graphics, sound effects and themes, which make them visually attractive and draw people in. These games usually have 5 reels giving you the opportunity to have a good combination with every spin.

Starting your own business is an incredibly bewildering experience. From finding the right talent to take you to the top, to attracting those crucial first customers, everything can feel like an intense competition. In the huge flurry of activity which accompanies those crucial first months of launching a business, people have a tendency to slip up and forget the little things, which, if left ignored, can completely sink your business model.

With a majority of transactions and payments now taking place online, ensuring that you have a secure online payment and deposit system for your customers is crucial if you want to succeed. There’s no shortage of providers and platforms out there, but here’s how to find the best ones for you.

Source: Pixabay

Security is Key

First and foremost, your number one concern should be security. By this, we mean not only the security of your own income and profits but also the security of your customer’s data and payment information. Your platform needs not only to be completely airtight but also well-known and reputable enough that the potential customer will have no qualms about using your site. Reassurance is the name of the game. All big and small businesses prioritize this, from e-retailers to online casinos. The fact that these days you can even place secured deposit money online in the casino shows how widespread the importance of secure online payments has become. Therefore, always opt for well-known, big platforms, and don’t cut corners by opting to use an obscure but cheap platform.

Making Your Business More Efficient

You want your payment platform to be something that speeds your business along, rather than adding to overheads or admin. Innovative platforms like Due allow you to make detailed analyses of your incoming cash flows, from country of origin to demographic, to timing. It also allows you to automatically create invoices, much in the same way that established platforms like Paypal and Venmo do, meaning that you’ll be able to keep on top of all your paperwork without having to hire an entire team of accountants to go over every little thing. A secure payment platform is more than just a necessity for your business, it’s an enhancement.

Look Out for Little Extras

It’s a competitive world out there, with various payment platforms offering all sorts of free add-ons in order to capture a larger market share. Make the most of your decision by combing the web to see which platforms offer the best bonuses for your business. For example, WeChat pay allows people to pay via instant message, a great gimmick for your business, while sites like Transferwise eliminate hefty international transaction fees altogether. Depending on how your business operates and who you’re targeting, there will be a platform which has the right little extras for you, so take your time browsing and choose wisely.

Secure payments are too important to gloss over. Your business will not be able to succeed without the right payment platform so follow these steps and you’ll be all set to make your business thrive.

Are you responsible for managing your business? If so, do you have employees who are engaged in mobile phones related to work, for travel? If you do this, you may want to consider getting a cell phone monitor app included in it. If your mobile phone already has mobile tracking devices, but the tracking device is inactive, you need to think about it, Below are the reasons Why you should use a phone monitoring app.

One of the many advantages of the phone monitoring application on all your phones is that you will always know where your employees are. If your employees take their phones home with you, you are asked not to abuse cell phone tracking, but there are many situations where it can be within reach. Below are some of these examples.

A phone that works with the phone monitoring application can help you determine whether your employees are using their time in the right place. It is estimated that these workers lose billions of dollars, which each year abuse their working time. If your employee is forced to leave his workplace to take part in the standings or go around the clock, you can check his location to make sure that they are going. In this aspect, the phone monitoring application installed on your monitor can provide money every day.

Another example is when an app to monitor a phone can help your employees turn on a state of emergency. If this happened before, one of your employees went to a wreck at a business meeting on the road, and he was told that this is not so, you can send the application to your phone to find out your exact location and help you. Having a work phone with this phone, which controls the application in this aspect, can help not only your business but your employees. If your employees take their mobile phones with them at home.

If you are interested in providing all mobile phones with an app for monitoring, you need to get a credit for tracking your cell phone, if it is not already installed on your phone. You will also need to do business with a cell phone tracking company. This company will track all tracking movements, and a program that is often on the Internet will ensure that the cell phone works with them so you can see where all your employees are,

There are no spy entries. As expected, the application does not display the icon to show it on any device. Therefore, you must have hidden properties in the spyware application such as iPhone keylogger that will help you decrypt, touch or leave. The importance of using a completely hidden spy application cannot be completed. Another devastating effect of this discovery, some jurisdictions have banned the use of applications, and if there is evidence of sufficient evidence that they are responsible for espionage actions on others, they may be subjected to legal proceedings.

