Although ż­·˘k8Ć콢Ěü is much more than a digital planner itself, it can work well as a tool focused on helping only in this area. This solution is free of charge for freelancers and teams (up to 5 collaborators), as well as charitable organizations that express their desire to do so via a sent email. The ż­·˘k8Ć콢Ěü calendar allows you to manage your time and responsibilities both short-term (hourly, daily and two-day view) and long-term (weekly, bi-weekly, monthly view). Set events, in turn, are characterized by the ability to:

• select three options (event, meeting and task) lasting a few hours, a whole day or even a few days,
• add the application to a specific project to better distribute tasks,
• add a topic, description, additional people or comments to each event,
• determine the status (new, currently in progress, done, canceled) and priority (low, normal, high),
• set repeatability of selected notifications (e.g., appearing every Thursday),
• estimate of the time required for implementation,
• generating a To-do list (which makes it easier to perform the next steps within each task).

Try ż­·˘k8Ć콢Ěü for free!

Any. do – easier management of daily tasks

With Any.do, you (as a personal user) can organize and keep track of your daily and professional responsibilities with special to-do lists. This app lets you create tasks, set appointments and reminders, and add notes within a digital planner (daily, weekly or monthly). What’s important is that you can easily integrate Any.do with other apps (e.g. Google Calendar, Slack or Gmail) and sync with separate devices. What’s more, there are also paid options – Premium and Teams – that offer additional benefits (including the ability to collaborate with other users, set recurring tasks and access to additional templates). You can also free trial periods to take advantage of new features.

Google Calendar – a simple digital planner linked to Gmail

Google Calendar is a very popular, easy-to-use and versatile time management tool that is available for free (including offline) to all users with a Google account. The intuitive interface makes it easy to create and manage events – you can add, edit and delete events in just a few clicks (within a daily, weekly monthly or even yearly view). What’s more, this digital planner’s key features let you:

• create several calendars at once (e.g., a separate one for personal life and a separate one for professional life),
• share (you can invite others to view or edit your events, which is useful for joint meetings or projects),
• receive notifications (you can receive notifications about your tasks on email, mobile devices or desktop),
• set automatic events (with the automatic events feature, Google Calendar can automatically add information about flights, hotel reservations, birthdays and more to your calendar).

Todoist – motivational digital planner

Todoist is a management application to effectively keep track of your projects and the tasks to complete. You can add new tasks (within Kanban-style boards), create task lists, set deadlines and reminders, share tasks with others or set priorities. This tool is distinguished by the fact that it awards points for completing tasks, which triggers endorphins (due to receiving a reward) and encourages the completion of further duties – that is, it has a motivating effect. What’s more, this digital planner is very easy to both set up and run, making it ideal for beginners, especially those who have difficulty remembering to-do lists.

Free digital planner – summary

You can see that all of the digital planners mentioned above are similar not only because they’re free but also because the features they offer and the UX they provide make the management of your time and tasks easier and faster. By utilizing these types of tools, you gain more control over your well-being due to less stress associated with constant daily or professional responsibilities. Last but not least, always choose the solution that most suits your needs.

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ChatGPT, which uses GPT-3.5 (free version) or GPT-4 (paid version), is already well known around the world. Google Bard, on the other hand, is the search giant’s somewhat belated answer to the chatbot created by OpenAI.

It came to market four months after ChatGPT and was long available only in select locations. Based on the PaLM2 multilingual model, the tool has been available in Europe since July 2023. It is quickly gaining popularity due to its ease of use and no additional login required for Google users. But how does Google Bard compare to ChatGPT?

Google Bard’s main features

Google Bard, like ChatGPT, is an AI assistant that understands and answers complex questions in natural language. Nevertheless, Bard cannot answer all questions, especially those related to personal data, detailed technical solutions, or medical advice.

It doesn’t even try to do so by informing the user that it doesn’t process this kind of data, or that it’s just an AI assistant and its knowledge of it is limited.

Google Bard Functionalities

Google Bard has several key features that can attract business professionals.

1. Real-time access to information by connecting to Google search. After generating an answer, you can additionally search for related search terms in a classic window using ready-made questions and the “Google it” button.
2. It works fast and provides three versions of the answer right away. So you can quickly compare and choose the most satisfactory version.
3. It offers extensive sharing and integration with Google Workspace. Among other things, you can open a chat response as an email draft, or save it as a Google Doc.
4. You can edit voice tone and speech lengths using buttons rather than manually typed prompts.
5. Users can share links to individual responses or the entire thread.

Given these features, companies can consider Google Bard as a business assistant to help them, such as quickly editing emails, summarizing documents, or summarizing material available online.

Advantages and disadvantages of GB

Google Bard advantages

One of Bard’s greatest strengths indicating the potential direction of its development is the ability to communicate via a voice interface. This is because you can use the microphone to ask him questions, and then listen to the answers using the speaker icon visible next to it’s answers.

Its multimodal capabilities are extended by the attachment of images to questions, which has been available for only a few days. This feature significantly shortens the path leading from an image to a product description, or to the creation of prompts for generating similar visuals, such as with Dall-E or Midjourney.

Google Bard Disadvantages

However, it has not only advantages. Among its drawbacks we should mention the lack of an easily accessible copy function, which can make it difficult to transfer Bard content to documents and tools outside the Google Workspace ecosystem.

The second, much more severe problem is repetition, i.e. not always satisfactory results in generating longer texts, and a tendency to hallucinations comparable to earlier versions of ChatGPT. The latter is somewhat surprising, given that it is geared for Internet use. After prolonged testing, we get the impression that Google Bard needs to be reminded of the capabilities it has or to write explicitly that it should check the information. Guided in this way, it performs much better.

Google Bard vs ChatGPT

The choice between depends largely on whether you are comparing the free versions of the two tools, or the free Bard with the paid ChatGPT Plus.

For free tools, Google Bard seems to be more attractive. The main reason is that many people use AI chats to write emails and generate documents, which in this tool can be saved or sent with a single click. Other reasons are the good quality of responses, the ease of going to search and the possibility of future integrations.

For whom will Google Bard be a better solution? Its advantages and features will be particularly attractive to users tied to other Google tools. ChatGPT, on the other hand, is more versatile and independent of any particular ecosystem of tools. Bard will also be useful for people who work with images.

