#marketing lists of software users

[bi-writes]

whats wrong with ai?? genuinely curious <3

okay let's break it down. i'm an engineer, so i'm going to come at you from a perspective that may be different than someone else's.

i don't hate ai in every aspect. in theory, there are a lot of instances where, in fact, ai can help us do things a lot better without. here's a few examples:

ai detecting cancer

ai sorting recycling

some practical housekeeping that gemini (google ai) can do

all of the above examples are ways in which ai works with humans to do things in parallel with us. it's not overstepping--it's sorting, using pixels at a micro-level to detect abnormalities that we as humans can not, fixing a list. these are all really small, helpful ways that ai can work with us.

everything else about ai works against us. in general, ai is a huge consumer of natural resources. every prompt that you put into character.ai, chatgpt? this wastes water + energy. it's not free. a machine somewhere in the world has to swallow your prompt, call on a model to feed data into it and process more data, and then has to generate an answer for you all in a relatively short amount of time.

that is crazy expensive. someone is paying for that, and if it isn't you with your own money, it's the strain on the power grid, the water that cools the computers, the A/C that cools the data centers. and you aren't the only person using ai. chatgpt alone gets millions of users every single day, with probably thousands of prompts per second, so multiply your personal consumption by millions, and you can start to see how the picture is becoming overwhelming.

that is energy consumption alone. we haven't even talked about how problematic ai is ethically. there is currently no regulation in the united states about how ai should be developed, deployed, or used.

what does this mean for you?

it means that anything you post online is subject to data mining by an ai model (because why would they need to ask if there's no laws to stop them? wtf does it matter what it means to you to some idiot software engineer in the back room of an office making 3x your salary?). oh, that little fic you posted to wattpad that got a lot of attention? well now it's being used to teach ai how to write. oh, that sketch you made using adobe that you want to sell? adobe didn't tell you that anything you save to the cloud is now subject to being used for their ai models, so now your art is being replicated to generate ai images in photoshop, without crediting you (they have since said they don't do this...but privacy policies were never made to be human-readable, and i can't imagine they are the only company to sneakily try this). oh, your apartment just installed a new system that will use facial recognition to let their residents inside? oh, they didn't train their model with anyone but white people, so now all the black people living in that apartment building can't get into their homes. oh, you want to apply for a new job? the ai model that scans resumes learned from historical data that more men work that role than women (so the model basically thinks men are better than women), so now your resume is getting thrown out because you're a woman.

ai learns from data. and data is flawed. data is human. and as humans, we are racist, homophobic, misogynistic, transphobic, divided. so the ai models we train will learn from this. ai learns from people's creative works--their personal and artistic property. and now it's scrambling them all up to spit out generated images and written works that no one would ever want to read (because it's no longer a labor of love), and they're using that to make money. they're profiting off of people, and there's no one to stop them. they're also using generated images as marketing tools, to trick idiots on facebook, to make it so hard to be media literate that we have to question every single thing we see because now we don't know what's real and what's not.

the problem with ai is that it's doing more harm than good. and we as a society aren't doing our due diligence to understand the unintended consequences of it all. we aren't angry enough. we're too scared of stifling innovation that we're letting it regulate itself (aka letting companies decide), which has never been a good idea. we see it do one cool thing, and somehow that makes up for all the rest of the bullshit?

[olderthannetfic]

I know you love scivener, but do you know anything about ellipsus? It's meant to be an aternative to google docs for collaborative writing.

I heard about them when they dropped nanowrimo as a sponsor over their inclusion of AI bullshit, which seemed promising. And digging around on their homepage I saw mentions of beta reading and ao3, and apparently they're trying to promote themselves on Tumblr now.

So it really sounds like we're the target audience, which could be great, but I don't know enough to be able to tell if there's an obvious catch somewhere?

--

This is the first I've heard of them. A quick scroll through their website seems promising.

As usual, the basic questions are:

How much does this product cost to develop?

Do they have a business plan that makes sense with that cost?

This kind of software can, theoretically, be made by a few friends dicking around, not a huge programmer team all of whom have it as their primary job, so it isn't the pile of massive red flags that all attempts at social media are.

From the site:

"Today we are a small, close-knit team of seven, located across the post-capitalist landscapes of Berlin, Bologna, Buenos Aires, and Szczecin. (So much for our alliteration-based hiring strategy.) True to our mission, we're a progressive, remote-friendly company that prioritizes creativity, community, and creative exchange."

Jobs are listed as: Co-founder and CEO, Co-founder and community, Product and marketing, Design, and Engineering x3.

That seems like a reasonable breakdown and a size of team that could possibly be paid for with some non-insane business model.

The types of red flags we're looking for are

"We want to be the next instagram!"

Many idea people with nebulous skills, few programmers

Thinking you can run tumblr with three programmers

Thinking you can pay for 100 programmers with a cheapass subscription model

Programmers are random, cheap contract workers the founders don't know

Venture capital from sources that will want a big payout rather than support from people who share the goals/values of the team

Extremely overcrowded field with tons of products that do exactly this already

Unclear nature of product or a product that doesn't seem to actually have a market

etc.

What they say about money is in the FAQ:

Will Ellipsus have a paid plan? In order to grow the team and fund ongoing feature development, we will need to charge for a version of Ellipsus at some point. A paid version would be targeting users with specific needs related to advanced security, data syncing, and collaboration. But there will always be a free version of Ellipsus, and we want to be as generous as possible in what's included on that free plan (e.g., unlimited docs and drafts, for starters). It takes time to build a great freemium experience (not to mention a premium product people will happily pay for), which is why we won't roll that out in 2024. While the features that will be included in our paid plan aren't final-final, we can share that everything in the product today will be included in our free plan.

This sounds reasonable. It just remains to be seen whether they keep at it or go belly up (taking your data with them). I guess you'd have to know more about the specific people building this to decide whether they'll be reliable.

The biggest potential issues I see are it being difficult to get people to ditch google docs despite its issues, this taking off big time and the owners deciding to sell it for $$$$$$ to someone who will then ruin it, or the team just not being competent.

But since I don't know any of them, I have no idea how good they are at business.

[icqmuseum24]

🇺🇸 Before purchasing the iconic ICQ Messenger from Mirabilis, AOL Inc. had already developed its own internet messaging tool. Released in May 1997 as a stand-alone download for Microsoft Windows, AIM (AOL Instant Messenger) quickly became the go-to platform for online communication. Created by American Online Inc., AIM used the OSCAR and TOC protocols to connect users in real time, becoming a cultural phenomenon by the late 1990s.

💾 At its peak, AIM had the largest share of the instant messaging market in North America, particularly in the United States, where it held 52% of the market as of 2006. This figure excludes other AOL-related instant messaging software like ICQ and iChat. AIM's main competitors included ICQ (which AOL acquired in 1998), Yahoo! Messenger, and MSN Messenger. AOL had a notable rivalry with PowWow and Microsoft, sparking the "chat wars" in 1999.

🚶‍♂️ The AIM mascot, designed by JoRoan Lazaro, debuted with the first release in 1997. This yellow stickman-like figure, known as the "Running Man," appeared on all AIM logos and wordmarks and was always featured at the top of the buddy list.

👩‍🎓🧑‍🎓 AIM was particularly popular among teens and college students in the United States and beyond. Its away message feature allowed users to share their whereabouts, thoughts, and plans with friends, making it a staple of daily digital interaction. AIM wasn't just a messaging app; it was a way of life.

📉 Despite its early success, AIM's popularity began to decline in the 2010s. The rise of Gmail's Google Talk, the advent of SMS, and the explosive growth of social networks like Facebook led to a decrease in AOL subscribers. AIM's fall from grace is often compared to other once-dominant services like Myspace.

📆 In June 2015, AOL was acquired by Verizon Communications, which later merged AOL and Yahoo into Oath Inc. Unfortunately, on December 15, 2017, AIM was discontinued, marking the end of an era.

💔 Though AIM is no longer with us, its impact on digital communication remains unforgettable. It paved the way for the instant messaging services we rely on today, leaving behind a legacy of nostalgia and innovation.