Once the application is verified, the settings screen is populated on the phone. This option allows the screen used to configure the monitor settings. After saving the settings page settings you can hide the application “spy”. There should be no indication that the application is enabled on the phone. If the software installer wants to update the settings, entering the 11-digit code on the target phone displays the application settings page.

Can you imagine your life without your favorite mobile apps? We are all very comfortable using various social media, messaging and shopping apps. It’s true that these apps have made our life so easy and connected but you can’t ignore the fact that there are so many bad things are being done because of them. Social media and messaging apps are being used for spreading false news, propaganda, scamming and even kidnapping.

If you are a parent then it is your responsibility to keep your kids safe from such influences. You can’t stop them from using a phone and their favorite apps but it’s always possible to monitor their online activities in order to protect them from any abuse or scam. There are various phone monitoring apps available in the market for this purpose. We’ve done our research about the best phone monitoring app and finally found fonemonitor.

What is Fonemonitor?

Fonemonitor is a software that can be used to spy data and information on other parties’ devices. It came up recently due to advancement in the technology sector. It can be used for monitoring messages, GPS location, calls, Facebook, Snapchat, WhatsApp, browser history, contacts, photos, video preview, capture screenshots and comes with a keylogger .

The app has gained more and more popularity due to its reliability and important functions in our day to day life. Fonemonitor has its functions ranging from home use to business. It can be used to monitor the welfare of our families as well as business at our places of comfort.

There has never been development in the technology sector such as the realization of this useful software. The warm welcome it received is due to its important functions and has influence may people to subscribing to using it.

How to use it?

The usage of Fonemonitor isn’t a big task since it requires small effort and a subscription fee to be able to use it. Here are a few requirements that are necessary for one to use the Fonemonitor software. It is made in such a way that it is compatible with many devices with an advantage that it does not require one jailbreak or root the target gadget. You can check the live demo here.

Before the onset of using Fonemonitor one has to register to have an account and pay a subscription fee then you are ready to go. To be able to spy data from target device you have to install the Fonemonitor on the target device of which the icon is not visible or be cleared after installation.

When should you use it?

The functionality of Fonemonitor to spy information and data from monitored devices depend majorly on the settings that you make such as how regular the spy is updated among other. It is a spyware app that is very important to families, companies and even for personal security. It is the easiest way to ensure the security of your teenage children who can access Smartphone or a laptop.

For the case of a family, it helps you monitor your kids whenever you are away from home. When the kids are using a Smartphone or a laptop you can track and know whoever they are chatting with them. You can also know if they are watching illegal movies or pornographies which may affect their behaviors at their early ages. Fonemonitor generally helps you maintain your family as a whole in a good relationship as well as ensure their security.

If a company wants to monitor the work through understanding how the employees are carrying out their works, Fonemonitor is the best tracker to use. This will help the company owners know how daily activities are carried out by the workers.

It will also help maintain good relations between the employees and the employers through regular checkups using the software. This in return will ensure that the company runs smoothly. However, the employees should be much aware that whenever they are working in their offices they are under surveillance from the management.

Fonemonitor is also important for personal security in case of an emergency. Whenever you are subscribed to the software your phone will be secure in case of lost or if stolen. This is because the software can be used to track the location of the said device.

As much as we are saying that this software is very important in our daily lives and for our companies ethics must be considered for the same. The employees should be made aware that their devices are under Fonemonitor surveillance. This will give them confidence in their works since they are aware of the tracking system. The kids also should be informed of this tracking system though should not necessarily understand how you monitor them using the software.

Note: The software should not be used carelessly on personal data without permission from the person under monitoring. This app is an ethical software that requires an authorization from the person you monitor.

Conclusion

The spy software is a very crucial application in the current days since it performs the actions that the current generation is up to. The installation, as well as the use of fonemonitor, is very simple hence a larger number of people are in a position to use it conveniently.

Pay close attention to the desktop and laptop computer markets and you’ll notice that screen quality continues to be a key selling point. For example, when Apple announced its new line of MacBook Pros, the Cupertino, CA-based company was keen to highlight its True Tone display, which adjusts the lighting to ensure that the screen stays visible even in low lighting conditions.

Likewise, the selling point of Apple’s more recent line of iMacs is a 5K display, which boasts some of the highest quality visuals available. But what does all of this mean and can these beefed-up specs actually impact your day to day life?

