Businesses come up with all sorts of tricks to keep on making money and luring people to spend more. And believe me, it is a must if you want to stay relevant amidst all the competition these days. Even big brands become unknowns if they fail to innovate and keep up with the times. It happened with Nokia. Who would’ve thought that the most-loved mobile phone maker will be swallowed whole by Apple and Samsung and just about every other smartphone maker that followed suit? But then, it happened so we now know nothing is impossible in this world. Aside from innovating, advertising is crucial so that consumers remember you first when they think of a product or service in your industry. Many got their eyes glued to advertising because of the influx of money in that industry and Walmart isn’t the type to get left behind. You’ve probably heard about Spotify making its attempt on it but you probably weren’t updated on Walmart’s subtle yet increasing growth in the field of advertising. Consumers who shop at Walmart whether both in-store or online are unaware how the company subtly diversified its offerings and they happened to be the pawn in this game of cash and brand recall.
(Via: https://digiday.com/marketing/amazon-looming-walmart-quietly-grows-advertising-platform/) This is actually working to Walmart’s advantage given that roughly 140 million people shop at over 5,000 Walmart stores each week. It’s not surprising that they are making headway in advertising given that they already have a regular audience to pitch those ads to. Today, the cash flow doesn’t just come from actual retail sales but also from them being an advertising platform – undeniably its edge over close rival, Amazon. Walmart is catching up with its e-commerce business that not only sells products but has become a lucrative ad vehicle.
(Via: https://www.thestreet.com/story/14268795/1/walmart-ramping-up-its-online-advertising-efforts.html) You may say that Walmart is already doing well just by selling stuff as it is but real success is only achieved by a brand that has managed to reinvent itself and adapt to the modern times. That’s the only way to grow and ensure survival in a market that is increasingly becoming more competitive and inhospitable to those who fail to adapt. Only entrepreneurs who have a vision of greatness for his company will look past the current circumstances and see the potential to what is already there. Hence, Walmart is on its way of conquering other niches and nothing’s stopping them as they harness their newfound advertising edge. Walmart Is The Next Big Thing In Advertising Read more on: https://maczealots.com/ via https://maczealots.com/?p=266
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Technology keeps on pushing humanity’s limitation and surprises us with the many innovations that are possible with the right tools and technology in hand. We have seen it firsthand as to how consumer gadgets have proliferated over the past few decades. Virtually everyone now owns a smart gadget or two and even kids can very well navigate any screen, big or small. Even vintage gadgets are making comebacks but with a modern twist and people are still buying it. Yet, as thrilled and grateful as we are for the sheer comfort and convenience afforded to us by modern technology, it remains to be a flawed system that is full of loopholes, mysteries, and risks. We have seen time and again where robots were depicted as the bad guys in many mainstream movies or series. The plot often reveals that these robots apparently learn how to think for themselves and became a tool for destruction rather than help uplift human lives. Now, there are people telling us this could also be our reality if scientists keep on pushing for tech innovations the human race is not yet ready to handle. Killer robots may eventually become our undoing – a Pandora’s box we won’t be able to close anymore no matter how badly we want to.
If there are individuals and groups making noise about this means there is perhaps a possibility of this becoming real or can even be happening already, albeit in secret labs that are already doing all sorts of experiments that will blow our minds. The problem is when these man-made creations are used against humanity. Will we be able to stop them from hurting innocent people? Probably, the answer is no. It’s the threat of the unknown that is even way scarier than the existence of these killer robots themselves.
