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lunes, 12 de enero de 2015
Customs Broker Exam: The Time is Now (FCBF)
viernes, 9 de enero de 2015
Should You Get an “Ultra HD” 4K TV? (How to Geek)
Manufacturers are pushing “Ultra HD” 4k TVs hard here at CES 2015. By the end of 2015, half of all TVs in stores may be 4K TVs. They’re cheaper than ever, too. So, when should you buy one?
4K isn’t exactly a gimmick like 3D TVs a few years ago or curved TVs now. They offer a clear benefit — more pixels in a smaller area, which means a higher-resolution with more detail.
What 4K Is, and Why You’ll Want It… Eventually
The argument for 4K is very clear. It’s higher resolution than “full HD” (1080p) televisions. This is achieved by packing more pixels into a smaller area. Smartphones, tablets, and laptops are all gaining higher-resolution screens. 4K TVs are just TVs with similar high-resolution displays.
A standard full HD TV you’ll buy right now has a resolution of 1080p, or 1920×1080. A 4K TV has a resolution of 3840×2160. It’s named 4K because a 4K panel has about four times as many pixels as a 1080p TV.
More pixels just results in a richer, more detailed image. If you’ve seen a recent Apple device with a “Retina” display or another competing smartphone or tablet with a high-resolution display, you’ll understand. But smartphones, tablets, and laptops benefit more from this because your eyes are closer to the screen. At common TV sizes and viewing distances, the improvement isn’t quite as extreme.
Yes, 4K (or something like it) is the Future
The idea of 4K is fine. TV screens will — and should — become higher-resolution and more detailed. We won’t all be using 1080p televisions in twenty years, especially as smartphones, tablets, laptops, desktop PC monitors, and other displays become higher-resolution. TV sets and mobile device displays now use basically the same type of technology, so why wouldn’t TVs eventually become higher-resolution, too?
The Content Isn’t There — But Maybe It’s Getting There
The real problem with 4K is that the content isn’t there. 4K content has four times the amount of pixels, which is four times the amount of data. It’s also a lot more work for video game consoles to render. Very little 4K content is currently available, but the content seems to be coming. Companies realize they can charge more for that 4K content and make a bigger profit. Here’s what’s available, and what’s in store:
- Blu-rays and Other Physical Discs: Blu-ray discs currently aren’t available with 4K, so there’s no way to get a 4K movie or TV series on a physical disc. There are now reports that 4K Blu-ray discs will come out around the end of 2015. You’ll the need to buy a new Blu-ray player and newer, probably more expensive 4K Blu-ray discs to get that 4K content on your TV.
- Cable and Other Traditional TV Services: There aren’t any 4K TV channels, either. You’ll need shows filmed in high-resolution as well as a channel to deliver them. At least, this used to be true. DISH will now be offering a 4K set-top box so you can watch 4K TV if you have your TV through DISH and buy their box.
- Netflix, Amazon, and Other Streaming Services: Most content available from streaming services isn’t available in 4K. Only a select handful of TV shows from only Netflix and Amazon are available in 4K. For example, Netflix requires a few specific 4K TV models, on Internet connection with 25 Mbps or faster download speeds, and a more expensive streaming plan. (See Netflix’s details here.) And, even if you met all those requirements, you could only watch a handful of things in 4K. The vast majority of videos on Netflix would still be in lower resolution 1080p.
- Movie Download Services: Movie-download services are the place where 4K is currently most practical and available. The idea is that you’ll choose a movie, and your set-top-box will download it ahead of time — perhaps overnight. You’ll then be able to watch the movie in 4K the next day. These services generally only have a handful of movies available, too. This requires a separate box, a different video rental or purchase service you’re probably not already using, and you have to plan ahead when you want to watch 4K content.
- Home Movies: You can buy video cameras that record video in 4K and then watch those videos in high-resolution 4K on your TV. Not only do you need the 4K TV here — you need an expensive video camera! Most people really don’t need their home movies in 4K. 1080p should be plenty.
- Video Game Consoles: Sony’s PlayStation 4 and Microsoft’s Xbox One won’t support 4K any time soon. These consoles often struggle to output content in 1080p, and many new games run at lower resolutions than 1080p;. You won’t see 4K consoles games any time soon — at least until the next console generation.
- PC Gaming on Your TV: You can connect a PC to your TV, so theoretically you could play PC games in 4K on your TV. This is the only option if you want to play games in 4K on your TV, but most games won’t be optimized for it. And you’d need expensive, powerful graphics hardware and a lot of horsepower to push that 4K display. Even if you had that amount of horsepower, there’s a good chance you’d be happier with a lower-resolution image and a higher frames-per-second than 4K and a lower frames-per-second. At CES 2015, companies showing off 4K gaming are doing it with PCs — not consoles.