Video Streaming

Millions upon millions of us stream video every day and you are likely one of them. YouTube, the video streaming platform owned by Alphabet (Google’s parent company) is the world’s second-most popular search engine and people view more than one billion hours of content on the site each day. Paid-for streaming platforms like Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Netflix, and HBO Now are all vying for attention, too.

One way in which these companies compete in the market is by improving the quality of their streams. YouTube introduced 4K live streaming in 2016, for example, while Netflix is expanding its lineup of 4K content (available with an Ultra HD subscription). But, in order to enjoy and appreciate this content, you’ll need a 4K quality monitor.

Online Gaming

Another immediate impact that a higher quality screen will have on your day to day life is if you’re an online gamer. While some game genres, including online poker, are optimized for PC and Macs of all screen qualities and capabilities (including in-browser poker and downloadable poker clients), you will still benefit from improved screen resolutions. The improved graphics should add to the atmosphere whether you’re playing Texas Hold’Em, Omaha, or any other variation of the game.

In some online games, though, such as League of Legends and Street Fighter 5, higher screen quality and visual fidelity is an absolute must. Frame rates allow you to understand what enemy characters are doing or planning exactly as it plays out, benefiting your reaction time and thus, your performance.

Professional Life

Many of us also use computers every day at work; whether that’s typing up reports, filling in spreadsheets or just responding to customer queries on Twitter and Facebook. Even if your work is more administration based as opposed to professional design work or photography which requires a greater range of colors in the display, your professional life could still benefit from an improved quality screen.

Specifically, Tom’s Hardware recommends going for a flicker-free monitor or a screen with low levels of flicker, at least. Some users may be particularly sensitive to screen flickering, especially if you spend a lot of time looking at a screen all day, so it’s an important factor to consider.

When buying a new computer or laptop, screen quality is clearly a massive factor. If you didn’t think it was important before, perhaps our guide above has made you think twice.

Just as the news comes up, hardcore gamers from all over the world are getting addicted towards the Oculus Rift. There has been already a big buzz on the Oculus Rift and people from all over the world are getting addicted towards gaming and now the Oculus Rift is proving its worth. If you are willing to experience real gaming with the best VR kit available in the market today, the Oculus Rift is definitely one of the most preferable choices that you can get. The Oculus Rift comes along with a special ability to give you the appropriate feeling of dynamic gaming. So with this gadget, you can not only play your favorite game, but you can live the game!

Current Design

Comparing the Oculus Rift with most of the other VR kits, you may find only a few differences at the first glance. The gizmo composes of a similar visual with the shining black body. Apart from this, it is quite idea to the usual VR Kits in the looks. The Oculus Rift comes along with a very impressive outline known as the Crescent Bay. Also, the head tie has three different parts to ensure that you can get a comfortable fit. The weight of the product is very low and it is practically just around 1 pound. So you can ensure to carry or wear the product at any point of time. You can get headphones also connected with the product for better experience of your favorite games.

Specs

So, let us now compare the specifications of the Oculus Rift. Overall, every expert will find the Oculus Rift to be more seasoned VR than most of the individuals. It will definitely make you wipe out. Unlike the usual VR Kits, the Oculus Rift completely removes the eliminating judder. Apart from this, the product also comes along with an OLED screen and thus, it saves up a lot of energy as well.

The product also comes along with a more interactive pair of goggles to make it interesting. The internal specifications seem to be much more phenomenal. This is the reason why purchasing the Oculus Rift will only get you to the game and without any effects at all. It has an analyzer so that you can create the changes in visuals manually. Officially, any children above the age of 13 can use the Oculus Rift to play their favorite games. Most of the people will definitely try to get involved with the Oculus Rift for better options.

 

How DrakeMall Works?

The landing page of the site never neglects to inspire the clients with its effortlessness. Your initial move towards winning wonderful treats is to enroll yourself. You will have the capacity to find the Sign-Up button in the top-right corner. If you don’t wish to make another username or secret word simply signs in with your Facebook, Gmail or Twitter account.

A total of 8 virtual cases will be introduced to you once you sign in. Each case will have a different arrangement of products. Post additions of assets simply select the case which you want to open and run with the spin. As mentioned over, fortunately, a prize is guaranteed for each spin.

