DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

What are credit card and bank rewards points worth? One great feature of the program is that all points are equal, so any account that earns Membership Rewards points has access to transfer partners. If you're a Bank of America Preferred Rewards customer, you'll earn 25% to 75% more points, depending on how much you have on deposit, but your rewards points are still worth 1 cent apiece. You can transfer points from Chase Ultimate Rewards, Amex Membership Rewards, and Citi ThankYou to JetBlue, but the ratio varies depending on the rewards program. However, those miles expire after 36 months regardless of your account activity, so only transfer miles when you have immediate plans to redeem them.

NEW DELHI, Jan 12 (Reuters) - Google has been jolted after the Indian antitrust authority sought changes to how it markets its Android system, which powers 97% of smartphones in the world's second biggest mobile market. * Google should not impose any curbs in India on the practice of "sideloading", or downloading apps without using its app store. * Competitors and app developers should not be denied access to the programming interface of Google Play services, the underlying software system that powers Android devices. This directive is meant to ensure compatibility between apps on Play Store and third-party app stores based on Android variants, the antitrust authority has said. * The CCI asked Google not to restrict makers of Android smartphones from developing other devices, such as tablets or TVs based on modified versions of Android.

The U.S. aviation warning system that crashed for more than an hour Wednesday traces back its origins to ocean-faring ships and has been under continuous reforms for years, experts say. At least one aviation industry group has called for it to be replaced altogether. The Federal Aviation Administration grounded all flights blaming an unspecified failure in the Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) system. The White House also said it saw no signs that the NOTAM system was taken down as a result of a cyberattack. “Once again, we get to see how antiquated and vulnerable the Notam system is!” he said.

Amazon's Fire TV Omni QLED is the company's latest 4K smart TV. The latest is the Fire TV Omni QLED, which is designed to compete with displays from popular value brands like TCL and Hisense. Amazon 65-inch Omni QLED Fire TV Amazon’s latest TV has advanced features like local dimming, quantum dots, and hands-free Alexa. Ryan Waniata/InsiderThe Fire TV Omni QLED is something of a mixed bag when it comes to image quality. That said, those looking to delve deeper into the Amazon ecosystem will find an ally in the Fire TV Omni QLED.

Parafin, launched in 2020, works with so-called platform partners, or companies that other small businesses sell their products through. All the cofounders knew was that they wanted to build technology that would help small businesses. And they may not get their first contract payment from the government for as long as 120 days," Reed, the startup's CEO, told Insider. Helping small businesses manage their taxesComplYant's founder Shiloh Jackson wants to help people be present in their bookkeeping. HoneyBookWhile countless small businesses have been harmed by the pandemic, self-employment and entrepreneurship have found ways to blossom as Americans started new ventures.

David Slotnick/Business InsiderAmerican Express Membership Rewards points are among the most valuable card rewards you can earn. You'll usually get the most value from Amex points by transferring them to airline and hotel partners. In fact, the Amex Membership Rewards program debuted way back in 1991 with just seven US airline partners. More Information Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. What to know about transferring Amex points to partnersAmerican Express Membership Rewards points are among the most valuable and versatile travel rewards out there.

☆ Twitter alternatives like Mastadon see downloads plunge
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( Kali Hays | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Long before Elon Musk came along, Twitter users bemoaned the service yet remained addicted to it. It is a text-based social platform, or "microblogging" site, home to independent servers, or "instances." In early November, the hashtag TwitterMigration was trending on Mastodon for several days as Twitter users set up accounts amid Musk's chaotic takeover. Daily users have held steady though, at 1.4 million, a major increase from its usage prior to Musk's takeover of Twitter, which typically hovered around 20,000 daily users. Downloads of the iOS app have grown 290,000% to 1.5 million since Oct. 24, with daily users up 660,000% to 321,000, according to Apptopia data.

