Once Cambridge Analytica and SCL had won contracts with the State Department and were pitching to the Pentagon, the whistleblower Christopher Wylie became alarmed that this illegally-obtained data had ended up at the heart of government, along with the contractors who might abuse it. This apparently bizarre intersection of research on topics like love and kindness with defense and intelligence interests is not, in fact, particularly unusual. It is typical of the kind of dual-use research that has shaped the field of social psychology in the US since World War II.
Month: March 2018
The Hidden Costs of Developing A Mobile App You Should Be Aware of
How much does it cost to create an app?
App development is a tricky thing. If you’re not thoroughly aware and prepared, you can easily end up spending more than you should. Worse, you can end up with an unfinished project just because you ran out of funds.
Cost of publishing an application in app stores
Yes, you need to pay certain fees before you can release or publish your app. There’s the fee for registration of developer account and fees for each transaction.
Let’s talk deeper about them.
Apple App Store
The cost of registering the developer account to publish your iOS app is $99 annually. That is if you sign up as an individual or organization. In case you represent an enterprise that wants to create a proprietary app it can distribute among its employees, you’ll have to pay as much as $299 annually.
Don’t forget about transaction fees as ignoring them may lead to a lesser return. Transaction fee in the App Store is 15% from any purchase. This means if your application, subscription or in-app purchase costs $10, you will get only $8.50 in profit.
Google Play
Google has a better price policy for registering developer accounts and a more complicated policy for transaction fees.
To open a developer account, you’ll have to pay $25 once to get an eternal access to it. Concerning transaction fees, Google charges 30% from each purchase ($10 = $7).
However, subscriptions are kind of an exception. Google charges a standard 30% in the first year a customer uses the app subscription. After the first year, this fee decreases to 15%.
Amazon Appstore
The Amazon Appstore is a nice alternative app store for your Android app. It has a clearer pricing policy compared to the previous two stores. Registering as a developer and publishing your app is free. Besides, Amazon charges 30% fee for each transaction.
Expenses on cloud data storage
If the application you work on deals with processing and storing various data like videos or photos, pay due attention to this aspect. The more customers use your app, the more space (read: money) you need to store all their data.
For example, Facebook spends an overwhelming $1.5 billion each year to store the data of its users.
The majority of existing projects choose Amazon S3 for this purpose. The service is absolutely free right out of the box. You have to pay only when the app will require more than 5 GB of storage space, 15 GB of data transfer, and several other parameters.
The data storage isn’t the only expense. Amazon charges payments for different data manipulations as well.
Software licenses
When developers build a mobile app, they use a variety of third-party solutions, like libraries and SDKs. They help to reduce the time required to implement a certain feature.
The majority of those solutions are absolutely free but some of them come with certain limitations in their free versions. Sometimes, these limitations can interfere with what the project needs.
For instance, you need an advanced search in your app with filters by time, region, location, and other parameters. Your team of developers can build that feature on their own but it’ll take much time.
Let’s say the team estimated they need 100 hours to implement that feature. If you multiply 100 hours by the developers’ hourly rate ($50-250, depends on a region), you will end up paying a lot for just one feature.
So, in many cases, it’s much cheaper to pay for a solution with a ready-made feature you can customize according to your project’s needs than build it from scratch.
In Conclusion
How much does it cost to create an app?
The answer is a lot.
However, if you know exactly what you need and don’t need, you can actually cut down on your expenses. You can also allocate your budget properly so you don’t end up abandoning your project.
See Also: How To Make A Successful Mobile App For Your Business
The post The Hidden Costs of Developing A Mobile App You Should Be Aware of appeared first on Dumb Little Man.
3 Essential Tips to Spring Clean Your Mind
You’re reading 3 Essential Tips to Spring Clean Your Mind, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you’re enjoying this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.
Spring is nature’s way of saying, ‘Let’s party!’ – Robin Williams
It’s spring cleaning time. Another year, another spring, and another chance to get your sanity back. If you, like me, don’t like winter, or if the past few months have been tough on you then no time is better than spring to help you recharge and shake things up for the better.
Here are four science-backed ways to spring clear your mind and feel more relaxed before the summer.
Tip#1: Expose your negative thoughts for what they truly are
Ever listened to Rap God? Eminem raps the last verse of the song at an insane speed that not so many will comprehend it properly without checking the lyrics first. Similarly, this is how your deeply-integrated fears, worries, and negative thoughts operate inside your mind – probably 10X faster.