You certainly are correct. Drakemall has dealt with this major right to win an Oculus Rift. For viewing the things in the coveted case you simply need to tap on the ‘Open Case’ button and you will be diverted to a page where you can see the rundown of marvelous things contained for the situation along with their market costs.

On the specific same page, you will see two buttons.  Yes! You can really attempt few spins first before going for the real ones.

How to Get Oculus Rift on DrakeMall?

If virtual the truth is something you’ve for a long while been itching to attempt, there’s no better option for newcomers on the market. How to get an Oculus Rift for almost free than anywhere else? It’s as basic as you’d like! Follow our instructions: sign in, include the required measure of assets, select the “Gamer Case” and snap “Open case”. That is it! We offer an awesome chance to get Oculus Rift for only $29.99. If not, you can at present get other extraordinary prizes from a similar case. Simply try it out and check how it works! Drakemall.com is the best place to know how to get an Oculus Rift! Visit https://drakemall.com/products/oculus-rift for more!

Conclusion

Every single spared prize that you can find in your inventory and offer whenever convenient for you. For things that you truly want, there is a conveyance option. You can ask for conveyance on the page of your account by applying your shipping information and paying 5 credits for each enrolled product. The help administration will contact you when you request it, and then you simply need to pause. Ordinarily, conveyance takes two to four weeks, depending on your location. The Support Group will likewise notify you of any changes in the conveyance status and will notify you of the tracking number. You can likewise contact them if you have any questions or suggestions.

What is an email address validation service?

Email validation plays a major role in what emails you or your clients and people on your mailing list receive. It is a system that determines exactly where an email is coming from in order to authenticate it. An example of how this works is your spam folder. If an email’s source cannot be definitively verified, it will end up in the spam folder or may be blocked which is known as a hard bounce. In worst case scenarios, your entire email account may even be blocked by email providers. Suffice it to say, this has a negative impact on your online presence and reputation and could cost you, customers.

Email address validation services such as ZeroBounce are there to ensure that this does not happen to you or your company. They take care of your email list to guarantee delivery by concentrating on four main focal areas of email validation; an email bounce checker, spam trap and abuse email checker, A. I. email scoring, and catch-all validation system, and an email address list append function.

Email bounce checker

ZeroBounce email address validation service keeps your email list in good condition by removing invalid addresses which boosts your emailing reputation. By removing these unwanted addresses, your list is clean and therefore you are perceived as a trustworthy source for emails to come from. This, in turn, reduces the bounce rate, meaning more of your emails not only go through but end up in the regular inbox instead of the spam folder. The lower the bounce rate, the more of your emails will be read.

Spam trap and abuse email checker

Spam traps are used mainly by internet service providers. They are email addresses that appear to be real but do not belong to real people. Their function is to identify spammers in order to block them, meaning that if your email falls victim to a spam trap, it may be blocked. Abuse emails come from email complainers or abusers and can also negatively affect your email verification. By removing these two types of email addresses from your list, your emailing reputation is protected.

A. I. email scoring and catch-all validation system

This system uses artificial intelligence is used to rate the value of your emails. Email validity is scored according to the activity level to pinpoint risky emails based on their quality score. This gives you a better understanding of your email hygiene and saves you time and money.

Email address list append

This feature is there to add missing data regarding your email recipients. From basics such as name, age, and country to IP address, having more details about who receives your emails helps you know your audience better.

These four systems of email address validation work incredibly well to improve your email ratings and reduce your bounce rate. This is particularly important in email marketing, as you want to reach the largest possible target audience. Get full validation coverage by visiting https://www.zerobounce.net/ and build your brand credibility. After all, the healthier your email list is, the more hits you will get.

The betting industry was initially a little slow to react to the rise of the internet but once the early adopters showed signs of success, there was a scramble for supremacy in the marketplace. Never before had the industry seen such a drastic change in the basic way that it operated.

Betting shops were no longer the focus of attention as bettors switched to the convenience of online betting portals. And with that change came new ways of paying.

For their online services to be a success, betting companies needed to give customers convenient ways to deposit and withdraw funds. Initially, bank accounts, credit and debit cards, and bank transfers were used. Some betting companies even sent out winnings by cheque!

