Circles Tech: Startups

Showing posts with label Startups. Show all posts

Showing posts with label Startups. Show all posts

Nokia, HTC sign patent agreement, agree to collaborate after ending patent dispute

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After winning multiple injunctions against HTC in several companies, 
HTC has finally decided to sign a pact with Nokia rather than fighting 
courtroom battles in the future.<br />
<br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
 See also: <a href="http://www.circlestech.com/2014/02/htc-m8-first-look-in-newly-leaked-live.html">HTC M8 First-look in Newly Leaked Live Photos</a></h4>
The collaboration between the two 
companies will end all previous patent disputes (which have mostly been 
in Nokia’s favor).<br />

While the two companies haven’t revealed the exact settlement amount 
that HTC would be paying to Nokia, it is known that in exchange for 
using using Nokia’s patents, HTC would be paying certain royalty fees. 
Also, in exchange, Nokia would gain access to HTC’s LTE patents.<br />

Well, that’s one less dispute to settle for the judges. It will be 
interesting to see how the deal will affect HTC’s bottom line, which 
already under a lot of pressure. Perhaps, an impending US import ban is 
what might have made HTC finally settle its dispute with Nokia.<br />
<i>Image:<a href="http://www.mobigyaan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/nokiahtc.jpg"> mobigyaan</a>  Source: <a href="http://press.nokia.com/2014/02/07/nokia-and-htc-signed-a-patent-and-technology-collaboration-agreement/">press.nokia.com</a></i><br />
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Nokia, HTC sign patent agreement, agree to collaborate after ending patent dispute

Nokia, HTC sign patent agreement, agree to collaborate after ending patent dispute

After winning multiple injunctions against HTC in several companies, HTC has finally decided to sign a pact with Nokia rather than fight...

Microsoft Invests $15m: Windows Phone 8.1's Cortana to Be Powered by Foursquare

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Microsoft’s recent investment of $15 million into popular location-based
 app Foursquare means that it will use the app’s data in its anticipated
 Cortana voice assistant as part of the upcoming Windows Phone 8.1 release.<br />
<br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
 See also: <a href="http://www.circlestech.com/2014/02/microsoft-board-names-satya-nadella-as.html">Microsoft Board names Satya Nadella as Its Next CEO</a></h4>
Now, Bloomberg claims that Microsoft would be feeding the data 
acquired from this purchase to their voice assistant Cortana in the 
upcoming Windows Phone Blue update.
<br />
The data will apparently help Cortana in providing dining and 
entertainment suggestions based on user location, as well as discounts 
and other offers in the user’s locality.<br />

Cortana is Microsoft’s answer to Apple’s Siri and Google Now. But the
 Foursquare data will also be put to use in Bing powered searches. It 
seems like Microsoft is serious about giving competition to Google and 
Apple and that’s only a good thing. The company is expected to unveil 
Windows Phone 8.1 in April at BUILD 2014.<br />
<i>Source:<a href="http://www.theverge.com/2014/2/7/5389142/windows-phone-8-1-cortana-personal-assistant-features-foursquare">theverge</a></i><br />
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Microsoft Invests $15m: Windows Phone 8.1's Cortana to Be Powered by Foursquare

Microsoft Invests $15m: Windows Phone 8.1's Cortana to Be Powered by Foursquare

Microsoft’s recent investment of $15 million into popular location-based app Foursquare means that it will use the app’s data in its ant...

Microsoft Board names Satya Nadella as Its Next CEO

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Microsoft’s CEO post has been at the center of rumors and leaks for 
the last couple of months. Today, the company finally announced the 
successor to Steve Balmer. Meet Satya Nadella, Microsoft’s new CEO. The 
appointment takes effect immediately, so Steve Balmer can go into an 
earlier than anticipated retirement.<br />

A quick background check on Nadella tells that he joined Microsoft 22
 years ago from Sun Microsystems. Having his roots based in India, 
Nadella moved to the US to study computer science at the University of 
Wisconsin. At Microsoft, Satya has worked on cloud and enterprise 
business. He has played an active role in taking Office to the cloud.<br />

As the newly appointed CEO, Satya has lots of challenges and tasks to
 complete. The first of them would be to transform Microsoft from a 
software focused company to a device and services and software centric 
one. This would include the Xbox business and the newly acquired handset
 business from Nokia. Also, Satya would be facing the task of increasing
 Microsoft’s presence in the smartphone and tablet business, where it 
still holds next to nothing market share when compared to the biggies.<br />

But he won’t be alone in facing these hurdles, since the company 
founder Bill Gates will take the role of Founder and Technology Advisor,
 to help Nadella take the company in the right direction.
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Microsoft Board names Satya Nadella as Its Next CEO

Microsoft Board names Satya Nadella as Its Next CEO

Microsoft’s CEO post has been at the center of rumors and leaks for the last couple of months. Today, the company finally announced the ...

Google buys DeepMind artificial intelligence firm For $240 Million

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Is the rise of the machines nearly 
upon us?  It maybe nearer than you think, as Google’s latest acquisition
 is in line with their recent purchases of seven robotics firms, 
including Industrial Perception, which specialises in machines that can 
package goods and Mekabot, which makes humanoid robots.  <br />
<br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
See also: <a href="http://www.circlestech.com/2014/01/google-buys-nest-labs-for-32-billion-in.html">Google buys Nest Labs for $3.2 billion in Cash</a></h4>
However, as an alternative to being used in the robotics division, it is more likely that the acquisition of <a href="http://deepmind.com/" target="_blank" title="DeepMind">DeepMind</a>
 will be used to further improve Google’s current technologies – 
including the voice and text search features which are so widely used 
today.<br />
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DeepMind’s technology could help develop Google’s most recent 
‘Hummingbird’ search update, which was created to make Google ‘more 
human’ and searches can now understand context, very similarly to what a
 human brain does.  In addition to its ‘Hummingbird’ search update, the 
Google Now app uses ‘predictive analysis’ which enables it to predict 
what Android users will do next, before offering relevant help and 
information at each step without ever being asked to do so.<br />
The company was set up by neuroscientist Demis Hassabis, along with 
Artificial Intelligence experts Shane Legg and Mustafa Suleyman.  The 
company website states DeepMind uses ‘the best techniques from machine 
learning and systems neuroscience to build powerful general-purpose 
learning algorithms.’   They have previously created algorithms for 
retailers and game creators. A Report from The Information states that Facebook had also been in negotiations to buy the startup.<br />
Interestingly, Google has agreed to set up an ethics board to make 
sure the DeepMind AI technology isn’t ‘abused’, sources familiar with 
the plans told The Information.  The DeepMind-Google ethics board will 
be set up to create a series of rules and restrictions over the use of 
the technology.  This seems all too familiar.  Remember Asimov’s 3 laws 
of robotics?<br />
Google also hired futurist Ray Kurzweil as Engineering Director back 
in 2012.  Kurzweil has famously claimed that in just over 30 years time,
 humans will be able to upload their minds to computers and thereby 
become digitally immortal, an event called ‘singularity’.  He also 
claimed the biological parts of our body will be replaced with 
mechanical parts and this could happen as early as 2100.  So maybe the 
rise of the machines is imminent.  Cue Terminator music…<br />
<i>Source:<a href="http://hexus.net/business/news/corporate/65401-artificial-intelligence-firm-deepmind-acquired-google/">hexus</a>  Image:<a href="http://www.channelnewsasia.com/image/890434/1387550732000/large16x9/768/432/the-google-logo-at-the.jpg">channelnewsasia</a></i><br />
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Google buys DeepMind artificial intelligence firm For $240 Million

