#because again. no internet >.> and limited mobile data

[snarkspawn]

I really enjoy playing through tnp again like hi it's been a while

[bogkeep]

look i just need to write a big venty post about petty problems it's fine

i COULD write this in a private journal but in the interest of saving my wrists im just gonna yell at my public blog aggretsuko style!!!!! like i'm. a little worried that i'm extra angry and irritated at everything since i started on T, but i also feel like i'm just currently wading through a curse of a thousand cuts and i'm just reaching maximum capacity okay. like these are all small petty things, nothing is going to ruin my life, people experience far worse things all the time everywhere i'm just so SICK of trying to do so much and ending up wasting my time and money and energy all the time constantly!!!!!!!!!!!

i already complained about how much stress having legally moved to sweden has caused me and how i can't get my travels to the evil gender clinic reimbursed and a bunch of other annoying problems, and how i had to do so many stupid annoying phone calls - phone calls are FINE but they're only available within very specific working hours and it's so fucking annoying if you're at school or work and like!!!!!!!! i need to take time off to make a private phone call!!!!!!!!! and then all the times i had to follow up on goddamn fucking gender clinic just to get ANY help with the thing they PROMISED ME, and just today i sent them ANOTHER message just to make sure that thing is GOING ANYWHERE AT ALL............. and then calling my phone provider AGAIN and being told to send them ANOTHER EMAIL!!!!!!! DO YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED LAST I SENT THEM AN EMAIL (because that's what they told me to do when i called them the first time). I GOT TOLD TO CALL THEM!!!! FUCKING HELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WON'T YOU LET ME OUT OF THE TORMENT NEXUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i'm almost out of mobile data and i can't top up on it because ONLY THE OWNER OF THE SUBSCRIPTION CAN DO THAT. DO YOU KNOW WHO THE OWNER IS???? MY DEADNAME!!!!!!!! IT'S ME EXCEPT I CAN'T DO ANYTHING!!!!!!!!! FUCK OFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF

and do you know why i'm almost out of data!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! because the room i'm staying in has such garbage wifi connectivity i need to turn off the wifi to do anything on my phone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! it's like the shitty tall bed is a no-wifi zone!!!!!!!!! i can't believe this is happening. i haven't run out of mobile data in YEARS like what the FUCK is going on. what kind of data drain goblin is drinking all the internets in my phone!!!! and YES i checked the data spending stats and it makes no sense WHY IS THIS HAPPENING. im hoping that if my email to the phone provider is sad wet and pathetic enough they'll gift me some free data for being sent back and forth like a goddamn ping pong ball.

do you know who i want to give a call though. the norwegian post. if their phone queue wasn't like 23583249843298 people i would like to ask them very kindly WHY THE FUCK DID THEY BILL ME 80 FUCKING KRONER FOR SENDING A POST CARD. IT WAS 3 PITIFUL GRAMS OVER THE STAMP LIMIT. LIKE I KNOW I'M TECHNICALLY IN THE WRONG BUT IT WAS AN HONEST MISTAKE I FORGOT THAT NORWAY HAS A LOWER LIMIT THAN SWEDEN AND I JUST. AUGUHGHHG I WANTED TO SEND MY FRIENDS A **POST CARD** AND A CUTE STICKER!!!!!!!! but i decided on not calling them because i don't want to spend 1.5 hours waiting to speak to someone just to complain about a fine that was earned even if unfair. but then. AND THEN. the holy grail of spiteful petty frustrations.

i decided to purchase an Item. but in the attempt of not getting a thing tied to Bad Monopoly Corporation i purchased a different thing from Another Bad Monopoly Corporation. WHICH WAS MY FIRST MISTAKE. NEVER DOING THAT AGAIN!!! then the Item is sent to the post office super far away and it's such a hassle getting there and it kinda sucked but okay. normal day for me i guess! but then it turns out the Item doesn't even WORK because it's FUCKING REGION LOCKED. AND IT WASN'T GONNA DO THE THING I THOUGHT I WAS GONNA DO ANYWAY. BECAUSE BAD MONOPOLY CORPORATION HAS A MONOPOLY ON THE FUNCTION I DESIRED!! HAHA!! OKAY COOL fine i get to return the item and get my money back right??? right. right!!!! so when i finally have access to a printer i print out all the custom slips and return slips and just all the things!!!! okay!!!!!! and i send it off!!!!!! okay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BUT THEN IT GETS RETURNED TO ME!!!! BUT TO SWEDEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BECAUSE I WAS STUPID AND WROTE MY SWEDISH ADDRESS AS THE RETURN ADDRESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AND THEY RETURNED IT BECAUSE THE CUSTOMS SLIP WAS WRONG?????? was it because i put it on the back of the envelope??? the post office people said it was fine :(((((( post office people stop getting me in trouble 2k24!!!!!!!!!!! i intended to call the post customer service about it because im so tired of everything being a money drain and i want to know why they did this and im just so frustrated with everything going fucking wrong but. what do i even say. i don't think i have it in me to wait in an hour long queue when i can only call during the hours i'm at my watchmaker placement :(((((( the strength has left my body and i'd like to cry instead thanks

anyway i contact customer service for Bad Monopoly Corporation like hey i sent it off but it got returned and im out of town can you pretty pretty please extend the return deadline. but because Bad Monopoly Corporation probably only gives their customer service workers negative two seconds to read emails they didn't even respond to my email they were like "follow these steps to return your item :)" three times before they actually replied to me and told me they can't extend the deadline. fucking fine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i get my landlord to do it!!!!!!!!!!! VERY COOL NOT HUMILIATING AT ALL. HOPEFULLY IT GOES THROUGH THIS TIME OR IM GOING TO EXPLODE INTO A MILLION BILLION PIECES FOREVER

also i purchased a can of sparkling water at a bar the other day and it cost 60 kroner :((((((((((((( that's like 6 americadollars. i think that's evil actually

[ithoughtaloud]

Why You Should Totally Use an iPod (or Any Offline Music Player) in 2025 🎶📱

In 2025, streaming is king—Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, you name it. We all have millions of tracks at our fingertips, so why would anyone go back to using an old-school iPod or an offline music player? Well, as it turns out, there are some solid reasons why these classic devices still totally slap when it comes to music listening. Here’s why you might want to ditch the streaming apps for a bit and give offline music players another shot. 😎🎧

1. No Wi-Fi? No Problem! 🌍✈️

Picture this: you're on a plane, road trip, or out in nature with zero internet. No streaming, no buffering, just silence. That’s where offline music players shine. Download your favorite playlists or albums ahead of time, and you’re ready to vibe anywhere. No internet connection needed, and no annoying "Oops, something went wrong!" errors. Just pure, uninterrupted music. 🎶🚗

2. Your Battery Will Thank You 🔋💯

We all know how fast streaming drains your phone’s battery. You’re halfway through a road trip, jamming out to your latest playlist, and boom—your phone dies. But with an iPod or offline music player, you get hours of playback on a single charge. No more stressing about finding the nearest charger or watching your phone’s battery percentage plummet. One charge, and you’re good to go for days. ⏳⚡

3. Sound Quality = 🔥🎵

Okay, we know streaming apps have come a long way, but if you really care about your sound, offline players are still the way to go. Offline music devices, like the iPod, have top-notch audio hardware (we’re talking DACs and amps) that gives you clearer, crisper sound—especially if you’re rocking some quality headphones. So, if you’re an audiophile or just want your music to hit, offline players deliver a way better experience than streaming apps, which often compress the sound to save data. 🎧💯

4. No Distractions, Just Music 🚫📱

Let’s be real—streaming on your phone comes with so many distractions. Notifications, DMs, TikTok videos, emails... you name it. But with an offline player? You’re free from all that noise. You’re just there, vibing with your music. No checking Instagram between tracks, no stress about missing out on FOMO. It’s just you, your playlist, and your vibe. 🖤✨

5. Curate Your Own Vibe 🎶🎚️

Streaming services try to push their playlists on you. And sure, personalized mixes are cool, but if you’re not in the mood for the same old algorithmic suggestions, offline music players let you curate your music your way. Want a deep cut from your old school playlist? Or that indie band nobody else knows about? It’s all in your hands. Plus, you won’t have to deal with songs disappearing from streaming platforms because of licensing issues. You’ve got your own library forever. 📀💿

6. Nostalgia Feels 😍📼

There’s something special about using a vintage iPod or MP3 player. For Millennials, it’s a throwback to those simpler times when you carried around your 160GB iPod Classic (or the OG Shuffle) like a badge of honor. For Gen Z, it’s an iconic piece of retro tech that’s kind of cool again. It’s a throwback to the days before endless scrolling, when music was personal, tangible, and could be enjoyed without any distractions. Plus, it’s a vibe to scroll through your playlists on a click wheel or tap buttons instead of swiping on your phone. 🖤

7. No More Data Drama 📉📱

Ever check your phone bill after a month of streaming music on mobile data? Yeah, it's not fun. Offline music players don’t use any data. None. Zip. If you’re on a limited data plan or trying to save money, downloading music and enjoying it offline is a game-changer. Plus, it frees up your phone storage for memes, pics, and your other apps. 😂💾