☆ Blackstone used this data tool to upend its real-estate business. Now it's being deployed across its PE portfolio.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-06 | by ( Carter Johnson | Bianca Chan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Blackstone Chief Technology Officer John Stecher told Insider that Blackstone now uses Data Direct — previously called Real Estate Data Direct — across both its real estate and private-equity portfolios. From real estate to private equityInsider first detailed the launch of Data Direct, then known as Real Estate Data Direct (REDD), last year. That led to the roll out of the data tool to other parts of the business, like Blackstone's private-equity portfolio, and to new business lines next year. Data Direct, at its heart, is a data tool, and its success is predicated upon importing reliable information in the first place. Having good, clean data has made Data Direct very successful," he added.

☆ Flexport Names Former Amazon Executive as President
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( Paul Berger | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +2 min

com Inc. executive, is joining Flexport Inc. as the digital-focused freight forwarder boosts its growth ambitions under the leadership of former Amazon consumer chief executive Dave Clark. The San Francisco-based company named Ms. Carlson president and chief commercial officer, overseeing sales, marketing and communications, Flexport said Thursday. Ms. Carlson specializes in cloud computing. Mr. Clark in September took on the role of Flexport co-CEO alongside the company’s founder and CEO Ryan Petersen. Mr. Clark has hired former Amazon employees including public-relations executive Kelly Cheeseman, logistics executive Parisa Sadrzadeh and human-resources executive Darcie Henry.

☆ The BMW i Vision Dee is a concept car that literally changes color
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( Peter Valdes-Dapena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

The two cars, which look basically the same, are both called the i Vision Dee concept. This year, the i Vision Dee changes through a full palette of colors with different parts of the car body showing different colors all at once. One version of the BMW i VIsion Dee is covered in color-changing panels. Courtesy BMWThe other i Vision Dee concept was built to show off new ideas for the “user interface,” which is how drivers and passengers interact with the vehicle. The car also has a head-up display, of course, but, in the i Vision Dee concept, the display stretches across the entire windshield.

☆ I used a 'light hypnosis' app for a month. It helped my productivity, but I was blown away by what it did to my downtime.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-04 | by ( Julie Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Julie Peck is a freelancer who was having trouble focusing on tasks, so she tried the app BrainTap. Similar audio programs are available for free on YouTube and Spotify, as well as on rival meditation apps like Insight Timer, Sacred Acoustics, and EquiSync. BrainTap app screenshot. Screenshot of different modules on BrainTap app. I've listened to the focus programs first thing in the morning, during the afternoon, and at the end of the day.

Roku Select and Plus Series TVs will be available in spring 2023. Announced at CES 2023, Roku Select and Plus Series TVs will be the brand's first displays developed entirely in house. Roku Select and Plus Series TVs arrive in spring 2023Roku Select and Plus Series TVs. RokuRoku will launch its new smart TV lineup with two series: The Roku Select and Roku Plus Series. The Roku Plus Series will have better picture and a hands-free remoteAll Roku TVs come with a voice remote.

☆ Sony and Honda reveal the name of their car brand, Afeela
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-04 | by ( Peter Valdes-Dapena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Sony and Honda, which announced a joint venture last year to develop and build electric cars, have revealed the name of their new car brand. At a presentation during the Consumer Electronics Show, Sony Honda Mobility chief executive Yasuhide Mizuno revealed a prototype of the company’s first car, which looked like a mid-sized sedan, but he revealed little detail about it. The car will have safety and driver assistance systems from Honda along with entrainment and interactive features from Sony, Mizuno said. It will allow the vehicle to show information and interact with people outside the vehicle, Mizuno said. Unreal Engine’s technology has also been used by other auto brands including General Motors, which used the technology in the Hummer EV.

☆ Tech’s biggest show is set to kick off in Las Vegas. Here’s what to expect
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-04 | by ( Samantha Murphy Kelly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

The Consumer Electronics Show, now in its 56th year, kicks off this week in Las Vegas with a familiar mix of cutting edge technology and oddball gadgets. And this year’s event, in particular, could show how companies are thinking about products as pandemic concerns recede for some consumers but recession concerns remain. This year, featured speakers will include executives from traditional tech companies such as Samsung, Sony and Amazon, as well as other brands like John Deere, Delta and BMW. Still, the topic of virtual reality products will remain a focus for some companies. HTC is expected to launch the Vive Focus 3 this week at the show, with an emphasis on the metaverse.