Google buys DeepMind artificial intelligence firm For $240 Million

Is the rise of the machines nearly upon us? It maybe nearer than you think, as Google’s latest acquisition is in line with their rec...

Microsoft Earnings Report: record $24.52 billion revenue & 3.9 million Xbox One sales

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2013 has been a mixed year for Microsoft. While the year has had its 
ups and down for the company, it ended on a good note. The earnings 
report released by Microsoft for the the last quarter of 2013 reveals 
that the company managed to rake in $24.52 billion, up from $21.5 
billion an year ago.<br />
<br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
See also: <a href="http://www.circlestech.com/2014/01/microsoft-to-share-windows-threshold-to.html"> Microsoft to share "Windows Threshold" to be Called Windows 9, Ship in April 2015</a></h4>
The GAAP operating income for the quarter was at 
$7.9 billion. That’s better than both last year and Q3.<br />

Breakdown of sales reveals that the company shipped 3.9 million Xbox 
One console units in the quarter. The console managed to outsell the 
PlayStation 4 atleast in the US. Not only that, but the last gen Xbox 
360 is still going strong, with sales close to 3.5 million last quarter.<br />

As far as the Surface project goes, it brought in $893 million, up 
from $400 million a quarter ago. Meanwhile, Bing search grew to 18.2% 
and search advertising revenue grew 34%.<br />

Although, things weren’t all good for the company. Devices and 
consumer licensing revenue, which includes Windows and Windows Phone 
software, fell by 5.6 percent to $5.38 billion. Yet, Devices and 
Consumer revenue on the whole, grew 13% to $11.91 billion.<br />

Microsoft expects tough competition going in the future and expects 
more acquisitions, join ventures and strategic alliances, including that
 of Nokia’s Devices and Services business, may have an adverse effect on
 the business.<br />
<i>Source:  <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/investor/EarningsAndFinancials/Earnings/PressReleaseAndWebcast/FY14/Q2/default.aspx">Microsoft</a> & <a href="http://www.theverge.com/2014/1/23/5338162/microsoft-q2-2014-financial-earnings">theverge</a></i></div>

Microsoft Earnings Report: record $24.52 billion revenue & 3.9 million Xbox One sales

Microsoft Earnings Report: record $24.52 billion revenue & 3.9 million Xbox One sales

2013 has been a mixed year for Microsoft. While the year has had its ups and down for the company, it ended on a good note. The earning...

Google buys Nest Labs for $3.2 billion in Cash

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Google has announced that it is buying the connected device company 
Nest. Employees were informed by email and that was followed by an 
official <a href="http://investor.google.com/releases/2014/0113.html" target="_blank">press release</a>. Google has reportedly offered Nest $3.2 billion.<br />

Google’s CEO Larry Page said in a statement: “They’re already 
delivering amazing products you can buy right now–thermostats that save 
energy and smoke/CO alarms that can help keep your family safe.<br />
<br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
 See also: <a href="http://www.circlestech.com/2014/01/google-x-staff-meet-with-fda-pointing.html">Google X Staff Meet With FDA Pointing to Possible Medical Device</a></h4>
We are 
excited to bring great experiences to more homes in more countries and 
fulfill their dreams!”<br />

The founders of Nest, Tony Fadell and Matt Rogers, will be joining 
the Google team. Fadell has expressed his excitement at working with 
Google, saying “With their support, Nest will be even better placed to 
build simple, thoughtful devices that make life easier at home, and that
 have a positive impact on the world.”<br />

<br />

Co-founder Matt Rogers, was one of the first engineers to work on the
 iPhone team at Apple and was responsible for the iPod software 
development.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKtIjDOiTpiEhIjYIoiOD2Rxkqw9zhn0v3k9tcmMM9nAitlOaDBtcmQ-Ls4ZzKkAtUirNSAn87Mx3EBsug1oAEryR4M1AVERUsuRraFZfM5xHUo1vh-XNyogncbDjWPeC1RcshBlSjapk/s1600/google-nest-720x340.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKtIjDOiTpiEhIjYIoiOD2Rxkqw9zhn0v3k9tcmMM9nAitlOaDBtcmQ-Ls4ZzKkAtUirNSAn87Mx3EBsug1oAEryR4M1AVERUsuRraFZfM5xHUo1vh-XNyogncbDjWPeC1RcshBlSjapk/s1600/google-nest-720x340.jpg" width="640" /></a> <br />

Google has been trying for some time now to put together a connected 
home device but with attempts such as ‘Android At Home’, it’s never been
 able to pull it off. The benefit of Nest is that it has already 
developed well-designed and connected home devices. Google will now be 
able to build on those in the future.<br />

As well as Nest’s expertise and quality products, the company brings 
to Google 100 granted patents and another 200 which are on file with the
 U.S. Patent Office, plus a further 200 ready to file. Nest has faced 
strong competition and some patent disputes from rival manufacturers 
like Honeywell and BRK. Google will no doubt be a supporting force in 
helping Nest fend off the competition.<br />

Nest will continue to operate as its own brand and because it was 
already quite successful and renown by consumers for design, it is 
unlikely Google will want to interfere too much. There have apparently 
been some infrastructure issues caused by failed firmware upgrades so 
Google will no doubt be able to help there.<br />

Of course this acquistion does throw up some concerns over security, 
with some questioning what will happen once Google have information 
about your life at home.<br />

To the question ‘Will Nest customer data be shared with Google?’, 
Nest answered with “Our privacy policy clearly limits the use of 
customer information to providing and improving Nest’s products and 
services. We’ve always taken privacy seriously and this will not 
change.”<br />

I can’t hep but feel the question was avoided with such a vague 
answer. People certainly have a right to be concerned, especially  now 
we know about the NSA’s mass collection of data.<br />

The deal is still awaiting regulatory approval and so hasn’t been completed yet.<br />

<i>Image:<a href="http://www.hngn.com/articles/21921/20140114/google-buys-nest-labs-for-3-2-billion.htm">hngn</a></i><br />

<i>Source:<a href="http://techcrunch.com/2014/01/13/google-just-bought-connected-device-company-nest-for-3-2b-in-cash/">techcrunch</a></i><br />
<br />
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Google buys Nest Labs for $3.2 billion in Cash

Google buys Nest Labs for $3.2 billion in Cash

Google has announced that it is buying the connected device company Nest. Employees were informed by email and that was followed by an ...