The people who have been openly criticizing the development and eventual use of killer robots are not just ordinary citizens who know nothing about the technology but renowned entrepreneurs who have invested and worked heavily in the same industry that is now harnessing technological advancements to animate robots that may soon wipe out our very existence even with just one simple mistake. People like Elon Musk are just on the side of caution and don’t want to compromise our health, safety, and lives by meddling with things we know so little about. For sure they aren’t getting in the way of progress. They just want to protect humanity from things we could never be prepared for in the years to come. The blog article The Threat Of Killer Robots was initially published on MacZealots.com via https://maczealots.com/the-threat-of-killer-robots/ There are many things that remain a mystery to us even with the passing of time. And to us citizens of America, nothing is more perplexing than the state of our healthcare delivery system. Ever since President Trump assumed office, he openly attacked the Obama’s Affordable Care Act or Obamacare and vowed to get rid of it while he is in office and that is exactly what he has been doing for the past months. He has been known to pressure Republican legislators both in the upper and lower house to repeal Obamacare as soon as possible but that still has not happened until now. Well, it’s true that nation-building and simply running a nation is entirely dependent on who’s on power. In this case, it’s a total newbie to politics who is focused on rebuilding America’s greatness and with a strong sense of American spirit. Sounds good, right, but not really. His somehow racist mindset is rubbing off on his actions and he is barely making any progress in realizing the platforms he promised during the last election. And as such, he has compromised a lot of things that Americans hold dear – education, healthcare, and the arts, among others. Until today, nothing has yet been set in stone regarding the US healthcare system and it is making many people worry.
(Via: http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/347373-mcconnell-path-on-healthcare-murky) Since Obamacare is still the recognized healthcare law in the US, it has put Republicans in a dilemma as to what else can they still do to realize their goals and appease the demands of the sitting president. Add to that the challenge in stabilizing the insurance market remains to be a cause of worry among legislators who are torn as to whether or not to repeal Obamacare for real. It is true that the Affordable Care Act has its fair share of flaws but totally overhauling the system without implementing realistic and considerate reforms will eventually make the people suffer and the system collapse.
For sure, Republicans (including President Trump himself) has long been frustrated as to the way the Obamacare repeal is going. It has been months already but they’re still empty-handed. But then, is the issue here having them realize their own healthcare plans for the country or the welfare of the majority of the American people? Let us not forget who is on the losing end of all this as politicians fight one another for their own vested interests. Health is a serious issue especially if you have experienced a near-death experience yourself. And given just how expensive health care is these days and insurance companies further reduce their coverage, Americans struggle with their health and finances while politicians keep on ignoring their pleas leaving everyone wondering when will all this madness stop. American Healthcare Remains To Be Undefined is courtesy of MacZealots.com via https://maczealots.com/american-healthcare-remains-to-be-undefined/ Children are precious to us especially if you are a parent to one. It is why seeing your own sweat and blood suffer from some inner demons seem unbearable for any parent. But that is the reality a lot of kids now face. As the population balloons, it isn’t a guarantee that they’ll have the support they need as they brave each new day in their life. Bullying has worsened because it has now taken a new platform – digital. And kids these days often have their own smart gadgets and access to Internet 24/7 that exposes them to a different type of danger. It becomes even doubly harder for the youth to cope to all these clutter in our modern world because aside from busy parents and guardians that are no longer able to fulfill their obligation of rearing and guiding a child, kids end up confused and easily swayed by negative people. Mental health issues take different forms and it is difficult to spot one especially that kids these days lead more solitary lives – lost in their own little virtual bubble. It should challenge adults, though, to reach out to their children and make them feel that help is just readily available whenever they need one and that they should not hesitate in asking whenever they feel down or broken.
Suicide remains to be a major issue that the youth has to deal with. Young people who feel lost and can no longer cope resorts to taking their own lives just to put an end to their misery. And despite all the initiative of both the public and private sector to lend a helping hand in guiding lost children, many still think of suicide as their only choice. If children feel this way, then where have we gone wrong? For sure, somewhere along the way, their parents and significant others have failed their kids leaving them with suicide as their only option in life.