Also, up-and-coming are programming support tools integrated into the chat, rather than, as in the case of ChatGPT, available as an additional Code Interpreter plug-in only for paying users.

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Social bookmarking – table of contents:

1. What are social bookmarking sites?
2. How to use social bookmarking sites?
3. 8 social bookmarking sites you need to know
4. Summary

What are social bookmarking sites?

You may associate the idea of bookmarks with the functionality of a web browser, where such a feature is built in. However, its biggest limitation is that you can only open them on a particular device and in the browser in which they were created. Social bookmarking sites allow you to go back to your created bookmarks from anywhere and on any device. You can keep your list with you at all times, plus you can share it with friends and a wider audience.

Social bookmarking sites are more than just a place to store interesting websites, posts or images you’ve found on the Internet. By sharing them, you create your own collection, which can also be viewed and commented on by other Internet users. This allows people to find individuals with similar interests, inspirations and collections on a particular topic in one place. If you come across such a bookmark, you won’t have to search the Internet yourself. You will get everything on a plate. That’s why it is safe to say that they work like an improved Internet search engine, because by typing in a given keyword, you get not only individual content, but entire collections tailored to the search term.

Apart from the benefits for the users themselves, such social bookmarking sites also benefit the brand. It’s a great way to increase reach, improve SEO and boost brand awareness. In a nutshell, it’s a brilliant content promotion tool that can increase traffic to a given website and improve search engine ranking. The use of social bookmarking sites is therefore an important step to create quality links that can help you climb to the top of Google search results.

How to use social bookmarking sites?

Of course, you can use them as a private place to store interesting content that you come across while searching the Internet or social media. However, social bookmarking sites are also a tool that can be cleverly used for other purposes.

You can share each collection with other users. So it can serve as a folder of inspiration and guidance for your team. It will certainly be a more interesting and understandable way of conveying information than giving boring guidelines. Here you can put interesting marketing campaigns or sample projects for inspiration. This way, your team will save time and will be able to easily return to the specific content.

Social bookmarking sites also provide important information about users and current trends on the Internet. By observing what is most frequently shared today, you can identify an emerging trend and create materials tailored to it more quickly.

8 social bookmarking sites you need to know

There are quite a few social bookmarking sites that have been created to this point, and each of them is slightly different from one another. To choose the best site for you, check out the following descriptions:

Pinterest

Pinterest is a popular network that most people are familiar with. It is mainly used for sharing content in graphic form i.e. images, photos or infographics. By creating a profile there, you can save (pin) interesting content on thematic boards. How does it work? Let’s say you’re looking for inspiration for a small bathroom renovation and you search Pinterest for this purpose. If something catches your eye, you can pin it to a specific board, so you won’t miss anything and you’ll have the whole collection in one place.

Pocket

Pocket is available in a free and paid version. With the paid version of Pocket, you can annotate, highlight, and add notes to pieces you’re reading. It has an interesting interface that lets you not only save articles, but also sort them from the oldest to the newest and add them in a list of favorites. It also allows you to archive and tag them. On the main screen, you have access to popular entries. Articles saved in Pocket are available to read even if they are deleted from the original server. An interesting feature of this site is that it saves your place and brings you right to the section of the article you were reading before closing out.

Mix

This is one of the most popular social bookmarking sites which allows you to save and share various materials. It lets you store interesting photos, videos, stories and articles. Users can also input their own interests to see content offered by others that are relevant to those interests. It greatly facilitates getting useful and interesting information.

Digg

Digg is a site that provides the most interesting information on a variety of topics from around the world. You can like, share or bookmark each of the available articles. In Digg, content is arranged according to its popularity on the Internet, which lets you learn about the prevailing trends.

Slashdot

Slashdot is a social bookmarking site that provides news on various topics related to science, technology and politics. Any content available there is moderated by a team of experts, which may suggest that it is at least pre-filtered news and you are unlikely to find fake news there.

Reddit

Reddit has been around since 2005 and operates a bit differently than the portals mentioned above. Just like in the previous ones, you can upload any content including links or images. The difference is that here users submit posts that other users ‘upvote’ or ‘downvote’ based on if they like it. Of course, more upvotes means more shares and a greater chance of reaching a large audience.

Dribble

Dribble is a beautiful site aimed at designers. It’s not only a great place to find inspiration, but also to present your designs to a wider audience.

Scoop.it

The unique feature of Scoop.it is that the platform collaborates with companies. In addition, it is a publishing network that aggregates content, so it is a great place to publish and promote your own links. By properly using Scoop.it, you can get better quality links to your blog and great exposure.

Summary

The above list probably brought you a little closer to the available options and the way individual pages function. They are not only a great way to store interesting materials, but also a promotional tool with great potential. They are still underestimated, but if used properly, they can bring many benefits with little effort. Choose the page that suits you best and start working to improve brand awareness and gain a better position in the search engine.

Read also: Top 5 video interviewing tools.

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What is new with Canva? – table of contents:

1. Canva for Teams
2. Canva Whiteboards
3. Summary

Canva for Teams

In order to work together on projects, it’s not enough to share a specific graphic file with individual team members to listen to comments and suggestions for improvements – such a solution within Canva Free or Pro only works well among independent graphic designers who need a new creation from time to time.

For project teams of two to sometimes as many as a thousand people, additional functionality is needed to facilitate collaboration – and that’s what the Canva for Teams version, introduced in September, provides. From now on, teams can collaborate to create visually compelling content, build and scale their brands, and engage their audiences. What’s more, it doesn’t matter where they are located.

The creators of this popular online graphics program underline that the new package can benefit everyone, regardless of industry and size – both individual teams (HR, marketing, sales) in smaller companies and multinational corporations that put emphasis on consistent visual communication. For teams that want to develop their brands, Canva allows them to create so-called “brand sets,” which store specific templates, fonts and logos.

Canva for Teams provides teams with:

• access to unlocked millions of exclusive graphics, templates and fonts at no additional cost to speed up the process of creating posts and graphic elements (smaller teams of up to a few people),
• team and brand management tools (medium and large teams),
• Canva visual communication tools (all teams),
• content creation tools, including especially a planner (all teams),
• brainstorming tools (all teams).