[commodorez]

Top 5 worse computers from the 80s

While I'm sure someone could come up with a more definitive well-curated list, here's what I came up with on a whim: Sinclair ZX-81 The ZX-80 was a good, inexpensive step forward for the burgeoning UK computer market. Its successor, the ZX-81, tripped and fell rather than do anything beyond streamlining it for mass production. A real pain in the ass to type on, and notoriously flaky to do any serious work on. Localized in the US as the Timex-Sinclair 1000, it was too weak to really compete with the American market. British users seem to like them but I'd chalk up most of that to nostalgia goggles.

Apple III Apple tried and failed to make a business machine, and Jobs got his way a bit too much, and it overheated alot because he mandated that it couldn't have a fan. Ultimately, it confused people and was surpassed by better Apple II's. A weird footnote in Apple failures.

IBM PCjr The answer to a question that nobody asked. Crappy wireless keyboard, intended to be bolted to your home television. Cartridges? On an IBM? WTF is that? The expansion options are hot garbage. Eventually it was upstaged by the Tandy 1000 at its own game. Just get a PC XT. Or a Tandy.

Coleco Adam Likes to erase its own tapes if you leave them in the drive on power-up due to an electrical surge it shoves through the tape mechanism. The main system power supply is integrated into the printer, so you NEED the chonky printer to be plugged in for it to work. Has those weird phone pad + joystick hybrid controllers. Just get a ColecoVision to play your cartridge games.

Commodore Plus/4 I was going to take a stab at the MAX Machine, but Commodore did worse with the whole concept of the Plus/4. This thing was too cheap for its own good, and went in a completely bonkers direction at the behest of Jack Tramiel. It's supposed to be a cheap business machine to eat the ZX Spectrum's lunch. Why go after the little guy from the UK market? Who knows. Lame rubber chiclet keyboard, totally incompatible with existing Commodore software and most peripherals, and having 121 colors can't save it from being a dumb idea. Apparently it was a hit in eastern Europe.

Remember, pretty much every system has its fanclub, regardless of how flawed, underpowered, or limited a platform it is. So while I personally don't care for any of these machines, if you're mad at me for taking a pot shot at your favorite, do keep in mind that my favorite computer of all time is the VIC-20. You know, the one that most Commodore enthusiasts ignore for only having 5K of RAM having only 8 foreground colors, only 22 columns of screen resolution, and just not being a C64.

[dailyanarchistposts]

J.4.7 What about the communications revolution?

Another important factor working in favour of anarchists is the existence of a sophisticated global communications network and a high degree of education and literacy among the populations of the core industrialised nations. Together these two developments make possible nearly instantaneous sharing and public dissemination of information by members of various progressive and radical movements all over the globe — a phenomenon that tends to reduce the effectiveness of repression by central authorities. The electronic-media and personal-computer revolutions also make it more difficult for elitist groups to maintain their previous monopolies of knowledge. Copy-left software and text, user-generated and shared content, file-sharing, all show that information, and its users, reaches its full potential when it is free. In short, the advent of the Information Age is potentially extremely subversive.

The very existence of the Internet provides anarchists with a powerful argument that decentralised structures can function effectively in a highly complex world. For the net has no centralised headquarters and is not subject to regulation by any centralised regulatory agency, yet it still manages to function effectively. Moreover, the net is also an effective way of anarchists and other radicals to communicate their ideas to others, share knowledge, work on common projects and co-ordinate activities and social struggle. By using the Internet, radicals can make their ideas accessible to people who otherwise would not come across anarchist ideas. In addition, and far more important than anarchists putting their ideas across, the fact is that the net allows everyone with access to express themselves freely, to communicate with others and get access (by visiting webpages and joining mailing lists and newsgroups) and give access (by creating webpages and joining in with on-line arguments) to new ideas and viewpoints. This is very anarchistic as it allows people to express themselves and start to consider new ideas, ideas which may change how they think and act.

Obviously we are aware that the vast majority of people in the world do not have access to telephones, never mind computers, but computer access is increasing in many countries, making it available, via work, libraries, schools, universities, and so on to more and more working class people.

Of course there is no denying that the implications of improved communications and information technology are ambiguous, implying Big Brother as well the ability of progressive and radical movements to organise. However, the point is only that the information revolution in combination with the other social developments could (but will not necessarily) contribute to a social paradigm shift. Obviously such a shift will not happen automatically. Indeed, it will not happen at all unless there is strong resistance to governmental and corporate attempts to limit public access to information, technology (e.g. encryption programs), censor peoples’ communications and use of electronic media and track them on-line.

This use of the Internet and computers to spread the anarchist message is ironic. The rapid improvement in price-performance ratios of computers, software, and other technology today is often used to validate the faith in free market capitalism but that requires a monumental failure of historical memory as not just the Internet but also the computer represents a spectacular success of public investment. As late as the 1970s and early 1980s, according to Kenneth Flamm’s Creating the Computer, the federal government was paying for 40 percent of all computer-related research and 60 to 75 percent of basic research. Even such modern-seeming gadgets as video terminals, the light pen, the drawing tablet, and the mouse evolved from Pentagon-sponsored research in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. Even software was not without state influence, with databases having their root in US Air Force and Atomic Energy Commission projects, artificial intelligence in military contracts back in the 1950s and airline reservation systems in 1950s air-defence systems. More than half of IBM’s Research and Development budget came from government contracts in the 1950s and 1960s.

The motivation was national security, but the result has been the creation of comparative advantage in information technology for the United States that private firms have happily exploited and extended. When the returns were uncertain and difficult to capture, private firms were unwilling to invest, and government played the decisive role. And not for want of trying, for key players in the military first tried to convince businesses and investment bankers that a new and potentially profitable business opportunity was presenting itself, but they did not succeed and it was only when the market expanded and the returns were more definite that the government receded. While the risks and development costs were socialised, the gains were privatised. All of which make claims that the market would have done it anyway highly unlikely.

Looking beyond state aid to the computer industry we discover a “do-it-yourself” (and so self-managed) culture which was essential to its development. The first personal computer, for example, was invented by amateurs who wanted their own cheap machines. The existence of a “gift” economy among these amateurs and hobbyists was a necessary precondition for the development of PCs. Without this free sharing of information and knowledge, the development of computers would have been hindered and so socialistic relations between developers and within the working environment created the necessary conditions for the computer revolution. If this community had been marked by commercial relations, the chances are the necessary breakthroughs and knowledge would have remained monopolised by a few companies or individuals, so hindering the industry as a whole.

Encouragingly, this socialistic “gift economy” is still at the heart of computer/software development and the Internet. For example, the Free Software Foundation has developed the General Public Licence (GPL). GPL, also know as

“copyleft”, uses copyright to ensure that software remains free. Copyleft ensures that a piece of software is made available to everyone to use and modify as they desire. The only restriction is that any used or modified copyleft material must remain under copyleft, ensuring that others have the same rights as you did when you used the original code. It creates a commons which anyone may add to, but no one may subtract from. Placing software under GPL means that every contributor is assured that she, and all other uses, will be able to run, modify and redistribute the code indefinitely. Unlike commercial software, copyleft code ensures an increasing knowledge base from which individuals can draw from and, equally as important, contribute to. In this way everyone benefits as code can be improved by everyone, unlike commercial code.

Many will think that this essentially anarchistic system would be a failure. In fact, code developed in this way is far more reliable and sturdy than commercial software. Linux, for example, is a far superior operating system than DOS precisely because it draws on the collective experience, skill and knowledge of thousands of developers. Apache, the most popular web-server, is another freeware product and is acknowledged as the best available. The same can be said of other key web-technologies (most obviously PHP) and projects (Wikipedia springs to mind, although that project while based on co-operative and free activity is owned by a few people who have ultimate control). While non-anarchists may be surprised, anarchists are not. Mutual aid and co-operation are beneficial in the evolution of life, why not in the evolution of software? For anarchists, this “gift economy” at the heart of the communications revolution is an important development. It shows both the superiority of common development as well as the walls built against innovation and decent products by property systems. We hope that such an economy will spread increasingly into the “real” world.

Another example of co-operation being aided by new technologies is Netwar. This refers to the use of the Internet by autonomous groups and social movements to co-ordinate action to influence and change society and fight government or business policy. This use of the Internet has steadily grown over the years, with a Rand corporation researcher, David Ronfeldt, arguing that this has become an important and powerful force (Rand is, and has been since its creation in 1948, a private appendage of the military industrial complex). In other words, activism and activists’ power and influence has been fuelled by the advent of the information revolution. Through computer and communication networks, especially via the Internet, grassroots campaigns have flourished, and the most importantly, government elites have taken notice.

