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7 Tips for Buying a Used MacBook Pro

Portable computers, better known as laptops, have been an integral part of our lives for a decade. Until then, they were quite expensive, very bulky and had other disadvantages due to which not so many people used them. But now virtually everyone has them. Primarily because everyone needs them for work. When we tell everyone, we really mean it. Gone are the days when they were needed only by programmers, people who live as digital nomads and other professions that are closely related to the use of computers. Today you need a laptop whether you are a professor, fitness trainer or pilot.

The biggest difference you will notice in the market is between laptops that use the Windows operating system and those that are manufactured by Apple and use MacOS. Our focus today is on Macintosh portable computers. To be more precise, the high-end representative of the MacBook family, and is the MacBook Pro. We don’t want to talk about the quality of all Apple products, because we all know they are simply the best. MacBook Pro is no different. But there is certainly one reason why not so many people have them compared to Windows models. And that reason is the price. Still, there’s a way not to spend too much money but still buy a MacBook Pro. And the solution is to buy a used one. To avoid making a mistake when buying, read the tips for buying a used MacBook Pro.

Source: PowerPlanetOnline

1. Check the year of manufacture

You’ve probably found an ad that says the device is like new and you can be sure it will serve you for years. There’s no reason not to believe it’s true, because Apple devices last incomparably longer than others whether it’s a MacBook, iPhone, Mac Mini, iPad, etc. However, you need to check the year of manufacture to know if you are buying exactly the model you want. They all look similar at first glance, so if you are not an expert, you will find it difficult to distinguish them, especially the models produced for example in 2017 and 2018.

Although there is a possibility that even 10-year-old models will serve you well, you should not buy older than 3 years, maximum 5. You can check the year of production in two ways. The first is to visit the About This Mac section and there you will find the information you are looking for. If the operating system is not active, then find the serial number on the bottom of the laptop itself. With the help of a serial number, you get all the necessary information on the official Apple site or other specialized sites like techable.com. Along with the year of manufacture, you will also find out about warranty and other important data.

 

2. Perform control of the display

Since 2012, the MacBook Pro has a Retina display of very high resolution and quality. However, you need to make sure that everything is working properly, as there may be damage that you cannot see with the naked eye. What you need to do is run one of the dead pixels checker software and find out if everything is ok. An alternative is to open a photo with a mono-color background and try 5 basic colors. Both methods will show you if there are damaged pixels. For example, if you notice a dead pixel, that is not a cause for alarm. This can happen, but will not affect long-term use. However, if there is a group of dead pixels, it is not a device you should buy.

Source: Macworld

3. See for signs of physical damage

Physical damage is not something that should be tolerated on any electronic device, so even in this case. Check the screws first, as this will show you if someone unprofessional has replaced something inside. Minor scratches are not important, but any dents and the like are a red flag. Another thing you need to check is whether the display can stand in every angle. If it falls, then it means it is damaged.

4. Check battery condition

After all, you buy a MacBook Pro to have a laptop that you can use anywhere, rather than being tied to a power supply, like you have a desktop computer. Since battery replacement is very expensive, it is important to check the battery condition. Fortunately, it is very easy to check the condition of the battery. All you have to do is find the “System information” and the “Power” section that will tell you everything you need to know. There is something called cycle count and it is essential that there are many more cycles. Also, the battery status should be “Normal”. If you notice that one of these two is not ok, either do not buy that device or ask for a significant price reduction as you will have to replace the battery soon.

Source: Forbes

5. Check the keyboard

The condition of the keyboard should be checked, because although it can be replaced and is not too expensive, the entire device has to be disassembled during that process, and this is certainly not recommended. So open some documents and check each individual button.

Source: AppleInformed

6. Don’t forget the camera

You will need a camera almost every day, especially for video calls. As most people now work from home, Skype meetings, using Zoom and other apps are a must, so the camera must be in a good condition. Open “Photobooth” or one of the apps like Skype, Facetime, etc., and see for yourself that everything works properly.

Source: The Verge

7. Sound and audio test

You probably won’t forget to check if the speakers are working, but that’s not the only thing you need to check when it comes to sound. Also test whether the headphones are working normally, as the ports, for example, may be damaged. Replacing ports is not something you want to do as soon as you buy a MacBook Pro.

Conclusion:

The MacBook Pro is a fantastic laptop, and nothing less is expected from Apple premium products. That’s why buying a used one is a great choice, but you have to be careful and detailed in checks, as well as when buying anything used.

Things to Know Before Considering Payday or Installment Loan

Source: pexels.com

For most people, the best solution when they need to buy something is to get a loan from a bank or some other financial institution. Depending on the amount of money that you need, the bank might require different terms. For instance, the process of getting leasing is easier than getting funds to buy a house. However, in case that there is no reason to borrow so much money, the best options are the one where you have to return the money with your next paycheck, or the installment option, where you can return the money over a certain period. Both methods are excellent for dealing with expenses related to repairs, vacations, emergencies, but also to invest in a business, and more. Also, if you are interested in getting a Payday loan in a simple and fast way, visit bluelineloan.com.

Furthermore, while both methods represent a great option for getting funds without the need to deal with complicated papyrology like can be a case with a mortgage, leasing, or some other type where you can get much more money, there are still some differences between them as well. You should learn more about the main features and terms. Therefore, we are going to introduce you to some of the most important things that you should know about these two popular options.

Source: thebalancesmb

Main Features

First of all, both options serve as a way to get funds and return them in a short period. Therefore, you will have to check the details before choosing any of them. For instance, check if there is a request to secure the loan by setting collateral. A lot of banks will demand this to secure that you will repay them for their service. On the other hand, some banks are giving loans without this feature, but they usually demand higher interest rates, and the total amount that you might get is lower than when you provide the collateral.