When you decide to subscribe to Canva for Teams, you can choose from several available plans, tailoring the functionalities to your needs and the size of your teams. By doing so, you provide your teams with access to numerous folders with various types of graphic materials that employees can use as they wish, without fear of violating your brand’s visual identity.

Canva Whiteboards

Canva for Teams is not the only solution that has been introduced recently. Special Whiteboards should also be mentioned, which are not intended for creating graphics and other projects, but provide team members with space for comments during brainstorming sessions. Canva Whiteboards are available for free within the existing editor and can be used in real time by all interested users (e.g. during team calls, allowing everyone to express their opinion or react to another person’s idea written on the board).

feature – combined with a timer to limit the time spent working on a specific task, constant access to a library of customizable whiteboard templates – provides the perfect environment for brainstorming sessions in any team: HR, marketing, sales or design. If you bet on the involvement of all team members in your daily work, then don’t hesitate to try this solution.

Summary

Nowadays, more and more teams – regardless of industry and company size – are working in a hybrid way or remotely. While this definitely has numerous advantages , it cannot be denied that in some situations it significantly hinders daily communication and cooperation.

It is for such reasons that new solutions are constantly being developed to streamline work in distributed teams, and Canva as the dominant player in the market of graphic design software for amateurs is not left behind. Think about it – maybe Canva Whiteboards is the solution that will work for your team during brainstorming sessions, and Canva for Teams will ensure that your company’s branding materials are always coherent.

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Double Diamond model in UX – table of contents:

1. What is the Double Diamond model?
2. Four phases of the Double Diamond model
3. Summary

What is the Double Diamond model?

The Double Diamond model illustrates the design process. It gives structure and enables UX designers to fully picture the needs of users. Additionally, it keeps versatile. You can apply it to organize projects, communicate better at meetings, as well as report progress. The British Design Council created the Double Diamond model in 2005 while trying to visualize the creative processes in the many different fields. The result was a remarkably simple model – two squares set at an angle. The first diamond represents the research phase. The second represents the design phase. Let’s take a closer look at them.

Four phases of the Double Diamond model

Let’s take the two diamonds of the UX process – research and design – and divide them into four phases. The research phase requires space for two main tasks. The first is gathering information, and the second is organizing them. In the design phase, you develop possible solutions and, of course, work out the outcome of the entire design process.

Whether you begin a project from the scratch or redesign an existing one, the UX design process requires a sound foundation. In a real working environment, the process becomes far more intricate than your blueprint – and that’s OK. The role of the Double Diamond model is to guide, not constrain. By design, it leaves behind the old-fashioned, by-the-book as well as linear fashion. You may occasionally have to, repeat some steps or go back to an earlier phase. Also, it comes as no surprise when the final solution doesn’t relate to the starting point. What’s more, if new ideas emerge during development, it’s a sign of sound research and practical user feedback.

1. Understanding the problem

Start from… the very beginning. Take a problem reported by a user, a new idea or an improvement to existing projects. Search well, only the carefully conceived onset will provide a solid foundation. In this phase, collect information as well as keep your focus on your target users. Try to get to know them inside out their preferences, motivations, together with their problems. Combine different methods of user research, ask questions about everything that comes to mind, question every idea, dive in. Aim at acquiring really practical data.

Remember – don’t make assumptions. This phase requires openness and impartiality, even if you want to find a solution as soon as possible.

2. Defining the problem

You’ve collected a considerable amount of data, it’s time to organize it! Sort opinions, remove unnecessary stuff, identify patterns and create hypotheses. You will probably discover that the research has revealed many more hindrances along the way than originally thought. Try to sort them out and see if your original starting point is still valid.

In the previous phase you expanded the scope of data – this time the task is to narrow it down, organize and prioritize. Stay pragmatic and disciplined. Clearly defining the problem will help you in the next phase. A well-defined goal is not an attempt to solve all the problems at once. You have to know which ones are the most crucial. In this phase, you don’t have to get rid of minor discoveries and additional problems – write them down, as they can become an excellent source for future design sessions.

3. Develop solutions

Now you can kick off your search for possible solutions. Let quantity reign over quality right from day one. The time will come for their careful selection. Conduct brainstorming, talk to your team and your users and generate lots of potential solutions. Look at them carefully and choose a few. Now the time has come for testing. Develop simple prototypes or mock-ups and engage your test group to give you feedback as soon as possible. You may feel tempted to go straight to implementing a solution but beware! You may overlook obvious problems if you don’t give yourself the space to think outside the box.

4. Choose the ultimate solution

We are at the final stage of the Double Diamond model – the final solution. It’s time to evaluate the feedback from the last phase and test and analyze everything. Remember – the process doesn’t have to remain linear. If necessary, you can repeat stages or even go back a few steps. It’s better to do it now than after the product launch.

Launch the development of prototypes at a higher level of detail. Test them and listen to user feedback. At this point, it may get difficult to keep bias as you probably have your favorite idea that you would like to implement. After long hours of designing followed by testing, you’ve made it to the end. Now just implement the solution. Viola!

Summary

The Double Diamond model helps to understand the UX design process with all its difficulties. The visualization of the process helps the team understand what stage it is at and what steps are still ahead. UX design is a complex activity – which is why the Double Diamond model does a great job of guiding the entire process.

You may be interested in our series about UX: The ultimate UX guide. Take a look!

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]]> /double-diamond-model-in-ux/feed 0 /top-5-video-interviewing-tools /top-5-video-interviewing-tools#respond Mon, 28 Mar 2022 11:58:29 +0000 /?p=25381 Video interviewing platforms allow hiring managers to reach diverse job seekers wherever they are. They also help to streamline and accelerate the hiring process. In the following article we put together a list of best video interviewing tools which will effectively support HR specialists and provide a better candidate experience. Read on.

Top interviewing tools – table of contents:

1. VidCruiter
2. myInterview
3. Hireflix
4. Modern Hire
5. Willo
6. Summary

VidCruiter

Our list starts with software that is fully adapted to the way organizations and enterprises operate today. VidCruiter offers two work modes – the first one allows candidates to record answers to previously prepared questions. Such an interview is then saved and delivered to the recruiter. The specialist gets a chance to watch the video, analyze the received answers, and share it with other decision-makers. The other mode resembles a typical job interview with the use of popular instant messengers. The conversation takes place in real-time and questions are displayed on the screen of the device. Advantages? Automation of the recruitment procedure, better candidates, lack of location limitations and increased pool of talents. VidCruiter provides a positive experience for both parties to the process.



myInterview

“Meet people, not resumes”- this slogan advertises our next software solution. MyInterview is a simple and intuitive tool perfect for small enterprises with low budget. It lets users set a new project with just a few clicks. Thanks to MyInterview, teams can analyze videos for candidates’ skills and personalities. This cloud-based program integrates with several other products including Greenhouse and Workable. It also offers a 24/7 support for both customers and candidates.