TV manufacturers, Netflix, and movie studios announced the “UHD Alliance” at CES 2015. This should be an industry-wide push for more 4K content from everyone. While the 4K content isn’t there right now, it seems to be gaining steam after not making much progress throughout 2014.
Why You Should Wait
Get a 4K TV if you have money to burn, but you’d just be burning the money until the content is there. All you can do with a 4K TV is watch a handful of things from Netflix and Amazon, use a movie-download service to watch a handful of downloadable movies, and maybe play PC games at a higher resolution than 1080p. Bear in mind that services offering 4K won’t just require a lot of bandwidth, they’ll also come at a premium price. You’re paying more for the content as an early adopter.
4K TVs have come down a lot in price. They were tens of thousands of dollars just a few years ago, but now you can often spend a few extra hundred dollars when buying a TV and get a 4K panel. They’re finally at the point where some TV buyers can say, “Oh, what the hell, I’ll spend a few hundred dollars more,” and manufacturers love that. But those buyers will be watching very little 4K content on them for a while to come.
This will change at some point. Many 4K TVs were announced at CES 2015, but they won’t be out for a while longer. Some may not come out until fall 2015, nearly a year from now. At the time the new batch of TVs comes out, they’ll come down more in price and there may be more content. If you’re buying a TV today, though, you probably don’t want 4K. Bear in mind that a cheap 4K TV may be just a bit more expensive than a decent 1080p TV, but that cheap 4K TV may have worse components or other specifications like a slower refresh rate, higher input lag for gaming, and worse color reproduction, for exapmle.
We recommend waiting for the 4K content ecosystem to mature. If you’re shopping for a TV, get a solid 1080p “Full HD” TV for significantly cheaper and enjoy it. If your current 1080p TV is fine, keep that! You can get a 4K TV in a few years when the content is there.
There’s no sense in trying to “future proof” yourself by buying a 4K TV now, as you’ll just end up spending more money — or spending a similar amount of money — and having a dated 4K TV when everyone else is using their newer, better, and cheaper 4K TVs in a few years.
The good news is that, at CES 2015, the industry seems to realize they need 4K content to push the beautiful TV displays they’re showing off. 2015 should be interesting, and we should start to see some real progress towards that 4K content.
martes, 16 de diciembre de 2014
The Pirate Bay Is Back Online (Sort Of) (PCMagazine)
- BY STEPHANIE MLOT
- DECEMBER 15, 2014
IsoHunt copied The Pirate Bay's search engine and link database before it was taken offline.
The Pirate Bay lives! Sort of. Rival site IsoHunt has cloned the torrenting service and re-launched it at oldpiratebay.org.search.
IsoHunt said it copied The Pirate Bay's search engine and link database before it was taken offline after a recent police raid in Sweden.
"We, the IsoHunt.to team, copied the base of The Pirate Bay in order to save it to the generations of users," a blog post said. "Nothing will be forgotten. Keep on believing, keep on sharing!"
The mirror site, which was launched in an effort to keep torrents accessible, not to cause confusion, is missing many original Pirate Bay torrents, according to TorrentFreak.
jueves, 11 de diciembre de 2014
MORE AND MORE SMALL BUSINESSES SAY TAXES ARE THEIR BIGGEST PROBLEM—AND THAT'S A GOOD SIGN (BusinessWeek)
This week in Small Business | |
The latest National Federation of Independent Business’s Small Business Optimism survey was released yesterday, showing that small businesses are feeling sunnier than at any time since the financial crisis. The survey asked small business owners what their biggest problems are now, and most companies said “taxes” are at the top. Here’s why that’s a good sign.
Also this week: Over the last four decades, Richard Branson has turned music retailer Virgin Records into a global conglomerate that includes Virgin airlines, Virgin Galactic, Virgin Mobile, and dozens of enterprises under that brand. Now anyone else trying to get into the virgin business had better watch out for Branson’s trademark lawyers. A loophole touted as a way for employers to wiggle out of the Affordable Care Act’s insurance mandate has been closed. Here’s what happened. This year’s flu season looks to be worse than normal—lousy news for the economy and employers. Jawbone wants to become a part of the workday with a new service that sells discounted fitness trackers to corporate customers. The target: employers who think nudging their workers toward healthier habits is worth the investment.
Finally, L.L. Bean, the Freeport, Maine-based clothing and camping company, has been making its signature leather-and-rubber Bean “Duck” Boots by hand for the past 102 years. The company sold about 100,000 pairs of the classic boots annually. Or, at least, that’s how it used to be. This winter, the boots are so popular among urbanites that the company can’t keep them in stock.
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miércoles, 10 de diciembre de 2014
Startup founders: How to find the right mentor (TechRepublic)
By Conner Forrest December 9, 2014
Startup success often depends on who you have in your corner. Here's how you can find the right mentor for your startup journey.
