#time tracking software uk

[joshharvey0]

Time tracking software is a vital tool for businesses, enabling efficient management of employee work hours, project timelines, and productivity. It automates the process of recording time spent on tasks, helping businesses maintain accuracy in billing, payroll, and resource allocation. With real-time insights, companies can identify bottlenecks, optimize workflows, and enhance accountability. Ideal for remote teams, freelancers, and organizations, time tracking software ensures transparency and boosts overall productivity.

[ellipsus-writes]

Each week (or so), we'll highlight the relevant (and sometimes rage-inducing) news adjacent to writing and freedom of expression. This week:

Inkitt’s AI-powered fiction factory

Inkitt started in the mid-2010s as a cozy platform where anyone could share their writing. Fast forward twenty twenty-fuckkkkk, and like most startups, it’s pivoted hard into AI-fueled content production with the soul of an algorithm.

Pictured: Inkitt preparing human-generated work for an AI-powered flume ride to The Unknown.

Here’s how it works: Inkitt monitors reader engagement with tracking software, then picks popular stories to publish on its premium app, Galatea. From there, stories can get spun into sequels, spinoffs, or adapted for GalateaTV… often with minimal author involvement. Authors get an undisclosed cut of revenue, but for most, it’s a fraction of what they’d earn with a traditional publisher (let alone self-publishing).

“'They prey on new writers who have no idea what they’re doing,' said the writer of one popular Galatea series."

Many, many authors have side-eyed or outright decried the platform as inherently predatory for years, due to nebulous payout promises. And much of the concern centers on contracts that don’t require authors’ consent for editorial changes or AI-generated “additions” to the original text.

Now, Inkitt has gone full DiSrUpTiOn, leaning heavily on generative AI to ghostwrite, edit, generate audiobook narration, and design covers, under the banner of “democratizing storytelling.” (AI? In my democratized storytelling platform? It’s more likely than you think.)

Pictured: Inkitt’s CEO looking at the most-read stories.

But Inkitt’s CEO doesn’t seem too concerned about what authors think: “His business model doesn’t need them.”

The company recently raised $37 million, with backers including former CEOs of Sony, Penguin, and HarperCollins, proving once again that publishing loves a disruptor… as long as it disrupts creatives, not capital. And more AI companies are mushrooming up to chase the same vision: “a vision of human-created art becoming the raw material for AI-powered, corporate-owned content-production machines—a scenario in which humans would play an ever-shrinking role.”

(Not to say we predicted this, but…)

Welcome to the creator-industrial complex.

Publishers to AI: Stop stealing our stuff (please?)

Major publishers—including The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Guardian, and Vox Media—have launched a "Support Responsible AI" campaign, urging the U.S. government to regulate AI's use of copyrighted content.

Like last month's campaigns by the Authors Guild and the UK's Society of Authors, there's a website where where you can (and should!) contact your representatives to say, “Hey, maybe stop letting billion-dollar tech giants strip-mine journalism.”

The campaign’s ads carry slogans like “Stop AI Theft” and “AI Steals From You Too” and call for legislation that would force AI companies to pay for the content they train on and clearly label AI-generated content with attribution. This follows lobbying by OpenAI and Google to make it legal to scrape and train on copyrighted material without consent.

The publishers assert they are not explicitly anti-AI, but advocate for a “fair” system that respects intellectual property and supports journalism.

But… awkward, The Washington Post—now owned by Jeff Bezos—has reportedly already struck a deal with OpenAI to license and summarize its content. So, mixed signals.

Still, as the campaign reminds us: “Stealing is un-American.”

(Unless it’s profitable.)

#WarForever

We at Ellipsus love a good meme-turned-megaproject. Back in January, the-app-formerly-known-as-Twitter user @lolt64 tweeted a cryptic line about "the frozen wastes of europa,” the earliest reference to the never-ending war on Jupiter’s icy moon.

A slew of bleak dispatches from weary, doomed soldiers entrenched on Europa’s ice fields snowballed (iceberged?) into a sprawling saga, yes-and-ing with fan art, vignettes, and memes under the hashtag #WarForever.

It’s not quite X’s answer to Goncharov: It turns out WarForever is some flavor of viral marketing for a tabletop RPG zine. But the internet ran with it anyway, with NASA playing the Scorcese of the stars.

In a digital hellworld increasingly dominated by AI slopification, data harvesting, and “content at scale,” projects like WarForever are a blessed reminder that creativity—actual, human creativity—perseveres.

Even on a frozen moon. Even here.

Let us know if you find something other writers should know about, (or join our Discord and share it there!)

- The Ellipsus Team xo

[ayeforscotland]

Ad | Some Humble Bundle Goodies

One for the audio engineers - The Audio Arcade bundle gives you a whole bunch of royalty-free music and SFX as well as plugins to insert in all the major game engines. Ambient tracks, environmental sounds, explosions, you name it.

Money raised goes towards Children's Miracle Network Hospitals.

For those who dabble in Virtual Reality, the Upload VR Showcase with Devolver Digital has a bunch of Serious Sam VR games as well as the Talos Principle, a really solid puzzle game.

Money raised goes to Special Effect which helps people with disabilities enjoy games via accessible controllers. I've seen the stuff they do and it's honestly great.

Want to get into programming but don't know where to start? The Learn to Program bundle has a tonne of resources covering everything from HTML and CSS through to Python, C# and Ruby.

Money raised goes towards Code.org which seeks to expand participation in computing science by helping women and students of colour.