Microsoft: Record Sales of Windows Phone This Holiday Season

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It isn’t exactly a secret that Microsoft’s mobile operating system 
has being growing at record pace in the past few months, credits Nokia.<br />
<br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
See also: <a href="http://www.circlestech.com/2013/12/best-windows-phone-apps-of-this-year.html">Best Windows Phone Apps Of This Year</a></h4>
The company has revealed that Windows Phone has actually managed to 
outsell iOS in 24 major markets across the world. Not only do these 
include developing countries in Asia and Latin America, but also some 
bigger markets in Europe.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgsUYltucD1Pi8qXQEXfDLLYLPg2sRIwnrsBChjIMszkOcmdDG__ctaXtO3T4u1HQbd6D6HopIPj7Z_n1v3T-0M6gGwcbkwtq_-38Wn0USZbaM6kYiFMyeRmHlBoSRqLfoh6DEuFqGNrI/s1600/l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgsUYltucD1Pi8qXQEXfDLLYLPg2sRIwnrsBChjIMszkOcmdDG__ctaXtO3T4u1HQbd6D6HopIPj7Z_n1v3T-0M6gGwcbkwtq_-38Wn0USZbaM6kYiFMyeRmHlBoSRqLfoh6DEuFqGNrI/s1600/l.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Speaking to TechRadar, Christopher Flores, director of communications
 for Microsoft told that Windows Phone was attacking both ends of the 
smartphone market and its efforts would only get more aggressive once 
the acquisition of Nokia is completed. According to him, in 14 markets 
WP is the second most popular OS, while in 24 it is outselling iOS, so 
it is only a matter of time before they become a strong hold for Windows
 Phone as well. The list of countries where Windows Phone is the second 
largest mobile operating system includes India, Mexico, Italy, South 
Africa, Malaysia, and Hungary among others.<br />

In another statement, Microsoft said:<br />

<i>“We’ve seen record sales of Windows Phone this holiday worldwide, 
nearly doubling phone sales during Christmas week (YOY). In the third 
quarter this year, according to IDC, Windows Phone reinforced its 
position as a top three smartphone operating system and was the 
fastest-growing platform among the leading operating systems with 156% 
year-over-year gain. Windows Phone is the #2 smartphone operating system
 in 14 markets, and shipped more units than iPhone in 24 markets in Q3. 
Our portfolio continues to expand: from award-winning flagship devices 
like the Nokia Lumia 928/1020/1520, to affordable new innovations like 
the Lumia 520/625/1320 and Huawei W1/W2.”</i><br />

Although it doesn’t give any concrete numbers, launches of the Lumia 
1520, 525 and Lumia 1320 should have really helped. At this pace, 
Microsoft might be able to crack the 10 percent market share in an year 
or so, but of course, that remains to be seen.<br />
<i> Image: <a href="http://www.nokiapoweruser.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/MSFT-hero-with-1520-jpg.jpg">nokiapoweruser</a></i><br />
<br />
<i>Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments. </i></div>

Microsoft: Record Sales of Windows Phone This Holiday Season

Microsoft: Record Sales of Windows Phone This Holiday Season

It isn’t exactly a secret that Microsoft’s mobile operating system has being growing at record pace in the past few months, credits Nok...

Nintendo's Fils-Aime - Fan Desire Does Not Affect What We Do

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At the end of the day, Nintendo doesn’t really care what their fans think.
 This is the message many are getting after the President for Nintendo 
of America, Reggie Fils-Aime, basically said just that in a recent 
interview.<br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
 See also: <a class="GBJI0UIPB" href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2893064307900566449#editor/target=post;postID=3463198904971020792;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=4;src=postname">PlayStation 4 Available in Europe But some PSN features go offline</a></h4>
In a market now dominated by Sony and Microsoft, one would 
think that Nintendo would do everything they could do to keep their 
loyal fans and customers happy. After all, people aren’t lining up in 
droves to buy the Wii or it’s big brother, the Wii U. In fact, Nintendo 
has had quite the hard time even getting the Wii U to break through in 
the gaming market.<br />

<br />

<strong>It Might Just Be Time To Listen…</strong><br />

When asked about fan’s thoughts, wishes, and desires, Fils-Aime had 
this to say: ”I have to tell you — it doesn’t affect what we do…We 
certainly look at it, and we’re certainly aware of it, but it doesn’t 
necessarily affect what we do.” Well, it might just be time for Nintendo
 to open their ears before they get blown out of the gaming waters by 
much more popular consoles.<br />

To be fair to Nintendo, Fils-Aime elaborated that he gets paid to 
move the business into the future, no matter what anyone thinks or 
feels. If a company constantly responds to fickle desires, they will 
continually adapt to what their fans want instead of what the company 
wants. Fan desires are constantly changing and adapting, so maybe this 
is a smart move for Nintendo in the long run. Who knows – maybe they 
have a Trojan Horse in their gaming plans that will completely exceed 
all hopes and expectations.<br />
<br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
 See also: <a href="http://www.circlestech.com/2013/12/assassins-creed-pirates-sets-sail-on.html">Assassin's Creed Pirates' Sets Sail On Mobile Devices</a></h4>
Do you think this is a wise move by Nintendo, or should they actively
 listen to the concerns and wishes of their fan base? How much should 
fan desire affect what Nintendo (or any company for that matter) does? 
Let us hear what you think!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4j5SIDDcSoSBr9GhniM5owO1F3fVPZHDiaMe6DPZYQ8x_1zBdPtrreGTS1LYjS5tn03Fx3fDcf055B2QOtyiivxDzHHyz-LAfMqNnq7JUbjReYV72m9X6TmsULzV6T6fnM6aQvWB8P-I/s1600/Nintendo-Wii-U-Launch-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4j5SIDDcSoSBr9GhniM5owO1F3fVPZHDiaMe6DPZYQ8x_1zBdPtrreGTS1LYjS5tn03Fx3fDcf055B2QOtyiivxDzHHyz-LAfMqNnq7JUbjReYV72m9X6TmsULzV6T6fnM6aQvWB8P-I/s640/Nintendo-Wii-U-Launch-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
At the end of the day, Nintendo doesn’t really care what their fans think.
 This is the message many are getting after the President for Nintendo 
of America, Reggie Fils-Aime, basically said just that in a recent 
interview. In a market now dominated by Sony and Microsoft, one would 
think that Nintendo would do everything they could do to keep their 
loyal fans and customers happy. After all, people aren’t lining up in 
droves to buy the Wii or it’s big brother, the Wii U. In fact, Nintendo 
has had quite the hard time even getting the Wii U to break through in 
the gaming market.<br />

