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I like chatting with my friendswho doesnt?but I dont always know where to find them. There are simply too many apps. Some of my friends text, others use WhatsApp, while others yet insist on using Discord or the DM feature in whatever random social network they prefer. Its a mess, and it can mean keeping several tabs open all day just to keep the conversations flowing. It makes you wish some application could combine all of your conversations into one place. This is a dream that used to be reality. Applications like Trillian, Pidgin, and Adium all combined instant messaging services like AIM, MSN, and ICQ in one handy interface. Over time, though, messaging services got more protective of their APIs, and these sorts of all-in-one portals slowly stopped working. The dream, it seems, is dead. Or is it? This tip originally appeared in the free Cool Tools newsletter from The Intelligence. Get the next issue in your inbox and get ready to discover all sorts of awesome tech treasures! Messaging, minus the mess Time to meetor maybe just rememberan exceptional app that takes all of your messages and puts them in a single streamlined interface for easy, ongoing access. The app is called Beeper. It can connect to all the major messaging platforms: Google Messages, WhatsApp, Instagram, Telegram, Google Chat, Facebook Messenger, Signal, LinkedIn, X, Discord, and Slack. Its one application for all of your conversations no matter where they might be happening. Installing Beeper is quicka minute or two, tops, but adding in all of your messaging services could take longer, depending on how many different things youre connecting. Now, if Beeper rings a bell, theres probably a reason. You may recall a controversy around Beeper a few years back involving Apple. The application was initially launched as a way for Android users to send blue bubble messages to Apple usersa feature Apple then worked diligently to shut down. (These days, Beeper can connect to iMessage only via its desktop Mac version.) In the time since then, the programs been acquired by Automattic, the same company behind WordPress and Tumblr, and given both new resources and a new reason for existing. If you have an Android phone, you can use it to manage your text messages alongside messages from other applications (something that, as an iPhone user myself, makes switching to Android a tempting option). And no matter what type of phone youre using, combining several little-used messaging apps into one that you keep openon your phone and/or computeris in and of itself worthwhile. I hardly ever open LinkedIn or Facebook, for instance, and yet I never miss any messages on either platform with Beeper in the mix. Beeper unites all your chat apps and makes them feel like a single streamlined communication system. Ive personally been using Beeper for years, and I love that it creates a single inbox for all of my ongoing conversations across any applications. Before this tool, I would constantly see a notification, intend to respond, and then never get around to it because the message came in via an application I dont check often. That doesnt happen anymore. I honestly believe Beeper makes me better at keeping in touch. I also like that you can archive messages, allowing you to create a sort of inbox zero for text messages. If I see something I intend to respond to later, I simply leave it un-archived in my inboxthe same as I do with emailsthen power through my messages whenever I have a minute. There are a bunch of other nice features beyond that. On the desktop computer front, Beepers keyboard shortcutsincluding a built-in command barmean I can jump between conversations without ever touching my mouse. I could go on, but you get the idea. Beeper is just a well-put-together piece of software that solves a common problem. It takes a little bit of fidgeting to get going at first, but the results are 100% worth it. Beeper runs on Android, iPhone, iPad, ChromeOS, macOS, Windows, and Linuxso basically, everything. The service offers a free version that supports up to five accounts on different messaging services, which is probably plenty for most people. If you need to connect to more than that, youll have to spring for a paid subscription, starting at $10 a month (or $100 a year). Many of Beepers integrations run in the cloud, meaning an encrypted copy of your messages does get stored by the company. The privacy policy is pretty solid, though, and there are no ads or data monetization built into the application. Its funded entirely by subscribers. Treat yourself to all sorts of brain-boosting goodies like this with the free Cool Tools newsletterstarting with an instant introduction to an incredible audio app thatll tune up your days in truly delightful ways.