The Future Tech Innovators Toolkit is a software bundle with courses on Robotics, Electronics and programming with Raspberry Pi and Arduino.

Money raised goes towards Alzheimers Research UK.

The Home How-To Guides bundle offers a complete set of books for home improvements and projects. Want to know more about plumbing, home repair, bathrooms, wiring or carpentry? This bundle has you covered.

Money raised goes to It Gets Better, a charity that supports LGBT Youth.

Want to pick up the latest Elden Ring DLC? It's also available on the Humble Store with the key being redeemable on Steam.

[dxmedstudent]

We've been having a lot of medication shortages recently. And for a long time, we've known that brexit was a key component, but nobody talks about brexit any more.

For example, recently it was creon - a treatment that supplements pancreatic enzymes for patients whose pancreases don't work sufficiently well.

I've had multiple patients come in angry or in distress because one of their specialist medications has been either discontinued by the UK manufacturers or is no longer being imported. These are often medications that can't easily be switched to something else without specialist advice, and there's not always a good readily available alternative. And even if there is, sometimes it's not a medication we can prescribe until you are seen by a specialist. Which sucks when there's often a 6 month to 1 year wait to see them.

To make matters worse, whilst we get notified by big shortages, your hospital docs and GPs prescribing the meds really have no way of knowing what local stocks are like most of the time until a patient or pharmacy contacts them to let them know when there's a shortage.

Though there are one or two websites we can use for larger pharmacy chains, most of the time, I have no way to check if there are local shortages. It's not built into our prescribing software.

We usually have to rely a lot on on pharmacies to keep track of shortages, monitor their stock and let us and patients know what is or isn't available.

If you're noticing shortages in your medication, talk with your pharmacy, your GP and your specialist team if you can. But just as importantly, consider raising it with your MP. Hold politicians as a group accountable for the ways in which their policies impact our healthcate system. Make sure they are aware.

[mariacallous]

It was one of O’Rourke’s first times doing drugs, but he didn’t hold back. Armed with cannabis edibles, cocaine, ketamine, and booze, he partied for nearly 12 nights consecutively last August, during which time he claims to have raved for 60 hours—all without ever leaving his apartment. (He did take bathroom breaks and managed to eat a steak.) In the past 18 months, the 38-year-old IT worker from Dublin, who did not want his first name used due to privacy reasons, has partied on virtual reality platform VRChat every weekend, often staying up until 8 am, suited up in goggles and a full set of motion trackers.

“There’s a lot of weird shit going on, and it can be hard to adjust, but if you do it's magical,” he tells WIRED. “If you're not able to self-moderate and police yourself, it’s endless. You're not going to win; you're not going to see the end of the party.” O’Rourke is one of many who may struggle with the fantastical, escapist allure of having access to a nearly nonstop, wild metaverse party from the comfort of their own homes. Especially when he normally doesn’t have plans with friends in the real world.

Before Covid-19 lockdowns, there had barely ever been more than 20,000 concurrent users on VRChat—but its popularity has since exploded. More than 130,000 people locked into VRChat on New Year’s Day this year, according to a VR culture blog, and there are dozens of weekly VR parties thanks to organizers across the US, Europe, and Asia. Once inside the VRChat metaverse, users—who describe it to WIRED as an immersive, futuristic utopia—can choose which “maps,” or parties, they wish to explore in the form of their avatars.

Meanwhile, traditional clubs in the US and the UK are closing at an alarming rate—casualties of rising costs, lower profits, and, in places, onerous regulations around noise levels, security requirements, and closing times. The infinite amount of space available on VR, plus the lack of regulation, allows creators to blissfully ignore the economic pressures that limit nightlife in many places today. VR venues don’t charge for entry, so the main cost is hardware, which can exceed $5,000 with a high-quality gaming PC and full-body tracking devices, although a simpler setup with just a Meta Quest headset can be procured for as little as $350. There are, however, often long lines to get into the most popular virtual club nights, since they are all capped to 80 people each due to the limits of the software on the VRChat platform, which is available through host Steam.

WIRED spoke to 12 people who are engrossed in the scene, from trans people who feel safer partying in VR to introverts and seniors who find it more welcoming. It’s even spawning underground VR sex and drug subcultures, with erotic club nights and venues meant to mimic the effect of psychedelics. O’Rourke and other enthusiasts say they’ve clocked up drug-fueled, marathon dance sessions all without many of the stressors of traditional club nights.

O’Rourke, an introvert who is self-conscious about his 5-foot-4 height, co-runs a party called Euro-Corp, which resembles a traditional club space, with a narrow, wooden-looking dance floor and a DJ booth overlooking it all. He says he is putting in so many hours—almost 1,800 at the time of writing—because he feels now is the “high-water-mark moment” for the scene. “When people look back in 10 or 20 years, they’ll say now was its peak. That’s why I’m partying so hard.”

But he admits he overdoes it sometimes. “I accidentally did a heroic dose [of mushrooms], and it was a bit of a mess,” he says of a March 2024 trip during which he could not distinguish between his hallucinations and the VR world. “I haven’t taken shrooms since because it was a bit heavy.” Since then, he has decided that ketamine “synergizes most with VR,” because it enhances the levels of immersion to render the virtual reality more real.