<br />

<strong>It Might Just Be Time To Listen…</strong><br />

When asked about fan’s thoughts, wishes, and desires, Fils-Aime had 
this to say: ”I have to tell you — it doesn’t affect what we do…We 
certainly look at it, and we’re certainly aware of it, but it doesn’t 
necessarily affect what we do.” Well, it might just be time for Nintendo
 to open their ears before they get blown out of the gaming waters by 
much more popular consoles.<br />

To be fair to Nintendo, Fils-Aime elaborated that he gets paid to 
move the business into the future, no matter what anyone thinks or 
feels. If a company constantly responds to fickle desires, they will 
continually adapt to what their fans want instead of what the company 
wants. Fan desires are constantly changing and adapting, so maybe this 
is a smart move for Nintendo in the long run. Who knows – maybe they 
have a Trojan Horse in their gaming plans that will completely exceed 
all hopes and expectations.<br />
<br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
 See also: <a href="http://www.circlestech.com/2013/12/angry-birds-go-angry-players-with-in.html">Angry Birds Go! Angry Players With In-App Purchases</a></h4>
Do you think this is a wise move by Nintendo, or should they actively
 listen to the concerns and wishes of their fan base? How much should 
fan desire affect what Nintendo (or any company for that matter) does? 
Let us hear what you think!<br />
SOURCE: <a href="http://news.cnet.com/8301-10797_3-57614620-235/nintendos-fils-aime-fan-desire-doesnt-affect-what-we-do/">Cnet</a><br />
<br />
<i>Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments. </i></div>

Nintendo's Fils-Aime - Fan Desire Does Not Affect What We Do

Nintendo's Fils-Aime - Fan Desire Does Not Affect What We Do

At the end of the day, Nintendo doesn’t really care what their fans think. This is the message many are getting after the President for...

Best Tips To Increase Your CRM

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Whether you're just launching or in your third year of business, you 
won't succeed without loyal customers and brand ambassadors. Customer 
relationships and feedback
 are essential, but you need to understand how to toe the line between 
respectfully receiving feedback and giving in to every request. The 
customer might always be right, but as Steve Jobs is notorious for 
saying, customers don't know what they want until they see it.<br />
<br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
See also: <a href="http://www.circlestech.com/2013/11/how-to-control-your-referral-traffic.html">How To Control Your Referral Traffic</a></h4>
This is where customer relationship management (CRM) comes in, and 
your success here can make all the difference. It's a balancing act, 
sure, and it may at first seem like a curse. Users will be blunt. They 
will be honest. They may hit your idea where it hurts. But they 
(usually) aren't trolls. CRM will help you develop personal 
relationships with customers — a huge advantage over big businesses — 
who will get everyone they know to shop with you if you simply give them
 the time of day and let them know you care about their experience.<br />
Here are five tips that will help you manage the balancing act, put smiles on customers' faces and lead your business to growth.<br />
<h2>
1. Foster Word of Mouth Conversations</h2>
The developed world may be spending more and more time
 at their computers, on tablets and looking at their smartphones than 
physically interacting with one another, but when it comes to what to 
do, what to buy and where to spend their time, word of mouth is, like it
 has always been, the best way to acquire loyal users.<br />
"<a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="word-of-mouth-is"></a>
<br />
<blockquote class="microcontent-wrapper pullquote">
<div class="microcontent-shares" data-description="Word of mouth is the most effective route to market for digital companies" data-fragment="word-of-mouth-is" data-url="">
</div>
<span class="microcontent" data-description="Word of mouth is the most effective route to market for digital companies" data-fragment="word-of-mouth-is" data-micro="1">Word of mouth is the most effective route to market for digital companies</span>
</blockquote>
<span class="microcontent" data-description="Word of mouth is the most effective route to market for digital companies" data-fragment="word-of-mouth-is" data-micro="1">Word of mouth is the most effective route to market for digital companies</span>" says Brett Hagler, cofounder of <a href="http://hucksley.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Hucksley</a>, a discovery ecommerce platform with social good roots. "It carries the <a href="http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/209286/nielsen-consumers-trust-wom-over-other-messaging.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">highest amount of trust to consumers</a>
 while still maintaining a very non-pressured approach. From an internal
 budget perspective, there is clearly no other marketing tactic with the
 same amount of return on investment."
In a connected world, word of mouth often means online reviews and 
recommendations, of which there are many forms. Onsite reviews that 
translate to qualitative stars like you see on Amazon or Yelp
 are one way to get customer feedback from those already using your 
site, but for objective information from newcomers, social media is your
 best bet.<br />
<br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
See also: <a href="http://www.circlestech.com/2013/11/choose-online-website-builder-in-top-16.html">Choose Online website builder  in The top 16</a></h4>
"Word of mouth is integral," says David Parker, cofounder of <a href="http://www.vowch.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Vowch</a>,
 a recommendation-based curation app. "Social media doesn't undermine 
the importance of word of mouth — social media amplifies it and makes it
 more important." <br />
<div class="see-also">
<br /></div>
<h2>
2. Take Care of Frustrated Customers, Use Their Feedback to Improve UX</h2>
Picture this: Your product is in beta or your restaurant is about to 
open, and you're psyched that this pie-in-the-sky idea is coming to 
fruition. But before you open the floodgates, you want feedback from 
early users, so you let them in for an early test-drive. Whether it's 
opening day or four years in, you need to realize that not all feedback 
is going to be nice, but that doesn't mean it's not important.<br />
"With early iterations of our site, we heard loud and clear that our 
messaging was too complex and confusing for our developer partners," 
says Rob Grossberg, CEO of TreSensa,
 a cross-platform game and distribution company. "We were trying to say 
too much and our core message was getting lost in the process. <a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="we-used-that-customer"></a>
<br />
<blockquote class="microcontent-wrapper pullquote">
<div class="microcontent-shares" data-description="We used that customer feedback in a site overhaul to strip out unnecessary elements" data-fragment="we-used-that-customer" data-url="">
</div>
<span class="microcontent" data-description="We used that customer feedback in a site overhaul to strip out unnecessary elements" data-fragment="we-used-that-customer" data-micro="1">We used that customer feedback in a site overhaul to strip out unnecessary elements</span>
</blockquote>
<span class="microcontent" data-description="We used that customer feedback in a site overhaul to strip out unnecessary elements" data-fragment="we-used-that-customer" data-micro="1">We used that customer feedback in a site overhaul to strip out unnecessary elements</span> of our messaging and clarify our story."<br />
<br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
 See also: <a href="http://www.circlestech.com/2013/11/7-best-websites-to-sell-used-mobile.html">7 Best Websites To Sell Used Mobile Phone</a></h4>
In fact, responding to negative feedback in a positive — albeit 
honest — way can turn annoyed users into loyal fans and brand 
ambassadors.<br />
"A few weeks ago we had an incredibly talented visual artist join 
Vowch," says Parker. "He was frustrated that he didn't have a verified 
account on our platform because others often try to impersonate him — 
and he rightfully wanted to ensure that his fans knew his account was 
official. We quickly saw his tweet, confirmed that he was the actual 
artist, and tweeted back 'done!' He has since become one of our best 
users and a great evangelist."<br />
<h2>
3. Be Honest</h2>
No matter what happens with your CRM — and a lot can go wrong
 — honesty is by far the best policy. Small business sets itself apart 
from big business partly because it is easy for consumers to get in 
touch with a real person. That means less wait time for a response, a 
lot more truth behind a flaw in your business and, perhaps most 
importantly, a human touch. It's a lot easier to get mad at a recording 
than another human being. This is a huge advantage for small businesses,
 and capitalizing on it will increase loyalty.<br />
"Overall, we believe the key to managing a customer relationship is 
to be straight up and honest with your customers about what to expect 
from your product out of the gate and not to set unachievable 
expectations," says Grossberg. "Customers understand they are working 
with a startup and that things won't be perfect at the start, or that it
 will take time for the benefits to kick in. You would be amazed at how 
forgiving these customers can be if you are honest with them from the 
start. The companies that get burned are the ones who over-promise and 
under-deliver.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="you-do-not-get"></a>