Source: indorebank

Limitations

As we already mentioned, one of the main factors that can influence the maximum amount of money of loan is related to the existence of collateral. However, there are other important factors as well, such as your income, type of contract, and other features related to your repaying capacities. The great thing is that you can check that in the bank during the meeting. You will need documentation like Social Security Number, ID, Pay Slip, or just a billing statement.

Also, if you are looking for a bigger loan, you should prepare papers related to collateral that you want to provide in a secured loan. On the other side, the process is much easier with a Payday loan, but you can expect much less money with this option. Still, it is a perfect option when you need money for some sudden expenses like vehicle maintenance, birthday present, and more. The bank can give you the amount that you can repay with your next check.

Source. Investopedia

Terms

Checking the terms is the most important thing before deciding on any of these options. Since loans are so popular today, many banks are promoting their offers as cost-effective, while in reality, you will have to repay much more money than you got from them. In that matter, read more about interest rates and other details in the contract. There is a big dissimilarity when it comes to the terms in the contract between these types.

The great thing about the monthly option is that you can get a certain amount of money and repay it through fixed monthly installments. A lot of people are choosing this option to go on a vacation, but a new phone, renew the kitchen, and many other things that require more money than their monthly salary. On the other side, the payday loan will be repaid instantly when you get your next pay. However, the fees and interests can be very high for this option.

Source: moneytalksnews

Fees

The main thing that you should know about the percentage rates is that banks are using different terms depending on the amount of money you want to loan. In that matter, the percentages will be higher when you want to take less money. For example, you might have to pay 20% interest for $2,000, while the rate will be lower than 10% for loans that are $15,000 or more. Moreover, you have to be aware that there are some other fees in the contract as well, such as the recording fees, document fees, non-filling insurance, and administrative fee. This is mostly related to the installment option. When it comes to a payday loan, the average rate is 15%.

Source: garrtechfunding

Process of Application

It is not a rare case that many people get confused when it comes to the whole process of applying and collecting documents. Therefore, it is essential to learn more about the most important papers and terms that you must comply with in order to get an approved loan. In most cases, the bank will take a look at your credit ranking and things like the existence of any unpaid debts, income, residence, and more. When it comes to an installment loan, you will need a lot of documents related to your identity, the place where you work, and more. On the other hand, an ID or pay slip is enough to get a payday loan.

Source: Payday Loans Online Direct Lender

The Bottom Line

As you can see, the process is not so complicated when you know the exact type of documents that you need to provide. Also, many payday companies might offer much lower interest rates than banks. Therefore, you should never rush with your decision about choosing the right lender. When it comes to the difference between them, you should choose the right option according to your current needs. For instance, if you only need a small amount of money until your next paycheck, you should choose the payday option. However, buying a car or repairing the home will require much more money, and in that case, the monthly installment is the best choice.

11 Small Home Repairs You Can Do Yourself – 2024 DIY Guide

We are already close to the beginning of the summer and the holidays have also arrived for many. This is the perfect time to do some maintenance and repair activities at home since there is more time to do them and we can have the help of the whole family in these tasks.

In this article, we are going to introduce you to some repairs and maintenance tasks JTS PM Company advises you can easily carry out in your home, without the need to invest a lot of money or buy expensive tools or hire a professional, which we are sure will make you enjoy even more of your home this summer.

For additional ways on how you can improve your home, Home Viable is a great resource with several DIY ideas you can try throughout your house! Come and meet these ideas that we have for you!

Source: Freeway Insurance

Taking care of your home

It may happen that you are sitting on the sofa, look down at the floor and see a stain on the carpet. This should not alarm you. There are some more serious problems than others. But, each detail of these has a solution, there are certain tricks and instructions that you must follow. You should also have some basic tools to help you.

Remember that no home is perfect, but you don’t have to let these little accidents or problems permanently ruin the appearance of your home. They are projects that you must carry out yourself to improve your house and are part of the annual maintenance of your house.

1. Floor grouting

If you have a tile or ceramic floor inside your house, it is most likely to have a grout. They are the lines that separate each piece from the floor, which can sometimes be mistreated or dirty. You can easily repair this by buying a trimming machine from your trusted hardware store or flooring dealer, filling in any cracks that may appear in these joints.

2. Changing the color of the chairs

If you have wooden chairs and benches, rustic or with a simple finish, you can choose to buy special paint for this material and change the color of this furniture, for a more ad hoc tone to the time and that can give you a little more energy to the room.

Source: Puckett Electric

3. Check electrical installations and change bulbs

This is an excellent time to change bulbs in all the luminaires and lamps in the house, checking that none are burned out or out of order. If you do not have energy-saving light bulbs in any of the lamps, it is advisable to make the change. It is also a good time to check all the installations and electrical contacts, since the solution may be a simple change of fuses. Also, we must emphasize that you should not risk with electricity. It’s not a thing that allows mistakes. If you have any doubt, call an electrician, like Ongill, who will do the job quickly and safely.

4. Adjust and seal hydraulic installations

Another simple repair that can be carried out as maintenance is to adjust all the faucets and water taps. A pair of tweezers, Teflon tape and a little sealant, is what is required to avoid any leakage or stop the annoying dripping of a faucet or pipe either in the bathroom or in the kitchen.

Source: NEA Member Benefits

5. Change the pots

The pots deteriorate over time, presenting cracks or wear due to the use and watering of the plants themselves. Summer is ideal for changing pots, which you can buy in the market, giving a new face to the interior and exterior areas of your home with simple addition.

6. Recycle objects

Why get rid of that pair of old chairs that you have tucked up in the patio? Better paint them thoroughly and you can reuse them as a decoration object inside your house, giving a modern and chic touch to any room, without the need to throw them away. A very practical and sensational idea, don’t you think?

Source: Emily Henderson

7. Level coat racks and frames

Almost always the coat hooks, paintings and paintings that we have as ornaments and accessories at home, tend to get a little crooked over time, due to the use of them or they are poorly accommodated when shaking and cleaning them. This is easily solved by purchasing a level from the nearest hardware store, so you can straighten clothes racks and frames that are uneven, perhaps needing one more nail here and there.