Others, like Heelix, a 61-year-old VR DJ from Berlin who has spent nearly 5,000 hours in VR—the equivalent of about 200 days—struggle to control their drinking. “I think it's a little bit dangerous,” he says. “I’ve seen people going overboard, and [their avatars] suddenly disappearing.” Another VR party promoter says, “Because of the headset, you don’t realize how drunk you are till you take it off.” One partier says he has had friends who have needed their stomachs to be pumped after marathon drinking sessions on VRChat.

But socially awkward individuals, homebodies, and LGBT people tell WIRED that VR raves are secure and surreal spaces where, through their avatars, folks can metamorphose into whatever form they wish.

Ru, a trans woman from rural Ohio who works as a hospice nurse, says VRChat provides her a safer environment than she might find in real life. “I get sexually assaulted far less often,” says Ru, 48, who didn’t want to use her real name for professional reasons. “I'm a trans woman, and I live in the middle of a red state. Sometimes you don't want to go to that local place and deal with all of that shit.” Plus, she says that the music that DJs on VRChat play is just better than at the clubs in Ohio she has been to. “The music is unbelievable,” she says. “Go listen to your local people, and then come to any random club in VR; you're going to be shocked that your local DJs suck ass.” Ru’s virtual club, Kaleidosky, looks like the inside of a shape-shifting kaleidoscope, bending the laws of physics with all the fractal visions of a DMT trip. Her VR success as a DJ has even led her to play physical shows in Japan, although she was not the headliner. “My life has been expanded in ways that I can hardly relate to you,” she says, “all because of VR and how it brings all these different, immensely creative people together.”

Luna, a VR raver from the Netherlands, was suffering from poor mental health, unemployed, and socially alienated when she first went on VRChat at the age of 19 in 2022. “I was really depressed,” she recalls. “I didn't have work. I didn't have real friends. I was stuck at home.” But, like many before her, discovering raving changed everything. “It was like a way to experience new things, new worlds,” she says. “I loved it instantly.” She has partied so hard from her living room that her neighbors have complained. “I can dance quite wildly.”

Just like she would in the physical world, Luna developed an entire group of friends from VR rave encounters. They now pre-drink together before heading out at the weekends in VR, and sometimes they even take MDMA as a group, from their individual silos. Her first trip came in her first few months VR raving, when a friend of hers in Australia said she was going to take the euphoria-inducing drug, and fellow raver Benji, who also lives in the Netherlands, offered to mail a dose of a legal version of MDMA to Luna’s house. Later, at an in-person rave organized by a VR club, she connected with Benji; they’ve now been a couple for two and a half years, and he goes on VR far less.

But others get hooked on the platform’s rave scene, even though the experience cannot fully replicate the neurochemical correlates of a real rave, says Maria Balaet, a research associate in the department of neuroimaging studies at Imperial College London. Prolonged drug use in VR could also amplify sensory overload and cognitive fatigue, raising the risk of dissociation and having a bad trip, she warns. “Having a bad trip in VR is probably worse than a bad trip outside of VR, because once one comes out of the VR environment their body and mind needs to readjust to the world too, and that is taxing in addition to the bad trip itself.” She adds that drug use in VR could bring about a “false outward experience,” in which an individual has an inner experience in an artificially designed context. “I am not sure how long one can stay in this state without feeling disconnected or disoriented,” Balaet cautions.

Some VR ravers say they've found real-life partners and friends through virtual partying. Photograph: @ayase_

Benji and Luna first connected romantically in person, but sometimes one thing can lead to another on VRChat—with or without drugs. Through the use of VR rooms and custom avatars with adult capabilities, clothing can be removed and certain “gestures” can be performed to simulate sex. The explicit phenomenon, tucked away in private metaverse spaces, has spawned whole categories of pornographic videos on adult websites, where VR users record themselves having sex. “When people engage in ERP [erotic role-play], they typically pick out an avatar to dress the part,” according to an explainer video on how people “do it” in VRChat. “There’s special physics for body parts that can be added to avatars, as well as ‘collision,’ so that other users can interact with them.” This is against VRChat’s terms of service that prohibit creating pornographic content, and these sorts of avatars should be swiftly banned if they are active in a public world.

Heelix’s avatar is a young female anime character, and he describes how loneliness led him to find solace in VR, where he plays shows as a DJ. “All of my friends are old, and they don’t go clubbing anymore,” he says. On the occasions he has gone out by himself he has felt conscious of his greying hair and growing belly. “But here in VR I know a lot of people,” he says. “It's much easier.” Plus, “the way home is very short,” and en route he can even stop by places like one of VRChat’s sex-positive clubs, PSHQ—originally known as Pussy Squad Headquarters—where as many as 20 lap dancers can be tipped during exotic dance nights, and attendees can slope off to a motel area for what the club describes as “NSFW activities.”

Some erotic dancers, like Lichbait, have even developed popular online personas and are profiting from subscriptions, like a VR OnlyFans. PSHQ, according to its creator DeityAnubis, who did not want to be named for privacy reasons, is “a sexually positive adult space with a focus on music. The music, the dancing, the lighting, the atmosphere, the sense of community, the LGBTQ safe space, those are the important parts of PSHQ and make us what we are.”

In January, VRChat introduced age verification on the platform to ensure children were not accessing certain adult spaces, after a BBC investigation found children were able to enter VR strip clubs and could be cajoled into performing virtual sex acts. Zeus Tipado, a PhD candidate researching neuroscience at the University of Maastricht, describes VR as a mammoth social experiment, but it's one that he has increasing concerns about. Some frequent users get progressively less interested in base reality, to a far greater extent than traditional gamers, he warns. The site’s anonymity also provides cover for racist or bigoted behavior.