Hireflix

The name of our third program brings to mind one of the most popular entertainment platforms, and it is equally functional. The overall goal of its creators was to minimize formalities and focus on finding the best candidate. In what way? For example, one recruitment form can be used for unlimited number of applications. The tool lets recruiters interview more candidates in less time and go beyond the rigid frames of schedules and real-time meetings. Candidates record their answers at any convenient time, and recruiters analyze the video whenever they want to. Hireflix is a solution for HR expers who value flexibility and efficiency of use. Hireflix shortens the recrutiment procedure, reduces expenses and increases the pool of prospective employees.



Modern Hire

Modern Hire combines modern technology and scientific knowledge, which translates into its efficiency. According to the creators of Modern Hire, asking right questions is crucial when it comes to finding perfect candidates and starting a profitable partnership. For this purpose, the program provides a special wizard that automates the entire process. The candidate receives a message via mobile device, e-mail or a special assistant and makes an individual appointment. The course of conversation is based on the information provided at an earlier stage. Hireflix enables the ongoing exchange of comments, remarks and observations. It has got a special scoring module that allows to evaluate candidate answers and make the right choice.



Willo

The last program on our list is extremely versatile. It integrates with 4000 other apps, and thus delivers high functionality and increases productivity. Willo can be used on a variety of mobile devices. It offers a package of visual settings, security of interactions, an intelligent question generator and a practical transfer of useful files. This easy, fast and simple tool will allow you to recruit a large volume of candidates in a short time.



Summary

More and more businesses start noticing the advantages of using innovative communication forms in the recruitment process. This article facilitiates finding the right tool which will help you conduct a successful online job interview and attract top talents.

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]]> /top-5-video-interviewing-tools/feed 0 /top-5-free-graphic-design-software /top-5-free-graphic-design-software#respond Thu, 13 Jan 2022 13:11:10 +0000 /?p=21140 Times change, so do you still need to be an experienced graphic designer to create infographics, logos or graphics? Do you really need to spend hours over a painting to make it eye-catching and artistic? Or maybe free graphic software is enough? Without diminishing the experts in their profession, in this article we will try to introduce you to the essence of graphic design software available on websites with ready-made diagrams and templates that will help you get things done and bring the visual value of your or your company closer to your brand.

Free Graphic Design Software – table of contents:

1. Why graphic is so important?
2. What is the graphic design software used for?
3. Top 5 Graphic Design Software in web browsers
4. The benefits of using online graphic software
5. Check out our software and manage your graphic design projects

Why graphic is so important?

A picture is worth a thousand words is popular phrase that point at our main sense of perception, vision. The way we perceive the current reality depends substantially on the visual input we are exposed to. This is because we’ve been spending our lives subject to the conscious and unconscious influence of photos, pictures, movies, games, apps and so forth. Also, companies and businesses have learned to put focus on enhancing visuals. This has created a market demand for graphic designers resulting in elevating the profession to a highly-paid and prestigious status.

What is the graphic design software used for?

Today’s graphic programs give us a range of countless possibilities. Thanks to them, we are able not only to modify ready graphic products, but also to visualize our creativity.

Most of them have an option to edit both photos and videos. When editing photos we can, among other things, remove the red-eye effect, smooth out wrinkles, affect the overall color and sharpness. We can also modify the background elements, erase them or insert new ones.

These programs provide a plethora of tools to create various types of graphics that serve as a business card of the brand, helping you to maintain the consistency of visual communication, whether in posts on social media or printed forms.



Top 5 Graphic Design Software in web browsers

We have selected some pleasant-to-use and easy-to-learn graphics programs available straight from web browsers. The advantage of these online programs is that they are free to all internet users. Here are some of our suggestions:

Canva

Is currently the most popular online graphics creation program. Its major asset is the ease and speed of use. It has many ready-made templates, interesting graphic elements and a wide bank of photos. Recently it has also been possible to create animated posts, but this option is available in Canvas paid version.



Snappa

The program is distinguished by a unique feature of connecting social media accounts and scheduling the publication of graphics in the editor. It also has a lot of compelling templates. If you are looking for a simple and easy graphics editor for social media, it is worth paying attention to – it can make the task easier.



Crello

This program has a ton of features and templates that will help you develop the look of your posts. It’s possible to create not only logos but also create animations and video gifs in literally minutes. It is worth noting the lesser-known graphic templates with illustrations that can make your brand stand out from the rest.



Pixlr

Thanks to its advanced features, it enables you to edit photos and graphics in great detail. It is a very intuitive program supported by tools that use artificial intelligence. Its biggest merit is an option to open almost any format including PSD, PXD, JPEG, PNG and others.



Adobe Spark

Adobe may be associated with expensive software, but not its cousin, Adobe Spark. It’s an intriguing exception, offering some free features of the company’s creative suite. Its main purpose is to help you create content for social media, such as designing posts or banners.



All the above-mentioned online graphic programs are freeware. Of course, for a certain fee, it is possible to upgrade the programs to a fully-fledged version to broaden artistic perspectives and move to a higher level of graphic design.

The benefits of using online graphic software

Using graphic programs in browsers brings many benefits, mainly for people who are just starting their adventure with graphics and smaller companies or startups that do not have professional graphic designers on board. Thanks to such programs we can, among other things:

• Provide flexibility to create desired specific graphics(logo, post, business card, etc.).
• After trying the free version of the program opt for a paid plan with extended functions.
• In most cases, cooperate with your team working on shared projects to instantly change it.