8. Against the water

The summer time is also the rainy season in many parts of our country, so it is advisable to give a new waterproofing to the ceilings, something that can be done by yourself since there are products on the market that are easy to apply. And if you have wooden platforms or furniture of this material for outdoors, it is very advisable to give them maintenance with a sealant so that they resist the rains and continue to look wonderful.

Source: The Constructor

9. Oil doors

Tired of the creaking of the closet or bedroom doors? This is easily fixed with a little oil on the hinges and on the closing systems, which will stop the annoying sound when opening and closing the door, as well as making it much easier to swing them down.

10. Paint retouching

Another simple repair inside the home is to give a coat of paint to walls that show discoloration or peeling, to prevent them from deteriorating. It is always good to keep a sample or the code of the paint color used so that it can be the same when you need to do a touch-up or give a complete hand to one of the walls.

Source: Clare Paint

11. Deep cleaning

A simple activity that is not really a repair within the home, but that is very important, is the cleaning of each of the spaces and rooms of our home, which allows us to enjoy a much more comfortable and comfortable environment. This can be easily accomplished with the help of all the inhabitants of the house, delegating tasks to each one and ending in a two by three.

Conclusion:

There are some basic tools you will need and there are many others available. It will all depend on your level of experience and willingness to learn more about the topic of home repairs. There are many things at home that you can do yourself if you are looking for information and tutorials on the subject.

How To Make Healthy Homemade CBD Gummies – 2024 DIY Guide

Do you wanna make delicious and healthy CBD gummies quickly? Then this is the right article for you. Today we are witnessing a rising in popularity in CBD, unlike the old day when the law was not allowing usage of cannabis or its products. Today it is a more popular opinion that CBD is beneficial for health. Many case studies have proven that CBD helps to reduce anxiety, stress, and inflammation. It is also greatly recommended to people with depression. When we take all these in count it is not unusual that CBD is taken over the wellness scene. Another really great thing about CBG besides that it is helping reduce anxiety, stress, inflammation is that it is not intoxicated. That means that you will not need to get that feeling that you are high. This is a reason that CBD is becoming more and more popular.

You can put CBD which has many therapeutical benefits in whatever food you like. It is especially popular to put in gummies. Gummies is one of the most popular candies in the USA, so it is not a big surprise that people thought that adding CBD in it would result in the high popularity of gummies with CBD. With the rising of the holistic lifestyle approach, people are interested in every possible way to increase their health. Today holistic lifestyle followers are using individually design cannabis regimens. The first thing that they do is – trying CBD gummies.

Source: Luxury Stnd

You can infuse this kind of candy with either traditional CBD oil or a CBD concrete. There is a difference whether you are consuming CBD orally or if you apply CBD topically, sublingually, or inhaled or vaped. The main difference is in the dosage that you need for effect. Another thing that crosses people’s minds often is CBD legal. The answer is not simple, and it depends on where you live. Countries have different laws about CBD. So it is extremely important to check your local law before starting to make CBD gummies. To read more about CBD and cannabis, in general, you can click here and StrainSanity.com will provide you with lot of information in this topic.

Another thing that is also very important to do before starting to make CBD gummies is to find the right CBD gummies dosage. The best advice you can get about this is that you start low and go from there until you find your perfect dosage. Finding your final dosage is depending on what concentration of CBD are you starting with and how many final gummies did you end up with. You need to divide your concentration by the total number of gummies that you are making. Here a dosage matters! It is important to remember that formula for calculating your final dosage is made when you divide the total milligrams of CBD used divided by the final numbers of gummies results in the amount of CBD per gummy.

Source: Healthline

What you need for making CBD gummies

  • Fresh fruit or Froyen fruit
  • CBD Oil or CBD Concentrate
  • Unflavored Beef Gelatin Powder
  • Silicone molds
  • Digital Read Thermometer

For all the gummies use the same mold so you would end up with the same concentration in each gummy. When you are making fruit pure you can use fresh fruit or caned one it there is no difference in taste. It is a smart desition to avoid using fruits like pineapple, kiwi, mango, ginger root, papaya, figs, or guava. All these fruits can ruin the recipe because they possess the enzyme that will break down the gelation protein structures and ruin the recipe. Also, you do not need to stop with fruits you can make gummies bears with vegetables also.

Source: Discover Magazine

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup pureed fruit
  • 1/2 cup filtered water
  • 8 teaspoons unflavored gelatine
  • 1mL CBD concentrated oil

Pick fruit and then make a pure from it. For this occasion, it is best to use a food processor or blender.

Add filter water over in a small saucepan over no heat. Sprinkle the gelation over water. Then set it aside, do not stir, and allow it to stand for two minutes.

When two minutes pass, stir the gelatine mixture well and place over medium-low heat. What you will notice is that the mixture will be very thick at this point.

Frequently stir the mixture until it reaches the temperature of 165F and has become liquified.

Source: Entrepreneur

Watchfully pour the hot liquid into the bowl of fruit puree and stir well.

Now it comes the part when having a steady hand is crucial. Now you have to stir in 1 Ml of CBD and stir the mixture until all the ingredients are well combined. Not only having a steady hand is beneficial but also being able to work fast. You need to fast mixture that you made, fill your desired module using a pipette, and after that, you need to store in the freezer for half an hour.

When half an hour passes you need to remember moving the modules from the freezer and then count how many modules you got. It is very important to count the total number of gummies that you have made. This is important to help you correctly determine how many milligrams of CBD are in each gummy. Now it is a perfect time for you to pop the gummies from modules. But be careful in this step not to break them. Although they would taste the same even broken taste the same, esthetical appearance would be ruined. Another thing that is very handy to know is that this delicious candy can be stored in the refrigerator for up to seven days, and still taste fresh and have all the health benefits that you wanted. But if you are not able to eat everything you made for seven days, don’t worry because this kind of candy can be stored in the freezer for up to three months. And here is a bonus tip, if you want that your gummy bears come in different colors you can add food coloring to the mixture.