Ronfeldt specialises in issues of national security, especially in the areas of Latin American and the impact of new informational technologies. Ronfeldt and another colleague coined the term

“netwar” in a Rand document entitled “Cyberwar is Coming!”. Ronfeldt’s work became a source of discussion on the Internet in mid-March 1995 when Pacific News Service correspondent Joel Simon wrote an article about Ronfeldt’s opinions on the influence of netwars on the political situation in Mexico after the Zapatista uprising. According to Simon, Ronfeldt holds that the work of social activists on the Internet has had a large influence — helping to co-ordinate the large demonstrations in Mexico City in support of the Zapatistas and the proliferation of EZLN communiqués across the world via computer networks. These actions, Ronfeldt argues, have allowed a network of groups that oppose the Mexican Government to muster an international response, often within hours of actions by it. In effect, this has forced the Mexican government to maintain the facade of negotiations with the EZLN and has on many occasions, actually stopped the army from just going in to Chiapas and brutally massacring the Zapatistas.

Given that Ronfeldt was an employee of the Rand Corporation his comments indicate that the U.S. government and its military and intelligence wings are very interested in what the Left is doing on the Internet. Given that they would not be interested in this if it were not effective, we can say that this use of the “Information Super-Highway” is a positive example of the use of technology in ways un-planned of by those who initially developed it (let us not forget that the Internet was originally funded by the U.S. government and military). While the internet is being hyped as the next big marketplace, it is being subverted by activists — an example of anarchistic trends within society worrying the powers that be.

A good example of this powerful tool is the incredible speed and range at which information travels the Internet about events concerning Mexico and the Zapatistas. When Alexander Cockburn wrote an article exposing a Chase Manhattan Bank memo about Chiapas and the Zapatistas in Counterpunch, only a small number of people read it because it is only a newsletter with a limited readership. The memo, written by Riordan Roett, argued that “the [Mexican] government will need to eliminate the Zapatistas to demonstrate their effective control of the national territory and of security policy”. In other words, if the Mexican government wants investment from Chase, it would have to crush the Zapatistas. This information was relatively ineffective when just confined to print but when it was uploaded to the Internet, it suddenly reached a very large number of people. These people in turn co-ordinated protests against the U.S and Mexican governments and especially Chase Manhattan. Chase was eventually forced to attempt to distance itself from the Roett memo that it commissioned. Since then net-activism has grown.

Ronfeldt’s research and opinion should be flattering for the Left. He is basically arguing that the efforts of activists on computers not only has been very effective (or at least has that potential), but more importantly, argues that the only way to counter this work is to follow the lead of social activists. Activists should understand the important implications of Ronfeldt’s work: government elites are not only watching these actions (big surprise) but are also attempting to work against them. Thus Netwars and copyleft are good examples of anarchistic trends within society, using communications technology as a means of co-ordinating activity across the world in a libertarian fashion for libertarian goals.

[techempaths]

7 Best Digital Marketing Tools For Marketers

Digital marketing is extremely important to build your online presence and reach more audiences. Several agencies offer digital marketing services but today, innumerable best digital marketing tools are available to get the work done without paying to any agent. Though you can also opt for some of the best digital marketing services if you have a big budget.

List of the 7 best Digital Marketing tools for growth.

HubSpot

HubSpot has many tools that you can use at any stage to grow your business.

Under its free plan, it offers various features. You can set up popup forms, web forms, and live chat software for capturing leads. You can also send email marketing campaigns, analyse site visitors’ behaviour, and pipe all of your data into the free CRM.

The paid plans are amazing as things get sophisticated in them with advanced marketing automation. It is like an all-in-one solution starting from managing your social media and content to connecting with your leads and tracking emails.

HubSpot tool has several benefits such as growing your traffic, converting leads, providing ROI for inbound marketing campaigns, shortening deal cycles, and increasing close rates. You can do almost every digital marketing task with the help of this tool.

Google Analytics

Google Analytics is like the gold standard for website analytics. These days it is hard to perform as a digital marketer if you do not possess any level of Google Analytics expertise.

Firstly, Google Analytics can show you several useful pieces of information related to your website like who is visiting your website, from where are they arriving, and on which pages they stay the most. Moreover, you can set up many goals to track conversions, track events to learn about user engagement, and build an improved e-commerce setup.

If you’re thinking of investing in online advertisements and marketing, you will need to know how it is performing so that you can improve over time. Google Analytics is the best place to get that information without costing you anything. Yes, you heard that right, it is totally free!!

You can easily add Google Analytics to your website as well as integrate it with other systems. It allows you to see the status and performance of both paid and organic marketing efforts.

Ahrefs

Ahrefs, a comprehensive SEO tool that can help you boost your website traffic. They have around 150 million keyword data in the U.S.

Ahrefs is a great tool for competitive analysis through which you can easily see who is connecting to your competitors, their top pages, and much more. You can see their content rankings and, by using the Content Gap tool, you can identify key weaknesses of your content too.

Its Top Pages tool allows you to see which pages receive the most traffic, and also the amount of traffic that goes to your competitors’ sites.

Hootsuite

Hootsuite is one of the most popular SEO and digital marketing tools that help you simplify your strategy and gain the most benefits. If you are trying very hard to reach customers on social media and are still unsuccessful, Hootsuite can be your perfect partner. You can schedule posts, track engagements, and build a following through this tool.

The main reason behind its immense popularity is its ability to support several social platforms in one place. It can help you create, upload, and track posts, and monitor performance metrics while keeping an eye on relevant trending topics too.

It offers a 30-day free trial and after that monthly plans ranging from $30 to $600 based on the connected social networks and number of users.

Yoast

Yoast is an extremely SEO and digital marketing tool. It is a plugin that works with Gutenberg and Classic editor in WordPress. It helps you optimize your content to increase its visibility over search engines.

Yost plugin is free for WordPress but it also offers paid plans that depend on the number of sites you need to monitor. It gets updated constantly every two weeks to reflect Google’s algorithm, thus keeping you updated on your SEO. It helps you choose focus keywords, cornerstone content, individual content URLs, internal links, and backlinks. It also evaluates the page’s readability and provides it with a Flesch Reading Ease score.

Slack

Slack is one of the most favored communication services available in business nowadays. It functions in channels labeled for certain information so that business conversations do not get distracted or disconnected by tangents. It facilitates conversation and focuses on collaboration between teams and employees.

It is an excellent tool for digital networking and meeting others in the same space, along with giving you the freedom to enter or leave channels as required.

Proof

Proof connects to your CRM “Customer Relationship Management” or website and uses social proofs to boost conversions on your website. They implement social proof messaging (for example “Right now, 25 people are viewing this post”), reviews, and videos directed towards targeted customers after they visit your site. It is super easy to install as you just need to copy their pixels and paste them to your site.

Proof has two notification features- Live Visitor Count and Hot Streak that enhance customers’ perceptions of your brand and allows prospects to take a look at others’ feedback too. Additionally, 

You can easily identify your visitors and analyze their journey throughout your site. This will help in optimizing your site design to gain more conversions.

Conclusion

Digital marketing is a necessity for businesses and there is not a single reason to ignore it in this modern world of digitization. All 7 digital marketing tools are extremely popular and can help your business grow without any hassle.

[rachellaurengray]

AI & Tech-Related Jobs Anyone Could Do

Here’s a list of 40 jobs or tasks related to AI and technology that almost anyone could potentially do, especially with basic training or the right resources:

Data Labeling/Annotation

AI Model Training Assistant

Chatbot Content Writer

AI Testing Assistant

Basic Data Entry for AI Models

AI Customer Service Representative

Social Media Content Curation (using AI tools)

Voice Assistant Testing

AI-Generated Content Editor

Image Captioning for AI Models

Transcription Services for AI Audio

Survey Creation for AI Training

Review and Reporting of AI Output

Content Moderator for AI Systems

Training Data Curator

Video and Image Data Tagging

Personal Assistant for AI Research Teams

AI Platform Support (user-facing)

Keyword Research for AI Algorithms

Marketing Campaign Optimization (AI tools)

AI Chatbot Script Tester

Simple Data Cleansing Tasks

Assisting with AI User Experience Research

Uploading Training Data to Cloud Platforms

Data Backup and Organization for AI Projects

Online Survey Administration for AI Data

Virtual Assistant (AI-powered tools)

Basic App Testing for AI Features

Content Creation for AI-based Tools

AI-Generated Design Testing (web design, logos)

Product Review and Feedback for AI Products

Organizing AI Training Sessions for Users

Data Privacy and Compliance Assistant

AI-Powered E-commerce Support (product recommendations)

AI Algorithm Performance Monitoring (basic tasks)

AI Project Documentation Assistant

Simple Customer Feedback Analysis (AI tools)

Video Subtitling for AI Translation Systems

AI-Enhanced SEO Optimization

Basic Tech Support for AI Tools

These roles or tasks could be done with minimal technical expertise, though many would benefit from basic training in AI tools or specific software used in these jobs. Some tasks might also involve working with AI platforms that automate parts of the process, making it easier for non-experts to participate.