(Via: http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/mental-health-care-children-article-1.3414792) Are parents and the people in their immediate environment failing in rearing kids who know how to cope with the limitations and challenges of living? Children are overexposed to violence on TV and on the web and even in their surroundings. Society makes it appear that violence is okay and they should just learn to live with it. Hence, they feel ashamed to tell other people about their problems or issues thinking that others would see them as weak and incompetent. It is the same thing at school or at home, their feelings are ignored as their busy parents juggle multiple tasks at once. Then, these kids see things they are not supposed to see online that further messes up with their mind along with the increasing demands from them to perform better at school. But now that we are aware of this issue, let this remind us of our responsibility to pitch in and offer support to kids and make them feel they can tell us anything so they no longer have to think of suicide as the best choice they can ever make. The post Children Don’t Get The Mental Health Support They Need Read more on: The Mac Zealots Blog via https://maczealots.com/children-dont-get-the-mental-health-support-they-need/ We all know that physical appearance is not everything in this world yet we can’t entirely discredit its value. After all, face value is what we see first and not exactly what a person is thinking about. Over our lifetime, our body changes so are our body image. And our perception about the way our body looks, whether it is good or bad, also varies depending on our level of maturity. It is easier for adults to make peace with their outward flaws because they know better but not young kids and teens. At this point in their life, social acceptance means a lot to them and they aren’t mature enough to feel confident about themselves regardless of how they look. The influence of one’s peers is very important to children because that is how they equate their value as a person. They may easily get offended or hurt by what other people say especially when it pertains to negative things regarding their body. And body image issues may lead to bullying that can have a big impact on a child’s life. Suicide is actually prevalent among this age group and it continues to rise alongside the many advancements in technology we now enjoy. Social media is a big factor and it happens to be the hottest playground for people of all ages. There’s just so much to do and almost everyone has SNS accounts where they can connect with people the world over.
Most of the time, parents do not really know what’s in their children’s social media accounts or the people they are interacting with. Kids these days now have access to smartphones and WiFi making it easier for them to explore the web even without their parent’s consent. And as such, they are exposed to violence and biases that cloud their judgment and make them doubt even their own worth especially once others start to question their value as a person simply because of the way they look.
(Via: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/09/13/teenagers-given-classes-coping-digital-age/) With that being said, it is difficult for most adults to grasp the amount of pressure young kids today feel because they lived and thrived in a generation that lacked these modern contrivances. It’s hard to relate to something you haven’t experienced yourself. That is basically it. So seeing kids putting more importance to their virtual life only goes to show just how much they have embraced technology and social media and how much it impacts their lives. The sad thing is that these platforms aren’t always the nicest or the safest place for young kids to play around with. The social expectations young kids see on social media trigger and fuel their body insecurities. Body Image Issues Among The Youth See more on: MZ Blog via https://maczealots.com/body-image-issues-among-the-youth/ We can’t help to stress over and over again that health is wealth because if you think about, you only have one body that will last you a lifetime. You die the moment it stops working but it does not happen without any warning signs. As you age, your body degenerates and gradually stop working as efficiently as it did in your youth. Over the years, you start to experience various body aches and pains or you may even get diagnosed with some chronic condition if you are unfortunate enough or perhaps you weren’t really taking good care of your body at all. Once you reach your senior years, it is inevitable for your health to fail and you requiring special assistance because even doing simple activities of daily living have become unbearable for you. And we see this as the new norm these days with more and more of the elderly requiring carers. However, they can simply do away with all these hassles and still live independently if they are just healthy enough to at least look after themselves and their needs.
(Via: http://www.nsnews.com/lifestyle/seniors/healthy-aging-key-to-independence-1.22623562) Well, you can’t deny by now that healthy aging is the key to a quality and long life. Not all elderly require a carer’s assistance in doing things around the house or for them to be left in nursing homes if they can still very well feed and care for themselves. But you can only age healthily if you take care of your body throughout your lifetime starting from your youth. There is no shortcut. The consequences of our habits (good or bad) build up over time and contribute to cell degeneration. So, what can you do to ensure you live as an independent senior in the twilight of your life? Eat healthily and lead an active life. They may sound so cliché but nothing works as great as these two practices.