Source: EcoWatch

This recipe is easy, fast and you can experiment with flavors. We hope you found it useful. If you don’t have the time to make your own gummies and are looking for a quicker option, find trusted brands of CBD gummies at Health.com. Anyway, we hope that you will enjoy your CBD gummies and get all the health benefits that you hoped to get!

What Is the Best Platform to Sell Out Your House?

Source: medium.com

As you know selling things online helps you to sell faster by reaching customers anywhere in the world. There are a lot of sites where you can sell your house at a better rate. In this modern age no one have a lot of time to search out the better platform sell his/her house and therefore, I found houzeo.com where you can sell your house at a better rate.

There are many other platforms to sell you can check that out, but they are best because of their selling policy. They bring the best agents with a low commission rate. Now let me talk about the process where we get troubled.

Firstly, everyone gets very confused about choosing the best platform to sell their house and starts visiting many websites but could not get satisfaction, and many scums are also around.

Am I right? I have a solution.

Then why don’t you read Houzeo client reviews for satisfaction? But Reading is not enough to sell your lovely house. There are many more to know like it is best for pricing your property or not, and the buyers out are authentic.

Now you might be thinking that what kind of listing services do these online listing is providing us. We will discuss it too, so with put wasting time, let discuss the benefits.

Source: Nashville MLS

Fee flat MLS

Fee flat MLS helps the property to other listing sites also, and MLS package is 199plux, and the all-over 160 people visit the site. Now you are a bit convinced this platform, unlike others, is best. This website also provides for sale by owner and to know about for sale by owner let read below.

For sale by owner

It is the offer to sell out your house on your own and with the best agent service. Those who want the house to sell at the best pricing for sale by the owner give you the opportunity.

Never know when the house needs the changes. You get the chance to change it online. You can get the proper evaluation of listing and hire a personal agent to show your property and to collect more brokers of your house.

There are meagre packages for sale by the owner. Their only is concerned with the buyer and the seller’s time and money. I know not many of you get that much time for this, but yes also want the property to sell, so it is exclusive for sale by owner service for any real estate website.

Source: Gamerboy’s Site on Strikingly

Benefits while selling the house

You must want to know what benefits you can have by selling or purchasing a property through MLS listing platforms.

1) Buyer direct contact

If you are looking for a property, it helps you directly approach the real estate agent. Most of you, including everyone and wanted to save time, so, yes, you don’t have to tire yourself by contacting any third party. Only you have to contact an agent to get your deal done.

Their listing pages have all the contact information and dashboards that help buyers reach out to home sellers without recognizing it as a middleman. Unlike the other platform, another platform is only concerned with the profit and treats them as money collecting machines.

Source: NoMoreAgent.com

2) Fast timing to list on MLS

As we know, the biggest concern for the majority of house sellers is whether they will be able to sell their homes with their desired timeframe or not. People are getting stressed out about their selling timeline.

But they have managed to alleviate this concern. Websites help you list in the same or within one business or maximum within two business days; also, websites help save time.

3) Convenient

it’s the most favorite advantage. Within 24 hours or less, you can quickly deal with clients. Most importantly, you have to deal with your home. You don’t have to go office to wait for the agents and wasting time. Yes, it’s all possible at this site. You only have to make quick offers with your preference—no more time-wasting and loan applications. If you see, on the other hand, they are not that convenient but have other perfect offers.

Source: forbes

4) Commission rates

You always have to pay a large sum for commissions, but many websites take zero commission. If there are no buyers, zero commission will charge at other sites. They mostly charge the commission. It also makes it more beneficial for the sellers because they don’t have to give the agents a bunch of money.

5) Listing changes

Yes, it’s right now you can have control over your sale and consider it a priority. Many websites have digitized change requests, so you can quickly request changes online.

They help you automatically generate contracts on the change you request, and you can sign them instantly. You don’t have to wait for your agent to create an arrangement for you.

Source: citypassguide.com

6) Free listings

Free FSBO listing that also makes them the number one site to sell your house. These offers allow you to save more money and waste less time. It also offers different real estate tools such as showing time tools or apps etc.

7) Guarantee selling

No respectable firm guaranteed the showings or offer, and you should think it’s better than to give fake deals.

Source: Forbes

8) Free cancellation

All their plans and packages offer free cancellation anytime. If you don’t like the offer, you are always welcome to cancel it without any charges. It is another reason so you can trust your decision and property at Houzeo.

9) Customers ratings

Before choosing any site, I always see their ratings. The reason to attract more public is because of Google ratings. Such as Houzeo customers have scored this platform a high rating of 4.8 stars, making it a more reliable platform. Similarly, you check the other website ratings too.

Source: Medium

Conclusion

All the benefits above while selling the house must be verified first, then choose your platform, and after reading it, it will bring the easy way to sell the place online for the seller and allow buying the house at the buyer’s money range in less time.

Beginner’s Guide to Usability Testing in 2024

Source: medium

An idea that seems great in a pitch room or a project that seems intuitive throughout development can fall flat when it comes face-to-face with real users. It is not until designers, developers, and programmers understand how their products and future users interact with the website or app that they truly know how usable their product is.

Waiting to release a product to determine its usability is a recipe for disaster. Usability testing (UT) gives designers, programmers, and developers the ability to allow actual people to interact with their products, observe their reactions to the products, and then make tweaks before these products are released to the public.

UT can take on various dimensions. It could be something as simple as recording a session of users interacting with your website or app. It could be more involved and include using eye-tracking equipment and renting a lab. Regardless of how intensive the testing is, this is the only way to guarantee that you are building an app or website that is efficient and effective and that it produces an enjoyable experience for your users.

Source: Tech News code

Why Is UT Important When Building a Website?

