US Media Studios Notes the Best U.S. Cities for Everyone

Most Americans would say that their city is best place to live. There really is much to love about our hometowns and home cities. Despite the daily grind of life, traffic congestion, and cost of living rates, home is where we long to be, where we are eager to return after vacation, and where we feel most comfortable.

The Woodlands, Texas

Great Places 

US Media Studios knows that there are hundreds of great U.S. cities. Each one has its own personality, its on history, and its own unique benefits. Below are five U.S. cities which a recent survey ranked as being some of the best. They are in not in particular order:

The Woodlands, Texas – Despite its name, the outdoor activities are not all that plentiful. However, it does boast plenty of great job opportunities and an educated population. Texas is a great state in which to live, anyway.

Austin, Texas – There is plenty to love about Austin from its vibrant music and entertainment scene to its schools, neighborhoods and its diversity.

Boulder, Colorado – Clean air, an abundance of outdoor activities, great public schools, and short work commutes make this city beneath the mountains one of the best in the country. What more could one ask for?

Arlington, Virginia – Arlington is really more of a county than a city. Nonetheless, it is close to the nation’s capital, therefore, offers plenty of outdoor events, monuments, and great public transportation. Its public schools are rated A-plus, and its family friendly.

Provo, Utah – It is well-known for its nightlight, short commutes, and overall good health and fitness. US Media Studios also notes that the city boasts short work commutes and a happening night life.

Where do you want to live?

US Media Studios Relays Hack-Proof Tips

Who better to learn about hacking tricks that work other than those that are paid well to do it for some of the world’s biggest corporations? US Media Studios relays hack-proof tips for all users.

The Internet-of-Things and Social Media

Many people spend a great deal of time on the Internet and on social media sites every day. Yet, the most cunning hackers can break into the digital coding or a newer vehicle through the Internet and take control of it. The same can happen anything digitally connected in the home or office.

Social media sites are also easy for hackers using phishing schemes to gain personal and financial information about users. A hacking team announced, at a recent convention, it created a bot than can phish social media users and their interests, and send a catered post or message. The social media user believes the post or message to be authentic, clicks it and the hacker has their personal information. It pays to be careful what links we click on when perusing social sites.

Chip and PIN Cards

US Media Studios has read many reports about the hazards of using this new technology. It is usually touted as the safest way to use a credit or debit card. In reality, the card readers can be easily tampered with and financial data stolen.

Public Wi-Fi

Any business that offers public Wi-Fi where every guest or customer has access to the same log in credentials is opening up those people to a potential hack attack. Instead of using it, find a private Wi-Fi source through a wireless provider or something small and convenient and use that.

Safeguard your personal and financial data from hackers.

US Media Studios Reviews the Best Video On-Demand Options

Cable television companies seem to be charging consumers an arm and leg to simply turn the TV on and watch something entertaining – be it a sports event or a 30 minute sit-com. “Bundle” cable TV with phone service and soon the monthly bill is well past one hundred dollars. US Media Studios reviews some of the best video on-demand options for people who are thinking about cutting the cord.

A recent consumer research report published last year by the Leichtman Research Group found the average cable TV bill is $99.10, and has gone up almost 40% since 2010. Consumers complain of poor customer service and bad technical help. So where does one go when they simply have had it?

A decade or more ago, the term “on-demand” video could be heard bantered around cable television conference rooms and family living rooms. Video on-demand is now something more commonplace than just a candid conversation. There are affordable streaming options available from CBS All Access, HBO Now, Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon Prime, and more. All except Amazon Prime charge a small monthly fee. Amazon charges its standard $99 per year subscription.

US Media Studios believes that on-demand video streaming is going to become more common than watching regular cable TV. It is inherently more convenient to choose the day and time to watch favorite TV shows and films. It is also more convenient to be able to pause the action when we need to get up and walk into another room. Take a look at the on-demand video streaming services. It may just be worth it to cut the cable cord and find great entertainment on your own terms. 

US Media Studios Shares How to Best Work with Remote Teams

Tele-commuting is not only efficient but is desired by both employers and employees who are spread across time zones.  This way of working does have it challenges though. US Media Studios share how to best work with remote teams.

A recent Forrester Research survey found that 43 percent of the U.S. workforce will be tele-commuting by the year 2016. That’s roughly 63 million people. Working from home is a perk that some employees enjoy, even for one day a week.  Below are some suggestions for keeping remote teams and workers in the loop and productive.

• Hold daily meetings with all workers. Utilize the best forms of video conferencing and document sharing.
• Keep records of the meeting to be sure everyone knows what the objectives are and when deliverables are due.
• Set clear work hours and job responsibilities. Keep in touch throughout the day via phone and video conference to be sure work is being done. Create documents on shared Cloud drives where completed tasks can be recorded.
• Before hiring a remote worker, ask for and check references carefully. Ask about quality of work, amount of work, and work ethics.

US Media Studios recognizes that some people work better in a tele-commute situation than others. These are the people who are organized, goal oriented and thrive in their work.  Remote teams can easily and seamlessly get the job done when everyone is on the same page and communicating with each other. 

USM Studios Weighs in on the Top Employee Trends of the Future

What’s ahead for businesses and the people who work for them? USM Studios peers into the future to find out what employers and employees might contend with in future workplaces.

One of the top workplace subjects going into the future is the generational mix in the workplace. Companies will have a variety of ages, experience levels and knowledge levels to tap. Workers from different backgrounds can help each other adapt and learn new ways of getting specific tasks done. Another key component of businesses in the future will be managing off-site workers such as contractors, freelancers and others. As people aim to work from a more desirable location, such as the home or shared office space, employers may find telecommuters are loyal and work just as hard as in-house staff. But are more happy employees overall. Learn more about these employees, how and when they work best and give them the opportunity to fly.

Social media will also be a major factor in businesses of any size. BYOD (bring your own device) policies will become more standard as the older methods of assigning equipment to employees goes out the proverbial window. USM Studios,Inc. believes BYOD will be the equipment policy of the future, as some younger, technological companies are already in “bring your own” mode. Which way do you think your company will go?

USM Studios Examines the Popularity of Video Streaming Services

As standard cable and satellite services become more expensive, consumers are finding alternatives to paying the price. USM Studios examines the growing popularity of video streaming services.

There is hardly anyone who does not know the brand names Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Instant Video. These are the three top video streaming services in the U.S. Netflix is on the verge of launching in Japan and other countries.  What makes these services better than standard cable and satellite viewing is the price tag – they are affordable. They are affordable even when movies and TV shows are purchased a la carte. Local TV news may not be available, but most people get that on the Internet also.

The original programming on the video streaming services is first-rate and on par with that of network programming. Drama, comedy and reality shows is offered, new talent is discovered and uncovered. Gone is the advertising hype of network TV. Viewers can watch programs and films with very few commercials or none at all. USM Studios, Inc. also realizes that standard cable and satellite service will still be an option in the future. But in order to compete with popular streaming services, they will need to rethink price and provide better customer service. 

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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Visit the USM Studios Inc PressRoom
Behind the Scenes at USM Studios Inc
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