But technology companies specializing in e-commerce identified that these methods were all designed for use in the physical retail environment and set about developing new streamlined payments methods tailor-made for online transactions.

A gap in the market

The idea of an online specific payment system was first floated by engineer Jeff Knowles in 1996. At the time, the number of people using the internet for everyday purposes barely justified such a system but with worldwide growth predicted, there was a rush to be the first to offer such a service.

Knowles’ system, Authorize.Net, was the first to be described as a payment gateway and is still used today handing $149 billion in transactions every year. Originally, it operated by collecting payment details via email or fax and processing them through third-party software.

The rise of PayPal

In 1999, the market was transformed by the introduction of PayPal. This was an even quicker system that allowed users to send money directly through the platform. Transactions could be completed almost instantly and funds could be withdrawn straight to a bank account.

PayPal becomes the payment method of choice for users of the online auction site eBay. The sharp rise in internet use around this time propelled PayPal to the forefront of online payment systems.

However, the betting industry was not quick to adopt the PayPal system. Instead, the need for high security and encrypted transactions made payment wallets such as Skrill and Neteller popular with bookmakers. These are still accepted today by bookmakers and online casinos such as Voodoo Dreams.

Image source: Pixabay

These systems became popular with punters with multiple betting accounts because they offered increased security, and payment details would only be held by the wallet provider, not by the betting companies.

The next wave of currency

Numerous other payment gateway systems have since appeared on the scene many bookmakers have now started accepting payments from cryptocurrency wallets. This means punters can now deposit and withdraws funds using bitcoins while enjoying the security and anonymity provided by the blockchain system.

Meanwhile, new financial technology companies such as Trustly and Zimpler continue to pave the way in developing faster, simpler and more secure payment gateways. Customers can now shop, send cash and wager online at just the click of a button from wherever they are thanks to the mobile implementation of these new payment systems.

67% of customers are more than willing to switch lanes and move to other service providers immediately they have a bad customer service experience from your business. This means an issue such as your online platform taking painfully long to load without any changes will push customers away from transacting with your business. While it is mostly regarded as an afterthought, log monitoring can help reduce the instances of losing such customers.

A log is simply a digital footprint left behind after an interaction with your online network or even server systems. Depending on how you use the data, the kind of information contained in the logs recorded by your company can either make or break your business. For a wise company, investing in log monitoring solutions could mean a bright future for the business.

Here are four aspects that make log monitoring an essential part of conducting business:

Proactively Handle Upcoming Issues

In most cases, problems can be spotted from miles away. It is only when you aren’t paying attention that they might be the detriment of your system. By studying the logs of your online applications, routers, firewalls among other areas, you can identify any problem areas before they turn into a pain.

For instance, if you are monitoring your cloud-based applications using Amazon Cloudwatch and you notice a surge in the number of events produced, then this should raise alarms. The normal rate or events might be 300-400 messages meaning that recording 500 messages might be a red flag. You can choose to dig deeper into this issue and probably find looming problems such as viruses and react to them immediately.

Handle Customer Complaints with Some Insight

Complaints are among the most vital tools for perfecting your craft as such feedback allows you to cover any loopholes in your line of work, according to Survey Monkey. However, when not attended to immediately, the complaint can spawn an angry customer who might even spread the word about their dissatisfaction. Luckily, you can study complaints through logs.

Since the logs act as digital fingerprints, you can identify where the source of the problem is and the most probable remedy. Instead of using guesswork, the logs can help you study different trends in your business that can save you from havocs such as data breaches.

Improve Your Business

No matter how well your business has been doing, there will always be room for improvement to create more range between you and the competition. For instance, in case your website experiences a drop in traffic levels during Sunday mornings, finding a solution to reverse this will further work to fortify your business. With log monitoring solutions by your side, you can easily identify such loopholes.

Tactical and strategic business decisions will typically have to rely on well-informed research, and logs can provide you with just that. In fact, some records will offer you a fresh perspective of handling day-to-day operations in your business.

Regulatory Compliance

For companies that work in regulated industries, sticking to the set rules is paramount to avoid any legal issues that could affect their credibility as a business. For instance, if your company deals with medical devices, then holding medical data private is paramount, as noted by Info Guard Security. To monitor your company’s compliance, some regulatory systems might strongly recommend the use of log monitoring solutions.