Check out our software and manage your graphic design projects:

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]]> /top-5-free-graphic-design-software/feed 0 /productivity-apps-for-mac /productivity-apps-for-mac#respond Mon, 10 Jan 2022 07:07:08 +0000 /?p=21051 To get the results you want, it’s not enough to just come to work and launch your computer – you need to perform efficiently. Having a Mac at home or in your business can bring you great results, but in order to do so you need to get tasks done with the right apps. In our list, we’ve included 20 free productivity apps for Mac. Try them yourself and see how easy it is!

Productivity Apps for Mac – table of contents:

1. Increase productivity with Mac apps
2. Productivity at work: an app for everyone
3. The 20 best productivity apps for Mac
4. Focus on productivity

Increase productivity with Mac apps

The profits generated are the most important factor for the success of a project or a company. To achieve it, you need both efficiency and productivity. Only thanks to them your work will take the right rank, you will sell goods or services and easily earn money. And in your personal life, you will achieve your goals.

What is the difference between productivity and efficiency? Productivity measures the value of goods or commodities produced. Productivity measures how long it takes to produce them. Your goal should be to maximize productivity while maintaining a stable output.

Productivity at work: an app for everyone

In fact, everyone should be interested in how to raise productivity. It determines whether the work we do – at home office, in a corporation or during home duties – will bring the expected benefits. It is worth using professional, dedicated applications – with their right handling work efficiency goes up significantly.

This is especially important when working on a Mac. iOS can be extremely powerful, but you need software to take advantage of that computing power. That’s why we’ve put together a list of the 20 best Mac apps to make productivity and ease your new reality.



The 20 best productivity apps for Mac

1. Todoist

The list opens with Todoist – an inconspicuous app that will enhance your productivity rate. It is a platform for organizing and prioritize your tasks. Features enable you to track progress, sync with calendars and share to-do lists with co-workers. Simple, easy, reliable.


2. Slack

If you want to make your team more efficient and therefore more productive, try Slack. It’s a great tool to bring everyone together and invite them to collaborate on a project. The app has many practical features for organizing the work of a whole team at once and is really user friendly. A brilliant solution for businesses.


3. Notebook (Notes)

Seemingly a simple system app, but when handled well, it can immensely boost your workflow. Fully synced with all your iOS devices, Notepad lets you share notes in real time, send other links, and organize their collaboration. Without any additional installation, Notepad is already on your Mac.


4. Asana

If you are wondering how to make your team more productive, look at Asana. It helps to organize projects that are handled by more people. The visualization of the tasks of the entire team, progress tracking and built-in messenger are just a few of its fine capabilities. The chat and tagging features are very practical for organizing daily office work.


5. Everhour

A Mac-dedicated tool to increase your productivity – the app will improve your results, help you save time and complete projects faster. Accessing Everhour is really easy – just a few clicks, right in Safari. The program is perfect for time tracking, budgeting and task management.


6. MindNode

Another proposal is MindNode – an interactive notebook for people who have a thousand ideas per minute. To turn ideas into reality, it’s worth writing everything down meticulously. It will also help you increase your productivity by organizing your work hierarchically using maps, charts and diagrams. With a simple interface and many applicable options, it’s worth a try.


7. Magnet

If you want to organize tasks, many of which you do simultaneously, choose Magnet, a functional Mac app. Increasing productivity is necessarily about harmony and order. Surprising pop-ups or multiple programs open at the same time make productivity plummet. Magnet helps you organize everything and divides your screen into practical sections. An additional advantage is the possibility of personalization.


8. 1Password

A tool that helps you increase your productivity step by step is 1Password. It’s an app for remembering and managing passwords – very practical on any Mac. It’s not just about autocomplete forms. Using a series of reminders, the program will help you remember your most important passwords. A perfect option to save time and work faster and more efficiently. Interestingly, Business Insider named 1Password as one of the top 100 apps in the world.


9. Grammarly

If you want to create documents, e-mails and reports of the highest quality, you need Grammarly. With it, you can quickly and easily spot possible errors and correct them. Your written content will be flawless, and your productivity and evaluation in the eyes of contractors will increase significantly.


10. Spark Mail

This program is like rediscovering your email inbox. It dramatically improves your working experience, and in turn, empowers you to complete duties faster and better. Spark Mail helps you plan, group, tag and organize your messages. An interesting collaboration feature lets you share emails with other users. The productivity rate in teamwork increases by using this Mac app.


11. Bear

Bear is a simple but indispensable Mac app. It helps you increase your productivity – the app enables you to take notes and organize the stream of ideas popping up in the head of every business pioneer. Additionally, you get the ability to add pictures, photos, and even handwritten drawings.


12. PDF element

Increasing productivity also includes improving your work with the popular PDF format. With this application, you will be able to edit text in received files – change the font typeface and color, add highlights and comments. Productivity will also increase – you will save the time you used to spend converting PDF documents.


13. CloudApp

To work efficiently in a team, efficient file sharing is a must. This is exactly what CloudApp makes possible. It makes it easy to take a capture or screenshot and convert it to the format of your choice. With its powerful features, you will be able to share media files with your colleagues with great ease and quickly.


14. Alfred

If you want to be productive while working on your Mac, start using the potential of keyboard shortcuts. With this application, you’ll be able to set up your own shortcuts and apply them to open, close, or search for desired applications and folders at a glance. The rich functionality and intuitive interface will come in handy in your home office or big corporation – in a word, everywhere.


15. Microsoft To-Do

An application from MS that can be successfully run on Mac. The program helps you to be more productive at work – the application allows you to create daily plans and various activity and “to do” lists. This powerful task manager will definitely help you to fulfill all your responsibilities and achieve the expected results.


16. White Noise Lite

Stress interferes with productivity. So, try to distract yourself from stress – the White Noise Lite app was designed to minimize it. Its main function is to play relaxing sounds – for example, sounds of nature or cafĂ©s. Working in a motivating and appropriate sound environment allows for the highest focus and productivity.


17. Skitch

If your tasks rely on illustrations and photos, you can increase productivity step by step using Skitch. Easily and quickly tag any visual material and, if necessary, share it with others who are working on the project. Easy to handle and integrates with PDF documents – worth a try!


18. Ulysses

Ulysses is a treat for writers who want to be productive. With its unique features, creating texts becomes easier than ever before. What’s more, the application continuously saves the written document – so there’s no fear of losing any data. The built-in proofreader allows you to catch errors and inconsistencies that may have snuck into the text. Finally, the effects can be conveniently exported to universal formats.