(Via: http://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/health/ct-seniors-sense-of-purpose-20170907-story.html) To live means to be free to do the things you want, something many seniors aren’t able to do so because of the various disabilities and ailments limiting their thinking and movements. Aside from physical health, living a life full of purpose also contributes greatly to a person’s overall well-being, thereby allowing them to age better than their counterparts. The bottom line remains that if they have a healthy body, seniors won’t easily be vulnerable to minor infections or conditions that can predispose them to more deadly and debilitating conditions like a heart attack, stroke, or even Alzheimer’s, which is common among the elderly. Healthy Seniors Are Independent Seniors is available on https://maczealots.com/ via https://maczealots.com/healthy-seniors-are-independent-seniors/ It is a no-brainer why a company event like the renowned “Apple Event” yesterday is much-anticipated by many and covered by the media in all parts of the globe. After all, we live in a digital world where most consumers are undeniably consumed by technology. Tech geeks will be well-fed by the brand that started smart technology and user-friendly interface all along, Apple, with its new products line up and the latest updates that are meant to make our lives better and easier. Steve Jobs may be long gone but his legacy lives on and the public patiently waits as to what the company is up to, especially those loyal Apple fanatics that live and breathe iOS. If you are a tech consumer yourself, would you like to miss out on perhaps the biggest tech-related event of the year? It is not every month that we get to witness the launching of the best Apple products for all the world to see. Of course, it is not Steve Jobs doing the talking now but the products speak for themselves and despite the high price tag, many are still interested to learn about it first-hand from the makers themselves before the rest of the world gets their hands on these shiny, new iPhone models. And mind you, it’s not just one but three options to choose from.
Apple has set the bar very high and they don’t disappoint their loyal users despite the passing of time. Many other Android brands have offered smartphone users the variety and cost-effectivity they are looking for but the appeal of a luxury brand like an iPhone never fades over time. It is the reason why people anticipate the launching of their new products year in and year out.
The iPhone X (ten) was a major scene stealer during the Apple Event as many did not expect, thinking only about the likely launching of the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus. Well, they also have something to offer aside from the smartphones in the form of the latest Apple TV and Apple Smartwatch that will also make tech-geeks drool with anticipation.
(Via: http://time.com/4935703/apple-event-summary/) Aside from really awesome new features like wireless charging, Animojis, and the bionic processor, the company also informed the public about the iOS 11, the latest mobile operating system that everyone can update to come September 19. All these changes are meant to improve the overall user experience among iOS users, which is what the company lives for and what Steve Jobs has always wanted when he was still living. The Apple Event Of 2017 is republished from The Mac Zealots Blog via https://maczealots.com/the-apple-event-of-2017/ Childhood is a time of new learning and discoveries – of getting yourself dirty from head to toe but definitely having the time of your life. Kids love getting their hands dirty by touching almost everything they come across with. Parents may get upset seeing their gross and disheveled appearance but this is actually both a learning and developmental process for them – a crucial part of their growth. Kids learn the most when they get to hold things and feel its texture and save it in their mind for future use. Childhood is perhaps the time when kids never sat still and roamed around nonstop. It may look exhausting in the eyes of an adult but with the endless energy packed in their tiny bodies, it is the perfect fuel to energize their always hungry minds that always want to learn more. As the years went by, we see fewer children running around the streets, happily passing the time with friends and just simply being silly. Nowadays, there are fewer kids roaming around because they are busy with something else. Blame it perhaps on stricter laws and more dangerous times but the kids deserve to explore the world for their own sake. They can no longer relive these moments of childhood once they grow old. Instead, the young ones are hooked to technology for hours on end. They rarely go out anymore because there is a long list of games and apps they can play with throughout the day aside from getting hooked on the equally exciting life on social media.
Well, you can’t entirely blame the kids for their newfound preoccupation (or rather, obsession?). It’s their parents who hand them out these modern gadgets and give them access to use WiFi too, so they can busy themselves and pass the time as their often busy and stressed out parents juggle multiple tasks just to make both ends meet. As a result, kids become hooked to these devices and miss out on the best things childhood offers, to be able to think about nothing else but play all day and make lasting memories to last them a lifetime.
Can’t be any truer. Kids may ask for a smartphone from their parents because they see other kids have them too but it is still the parent’s discretion whether to give into their child’s whims or not. Kids can’t decide for themselves yet and parents should be there to steer their children to the right direction. We all know the cons of too much technology use even to adults. Why allow kids non-stop gadget use knowing it does them more harm than good.