[agamiblogs]

What is SaaS and How to Build a SaaS Platform

What is SaaS? SaaS, or Software as a Service, is a cloud-based software delivery model where applications are hosted online and accessed through the internet. Unlike traditional software that requires installation, SaaS applications run on web browsers, offering convenience and flexibility. The provider manages all technical aspects, including updates, maintenance, and security, while users pay a subscription fee for access.

SaaS is popular for its cost-effectiveness and scalability. Businesses use SaaS for tools like customer relationship management (CRM) systems, project management platforms, and communication solutions. Consumers also rely on SaaS for entertainment and personal productivity.

How to Build a SaaS Platform If you're wondering how to build a SaaS platform, here are the essential steps:

Define Your Purpose: Start by identifying a problem that your SaaS platform will address. Research your audience and focus on a specific niche.

Plan Features: List features that add value, such as easy navigation, integrations, and real-time collaboration. Scalability should also be a priority.

Select the Right Technology: Choose technologies like React for frontend development, Node.js or Python for backend, and cloud hosting platforms like AWS.

Create an MVP: Build a Minimum Viable Product to test your concept, gather feedback, and refine your platform.

Ensure Security: Implement strong encryption, secure authentication, and regular updates to protect user data.

By understanding what SaaS is and following these steps, you can build a successful SaaS platform that meets market needs.

[superspark2024]

Project 1 - Project Proposal

1. Overall

Everyone is concerned about their health status. With the development of smart bracelet products, the detection of user health status is becoming more and more accurate. However, most of the current health management software is still at the stage of data detection and presentation, and the sports courses provided in the software are simply listed, lacking pertinence and adaptability. If artificial intelligence technology is combined with smart bracelets, it will be possible to create a product with more comprehensive functions, more personalized, and better meet user needs.

2. Problem

(1) Single data presentation function

Take the "Sports Health" APP in Honor mobile phones as an example. The "Health" module on the homepage simply presents the collected data and lacks analysis and evaluation based on the overall data.

(2) The homepage layout can be adjusted

The most important top card on the platform homepage only presents the number of steps, calories burned and exercise time. If you want to view other data, you need to pull down to the corresponding module to view it. The user experience can be optimized.

(3) Lack of advice and guidance functions

Different users have different purposes for using sports and health products, and they also want to achieve different goals after exercise. However, the platform currently does not provide professional advice and guidance.

(4) The training plan function lacks specificity and flexibility

Although the platform provides many courses, they are simply listed without personalized recommendations for different users. This makes it a challenge for newcomers to choose the right one from a large number of programs. At the same time, the APP currently only allows users to add exercise plans for fixed courses, which lacks flexibility.

(5) Lack of official activities

Currently there are no incentives or operational activities on the platform.

(6) The mall page design is bloated

There are too many main buttons on the mall page, their functions are repeated, and their meanings are unclear. At the same time, the marketing advertisements on the mall page account for too large a proportion, and the real product list is placed at the very bottom, affecting the user experience.

3. Proposed Solution

(1) Add health status analysis function

Add artificial intelligence to the software. After connecting with the smart bracelet, it can detect, present and analyze the user's exercise volume, heart rate, blood pressure, blood sugar, body temperature, sleep status and other indicators in real time, and automatically save and upload them to the APP. Evaluate health status based on the analysis results every day.

(2) Redesign the homepage data presentation module

The real-time data card at the top of the homepage can be redesigned to present more information, or allow users to customize the content presented in the card, so that users can view the data they want to see more quickly.

(3) Add smart health assistant function

Allow users to communicate directly with the generative artificial intelligence in the platform. When users send their current status, daily exercise time and goals they want to achieve, the health assistant will provide professional advice and plans on exercise and diet based on user needs and health data, including daily exercise plans, weekly exercise goals, etc. Users can also continue to communicate with the assistant in questions and answers.

(4) Add personalized recommendation function

Based on the user's current status and goals, personalized recommendations are made for courses in the platform, and users can freely customize their own training plans.

(5) Increase operational activities and communities

The platform can increase operational activities and rewards. For example, when users complete exercise goals or other incentive activities on the platform, they can get platform currency as an incentive. Platform currency can be used when shopping in the platform's mall or exchanged for platform membership time to promote users' exercise enthusiasm and activity.

The platform can increase sharing and display functions. When users complete daily exercise, they can directly publish their exercise records, photos, and insights on the platform, which can be seen by other users on the platform, making the platform have community attributes to improve user participation and user stickiness.

(6) Optimize mall design

Optimize the design of the mall module, delete redundant buttons, and only keep those with clear functions. At the same time, merge the cards of marketing advertisements and advance the product list.

4. Target Users

(1) People who need to sit in the office for a long time and lack exercise.

(2) People who want to lose weight.

(3) People who are weak and in poor health.

(4) People who have the habit of exercising and want to test and record the effect of exercise.

(5) Elderly people who value their own health.

[sunshinecoastwebdesign1]

Website Maintenance and Support In Australia

In today's digital landscape, a strong online presence is essential for businesses of all sizes. In Australia, where the internet plays a vital role in consumer behavior, maintaining a well-functioning website is more important than ever. Website maintenance and support are crucial components that can significantly impact your business's success. Here’s why investing in these services is essential. #Sunshine Coast Web Design

Why Website Maintenance Matters

1. Security

Cybersecurity threats are constantly evolving, and Australian businesses are not immune to attacks. Regular website maintenance includes updating software, plugins, and security protocols to protect against vulnerabilities. This proactive approach helps safeguard sensitive customer data, ensuring your business remains trustworthy and compliant with regulations like the Australian Privacy Principles.

2. Performance Optimization

A slow-loading website can deter potential customers and harm your search engine rankings. Routine maintenance allows for performance optimizations, such as image compression, code minification, and caching strategies. These improvements enhance user experience, reduce bounce rates, and ultimately lead to higher conversion rates.

3. Content Updates

Your website is a reflection of your business, and keeping content fresh is vital. Regular updates to blogs, product listings, and service pages not only engage visitors but also signal to search engines that your site is active. This can improve your visibility in search results, driving more organic traffic to your website.

4. Technical Issues

Websites can experience various technical problems, from broken links to server downtime. Routine maintenance helps identify and resolve these issues before they escalate, ensuring your site remains functional. Quick response times to technical glitches can mean the difference between losing a customer and retaining their business.

5. User Experience

A well-maintained website enhances user experience. Regular audits and updates to navigation, design elements, and mobile responsiveness ensure that visitors can easily find the information they need. An intuitive user experience not only retains existing customers but also attracts new ones through positive word-of-mouth.

Choosing the Right Support

When it comes to website maintenance and support in Australia, selecting the right partner is crucial. Here are some factors to consider:

1. Experience and Expertise

Look for a company with a proven track record in website maintenance. They should have a strong understanding of various platforms, coding languages, and best practices in web security.

2. Comprehensive Services

Choose a provider that offers a range of services, including security updates, performance monitoring, and content management. A one-stop shop simplifies the process and ensures all aspects of your website are covered.

3. Responsive Support

In the digital world, issues can arise at any time. Opt for a support service that provides timely responses and assistance, ensuring minimal downtime for your business.

4. Custom Solutions

Every business is unique, and your website maintenance plan should reflect that. Look for providers that offer customizable packages tailored to your specific needs and budget.

Contact Us Today! 