<br />
<blockquote class="microcontent-wrapper pullquote">
<div class="microcontent-shares" data-description="You do not get any second chances in earning that customer’s trust" data-fragment="you-do-not-get" data-url="">
</div>
<span class="microcontent" data-description="You do not get any second chances in earning that customer’s trust" data-fragment="you-do-not-get" data-micro="1">You do not get any second chances in earning that customer’s trust</span>
</blockquote>
<span class="microcontent" data-description="You do not get any second chances in earning that customer’s trust" data-fragment="you-do-not-get" data-micro="1">You do not get any second chances in earning that customer’s trust</span>."
And even if you're customer is truly in the wrong, being open-minded,
 kind and responsive is the only way to ensure that your customer 
feedback loop is effective for you and your users.<br />
<br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
See also: <a href="http://www.circlestech.com/2013/11/18-bestfree-online-store-templates-for.html">18 Best+Free Online Store Templates For Blogger</a></h4>
"The customer feedback loop is imperative to keeping our products 
relevant and useful, and not wasting time in areas that don’t matter," 
says Jerry Jao, CEO of <a href="http://www.retentionscience.com/">Retention Science</a>,
 a customer retention and marketing automation software company. "In 
building a software, or any product for that matter, listening to your 
customers and being open-minded to their feedback is the only way to 
achieve true product-market fit."<br />
<h2>
4. Keep Track of Your Customers</h2>
It's one thing to have a positive customer experience, but it's 
another to keep track of your ongoing customer relationships, following 
up on recent experiences with your business or even just sending a 
"Happy Birthday" card. Using tools like Salesforce, <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/dynamics" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Microsoft Dynamics</a>, <a href="http://kovida.is/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Kovida.is</a>, <a href="http://close.io/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Close.io</a>, <a href="http://www.sugarcrm.com%20/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sugar</a>
 or even an Excel doc (if you're really bootstrapping) will help you 
stay on top of communications with customers and ensure you're being 
proactive in maintaining relationships, not just responding when 
something goes awry. And while it's important to address negative 
feedback, you should also reach out to people who have left a 5-star 
review of you or tweeted about you, and make a note. These are the 
customers who will help your business grow.<br />
Your CRM will be taken to the next level when combined with marketing
 automation. Since small business owners typically have dozens of tasks 
per day, wouldn't it be nice if your CRM system automatically sent 
emails — follow-up or otherwise — to your customers, requiring no effort
 on your part?<br />
"A major challenge for small business owners is staying organized and following up with their prospects and customers," says <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanherrick" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jonathan Herrick</a>, chief sales and marketing officer at CRM company <a href="http://www.hatchbuck.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Hatchbuck</a>.
 "Small businesses are much more efficient with their CRM software is 
more than just a storage bin for contacts — it should help build better 
relationships with prospects and customers to ultimately help grow a 
business."<br />
How does your company navigate CRM? Tell us your success stories in the comments.</div>

Best Tips To Increase Your CRM

Best Tips To Increase Your CRM

Whether you're just launching or in your third year of business, you won't succeed without loyal customers and brand ambassador...