Familiarity with the website creates blind spots. However, when real users test the product, they can identify simple issues that those with in-depth knowledge of the product lack the impartiality to visualize. Some benefits of UT include seeing how easy it is for common users to:

· Complete main actions on the site
· Have an efficient and functional experience
· Encounter or overcome usability issues
· Understand how the site works without confusion or getting lost

What UT is Not

There are multiple user experience tools designed to test and improve customer experience. However, these would not fall into the category of UT because they do not allow your customers to experience using the product in a real-world environment. With UT, your user is testing a website or app for functionality. Examples of things that would not qualify as testing for usability include:

A/B Testing: In this testing method, multiple versions of the same website are presented, allowing users to choose which one is the most effective. A/B testing may help your team identify if an approach is working. However, it can’t tell you why the approach works. Conversely, testing for usability allows your team to observe behavior and then investigate the why behind it.

Focus Groups: With a focus group, you gather a group of people together and allow them to discuss the website or app you are building. A focus group lets you know people’s opinions about the product. But it does not allow you to test or give you an insight into how they use the product.

Surveys: Surveys are an acceptable way to get a feel for user experience. But you can’t see how the user uses the product in real life. Although surveys would not qualify as UT, they might be used with it to give a more rounded out understanding of user behavior.

Source: UX Knowledge Base Sketch

Popular Methods of Usability Testing Compared

Experts from xd.adobe.com mention that, “Before you pick a particular testing method, you should have a clear understanding of your target audience, available resources (time and money), and research objectives.“ You won’t get the right answers if you don’t know the questions you want the answers to.

Remote Versus in Person: Remote testing can be done via the Internet or the phone. In person testing means that the user will complete the test in front of a researcher or moderator. In person testing allows for more data points because the researcher or moderator can analyze the user’s body language, their facial expressions, and other small clues. However, in person testing is more expensive and requires more time and resources.

· Comparative Versus Explorative Versus Assessment Testing: With an explorative test, participants can brainstorm and express their ideas and feelings. This works best during the early stages of a product’s development as it helps researchers identify additional features they might add and toss around fresh ideas.

· Assessments research can help identify how satisfied the user is. How easy was it for them to use the product? They can test the product’s overall function.

· Comparative assessments allow users to experiment with multiple websites, identifying which solution they prefer.

Once UT has been completed, it’s important to take the time to analyze the results. Identify issues, refine them, and then retest with the goal of guaranteeing that all usability issues have been resolved.

The Main Principles of Usability Testing

The usability testing needs to focus on three main things: product development, real users and their needs, and setting up proper goals. During the usability testing, you can test any document, site, or software in a complex way, where this process can find any possible issue with the interface.

The advantage is that an average user could test some of his files and websites, without the help of some experts. This process is especially useful for online store owners because usability testing could easily find any problem related to transparency and all the necessary functions on the website.

Source: usabilityhub.com

How to Complete Usability Testing?

This process requires a lot of analysis. The proper plan and participants are also part of Usability Testing. Here are the main phases.

  1. Determination of a particular part of the website or a product that needs testing.
  2. Choose the right tasks for the participants during the test.
  3. Set your standards for the outcome of various tasks in the test.
  4. Create a plan that will give a purpose to your study. Also, you will have to know the level of knowledge of the participants and their reliability.
  5. Each participant should have a role. For example, a person that is persistent at staying neutral during the task should be a moderator in the team. Also, you will need someone to take notes.
  6. Find the right participants. The best choice would be people for whom you can say are familiar with the matter and will take the tasks seriously.
  7. Start the test. It is important to give the participants enough time to finish tasks without the rush. What is most important is to get productive feedback.
  8. Data analysis. After participants finish their tasks, you will have to analyze their results. Also, the most important is what they feel about the product, and what are their performances.
  9. Finishing the report. When you collect all the necessary data about the project, you can finally see what might need to be improved in the product, and is there a need for another round of testing after the upgrade.
Source: User Interviews

Most Common Types of Testing

There are three main types, testing of random people, remote testing, and, and moderated testing. During the random testing, you can go out and ask what people think about the product, or share an online survey. Using this method is a great way to see if people are interested in the particular software or a website, even if they never heard about it before.

During remote testing, you can choose participants by using some outsourcing methods, which is great if you want to perform the test in less time. The main advantage is that people can test the program, or any other product from their home, which makes them much more comfortable.

Moderated usability testing is the most useful one since you can directly speak with the participants about the product and their opinions about it. Also, you can introduce them to the product to fully understand the purpose of the testing.

Will Heavy Construction Equipment Go All-Electric – 2024 Guide

img source: topmarkfunding.com

Going all-electric seems like the way to go in 2024. Are you up for this step as well? However, a lot of people are unsure about heavy equipment, as well as different kinds of vehicles. Are these going to go all-electric as well in the upcoming years? If you plan on buying a new car sometime soon, or you want to understand the pros and cons of electric equipment, keep on reading! We have answers to your questions and if you need more information you can visit minifinaldrives.com..

What will go electric?

In the next 30 years, we can expect to see loads of different improvements in the techno world. Most equipment will go electric, such as dozers, graders, and even backhoes! If you wish to stay on-trend, make sure that you focus on purchasing the best equipment that is available out on the market. However, with industrialization, you may want to get insurance for most of your things, and especially your electric cars. At a2zvehicle.com you can look into different car insurance coverage policies, motor insurances, as well as JCB price lists! They will have your back covered at all times, especially as we move into this modern area.

What does EPA think about this?

img source: usaid.gov

EPA stands for The Environmental Protection Agency, which is an independent executive agency of the United States federal government tasked with environmental protection matters. Although they are not making any drastic changes at the moment, the EU has approved the fifth stage emission standards which will allow for further developments in this field.

In the last 2-3 years, the industry has been reaching for loads of different electric vehicles. In fact, some countries plan on reducing carbon emission, and they will also ban the sale of gas vehicles. You can expect to see these changes in countries such as Norway, India, Ireland, as well as the Netherlands by 2030. Do you fancy their move?