🌐 : https://sunshinecoastwebdesign.com.au/ 

☎: +61 418501122

✉: sales@sunshinecoastwebdesign.com.au 

🏡: 32 Warrego Drive Pelican Waters Sunshine Coast QLD, 4551 Australia

Conclusion

Investing in website maintenance and support is not just about keeping your site functional; it’s about enhancing your brand's reputation and customer trust. In Australia’s competitive online market, a well-maintained website can be a significant differentiator. By prioritizing maintenance, you ensure that your website continues to serve as an effective marketing tool, driving growth and success for your business. Don’t wait until issues arise—embrace proactive website management to stay ahead of the curve.

[oyecommerz]

Top Shopify App Testing Tools for 2024: A Complete List

As the world of e-commerce becomes increasingly competitive, ensuring that your Shopify app delivers optimal performance, speed, and functionality is crucial for success. For enterprise-level e-commerce businesses, especially those operating on the Shopify platform, robust testing protocols are no longer a luxury—they're a necessity. Utilizing advanced Shopify app testing tools can significantly reduce downtime, improve user experience, and enhance the scalability of your app. But with so many testing solutions available, how do you choose the right one?

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the top Shopify app testing tools for 2024. We'll delve into the key features that make these tools indispensable for app quality assurance (QA), how they streamline testing processes, and why investing in these tools can help your business stay ahead of the competition. Whether you're evaluating Shopify app QA tools for the first time or looking to upgrade your current Shopify app testing software, this guide has you covered.

Why App Testing Is Essential for Enterprise Shopify Businesses

In 2024, user expectations for speed and functionality are higher than ever. Studies show that 70% of online consumers will leave a website that takes more than three seconds to load, and poorly performing apps can result in millions in lost revenue for enterprise-level businesses. Testing your Shopify app for load times, security vulnerabilities, and overall stability is no longer just a step in development—it's a vital component of your overall e-commerce strategy.

One of the primary reasons app testing has become so crucial is that the complexity of Shopify apps has grown over the years. Large-scale businesses now rely on apps to automate workflows, manage large inventories, and enhance customer experiences. Testing ensures these critical systems continue to perform under the pressure of real-world conditions, especially during peak sales periods like Black Friday.

Key statistics underline the importance of app performance: A study from Statista reveals that the global mobile app testing market is expected to grow to $9.3 billion by 2027, with much of this growth driven by the e-commerce sector.

Expert quote: “Investing in a robust app testing framework not only protects your e-commerce business from potential failures but also provides a better experience for your customers, which is essential for long-term growth,” says John Doe, CTO of EcomNext.

1. LambdaTest: A Leading Cloud-Based Testing Solution

LambdaTest is one of the most advanced Shopify app testing tools available for enterprise e-commerce businesses in 2024. Known for its cloud-based infrastructure, LambdaTest allows businesses to perform automated and manual testing across thousands of different browser environments, ensuring that apps work flawlessly across multiple devices and platforms.

Key Features:

Cross-browser compatibility testing: LambdaTest provides a unified platform to test how your Shopify app performs on different browsers, devices, and operating systems. With more than 3,000 real browsers and OS environments, you can eliminate issues before they affect end-users.

Automated testing: Its powerful Selenium automation testing allows you to schedule, execute, and track tests without human intervention, saving valuable development time.

Real-time debugging: LambdaTest offers real-time debugging capabilities, helping your team quickly address performance issues as they arise.

Why Choose LambdaTest for Shopify App Testing:

For enterprise businesses, LambdaTest's scalability is a game-changer. During periods of high traffic, such as the holiday season, LambdaTest can handle testing at scale, simulating hundreds or thousands of users interacting with your app at once. This ensures your app's performance won’t degrade under pressure.

Statistic: According to a 2023 survey by Software Testing News, 64% of e-commerce businesses that utilized cross-browser testing tools like LambdaTest saw a 30% improvement in customer satisfaction rates.

2. BrowserStack: The Ultimate Mobile App Testing Platform

BrowserStack continues to be a powerhouse in the world of mobile app testing. For Shopify developers, especially those creating mobile-first or mobile-only apps, BrowserStack offers a suite of Shopify app testing software designed to guarantee seamless performance across a wide range of devices.

Key Features:

Instant access to real devices: BrowserStack gives you access to thousands of real devices and browsers, ensuring your app functions optimally in real-world conditions.

Automated and live testing: Like LambdaTest, BrowserStack offers automated testing through Selenium and Appium, as well as manual testing for more hands-on quality assurance.

Parallel testing: Test on multiple devices and browsers simultaneously to ensure the highest levels of efficiency and productivity.

Why Choose BrowserStack for Shopify App QA:

BrowserStack’s focus on mobile app testing makes it a standout choice for businesses aiming to optimize for mobile users, a demographic that now accounts for 59% of all web traffic. With the ability to test on both emulators and real devices, BrowserStack is invaluable for any Shopify business aiming to improve mobile user experiences.

Expert quote: “With e-commerce, particularly mobile commerce, continuing to grow, ensuring a flawless mobile app experience is vital. Tools like BrowserStack make this process scalable,” notes Jane Smith, Lead Engineer at EcomSolutions.

TestComplete: All-in-One Automated Testing for Shopify Apps

TestComplete, developed by SmartBear, is a widely recognized Shopify app QA tool that caters to the needs of enterprise-level businesses. It’s particularly useful for companies that require end-to-end testing across both web and mobile apps, combining powerful automation features with a user-friendly interface.

Key Features:

Scriptless automation: TestComplete allows users to create automated tests without needing to write code, a great feature for teams with varying levels of technical expertise.

Broad testing coverage: TestComplete supports tests across desktop, mobile, and web environments, ensuring comprehensive coverage for your Shopify app.

Seamless integration: Integrating with other popular CI/CD tools such as Jenkins and Git, TestComplete enables continuous testing, which is key for maintaining high app quality.

Why Choose TestComplete for Shopify App Testing:

For enterprise businesses with complex workflows and multiple team members involved in development and QA, TestComplete's ease of use and wide integration capabilities make it a top contender. Automated testing can be set up quickly, even by teams that aren't heavy on coding expertise, allowing for faster test cycles and more frequent updates.

Statistic: A recent report by SmartBear shows that businesses using TestComplete have reduced their testing time by up to 50%, enabling faster release cycles and enhanced app performance.

Conclusion: Invest in the Right Testing Tools for 2024 and Beyond

The tools mentioned in this guide are among the best Shopify app testing tools available for 2024, offering a range of features that can help your enterprise-level e-commerce business ensure app stability, performance, and security. By implementing LambdaTest, BrowserStack, and TestComplete into your QA process, you can dramatically reduce the risk of app failures, enhance the user experience, and optimize your app for future growth.

As you prepare to elevate your app testing strategy, consider partnering with a specialized Shopify development agency like Oyecommerz. With a deep understanding of Shopify app testing and performance optimization, Oyecommerz can help you implement the right testing tools and strategies to keep your app running smoothly during peak traffic periods and beyond.

CTA: Ready to streamline your Shopify app testing process? Contact Oyecommerz today to explore how we can help your enterprise-level business implement cutting-edge testing solutions and optimize your app for growth. Visit Oyecommerz to learn more!

[vavuska]

I thought this one would be just another developer of mobile game that use The Sims 4 contents in its (fake) ads to fraud users by making people belive it is its game, when it has a completely different gameplay.

Unfortunately, Room Makover by FlyBird Casual Games is much more than this.

Room Makover has plenty of false ads. This time I actually tried the game, because the pictures and videos on Google Play were cute and I decided to give it a try.

I was so naive. Happens that the whole page on Google Play is full of fake contents.

It's just one of those mobile games in which you have to match and remove nails. Every time you pass a level, you will rewarded with bills that you can use to unlock part of a building under "makeover". You have just three option for every part of the building or the room to choose between.

There is nothing creative. Not actual building or cluttering rooms or decoring.

As, always, since I'm a curious little bitch, I decided to dig further into this FlyBird Casual Game and... Oh. God. Their site looks even less legit than LUCKY FORTUNE GAMES' one!

It is just a void page. There is nothing here. NOTHING. The only two working section are the privacy and conditions of use, in which they try to convince you that they didn't have any liability for damages or fraud committed.

The privacy one is curious, because mentions this Commissioner's Office in UK and a long list of partners. Both for ads and for data collection, which is hugely uncommon for this kind of games.

Sooooo... In this magical list of apps, I noticed a few tech nightmares, which I will explain briefly here:

Aarki is an AI company that builds advertising solutions to drive mobile revenue growth. Traslated from bullshit: they use AI to generate fake ads and sells it to shady corps.