19. Pocket

If you want to maintain a high productivity rate, you can’t get distracted while working. The Pocket app can help. When you find something interesting on the web but can’t review it now, leave it in Pocket for later. You’ll come back to the interesting page after work. With these simple steps, you can make the most of your time at the office or at your Mac.


20. Prismatic

At the end of the list, an application that has been present on Mac for a short time, but very convenient and functional. With Prismatic you can save the time you spend reading the news. The program itself follows the sites you specify and presents new posts in the form of a clear list. This way you will always be up-to-date and your productivity will not be affected.



Focus on productivity

If you work on a Mac a lot, you know that it’s a powerful and stable piece of hardware. But you can get the most out of your Mac by installing apps that will help you get more done. Check out our list of 20 recommended free programs that will help you achieve any goal.

Read: Top 28 productivity apps in 2021/2022.

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]]> /productivity-apps-for-mac/feed 0 /best-flowchart-apps /best-flowchart-apps#respond Wed, 05 Jan 2022 11:18:31 +0000 /?p=21034 Flowchart, although a simple tool in its essence, is of key importance for bringing order and desired quality to an enterprise. With its help, even the most complicated processes can be visualized in a suggestive and clear way. How does it work? Who will benefit them the most? Which flowchart applications should you choose? Curious to find out? Take a look at our review of the best flowchart apps in 2021/2022.

Best Flowchart Apps – table of contents:

1. Flowchart – what is it?
2. Best Flowchart Apps
3. To summarize
4. Key questions

Flowchart – what is it?

The term flowchart denotes a type of diagram, flow map, or process flow that aims at organizing workflow. Regardless of the terminology, the point is to outline in the clearest possible way the components of a given process and the relationships between them. This makes it a key solution for the manufacturing industry, for managers supervising company’s processes and for those involved in logistics or quality control.

Flowcharts provide information essential for the understanding of the mechanisms governing processes, enabling the detection and removal of irregularities, but also introducing improvements where possible. The applications listed below may prove helpful in this respect.



Best Flowchart Apps

1. Dia

This application is characterized by an intuitive layout and the ability to devise standard and custom shapes. It is a fully free program, equipped with new functionalities, thanks to the open-source license under which it is made available


2. ThinkComposer

Just like its predecessor, this flowchart is available at no extra charge and is licensed under an open license. This is especially important because its design focuses on illustrating advanced processes in professional activities that require regular actions with its support. The program gives the possibility to create complex, multi-level flowcharts, create lists with a multitude of charts and provide reporting options for already created projects.


3. Plant UML

This software certainly differs from the solutions presented here – the graphical interface is replaced by the PlantUML scripting language. Therefore, it is not for everyone. However, programmers who need to drag objects every time should be satisfied. Plant UML gives you the possibility to define various types of flowcharts with the possibility to export them in many user-accessible extensions (PNG, SVG, LaTeX). Plant UML is a free tool.


4. Graph Editor

It is an intuitive program with automatic solutions, organic and orthogonal edge routing, and many forms of exporting the finished file (e.g. as PNG, JPG and PDF). It is also available completely free of charge.


5. Libre Office

Libre Office is associated as an alternative to Microsoft products such as Word, Excel or PowerPoint. At the same time, it is a tool with which you can also create diagrams. This is possible due to the presence of functionalities such as inserting shapes, adding text and images, which makes working with it flexible. The program is available for free.



To summarize

Flowcharts are an inseparable element of the functioning of many industries, while their clear presentation is crucial from the point of view of information flow within a company, planning, implementation and control of processes. However, when circumstances (e.g. dynamic growth of a company or its wide range of activities) make it necessary to create them on a larger scale, it is necessary to take steps towards their automation.

Flowchart applications are helpful in this respect. With their support, the time required to create diagrams can be significantly reduced while maintaining their quality.

Do you want to know other useful tools? Read: Top 10 Spreadsheet Apps.

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]]> /best-flowchart-apps/feed 0 /top-10-spreadsheet-apps /top-10-spreadsheet-apps#respond Mon, 03 Jan 2022 13:18:52 +0000 /?p=20999 A spreadsheet is a modern multipurpose software of immense versatility. With spreadsheet apps, you can plan a household budget, calculate the return on investment, or organize the things that need to be taken care of. Ever since these types of programs came on the market 40 years ago, they have found a permanent place in our homes. If you have considered taking advantage of their capabilities too, you also must have struggled with deciding which application to choose. And that’s why we decided to provide a helping hand by reviewing the 10 best spreadsheet programs.

Spreadsheet Apps – table of contents:

1. What are spreadsheet apps?
2. How do spreadsheet’s online features make your job easier?
3. Top 10 Spreadsheet Apps
4. Summary

What are spreadsheet apps?

A spreadsheet is an electronic document where data is organized in the rows and columns of a grid to manage, calculate and process. The app has numerous features including a wide range of formulas to search, edit, and analyze the collected information. Initially, spreadsheet programs were simply a collection of tables, combined with basic calculator options. Now, tools like Google spread enable you to analyze massive amounts of data in real-time.

How do spreadsheet’s online features make your job easier?

Spreadsheets make work easier in many ways whether it’s running a household or small business. Thanks to them, you can control your budget, funds for investments or customer orders. Increasingly popular are those apps that operate in cloud, i.e.online spreadsheet programs. Such solutions are ideal for teams – many users can simultaneously work on one file. We have prepared a list of 10 free and functional spreadsheet apps.

Top 10 Spreadsheet Apps

1. Google Sheets

It is an extremely recognizable application, already available from the browser. The spreadsheet program from Google provides huge functionality, similar to paid Excel. Besides, it is synchronized with other Google account apps. Spreadsheets also provides conditional formatting and pivot table options, an extensive charting system, and math and logic operations.


2. LibreOffice Calc

This program is part of the free office suite and offers an excellent spreadsheet application that works offline. The basic version of the program supports even complex and extensive spreadsheets, plus it works on Mac, Windows and Linux platforms.


3. Smartsheet

Another suggestion is Smartsheet, an online spreadsheet application to do more than just analyze numbers. The program enables you to track the project and manage different stages of its implementation. A simple interface makes even beginners perfectly cope with the operation of this software. It is worth using especially when working in a team.