Tax-loss harvesting, portfolio lines of credit, 529 college savings plans available Check mark icon A check mark. Competitive mobile and online offerings for digital investors and traders Check mark icon A check mark. Access to Certified Financial Planners at no additional charge Check mark icon A check mark. Low-cost, hands-off investment account that combines automated features with management from a team of human investment professionals Check mark icon A check mark. We compared nearly two dozen brokerages, placing heavy weighting on their advisory and trading fees, investment philosophy, investment options, and types of accounts available.

☆ 9 tech predictions for 2023 from seed investor in Uber, Pinterest, and other top companies
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-03 | by ( Scott Belsky | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +16 min

2022 was a pivotal year for:Collaborative web apps disrupting every function of the enterprise. Internet browsers will shift from generalized to specializedAs web apps, communal browsing, and decentralized technology continue to grow, browsers have become too generalized and antiquated for the future of web apps. Web apps offer virality and infinite possibilities for product-led growth, and are finally powerful enough for sophisticated apps like Photoshop. Browsers will be reimagined for collaboration and higher performance web apps — like Arc from The Browser Company. Content creators will own their audience and some will become "platform-less"Content creators with mass audiences are seeking novel ways to own the relationship.

Vanguard vs. TD Ameritrade: The biggest differencesCompare Vanguard and TD Ameritrade VanguardTD Ameritrade investment account Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. Read our review Read Our Review A looong arrow, pointing rightVanguard and TD Ameritrade's features and account options also vary. Most of the brokerage's actively managed mutual funds have a $3,000 minimum, but you'll only need $1,000 for investor shares in Vanguard Target Retirement Funds and the Vanguard Star Fund. Its other automated investing account, Vanguard Personal Advisor Services, offers something more: one-on-one advisor guidance. Vanguard vs. TD Ameritrade — Frequently asked questions (FAQ)What is the difference between Vanguard and TD Ameritrade?

☆ Elon Musk admits to making mistakes in his first 6 weeks of owning Twitter: 'Hey, I just got here, man.'
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-28 | by ( Sindhu Sundar | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Elon Musk gave the "All-In" podcast a gently self-deprecating review of his tenure at Twitter. But he quipped that it would be "pretty embarrassing and sad" if the moves tanked the site. "In the beginning, we'll make, obviously, a lot more mistakes, because I'm new to — Hey, I just got here, man," he said on the "All-In" podcast show posted on Saturday. Musk also defended a new "views" feature that Twitter unveiled this month to show how many people saw a particular tweet, which many users criticized for cluttering the interface. And obviously, if I make a bunch of mistakes, then Twitter won't succeed, and that will be pretty embarrassing and sad."

☆ Why three robot sisters could be the friendly face of AI
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-28 | by ( Nadia Leigh-Hewitson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

The key to winning over a skeptical public could be a family of robot “sisters.”Sophia, Grace and Desdemona are humanoid robots, each programmed with sophisticated AI. However, their AI “brains” were engineered by Ben Goertzel, former chief scientist at the company, and now CEO of blockchain-based AI company SingularityNET. The robot will never get bored with it.”Are we already living in a robot future? Giving people the opportunity to interact with relatable robots could help humanize AI, and go some way to improving its image. This is one of the reasons that people respond so well to humanoid robots.”

☆ The 10 biggest losers in the S&P 500 this year have erased $1.6 trillion in market value
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-27 | by ( Carla Mozée | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

In a losing year for US stocks, here are the 10 biggest percentage decliners on the S&P 500. The 10 largest S&P 500 stock losers wiped out $1.6 trillion in market value. The 10 S&P 500 companies that have experienced the largest stock-price declines heading into the end of 2022 have wiped out a combined market value of more than $1.6 trillion. PayPalTicker: PYPLYTD Performance: -63.4%Market Value Decline: $142.49 billionLike many tech companies, the digital payments processor is seeing a slowdown after a pandemic boom. Photo by George Frey/Getty ImagesTicker: GNRCYTD Performance: -73.8%Market Value Decline: $16.6 billionMass COVID lockdowns helped sparked big demand for backup generators as people worked and studied at home.