The extensive recording and monitoring of your logs can provide the regulatory bodies with valuable details about any discrepancies in your compliance. Regardless of whether you conduct business in a regulated industry or plan to venture into one, investing in log monitoring solutions will help you stay complaint as well as build your brand credibility.

Conclusion

Happy customers will always mean booming business for you. Luckily, putting smiles on your customers’ faces is as easy as monitoring your logs to deliver tailored services. Consider investing in log monitoring for the above and more benefits.

The original video games and video game systems were limited in reach and scope out of sheer necessity. While these first instances of games, even from the era of Pac-Man, proved to be incredibly popular, there simply did not exist the technological infrastructure to broaden their reach or to effectively combine their games with specific media outlets. Over the years, however, gaming has diversified and synergized into an enormous force which even exceeds films in terms of sheer profit, making $70.4 billion in 2017 vs the box office’s $35.9 billion. How have we reached this point, and what might we expect from these components of gaming going forward?

The First Steps

Diversification in media serves an important purpose, it helps generate additional interest in intellectual properties while at the same time adding its influence to another. Most commonly we have seen this with events like sponsored promotions, the types of which you would commonly see with a themed McDonald’s Happy Meal or toy range. As technology has continued to evolve, especially owing to the age of mobile as a viable media base, the range of potential diversification and synergism has increased to a level never before possible.

“Happy Meal?” (CC BY 2.0) by Nelo Hotsuma

Where We Are

At this point in time gaming is as synonymous with our daily lives as television was to our parent’s generation, and this is a pattern which can be seen through not just through traditional media diversification, but also through a growing trend of combining both hardware and media platforms. In broad terms, we have seen this in gaming with the concept of consoles and console exclusivity, but this is only the beginning. As illustrated by the forward-thinking but ultimately ill-fated Nokia N-Gage, a more advanced form of hardware and gaming cooperation was only a matter of time. Browser games have also grown vastly in popularity, with racing titles like https://smartdrivinggames.com/madalin-stunt-cars-2 a common go-to for curious players.

 

Today, this increased level of collaboration is perhaps best exemplified by the gambling sector. As one of the most consistently current forms of media, as we have seen with their rapid adoption of the internet and mobile based media, casino based games have never been shy to take a risk in jumping forward and, unlike the N-Gage experiment, this sector has been largely successful. Game developers are now pushing into untamed territory in their close relationships with actual parlors and the hardware within, as we have seen with Playtech’s games and their synergistic relationship with real-world business Buzz Bingo.

Primed for the Future

As is often the case when it comes to technological evolution, major developers can tend towards caution until the waters are fully tested. As newer examples of diversification and synergistic evolution not only work with developing the infrastructure but prove to be both successful and profitable, it is only a matter of time until these sort of relationships become standard.

Arcades, for example, or rather adult versions of what we consider classical video game arcades, have been making a comeback recently, aided by partnerships with breweries and game developers both. With the environment for this level of cooperation being healthier than ever before and the recent explosion in popularity in the internet and mobile-based media, the future is poised to achieve a new and revolutionary standard.

“Arcade” (CC BY-SA 2.0) by sumeetjain

A jewellery store means so much more to the customers who enter it with big expectations. They could be looking for a wedding ring or an anniversary gift for their parents; each one with their own celebrations and festivities. Therefore, it becomes crucial for the jewellery stores to offer an ambiance that is both welcoming and relaxed.

While there are various factors that can enhance the ambiance, none can add a silver lining the way lighting does to a jewellery store. Perfect lighting not only illuminates the store but also creates a comfortable and dynamic atmosphere that boosts the mood of customers as well as the employees.  However, achieving perfect lighting is not an easy task. There are plenty of lighting solutions varying from pendant lighting to recessed lighting with each one of them having different functions. One needs to have knowledge about the suitable lighting solutions and how to utilize them to get the best output.

To help you understand the basics, here is a brief lighting guide offering important tips and suggestions on what kind of lighting solutions should be opted for specific spaces in a jewellery store. Read on!