We can also thank Tesla for making such drastic and dramatic changes to the automobile industry. After Tesla, GM, Volvo, as well as Jaguar and Land Rover have felt to need to produce only electric models in the upcoming period.

Unfortunately, this industry is responsible for 11% of energy-related carbon emissions, which is why it is a good idea to switch to electric cars sooner than later.

Top 5 big players and their plans on going all-electric

1. Volvo

img source: pinterest.com

Volvo came out with its first electric excavator in 2017. This was an amazing prototype that was an electric model, 10x faster yet quieter than any other model.

Thanks to its amazing lithium batteries it can deliver great speed at 38kWh and it can operate for 7-9 hours!

Volvo CE will come out with other excavators and wheel loads pretty soon. Most of their models will all come with a battery-powered drivetrain.

2. JCB

img source: download.com

In 2019, JCB came out with its own all-electric excavator. It was the 19C-1 E-Tec model that performed amazingly on most fabrics and materials for up to six hours thanks to its amazing electric motor and three lithium-ion batteries. Because of these key components, it could deliver 15kWh of power. JCB plans on using this motor to perform on the load-sensing hydraulic system.

3. Caterpillar

img source: pinterest.com

Caterpillar is a name that everyone knows of, and people love their 28-ton CAT 323F excavator that switched from diesel to electric. Their electric motor performs thanks to its 300kWh lithium-ion battery, which weighs 3.4 tons. Men and women love it since it can stay on for up to seven hours during the day, without having to recharge at any given point.

Also, Caterpillar invested a bit of money into a company called Fisker – an amazing company that makes electric cars along with its high-tech battery technology. This only shows that they don’t feel like stopping any time soon.

4. Wacker Neuson

img source: pinterest.com

Wacker Neuson has loads of different electric items and products that will come in handy for everyday lives. Some of them are their electric wheel loaders, as well as power excavators. Wacker produced one of the best miniature versions of excavator batteries ever, known as the EZ17e. This item can stay on for hours and hours on (usually around six) and it can quickly charge overnight.

5. Hyundai CE

img source: acppubs.com

Last, but not least, Hyundai is a big player who is constantly coming out with new changed and improved versions of plenty of their models. One of their creations is the battery-powered mini excavator, which runs on eight different kinds of batteries. The BM4.4E battery has the 35.2 kWh of energy. This amount of energy can come in handy and will last you for eight hours.

Hyundai CE will most likely focus on different components, such as battery storage, faster-charging cycles, as well as power outlets.

Key rule: always recharge

The most important rule that you should think about, always, is that you need to recharge your electric equipment. Not a lot of people are used to this step, but you will slowly transition onto it, just take baby steps. Also, the best way to remind yourself is to turn on an alarm or a reminder on your phone that will beep every 6-8 hours, which will remind you to plug your tools, accessories, or cars! You may have to change your route and your plan for the day when it comes to cars, but you have to know that this is crucial and beneficial, as well as good for everyone in your life in the long-run, including you.

img source: eco-volta.com

Ready for new products and innovations?

So, how do you feel about new gadgets that are going to come to the market? Are you a fan of electric vehicles, bicycles, scooters, as well as everyday home items already? If not, do you plan on making that switch sometime soon? Sooner or later, everything will upgrade on its own, it’s just a matter of time, + this can depend a lot on your country of living. Take your time and slowly make these transitions, you will love them!

4 Ways to Gamble Responsibly and Not Get Addicted – 2024 Guide

img source: chiefexecutive.net

Gambling became famous because of the large sum of money involved in it. Even during the ’80s, throwing money was considered fashionable. It was a fashion until recently when awareness regarding the adverse effects of gambling was raised. Gambling didn’t remain just a game for the rich brats, but poor people also got involved in it. Furthermore, people started to get addicted to gambling.

People’s involvement was not something to be worried about, but the addiction was what makes society anxious. Gamblers get so into the bets that they lose their sense of making decisions. Thus, they make wrong judgments. Moreover, it is not just a one-time thing. Gamblers spend most of their time in casinos losing and winning money. This level of addiction also increased the crime rate.

So if you want to play casino games but don’t want to get addicted to them, you can try the methods we describe in this article. Visit casinofy.com for the best online casino experience.

1. Limit your playtime

img source: kidcheck.com

The best way of getting yourself out of addiction is to limit its use. Whether it’s a game, bet or anything to eat, you need certain limitations. Why? Because “Excess of everything is bad.” Therefore, if you want to play games but don’t want to get addicted to gambling, you should set limits. These limitations are for your own-selves.

For example, you are going to play the game of poker. Usually, poker lasts for few hours. Therefore, if you want to limit the casino time, you can simply play a single poker game in a day. Or if you have got more free time on your hand, you can try any other game that takes less time than poker. It will help you not to get addicted to poker only. Furthermore, you will be able to manage your time well.

With all the complaints against addiction to casino games, even online platforms give you the option of time management. You can set the amount of time you want to spend in the casino. So when your time is up, you will be notified. Thus, you will be able to get track of time because you can easily lose it while playing games. Moreover, you can adjust the time daily, depending upon the availability of free time for you.

2. Taking breaks frequently

img source: youtube.com

If setting the time limit isn’t an option for you, you can try out taking breaks frequently. How will it help you? It’s quite simple. Taking breaks while doing anything breaks the rhythm. For example, you are watching a movie and someone knocks on the door. What will you do? Of course, you will go and open the door. And what if this thing happens frequently. Someone keeps calling you or you got things to do. It will reduce the pleasure of your watch time.

The same thing happens when you take breaks during gaming. When you are playing poker, you know it will take a few hours. So if you play it continuously for the required hours, you won’t like to leave it. But when you take several breaks while playing the game, you will eventually wait for it to end. Or you might actually leave the game while playing as you get bored. Thus, it will break down the rhythm and you will not get addicted to it.

Leaving the casino page for a few minutes will refresh your brain instantly. Thus, you come back to the world of reality. It makes you think sensibly and helps you make the right decisions too.