☆ A Tesla driver watched in horror as another Tesla burst into flames after hitting a barrier
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-26 | by ( Sam Tabahriti | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A Tesla driver watched in horror as another Tesla hit a barrier and burst into flames. The driver of the other Tesla told Kaplan he was using its Autopilot system at the time. He got out and spoke to the driver of the crashed Tesla, who was not injured in the incident. The driver told Kaplan he had his 2018 Model X in Autopilot but "it suddenly veered hard to the left and stopped against the wall." Vehicles using Tesla's Autopilot software were involved in 273 crashes over roughly the last year, according to a report released earlier this year by the US road-safety regulator.

☆ Here are the 34 tech companies most likely to be snapped up by private equity firms like Vista and Thoma Bravo in 2023, according to bankers and market data
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-24 | by ( Ben Bergman | Stephanie Palazzolo | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +22 min

With a stock price down 45% in the last year, though, it may soon find itself on the other side of the table. But it has $732 million in cash on hand, with zero debt, and analysts are projecting 16% revenue growth. This year, though, Varonis has come back to earth — its stock price has sunk over 57% in the last 12 months. However, with strong projected 2023 revenue growth of 18.6%, Zuora remains a strong target for PE firms. Its stock price has been hammered, going down about 40% this year and making it the subject of mergers-and-acquisitions chatter.

☆ Twitter alternatives that got traction after Elon Musk takeover are suddenly seeing downloads plunge. Which has staying power and who is the next Clubhouse?
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-24 | by ( Kali Hays | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Long before Elon Musk came along, Twitter users bemoaned the service yet remained addicted to it. It is a text-based social platform, or "microblogging" site, home to independent servers, or "instances." In early November, the hashtag TwitterMigration was trending on Mastodon for several days as Twitter users set up accounts amid Musk's chaotic takeover. Daily users have held steady though, at 1.4 million, a major increase from its usage prior to Musk's takeover of Twitter, which typically hovered around 20,000 daily users. Yet, it has maintained more than 500,000 daily users.

☆ Why tech billionaires like Elon Musk, Bill Gates, and Jeff Bezos are all investing in biotech startups that want to link your computer directly to your brain
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-21 | by ( Andrew Dunn | Hilary Brueck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Tech moguls like Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Bill Gates are investing in brain-implant startups. Through their venture-capital funds, Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates both recently backed the Brooklyn, New York, startup Synchron, which has tested its brain stent in seven humans. Peter Thiel, a billionaire cofounder of PayPal, invested last year in Utah's Blackrock Neurotech, an older BCI startup that has said it hopes to apply for Food and Drug Administration approval soon. That long-term potential has caught the attention of tech billionaires like Musk, Gates, and Bezos. No BCI startup has gone public, and most of their fundraising rounds have been modest compared with larger and more-mature biotechs.

☆ Why California’s 2022 Wildfire Season Was Unexpectedly Quiet
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-20 | by ( Elena Shao | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +8 min

Maps of California show the perimeters of wildfire burns for every year between 2018 and 2022 (desktop version) or 2017 and 2022 (mobile version). The extent of acreage burned in 2022 is far less than what burned in 2021 and 2022, and looks more similar to what burned in 2019. 2018 2017 Camp fire 2022 2021 2020 McKinney fire 2020 was the state’s worst fire year on record. Wildfires have burned about 362,000 acres this year, compared to 2.5 million acres last year and a historic 4.3 million acres in 2020. Acres Burned by Wildfires in California A bar chart showing the total acres burned by California wildfires since 1987.

Search resuls for: "Interface"

25 mentions found