Display Window

They say that the first impression is the last impression. While we cannot generalize the statement, but this one does matter when it comes to jewellery stores. The display window is an area which attracts customers by a mere look. Hence, one needs to put special emphasize while choosing lighting solutions for this area. To grab the attention of the customers, one can play with a creative mix of displayed products and the interior. Spotlights and recessed lights are perfect for display windows as they offer great visual details while keeping contrast on the windows intact. The high contrast creates an interest that can encourage and make the customer enter the shop.

Billing Desk

Another crucial area in the jewellery store is the billing desk which needs effective illumination that keeps up with the aesthetics of the surroundings and also improves the productivity of the employees. Pendant lighting can be used in this area to bring an aesthetical touch and infuse a stylish yet elegant atmosphere. If there is a table showcasing jewellery near this area, warm ambient lights can work magic in giving a comfortable feeling to the customer and they might a few more items to their shopping bag.

Light for Gold

Lighting options not just depend on the area but also on the products they are supposed to illuminate. One cannot use same LED lights for all types of jewellery. Gold, for instance, reflects light like a mirror and hence if small LED lights are directed at gold jewellery, the sparkle can create disturbance. To avoid this, one should choose luminaires that offer wide light distribution and give a natural illumination. It is advised that one should use a warm colour of light, around 3000 K, as it works great for illuminating gold jewellery.

Silver, Chrome, and Glass

Unlike gold; silver, chrome and glass jewellery need natural white light or colder light from 4000 K or higher, for attractive illumination. One can also use blue filters to enhance the icy feel of the glass jewellery. As they also reflect, choosing a combination of wider light distribution can be a good option. There are various brands in the market like Wipro Lighting that offer aesthetical LED lights that are in sync with the modern technology and give the best possible output.

Good lighting not just adds a dramatic touch to the interior of a jewellery store but also affects the mind of the customers. It makes them stay longer in the store and lead to higher sales and profit. Moreover, if one opts for LED lighting solutions, they can also cut costs as LED lights are highly energy-efficient.

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) has been the law of the land in the United States since 1996 when it was enacted to help streamline the movement of medical records from one health care provider to another as people switched jobs.

In addition, HIPAA created a set of patient rights designed to protect people’s right to privacy in regards to their medical records. In 2003, HIPAA was amended by the HIPAA Privacy Rule, which outlined protected health information (PHI). HIPAA was further amended in 2005, by the HIPAA Security Rule. That update introduced new safeguard provisions for information stored or transported electronically.

HIPAA is governed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HSS). The Office for Civil Rights, a unit of HSS, enforces the rules and determines the financial penalties for violation, while the Department of Justice has jurisdiction over criminal penalties.

Protecting Patient Privacy

To fully protect that privacy, healthcare organizations were tasked with investing time and money in to not only putting safeguards into place to ensure that patient privacy was being respected. It also meant investing in education around the new HIPAA guidelines to make sure healthcare organizations were in strict compliance.

While HIPAA has had a definite impact on both healthcare organizations and their patients, it has definitely created an additional sense of security as it relates to patient privacy. Maintaining that security entails very real penalties if HIPAA rules and guidelines are violated.

Violations of HIPAA rules and guidelines are taken very seriously, and penalties include civil and criminal remedies. The Enforcement Final Rule added to HIPAA in 2006 also introduced financial penalties.

Defining HIPAA Violations

Spend any time around any healthcare organization, and you are sure to hear the phrase “HIPAA violation.” But what actually constitutes a violation of patient privacy rights?

Simply put, a violation occurs any time a HIPAA-covered entity fails to comply with privacy, security or breach notification rules. An individual or entity does not have to knowingly have breached protocol to be found in violation of HIPAA. Knowledge does have an effect, however, on the severity of the punishment.

A HIPAA-covered entity is any company or organization that transmits PHI.

• Healthcare plan administrators
• Healthcare clearinghouses
• Clinics
• Psychologists
• Dentists
• Doctors
• Nursing homes
• Pharmacies
• HMOs
• Medicare and Medicaid

Penalties can be issued for any violation. Typically, violations are resolved through voluntary compliance, technical guidance or the acceptance of an entity’s updated plan to address the source of the violation.

HIPAA Financial Penalties

Violations of HIPAA to be punished through fines are defined by a set of classifications determined by how serious the offense is. They are broken down into four categories.