8. Built to Last 💪🛡️

Want a device that can survive your gym workouts, camping trips, or just being shoved into your backpack every day? iPods and offline music players are usually way more durable than fragile smartphones. They’re designed for music lovers who want a device that can handle the wear and tear of an active lifestyle. And, with most models offering water resistance or being shockproof, you don’t have to worry about breaking it during your next adventure. ⛺️🎒

9. Perfect for Hardcore Music Lovers 🎤🎸

If you’re serious about your music collection, nothing beats owning it. Streaming services can be awesome for discovering new tracks, but owning your music means you’re not at the mercy of disappearing songs or playlist restrictions. Plus, if you’re into high-res audio, offline players often support FLAC, WAV, and other lossless formats that deliver real sound quality. For true music lovers, there’s just no comparison. 🎶🔊

10. A Break from the Digital Chaos 🧘‍♂️🌿

Let’s face it, we all need a mental reset from constant notifications, work emails, and social media updates. Using an offline music player lets you disconnect from the chaos. It’s a mini escape that’s as much about mental clarity as it is about enjoying music. Taking a moment for yourself with zero distractions is so refreshing, and music can be a serious mood booster. ✌️🌞

11. Streaming Prices Are Rising—Fast 💸📈

Here’s a big one: subscription prices for streaming services have been steadily increasing year after year. Whether it’s an extra $1–$2 added to your monthly plan, or the rise of more expensive premium tiers, streaming is starting to feel like an expensive habit. While you’re getting the convenience of endless music, the cost can quickly add up—especially if you’re subscribed to multiple platforms. With an offline music player, you make one-time purchases (or maybe just a small initial investment in a device) and keep your music library for life, without having to pay recurring fees. If you’re on a budget, or just want to cut down on unnecessary subscriptions, it’s a solid way to save some cash while still enjoying music. 💰🎧

Conclusion: Why You Should Consider an iPod (or Offline Music Player) in 2025 🎉🎶

In a world where streaming has taken over, using an offline music player might seem old-school—but trust me, it’s still cool and practical. Whether you’re sick of buffering, need better sound, or just want a more focused listening experience, offline music players give you that retro yet modern vibe. Plus, with subscription prices for streaming services continuing to climb, going offline could save you a ton of money in the long run. So, if you’re looking for better music quality, a longer-lasting battery, and a break from the distractions of daily life, grab an iPod (or similar device) and take a step back into the world of offline listening. You might just fall in love with music all over again. 🎶🎧

[jenjensd]

If my queue gets weird in the next day or two, it’s because once again I have had no internet literally all day and the tiny bit of mobile data I have access to (it’s an area coverage problem not a limited data plan) is apparently not enough to run basic tumblr functions such as show images and reblog posts. If it looks like it didn’t queue, I’ll queue it again. Often accidentally queueing the same post three times over.

Also, if you’re ever in an area of England where you can’t get BT or Virgin and you can only get Link Broadband, don’t do it. They cut our service to a shared network without permission once, they have shitty download speeds even if you pay for the higher rate. And they are constantly having unscheduled outages that they later put on their website after the fact to claim it’s maintenance. Basically it’s a 2/10 service and you should steer clear.

[omamervt]

I still see bizarre critiques of Scarlet/Violet that betray a lack of understanding about the nature of gamedev so I wanna set a few things straight.

Now because this is the internet, I'm gonna get this out of the way. This is not a defense of GameFreak. They scaled too big considering they had a locked-in deadline beyond their control and a development pipeline that spreads decision-making way too thin between 3-4 separate entities. And this is certainly not a defense of The Pokemon Company International as a whole. They'd happily stop publishing games entirely if they thought they could sell plushies and figurines of brand-new Pokemon without them, and I frankly won't be shocked if they eventually try that.

Now first and foremost, as I'm sure many of you know, the Switch's hardware lags SO far behind its competitors. There are several reasons for this and I honestly can't fault Nintendo for some of them but that's the simple truth - from a modern standpoint, the hardware sucks. They basically just packed Wii-U hardware into a mobile device, and the Wii-U was just an Xbox 360 with a significantly worse video card.

But why is it that some games like Tears of the Kingdom run perfectly with no issues ever under any circumstances, and even other Pokemon games released the same year manage significantly better performance?

Well, long story short, those three games all decided to do the exact same thing, ran into the exact same problem, and came up with three different solutions.

Starting with Tears of the Kingdom, a massive open-world action RPG/Puzzle game, they saw the limits of the hardware, knew there was only so many assets (items, environment art, NPCs, enemies, etc) they could keep onscreen without compromising the beauty and immersion of the world, and decided they were only going to have a handful of enemies on screen at a time. Usually groups of 10 or less. There are a handful of challenges with significantly more enemies, and the game performs noticeably worse in those areas. They also had fixed spawn locations. Enemies would always appear in the exact same spot, every time you go to that area. If you've killed the enemies in that area already, they won't come back until the Blood Moon resets all encounters on the map. The reset happens periodically to prevent a memory overload from crashing the game.

In this way, Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom were very expertly designed around some luxuries that a Pokemon game doesn't have. Pokemon games need to be able to populate an area with Pokemon. Pokemon need to respawn in that area more than once every 3 hours. Once again, though, an elegant decision was reached. First, they split the map up into 5 Areas, each about as big as the main Wild Area in Pokemon Sword/Shield. Then, they tied Pokemon spawns to a random seed. You know how Minecraft uses "seeds" to generate a new world, and putting in a custom seed affects how the world is generated? Yeah, it's the same concept but with Pokemon spawns. Then, they created a 24-minute Day/Night cycle. Every 6 minutes, the time of day would change. At the end of a full cycle, the seed would be regenerated, giving you a new set of pokemon in the area. You could prevent the generation of a new seed by "Sleeping" at camp, which would return you to an earlier point in the day, potentially allowing one seed to last significantly longer, and thereby reduce the amount of data stored in short-term memory when the seed is regenerated. Returning to Jubilife Village would dump leftover data from the previous seed(s), and generate new seeds for all 5 areas. Because of the seed, the game only needed to generate new pokemon while the scene was loading, which, if you spend less than an hour in a specific area at a time, took significantly less effort. And by creating some, quite frankly, bland environments with LOTS of big clearings where most of the Pokemon appear, they were able to have loads of Pokemon on screen at a time. Also, because the Pokemon are fixed to the seed, the exact same pokemon will spawn in if you walk far enough away from them to make them despawn. Nothing is decided in the moment, so no room for hiccups!

For Scarlet and Violet, GameFreak flew too close to the sun and got burned. Rather than use the smart system they came up with for Legends: Arceus, they wanted one big open world that'd be heavily populated with Pokemon, those pokemon would have minor interactions programmed in, and the player was given access to the whole map as soon as they finished the tutorial! And... oof, you can't put that on a seed anymore, it's too many moving parts over too big of an area! With virtually no areas to load into, you can't load the Pokemon from the next area all at once. You also don't have anywhere to hide a memory dump. The only two areas that aren't part of the same big open world are the city of Mesagoza, and Area Zero. So, pokemon spawn and despawn based purely on proximity to the player and the area the player is standing in. If the player leaves the pokemon's proximity, it's gone forever, and a brand-new pokemon is generated on the spot in its place. Even though it keeps the amount of assets on screen low, it's still a lot more ongoing work that the system has to do. And to trade off for that, they cut down on the amount of environment assets even further. EVERYWHERE in Paldea is a big open field. This game doesn't even have a proper forest, and no, Tagtree Thicket doesn't count. The trees are so sparse that you can't even properly call it a Thicket. It's an embarrassment to Thickets everywhere. And even with that compromise, there were STILL massive areas of the game that simply couldn't handle the amount of work that was needed to keep up with making these big, empty fields look populated.

Look, the point is, Scarlet and Violet don't suck because of corporate greed preventing them from getting a proper development cycle. Another year in the oven might have helped, but frankly it wouldn't have fixed this mess. The core issue at the heart of Scarlet and Violet is that GameFreak had a specific experience they wanted to deliver, they made massive compromises to deliver it, and in the end, those compromises weren't enough to provide a smooth experience. They should have split the map up the same way they did Legends: Arceus, with the school and Mesagoza as the hub area you'd return to after an expedition. It's perfectly set up for it, they just chose not to for some reason. If they had, they could have copied the setup they used to make Legends: Arceus work, and the game would have likely had significantly fewer performance issues.

But even so, I find it hard to fault them for trying. They did it because it's been clear this is the experience they've been building to ever since the series went 3D. Scarlet and Violet are the games they've wanted to make for a long time, and it's evident everywhere you look that a LOT of love went into building it. This game had possibly the best supporting cast of any Pokemon game ever, a story that focused on those characters rather than the world's lore, and an absolutely killer finale. Despite its technical flaws, it's a delight to play, and even after it's been out for months, I still can't put it down, and if the people making it didn't love what they were doing, I don't think that would be the case.