4. Quip

Quip is a powerful spreadsheet tool from a CRM software development company. The spreadsheet feature is just one of the many capabilities that this application features. A built-in word processor and presentation editor are extra add-ons. Quip’s options include a wide range of different mathematical and logical functions, over 400 in total!


5. Zoho

Although Google spreadsheets is the most popular online application of its kind, Zoho has plenty of additional practical features that are worth checking out. Over 350 capabilities are available, containing such advanced options as conditional formatting, pivot tables, and data validation. It can also import data from external sources. And the whole software works completely online – so you gain access from any device.


6. EtherCalc

Among online spreadsheet applications, EtherCalc stands out for its ease of use. You don’t even need to create an account to create and edit spreadsheets. For advanced users, the program can be hosted on your own server and thus customized. In other cases, the program operates locally, via a browser.


7. Airtable

Another suggestion is Airtable, which is actually a database software. Yet, it operates on a spreadsheet interface and retains its functionality. Basic features include creating diagrams for planned products, handling checklists and sales solutions, and even creating scripts for video productions. All this makes Airtable an excellent application for entrepreneurs.


8. WPS Office

A great, free spreadsheet program is WPS Office. It looks beautiful thanks to interesting visualizations and a friendly interface. The app combines more than 100 functions that handle the data collected in tables. It is an interesting alternative to paid, commercial programs. Since WPS Office works with all common file types, it will do well as software for home use.


9. Gnumeric

The ninth suggestion is Gnumeric, a spreadsheet program that has advanced features but is completely free. The developers of the application have built into it many tools not found in the competition. These include, for example, automatic saving of editable workbooks and other attractive capabilities.


10. Spread32

Spread32 application has the same basic functions as other spreadsheet programs. However, there is one major difference – you do not need to install it. Spread32 is a portable program that you can burn to a flash drive and use on any Windows computer. Its interface is very clear and it is easy to learn.



Summary

Spreadsheet applications work best when they are tailored to your needs and expectations. Consider the following variables: application features, accessibility, interface, and price. Before choosing a program, ask yourself what tasks you will be performing in the spreadsheet. Will these activities be limited to the basics, such as creating tables and calculations? Or do you need a tool with additional features, such as project management? Once you’ve determined your needs, test the available solutions for functionality and ease of navigation. You can start with the solutions described above. If you are still having trouble deciding, ask friends, family, or Internet users for their experiences and recommendations.



Do you want to know other useful tools? Read: Top 10 Free Online Whiteboards in 2021/2022.

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]]> /top-10-spreadsheet-apps/feed 0 /top-10-free-online-whiteboards-in-2021-2022 /top-10-free-online-whiteboards-in-2021-2022#respond Fri, 31 Dec 2021 12:06:03 +0000 /?p=20953 Today we’re going to take a closer look at free online whiteboards. While our everyday life is increasingly dominated by learning and working with digital products, we sigh to the traditional ones with a certain sentiment. However, sentiment is not enough to express a certain predominance of traditional forms in supporting tasks; often, working with them involves tangible benefits for the user. An example of this are handwritten notes and drawings, which have a significant impact on memory processes and creativity.

However, in a world dominated by the Internet, where we are more and more often dealing with remote cooperation. So, is there still a place for such solutions? It turns out that there is. The answer to these needs are digital whiteboards – virtual whiteboards with the support of which you can create and co-create projects, work and gain knowledge independently and with others. What features do these whiteboards have? Which free online whiteboards are worth using? You will find the answers and more about them in the following article.

Free Online Whiteboards – table of contents:

1. Free Online Whiteboards – what is their phenomenon?
2. Top 10 Free Online Whiteboards
3. To summarize
4. Key questions

Free Online Whiteboards – what is their phenomenon?

The key and competitive features of the whiteboard are:

• Its size, which is basically unlimited (as far as the creators themselves can go),
• The ability for multiple users to co-create in real time,
• File pinning option,
• The ability to export and present work results.

These elements are the basis of any digital whiteboard. However, their popularity forces the entities offering them to compete offering other functionalities as well. Below we present a selection of the 10 best whiteboards, with the help of which working and learning will become pleasant and easy.



Top 10 Free Online Whiteboards

1. Miro

This online whiteboard features multiple templates within a single whiteboard, which does not preclude you from creating it yourself from scratch. Miro provides for collaboration on a shared project (chat option, audio connections), and then its presentation (thanks to the screen sharing option, including the selected section of the whiteboard). Within the free version of the tool, you can use 3 whiteboards.


2. IPEVO Annotator

IPEVO Annotator is a free whiteboard with the help of which you can turn your electronic equipment into a whiteboard in an instant. It is especially handy during presentations, when you can mark and describe the content that appears on the screen. Due to the fact that this function has been subordinated to the program, if you want to save the presented content, you need to record it or capture it in the form of a screenshot.


3. InVision Freehand

It is an online whiteboard designed for real-time co-creation of group projects. Its layout monitors progress of work in real time, with visibility of the authorship of individual changes. Team members working with InVision Freehand can communicate with each other through comments; if this solution is not enough, it is necessary to go for additional tools. The program provides a free plan and paid, extended versions.


4. Stormboard

Stormboard, as the name suggests, is a tool for brainstorming. Unlike its traditional brainstorming software counterparts, Stormboard creates the conditions to make them in more orderly manner. By means of colorful cards, which embody individual threads. Within each of them, you can generate real-time editable boards, with the option of teamwork. Stormboard also enables the assignment of tasks, voting on individual ideas and consultation in the form of text chat. The free version includes access to five “storms”, each of which allows five users to contribute.


5. Limnu

Limnu is very similar to a physical whiteboard in its form, which may convince traditionalists. It also has an option of co-creating the content and sharing it without the possibility of editing. You can use it within the free plan and the paid ones contain more advanced features.


6. AWW

It offers 3 separate toolbars – the first containing “instruments” for writing, drawing, and applying forms to the whiteboard; the second related to communicating with other team members (in text and audio form); and third for navigating the whiteboards, which makes work plain sailing. The basic whiteboard package is available for free.


7. Conceptboard

It allows for the creation of extended objects, also within numerous teams. An attractive feature of Conceptboard is the option to embed audio and audiovisual files on the whiteboard. Moreover, it enables collaborators to communicate directly via the program (chat option, comments, task assignment). 50 objects, regardless of the number of whiteboards in which they operate, are available in this case free of charge.


