Month: May 2021

Zoom Events will try to re-create the in-person conference experience

I know, I know. You’re totally video-conferenced out. The last thing you want to be thinking of is what you’re going to do next tear. But, you know, maybe now’s the best time to explore these things. Before you absolutely, positively have to.

Zoom is announcing an expanded live events product today that’s launching this summer. Zoom Events builds on Zoom’s previous paid event marketplace, OnZoom, by layering in features that can support larger multiday events and non-video activities like chat.

Zoom says it’s still building out Zoom Events in the lead up to its launch, but as it stands, it’s both a rebranding of the more small-business focused OnZoom, with new features that serve Zoom’s original pre-pandemic customers — enterprise companies. Like OnZoom, with a paid Zoom Meetings or Zoom Webinar license you’ll be able to host live events, organize them in a hub, sell tickets, and track stats like ticket sales or attendance.

Source: Zoom Events will try to re-create the in-person conference experience – The Verge

Office meetings – how to do them right even without an office #HackYourMeeting

Yes, I hate them too. So let’s do them the best we can.

Meetings are viewed as a fundamental element of every team’s communication. Everyone likes meetings, right? Because what’s there to dislike?

Meetings have nothing but advantages!

  • As a meeting participant, you gain the time to pretend you’re working while stroking your boss’s ego and, in the meantime, checking your email or social media.
  • As the organizer of the meeting, you gain a convenient way to avoid responsibility for decision-making. Don’t know what to do? Call a meeting! Hand responsibility over to the group!
  • Meetings are a cure for everything – the lack of ideas, direction, strategy… And, of course, they help build and strengthen the “team spirit.” Because frequent meetings are what makes a good team, right?
  • In addition, organizing meetings is easy – all you have to do is go through the company calendar in Google Calendar or Outlook and, as soon as you spot an empty time slot, fill it up! Add a meeting, invite all the “important” people, making sure no one is left out… or else they might feel offended!

Source: Office meetings – how to do them right even without an office

How to work from home effectively – the best tips

It’s been well over a year and the likelihood is that we’ll still be working from home for a while yet. Rather than just making do perhaps it’s time to think how best to organise ourselves for this.

Nozbe — to-do, task, project and time management application

Nozbe have some thoughts:

At Nozbe, we all work from home on a regular basis. We don’t have a physical office at all. Throughout all these #nooffice years, we’ve learned how to be the most productive while working remotely.

Work-from-home as the ultimate solution

Companies across the world are already encouraging more and more people to work from home. Businesses’ and employees’ daily routines don’t have to be hindered by switching to a home office system. Working from home in many cases can be even more effective than working in a shared office space, where people often work in noisy, open spaces and are constantly interrupted.

Our best tips for working from home

Here are our top guidelines for working from home and making the most of it.

Source: How to work from home effectively – the best tips

France embraces Google, Microsoft in quest to safeguard sensitive data | Reuters

The question of who to use, where and how your data is stored is tricky. Various legislative frameworks, often competing, make choosing a vendor problematic. This French government initiative may point the way for other countries.

Cat-and-computer

Some of France’s most sensitive state and corporate data can be safely stored using the cloud computing technology developed by Alphabet’s Google (GOOGL.O) and Microsoft (MSFT.O), if it is licensed to French companies, the government said on Monday.

The comment, part of strategic plan laid out by French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire and two other ministers, acknowledges U.S. technological superiority in the field and contrasts with previous calls from European politicians for fully homegrown alternatives.

Source: France embraces Google, Microsoft in quest to safeguard sensitive data | Reuters

SpecTrust raises millions to fight cybercrime with its no-code platform | TechCrunch

The issue of CyberSecurity grows continually, and with it the opportunities for businesses and careers in the industry.

Risk defense startup SpecTrust is emerging from stealth today with a $4.3 million seed raise and a public launch.

Cyber Mentor Fund led the round, which also included participation from Rally Ventures, SignalFire, Dreamit Ventures and Legion Capital.

SpecTrust aims to “fix the economics of fighting fraud” with a no-code platform that it says cuts 90% of a business’ risk infrastructure spend that responds to threats in “minutes instead of months.”

Source: SpecTrust raises millions to fight cybercrime with its no-code platform | TechCrunch

How to stop procrastination – BBC Science Focus Magazine

Sorry. I meant to post this last week.

You’re procrastinating right now, aren’t you? Don’t worry, we’re not judging. But we are here to tell you that you’re not alone: an estimated 20 per cent of adults (and above 50 per cent of students) regularly procrastinate.

In fact, procrastination – defined as voluntarily and unnecessarily delaying a task – is so widespread that scientists have even found evidence of the behaviour in pigeons.

So, why do so many people procrastinate? What causes it? And, most importantly, how can you stop procrastinating?

Procrastination Cycle (Procrastination, and how to beat it)

Source: How to stop procrastination, explained by a psychologist – BBC Science Focus Magazine

Writers’ block? 8 Creators share tips and inspiration

Writing is hard. This article shares some tips to unblock the muse and get writing.

Writing Free Stock Photo - Public Domain Pictures

Building an audience for your brand takes time, commitment and a lot of content. Most successful web creators have been publishing consistently for years. That can seem daunting to new creators and it’s easy to panic when the well runs empty, but there is no reason to worry. We recently spoke with eight creators about the habits, tools and inspirations that help them spark fresh content ideas.

Source: Writers’ block? 8 Creators share tips and inspiration

How to Highlight the Mouse Pointer in Windows 10

Need to make the cursor easier to see during online learning? Kevin Stratvert explains how.

In this step-by-step tutorial video, learn how to highlight your mouse cursor to make it easier for your audience to follow your mouse movements and clicks.

The two options that I feature in this video are entirely free. Highlighting your mouse pointer is especially valuable during presentations, demos, remote teaching, and screen recording. Follow along to find out how to make this work on Windows 7, 8, and 10.

At the end, I also show you how to turn on mouse highlighting within OBS or Open Broadcaster Software.

Top 20 Microsoft Word Tips and Tricks for 2021 // All the features you didn’t know existed! – #MIEexpert

A step-by-step tutorial on Mike Tholfsen’s top 20 tips and tricks for Microsoft Word. He covers many of the new Microsoft Word features that have come out in 2019, 2020 and 2021.

This is not your parents’ Word! These Microsoft Word tips and tricks include our new features based on AI and inclusive features like Editor, Dictation, Immersive Reader, Translation, and many more.

Use these MS Word tips to improve your productivity!