[marcussour]

Hi

So, for the like 3 of you that maybe have wondered where have I been the last weeks, well, basically playing FF7 Rebirth and chilling on cohost.

Thing is, after the whole tumblr selling our data to train ai models fiasco, I was kinda in shock and decided to leave this place. I uninstalled the app from my phone, did backups of my blogs (which I wasn't gonna delete, just stop uploading), went to cohost and started posting there (it's super chill btw, it's like early tumblr mixed with old twitter, in case you're wondering). All while processing what to do next, because frankly, we've all felt that tumblr is somewhat on decline and seeing all the bad stuff it's CEO has done as of late -including threats of nuking the site this year-, the last few years always felt like there was an invisible countdown on this website all the time.

But still, I'm not gonna pretend I'm not gonna miss it, if not tumblr per se, certainly some of the people I've met here who are my mutuals of many years, many of which I've become friends with. Also, despite everything, I still think this is a good platform for posting art. Cohost has its good things (like being WAY more relaxed about NSFW stuff), but there are more file size restrictions, photosets are limited to fewer pictures, etc. There might be some ways to improve that besides what the staff there is doing, since cohost lets you edit posts in many more ways than tumblr (read somewhere that it was tumblr, but for hornier and more linux savy people), so there's also that.

Anyway, after processing everything that happened, and understanding that one way or another, my art's probably gonna be scraped from the internet nevertheless, even if tumblr offers an opt out option (that doesn't even consider the people that tumblr decides to sell our stuff to, let alone the fact that it also arrived so late that we probably everything was already scraped to begin with) even if I glaze it or whatever, I kinda made peace with what happened. I'm still weary about uploading, or where to do it. Yes, I know that I don't have huge numbers or a distinctive enough style for people to copy, but I also know that, nevertheless, not only my art, but the things I've written, the photos I've taken, etc., all has been fed into that slot machine of generating content. If anything, with the days I've noticed I'm way more angry at techbros as usual, and especially tumblr ceo and part of it's staff -I know that not everyone agrees with him and that there are good people in the staff, but there's also sycophants, professional "yes man"s and the like-.

So, after all that, I thought, well, might as well go back. But the thing is that, after spending a couple of weeks away (and missing the posts I imagine came up here both about the Cerveza Cristal meme and about Toriyama's death, among other things), coming back here has been weird, like, for better or worse, it has lost its appeal. I've read a couple of posts before writing this one and I was like "has it always been like this here?".

So, what now? I have no clue. I don't think I'm gonna download the mobile app again, if anything, I've noticed how much time it consumed to just check tumblr with the frequency I used to, so I don't feel like doing that anymore. I think I might pop up here from time to time, maybe return to live blogging Critical Role and Candela Obscura. Will probably like more stuff than the one I post and reblog. Still deciding if I should post new art stuff here, we'll see.

Anyway, if any of you have cohost, you can find me there

[astralstudiosza-blog]

Animated Training Isn’t the Future - It’s the Now

Let me tell you something real: if you’re still trying to train your team using dense manuals, outdated chalkboards, and boring lectures, you’re wasting your time. People don’t learn that way anymore. And if you're in South Africa - where industries like mining, manufacturing, and renewable energy are moving fast - you can’t afford to fall behind.

Here’s the truth: attention spans are short. Time is limited. And if your training isn’t engaging, relevant, and easy to understand, it’s not working. Period.

That’s why animation is no longer a nice-to-have - it’s a must-have. Not because it looks flashy, but because it works. It cuts through the noise. It makes complex ideas simple. And it speaks directly to how people actually learn.

Visual Learning Is Not a Trend - It’s How We Think

Look, humans have been visual learners since the dawn of time. Long before we wrote books, we drew on caves. We process visuals faster than text - 60,000 times faster, according to research. That’s not a typo.

A five-second sentence takes five seconds to read. A picture? Understood in a millisecond. That’s the power of visual learning. And when you pair that with animation, you don’t just explain an idea - you bring it to life.

You don’t need to convince people to pay attention. The animation does that for you.

And here’s the kicker: people remember what they see. Studies show retention rates jump by up to 60% when visuals are used. Some say learners retain 65% more from animated content than from text alone. And when you’re teaching technical skills - safety procedures, mechanical systems, engineering concepts - that kind of retention matters.

Animation Doesn’t Just Teach - It Engages

Let’s be real. Reading a 50-page manual about HVAC systems or electrical wiring? Boring as hell. But watching a short animated video that shows exactly how it all connects? That grabs attention. That sticks.

Animation turns dry topics into stories. It uses characters, movement, and sound to make complicated stuff feel relatable. It doesn’t just teach - it entertains while it teaches.

And that’s huge. Because when people enjoy what they’re learning, they absorb it better. They stay focused. They care. And that’s the goal - not just to inform, but to inspire action.

It’s Not About Flashy Graphics - It’s About Real Results

Some people think animation is just for kids or marketing campaigns. Wrong. In technical training, animation is a tool - a serious one - for solving real problems.

Think about accessibility. Many parts of South Africa still struggle with internet access, but animation adapts. You can download 2D videos and watch them offline. NGOs are already using USB drives to deliver training to rural communities. Mobile phones are becoming classrooms. And animation fits right into that world.

Then there's cost. Once you’ve created a video explaining how to install solar panels or operate machinery safely, you can use it again and again. One video can train hundreds - even thousands - of employees. Companies are saving up to 30% on training costs just by switching to animated modules.

And let’s not forget safety. High-risk jobs - mining, construction, heavy engineering - require precision. Mistakes can be deadly. With animation, workers can practice in a safe space. They can see what could go wrong before it happens. That’s not just smart - it’s life-saving.

The Tools Are Here - Use Them

We’re not waiting for the future. The tools exist now. Whiteboard explainer videos. 2D animations. Motion graphics. 3D simulations. Each has its place depending on what you're teaching and who you're teaching it to.

Whiteboard videos break things down step by step. Perfect for explaining processes. 2D animation is versatile, affordable, and great for storytelling. Motion graphics help explain data-heavy or abstract ideas. And 3D animation brings realism and interactivity to another level - imagine walking inside a machine without touching a single tool.

All of these styles do one thing: make learning easier. They take complexity and turn it into clarity.

Don’t Be Left Behind

If you're a leader, a trainer, or someone responsible for developing talent - listen up. Your job is not just to provide information. It’s to make sure that information lands. That it sticks. That it leads to action.

And if your training materials aren’t using animation, you’re not doing your job properly.

This isn’t about being trendy. It’s about being effective. It’s about meeting your people where they are - on screens, on phones, in places where traditional methods won’t reach.

The companies that win in the next decade will be the ones that embrace this shift early. That stop relying on old-school methods and start investing in tools that actually work.

This Is How You Build the Workforce of Tomorrow

The future of technical training isn’t in a dusty classroom. It’s on a screen. It moves. It tells a story. It teaches without talking down. It simplifies without dumbing down.

It’s animation.

And if you’re not using it yet - you’re already behind.

[happymodiosjailbreak]

HappyMod iOS 18.4.1 

If you're using iOS 18.4.1 and want to explore new apps, games, and tools outside the App Store, HappyMod iOS 18.4.1 is the best solution. It's a third-party app store for iPhone users who want more app control — without jailbreaking.

With HappyMod, you can download modded games, tweaked apps, and unlocked tools normally unavailable on iOS. Everything works smoothly on iOS 18.4.1 and is 100% safe to use.

Let’s explore why HappyMod iOS 18.4.1 is trending and why many use it today.

What is HappyMod iOS 18.4.1?

HappyMod iOS 18.4.1 is a powerful app store that accesses modified and unlocked apps. These apps are not available on the regular App Store, and they come with extra features like:

Unlimited coins in games

No ads in streaming apps

Premium features unlocked for free

Custom tweaks to improve performance

It’s designed for iOS users who don’t want to jailbreak but still want more freedom. Whether you want to play a game without limits or use social apps with extra features, HappyMod iOS 18.4.1 can make it happen.

How to Download HappyMod iOS 18.4.1

To get started, you only need to visit the official download page. The process is fast and doesn’t require any special skills. Just follow the steps shown on the page.

👉 https://www.happymodiosappstore.com/happymod-ios-18/

Once downloaded, install the app, trust the developer in your iPhone settings, and you’re good to go.

Why Use HappyMod iOS 18.4.1?

Many third-party app stores are out there, but HappyMod iOS 18.4.1 stands out because of its clean design, smooth performance, and huge app collection. Here's what makes it the best:

1. No Jailbreak Needed

HappyMod works without jailbreaking your iPhone. This keeps your device safe and your warranty intact.

2. Free Access to Paid Features

Why pay for features when you can unlock them for free? Many apps on HappyMod come fully unlocked.

3. Thousands of Modded Apps

From games to social apps to creative tools, you’ll find everything on HappyMod iOS 18.4.1.

4. Safe Downloads

Each app is tested before it’s added. You won’t find fake or broken files here.

