USM Studios Reports on the Best Tech News

One of the coolest bits to be reported in tech news is one which makes our every day life more convenient and easier. USM Studios looks at some of the best tech news.

Charging cell phones can be a royal nuisance. If phone batteries die or are half-full half way through the day, we have to find the charging cord and recharge the phone. Forget the charging cord and by the time we leave at the end of a work day, our phones are stone cold dead. Adding to the frustration, most of the new models have a dust cover which can be a tiny strip of metal covering the port, which can be difficult to use in a rush.

Enter the new charging pads which power up dead batteries in phones quickly, without cords and without having to find the right place on the mat to set it. There are some great charging mats on the market that use both inductive charging, such as an electric toothbrush, and still other mats are being created with what USM Studios, Inc. knows as magnetic charging. Phones are simply placed on the mat and stick to them like magnets as they charge. Both ways to re-power a phone can be found online for Android and Apple. We’re also pleased to note that they are not expensive at all. For around USD 50, we can charge our smart phones quickly and without the hassle of long cords and finding a free electrical outlet.

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USM Studios and the Coolness of Facebook Apps

It does not seem that long ago when Facebook was just a place to reconnect with old friends and make new ones. Soon, it became an online location to find a favorite company.  And it is on its way to become the one spot for businesses to use to engage with customers, as USM Studios, Inc. learns.

At the recent F8 conference, Mark Zuckerberg, the Facebook creator, announced that his Messenger service is being integrated with business-related apps to give companies and customers a more “personalized” e-commerce experience. The Businesses on Messenger will give companies a host of online transactions such as live chat, interactive receipts for purchases, tracking capabilities, and more. USM Studios sees more Facebook users interacting with the companies they regularly do business with by Liking pages, posting comments and complaints and getting rather quick feedback for most questions.   This is all done on a regular Facebook page, and not Messenger, which is an instant messaging service from Zuckerberg. Imagine how much happier a customer will be when they can instantly communicate with a business they utilize and get quick resolution. Instant, online transaction apps are the wave of the future, and the future is here.

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USM Studios Inc Ponders How to Take a Break from a Career

(we're still in the office)

It happens to the best of us from CEOs to stockroom personnel: we need a break. While paid time off for vacations is appreciated, sometimes we just need something a little more. USM Studios ponders how to take a break from a career.

A career break might sound a little nerve wracking especially if one if afraid of not having a job to come back to after the leave. But there are periods in life when we need to just get away, do something out of the norm, and forget about work and career for longer than a one or two week vacation. How about a career break then?

A career break can help answer the questions we raise every day such as “is this the right path to take in life”, or “what do I want to accomplish in life?”  The trick to answering these questions is to unplug from devices so work and others do not interfere.

A career break can open new doors. Travel to another state, another region, country or continent can open doors not seen before. Take a break to explore. Maybe a new career will sprout.

Ask if a one or two month sabbatical can be taken. USMStudios, Inc. notes these are possible even if not paid. Sabbaticals allow the employee to take a career break, but come back refreshed, ready to work in their job which was saved for them and more loyal.

A career break, whether taken on our own or with an employer’s blessing, is a great way to redefine what we want in life.  And even more so for those who feel they will need to work well past retirement age in order to maintain their lifestyle.

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USM Studios and Retirement Strategies for Boomers

It is cold, hard fact that Baby Boomers may have to work longer in order to save more for retirement. In fact, USM Studios learns that more than half of working people who were born between 1946 and 1964, feel they will have to work forever.

The Great Recession took its toll on many people and their investments. Hard-earned invested money went right out the window when the stock market crashed. Along with it, employers dropped their end of 401(k) contributions. Wages have barely budged past the stagnant stage leaving middle-aged workers to find ways to save for a retirement of downsized living. A recent study found that 36% of those asked expect to reply on Social Security even though the federal agency keeps mentioning it may fall short. USM Studios, Inc. offers a few retirement strategies for the Baby Boomer who may be behind in saving:

Re-work the household budget to find extra savings from company 401(k) funds, IRAs and other savings vehicles.

Pay yourself first. Set up automatic transfer from checking to savings to occur monthly and pay yourself before paying other bills.

Reduce debt with a plan and stick to it. Don’t overextend yourself in order to pay off debt quickly.

Put away any extra money in a CD or IRA. Stash tax refunds in retirement accounts too.

With fortitude, perseverance and steady employment, Boomers can have a comfortable retirement. 

USM Studios Visits the World’s Happiest Countries

Denmark - The Happiest Country in the World

Where in the world do the happiest people live?  Not in the United States or Europe. Not in Africa nor the Middle or Far East. USM Studios takes a visit to the world’s happiest countries.