3. Make yourself busy

img source: nyt.com

The people who get addicted to gambling are the ones who have nothing much to do in their life. Therefore, all they are left with is gambling. So if you can get yourself some hobbies that would help you out. If you don’t like doing much and don’t even have a life routine to get busy, you can try something different. For example, you can try out the old hobbies that you enjoyed in the past.

Even if you are low on self-esteem and want to cut yourself from the outside world, this will help you. You get interested in things when you are confident. So if you can try out the hobbies you used to do in the past or your childhood, they will boost your confidence. Furthermore, they will increase your self-esteem. In addition to increasing your self-esteem, it will also make you busy. Thus, you will have a better way to spend your time.

The amazing thing about trying out old hobbies that they remind you of your best time. Therefore, if you are addicted to gambling, these hobbies will make you go to your previous self. Even if you are just starting online casinos and haven’t got addicted yet, try to add some physical activities to your daily life routine.

4. Avoid temptation

img source: livelikepros.com

As you already know that excess of everything is bad for you, why would you get tempted over things? Although it is human nature to have temptations in worldly things, but you can lessen the extent. One of the common behavior that has been observed among gamblers is related to money. They do not cash out the money when they are winning. Thus, they get tempted towards the money and gamble with what they have. This behavior increases the risk of losing all of your money.

What you can do here is to cash out your money. This is especially important when you won the game. Otherwise, you will make the bet with all of your money. Firstly, it reduces the risk of losing more money. Secondly, it prevents addiction. When you start playing the casino, it becomes really hard to leave it in between. So when you leave the game and transfer the cash, it breaks the gaming feel. Furthermore, your greed remains reduced and you can stop yourself if you want.

Best Hidden Camera Detectors – 2024 Guide

Source: cocospy

You fight with the code on the front of the rented vacation house, and finally, get it unlocked. As you stumble into the house with your bags, you breathe a sigh of relief

But, before you can use the bathroom, you should probably check for hidden cameras.

While we want to believe that most people are good and kind, there have been too many stories of vacation renters finding hidden cameras in the bathrooms or bedrooms.

It is difficult to identify a hidden camera. That smoke detector? It might be a video camera. That USB phone charger the homeowner left for you? It might be watching you while you sleep.

High tech surveillance cameras are everywhere and provide high definition footage from a pinpoint lens.

Surveillance cameras are cheap and can be purchased by anyone. In America, there are some state laws regarding how video is recorded. For example, a hidden recording device should not have both image and audio recording. Reputable American sites like SpyCentre, only sell legal recording equipment and bug sweepers.

However, it is easy to purchase surveillance tools with audio recording from international suppliers, and unless the user happens to be caught and prosecuted, it is going to be nearly impossible to deter widespread use of these illegal recording devices.

Because there is little definitive evidence linking a device with a specific perpetrator, it is very difficult to prosecute.

As a result, we only hear of a handful of successful cases each year. Generally, the greatest success comes in the form of a refund and the house host being removed from whatever vacation platform on which their house was listed.

For the renter, a good protection system is lacking.

This means it is up to the traveler to protect themselves. The enemy? A tiny surveillance device with a lens the size of a pinhead.

While other travelers are trying a system that suggests using their cell phone to find the hidden camera, let me introduce you to the hidden camera detectors that professional private investigators use.

Professional Hidden Camera Detectors

Source: brickhousesecurity

When a wife suspects that her abusive husband is spying on her at work, a private investigator has the tools to “sweep for bugs” and find the hidden recording devices.

We call this “counter-espionage.”

A bug sweeper has an antenna with a range of frequencies that it can scan the room at. This helps you find the threats that are actively transmitting. The RF signal finder can help you uncover those wifi and radio signals that are most commonly used for transmitting signals.

If there is a wifi-connected lens hidden in the picture frame, a good bug sweeper should sniff that out.

However, there are many devices that record silently to an SD card and hold the images for later retrieval.

These insidious devices are a little harder to find.

To combat these specific threats, the bug sweeper has a colored lens, surrounded by LED lights.

You hold the lens up to your eye and activate the infrared LED lights. This setup helps you to see the reflection from the lenses of hidden recording devices instantly.

Additionally, night vision video recording requires the use of infrared light. Turning off all of the lights in the room and then sweeping will further increase your chances of finding any night vision equipped recorders since you can see the infrared light it puts off.

Source: travelandleisure

A dedicated hidden camera finder increases your chances of finding the most well-hidden cameras.

When you sweep a room, turn off the lights and pay close attention to all areas of the room. Cameras are often disguised as clocks, pens, USB chargers, USB memory sticks, Wall sockets, Digital TV boxes, DVD Cases, Books or Desk Plants.

They may hide two devices near each other so that the infrared signal from the one hides the other.

Also, look for any blinking lights in the room. Sometimes there is a small light on the device that turns on to inform you if it is recording.

Most all-in-one professional hidden camera finders will combine all of these features into one tool. This allows you to quickly sweep the room for each signal type and ensure your privacy. They also find hidden microphones.

It also means that even when you are extremely tired, you can quickly do a professional sweep and verify that your privacy and safety remain intact for your stay.

How To Detect Hidden Cameras With Your Phone

Source: makeuseof

Similarly, the occasional traveler will appreciate this hack for finding hidden cameras without spending a lot of money.

The idea is that you can find networked cameras in your area. Start by looking for wifi devices you can connect to in your phone’s wifi section.

If there is a networked device, you may be able to locate it.

Unfortunately, most phones cannot be used to see infrared light since the manufacturers add a physical filter to their lens to hide it.

(After all, most of us don’t want our images mottled with infrared).

There are some apps that claim to use your phone’s camera to detect infrared. The accuracy of these apps will rely on whether your phone is able to see infrared or whether there is a filter installed.

Check The Mirrors

One-way mirrors are a unique threat. You want to check all areas of the mirror closely for any pinhole spots where a small camera can be in use.