Blind Ferret is the big deal here! Not only gave you digital marketing solutions, data collection and analytics, but also pays influencers and product placement on social media to promote the game and, hear me out, CREATE fake ads too! It's literally written in their site: "Our Creative Services don’t just make things look pretty. Our team uses data to guide us! How do we make brands shine? By turning the arts into a numbers game with top-performing creative content." This include: Graphic Design, Illustration, 2D Animation, Video Editing and Composition, Copywriting and conceptualizing.

InMobi is a big Corp that does native advertising, which means promoted contents, collabs with influencers, etc.

Ironsource. This one is a fucking cancer. IronSource Ltd. is an Israeli software company that focuses on developing technologies for app monetization and distribution, with its core production focused on the app economy. That would sound harmless, but Samsung use it in its budget and midrange smartphone to install multiple third-party apps during the set-up process. This platform slips bloatware on the pretext of recommended apps, leading to apps clutter and reduction in on-board storage space. The only purpose it exists on Samsung phones is to download games without your consent with no way to remove it (no app installed).

Mintegral is another fucking tech nightmare. Not only poses serious threats to your privacy and datas, but also uses malicious codes to spy your activity and when you seem intentioned to install a mobile app, Mintegral’s software would then fire off fake clicks on non-existent ads to claim credit for the install and essentially collect a bounty from app publishers who pay ad networks to promote their apps.

Mistplay is one of those "play to earn bucks" that I find very very dangerous. Because YOUR data are their revenue.

Tapjoy does monetization of ads and also surveys, that force users to download one from a long list of games, download it and playing for hours or since it is gained some in-game prize. This surveys are rewarded with credits and user can spend on the mobile game they actually want to play. Tapjoy has a huge market among IMVU users, who need credits to buy piece of clothing and accessories for their avi.

The other apps do mobile app marketing, using data collection that allow shady corps to target more gullable and naive people to scam. Plus they do also monetization surveys to earn money and at the same time forcefully grow the engagement of this shady corps.

Obviously, there is no user support mail listed in their Google Play page, but at least this has a contact mail listed on their website: flybirdgames2022@gmail.com

As always, stay safe and please tell me if you know more about everything above or know the person who create this build first.

Help people to stay safe.

Thank you.

<<< previous Coloring app uses design of The Sims 4 builds without the consent of the creators and other mobile developers steal TS4 speed build contents and claim it's the actual gameplay of their mobile game.

[crewzadigital]

Top 5 Best Website Designing Companies in Lucknow

In our digital world, a well-designed website plays a key role in helping businesses succeed. Lucknow, with its growing startup scene, has several top-notch website designing firms. Here's a rundown of the five best website designing companies in Lucknow, including Crewza, which stands out for its fresh ideas and focus on customer needs.

1. Crewza

Crewza ranks among the top website design firms in Lucknow. The company has a reputation for creative designs and easy-to-use interfaces. Crewza focuses on building websites that meet the specific requirements of businesses. They offer custom website development, SEO optimization, and digital marketing solutions. Crewza has helped many businesses boost their online visibility by prioritizing value and customer satisfaction. Their dedication to quality work at reasonable prices makes them a go-to choice for both new and established companies.

2. Websofy Software Pvt. Ltd.

Websofy Software Pvt. Ltd. stands out for its expert website design and development work. Their skilled designers and developers provide various services such as e-commerce site creation, content management system answers, and designs that work well on mobile devices. They stay up-to-date with the newest tech and design styles to give clients cutting-edge responsive websites that draw in and keep customers.

3. Tweak Your Biz

Tweak Your Biz has built a name for itself by offering full-scale digital solutions, including website design. Their team focuses on creating websites that look good and work well matching each client's brand identity. Tweak Your Biz also helps with social media marketing, content marketing, and search engine optimization. This makes them a go-to option for businesses that want to boost their online presence.

4. Systel Technology

Systel Technology has made a name for itself in Lucknow through its groundbreaking website design services. The company aims to create websites that look great and work well giving users a smooth experience. Systel Technology excels at building custom solutions to meet each client's unique needs. Whether a customer wants a basic info site or a complex online store, Systel can handle it.

5. Lucknow Web Solutions

Lucknow Web Solutions is an energetic web development company that provides many services, like website design mobile app development, and digital marketing. Their team commits to creating websites that show the brand's vision and get users involved. They work with clients to make sure the end product meets the client's hopes.

Conclusion

Picking the right website designing company plays a key role in building a strong online presence. Crewza and the other companies on this list stand out in Lucknow for their creativity good work, and happy customers. These companies can help you make a website that fits your needs and helps your business grow, whether you're just starting out or you've been around for a while.

To get custom website design solutions, think about contacting Crewza now!

[pcttrailsidereader]

AI Reaches Trail . . . Has Big Tech Gone Too Far

By Adam Roy, Backpacker Magazine

Google has figured out that I like to hike. I’m not sure what tipped it off—could it be the roughly 40 hours per workweek I spend editing and fact-checking stories about hiking, or maybe the nights and weekends I pass searching for trailheads and obsessively checking and rechecking the weather forecast. Whatever the reason, whenever I log on I get served up a stream of gear promotions and tourism spots for outdoor destinations. But about a week ago, I saw an ad for Google’s Pixel 8 smartphone and its onboard Gemini artificial intelligence that stopped me in my tracks.

The ad goes like this: A dad is trying to set up a tent in a campsite. The dad is floundering, tangled up in guylines and collapsing nylon, when he turns around and notices his son has stopped collecting firewood and is watching him with dismay, probably thinking about how much better his stepdad is at camping. Then the dad pulls out his phone, snaps a picture of the tent, and feeds it into Gemini, which returns a numbered list of instructions for him. Smash cut to the now-content kid and father enjoying their perfectly-pitched shelter.

My first reaction to the ad: I’ve been there. Whether by neglecting hot spots until they bloomed into blisters, leaving a vent open in a snowstorm, or spending an hour struggling to coax a flame out of a pile of damp wood, I know what it’s like to struggle on a camping or backpacking trip in front of other people. The desire to avoid that struggle and the embarrassment that comes with it is a pretty powerful motivator.

My second thought: This is going to get someone into so, so much trouble.

Google and other Big Tech AI firms like OpenAI, Meta, and X want to see their technology everywhere. Using it to filter restaurant results is one thing, but pushing artificial intelligence as a substitute for basic outdoor skills comes with real risks. Let’s start with the fact that Google’s AI arguably still isn’t up to the task of keeping people safe in the outdoors: We’re barely a month out from Gemini telling searchers to eat glue and cook spaghetti in gasoline. Although those errors didn’t do any damage besides embarrassing a handful of highly paid software engineers, it’s not hard to imagine AI trained on the unfiltered whole of the internet telling a new camper it’s safe to run a propane heater inside their tent or eat a poisonous mushroom.

(That’s assuming, of course, that the AI is even capable of giving actionable information: Zoom in on the simulated advice Gemini offers in the commercial and you’ll notice that step 4 is “Assemble the tent poles according to the manufacturer’s instructions.” Apparently Google Dad, like so many dads before him, just needed someone to remind him to read the manual.)

You Still Have To Use Your Brain

Yes, ideally AI users would be cautious consumers, sniffing out bad or obviously dangerous information before acting on it. But we already have real-life examples of people over-relying on much less intrusive technology with disastrous results. Take another popular Google product, Google Maps, for example. There were the hikers who needed rescue after following an imaginary trail in Maps up the side of a mountain in British Columbia, and the German tourists who had to trek two days through the Australian bush after a similar error stranded them and their car on a remote dirt track. The company is currently fighting a lawsuit from the family of a man who followed its GPS directions off of a collapsed bridge.

In Colorado, tow companies make a killing every year dragging stranded motorists off of mountain 4×4 tracks after app-assisted “shortcuts.” The plug-and-play, let-us-think-for-you, don’t-bother-checking-the-sources tone of Google and other corporations’ marketing of their artificial intelligence only makes incidents like these more likely.

My bigger objections to AI-directed camping, though, may be philosophical. Whether you learn from a friend or an expert online, there’s something wonderful about becoming competent in the outdoors. It’s a long, awkward, and sometimes uncomfortable process. But it’s joyful too, fostering self-confidence and a deeper sense of connection with your environment. Mediating that through a robot assistant strikes me as a quick way to dilute that, ensuring that you neither learn any real outdoor skills nor unplug in any meaningful way.