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| This is a painting of Telemachus and his mentor by Pablo E. Fabisch in 1699. |
Startups are all about finding the right fit. Finding the right co-founder. Finding the right market. Finding the right investors. It's all about connecting the puzzle pieces to reveal the bigger picture.
Another fit that is essential, especially for first-time founders, is finding the right mentor. The right mentor can help a founder maintain focus and avoid potential pitfalls on their path to market.
A trusted advisor can become a valuable team member as you navigate the startup process. However, it's often difficult to know what to look for in a mentor.
Here are some tips to help you determine who is the right mentor for you.
Mind the gap
Most people strike out on their own as an entrepreneur, in part, because they are good at something. Maybe you're great at building software, maybe you're a finance savant, or maybe you just have a knack for business.
When you set out to find a mentor, you need to target someone with a specific set of skills, not just a good business sense. Try to find a mentor whose skills are complementary to what you bring to the table.
"First-time founders need to identify the skills and experience they need from a mentor, starting with the gaps in their own experience," said Matt Moog, the CEO of PowerReviews and an active angel investor. "As you look to formalize the relationship with a mentor, make it clear what you are requesting from them in terms of time commitment and availability."
The primary gaps in your skill set should primarily be filled by your co-founder -- there shouldn't be two technical co-founders and no business-savvy co-founder. But, a mentor can bring tertiary skills and knowledge that is essential to success.
Your top mentor should not only be able to fill the gaps left by your skillset and knowledge base, but should also be able bring a new way of thinking to the team.
According to David Mandell, co-founder and CEO of PivotDesk and a mentor for TechStars, founders should look for people who challenge their way of thinking. The reason for mentorship, he said, is to have someone who pushes you past your comfort zone.
"It takes a lot less effort to agree with you than it does to shed new light on the topic," Mandell said. "Those who challenge you are the ones willing to expend the energy and commit the time to really think through the problems you're facing. "
Get connected
One of the biggest questions a founder will have about the mentorship process is how they can actually go about tracking down a mentor. The obvious starting point is within your personal circle and local community.
Attend local startup and tech events in your area. Do your best to meet everyone there and figure out what each person does. For folks in smaller areas, though, your perfect match may be a few levels removed from your inner circle.
"As a first-time founder, your ideal mentor may not be in your immediate personal network. But chances are, there are multiple ideal mentors only one introduction away," Moog said. "Ask for that introduction. You'd be surprised at how often you get a yes."
Another approach is to strategically plan your attack. Andrew Ackerman, Managing Director of DreamIt Ventures NY, recommends making a target list. Find the people you think would add real value and work on getting connected to them.
Find the successful companies in your area and network with the founders. Search some of the companies you know on LinkedIn and see if there is a shared connection that can introduce you. If there's no connection, take a direct approach.
"Find a way to get in front of them," Ackerman said. "Are they talking at a tech event? On a pitch panel? Go and meet them in person. No connection at all? Send them a detailed, but short, email requesting a meeting."
If you manage to get a meeting with a potential mentor, make sure you know what you want to say.
Refine your pitch
Once you figure out who you think would be a good mentor for you and your team, you have to be able to tell your story.
"You need to be able to describe your vision in a compelling way. Practice telling your story in a concise and inspiring way," said John Sculley, an investor, entrepreneur, and mentor, and the former CEO of Apple.
Start the process by working on your elevator pitch. You can learn more about crafting an elevator pitch here. If you are able to articulate what you want to accomplish and, more importantly, what you need from a mentor, you will start the relationship off on a stronger foundation.
Vet your mentor
A good mentor can come from a plethora of relationships or situations. As so, it is important to make sure you are connected with the right person.
Start with founders who have been mentored by this person in the past. Ackerman recommends asking questions about things like depth of domain expertise, the strength of the mentor's connections, and the quality of the introductions that were made by the mentor.
"This is going to be a long-term relationship, you don't want to be in bed with a wolf in sheep's clothing," Ackerman said.
Find someone that has the kind of wisdom that can keep you from running into certain problems. According to Ackerman, clearing the air regarding requirements and expectations can give you a good look into a potential mentor candidate. He recommends using a template such as The Founder Institute'sFounder/ Advisor Standard Template (FAST).
The key is to know who you are dealing and clearly set expectations before moving forward into a more formal business relationship.
Make the investment
Finding a solid mentor is just like any other type of networking -- it's not a one-way street.
"As a founder, your relationships are invaluable across the board," Mandell said. "Whether you're looking for a mentor or not, you should be investing in people -- investing your time into the startup community around you."
Sure, your life is hectic. You're probably pulling 12 to 16 hour days and you practically live in your inbox, but getting anything valuable out of your local startup requires an equally valuable investment into that scene.