Additionally, use the fingernail test:

Put your finger to the mirror

Observe that there is a gap between your fingernail and its reflection.

If your finger is touching its reflection it indicates that you are looking at a one-way mirror.

Hidden Camera Detectors For The Business Traveler

Voyeurism is on the rise. In 2016, South Korea found thousands of hidden recorders in bathroom stalls throughout the country.

Hundreds of people lost their privacy to individuals looking to make a quick buck selling bathroom footage.

While most of us won’t bother sweeping public bathrooms for spy devices, a vacation rental is a slightly more intimate place, and it deserves the extra effort and investment to ensure your privacy.

Top 13 Surface Finishing Innovations in 2024

Source: bfi

Surface treatment combines different processes and technologies that modify the surface properties of manufactured components and models. We enable the improvement of the surface functions of the prototype, as well as the components in small series. For example, glossy paints, logos, and more can be applied to your components.

Where is it used?

It is used after the company’s production processes and services. Surface treatments are used to obtain the desired designs and perfect surfaces with appropriate properties – optical and functional. That is why surface treatment is especially important as the end of various production processes.

With a variety of services, you can meet your individual requirements for component surfaces. Coating in particular to ensure that each component achieves the best possible qualities. Of course, the whole production process is adapted to the needs.

Source: cets

Which processing processes and technologies are a complete hit in 2024?

1. Color

Painting of components according to color specifications and color samples. In order to achieve the highest quality painting, painting is often preceded by other surface techniques, such as sanding. After intensive cleaning, the component is finally painted individually. Painting allows to improve the decorative properties of the produced models. Once the prototype is completely dry, further surface coatings, such as printing or laser marking, may follow.

2. Rays

Blasting is a mechanical process that cleans the surfaces or prepares them for further processing. In blasting system, different blasting material enables the appropriate processing of grains according to the desired requirements.

Source: heygom

3. Colorize

Dyeing as a specially developed process has the property that dyeing takes place without the application of material. In addition, the properties of the components do not change. Dyeing is especially used for components produced by the SLS process. In this surface treatment, the component is completely dipped in the desired color. In this way, each joint and column is carefully recorded without coating. Staining can be combined with chemical smoothing, sanding and infiltration.

4. Steaming

Vapor deposition as a performance of our surface coating produces components that, after vapor deposition, have a completely identical appearance of chromium. The decisive factor is, above all, the correct finishing and precise preparation. In order to achieve a particularly smooth coating with a high degree of reflection, a primer is applied in the inner paint compartment as needed. Steaming is used, for example, in reflectors (mirrors).

Source: bergundvoss

5. Printing

You can enhance the models and prototypes with letters or logos if desired. This includes an appropriate printing process for the various requirements for the smallest images on prototypes, as well as logos for components in small batches using screens, pads, and digital printing.

6. Laser marking

Optionally, models and prototypes can be displayed with the letters, engravings, or logos you need using laser technology. There is a wide range of laser marking applications, as a wide range of engravings can be applied to a wide range of contours. In addition, laser inscriptions are particularly resistant to environmental influences.

7. Surface grinding / tumbling

It is especially used for metal components. In the case of vibratory grinding, the grinding wheels are located in a rotating bowl. The movement of the grinding wheels smoothes and degreases the surfaces as needed. Learn more about the vibratory machines.

Source: postprocess

8. Chemical smoothing

Chemical smoothing is used as the technology of our finishing of plastic components produced by the SLS process. The surfaces of the prototype are smoothed in different thicknesses, depending on the requirements. In this process, the SLS components on the top layer liquefy and rearrange the powder particles. This change creates surfaces that are smooth and have a Shiny Smooth layer. After this process, prototypes also have the advantage of being more resistant to dirt.

9. Heat treatment

Heat treatment is especially aimed at improving the functions of the components. The properties of metal finishing materials are improved by this method in terms of the degree of hardness, resistance or temperature resistance. Heat treatment involves various services, some of which are integrated into a particular process.

During hardening, the components are first heated to a specific temperature and quenched after a short period of time. Hardening, like tempering, is therefore one of the thermal heat treatments. Hardening as a metal finish improves the resistance of components in particular. The remuneration takes place after hardening by tempering the steel components. It is used when the components require high strength and low crack formation.

The nitriding is carried out by a supply of nitrogen, and also achieves hardening of the surface. It is used for steel components that require temperature resistance. The components can also be completely manufactured before the heat treatment since no further deformation takes place.

Source: european

10. Infiltrate

During infiltration, the components are sealed with impermeable liquid, without applying materials or coatings. This affects the porosity and strength of the material. The components are immersed in a certain infiltration, such as epoxy resin or acrylic, so that sealing occurs even in hard-to-reach places.

11. Polishing/grinding

Polishing and sanding are used depending on the surface preparation requirements. On request, mechanically produced or additively produced components are polished using rapid prototyping to high gloss.

12. Powder coating

Powder coating as a technology achieves a resistant protective layer. The baking process combines the powder particles into a solid layer. Surfaces can have different structures and colors according to your wishes.

13. Anodizing

Anodizing refers to a process in which an oxide layer is produced electrochemically. Anodizing is used for components made of aluminum that should have a protective layer against mechanical and weathering. Anodizing produces pre-treatment structures (eg grinding, polishing, sandblasting).

Source: theadvint

Conclusion

A central feature of surface technology is the ability to produce additional models and prototypes. If, for example, you need components with improved properties, such as corrosion protection, our suggestion is to look for a solution through surface finishing.
Another important advantage is the ability to optically finish the components and thus improve the aesthetic and decorative properties. After the appropriate manufacturing process for your prototypes, the painting optically ensures the actual realization.

How to Handle Double Taxation as a Foreign Resident in Switzerland

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Foreign residents in Switzerland face unique challenges regarding taxation. One of the most pressing concerns is how to avoid being taxed twice, both by...