If you want to be truly happy where you live, move to Denmark. According to the United National World Happiness Report 2013, this is the happiest place on earth.  It is where the world’s oldest amusement park is located.

Norway is the second happiest place to live. It is a beautiful country with vast open, green spaces to trek through. One might even catch sight of a reindeer there.

Snow sports enthusiasts love Switzerland. This country is known world-wide for having some of the best ski slopes in the world.

People who visit The Netherlands will say that this country has gorgeous tulip fields and other flowers with bulbs that make it a truly beautiful place to live.

Sweden made the list also. Its medieval architecture and heavenly food and drinks are some of the reasons why its residents love living there.

Canada is a huge country in North America which is chock full of national parks from one end to the other. It is a friendly country with national healthcare.  There is always someplace cool to visit with so many interesting provinces to explore.

Finland made the list too. USM Studios, Inc. learns that this is land of Santa Claus. There are lots of wide open spaces to go on reindeer-driven sleigh rides, as well as enjoying some eclectic food.

Music lovers love Austria due to its long and rich history of the art.  While it may be an expensive place to live or visit, it is still laden with breathtaking mountain views and soul-reaching music.

Go Down Under if you want to live in another happy country.  Australia ranked 10^th on the list. Aussies love to explore the Great Barrier Reef, explore the outback and its wildlife, or enjoy exciting cultural events in its renowned cities.

What country do you think is the happiest place to live in the world?

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USM Studios on What Employee Handbooks Cover Today

Not long ago, corporate employee handbooks covered the basics like sick days and dress code. But this is the digital age. USM Studios looks at what the updated handbooks cover.

Today’s employee handbook details the most important company policies that workers at all levels need to know. It reviews company computer use, vacation time, sick time, dress code, equal opportunity rules and more. It also offers guidelines for bring your own device (BYOD), social media use or not on the job, and data privacy. A national HR company, XpertHR, conducted a survey to find the top workplace issues addressed in U.S. employee handbooks. They are:

• Paid sick leave
• Data privacy
• Social media
• E-cigarettes
• LGBT protection
• BYOD policies
•  

USM Studios, Inc. notes that most companies have to constantly update handbooks to reflect the latest labor laws and hot topics for staff. But more importantly, employers need to review what’s in the handbook with newly hired employees. If updates are added, schedule an all-company meeting to review them. Also, new hires are asked to sign off that they received the handbook.  Updates can also be made to handbooks and emailed to everyone. A read receipt can be printed to show the employee received the update and placed in their personnel file. 

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USM Studios Inc Examines the Three Questions Entrepreneurs Must Ask

No matter which industry or business one is in, there are three valuable questions to ask. USM Studios examines them.

Is the business making a profit? The only place to look to find an answer is on the net income statement. All expenses – direct and indirect – are on that statement. Bills paid are logged on it and after they are deducted, the business will know if they are earning a profit or not.

How is the cash flow running? The cash flow statement is needed to determine this. Customers and clients pay cash. But there are times when they don’t pay full price or a percentage of the price is deducted from a third party vendor. In any case, businesses usually pay in cash and it has to have enough to cover the bills for at least 90 days. The cash flow statement is an excellent indicator if the business is bringing enough cash in to keep on moving ahead.

What is the terminal value of the business? This is what most people start and run their businesses aim for: the day when they can sell it and make some money from the sale. A balance sheet will keep the owner up-to-date on the terminal value of their endeavor. It measures the assets, liabilities and equity of the business owner. USM Studios, Inc. encourages readers to evaluate these three needed documents every month to be sure nothing slips through the cracks.  

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USM Studios Inc Shares the World’s Most Economically Powerful Cities

Perhaps your city is one which is rich in jobs and economic growth. Perhaps it is one where the population is growing by leaps and bounds. USM Studios Inc shares the list for the world’s ten most economically powerful cities.

Data to determine the top ten cities was taken from four major factors: overall economic clout, equity and quality of life, financial power and global competitiveness. Some cities moved up on the list and others moved down from the 2012 ranks:

• New York City – stayed in first place
• London – stayed in second place
• Tokyo – stayed in third place
• Hong Kong – stayed in fourth place
• Paris – was in fourth place and moved down one
• Singapore – moved up to sixth from seventh place
• Los Angeles – moved up to seventh place from ninth
• Seoul – moved up to eighth from eleventh place
• Vienna – was not ranked in 2012
• Stockholm – was not ranked in 2012
• Toronto – tied for 10^th place and moved from 18th

If you want to see if your city made the list, click the attached link to this article. USM Studios, Inc. is pleased to see two U.S. cities in the top ten.

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