5. Fast Updates

Apps get updated quickly, so you can always access the latest version.

Top Apps Available on HappyMod iOS 18.4.1

Here’s a quick look at the types of apps and games you can find:

🎮 Modded Games

Minecraft PE (unlocked)

Subway Surfers (unlimited coins)

Clash of Clans (private servers)

PUBG Mobile (aim assist)

🎵 Music and Video Apps

Spotify++ (premium unlocked)

YouTube++ (ad-free)

TikTok++ (download videos without watermark)

📱 Social Media Tweaks

Instagram++ (download photos/videos)

Snapchat++ (no screenshot alerts)

WhatsApp++ (extra privacy features)

🧰 Tools and Utilities

Screen recorders

File managers

Photo editors

VPN apps

Whatever you’re looking for, HappyMod iOS 18.4.1 probably has it — and better.

How to Install and Use HappyMod iOS 18.4.1

Here’s a step-by-step guide:

Step 1: Visit the download page

Go to the official site using Safari on your iPhone.

Step 2: Download HappyMod

Tap the download button and wait for the file to install.

Step 3: Trust the Developer

Go to Settings > General > VPN & Device Management and trust the HappyMod profile.

Step 4: Open the App

Now you can browse, search, and install modded apps right from HappyMod iOS 18.4.1.

Step 5: Install Apps

Tap any app you like, download it, and follow the instructions to install it on your iPhone.

Is HappyMod iOS 18.4.1 Safe?

Yes. HappyMod iOS 18.4.1 is completely safe to use. All apps are scanned before they’re published. Also, since there’s no need to jailbreak, your device won’t be exposed to risks.

It’s also worth noting that HappyMod doesn’t collect personal data. You don’t even need to create an account to use it.

Common Problems and Fixes

Here are some quick fixes for common issues:

❌ App Won’t Open

Go to Settings > VPN & Device Management

Tap “Trust” on the HappyMod profile

⏳ Download Stuck

Check your internet connection

Restart your iPhone

Try downloading the app again

💥 App Keeps Crashing

Delete the app and reinstall it

Make sure you’re using iOS 18.4.1 or later

Try a different version of the app if available

Legal Info About HappyMod iOS 18.4.1

Using HappyMod iOS 18.4.1 is legal for personal use. However, it’s important to use modded apps responsibly. Some online games don’t allow mods, so always respect the app’s terms of service.

HappyMod is simply a tool that gives you access to more apps — what you do with it is up to you.

Final Thoughts

If you’re tired of Apple’s App Store limits, HappyMod iOS 18.4.1 allows you to explore more. Whether you want premium apps for free, custom tweaks, or modded games, it’s all available in one place.

You don’t need to jailbreak. You don’t need to worry about safety. And best of all, it works smoothly on iOS 18.4.1.

HappyMod opens up a new world for iPhone users, from everyday tools to exciting new games. Try it now and take full control of your iOS experience.

[fromdevcom]

AWS Lambda is a serverless cloud computing service that offers Functions as a Service (FaaS). It has been called disruptive because it enables the deployment of any code, in any language, through one platform. As long as the code is wrapped inside a function and run through Lambda, you won’t need to handle any networking, database, or security tasks. You can simply work on your code and use the client-side logic, which is intuitive and easy to use.In this article, we’ll review the basic principles of AWS Lambda, including the core concepts, components, how AWS Lambda works, and the best practices as recommended by AWS.What Is AWS Lambda?AWS Lambda is an on-demand serverless computing service, which provides developers with a fully-managed cloud-based and event-driven system for running code. To enable the use of any coding language, AWS Lambda uses lambda functions, which are anonymous functions that aren’t bound to an identifier. That means you can package any code into a function and run it.In a serverless architecture model, the cloud provider manages the allocation and provisioning of servers, including the database, security, and backend logic. The customer enjoys the use of the front-end logic without the heavy lifting associated with computer networking work. The pricing is based on the number of executions, and functions are offered as a service (FaaS).AWS Lambda use Cases Include but aren’t limited toConfiguring triggers to execute codes for real-time data, file and stream processing.Building serverless backends for web, mobile, Internet of Things (IoT), and third party API.Automatically increasing volumes in AWS EBS. How AWS Lambda WorksIf you haven’t used Lambda yet, here are a few key principles to get you familiarized with the system.AWS Lamda’s ComponentsLambda Functions—anonymous functions that contain pieces of code that trigger events.Packaging Functions—the process of compressing the function, with all its dependencies, and sending it to AWS by uploading the function to an S3 bucket. AWS Lambda’s Execution ModelContainer—a piece of execution code that uses AWS-managed resources to execute the function.Instances—containers are immutable and can’t be used again after shut off. To enable on-demand usage, AWS Lambda creates instances—replicas—of the container. Lambda adjusts the number of instances according to the usage requirements.Stateless functions—the function in Lambda is controlled and optimized by AWS and usually invoked once per container instantiation.Events—requests which are served by a single instance of a Lambda function, and are managed by AWS Lambda.AWS Lambda’s SpecsLambda’s supported runtimes are Node.js: v10.15 and v8.10, Java 8, Python: 3.7, 3.6, and 2.7, .NET Core: 1.0.1 and 2.1, Go 1.x, Ruby 2.5 and RustIn Lambda, functions run inside containers, each with a 64-bit Amazon Linux AMI.The central processing unit (CPU) increases or decreases with the memory capacity. You can control the CPU only through the memory.A Lambda function can run for up to 900 seconds or 15 minutes, which means Lambda isn’t ideal for long-running processes.The /tmp directory serves as the ephemeral disk space. Subsequent invocations don’t have access to the /tmp directory.Uncompressed function packages are limited to 250MB and compressed function packages are limited to 50MB. Best Practices for Working with AWS Lambda FunctionsAWS Recommends the Following Best Practices for Each Lambda Function CodeFor creating a unit-testable function, separate the Lambda handler (entry point) from your core logic.Improve the performance of your function with the Execution Context reuse feature.Pass operational parameters to your function with AWS Lda Environment Variables.If you want full control of your function’s dependencies, package them with your deployment package. Otherwise, your functions will be subjected to AWS updates.To increase deployment efficiency, include only runtime necessities in your deployment package, put your Java dependency .

jar files in a separate /lib directory, and use simple load frameworks on the Execution Context startup.To prevent bugs in volume scales and costs, avoid using recursive code in your Lambda function.AWS Recommends the Following Best Practices for Function ConfigurationTest your Lambda function before choosing memory size configuration, because any memory increase triggers a CPU increase, and therefore a price increase. You can see your memory usage in the AWS CloudWatch Logs.To ensure optimum concurrency, put your Lambda function through a load test. Set your timeout value accordingly, to take into account possible problems with dependency services.To prevent unauthorized access to your functions, set up your IAM policies to most-restrictive permissions.When you configure runtime resource limits, take into account the payload size, file descriptors, and /tmp space.To ensure you get the most cost-effective pricing, delete inactive Lambda functions.When using Amazon Simple Queue Service, including the CreateFunction and UpdateFunctionConfiguration—set the value of the function's expected execution time to a number that never exceeds the value of the Visibility Timeout on the queue. It’s a Wrap!AWS Lambda is a useful service for independent software vendors (ISV) and software developers. You can delegate your infrastructure jobs AWS Lambda, which handles all of the database, security, and backend logic work. AWS Lambda is serverless, cloud-native, and offers containerized FaaS and a cost-effective pricing model. However, due to the runtime limitations of Lambda functions, the AWS Lambda service isn’t as effective for long-running processes. Be sure to compare the service’s specs with the specs of your project, in advance. It’s always best to run a test before introducing a new service or a product into your workflow. You can also take advantage of the free tier module to check out the service and make sure it suits your needs.

[lunarsilkscreen]

(Modularity and) An Observation on Android about App Data

So there's typically 4 types of Data that an App or Program might use; The core App itself, the thing that installs on your device; Downloades Core components and Updates, or data that updates the app, either additions or big fixes; Mods and DLC, or files that expand the core App past the original usage; and User Data, or the data a user has created from usage of the app, which also includes cache and operational data for the app itself.

In the Android ecosystem; An App only includes the little bit of data downloaded from the App-Store. For Hearthstone, this is about 600kb.

The User-data in hearthstone; card collection, adventures, NFTs (purchaseables,) and other Cache and temporary data is *mostly* under cache.

I say mostly, because a lot of that data I *just* described is under something called "User Data". User Data for an App on Android includes quote a bit; and if you spent a day downloading an App like hearthstone, you'd understand why this is a problem.

Under that category, for Hearthstone is nearly 9-gigs of data which includes *every* card, fancy skin, every side game (like battlegrounds,) even user-side data like composed Decks.

And "cleaning it" in the case of some bug, For Example; The Hero Skin does not get saved in my Rogue deck no matter how many times I set it.

Requires not only clearing the cache, but the User-Data section. Which again; for hearthstone is basically the entire app.

You cannot even use the Hearthstone App *without* downloading that massive 9-gigabytes worth of data, and *that* data is under that category [User Data] and can't even be further separated for troubleshooting, which would be helpful.