During one of his forays into VRChat, Tipado says, he was part of a group invited into a man’s apartment. “It was a vibey apartment,” Tipado recalls. “Everyone was watching Power Rangers. I found a nice place to sit down on the sofa, and then this guy comes up in front of everybody and tells people to take off their clothes.” Nobody took off their virtual clothes, and they were soon kicked out of his apartment for failing to comply with the request.

User safety is a top priority, a VRChat spokesperson tells WIRED, and the platform has provided users with a number of tools to protect themselves, such as making it easy to block and report others. “When our trust and safety team receives a report, they have the ability to use metadata and logs to track down and ban problematic users,” they said.

While many might assume that all VR users are on a quest to escape reality, sometimes the parties act as a gateway to live events.

Promoter James Campbell, who runs the popular Shelter map, has held events in New York, San Diego, and Los Angeles playing dubstep, bass, and other electronic music genres to bring VR ravers together.

At Shelter’s first party, in New York, attended by more than 250 people in May 2022 at the now-closed VRWorld in Midtown Manhattan, he says countless people came up to him and said it was their first ever actual rave, telling him: “I didn’t think I’d ever have the confidence to come to a show.”

[stevebattle]

T5 AKA "Thezeus 5" (1983) by Alan Dibley, Cheddar, UK. "The British finals of the [1983] Euromouse Contest were held at the Computer Fair at London's Earls Court. Alan Dibley's T4 gained victory from David Woodfield's KnownAim only because its fastest untouched run was shorter. KnownAim had made a shorter run still but had needed a helping hand round an awkward corner. T5 was also unveiled at the fair but once again reliability let it down." – Getting on to the right track, by John Billingsley.

"The lure of five free trips to Japan brought 14 micromice to Copenhagen for the 1984 European finals. … Alan Dibley brought T4, T5 and a Thezeus with revamped software. … T5 blundered on an awkward corner and failed to find the shortest path." – Top mouse, by John Billingsley, Practical Computing, November 1984.

"In Copenhagen, at Euromicro 1984 ... David Woodfield (Enterprise) and Alan Dibley (Thezeus-5) won travel prizes donated by the Japan Science Foundation to join teams from Finland and Germany in the Japanese 'All World' contest in Tsukuba, held in August 1985." – Alternative Robotics: Robat and Micromouse – the Cybernetic Challenge, by Professor John Billingsley, Practical Electronics, July 1986."

At Expo '85 in Tsukuba, "A disconsolate Alan Dibley had to explain to the audience that T-5 had leaped off a table and suffered a broken wing - the cover in which the wall sensors were mounted. Even with the help of the Japanese mousers (special thanks to Mr. Higasa) the necessary lining up and adjustments could not be made in time. T-5's servomotors had then been sacrificed in an attempt to help the Finns. T-6 had been left at the hotel in disgrace after its failure to qualify, leaving the visitors still with a zero score." – Micromice at Expo '85, by John Billingsley.

[hellkitepriest]

found your blog through the niche pornography post. immediately recognised the lyric in your blog title. IMMENSELY good taste in bands, op. what is your favourite ee song from each of their albums

well HELLO fellow ee enjoyer i really didnt expect that post to go big but here we are. this is an immense question and it’s likely that if you asked me again tomorrow my answer would be different because I Simply Love Them All.

1. MAN ALIVE: probably qwerty finger. I Love To Go On The Computer

2. ARC: duet… i come back to the line of best fit performance of it regularly

3. GET TO HEAVEN: unfortunately i’m one of the people jonathan higgs hates who really likes the deluxe tracks, so only as good as my god. if we’re just going Standard Album Tracks then s/s/w/d has a real place in my heart

4. A FEVER DREAM: it is indeed a fever dream. watch this vid if you haven’t already

5. RE-ANIMATOR: violent sun my beloved… seeing them do this several times on the most recent uk tour was like being Set On Fire it’s so. aaargh

6. RAW DATA FEEL: software greatman. voiced this opinion out loud just now and my gf went “Wow.” so i think this might be something of a Take but it’s just incredible. alex robertshaw the modular synth dweeb that you are…

7. MOUNTAINHEAD: i’m still figuring this out. for a while it was the mad stone but that may well just be Mountainhead Tour Nostalgia. i really love canary also (hence the username)

wowee i’ve really yapped here haven’t i. thank you for giving me the opportunity

[katatty]

Hi, Kat! Fellow UK simmer here - been following you for a while here on tumblr (love your MCC posts), and am currently binging all your YouTube content after recently stumbling across your channel! I have a quick question related to YouTube, if you don’t mind answering, as I’m interested in potentially making some videos of my own. May I ask what software and setup you use to record your videos? As your audio is very good, I presume you use a mic? Your screen recordings are very smooth so I’d be interested in what programme you’re using, although I’m sure your computer has a lot to do with that. I hope my question makes sense! Thanks in advance for your help.

Hello! I don't mind answering at all, I am answering it publically in case anyone else is interested but do feel free to message me if you want to chat in more detail, I'd be happy to talk shop :) I wish I had people to talk to when I started out, I was too intimidated to approach anyone lol!