Microsoft Goes In The Smart Bra Business

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Microsoft has been steadily expanding into the realm of hardware in recent years with the Surface, the Nokia handset deal and the Xbox One. Now, the tech giant is taking its first tentative steps into the world of lingerie.<br />
<br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
 See also: <a href="http://www.circlestech.com/2013/12/r2-d2-usb-car-charger-let-him-charge.html" target="_blank">R2-D2 USB Car Charger Let Him Charge Your Devices</a></h4>
The smart bra was revealed in a new paper (<a href="http://www.cs.rochester.edu/hci/pubs/pdfs/FoodMood.pdf" target="_blank">.PDF</a>)
 from a team of five scientists at Microsoft Research, titled "Food and 
Mood: Just-in-Time Support for Emotional Eating." The idea is to measure
 your emotional state via sensors built into the bra, cross reference 
that with your feelings when overeating in the past, and send a warning 
to your smartphone if the system thinks you're likely to reach for the 
jar of cookies at any minute.<br />
"This is the ﬁrst study, that we are aware of, that makes use of 
wearable, mobile sensors for detecting emotions," the team wrote. "The 
bra form-factor was ideal because it allowed us to collect EKG 
[activity] near the heart." <br />
The women participating in the study had to remove and recharge their
 bras every three to four hours, in what the researchers described as a 
"very tedious process." The results, which were uploaded to Microsoft's Azure Cloud,
 naturally, were fairly impressive: The bra could predict their emerging
 emotional states with roughly 75% accuracy. (The women reported their 
moods every hour in smartphone diaries.) <br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="m!8641"></a>

<br />
<div class="microcontent-wrapper">
<div class="microcontent-shares" data-description="" data-fragment="m!8641" data-image="http://rack.3.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzEyLzAzLzZkL3NtYXJ0YnJhNjQwLmQ4ZDY2LmpwZwpwCXRodW1iCTEyMDB4OTYwMD4/d319ebfa/7c7/smart-bra-640x359.jpg" data-url="">
</div>
</div>
One thing the researchers haven't tested yet is whether an alert 
informing you that you're in an overeating mood — which the paper 
describes as an "appropriately timed, personalized intervention" — will 
actually make much of a difference. <br />
Microsoft is pressing ahead with the device anyway. The team's next 
challenge, according to their paper, is how to build a robust, 
real-world system that "stands up to everyday challenges with regards to
 battery life, comfortability and suitability for both men and women."<br />
That's right: Microsoft doesn't want to leave men out of the 
equation. The team explored whether boxers or briefs might do the trick,
 but found male underwear to be too far away from the heart. Perhaps we 
will see the rise of the Microsoft smart bra for men on a diet.<br />
<br />
<i>Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.</i> </div>

Microsoft Goes In The Smart Bra Business

Microsoft Goes In The Smart Bra Business

Microsoft has been steadily expanding into the realm of hardware in recent years with the Surface, the Nokia handset deal and the Xbox O...

Inside Google’s 1-Million-Square-Foot London Office — 3 Years Before ItOpens - Circles Tech

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Google’s new London office, scheduled to open in 2016, will have an open-air swimming pool, an indoor football pitch, a climbing wall and a roof garden from which to watch trains glide out of Kings Cross station toward Cambridge or Hogwarts. Googlers can cycle right into the building and to the cycle store room, which is equipped with showers and lockers. Somewhere in the interstices, there will also be desks to work at.<br>
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Inside Google’s 1-Million-Square-Foot London Office — 3 Years Before ItOpens - Circles Tech

Inside Google’s 1-Million-Square-Foot London Office — 3 Years Before ItOpens - Circles Tech

Google’s new London office, scheduled to open in 2016, will have an open-air swimming pool, an indoor football pitch, a climbing wall an...

Dropbox Sends Invites for 'Special' November Event - Circles Tech

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Cloud storage powerhouse Dropbox sent out invitations to the media for a "news event" to be held at the company's headquarters in San Francisco on Nov. 13. No details are given, but the invitation says there will be a "special announcement."<br /><br />The invitation has a drawing of a tabletop with various devices on it as well as photographs, business cards and notebooks. In the center is a piece of paper with the Dropbox logo along with some charts. Accompanying the drawing are the words, "This isn't business as usual," perhaps a reference to the company's Dropbox for Business service.<br /><br />Dropbox CEO Drew Houston will lead the event along with other company executives. Although Dropbox has been a presence at other tech events and hosted its own developer conference this year, this is the first company-specific event it's thrown.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="m!6531"></a><br /><div><br /><div></div><br /><img alt="Dropbox invitation" src="http://rack.3.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzEwLzMxL2M2L2Ryb3Bib3hpbnZpLjQ5MzNmLmpwZwpwCXRodW1iCTEyMDB4OTYwMD4/1899c4a7/e4e/dropbox-invite.jpg" /></div><br />Dropbox, which originally launched in 2008, has grown to become the go-to cloud storage and sharing service with more than 200 million users. This has been a busy year for the company: After launching its long-awaited business offering in April, it announced the Dropbox Platform in July, a way for other apps to integrate its services.<br /><br /><i>Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.</i></div>

Dropbox Sends Invites for 'Special' November Event - Circles Tech

Dropbox Sends Invites for 'Special' November Event - Circles Tech

Cloud storage powerhouse Dropbox sent out invitations to the media for a "news event" to be held at the company's headquarters...

FBI Seized $28.5 Million in Bitcoins From Silk Road Owner Ross Ulbricht- Circles Tech

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">The Silk Road made a small fortune during its two and a half years as the web’s biggest anonymous black market for illegal drugs, but at least a $28.5 million chunk of that money now belongs to the FBI.<br /><br />The bureau has located and seized a collection of 144,000 Bitcoins, the largest seizure of that cryptocurrency ever made.  The value is worth close to $28.5 million at current exchange rates. It is believed the stash belonged to Ross Ulbricht, the man who allegedly created and managed the Silk Road.  The popular anonymous drug-selling site was taken offline by the Department of Justice after Ulbricht was arrested earlier this month and charged with engaging in a drug trafficking and money laundering conspiracy, charges of computer hacking and attempted murder-for-hire were also mentioned.<br /><br /><a name="more"></a><br /><br />The FBI official wouldn’t say how the government agency had determined that the Bitcoin “wallet” (a collection of Bitcoins at a single address in the Bitcoin network) belonged to Ulbricht, but, they did say that it was sure they belonged to him. “This is his wallet,” said an FBI official. “We seized this from DPR,” they added, referring to the pseudonym “the Dread Pirate Roberts,” which prosecutors say Ulbricht allegedly used whilst operating the Silk Road, (the Dread Pirate Roberts is a mysterious character from William Goldman’s 1973 novel, The Princess Bride).<br /><br />When the Silk Road was taken down on October 1st 2013, the FBI seized nearly 30,000 bitcoins, which are worth close to $6 million based on the recent surge in the value of Bitcoin’s against the dollar. That was the first time the FBI had ever seized any amount of the cryptocurrency.  This more recent seizure represents the biggest Bitcoin takeover by a law enforcement department, ever. “This is unprecedented,” said the official. “Even if this were a regular drug case, it would be huge.”  In total, the FBI has now seized close to $34.5 million from the Silk Road. An FBI spokesperson previously told Forbes that it will likely exchange the seized bitcoins for dollars after Ulbricht’s trial or settlement concludes.  In fact 174,000 bitcoins that the FBI controls now account for about 3.15% of all Bitcoins in current circulation.<br /><br />In its criminal file against Ulbricht, the Department of Justice has claimed that the Silk Road had earned $80 million in commissions during its time in operation.  It is unlikely, however, that the site’s administrators pocketed anywhere near that much in actual profit.</div>

FBI Seized $28.5 Million in Bitcoins From Silk Road Owner Ross Ulbricht- Circles Tech

FBI Seized $28.5 Million in Bitcoins From Silk Road Owner Ross Ulbricht- Circles Tech

The Silk Road made a small fortune during its two and a half years as the web’s biggest anonymous black market for illegal drugs, but at lea...