Category:
E-Commerce
More than 2,700 “No Kings” anti-Trump protests and community events are scheduled to take place today, Saturday, October 18, in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. And a majority of those events are in small and medium-size towns, as the grassroots pro-democracy movement spreads to all corners of the country. This latest protest comes amid a federal government shutdown and as Trump has deployed National Guard troops to an increasing number of American cities. The event is organized by Indivisible, a progressive grassroots movement, and a coalition of more than 20 partners that includes the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), 50501, and MoveOn. It builds on the momentum of the first “No Kings Day” protest on June 14and today’s event is expected to exceed that day’s turnout of 5 million people. “We are anticipating the largest turnout in Washington, D.C.; Chicago; NYC; Boston; Atlanta; New Orleans; San Francisco; Kansas City; Honolulu; and Bozeman, Montana,” the “No Kings” organizers said in a statement emailed to Fast Company. While organizers are anticipating the largest gatherings in major cities, which may grab most of the headlines, a majority of the events are actually taking place in rural, small, and midsize towns. This map shows a complete list of locations for the “No Kings” events in each state scheduled nationwide. (A core principle of the protests is nonviolence, and the No Kings.org website also provides training in de-escalation.) Fast Company has rounded up some of the events taking place in lesser-known cities, which form the backbone of the “No Kings” movement today. Here are six of them below. Bryson City, North Carolina In Bryson City (population 1,500), attendees are gathering for a public protest on Main Street. Burns, Oregon No Kings Harney County is gathering in Burns (pop. 2,700) in peace and solidarity to voice our opposition to government overreach, and our support for the First Amendment . . . and all those oppressed by the MAGA regime. Storm Lake, Iowa Protestors in Storm Lake (pop. 12,000) are once again standing up to say, NO KINGS IN AMERICA” at the town sign, as they did for the first “No Kings” event in June. Traverse City, Michigan The Traverse City (pop. 16,000) event is being held at the Grand Traverse County Civic Center, and it will include speakers, live music, and a demonstration. Attendees are encouraged to bring items to donate to local food banks. Maryville, Tennessee Organizers in Maryville (pop. 32,000) are encouraging local participants to dress to honor democracy, by wearing costumes celebrating American icons like Uncle Sam, the Statue of Liberty, and historical heroes who defended democracy. Manitowoc, Wisconsin Manitowoc (pop. 35,000) is holding a rally and food drive in Washington Park, the site of the towns first county fair in 1859, that will include a performance by the Raging Grannies of Madison, a social justice organization of older women with chapters in eight countries.
Category:
E-Commerce
When Starbucks announced that it would phase out its mobile-order pickup-only locations beginning in 2026, it raised a question: Why abandon a format seemingly built for speed and efficiency? As Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol explained in an earnings call, the pickup-only stores have a transactional feel, lacking the warmth and human connection that defines our brand. While Niccol also touted the mobile-order options at its traditional coffee shops, I see Starbuckss move as an attempt to return to its roots as a third placea destination between home and work where people can gather and connect. But this sort of pivot comes with trade-offs, and it creates interesting market opportunities for competitors. As a marketing professor and a coffee connoisseur, Im offering this analysis to go with your morning cup of joe. The two types of coffee shop patrons In general, coffee shops attract two distinct customer segments. The first are what I call stay-and-savor customerspeople who mostly use the site as a place to meet others or work. Their primary interest is in the space, not the mocha or muffins. The second are grab-and-go customerspeople who want a consistent product, delivered efficiently. They dont linger at the store, so the place is less important to them than convenience, speed, and product quality. Think of the morning rush at your local coffee joint. Starbuckss pickup-only stores, branded as Starbucks PICK UP, cater to grab-and-go customers. If you dont live in a busy area, you might never have heard of the brand: There are fewer than 100 Starbucks PICK UPs, many in densely packed cities. In contrast, there are about 17,000 sit-in Starbucks stores across the United States. That means the companys plan will affect just 0.5% of its locations. Thats not very much. So why does this change have me a little, well, steamed up? Back to the third place, whether you like it or not As I said before, I see this move as part of an effort to emphasize stay-and-savor customers over their grab-and-go counterparts. Indeed, Niccols recent earnings call presentation claimed that Starbucks is prioritizing warmth, connection, and community. Starbucks also published a document stating its principles for upholding the third place, and its commitment seems to be more than just rhetorical. The problem is that coffee shops arent like regular restaurants in terms of menu prices and customer spending. Stay-and-savor customers are costly to serve for coffee shops, and may generate insufficient revenue, making them less profitable. That could be bad for the bottom line. The change could also have unintended consequences for workers and customers. For example, pickup-only stores allow employees to focus on food and beverage preparation, with less pressure to engage in small talk in the hopes of generating warmth and tips. Indeed, much academic research has shown that restaurant workers who serve customers report more emotional labor and stress and worse morale and well-being than those who dont. In contrast, Starbucks rivals such as Dunkin and the Chinese new entrant Luckin Coffee have embraced the grab-and-go customers. These rivals provide space for seating, but they dont elevate their positioning as if their baristas are serving warmth, connection, and community. Starbucks CEO Niccol has described the plan as a sunsetting. Id watch out for Dunkin and Luckin Coffee and, of course, Starbuckss financials in 2026, to determine whether the Starbucks sun sets or rises. Vivek Astvansh is an associate professor of quantitative marketing and analytics at McGill University. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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E-Commerce