8. Sketchboard

With this app you can design unique boards with existing tools, according to the “drag and drop” method. Tags assigned to individual projects make searching much easier. Sketchboard is available for free as part of a package that includes three whiteboards and five users.


9. Whiteboard Fox

In the case of this whiteboard, simplicity leads the way. Nonetheless, the options for self-drawing, embedding text and images, sharing content, and contributing content have been retained. The whiteboard is completely free.


10. Explain Everything

This whiteboard is distinguished by the ability to record video and voice, making it an ideal tool for online training, tutoring and remote teaching. It will also be practical during the implementation of group projects, thanks to the parallel editing option, with the possibility of communication in the audio version.



To summarize

Whiteboards are extremely practical tools that, depending on the choice made, can function as a space for cooperation, a tool for presentation or for creating educational and training content. It is certainly a form attractive to implement in variety of objectives and a nice change for all those bored with common solutions.

Do you want to know other useful tools? Read: The 8 Best Data Collection Apps in 2021/2022!

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]]> /top-10-free-online-whiteboards-in-2021-2022/feed 0 /the-8-best-data-collection-apps-in-2021-2022 /the-8-best-data-collection-apps-in-2021-2022#respond Wed, 29 Dec 2021 12:48:17 +0000 /?p=20908 Modern sales and customer service require handling huge amounts of data to obtain, process, store, and manage in the right way. User and customer data have to be collected in accordance with the law of the land. But what applications meet legal guidelines? Today, we are going to show and review the 8 best data collection apps. Whether you run a blog or a big company, try our suggestions and stay safe and sound.

Data Collection Apps – table of contents:

1. Types of data and how they are collected
2. How do the data collection apps work?
3. Data collection – who needs a dedicated app?
4. The 8 Best Data Collection Apps in 2021/2022
5. Use the best data collection methods
6. Summary

Types of data and how they are collected

Data collection is the process of gathering information about a particular subject, phenomenon, event, etc. The purpose of this process can be either scientific research, marketing research, or a public opinion survey. If you run your own business, the conclusions you draw can help you better understand your customers and tailor your offer to their preferences.

The collected data can be divided into the following types:

• demographic information, such as age, gender, education, location, etc,
• behavioral data related to respondents’ behavior, such as purchasing habits, service usage, or web browsing,
• transactional data, i.e. sales, purchase, or payment transactions,
• qualitative (descriptive) data, such as opinions, comments, and reviews.

How do the data collection apps work?

There are various methods of data collection on the web. The most popular are the dedicated, simple, functional and convenient applications we are going to present in the following paragraphs. How do the data collection appa work?

Digital data is obtained from users, for example, through active forms or surveys. Sometimes, after visiting a site, an Internet user has to consent to provide his or her data, such as the IP address of the computer, website activity or approximate location. After the consent, a database stores the information. However, to manage such numerous strings and numbers, you need a good and stable application.

Data collection – who needs a dedicated app?

Collecting and presenting data is an inseparable element of the functioning of every company, especially the one which runs its business on the Internet. The sale of goods or services online involves the exchange of personal data. That is why its collection needs support by a dedicated application.

Blog owners can also benefit from our suggestions – after all, they store visitors’ data from surveys or e-mail addresses of people who subscribed to a newsletter.

When choosing a data collection application, consider the following factors:

• the type of data you want to collect, as different applications are designed to collect different types of data,
• the purpose of the data collection, i.e., why you are undertaking this task – as applications can be used and customized for different purposes,
• your budget, i.e. how much you can realistically spend on such an application.

The 8 Best Data Collection Apps in 2021/2022

1. Logikcull

The first application is a solution designed to collect data and store it in the cloud. With Logikcull, you can reduce the cost of running your business as you get a sizable number of records with user data in an easy and time-saving way. Simple interface and fast search engine are the great advantages of this application.


2. Tableau

Collecting, organizing and presenting data becomes easier with Tableau. This application is a great help for an online business. The software is cloud based and dedicated to small and medium enterprises. It allows you to take advantage of many survey solutions and analyses created on the basis of collected information. Thanks to Tableau your work with data can become faster and more pleasant.

3. Looker

The third proposition is high-end software – collecting data with Looker is a pleasure. The application is also a platform that enables deep analysis of collected records. Effects of work and retrieved data can be shared with other team members in real time. A solution such as Looker will therefore prove perfect in every large company.


4. Nexticy

Nexticy is a professional application designed for Windows or Mac users. This is a data collection program to gather and process digital information in a very fast way. Additionally, it includes applets that manage forms and surveys – so it’s a great option for creating reports that take into account the collected data. Nexticy collects info and stores it in a convenient spreadsheet – for your convenience and that of your team.


5. GoFormz

Another application for modern data collection method is GoFormz. It’s a mobile solution that is fully automated and helps you create complex forms and reports. With the ability to gather data, you will find everything you need to know about your customers or clients encrypted in the cloud. Additionally, you can add maps, barcodes and QR codes to your forms.


6. Database.NET

This application is a multifunctional and powerful data collection program that works with many popular formats, such as Access or Excel. Additionally, Database.Net is equipped with wieldy tools for designing tables, indexes and surveys. Thanks to script database support, it becomes possible to perform complex queries and deep analysis of the collected data. The application is free for non-commercial use.


7. Impprovado

Impprovado is a tool that has been on the market for a while but is already popular for collecting, organizing and presenting data in the form of visually interesting records. It can help with different types of marketing data, so it’s especially convenient for people who run their business online. This flexible solution will especially appeal to owners of small and medium-sized businesses. The application can be easily supplemented with data obtained from such platforms as Google Adwords, Facebook or Twitter.


8. Microsoft SQL Server

Last in the list, comes a data collection program from Microsoft. It is one of the most effective applications of this type. The sensational DBMS-type server is one of the best on the market – it allows you to collect and store and search many records simultaneously. Collecting and presenting data with this application is very easy thanks to the intuitive interface, customization and plenty of user-friendly features.




Summary

To run your business effectively, you need proven solutions for handling personal and marketing data. Don’t take risks when it comes to data collection methods. Try the safe applications we recommend – in our list you will find as many as 8 types of software that best collect, organize and present data.

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