What this means; is that in order to *fix* certain bugs and glitches on the phone; you have to essentially delete and redownload the *entire* app.

It's possible that this design choice by Developers *actually* has measurable effects on the internet itself and certainly eats a user's [Mobile Data Cap] from their Internet or Phone carrier.

Which increases traffic congestion on the internet as a whole, like the dinner rush on the highway, AND may cost certain users a charge because they hit their caps unexpectedly, *OR* may limit their Internet access entirely because they may have accidentally deleted an App.

Now, Android has taken steps in the past to help users monitor their data usage as a whole; but the Android Operating System itself has a minimalist design, which is supposed to be more user-friendly.

They make a lot of design choices that follow that user-friendly philosophy; however, this also limits how developers, and tech-experts, are able to use their devices. Which includes troubleshooting small issues they shouldn't need to goto the Apple-Store or geek squad for.

It's like forcing a user to goto an expert for an oil change because they're not really allowed to do it themselves.

But the sole-blame doesn't fall on the Google Android Team themselves; the simple solution of have you "Tried Reinstalling?" Is prominent at many help desks, especially from small time developers that can't afford to spend time helping every individual user learn how to use their devices.

Which is akin to teaching a new driver how to drive while they're driving.

[pahrak-the-sinnoh-slizer]

Game Night: Mega Man Phantom of Network

It’s truly amazing what fans can accomplish.  Even with some of the biggest series out there, it’s easy for one or two installments to simply fall through the cracks, never to be seen again.  Video game preservation has only recently become a significant topic of conversation, and still faces more than its fair share of pushback; even games from only a few decades ago have vanished without a trace.  But time and again, fans lead the charge in preserving more media than most of us thought possible, and there’s a recent major victory on that front involving a series that’s near and dear to my heart.

Mega Man Battle Network was pushed HARD by Capcom during the early 00s, rapid-firing installments left and right at all sorts of platforms…including mobile phones.  Keep in mind this was a pre-iPhone world: mobile phone games of this era had far less power to work with, smaller screens, fewer keys, less reliable internet connections, slower download speeds.  It was an exercise in pushing extremely tight boundaries, and it didn’t always pay off.  But despite the risk, Capcom decided to put two Battle Network spin-offs into these uncharted waters: Phantom of Network and Legend of Network.  While they seemed to be remembered fondly enough, and were notably included in the OCW artbook and Legacy Collection gallery, the games always proved somewhat elusive (at least from an American POV, as they were never localized) with little to no hope of us ever seeing anything more than all that concept art.

Enter fan preservation group SciLab Secrets, who managed to procure and dump both of these BN spin-offs as well as a few other Mega Man mobile games.  The Rockman EXE Zone, another prominent fan group, then began work on an English translation patch…and, for good measure I suppose, added a couple quality of life changes to create a truly definitive way to play these long-lost games.  Thanks to all these fine folks, I’ve now gotten the chance to experience these games, and after beating Phantom of Network I can’t help but want to talk about how it exceeded my expectations.

Spoiler-free tl;dr: PoN is far more ambitious than I thought an early mobile game could be, and all in all I have to say it sticks the landing.  It feels (almost) just like any other BN!  It takes a little finagling to get started, and the controls may take some getting used to, but once you hit cruising altitude it’s a fun and nostalgic ride, especially since the patch adds Buster MAX Mode to deal with some series-wide aspects that have come to show their age. (There is a lot of flashing, though!) If you like Battle Network, I urge you to try it for yourself!  It took a while, but BN 3.5 is finally here!

That’s right, PoN is set some time between BN 3 and 4, and leans moreso towards the former in terms of gameplay.  Believe it or not, the combat is actually a very faithful recreation of combat in the GBA games!  There’s some obvious visual differences, some changes to timing and whatnot, but there’s no denying that this plays like BN.  Outside of combat, things are noticeably scaled back: the Real World functions more as a visual novel, and the Cyber World abandons the main series’ isometric perspective for a simpler, vaguely RPG Maker look. (I might just be saying that because an RPG Maker BN fangame was a shockingly huge part of my childhood and this reminded me of that.  Who knows.) It’s all perfectly serviceable, and taking into account hardware limitations, I’m inclined to say that focusing the game’s resources on combat above all else was undoubtedly the right call.  While you can’t run around mashing R to find jack-in points (each area has a “Jack-In” menu option), sometimes new comps will be added to previous areas, and new Mystery Data will spawn in comps you’ve already cleaned out—there are no random GMDs in this game, just fixed BMDs, and if you don’t take time to backtrack you just might miss some.  I think these are interesting ways to emulate that incentive to explore, though the former only occurred a few times and the latter can be difficult to track.  Jacking-in is also how you access the Chip Trader and Request BBS at Higsby’s.  The BBS here works more like those from BN 2 and 3 than the one in 6: new batches of requests are added with each chapter you clear, and you can mostly tackle them in whatever order you want.  I say “mostly” because there are a handful of quest chains that you have to unlock one step at a time, including the classic quiz givers and (my personal favorite) an old man who sends you on treasure hunts with cryptic hints.  There’s one in particular that, uh…might need a content warning; I won’t go into detail but the job is titled “Please delete me”.  Things do work out, I promise.

One system change that sounds small but makes a huge impact is in the way battle rewards work.  In the GBA games, at the end of battle you get one random reward.  In PoN, you have separate chances to get zenny, a chip, and Bug Frags, often all three at once!  There’s still some randomness, obviously, but I remember being frustrated by the choice of focusing on grinding either zenny OR chips, and like this so much more.  Now I can accumulate ALL the resources at the same time!  And you still have ways to affect your drops: Collect to ensure you get a chip if your busting level is 6+, and MoneyMaker to double the amount of zenny you get.  Very handy, especially for the post-game grind.

Now, you’re probably thinking “Collect?  Does that mean this game has a Navi Customizer?”  No, but it has something very similar: the Skill Editor!  Opening the Editor will show you MegaMan’s Skill Slots—you start with 3 and can expand up to 12—and then a list of the Skills you’ve obtained, with each Skill requiring a certain number of Slots to be equipped.  Skills can include various abilities like SuperArmor, HP boosts, and level-ups for your buster’s Attack and Charge (there’s no Rapid for some reason).  Very simplified, right? (Reminds me of Star Force’s Ability Waves to a degree.) Well, there’s one other wrinkle in the system: each Skill has an Element assigned to it, out of Null, Fire, Aqua, Wood, and Elec.  The Element that takes up the most Slots then becomes MegaMan’s Element, bestowing the familiar weaknesses, panel interactions, and Style Change Charge Shots.  So, the Skill Editor is not only a NaviCust stand-in, it’s also an interesting mix of Style Change and BN1’s elemental armors, letting you swap your affinity on the fly to have a greater degree of control over it.  Of course, aside from Skills bought from shops, what Element each Skill gets assigned is randomized…buuut, there’s an NPC you encounter not long after getting the Skill Editor who, for the reasonable price of 100 BugFrags, can change the Element of one of your Skills to whatever Element you want.  Including Null!  The randomness of Elements has always been my biggest gripe about Style Change, so having an option here to circumvent that randomness feels so, so good.  And speaking of things about the Skill Editor that should’ve become series mainstays, you can (easily) acquire a Skill that dramatically raises your chances of encountering Navi Ghosts! (Ghosts also work differently: V2s are random encounters rather than fixed, the next tier ghost can be encountered immediately without needing to jack-out, and they go up to “SP” which is essentially V4.) These are real innovations to the established systems here, in an early mobile game spin-off of all things!  Wild!

I think that about covers the mechanical side of things.  As for the story…I’d say I enjoyed it.  I don’t think it’s a contender for best in the series, but it works well enough and does have some really interesting ideas.  The gist is that “phantom” copies of deleted Navis are appearing and wreaking havoc, and Lan and MegaMan need to figure out what’s causing this strange phenomenon in addition to dealing with the more immediate threats.  There’s a sub-plot involving a new transfer student in Lan’s class, Shuichi, and his Navi HatMan (he got Classic Magic Man’s aesthetic while MagicMan.EXE got the name); they get tricked into causing some chaos due to Shuichi feeling ignored by his dad, but things work out, he and Lan become friends, and he contributes what he can to solving the mystery of the Phantom Navis.  Pretty standard stuff.  What stands out to me, though, is that when Shuichi admits his involvement to his dad, Lan stands up for him saying that he also knows what it’s like to never have any time with your father.  As I’ve said before, playing the Legacy Collection made me realize there was a deeper nuance to the relationship between Lan and his dad that I felt tapered off as the series went on, so I really enjoyed seeing that incorporated here.  Back at the main plot, it turns out that the Phantom Navis are made from cache data; an old cache server was left running unsupervised in an abandoned lab (courtesy of a certain ex-SciLab scientist because of course), which has given rise to a sentient amalgam of cache data that calls himself…well, Cache.  Being thus abandoned, and having access to essentially a library of humanity’s mistakes in the cache data, Cache grows to hate humans and seeks a way to wipe them out.  As edgy as he can be, there is a tragic element to Cache that I think lends him a bit more presence: if someone had been there to monitor and properly care for the cache server, then even if the data had still become sentient, the resulting being at least wouldn’t have been all alone, would’ve known something other than loneliness and hate.  While not discussed, I think it’s telling that Cache not only keeps surrounding himself with Phantom Navis, he even creates an entirely new Navi to help him, JammingMan (who has a SUPER cool design I love him).  Especially taking into consideration JammingMan’s ability to disrupt the connection between Navis and NetOps.  Regardless, you can probably see where this is going: if someone tries to separate Lan and MegaMan, they’ll blow them away with the power of their bond, and that’s exactly what lets them finish off Cache before he can destroy critical networks all around the world.  BN is nothing if not consistent with its theming, and I do appreciate that.

