Tag: tech

Notion Calendar Android App is Now Live! Download Now

Notion Calendar is launching its Android app! Schedule and control your time on the go like never before. Multiple time zones. Auto-merged events. A clean, fast interface.

Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.cron.calendar&pli=1

Here is a video of the new Notion Calendar app to give you a bit of a taster of what you can expect.

Amit Interviews Robinhood CEO and Co-Founder, Vlad Tenev. Robinhood Gold Economics and more.

The other day I just came across Amit on YouTube and noticed that he sat down and interviewed Robinhood CEO and Co-Founder, Vlad Tenev.

It’s a great interview and really worth the watch.

My favourite part is them talking about the new Robinhood Gold and the economics behind the product.

Apple Maps Cycling Data Now Live in The Netherlands and other countries on iPhone and Apple Watch

Apple Maps users in the Netherlands are now able to access cycling route data on their iPhones and Apple Watches.

Locations currently supported are:

  • Australia
  • Barcelona, Spain
  • China mainland
  • France
  • Germany
  • Japan
  • London, United Kingdom
  • Montréal, Canada
  • Toronto, Canada
  • United States
  • Vancouver, Canada

Vinod Khosla – 90% of VCs Add No Value to Startups

90% of VCs add no value to startups, 70% even harm them.

Just the fact that you got an MBA and joined a venture fund doesn’t mean you can give useful advice to an entrepreneur

If you never built an actual business, you’re not qualified to give advice.

Vinod Khosla is the lead of Khosla Ventures and has invested in some of the worlds largest companies when they were young and in venture capital mode.

Here is the full interview:

GitHub Copilot Workspace is Here – Leverage AI Developer Tools

GitHub Copilot Workspace is here!

GitHub Copilot Workspace leverages AI developer tools to streamline complex tasks across your entire repo, enhancing developer productivity and making coding faster and smarter. Ideal for navigating unfamiliar programming languages or frameworks, Copilot Workspace acts as a cloud IDE companion, deeply integrated with your project. As your ultimate coding partner, it excels in repo-wide edits and fosters programming collaboration. Whether addressing GitHub Issues or optimizing your task-centric workflow, Copilot Workspace is designed to improve your coding efficiency through its AI-generated code capabilities.

GitHub Copilot Workspace is going to be a great addition to GitHub. AI tools are becoming more important for coding as other tools like OpenAI have helped push the boundaries and are bringing more efficiency to coding.

I’m bullish on GitHub and I think they are going to continue to grow even further and faster over the next 10 years.

Rabbit R1 Video Review from iJustine – Handheld AI Device

Rabbit has just released their new handheld AI device the Rabbit R1. Above is the best review I could find at the moment of the R1 (its from iJustine).

I’m a big fan of this device and have ordered my own, but it probably wont come for some time.

Anyways, take a look at the review and it would be great to hear your thoughts and comments on the Rabbit R1

What is the Easiest DAW for a Beginner to Learn

Determining the “absolute easiest” DAW for beginners can be subjective, as individual learning styles and preferences vary. However, based on user feedback and general ease of use, some beginner-friendly DAW options include:

1. GarageBand (Mac only):

  • Free and pre-installed on Macs: No initial investment required, making it readily accessible for Mac users.
  • Simple and intuitive interface: Designed with a clean and user-friendly layout, ideal for beginners unfamiliar with complex software.
  • Built-in sound library and virtual instruments: Offers a good selection of sounds and instruments to get started without needing additional resources.
  • Limited features compared to other DAWs: May not be suitable for advanced productions or those seeking extensive functionalities.

2. Ableton Live:

  • Unique workflow: Focuses on loop-based music creation, offering a different approach that some beginners find intuitive.
  • Strong focus on live performance: Can be helpful for those interested in performing electronic music live with their creations.
  • Wide range of built-in sounds and effects: Offers a good starting point without requiring additional purchases.
  • Steeper learning curve compared to GarageBand: May require slightly more effort to learn for some beginners, especially those unfamiliar with loop-based production.

Why do Customers Like Using Figma over Competitors?

Customers appreciate Figma for several reasons, making it a popular choice for design teams and individuals:

Collaboration:

  • Real-time collaboration: Multiple people can edit the same Figma file simultaneously, fostering effective teamwork and streamlined design iterations. This allows designers to work together on projects seamlessly, regardless of their physical location.
  • Version control: Figma automatically saves your work, allowing users to revert to previous versions if necessary. This ensures everyone is working on the latest version and eliminates the risk of losing work due to accidental changes.
  • Commenting and feedback: Figma provides tools for leaving comments and providing feedback directly on designs, facilitating clear communication within teams and with clients.

User-friendliness:

  • Simple and intuitive interface: Figma boasts a user-friendly interface that is easy to learn and navigate, even for those new to design software. This makes it accessible to a wider range of users, including designers with varying experience levels.
  • Web-based platform: No software downloads are required; users can access Figma from any device with a web browser, eliminating compatibility issues and allowing for easy access on the go.
  • Extensive resources and tutorials: Figma offers a wealth of resources, including tutorials, documentation, and community forums, making it easy for users to learn new features and get help when needed.

Features and Functionality:

  • Comprehensive design tools: Figma offers a diverse toolkit for various design needs, including vector graphics creation, prototyping, and user interface (UI) design. This allows designers to complete their entire design workflow within a single platform.
  • Integrations with other tools: Figma integrates with various external tools and plugins, expanding its functionality to cater to diverse design workflows and connect seamlessly with other commonly used software.
  • Community-driven enhancements: Figma actively incorporates user feedback and suggestions, ensuring the platform continuously evolves and adapts to user needs.