(and aaaa, I'm flattered to hear you are binging my channel, thank you!! its funny (but nice!) hearing a compliment on my audio bc I am self-concious about it and think it is not the best, hahaha)

I use OBS Studio for recording, which I think is pretty standard. But I do my video editing in Vegas Pro which idk if its common (I think people usually use adobe these days?) but I used a pirated version of Vegas to make AMVs back when I was a teenager so that was what I went with XD

I do have a decent PC but also play with low cc when I am recording for Youtube, as the game runs a little smoother and doesn't lag too much, which I think looks nicer on video! I also delete all my raw footage after I have finished editing/rendering as the files can get pretty big

edit: forgot to include this (idk if useful) but my OBS settings are set to recrod at 60FPS at a resolution of 1920x1018

I do use a mic! My first few videos were just recorded on a cheap bluetooth headset I used for work but the sound quality was pretty bad, haha. TBH I don't know much about mics, my partner is a musician and has a bunch of mics & equipment so I just borrowed his stuff lol! The mic is an Audio Technica AT2020 condenser microphone and its plugged into a M-Audio M-Track Solo USB audio interface (as the mic wouldnt plug into the PC otherwise, the interface also lets you adjust the gain which is nice) but idk if you really need something that fancy. I usually see people reccommend the Yeti mic for YouTube, which doesn't need an audio interface, idk if it is actually good or not but it seems like a popular choice?

Although if you are just starting out, I would not invest in any expensive mics or anything right off the bat - since you want to see if you actually enjoy the process of making videos first before spending any money on it! (For me at least I spend a LOT more time editing footage than recording it, it's very time consuming, although I think some creators do a lot less editing so its a style preference maybe). IMO Just start out with whatever you have and you can always upgrade later.

Also, the main thing I learned quickly which I think helped me about as much as using a better mic was having good "mic discipline". That's like, making sure your head/mouth is always the right sort of distance away from the microphone, making sure its positioned properly, trying to keep the volume you speak consistant, etc. I am still not always the best at this tbh! but am getting better :D

Hope this was useful!! Like I said, please feel free to msg me if you want to chat more about YT stuff :)

[heathermarielocke]

Effective XMLTV EPG Solutions for VR & CGI Use

Effective XMLTV EPG Guide Solutions and Techniques for VR and CGI Adoption. In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, effective xml data epg guide solutions are essential for enhancing user experiences in virtual reality (VR) and computer-generated imagery (CGI).

Understanding how to implement these solutions not only improves content delivery but also boosts viewer engagement.

This post will explore practical techniques and strategies to optimize XMLTV EPG guides, making them more compatible with VR and CGI technologies.

Proven XMLTV EPG Strategies for VR and CGI Success

Several other organizations have successfully integrated VR CGI into their training and operational processes.

For example, Vodafone has recreated their UK Pavilion in VR to enhance employee training on presentation skills, complete with AI-powered feedback and progress tracking.

Similarly, Johnson & Johnson has developed VR simulations for training surgeons on complex medical procedures, significantly improving learning outcomes compared to traditional methods. These instances highlight the scalability and effectiveness of VR CGI in creating detailed, interactive training environments across different industries.

Challenges and Solutions in Adopting VR CGI Technology

Adopting Virtual Reality (VR) and Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI) technologies presents a set of unique challenges that can impede their integration into XMLTV technology blogs.

One of the primary barriers is the significant upfront cost associated with 3D content creation. Capturing real-world objects and converting them into detailed 3D models requires substantial investment, which can be prohibitive for many content creators.

Additionally, the complexity of developing VR and AR software involves specialized skills and resources, further escalating the costs and complicating the deployment process.

Hardware Dependencies and User Experience Issues

Most AR/VR experiences hinge heavily on the capabilities of the hardware used. Current devices often have a limited field of view, typically around 90 degrees, which can detract from the immersive experience that is central to VR's appeal.

Moreover, these devices, including the most popular VR headsets, are frequently tethered, restricting user movement and impacting the natural flow of interaction.

Usability issues such as bulky, uncomfortable headsets and the high-power consumption of AR/VR devices add layers of complexity to user adoption.

For many first-time users, the initial experience can be daunting, with motion sickness and headaches being common complaints. These factors collectively pose significant hurdles to the widespread acceptance and enjoyment of VR and AR technologies.

Solutions and Forward-Looking Strategies

Despite these hurdles, there are effective solutions and techniques for overcoming many of the barriers to VR and CGI adoption.

Companies such as VPL Research is one of the first pioneer in the creation of developed and sold virtual reality products.

For example, improving the design and aesthetics of VR technology may boost their attractiveness and comfort, increasing user engagement.

Furthermore, technological developments are likely to cut costs over time, making VR and AR more accessible.

Strategic relationships with tech titans like Apple, Google, Facebook, and Microsoft, which are always inventing in AR, can help to improve xmltv guide epg for iptv blog experiences.

Virtual Reality (VR) and Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI) hold incredible potential for various industries, but many face challenges in adopting these technologies.

Understanding the effective solutions and techniques for overcoming barriers to VR and CGI adoption is crucial for companies looking to innovate.

Practical Tips for Content Creators

To optimize the integration of VR and CGI technologies in xmltv epg blogs, content creators should consider the following practical tips:

Performance Analysis

Profiling Tools: Utilize tools like Unity Editor's Profiler and Oculus' Performance Head Hub Display to monitor VR application performance. These tools help in identifying and addressing performance bottlenecks.

Custom FPS Scripts: Implement custom scripts to track frames per second in real-time, allowing for immediate adjustments and optimization.

Optimization Techniques

3D Model Optimization: Reduce the triangle count and use similar materials across models to decrease rendering time.

Lighting and Shadows: Convert real-time lights to baked or mixed and utilize Reflection and Light Probes to enhance visual quality without compromising performance.