Facebook Reportedly Offered $1 Billion to Acquire Snapchat - CirclesTech

Facebook Reportedly Offered $1 Billion to Acquire Snapchat - CirclesTech

Facebook Reportedly Offered $1 Billion to Acquire Snapchat - CirclesTech

Investor worries regarding the growing number of potentially overfunded tech companies seemed to have died down in recent months, but new i...

Google Maps Engine Pro For Businesses - Circles Tech

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Recently, Google launched Google Maps Engine Pro, a cloud-based software tool designed to allow businesses to put in order data such as warehouse locations, shipping routes and sales territories when a spreadsheet or a database will not suffice.<br /><br />The idea is to assist companies to gain more value out of the location-based data they own. If that data can be plotted on a map, it will be easier for business owners to make decisions, Google executives said Monday during a media briefing at the company’s offices in San Francisco.  It is bringing “the consumer experience with Maps, but bringing a more powerful form of mapping to successful business owners,” said Vice President of Google Maps, Brian McClendon.<br /><a name="more"></a><br /><br />With Maps Engine Pro, companies can import data from various file formats, such as addresses, names, office locations and sales leads etc onto a map, which can then be edited and shared to anyone working at the company.  The maps are customizable, too. For example, companies can use different coloured pins to show various points of interest or add text to parts of the map.  Businesses are not confined to keeping the data just within the company.  They can share their maps with as many people as they want, just the same as Google Docs files. But the data behind the maps is secure, according to Google. The tool is built on Google’s existing account systems, so users can choose security options such as two-factor authentication to keep others from accessing the data, the company said.<br /><br />Greater than 50 percent of U.S. companies already use some Web-based mapping, according to Google, but less than 5 percent of employees can access that data. Google says it wants to change the process. “We want to move maps from a read-only experience to do-it-yourself understanding, share it, and make it a public experience,” said Vinay Goel, director of global product management for Google Maps for Business.  The product is designed to assist any company that has a small or medium-sized amount of business location data. It is built on top of Google’s Maps Engine platform, which is designed for power users and businesses working with large amounts of data and more complex maps.<br /><br />Google Maps Engine Pro costs $5 per month, or $50 per year. It is launching next Monday on both desktop and Android-based devices; Available at the Google Maps for Business website and in the Google Play Store, respectively.  Unfortunately for mobile Apple users, there is no iOS version yet.</div>

Google Maps Engine Pro For Businesses - Circles Tech

Google Maps Engine Pro For Businesses - Circles Tech

Recently, Google launched Google Maps Engine Pro, a cloud-based software tool designed to allow businesses to put in order data such as ware...

Inkling's E-Books Put the Consumer in Charge - Circles Tech

Inkling's E-Books Put the Consumer in Charge - Circles Tech

Inkling's E-Books Put the Consumer in Charge - Circles Tech

The invention of the Kindle, we're still consuming flat text files on devices capable of so much more. Inkling, a digital publishing ...

When Tech Giants Lobby Congress, This Is What They Ask For - CirclesTech

When Tech Giants Lobby Congress, This Is What They Ask For - CirclesTech

When Tech Giants Lobby Congress, This Is What They Ask For - CirclesTech

When you think of industry giants lobbying Congress, you may envision massive oil companies. But tech giants of Silicon Valley are getting a...

Study: 30% of Americans Get Their News on Facebook - Circles Tech

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">A new study reveals that 30% of Americans get their news on Facebook, and suggests that the social network drives people to media sites who may not have otherwise done so. Of that 30%, more than half — 78% — said they click on news links to media sites after initially logging on for unrelated reasons, such as checking out friends' pictures or updating their statuses. In fact, only 16% of Facebook users say that getting news is the primary reason they log on.<br /><br />The study, published by the Pew Research Center on Thursday, found that almost half of American users click on news in their Facebook feeds. Since 64% of adults in the United States use Facebook, that means one in three Americans consumes news on Facebook.<br /><br />However, only 22% of the 30% who get their news on Facebook think the site is a useful source for information about the world, and only 4% of those think Facebook is "the most important way" to get their news.<br /><a name="more"></a><br /><br />"People go to Facebook to share personal moments — and they discover the news almost incidentally," Amy Mitchell, Pew Research Center’s director of journalism research, said in a statement. "The serendipitous nature of news on Facebook may actually increase its importance as a source of news and information, especially among those who do not follow the news closely."<br /><br />The study quotes one respondent, who said he believes <a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="facebook-is-a-good"></a><br /><blockquote><br /><div></div><br />"Facebook is a good way to find out news without actually looking for it."</blockquote><br />"Facebook is a good way to find out news without actually looking for it."<br /><br />The importance of the social network also depends on how much of a news junkie the user is.<br /><br />Among those who click on news links in their Facebook news feeds, just 38% of heavy news followers think the social network is "an important way to get the news," but among those who follow news "less often," 47% consider Facebook as an important source.<br /><br />On Monday, Facebook announced that it was driving 170% more traffic to media sites this year than in 2012.<br /><br />This is the first of a series of studies on social media and news published by Pew in collaboration with the Knight Foundation. For this study, Pew surveyed 5,173 Americans ages 18 and older. You can read the full report here (.PDF).<br /><br /><i>Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.</i></div>

Study: 30% of Americans Get Their News on Facebook - Circles Tech

Study: 30% of Americans Get Their News on Facebook - Circles Tech

A new study reveals that 30% of Americans get their news on Facebook, and suggests that the social network drives people to media sites who ...