Additional factors contributing to Figma’s popularity:

  • Free plan: Figma offers a free plan with basic features, making it an accessible option for individual designers and startups.
  • Affordable paid plans: Paid plans offer additional features and functionalities, catering to the needs of larger teams and organizations.
  • Growing popularity: Figma’s rising popularity within the design community further attracts users, creating a network effect and establishing it as a preferred industry tool.

What are the Benefits of Using Notion Calendar Over Google Calendar

While both Notion Calendar and Google Calendar are effective tools for managing your schedule, they cater to different needs and offer unique benefits. Here’s a breakdown of some advantages Notion Calendar might have over Google Calendar:

Integrated Workspace:

  • Notion integrates seamlessly with other Notion features: You can connect your calendar to databases, notes, project plans, and other elements within your Notion workspace, creating a centralized hub for managing various aspects of your life and work.
  • Google Calendar functions as a standalone app: While it can integrate with other Google services like Gmail, it lacks the level of in-depth integration that Notion offers.

Customization:

  • Notion offers extensive customization options: You can create different calendar views (e.g., calendar, table, list), personalize the layout with colors, fonts, and icons, and embed various content formats like images and videos within your calendar entries. This allows for a more visually appealing and personalized experience.
  • Google Calendar offers limited customization: While you can choose from different calendar views and color-code events, the overall visual customization options are more restricted compared to Notion.

Flexibility and Functionality:

  • Notion allows embedding other functionalities within calendar entries: You can directly add checklists, to-dos, and even embed other Notion pages within your calendar events, creating a comprehensive and multifaceted view of your schedule and tasks.
  • Google Calendar focuses primarily on scheduling events: While you can add descriptions and attachments to events, the functionality is more limited compared to Notion’s ability to embed different content and information within calendar entries.

Offline Accessibility:

  • Notion offers offline access within its desktop app: This allows you to view and edit your calendar even when you don’t have an internet connection.
  • Google Calendar requires an internet connection for most functionalities: While some limited functionalities might be available offline within the mobile app, full functionality requires internet access.

However, it’s important to consider some potential drawbacks of Notion Calendar:

  • Learning curve: Notion’s interface and features can be more complex to learn and navigate compared to Google Calendar’s more user-friendly design.
  • Performance: Notion’s web app can sometimes experience performance issues, especially with very large workspaces.
  • Limited platform availability: Currently, Notion primarily functions as a web app with limited mobile app features compared to Google Calendar’s mobile app.

How Can I Buy Shares in Xiaomi (XIACY or 1810) on the Public Stock Market?

Buying Xiaomi American Depositary Receipts (ADRs):

  • This is the simplest and most common way for US investors to buy Xiaomi stock.
  • ADRs represent shares of a foreign company (in this case, Xiaomi) that are traded on a US stock exchange.
  • Xiaomi’s ADR trades under the ticker symbol XIACY on the OTC Markets.

Buying Xiaomi shares directly on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX):

  • This method allows you to buy actual shares of Xiaomi (stock code: 1810), but it’s a more complex process and not recommended for all investors.
  • It typically involves opening an international brokerage account that allows trading on the HKEX and navigating potential currency conversion and other fees.

Accenture Acquired Udacity to Expand Its Learning Platform – Focused on AI

Accenture announced today that it will acquire the learning platform, Udacity. This acquisition is part of an initiative to create a learning platform focused on AI, in response to increasing interest in the field. While the acquisition price for Udacity was not disclosed, Accenture also announced a $1 billion investment in a technology learning platform named LearnVantage.

Although the company could offer broader technology training, it underscored its interest in providing training for AI. Kishore Durg, the global lead of Accenture LearnVantage, said in a statement, “The rise of generative AI represents one of the most transformative changes in how work gets done. It’s driving a growing need for enterprises to train and upskill people in cloud, data, and AI as they build their digital core and reinvent their enterprises.”

Distribute Music with Distrokid and RouteNote

Distrokid and RouteNote are both great options for uploading your music into the worlds largest stores and streaming services. Here is a quick list of Pros and Cons for both.

DistroKid:

Pros:

  • Simple and user-friendly interface
  • Affordable pricing for basic plans
  • Fast distribution speeds (especially for paid plans)

Cons:

  • Limited features in basic plans (e.g., no YouTube Content ID)
  • Additional fees for advanced features
  • Limited customer support options

RouteNote:

Pros:

  • All-inclusive features in their free plan (including YouTube Content ID)
  • Unlimited track uploads even on the free plan
  • Wide range of additional features and services
  • 24/7 customer support

Cons:

  • Slightly more complex interface compared to DistroKid
  • Slower distribution speeds compared to DistroKid (for the free plan)
drums music streaming distrokid routenote
via – Shuttur

Alibaba Invests in AI Company MiniMax $600 million Funding Round

Investments in AI have been increasing, and Alibaba has emerged as one of China’s key players in this field. Recently, the e-commerce giant led a funding round of over US$600 million for the Chinese startup MiniMax.

This deal increased MiniMax’s valuation to over US$2.5 billion, marking Alibaba’s second significant AI investment this year. It recently led a US$1 billion round for Moonshot AI, also valuing it at US$2.5 billion.

MiniMax is a Chinese AI startup specializing in social AI. It develops AI companions and virtual characters for interactive experiences.

At present, the startup has two AI character role-playing apps: Talkie for international markets, and Xing Ye for China.

Cox Enterprises Acquiring OpenGov for $1.8 billion – Government Software Provider

Cox Enterprises is set to acquire OpenGov, a software provider for cities and state agencies, in a deal valued at $1.8 billion. OpenGov, a privately-owned company based in San Francisco, has developed a software platform over the past twelve years. This platform assists with budgeting, accounting, asset management, and other local government requirements.

via The Wall Street Journal