Camera Settings: Optimize camera settings by adjusting the far plane distance and enabling features like Frustum and Occlusion Culling.

Building and Testing

Platform-Specific Builds: Ensure that the VR application is built and tested on intended platforms, such as desktop or Android, to guarantee optimal performance across different devices.

Iterative Testing: Regularly test new builds to identify any issues early in the development process, allowing for smoother final deployments.

By adhering to these guidelines, creators can enhance the immersive experience of their XMLTV blogs, making them more engaging and effective in delivering content.

Want to learn more? You can hop over to this website to have a clear insights into how to elevate your multimedia projects and provide seamless access to EPG channels.

[hellsw0rth]

I'm a little late for the 28th anniversary of the TVM broadcast in the UK, but I had a bit of free time today so I remastered this track, utilising the music removal software I have to restore the brief dialogue in this scene. I also toned down that godawful harp from the original version, made the piano more prominent and tinkered a bit with some of the other instruments.

I know this track doesn't suit the 8th Doctor as a character theme/leitmotif, but I think it works well for this scene, which I why I revisited it.

I really enjoy the TVM. A repeat showing of this in 1999 in New Zealand was what made me become a hardcore fan (the 25th anniversary of which I'll be celebrating by visiting the Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder exhibition here in NZ in July). It also brought about my love of the 8th Doctor novels and BF audios, as well as an admiration of Will Sasso's work (who appeared briefly in this movie as the 'first face' the 8th Doctor saw - he's a phenomenal impressionist - seriously, check out his impressions of Jesse Ventura!).

The tinkerings were mainly to make this sound more like a 90s Hallmark movie, to match the vibes of John Debney's soundtrack.

I overdubbed a couple of things with this; the fireworks near the beginning are taken from an upload by @soundeffects5795 and the TARDIS takeoff is a recording by @tardissoundeffects7862

As with the previous release, the MIDI is by Stephen Willis (I think!) and the PNG of the Eighth Doctor by Bats66 on DeviantArt.

[thoughtportal]

The UK government has demanded that Apple creates a backdoor in its encrypted cloud service, in a confrontation that challenges the US tech firm’s avowed stance on protecting user privacy.

The Washington Post reported on Friday that the Home Office had issued a “technical capability notice” under the Investigatory Powers Act (IPA), which requires companies to assist law enforcement in providing evidence.

The demand, issued last month, relates to Apple’s Advanced Data Protection (ADP) service, which heavily encrypts personal data uploaded and stored remotely in Apple’s cloud servers, according to the Post, which said this was a “blanket” request that applied to any Apple user worldwide. The ADP service uses end-to-end encryption, a form of security that means only the account holder can decrypt the files and no one else can – including Apple.

Apple declined to comment. However, in a submission to parliament last year it flagged its concerns about the IPA, saying it provided the government with “authority to issue secret orders requiring providers to break encryption by inserting backdoors into their software products”.

Apple touts privacy as one of its “core values” and describes it as a “fundamental human right”.

The Apple document refers to the ADP feature, claiming that “reporters and technical experts across the globe” welcomed it as an “invaluable protection” for private data.

The submission also indicates that Apple would refuse to cooperate with a request, saying the company would “never build a backdoor” and would rather withdraw “critical safety features” from the UK market.

However, the submission also points out that the IPA allows the UK government to impose requirements on companies based in other countries that apply to users globally.

Alan Woodward, a professor of cybersecurity at Surrey University, said the UK government had “lit the blue touch paper on a truly enormous fight in the never-ending saga of the encryption debate”.

He added: “I don’t see how this is to be resolved, as Apple has made such a big point of privacy for users. If they accede to this technical notice their reputation will be in tatters. They’re bound to challenge it.”

End-to-end encryption has become a battleground between successive UK governments and tech companies, with ministers arguing that the technology prevents law enforcement agencies from tackling criminals, including child abusers.

Companies are also barred from revealing whether they have received a technology capability notice under the IPA. The Washington Post reported that by the time Apple made its submission in March last year the US-based company had been informed that a notice might be served on it. The newspaper said the Biden administration had been tracking the matter since the UK government told Apple it might demand access, and Apple had said it would refuse.

A Home Office spokesperson said: “We do not comment on operational matters, including, for example, confirming or denying the existence of any such notices.”

The submission related to amendments to the IPA passed last year under Rishi Sunak’s government and included giving ministers power to clear in advance any product changes that could alter the UK government’s ability to access users’ data.

One expert warned that the multinational nature of the order could lead to a clash with the EU, which has an agreement with the UK allowing the free flow of personal data between the EU and UK – such as a company in Europe using a datacentre in the UK. The agreement comes up for review this year.

“This may provide a backdoor for access to European citizen data which could go against our ability to retain the rights to share personal data without restriction between the UK and Europe,” said Ross McKenzie, a data protection partner at the UK law firm Addleshaw Goddard.

[business-savers]

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[inwizardstechnologies]

How much does Odoo developer cost per hour? — Inwizards

Odoo is a powerful, open-source business management software suite that offers a wide range of applications for various business needs, including customer relationship management (CRM), e-commerce, accounting, inventory management, and more. As a business owner or decision-maker, understanding the Odoo developer cost per hour is crucial for budgeting and ensuring the success of your projects.