Scientists Discover Exactly Why Our Brains Need Sleep - Circles Tech

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">There have been many studies around why sleep is so important to our functions, although we don’t need to read a report to know that without enough sleep each night, us humans don’t function at full throttle. Many people are interested in all aspects of sleep and sleep deprivation and even what our dreams mean. For the first time ever though, scientists have evidence of one of the specific reasons that our brains need sleep.<br /><br /><br /><br />Scientists from the University of Rochester discovered that during sleep, our brains are able to clear the toxic waste byproduct that our brain cells produce during the waking hours. It is this process that contributes to our well-rested, clear headedness feeling that we achieve after a good night’s sleep.<br /><br /><a name="more"></a><br /><br />While our brain cells are active, they produce a byproduct called amyloid beta. A buildup of this metabolic waste can eventually destroy neurons. Fortunately, metabolic waste is generated throughout the body and the body disposes of it through the lymphatic system. But the brain is not connected to this system so it has to use its own waste disposal system. This system uses the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to carry the waste material down the body to the liver where it is disposed of.<br /><br />The scientists injected different colored dyes into mice’s CSF and studied how the dye travelled when the mice were awake and when they were asleep. They found that the dye moved far quicker when the mice were asleep. Further study showed that this was in direct relation to the fact that the gap between the brain cells was wider when the mice were asleep than when they were awake, widening the path for the CSF to run more quickly.<br /><br />The study is a significant find for the world of neurodegenerative disorders. Patients who possess conditions such as Alzheimer’s and Dementia have higher levels of amyloid beta. It’s vital that people get enough sleep each night to let our brain garbage men do their job and help to keep our neurons firing.</div>

Scientists Discover Exactly Why Our Brains Need Sleep - Circles Tech

Scientists Discover Exactly Why Our Brains Need Sleep - Circles Tech

There have been many studies around why sleep is so important to our functions, although we don’t need to read a report to know that without...

How to Pitch Yourself as an Expert to the Media - Circles Tech

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">A friend of mine recently called and said she was about to draft a pitch promoting herself as a food expert to several broadcast outlets. She asked if I would take a look once she was done. Several days later, her email popped up. The subject? “This feels so weird.”<br /><br />You don’t need to be a PR expert to know that it’s much easier to tout a product than it is to tout yourself. But if you’re just getting your company, business or blog up and running, you likely don’t have the resources to recruit a full-time PR person or agency support. Which leaves the PRing — along with most other things — to you.<br /><br />As a PR professional who has happily pitched clients’ products and uncomfortably pitched my own brain, I can tell you: It doesn’t ever stop feeling weird. But it does get easier. If you’re struggling with how to promote yourself, keep these tips in mind.<br /><a name="more"></a><br /><h3>1. Be Professional</h3><br />Pitching yourself will likely evoke a whole spectrum of emotions, but when it comes to the actual pitch, keep it business-appropriate. Most importantly: Don’t be overly casual (or no one will take you seriously), don’t be too verbose (or no one will read your email), and don’t be rude, arrogant, or obnoxiously self-promotional.<br /><br />This may sound obvious, but there’s an important differentiation between pitching yourself and pitching a product: When you’re pitching yourself, <a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="the-booking-producer-not"></a><br /><blockquote><br /><div></div><br />the booking producer not only needs to like what you have to say. He also needs to like you.</blockquote><br />the booking producer not only needs to like what you have to say. He also needs to like you.<br /><h3>2. Back it Up</h3><br />If you’re new on the speaking circuit or just looking to book your first interview, you’re going to need to really convince the booking producer or journalist that you’ve got the smarts they’re looking for. So beyond introducing yourself and your expertise, include relevant stats, articles and anecdotes to support your narrative. Explain what differentiates your expertise from other people talking about a similar subject — maybe it’s the research you’ve recently conducted or the access you have to key influencers in the industry — as well as why your expertise is especially relevant to the outlet you’re pitching.<br /><br />Each pitch differs, but here’s a general framework to consider:<br /><br /><br /><section><br /><ul><br /><li>In 2-3 sentences, introduce who you are, your expertise and what you’re pitching (e.g., to be considered for future food segments on the<i> Today Show</i>).</li><br /><li>Add 2-5 bullet points about why your narrative is relevant, compelling and timely.</li><br /><li>Add 1-2 sentences about why you’re perfectly positioned to be talking about this subject to this specific outlet.</li><br /><li>Add a brief bio with your high-level accomplishments, your availability and ways for people to reach you.</li></ul><br /><h3>3. Be Confident</h3><br />No matter what your expertise, there are likely topics or themes within that industry that you’re not as well-versed on as others. If you’re a food expert, like my friend, you may not be as knowledgeable about French cuisine as you are about Italian. Maybe your vegetarian recipes are lacking. But here’s the deal: No one needs to know that but you.<br /><br />When pitching yourself as an expert, you need to convince whomever you’re pitching that you are, actually, an expert. So tell your various and wide-ranging insecurities to shush, and put forward your smartest, most confident self.<br /><h3>4. But Don’t Oversell</h3><br />Remember that confirming an interview is not the end game — successfully promoting your brand is. So while you want to come across as confident and knowledgeable, you don’t want to B.S. your whole pitch. If you do, you’re only going to end up hurting your reputation — and future opportunities — by sounding silly on-air or getting blacklisted by the booking department. Instead, give yourself a bit more time to get up to speed on your industry.<br /><h3>5. Be Prepared</h3><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="once-you-send-that"></a><br /><blockquote><br /><div></div><br />Once you send that pitch out, consider yourself on-call</blockquote><br />Once you send that pitch out, consider yourself on-call — especially when pitching yourself to broadcast outlets. One way to not make friends with the booking department? Pitch yourself as an expert on a story, like the government shutdown, and then not make yourself available for interviews while the government is actually shut down.Also, make sure you’re 110% comfortable and ready to speak on whatever information you include in your pitch. If there are stats you cite, make sure they’re legitimate. If you’re offering exclusive information to one outlet, don’t talk to any other reporters about it. You want people to be impressed by what you’re offering and then more impressed once they meet you — not less so.<br /><br />Promoting yourself as an expert is a really effective way to raise your own profile and that of your brand. But there’s no getting around it: It’s tricky, awkward, and, as my friend pointed out, totally weird. But don’t let the icky feelings deter you: You are uniquely positioned to share what you know. As long as you don’t creep people out in the process, we’ll be seeing you on the <i>Today Show </i>(or in the<i> New York Times</i>) soon enough.<br /><br /><i>Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.</i><br /></section></div>

How to Pitch Yourself as an Expert to the Media - Circles Tech

How to Pitch Yourself as an Expert to the Media - Circles Tech

A friend of mine recently called and said she was about to draft a pitch promoting herself as a food expert to several broadcast outlets. Sh...

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