I guess my takeaway on Cache is that he’s a great idea that leaves a little untapped potential, but in a good way.  Also it’s morbidly hilarious that a personification of lonely abandoned data is the villain of a game that was actually considered lost media for a time.  On a related note, the concept of cache data has some fascinating worldbuilding implications: it can be used to explain things like “image data”, Mega Chips, Navi Ghosts, maybe even how some Navis are able to return despite being deleted in previous games.  How much of this was intentional, it’s hard to say, but it’s a fun idea to think about.  Maybe if I ever write a BN fic I’ll get to play around with it myself, hah.

There is indeed a post-game area sectioned off by gates that require you to reach certain milestones of Library completion, as per series tradition, but only a few easy milestones, nothing too extreme.  Something I find interesting is that, while the secret areas in 2 and 3 prevent you from jacking-out, this one uses one-way paths to prevent you from returning to the entrance, meaning you HAVE to jack-out.  There are secret bosses here as well, and after defeating them they can be re-challenged at any time just like NetBattling friends, no ghost hunting required; it’s from these fights you can get the game’s 4 Giga Chips, along with a certain special Skill.  I’ve made it to the final gate—complete all BBS requests—but it may be a while before I can get past it because one of the requests wants a rare drop from Secret Area, which feels…excessive.

I would’ve valued the chance to experience Phantom of Network even if it was bad, but I’m far happier knowing it’s actually pretty good.  Part of that is definitely down to the patch, though: Buster MAX was essential to keeping my sanity during the “backtrack the whole internet” segment, as well as the area that reduces the size of your starting hand of Battle Chips.  Don’t be afraid to use it is what I’m saying.  But with that (mostly) done, Legend of Network is next, and I’m very excited to see what it has in store!

[bespokesoftwaredevelopment-blog]

Protecting Customer Data from Fintech Cybersecurity Threats

The fintech industry has shown remarkable growth. From online banking apps to cryptocurrency trading, fintech companies and advances in financial software development can give customers a huge range of services that attract millions of users worldwide. While this technology is valuable, it also makes fintech companies lucrative targets for cybercriminals. It’s therefore important that proactive measures are taken to stringently protect customer data and maintain customer trust and safety.

Here are some common cybersecurity threats in Fintech and how Fintech App development can help.

1. Data Breaches: Data breaches are arguably the most significant cybersecurity threat that fintech companies face. According to It Governance, there were 408 million breached records in 2022, and these happened due to various weaknesses such as poor security measures, insider threats, or sophisticated hacking techniques. When customer data is compromised, it can lead to serious consequences such as identity theft, financial loss, lawsuits, and severe reputational damage for the FinTech firm. A 2019 Verizon study states that data security and privacy are essential to maintain customers’ trust. In the report, 69% of survey respondents would avoid a company that had been subject to a data breach, and 29% of those surveyed would never visit that business again.

2. Phishing Attacks: Phishing attacks involve companies or individuals being tricked into revealing sensitive information, such as credit card details, passwords or internet banking access. Fintech users are regularly targeted through deceptive emails, fake websites, or malicious mobile apps. Falling victim to phishing attacks can result in financial fraud and data compromise.

3. Ransomware: Ransomware attacks involve hijacking and taking over a company’s data and insisting on a ransom for its release. Fintech companies with improper security measures may discover their systems locked, disrupting services and putting customer data at risk.

Protecting Customer Data in Fintech

Given the gravity of cybersecurity threats, fintech companies must prioritise the protection of customer data via effective fintech software development. Here are essential strategies to safeguard sensitive information:

1. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Enhancing fintech security can be done by implementing MFA. This requires users to give multiple forms of identification, for example, a fingerprint or facial recognition. This doubles the chances of the hacker being unable to access data.

We recommend fingerprint and facial recognition and always suggest this to our clients to ensure they are protected in-house and outside of their business.

2. Encryption: Data should be encrypted both in transit and at rest. Robust encryption algorithms make sure that even if cyber criminals do get hold of data, it is unreadable without the decryption key.

3. Regular Software Updates: Maintaining up-to-date software and applications ensures that fintech companies are crucially important because such updates tend to include security patches that fix detected vulnerabilities.

4. Employee Training: Often, human error can lead to security breaches. In fact, alarmingly, researchers from Stanford University and a specialist cybersecurity organisation discovered that around 88 percent of all data breaches are caused by an employee mistake. Comprehensive training programs make sure employees are educated about phishing threats, safe online practices, and the importance of data security.

5. Robust Access Controls: There should be a limit to what staff can access based on their authorisation. Only authorised personnel should have access to critical systems and customer data.

6. Continuous Monitoring: Fintech firms should employ intrusion detection systems and real-time monitoring procedures. Such tools can discover and raise alerts to suspicious activities and respond swiftly to potential breaches.

7. Incident Response Plan: Companies can prepare for the worst by forming an incident response plan. This is a plan that instructs staff on what to do if a security incident is reported. It should make clear the steps to take in case of a data breach, including communication with affected customers and regulatory authorities.

8. Compliance with Regulations: Fintech companies should adhere to relevant data protection regulations, such as HIPAA or GDPR. This is dependent on the nature of their services and customer base. Compliance helps maintain trust with customers and avoids legal penalties.

The Role of Regulatory Bodies

Governments and regulatory bodies around the world have highlighted the critical importance of cybersecurity in fintech. Stringent regulations exist to hold fintech companies accountable for safeguarding customer data. Examples include the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). It’s important that fintech companies adhere to these regulations and stay up to date with any changes.

The Future of Fintech Security

As fintech grows and innovates, fresh security challenges will emerge. Here are some future trends in fintech security:

1. Artificial Intelligence (AI): AI will play a dual-pronged role in security – it will be used for cyberattacks and for cyber security. Cybercriminals might use AI to create more sophisticated attacks, while fintech companies can employ AI for advanced threat detection and prevention.

2. Blockchain Technology: Blockchain allows for secure and transparent transaction records. As more fintech applications leverage blockchain, it can enhance security by reducing the risk of data tampering.

3. Biometrics: Biometric authentication examples include fingerprint scanning methods and facial recognition which are becoming increasingly useful. These technologies give stronger user authentication and reduce reliance on traditional passwords.

4. Quantum Computing Challenges: Current encryption methods are potentially threatened by quantum computing. Fintech companies need to quickly deploy post-quantum encryption techniques to stay ahead of cyber threats.

While fintech has brought incredible convenience to our financial lives, it has also created new, sophisticated cyber risks. Protecting customer data is not only a legal requirement but also essential for maintaining trust and reputation. Fintech companies should continue to improve their security procedures to stay one step ahead of cybercriminals. By investing in current, evidence-based cybersecurity practices, fintech can secure a safer digital future for all.

See how we are protecting customer data in our work with DataLawyers.

Get in touch with us to learn how we can help your fintech business maintain high standards of safety.

This content was originally published at:

https://www.ficode.co.uk/blog/protecting-customer-data-from-fintech-cybersecurity-threats

[noeticlabs]

Now let's take a look at some of the ERP trends that you can expect shortly:

Cloud Deployment: Unlike earlier times, now most organizations prefer to choose cloud ERP. It is because a cloud-based ERP system increases accessibility via the Internet and enables you to share and transfer data across business departments in real-time. Moreover, it also reduces the hassle of physical storage and provides backup and disaster recovery plans from providers resulting in reducing interruptions to the system. ERP for Small Business Manufacturing proves to be very beneficial as it makes it possible for the companies to run their business with minimum employees by taking advantage of an ERP system.

The Internet of Things: The Internet of Things (IoT) refers to the connectivity between computers and other devices that provides improved asset management, greater efficiency, improved forecasting, real-time business insights, enhanced communication, improved business intelligence, autonomous vehicles support, real-time analysis, artificial intelligence and many more. As a result, there is no doubt that IoT integration will be seen everywhere within the ERP software industry in the recent future and it will be an asset for ERP software buyers.

Personalized Solutions: It is predicted that soon ERP users will look for solutions that are tailored specifically to their industry to avoid customization and make sure they stay up-to-date. This is why ERP Software Companies are now designing ERP systems for specific industries such as the manufacturing industry, F&B ERP, and others by implementing some special features like customized dashboards, AI-driven interfaces, and several others.