Weve all heard it: For decades, its been a crux of career advice. Keep every door open. Stay on good terms. Never fully walk away. Dont burn that bridge. But that advice was followed during a different time and for workplaces that were designed to keep you in line, not further your career. In todays fast-moving workforce, clinging to outdated relationships, toxic workplaces, or unfair structures isnt loyalty. Its self-sabotaging. Its time to rethink what was once considered the norm. Sometimes burning a bridge isnt reckless. Its strategic. Its the first step toward building something better in your career. Why Dont Burn Bridges No Longer Works The original phrase came from the military: destroy the bridge behind you so you cant retreat. In modern work life, its been turned into never cut ties, even if those ties are choking your growth. The reason for this advice? To protect the system, not you. To make sure you dont disrupt the corporate hierarchy, question what was once considered normal, or hold higher powers accountable. But when youre trauma-bonded to bad bosses, toxic workplaces and colleagues, or exploitative industries, staying connected keeps you stuck. It prevents advancement. It robs you of the energy you need to move forward. Lets be clear: walking away is complicated. Here are five ways to burn bridges and do it in a way thats bold, healthy, and future-career focused: 1. Walk away, with both feet. If youre constantly keeping one foot in the past and one in the present, youll never fully be able to march toward your future. When you make the decision to break free from a place or a person holding you back, you must commit to the ending. Any ambivalence will send mixed messages to what you no longer want in your life and to yourself. Stop meeting your former toxic boss for coffee. Dont like and comment on posts by the person who mistreated you. Block the number in your phone that sends a shiver down your spine every time you see it pop up. Cut the cord. 2. Stand for your boundaries. Create, communicate, and comply with the boundaries that you need and require that those who you allow in your life do the same. Writer, broadcaster, and podcaster Emma Gannon is known for saying, The only people who get upset when you start setting boundaries are the ones who benefited from you not having them. You will be met with resistance because you are no longer allowing others to mistreat you. Dont take that pushback as a sign to retreat. Its working. This is what it looks like. Decide where you will spend your time and energy and who with. Is the monthly networking dinner you signed up for still serving you? What about the subscription to the organization that no longer feels aligned? Its time to stop feeding the people and places that no longer support the life youre designing. Cancel whats not adding value. 3. Protect yourself. Who is the version inside of you who wasntor isntsafe? Now, go to them and tell them that you know a way out. Lead them there, hand in hand, and dont stop until you get to the other side. So much of growth is about knowing better and then, doing better. You now have the power to rewrite your story. Make sure youre the main character in this edition. Do you remember what it felt like to be in the midst of your career chaos? Its time to hold that emotion again and release it. Write a letter to that version of yourself acknowledging, honoring, and validating the experience. Tell them what youre doing differently now so that it will never happen again. So much of healing and moving forward is dependent upon witnessing what was. And getting those feelings out of your body onto paper is a powerful tool in the process. 4. Build your own bridge. We spend a lot of time running to the next thing. Preparing for the next challenge. Rushing to achieve the next milestone. Its a perfect recipe for never enjoying anything youve worked for. Stop. Look around. This was your goal at one point in time. And even if its not exactly the way you want it to be, you have achieved so much. Stand at the peak of your in-between. Look to the left at whereand whoyouve been. Look to the right at where youre going, at who youre meant to be. Thank them, the you of this moment. They deserve to be celebrated. Share what youre doing with people you trust. Yes, they can hold you accountable, but they will also be there to celebrate these important steps youre taking: burning the bridges to a past that no longer serves you; building a bridge to a future that is ready to fulfill you. You cant do it alone. Surround yourself with the people who want to see you win. 5. Walk to the other side. Your new bridge is built. The decaying and diseased bridges are burned. All the planning and strategizing and vision boarding in the world means nothing unless you take action. Rewiring the conditioning inside of you that tells you dont burn bridges takes effort, determination, and commitment. But the act of making a different choiceof reprogramming an operating system that at one point brought you safety, success, and solacetakes conviction. You must commit to this shift and start changing your daily habits if you want to realize this new life for yourself. No one else will do it for you. It is up to you. This is our way forward: New system. New rules. New path. Lets stop asking others for directions to places theyve never been. Lets stop taking directions from others to places theyll never go. Lets build our own bridges. On our own terms. Ive gone back too many timesto people and places in my career that have burned me; Ive put my hand into the fire again and again thinking that maybe, this time, it wont be so hot. Ive slipped back while climbing my way out of quicksand because giving in felt so much easier. I even taught myself that it actually felt good. When we always keep one foot behind, wedged inside this mythical door that must remain open indefinitely, we never fully move forward. Its time. Close the door. Walk away. Burn the bridge. Build a new bridge. Cross it. Burning bridges isnt self-destructive. Its an act of self-preservation. And you will always be worth saving.