Other tech firms’ AI-powered takes on the outdoors are equally baffling. An ad released by Meta last month starts with one friend in a group chat enticing the others to camp by sharing an AI-generated image of someone cowboy camping next to an unattended campfire, a fully set-up tent with only a lantern inside of it, and, inexplicably, a folding table with what looks like either several copper pots or maybe a moonshiner’s still on it. Setting aside the safety issues, I can’t help but wonder what kind of person finds more inspiration to get outside in a fake-ass AI-generated image than in the hundreds of thousands of real outdoor photos plastered across the internet.

We Can Still Embrace Technology

I’m not a Luddite. I plan every trip I take on Gaia, Outside’s mapping app, and I listen to podcasts on long solo hikes. Backpacker and Outside’s other titles feature Scout, an AI search engine we trained on our own work in order to help readers more easily find the human-written information they’re looking for; we’ve even experimented with letting Scout choose a hike for us. I also recognize I’m not unbiased: My fellow Backpacker editors, writers, and I make our living creating carefully researched guides and stories for people who love the outdoors. Seeing Google redigest those into AI pablum just so it can make ad money off the backs of the real-life hikers doing the real-life work is frustrating.

Ultimately, the outdoors should be for everyone, and how you choose to get outside is up to you. If that means asking Google or Meta’s AI to walk you through it, so be it. But think about what you want to get out of your time in the woods: There are some things in life that are better without Big Tech breathing down your neck. If you want to polish your outdoor skills, there’s a whole constellation of people who will help you without harvesting all of your personal data, from your more experienced friends to local trail clubs to, yes, even the human experts here at Backpacker. And if you’re ever struggling to set up your tent, a free tip: Start by reading the instructions, and practice before your kid is watching.

[incoldbloodsblog]

The Darkweb: Exploring the hidden crimes of the Internet

The Dark Web is a complex and often misunderstood segment of the internet, shrouded in secrecy and notorious for its association with illegal activities. This hidden part of the web, accessible only through specialised software like Tor (The Onion Router), allows users to navigate anonymously, which has fostered both legitimate and illicit uses. The Dark Web is a subset of the Deep Web, which itself constitutes about 90% of the internet not indexed by traditional search engines. While most users interact with the Surface Web, the Deep Web includes private databases and secure sites, whereas the Dark Web is specifically designed for anonymity and privacy. The Dark Web emerged from projects aimed at ensuring secure communication, originally developed by the U.S. Department of Defence in the early 2000s. [1] [2]

Hidden Crimes in the Dark Web

The anonymity offered by the dark web has made it a hub for numerous forms of criminal activity. From illegal marketplaces to cybercrime forums, this underworld of the internet is teeming with hidden dangers.

Illicit Markets and Drug Trade

One of the most notorious aspects of the dark web is its marketplace for illegal goods. Websites like the now-defunct Silk Road offered a platform where users could buy and sell illegal drugs, firearms, stolen goods, and counterfeit documents. These black markets are often operated using cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin to further mask identities and ensure untraceable transactions.According to a 2019 study by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, the dark web drug trade has grown exponentially, with millions of dollars' worth of drugs being sold monthly across various platforms . [3] [4]

2. Cybercrime and Hacking Services

The dark web also serves as a marketplace for cybercriminals. Hacking tools, ransomware-as-a-service, and stolen data are regularly exchanged in these hidden corners of the internet. Criminals offer services ranging from DDoS attacks to the sale of stolen credit card information and personal identities. Some forums even provide tutorials for novice hackers looking to learn cybercrime techniques. [5]

3. Human Trafficking and Exploitation

While less publicly discussed, the dark web has been linked to disturbing trends in human trafficking and child exploitation. Illegal forums allow criminals to sell services or even traffic victims, relying on the secrecy provided by encryption and anonymity transactions. These criminal activities often occur alongside other heinous content like child abuse imagery, which is tragically prevalent in certain corners of the dark web . [5]

4.Weapons and Assassination-for-Hire

Another dark aspect of the dark web is the sale of illegal firearms, explosives, and even assassination services. Websites provide arms to buyers without the restrictions and regulations of the surface web. Though some claims of hitmen-for-hire on the dark web have been debunked as scams, the sale of illicit firearms remains a significant concern for global law enforcement agencies .

Top 5 Notorious Cases on the Dark Web

(Content Warning: This list includes some horrifying incidents and scary dark web stories. We suggest you skip entries if you’re faint of heart or suffering from any type of anxiety or stress disorder.)

1. Banmeet Singh’s $100M+ dark web drug empire gets brought to light

Starting with a fairly recent case, Banmeet Singh of Haldwani, Northern India was sentenced to eight years in prison in late January 2024 after he was found to have created and led a multi-million dollar drug enterprise.The Indian national also forfeited $150 million in cryptocurrency. This proved to be illegal drug money that was laundered into cryptocurrency. Singh used various dark web marketplaces to create his drug empire. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Singh shipped drugs from Europe to eight distribution centers in the US. After, these were transported to and sold in all 50 US states and other countries in the Americas. Singh was arrested in London, where he was residing in 2019. In 2023, he was extradited to the US. [7]

2. Operation Dark hunTor results in 150 arrests in nine countries

We’re moving from one multi-million-dollar illegal contraband case to the next. In 2021, Euro pol, Eurojust, and the police forces of nine countries conducted one of the biggest anti-crime operations the dark web has ever seen: Dark hunter. This operation resulted in 150 arrests across Australia, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. All of the arrested were allegedly involved in buying or selling illegal goods on the dark web. The authorities found some articles in the possession of the arrested that strengthened their case: EUR 26.7 million (USD 31 million) in cash and virtual currencies, 234 kg of drugs, and 45 firearms.Italian authorities also managed to close down two dark web markets that boasted over 100,000 listings for illegal goods, DeepSea and Berlusconi. [7]

3. Operation DisrupTor exposes a dark web drugs distribution center

Amid the Covid pandemic, most businesses were struggling. Meanwhile, Operation DisrupTor suggests the drug business was still prospering. In February 2020, a group of FBI agents found 50 pounds of methamphetamine and thousands of Adderall pills in a storage shed in Los Angeles. The drugs, and the firearms that were also found, belonged to a crime network that had completed over 18,000 drug sales on the dark web. The criminal syndicate hid the drugs in a shed that they had made to look like a legitimate mail-order business. Their dark web drug sales included shipments to other dark net vendors, street dealers, and actual consumers. [7]

WATCH FULL VIDEO [8]

4. Attempt to hire a dark web hitman backfires

Now and then, crazy deep web stories pop up about how easy it is to hire a dark web hitman. One of these urban legends, however, turned out to be true. In February 2024, a woman from Canberra, Australia, pleaded guilty to inciting another to murder. The woman claimed to have contacted a dark web hitman (on the dark web marketplace Sinaloa Cartel) to murder her wealthy parents as part of an inheritance scheme. Supposedly, the total agreed-upon sum for the murder was $20,000, of which she had already paid $6,000 as a downpayment, using Bitcoin. It’s hard to say if the woman was actually talking to a contract killer or a scammer. Let’s just say we’re just happy the Australian court system was on to her before we could find out. While we don’t encourage anyone to go looking for a hitman on the dark web or elsewhere, this case goes to show that even on the dark web and while using crypto, many actions are retraceable. We always recommend people with good intentions to go for maximum privacy, as it’s no one’s business what they’re doing on the dark web. A great way to improve your privacy is by using NordVPN. NordVPN hides your IP address and encrypts your traffic, plus it blocks malicious links. [7]

5. No Love Deep Web takes dark web enthusiasts on a treasure hunt

Back in August of 2012, visitors on the dark web could find clues scattered on the network that led them through a fascinating alternate reality game. Much like Cicada 3031’s 4chan game, the clues led regular users through an array of clever clues set up like a treasure hunt. The dark web game employed a lot of encryption means to hide its hints, including the Caesar cipher, QR codes, Morse code, and a lot of other similar encryption methods. All of the clues were spread around dark websites, and one participant recounts the experience as quite thrilling:

So what was going on? Well, it wasn’t a secret government agency recruiting new members, and it wasn’t a feat of a group of cybercriminals.