Factors Affecting Odoo Developer Cost

There are several factors affecting the cost of hiring an Odoo developer which includes::

Experience and Expertise

The experience and expertise of an Odoo developer is one of the most significant factors that influence their cost per hour. Developers with a proven track record and extensive knowledge of the Odoo platform typically charge higher rates. Their expertise can ensure smoother project execution and fewer errors, ultimately saving time and money in the long run.

Project Complexity

The complexity of your Odoo project can greatly impact the hourly cost. Projects that require customizations, integration with other systems, or the development of complex modules may demand higher hourly rates. It’s essential to assess the complexity of your project accurately to budget accordingly.

Geographic Location

The location of your developer is another important determinant of the cost per hour. If you hire Odoo developers in Western countries such USA, Denmark, Germany, UK, etc. then they might charge higher rates compared to those in Eastern Europe, Asia, or other regions. However, to reduce your Odoo software development cost and maintain the quality, it’s crucial to strike a balance between cost and quality. The Developers from lower-cost regions like India, are also skilled and experienced and can provide excellent services.

In-House vs. Outsourcing

Deciding whether to hire an in-house Odoo developer or outsource the work to a development agency can significantly impact costs. In-house developers may have higher monthly salaries and additional overhead costs, while outsourcing can offer more flexibility and potentially lower hourly rates.

Average Odoo Developer Hourly Rates

Understanding the average hourly rates for Odoo development services can help you establish a realistic budget. On a global scale, Odoo developers may charge anywhere from $20 to $150 per hour. The specific rate depends on the factors mentioned earlier, with experienced developers and those in high-cost regions commanding the higher end of the spectrum.

Regional variations also play a substantial role in cost differences. For instance, a developer with 5+ Years of experience in North America or Western Europe typically charges more in comparison with Eastern Europe, Asia, or South America. Assessing the rates in your region is crucial for accurate budgeting.

Ways to Optimize Odoo Development Costs

While Odoo development costs are a significant consideration, there are several strategies to optimize and manage your expenses effectively:

Effective Project Planning

Thorough project planning can help identify potential cost-saving opportunities. Clearly define project requirements and goals, which can prevent scope creep and unnecessary expenses during the development process.

Choosing the Right Odoo Developer

Invest time in finding the right developer or development team for your project. Look for professionals with relevant experience, and consider outsourcing if it aligns with your budget constraints.

Open Source Solutions

Leveraging open source Odoo modules and solutions can significantly reduce development costs. These pre-built Odoo modules can be customized as per your specific business needs. It will save your time as well as reduce your Odoo Software development cost.

Long-Term Savings

Consider the long-term benefits of your Odoo development project. While hourly rates are important, a project that’s executed effectively can yield substantial savings through improved efficiency and increased revenue.

Real-World Examples

To provide a clearer picture of Odoo development costs, here are a couple of real-world examples:

Case Study 1: E-commerce Integration

A small e-commerce business based in Eastern Europe hired an experienced Odoo developer for $40 per hour. The project involved integrating their online store with the Odoo platform. Despite the hourly rate, the project was completed efficiently before the pre-defined time, which led to a 30% increase in sales within the first year.

Case Study 2: Custom Module Development

A medium-sized manufacturing company in North America opted to hire a local Odoo developer for $100 per hour to create custom modules for inventory management. While the hourly rate was higher, the project was executed flawlessly, resulting in a 20% reduction in operational costs within six months.

Conclusion

In conclusion, understanding how much an Odoo developer costs per hour is a vital part of your project’s success. While hourly rates can vary significantly, it’s essential to balance cost with expertise and project requirements. By effectively planning your project, choosing the right developer, and considering long-term savings, you can optimize your Odoo development costs while ensuring a successful outcome.

FAQs of Odoo developer cost

1. Is it better to hire an in-house Odoo developer or outsource the work?

The choice between hiring in-house or outsourcing depends on your specific needs and budget. In-house developers offer more control but may be costlier, while outsourcing can provide cost savings and flexibility.

2. Are there any open source Odoo modules available for businesses?

Yes, there are numerous open source Odoo modules that can be customized to suit your business needs. They offer a cost-effective way to extend the functionality of your Odoo system.

3. How can I assess the complexity of my Odoo development project accurately?

To assess project complexity, consider factors such as the number of customizations, integrations, and unique requirements. Consulting with an experienced Odoo developer can help you gauge the project’s complexity.

4. What is the typical duration of an Odoo development project?

The duration of an Odoo development project can vary widely based on the project’s complexity. Simple projects may take a few weeks, while more complex ones could span several months.

5. Can I negotiate hourly rates with an Odoo developer?

Yes, you can often negotiate hourly rates with developers. However, keep in mind that experienced developers may have set rates based on their expertise and the quality of their work.

Originally published at https://www.inwizards.com on October 26, 2023.

[cindylouwho-2]

Etsy's Removal of the "Other" Shipping Option - What Sellers Need to Know

Late in September, Etsy removed the "Other" option from the US and UK shipping carrier lists that sellers choose from when setting up shipping options. They also initially removed it from all print-on-demand (POD) items made in those two countries, although Etsy staff later claimed that was an error.

This is problematic for both shop owners who ship using services Etsy does not recognize in their pre-set lists, and those who find the carriers' estimated times to be too short. Many types of packages are more easily and cheaply sent through carriers Etsy doesn't have an option for, including furniture items. Sellers in many countries have relied on "Other" to protect them from angry shoppers who expect instant delivery, even overseas. This is even more important now that Etsy has updated its legal policies to confirm that packages arriving after the expected delivery date are eligible for full refunds under the Purchase Protection Program.