Advanced Technology Integration: There is no denying the fact that the new age ERP is a major factor facilitating the digital transformation of a company. Now you can find many companies that are integrating their business app with emerging technologies to streamline their entire process and ERP is not far behind. Again, many companies are now looking to integrate eCommerce with their ERP software to enhance online order workflows.

AI-Powered Insights & Improvements: ERP software incorporating machine learning and artificial intelligence can help businesses enhance the entire business process, providing better personification and many more. Earlier, only a limited number of ERP solutions has embedded AI, but the future ERP system indicates that the majority of their system will have built-in capabilities of artificial intelligence.

Predictive Analytics: Unlike the earlier time when past business data could be analyzed with the help of ERP, the future trend of ERP will be about using predictive analytics for visualizing the possible future outcomes. It will enable companies as well as businesses to analyze big data resulting in approaching business strategy more intelligently and effectively. The expert professionals of ERP Software in Mumbai, ERP Software Company are working dedicatedly to make it possible for the industries to visualize the possible business outcomes with accurate predictions.

The Age of Context: Nowadays, companies are operating in a world of multiple channels by using smart technologies that can understand your business needs and what kind of information you would want. It is expected that the ERP system is going to break any barrier that restricts businesses to reach a new height by integrating context-aware functionalities that will enable you to foresee the needs of users.

Mobile ERP: The traditional ERP system offered a limited amount of support for mobile in the past, but now the situation is rapidly changing. The time is not so far when companies will enable using mobile ERP software with intuitive interfaces to ensure companies that employees will complete theirs regardless of whether they are in front of a computer or not. It simply means that the Mobile ERP will enable companies to afford valuable insights and data in real-time resulting in overarching benefits like 24/7 remote access, enhanced productivity along with precise capture of data.

What’s Likely to Happen Next?

So, approaching the Best ERP Software Company is no doubt a promising step towards reaching your business to a new height as it will help your business compete and stay relevant in the market today. Those businesses that have already implemented cloud ERP will explore the benefits of cloud power.

Now if you want to carry out a successful implementation of ERP solution for your business, it is imperative to hire the Best ERP Software Company that can help your business, as well as your company, succeed in the upcoming years.

[snarp]

@wip Can you please please please implement "press down on the image to display the alt text/image description (in copy-pastable format)" in the mobile apps, thereby making said text accessible to sighted people?

I'm writing a longer explanation of why this is important below, but TL;DR, when sighted people don't see image descriptions, they don't use them.

Some things that an app-readable alt-text option would achieve:

Make text in media with difficult-to-read coloring accessible both to colorblind people and people using devices with poor color rendering

Make text in deep-fried/artifact-heavy/poorly-formatted/animated media accessible to everyone, including those with seizure disorders or sensory processing issues

Allow users who don't speak the language used in a piece of media to copy-paste it into a machine translator (VITAL to the international meme economy (and also, y'know, screenshots of news articles and stuff))

Improve accessibility when media fails to correctly download or display (important for people with unreliable/slow/data-limited internet access)

Allows sighted people to see alt-text-related glitches and report them to Tumblr support. This is unfortunately-frequently the only way that a bug in an accessibility feature can be reported at all - after all, what if the bug has made the bug-report platform itself inaccessible? What if a separate bug broke the accessible captcha seven months ago and no one noticed? Not exactly the sort of problem that test suites usually prioritize.

Prevent confused people from repeatedly re-describing/complaining about "undescribed images" endlessly for months or years because they can't see the alt text that's been there since day one (thereby also lowering rates of user-on-user violence)

Again: When sighted people don't see image descriptions, they don't use them. There is absolutely no better way to encourage adoption of a disability feature than to make it available to everyone. Yes, some people do misuse alt text by using it as an alternative to the post body/space for jokes/lies/"secret messages"/SEO/etc - but that will always be a lesser problem than undescribed images. (Besides, people use tags that way, too.)

Wider use of image descriptions means better searchability and filtering.

I feel like some developers misunderstand the purpose of alt/aria attributes as "text to be read by screen readers, which should otherwise be inaccessible." This is not how these properties are meant to be used - they're intended to improve accessibility across the board, for people with non-sight-related disabilities, with outdated tech or bad internet connections, and even for abled people with perfectly-functioning new iPads. Disability advocates overwhelmingly agree that hiding accessibility options from "people who don't need them" is harmful to those who do.

[where-fading-princesses-live]

Etsy has the WORST customer service. 

i love supporting the small business owners. been a member since 2016 but i HATE their customer support. 

i tried opening an Etsy Shop for the first time around Sept 11. well i didn’t even get a chance to sell anything because it was only up for a day before Etsy suspended my account for NO REASON.

i contacted Support, asking why, and they explained they detected a ‘’suspicious login’’ and temporarily limited my account privilege's to protect my information. 

okay, understandable, i just wish they gave me a warning first.  they asked me to provide personal details to confirm my identity which i was more than happy to oblige. 

this first ‘’person’’ (aka robot) was a ‘’Chad.’’

What is your full name?

What month and year did you create your Etsy account?

Can you give us a shipping address you've used when purchasing from Etsy?

What cities and/or states do you most frequently sign in to your Etsy account from?

Which internet browser do you use most frequently to sign in to Etsy?

Do you use any mobile devices to access your Etsy account? Please specify.

three weeks go by and my account is STILL suspended.

i contacted support AGAIN on Oct 1 and asked them for help closing my Shop because there was no point keeping it up anymore and i’ve decided i no longer wish to sell on Etsy. there’s no option to close my shop when i go to settings> options in the Shop Manager. it just says to contact Support.

i contacted them and explained i needed to close my Shop but would like to keep my Buying account open. 

they never responded.

more time goes by. my Shop is still open and still suspended. 

i tried to buy something the other day only to find out i cannot complete transactions. i thought it was only my Shop that was suspended but it’s also my main Buying account.

the item i tried to buy was supposed to be a gift for someone’s birthday so i had to create a temporary account with my gmail to buy it but now i was pissed. i had this main account since 2016 and i can no longer use it. i can fave items but that’s about it. i can’t buy OR sell. 

so i contacted Support for yet a third time on Oct 10.

they responded again by saying for me to answer the questions i already answered, this time it was a robot named ‘’Zeus.’’

so i answered the questions AGAIN on Oct 11.

this morning they send me a request to change my password for security reasons.

okay, fine.

re-set my password. since setting up a Shop, i have to do a two-factor authentication with a security code sent to my text messages to my phone. well i try to log in with the new password and the security code never comes through.

i wait and wait and resent the code but it never comes. i never had an issue with the codes with my old password but ever since changing my password since this morning, i can no longer access my account and i am now officially locked out.

now i’m really pissed.

so i send them another e-mail this morning explaining the issue with not being able to sign in and a robot named ‘’Mirio’’ responds and asks me to answer the same old questions. 

i explained i answered the questions THREE times already and that there’s no suspicious login, i’m just logging in from my phone sometimes but don’t have the password saved and i clear out my browsing data and history and i asked them if they could PLEASE remove the two factor authentication, close my Shop so they no longer have my bank info and keep my Buying account open. what part don’t they understand?

well no one responds yet but i changed my password for a second time. 

I finally did manage to get the security code to send, but the security code takes 5 minutes to send to my Text Message (it should only take 60 secs), and by the time I enter the code, it has expired, thus locking me out of my account.

i just shoot them another e-mail but i know it will just be another robot.

IS THERE A HUMAN BEING AVAILABLE TO CHAT?

there’s no live chat i can find and is there a number to call because seriously this is fucking ridiculous.

i've answered the same questions THREE times already and they’re still not doing anything about it.

i keep getting the same automated e-mails from their machines instead of a real person. 

i’m prolly not going to keep using Etsy after this because this has been the worst customer service experience i’ve ever had with any ecommerce website. 

though i love the little shops and handmade/ vintage items, i hate whoever’s in charge of managing the site.

so now my account is permanently suspended for no reason other than that Etsy are fucking morons.

as far as i’m concerned Etsy can go fuck itself. 

[elisaphoenix13]

When One Works Hard

Commission request from @daisypoisonpen. It was inspired by a TikTok she found and I thought the idea was hilarious. Hope you like it!

Peter knew something was wrong when he got home and fell back onto his bed with his Starkpad when he got home and the internet didn't work. He even tried using the mobile data but that failed to work too. His immediate assumption was that Harley did something, and he got up to walk to Harley's room to confront his brother, but found the older teen looking just as confused. William was sitting on Harley's bed with a book so Peter wasn't sure if he was aware of the issue yet or not, but he was going to hear about it now if he wasn't.

"Hey, did you do something to the internet?" Peter asks and Harley glances up at him from his desk.

"No. I was actually about to come ask you."

Peter shakes his head. "I just got home. Maybe Dad-"

"Dad's not home." William interrupts. "He's had meetings since this morning."