As guardians and role models of these young minds, we must not only teach them what’s right and wrong but show them how things are done right. Can you remember the happy times of your youth that you badly want to go back to? Let children just be children. Allow them to frolic under the sun and the rain and let them get dirty for all they care. Not only does this gradual desensitization to germs boost their immune system, it also allows them to simply be happy doing things that basically do not make sense but makes them happy for days on end. The answer does not solely lie in technology but in the simple, active, and stress-free life exclusively for kids. Is Technology To Blame For The New Breed Of Kids Today? is available on MZ Blog via https://maczealots.com/is-technology-to-blame-for-the-new-breed-of-kids-today/ Computers can be a joy or a pain depending on the situation and your level of familiarity in using it. Ever since they became more accessible to the public, humans have been able to exploit many of its features and improve their lives. Meanwhile, computers can also make life difficult when something goes wrong and you lack the technical knowledge or skills to remedy the issue or don’t have the money to pay for experts to fix it for you. There are different components of a PC that can get broken throughout its use. Most are pricey and quite hard to replace. For instance, the hard drive is one of the most important parts yet the most challenging issue you’ll encounter once it gets broken. For starters, data is stored and saved on the hard drive. If you don’t act wisely and back up all your files, a hard drive failure can wipe out all your data in an instant. Of course, you don’t want that to happen. Data backup devices don’t come in cheap either. Fortunately, Google Drive now offers additional data backup option for you without breaking the bank.
(Via: https://fossbytes.com/google-drive-backup-and-sync-app/) The cloud continuously provides data storage to the million of computer users all over the world today. Google’s Gmail email service is not only useful but highly efficient too. And as cloud technology continues to dominate modern life, Google Drive (Dropbox’s main competitor) overcomes the many data limitations we have faced in the past and allows us to send larger files to others with relative ease. Best of all, it provides real-time access and storage too for busy bees like you.
It’s great news for individual users who often can’t afford additional storage on their own. Data is precious, whatever its nature may be. Whether they are photos, music/songs, videos, documents/files etc., people go to great lengths to save these files for future use. An actual physical back up like external hard drives or flash drives are helpful but they may be more tedious to use and not always reliable. But cloud-based data storage has definitely changed the game and Google Drive is going the extra mile to ensure that its users stay happy is using it and protects their precious data from oblivion at the same time. Back Up Your Computer With Google Drive Read more on: The Mac Zealots Blog via https://maczealots.com/back-up-your-computer-with-google-drive/ Computers can be a joy or a pain depending on the situation and your level of familiarity in using it. Ever since they became more accessible to the public, humans have been able to exploit many of its features and improve their lives. Meanwhile, computers can also make life difficult when something goes wrong and you lack the technical knowledge or skills to remedy the issue or don’t have the money to pay for experts to fix it for you. There are different components of a PC that can get broken throughout its use. Most are pricey and quite hard to replace. For instance, the hard drive is one of the most important parts yet the most challenging issue you’ll encounter once it gets broken. For starters, data is stored and saved on the hard drive. If you don’t act wisely and back up all your files, a hard drive failure can wipe out all your data in an instant. Of course, you don’t want that to happen. Data backup devices don’t come in cheap either. Fortunately, Google Drive now offers additional data backup option for you without breaking the bank.
(Via: https://fossbytes.com/google-drive-backup-and-sync-app/) The cloud continuously provides data storage to the million of computer users all over the world today. Google’s Gmail email service is not only useful but highly efficient too. And as cloud technology continues to dominate modern life, Google Drive (Dropbox’s main competitor) overcomes the many data limitations we have faced in the past and allows us to send larger files to others with relative ease. Best of all, it provides real-time access and storage too for busy bees like you.
It’s great news for individual users who often can’t afford additional storage on their own. Data is precious, whatever its nature may be. Whether they are photos, music/songs, videos, documents/files etc., people go to great lengths to save these files for future use. An actual physical back up like external hard drives or flash drives are helpful but they may be more tedious to use and not always reliable. But cloud-based data storage has definitely changed the game and Google Drive is going the extra mile to ensure that its users stay happy is using it and protects their precious data from oblivion at the same time. The following blog post Back Up Your Computer With Google Drive was first seen on https://maczealots.com/ via https://maczealots.com/back-up-your-computer-with-google-drive/ |
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