Right now, listings can be sold and relisted without updating the shipping profile information, but sellers in the UK and the US cannot edit old listings or create new ones using the "Other" option. We should expect that the existing "Other" listings will eventually be deactivated if not updated to Etsy's new requirements.

Since Etsy started first doing this in May, and since the corporation has increasingly pressured sellers to ship with tracking Etsy recognizes for a few years now, this change is unlikely to be reversed; at best, it might be delayed. I strongly suggest pressuring Etsy to offer more options in their pre-set list, and to make those delivery time frames more accurate.

However, the good news is that Etsy is correct about something: the fact that the companies and times on the pre-set options sellers are now forced to use are not visible to buyers at any point, and Etsy often relies on modified delivery estimates instead of the ones shown, as confirmed in the screenshot above. That means some sellers can follow Etsy's suggestion of choosing the closest available option to replace "Other"; the delivery estimates shown to customers will frequently be longer than those shown in the pre-sets. You can change 1 listing and then try shopping as a guest incognito to see what times are shown to buyers in different areas to confirm this. Etsy will later update the expected delivery date if necessary once it has valid tracking it can read, even if that tracking is not one of the options sellers could choose initially.

Is this an acceptable solution? No, not at all. The times will still be off for some sellers, occasionally by quite a lot - my inbox is full of examples. There is no reason Etsy could not update its list of pre-set shipping options for listings to include more of them, with more accurate delivery time frames. Heck, they apparently do not even include some of the specific services that are available as Etsy Labels! But updating the company's software costs money; it's cheaper to foist all of the work and a lot of the risk onto the sellers.

If you aren't in the US or the UK, be aware this will likely spread to other countries soon enough, so keep an eye out for problems with your listings, and make a plan now.

[mariacallous]

Just days after people gleefully posted their Spotify Wrapped, bad news came for the music streaming giant. Spotify announced today that it would cut 17 percent of its workforce, a chunk that equates to an estimated 1,500 people. It’s the third time the world’s largest music streamer has cut jobs this year.

The news came after Spotify posted its first profitable quarter since 2021. In a memo to staff, CEO Daniel Ek said the company had expanded its workforce and offerings significantly throughout 2020 and 2021, thanks to lower-cost capital, but is now bumping up against the same problems startups across industries are facing, like high capital costs and slowed economic growth.

Ek said the cuts may seem “surprisingly large given the recent positive earnings report and our performance,” but due to “the gap between our financial goal state and our current operational costs,” Spotify would take “substantial action.”

Despite its popularity (Spotify held 30 percent of the music streaming market by late 2022), the company has long struggled to turn consistent profits. The layoffs wrap up a bad year: Spotify cut 6 percent of its workforce last January, followed by another 2 percent in June as it slimmed down its podcasting business. Even as the world’s most recognizable music streaming service, Spotify is plagued by an unreliable business model, one in which record companies sit back and rake in royalty payments while artists can struggle to bring in enough cash.

“Investors are increasingly impatient in 2023 for tech firms to start making money,” says Phil Bird, head of rights and royalties at the software development company Vistex. Spotify isn’t alone—tech companies have slashed jobs throughout the year, with more than 250,000 people losing jobs worldwide in 2023, according to layoffs.fyi, a site that tracks job cuts in tech.

Many major tech companies that overhired during the pandemic have taken steps to rightsize—and that’s what Ek says Spotify is doing now. But Spotify’s high cost to license music adds to its financial strain. “The cost of doing business is huge for streaming companies,” Bird says.

Spotify gained momentum in the third quarter of 2023, earning €32 million ($34.6 million) in operating income. It now has 226 million subscribers and 574 million monthly users. “On the surface, it looks great,” says Simon Dyson, senior principal analyst of music and digital audio at consultancy firm Omdia. “It’s [those] nagging costs that it can’t get on top of.”

Spotify and the recording industry have a deeply entwined and sticky relationship: Spotify is seen by some as a savior of the music industry, which flailed after Napster upended music downloading in 1999, but artists earn wildly different incomes based on how Spotify pays. According to a calculation from Billboard, Taylor Swift may have earned nearly $100 million from streaming on Spotify so far this year. Smaller artists earn far less, and music streaming models have long been accused of exploiting them.

Like Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music are each charging $10.99 per month for premium subscriptions, and each give access to 100 million songs. But unlike Spotify, Apple and Amazon have massive streams of revenue elsewhere to fall back on. So Spotify has spent the past few years looking for that standout content. It spent more than $1 billion building its podcast world and acquiring exclusive deals to shows like The Joe Rogan Experience. This fall, it began offering paying subscribers in the UK and Australia free audiobook access for 15 hours each month.

The music streaming fight isn’t like the streaming wars, where Max, Netflix, Hulu, and others can each lure in subscribers with a combination of classic and original movies and shows. If Spotify were to charge more for music (it already increased monthly prices from $9.99 to 10.99 in the US this summer), it would risk losing people to comparable services, where people can find the same songs. But unless it can convince people to pay more for music, it might continue to struggle.

“It’s too cheap,” says Dyson. “To have access to every single piece of music that’s ever been released—and ever will be released—for $10 a month is just astounding.” The same is true of Spotify today as was true when it was founded 17 years ago: It’s a business that’s good for listeners and labels but bad for both streamers and artists.

[ukpalletcommercialdeliveries]

Get the Cheapest Pallet Delivery for Your Business with UK Pallet Commercial Deliveries

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