• Category 1: A Minimum fine of $100 up to $50,000. Usually, the result of an unknowing HIPAA violation.
• Category 2: Minimum fine of $1,000 up to $50,000. Category 2 violations deal with reasonable cause violations.
• Category 3: Minimum fine of $10,000 up to $50,000. This category involves infractions due to willful neglect, but that was corrected within a certain time period.
• Category 4: A Minimum fine of $50,000. These fines involve willful neglect that went uncorrected.

Fines can be enforced on a daily or per-violation basis, meaning that even Category 1 fines can add up if allowed to persist over time.

HIPAA Criminal Penalties

Just like the financial penalties, criminal punishments for HIPAA violation are separated into tiers.

• If a healthcare-related entity knowingly obtained and disclosed PHI, there’s a possible one-year prison term and $50,000 fine.
• If an entity or individual working for that entity lied in order to obtain information to be used inappropriately, there’s a possible $10,000 fine and 10-year prison sentence.
• For any violation involving the intent to sell, transfer or use PHI for personal or commercial gain, or to do malicious harm, the fine can total $250,000 and 10 years in prison.

Criminal cases involving HIPAA violations have been exceedingly rare. The OCR usually chooses to directly address the causes of the problem in order to help organizations return to compliance.

For example, in January of 2018, there were over 170,000 HIPAA violation complaints registered with the OCR. Those complaints resulted in 871 compliance reviews, with 53 cases meriting civil financial penalties.

Avoiding HIPAA Violations

One of the best ways to avoid HIPAA violations is through automation. Taking the chance of human error out of the PHI communication equation is perhaps the best way for organizations to stay compliant.

Being completely transparent as to where patient data resides, and how that data is encrypted is also important. Organizations should also be upfront about who has access to PHI data, and how those privileges are maintained.

This article has been written by Ken Lynch, an enterprise software startup veteran and founder of ReciprocityLabs.com

The forex industry has undergone significant changes in recent years, as the online trading of commodities and currencies continue to rise in popularity. As such, the structure of the market has been forced to evolve, as a result of increased participation in the industry, highlighted by the rising number of brokers operating in the forex space. Execution within the market has also changed, as the forex market was traditionally dominated by dealer-to-dealer trading.

New technology, new products

We can expect further changes to take place in the future with more stringent oversight from the key global jurisdictions. The market nevertheless continues to be lucrative. Even with stricter regulations coming into force, we will inevitably see a number of new products developed in line with technological advancements in the area.

The fact that it’s so much easier to enter the forex market is largely down to the increasing number of services and platforms. This has partly been supported by advancements in technology, which have decreased trading costs, improved transparency, and increased the speed of transactions. As a result, electronic trading activity in the forex market has played a pivotal role and now accounts for 70 percent of daily turnover, compared to just 30 percent a decade earlier.

Instant access

Some of these platforms do more than simply enable trades and market research. For a new trader looking how to trade forex, for example, there are plenty of resources online such as IG’s trading academy. IG, which is essentially a trading platform for forex and other financial markets, offers an academy to help people learn before they trade. That’s another way in which technology has helped, as, rather than attend one forex seminar after another, many just repeating the same information, new traders can now learn in the comfort of their own homes, or even on the go on their mobile devices.

The Bloomberg Business Mobile App is another great example of how technology is helping to make today’s Forex trader more informed. It provides access to the global financial market, portfolio tracking tools, and market price data.

Technology can be expected to play an even greater role in forex in the future. The degree to which brokers adopt the very latest technological developments will be significant as they seek to increase their market share and grow their client base.

A mobile world

“Apps iOS / iPhone” (CC BY 2.0) by microsiervos

In line with more general advancements in technology, the industry has shifted towards mobile trading, with more and more people using mobile apps. Developments in web-based payments are further facilitating the trading process. New technology has also enabled the frequent introduction of new products to the market, putting brokers in a good position as they can frequently increase client offerings and so essentially stay one step ahead of the competition.

With regards to regulatory changes, this is a positive development for the industry. More regulation means that regulated brokers who are proactive in following these procedures receive more credibility. They also offer benefits to the client, due to the increased protection and transparency within a regulated forex market. Ultimately, by embracing the very latest in technological advancements, brokers can offer their customers state-of-the-art platforms and advanced tools, giving them an efficient, fast, and continually improving trading experience.