Peter opens his mouth to say something but then he hears small footsteps walking towards him and he leans out of the doorway a bit to find Diana. When she joins him, she holds her Starkpad up to him in confusion.

"Peter, it's not working. Can you fix it?" She asks.

"We're having problems too. The internet is down." He explains. "Maybe Mom knows what's going on."

"Mom doesn't deal with electronics." Harley points out and William closes his book. He wouldn't be getting any reading done until the internet problem was fixed at this rate.

"It wouldn't hurt to ask him anyway. Since Dad's not home, maybe Scott can at least take a look."

Harley snorts. "Dad would break his fingers."

"And Quill will break Dad." Peter says as his brothers get up and follow him out of the room. "And then Mom will find a way to make another time loop and break Quill a million times."

William mutters something about the family being a little too overprotective and psychotic which makes Harley laugh. An angry celestial was very dangerous, but Peter would be lying if he said he wasn't the least bit curious how a time looped battle between Quill and Stephen would go. The Time Stone may no longer exist in a physical sense, but Diana possessed its powers so Stephen would probably find a way to use them through her. If he were desperate enough.

Peter shakes the thought away as the four siblings make it down to the living room where they find Stephen in an armchair and calmly sipping tea. At least it looked calm, but the kids knew better. There was no physical manifestation of the angry aura around the sorcerer, but they knew him well enough to know when Stephen was pissed. Another dead giveaway was the fact that Athena was sitting regally by his feet instead of laying, which meant she could sense Stephen's ire and was reacting accordingly. She wouldn't attack them, but she knew now wasn't the time to be lazing about.

Harley nudges Peter closer and he glares back at his older brother before looking back at Stephen. "Hey, Mom? Do you know why the internet isn't working?"

Stephen takes another sip of his tea, looking up at the kids sharply and making them squirm uncomfortably. Even Valerie, who Peter just noticed was a few feet away having a tea party with Levi, was glancing over in their direction nervously. Of course she was also in tune with Stephen, so she also knew something was up, but Peter would bet money she didn't know what. At least not yet. The bottom line was that someone did something really bad, but it couldn't have been Valerie because she would never do anything to anger Stephen and his fury wasn't directed at her in any way.

"Stop right there." Stephen suddenly bites out and the kids all flinch until they realize that Thomas suddenly appeared next to them, holding Lucy.

It still boggled Peter's mind that Stephen was able to see and time things just right whenever Thomas or Pietro were running around. For the most part though, he chalked it up to the fact that Stephen was Mom and moms knew everything. It was amusing to see Pietro adjust to things as quickly as he did, but that was probably because he was tired of being caught by the back of his shirt when he was running where he wasn't supposed to.

"I was being careful! I swear!" Thomas says as Lucy's laughter starts to taper off into giggles. For some reason she loved it when he ran around with her at full speed.

Stephen directs his attention to all of the kids again and leans forward to set his mug down on the coffee table. It clattered loudly when ceramic met the glass surface and there was even a brief screech that made Peter wince. The others didn't react so he figured his spider hearing picked it up.

"I don't ask for much," Stephen starts and folds his hands in front of his face with his elbows on his knees. "I feed you, clothe you, take care of you when you're sick, and countless other things...but even I have my limits." He says.

All of the kids were standing ramrod straight by now. Peter didn't have to look to know that. They rarely saw Stephen seethe like this, especially when it was directed at them.

"I had a very long day of dimension hopping and I was looking forward to getting home and sitting down with some tea." The sorcerer continues. "You know what else I was looking forward to?"

The kids remain silent.

"My triple chocolate cake. You all know chocolate is one of the few things besides my children that I indulge in and I assumed you all knew better to ask when it comes to my chocolate. So what I want to know is...who ate it?" Stephen asks as he sits back in the chair.

Peter finally glanced at his siblings, because he knew he didn't eat it, but he was met with the same questioning and confused glances. Like Stephen said, they all knew better than to eat something that wasn't theirs, especially chocolate. They all knew it was one of the things their mom loved and they all liked seeing Stephen enjoy something because he didn't seem to enjoy a whole lot.

"I... don't think any of us ate it." William says softly.

"Maybe it was one of the team?" Thomas points out.

"Well until they step forward to take responsibility and they replace my cake, the internet will remain down." Stephen says.

Peter frowns. "Why don't I just get you another?"

"Because I don't want the culprit to think they got away with it. As I said before, I don't ask for a lot and someone had the nerve--" Stephen takes a breath. "Either you can help find out who did eat it, or you can join Valerie's tea party."

Athena seemed to like the idea as she finally left Stephen's side to join the little girl at her table and accept the biscuit the cloak offered her. Peter loved his sister and joined her tea parties sometimes, but today he was not in the mood. He had homework to do for one of his college classes anyway and he needed the internet so he vouched to help find the chocolate thief. Diana and William decided to play with her though, so it was up to Harley and Peter to figure out who was stupid enough to eat Mom's cake.

Thomas went back to entertaining Lucy, but if the internet wasn't back up by the time they both got tuckered out, he would probably help them.

Their search turned out to be harder than they expected. Either someone lied, or everyone they asked really was innocent. They first asked Scott and Quill, but Scott was panicking about a deadline with a security project he needed to send to Luis, and Quill basically spoke for both of them.

"Look, I know we have our moments, but even we're not stupid enough to eat your mom's chocolate in whatever form it might be."

Quill had a point, so they moved on after Cassie offered to help. Everyone else basically said the same thing. None of them were stupid enough to eat it, but some of them were a little miffed that the internet was down until further notice. Harley tried asking Friday if she knew anything or if she could turn the WiFi back on, but surprisingly, she didn't know who the thief was and Victor was currently overriding her controls over the WiFi. So the boys had no choice but to go back upstairs and entertain themselves the old fashioned way. Board games, card games, tea party with Valerie…

They tried the tv or offline electronics but Stephen shut those down too. Peter didn't know the sorcerer could be this petty, but whoever the culprit ended up being, he was going to web them to the ceiling with his extra strength web fluid. Although, he supposed the good thing that came out of this was that he spent some quality time with his siblings over board games. He, Harley, Thomas, and Cassie got into a really intense game of Uno, Diana and Valerie continued their tea party with Levi and the pets --Tibbs had joined for treats at some point--, and William bravely put a puzzle together with Stephen while Lucy napped in her playpen.

It was nearing dinner time when Tony got home and Stephen and William were in the middle of making a pasta dish. Stephen was still irked and even Tony could sense his spouse's irritation when he walked into the kitchen.

"Interesting to come home and not see the kids on some sort of electronic device." Tony greets and kisses Stephen. "Hi Duchess. What's wrong?"

"Until further notice, I've shut down all electronics and the internet." Stephen huffs and Tony shrugs.

"You know what? I could use the break. I'll even have an excuse if Pepper sends me twenty thousand emails."

The two oldest boys look up from their game and balk at him. They were hoping Stephen would have calmed down when Tony got home, or that their father would at least get the internet back up, but they were typical parents. If one made a punishment, the other enforced it.

"But I have homework!" Peter exclaims.

"I do too!" Harley says.

Tony takes off his sunglasses. "Well you should have thought about that before you did... whatever it is you did." He looks at Stephen. "What did they do?"

"I'm not just punishing our children. It affects the team too." Stephen says and picks up the pot to drain the pasta. "Someone ate my cake and until they fess up, no one is getting anything done."

"Your triple chocolate cake that you had in the fridge?" Tony asks, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes! I was very much looking forward to it after the long day I had yesterday and this morning--" Stephen rants until Tony interrupts him.

"You mean the triple chocolate cake you ate two days ago while we were in bed and watching a movie together?"

There was a pregnant pause with only the sound of water draining from the colander until Stephen slowly set the empty pot aside and turned to regard his husband. All of the kids were staring at the sorcerer at this point, and considering the blush that was creeping onto Stephen's cheeks, it was safe to assume that he had completely forgotten.

"I...um...that does sound familiar now that you mention it." Stephen mumbles.

Tony chuckles. "Oh, honey…the mom in you is on autopilot that you're starting to forget your indulgences." He leans forward and gives the younger man another peck on the lips. "Tell you what, I'll order you another piece so you can have it after dinner."

Stephen coughs and turns to look at the kids and clears his throat in embarrassment. "I believe I owe you all an apology...so I'm sorry. Victor, you can turn everything back on."

"Right away, Doctor." The AI responds.

"Considering what you do for us, I think we can forgive you." Peter says with a smile. "If any of us did what you do, we'd probably forget something like that too."

"But we have learned something from this!" Harley says and Stephen raises an eyebrow.

"And what would that be?"

"How petty Mom can get over chocolate." Thomas answers.

Stephen actually chuckled a bit at that, and true to Tony's promise, he got another piece of his triple chocolate cake. Which he enjoyed with a hot cup of tea after getting the girls into bed and the boys were occupied with homework. Peter did hear a quiet moan which was evidence enough that the sorcerer was enjoying his chocolate, but knew it would escalate so he closed the door for the blessed sound proofing.

He knew his parents after all.