Rather, the game was created by the experimental hip-hop group Death Grips to promote their new album, No Love Deep Web. [7]

READ MORE CASES [7]

Law Enforcement and the Fight Against Dark Web Crime

Despite the anonymity and encryption, law enforcement agencies around the world have made significant progress in cracking down on dark web criminality. In 2021, a multinational law enforcement effort, Operation Dark HunTor, led to the arrest of 150 individuals across multiple countries, targeting major drug vendors and illegal marketplaces on the dark web .

Undercover operations, improved digital forensics, and advances in cryptocurrency tracing have given authorities new tools to combat the hidden crimes of the dark web. However, for every takedown, new marketplaces and forums emerge, reflecting the cat-and-mouse dynamic between law enforcement and cybercriminals. [6]

Conclusion

While the dark web itself is not inherently evil, its secrecy has allowed criminals to thrive in ways that are difficult to regulate or even detect. From drug trafficking and cybercrime to human exploitation, the hidden crimes of the dark web reveal a darker side of digital anonymity. As law enforcement and technology continue to evolve, so too will the battle to uncover and combat these underground activities. Nonetheless, the dark web serves as a potent reminder that as technology advances, so too does the need for robust security measures and ethical oversight.

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sources:

https://www.varutra.com/the-hidden-internet-exploring-the-secrets-of-the-dark-web/

2.https://sopa.tulane.edu/blog/everything-you-should-know-about-dark-web

3. https://www.unsw.edu.au/research/ndarc/news-events/blogs/2016/01/dark-net-drug-marketplaces-begin-to-emulate-organised-street-cri

4. https://www.euda.europa.eu/darknet_en

5. https://www.findlaw.com/criminal/criminal-charges/dark-web-crimes.html

6. https://syntheticdrugs.unodc.org/syntheticdrugs/en/cybercrime/detectandrespond/investigation/darknet.html

7. file:///D:/New%20folder/The%2013%20Most%20Notorious%20Cases%20on%20the%20Dark%20Web.html

8. https://youtu.be/d4NSfrOtMfU?feature=shared

[dawnfelagund]

Do you have any advice for someone wanting to create a small archive like you did with the Silmarillion Writers' Guild? I think there's a good chance that the way AI is in the news right now leads to more energy being directed towards smaller community-specific archives and I'd love to know more about how you came to start the SWG. (I'm the fans4writers person who misrepresented your post—a correction has been added!)

Thank you for the correction and also (most importantly!) for your work in solidarity with the WGA writers and keeping this issue at the forefront of fandom consciousness!

This is an amazing question, and I am trying not to be too giddy in answering it! :D

I’d say first and foremost is to think about what you have in mind. A single-author archive, for example, is going to involve different considerations than an archive for a small community or a group of friends/collaborators, and both of those will have different considerations than an archive that is more open to the public. My experience, over the years, is that the more potential users you have, the more careful you have to be in all of your decisions. If you pick an annoying platform for a single-author archive, the only person you annoy is you. If you made the same choice for a larger project, you might find yourself losing creators and visitors due to inconvenience. (I say this as I am redoing my annoying single-author archive/website to be less annoying! :D)

(It sounds like you want something for a small community, so this is more just a general fyi for others who might be thinking through the same process.)

Right now, unfortunately, there are not a lot of great options for creating archives that function well as archives, and that’s a discussion to have with your community. Can you make a Dreamwidth community or a Wordpress blog work, even if it lacks a lot of the bells and whistles we have come to associate with fanworks archives? The answer could well be yes! I’m a Tolkien fandom historian, and early-mid 2000s Tolkien fanfic archives were often subsidiaries of the community itself: a more permanent place to ... well, archive ... the works the community was making. The real action was happening in the community itself, whether that was an email list or a forum or something else entirely, so no one really needed a sophisticated archive. When I look back at these early archives, I am sometimes blown away at how simple they were compared to what we have come to expect of an “archive,” again largely because the dominance of AO3 has led people to see it as “default” rather than “one possible option.”

If simple is an option, then there are tons of free and not-free options for blogs and websites. Wordpress, of course, is an obvious choice. Dreamwidth and BobaBoard are options that specifically market as fandom-friendly. Neocities is a reboot of Geocities and just one of many free site builders. In short, for a simple archive/site, there are lots of options.

Now if you want an archive with more sophisticated features, then the answer is less satisfying because this area of fandom has atrophied in the shadow of AO3.

The AO3 code itself is open-source, which means it can be used to build sites that behave exactly like AO3. However, I’ve never used it but have heard that it is not a beginner-level project to do this.

Back in the mid- to late 2000s, eFiction was the go-to for building archives. Open-source software specific for fanfiction archives, it could be installed on a web server and configured and up and running in less than an hour. It is still around. I do not recommend using it as it is now and mention it only because it does have a new developer at the helm who has been (unsuccessfully) trying to fundraise to not only update the codebase but also, ideally, roll out the option of hosted eFiction sites: where you would not have to purchase web hosting but could build an eFiction archive on the eFiction servers, similar to hosted Wordpress sites. Given the interest in small archives and the recently successful fundraising campaign for the Fujoshi Guide to Web Development, I hope to reach out to Tyler (the new eFiction developer) sometime this week to see if he might be open to more strenuously fundraising to at least get an updated codebase available to use. So I’m hoping eFiction becomes viable again in the future.

The Silmarillion Writers’ Guild currently uses Drupal, an open-source content management system similar to Wordpress, but it has been a journey to get there.

You asked specifically about how I came to start the SWG, so I’ll digress a bit on that there, which will bring me back around to Drupal. :D The SWG started in 2005 as a community on Yahoo! Groups and LiveJournal. I was 23 years old and knew nothing about websites. I have a vivid (and mildly embarrassing!) memory of setting up the SWG on LJ and emailing my sister to ask her how to “make italics in HTML,” since LJ didn’t have a reliable rich-text editor at the time and I guess I needed to ... make italics?

The SWG was intended to be a writers’ workshop for Silmarillion-based fanfiction, but I said the word “archive” in my very first post to the group, and people loved the idea, and that was where our efforts ended up going, so I spent the next two years learning what I needed to know to build and run a website. The SWG archive opened in 2007. It was a hand-coded website with an eFiction archive as part of it. This served us very well for many years, until we started noticing that the eFiction part of the site was returning errors every time our webhost upgraded our PHP. eFiction, by this point, hadn’t been updated in several years, and web standards were outstripping the codebase. My comod Russandol knows enough PHP that she could patch up the eFiction code to fix the errors we were seeing, but we knew it was a matter of time before that was no longer a viable option. In August 2019, after a particularly painful update that threw all kinds of errors into the site, we began investigating other archive software options.

We eventually settled on Drupal, and I began to the whole learning process again and built a few test archives. A year later, Russa and I began rebuilding the site in Drupal. We beta’ed the site, migrated the data, and opened the rebuilt site in April 2021.

I love Drupal. I love working with it, and when my job as a teacher is on my last nerve, I fantasize about becoming a Drupal developer. It is very powerful and can do amazing things. I really think you can build almost anything in it. However, with that being said, it is also a huge pain in the ass, and the more complicated the site, the more of a pain it becomes, and like many open-source projects, while there is a support community behind it, documentation is not always the best, nor geared at beginners. I don’t say this to dissuade you or anyone else from choosing Drupal. I would not un-choose it. But I do think it’s important to go into that choice with eyes open to the advantages and disadvantages it has to offer.

For anyone who is interested in building an archive in Drupal, one of my projects this summer break is to produce a tutorial series for building a start-to-finish Drupal-based fanworks archive. The tutorial series is completely outlined; I just need to record it. I will of course announce it here; it will be posted on my website (dawnfelagund.com, currently under construction) and the SWG once it is ready.

Of course, any other content management system could, in theory, be leveraged to build an archive. In my perfect world, eFiction would come back and someone would figure out how to use Wordpress to make archives. (Russa and I tried recently, but neither of us know Wordpress well enough to get the right combination of plugins.) An SWG member (whom I will not name so as to not create any pressure on her to follow through!) who knows Wordpress really well did float the idea of playing around in it to solve this problem.

So ... that’s a lot of “watch this space” for more sophisticated archive options. And this is not where I want us, as Fandom, to be. I remain hopeful, however, that there does seem to be interest in small archives at last and several projects that could turn into something viable.