Mandell said that his time mentoring at Techstars has played a major part in shaping his circle. While he applies his entrepreneurial experience as a mentor, he said first-time founders can be equally as important to startup programs.
"You have business experience you've worked on throughout your career and whatever your expertise, there's a high chance another new founder in your community could benefit from talking with you," Mandell said. "Don't be afraid to offer your help."
If you don't think you have any advice to bring to the table, bring yourself. Help set up local startup events and work to drive interest in the scene. Do your best to show that you value innovation and want to see your startup scene thrive.
miércoles, 26 de noviembre de 2014
The three traits of a successful startup CEO (TechRepublic)
By Conner Forrest November 24, 2014
Being the CEO of a startup requires a distinct skill set. Here are three traits that differentiate startup CEOs from their corporate counterparts or other startup roles.
Being the CEO of a startup requires a distinct skill set. Here are three traits that differentiate startup CEOs from their corporate counterparts or other startup roles.
Successful startup founders are a rare breed with a knack for finding ways to disrupt a market.
The team dynamic, especially among executive roles, plays a huge role in capturing the lightning in a bottle for startup success. For a startup team to triumph, it needs members with complementary skills that support one another as the business is built. With a small team, the lines are often blurred between certain roles and their responsibilities, but it is important to understand what separates these roles and how they should operate.
In startups, few roles are as misunderstood as that of the CEO. Often, a founder ends up assuming the CEO role, but that isn't the best course of action in every company. Startup CEOs need the same business acumen of their corporate contemporaries, in addition to a specific set of traits that are more startup-centric.
Here are three attributes that set apart startup CEOs from the rest of the pack.
1. Boldness
The first defining trait of a strong startup CEO is the the ability to act boldly. For a startup to be successful, it requires at leader at the helm who understands how quickly a startup must move to survive and eventually thrive.
"Start-up CEOs must be bold, both to make sure they have a better chance of any big success, but also to keep up with expectations," said Todd Krizelman, CEO of MediaRadar.
One example of these expectations, according to Krizelman, is that VC-backed companies are expected to be able to grow sales by at least 50% per year. Successful startup leaders, he argues, embrace this expectation and make the big moves necessary to meet it.
"As a startup CEO you need always to create new opportunities and situation. Constantly move on the field," said Adi Pinhas, CEO of Superfish.
This echoes the entrepreneurial spirit of carving your own path and making your own way. It's up to you to make it happen.
As Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson once tweeted: "When you walk up to opportunity's door - don't knock on it. Kick [it] in, smile and introduce yourself."
2. Adaptability
Leading a startup is a job that is equal parts proactive movement and reactive agility.
According to DoubleDutch CEO Lawrence Coburn, being adaptable allows the ability to make important iterations to your product or service.
"While a more established company may have set protocol for making changes and shifting course, we have the ability to be extremely nimble," Coburn said. "If we see that our customers are interacting with a certain feature in a particular way, we are able to make changes to improve upon that experience with incredibly fast turnaround."
Adaptability can lead to some of the important breakthroughs with your product and your customers, but it is also needed for when you play defense against the plethora of factors that could lead to the failure of your startup.
In a startup, nothing is certain. In a year, you can grow to a billion dollar valuation or you can flop. Startups typically have only one product or a small group of products and don't have anything else to fall back on. According to Pinhas, a good startup CEO can "manage and prepare for extreme situations."
Be the kind of person who crafts a contingency plan, and know how to shift your company's direction if that becomes a necessity.
3. Willingness to learn
Startups are built on disruption -- on changing the status quo and introducing a new way of doing things. As the chief disruptor in your company, there's no manual to reference as you come up against obstacles.
It would behoove you to learn as much as you can, as quickly as you can. Books and blogs are a good first resource, but they won't provide the full picture. Look for learning opportunities in every situation you find yourself in, even failure.
"A key trait of startup CEOs is the ability to bounce back from, and learn from, failure," Krizelman said. "Entrepreneurs are told that 'failure is great,' but in practice no one wants to fail."
For most startup CEOs, learning from failure isn't a novel concept. Everyone knows that you can learn from failure, but successful CEOs also look for other ways to create opportunities to learn in their daily workflow.
For Coburn, this comes with who he hires. Startups founders are no strangers to hiring outside the traditional knowledge worker, but Coburn said that he specifically goes after the rule-breakers and folks that don't always take his word and run with it.
"While in most more established companies, what a CEO says goes, I will often get a fair amount of pushback from my team -- I really need to sell my agenda," Coburn said. "And, while that can present a challenge at times, it also forces me to check myself every step of the way and act with total transparency and accountability."
You don't want to surround yourself with people that question everything you do, but a healthy dose of friction can force you to make sure you are certain about the vision you're casting and the decisions you're making.
Conner Forrest is a Staff Writer for TechRepublic. He covers Google and startups and is passionate about the convergence of technology and culture.
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