Category:
E-Commerce
Formula One announced a five-year deal Friday with Apple, which will be the global motorsports series’ U.S. broadcast partner beginning next season. ESPN had been the broadcast partner since 2018 and through the explosion of popularity of F1 in the United States, but it notified the series at the start of this year that it would not be extending its deal. At the same time, Apple was working with the series on F1: The Movie, an original film released internationally in cinemas and Imax in June. It will make its global streaming debut on Apple TV in December, and has already grossed nearly $630 million globallyas both the most successful sports movie in history and the most lucrative of Brad Pitt’s career. The relationship made Apple the front-runner to land the U.S. broadcast rights. Financial terms were not released. I feel like I am on the podium. This is amazing, said Eddy Cue, Apples senior vice president of services. “Our vision for Apple TVwe wanted to deliver customers the best story from the most creative storytellers. We launched in 2019, we started with nine original series, and now weve got a deep library of over 300 shows and movies and thousands of hours. And everyone on Apple TV in the U.S. will now get Formula One, he added. Theyre going to get everything that Formula One has to offer. Apple plans to air F1 on Apple TV as well as amplify the series across Apple News, Apple Maps, Apple Music, Apple Sports, and Apple Fitness+. Apple TV will also host all practice, qualifying, sprint sessions, and races. Select races and all practice sessions throughout the season will also be available to watch for free in the Apple TV app. F1 TV Premium, F1s own premier content offering, will continue to be available in the U.S. via an Apple TV subscription and will be free to Apple subscribers. Apple TV is available in over 100 countries and regions on over 1 billion screens, including iPhone and other products, such as PlayStation and Xbox gaming consoles. Cue said Apple’s reach will only help grow F1 in the United States, which currently hosts races in Miami, Las Vegas, and this weekend in Austin. “The many millions of Apple TV viewers that we have in the U.S., we know many of them are Formula One fans, hopefully, and we know that many of them are not yet,” he said. “Were going to be able to bring [new fans] to the table right away; thats very much low-hanging fruit. The deal with Apple was praised by Dan Towriss, CEO of TWG Motorsports and the Cadillac Formula One team that will debut next season. As we build a truly American team, Apples scale, influence, marketing and, most importantly, deep commitment to innovation will bring us to American audiences in exactly the ways we want to reach them, Towriss said. Stefano Domenicali, F1 president and CEO, noted the potential for growth. This is an incredibly exciting partnership for both Formula One and Apple that will ensure we can continue to maximize our growth potential in the U.S. with the right content and innovative distribution channels,” Domenicali said. “We have a shared vision to bring this amazing sport to our fans in the U.S. and entice new fans through live broadcasts, engaging content, and a year-round approach to keep them hooked. Domenicali also praised the coverage and growth ESPN brought the series over eight seasons. Were incredibly proud of what we and Formula One accomplished together in the United States and look forward to a strong finish in this final season,” ESPN said in a statement. “We wish F1 well in the future. By Jenna Fryer, AP auto racing writer
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E-Commerce
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