You see a hot somebody walking towards you and all the sudden you`re scared shitless. Suddenly, all the insecurities and failed experiences with the opposite sex pop up out of nowhere. You don`t know what had occurred to you, but you`re so damn sure you`re not feeling confident around that person.
Your only way out of this dilemma is to put those thoughts under the microscope and examine their validity. But you can`t do this unless you journal these thoughts on paper so you can analyze them slowly and with better understanding.
Many studies recommend daily journaling for better mental health. One study found that four weekly sessions of journaling – 20 minutes each – helped American veterans cope with their post-war lives.
Another study by Michigan State University found that writing about your feelings makes you less worried and may help you perform better in an upcoming stressful task. If all these studies suggest you should keep a journal, then it might be a good idea to try it. After all, what`s bad about getting to know yourself better.
Tip#2: Meditate like your life depends on it (Cause it does)
Life is so stressing and anxiety-provoking, and if you have a bad temper, that`s even worse. I used to be a very short-tempered person. Not the typical short-tempered man but more of the take no shit from nobody, can`t stand a critic type.
Everyone around me told me I should meditate, or see a doctor, but I didn`t. Until I lost my temper one day in front of a big fish who didn`t like my attitude – well, who blames him – and I lost a dream, five-figure a month client.
The first thing I did back home that night was open the Word file where I keep my journal, scripted down the entire situation then wrote to myself this line: That`s Why You Should F*ckin Meditate. And I vowed I would meditate every morning for the rest of my life.
I`m cool now, all from ten minutes of just sitting down there and watching myself breathing in and out. And I recommend you do the same cause meditation rocks.
Daily meditation will ease stress, enhance your self-awareness, increase your attention span, lower any depressive symptoms, improve your sleep, and will give you a better mood. So why not try it? Use this detailed meditation guide. No matter how busy you are, you`ll always have five spare minutes to do whatever you want. Make them count.
Tip#3: Run, Forrest, Run!
Months ago, I had a surgery and the doctor told me not to do high-intensity workouts for a while. If I was to exercise, I had to either choose between brisk walking and light jogging, so I reluctantly chose the latter and yes, it changed my life.
Though I couldn`t burn as many calories as I used to with high-intensity training, I began to cherish the pep talk Will Smith once gave on MTV. What Smith said on live TV was that running is the best way to overcome the inner voice within you that begs you to jump ship when the going gets tough– he precisely called running the key to life, why?
Because when you – and I`m quoting Smith – learn how to defeat that voice when you`re running, you`ll learn how not to quit when things get hard in your life. You teach yourself how to concentrate and how to tunnel your vision, breath, and power to the single goal of getting one step closer to the finish line.
I highly encourage that you run around the block, or at the gym, at least once a week. Don`t do it for the six packs. There`s a bunch of other activities to lose weight faster, but not so many that will teach you how to control your mind and stay mentally sharp.
Marwan Jamal is a fitness and health blogger at Healthline and a great fan of the gym and a healthy diet. He follows the trends in fitness, the gym, and a healthy life. He loves to share his knowledge through useful and informative articles.
You’ve read 3 Essential Tips to Spring Clean Your Mind, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you’ve enjoyed this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.
>
3 Essential Tips to Spring Clean Your Mind
You’re reading 3 Essential Tips to Spring Clean Your Mind, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you’re enjoying this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.
Spring is nature’s way of saying, ‘Let’s party!’ – Robin Williams
It’s spring cleaning time. Another year, another spring, and another chance to get your sanity back. If you, like me, don’t like winter, or if the past few months have been tough on you then no time is better than spring to help you recharge and shake things up for the better.
Here are four science-backed ways to spring clear your mind and feel more relaxed before the summer.
Tip#1: Expose your negative thoughts for what they truly are
Ever listened to Rap God? Eminem raps the last verse of the song at an insane speed that not so many will comprehend it properly without checking the lyrics first. Similarly, this is how your deeply-integrated fears, worries, and negative thoughts operate inside your mind – probably 10X faster.
You see a hot somebody walking towards you and all the sudden you`re scared shitless. Suddenly, all the insecurities and failed experiences with the opposite sex pop up out of nowhere. You don`t know what had occurred to you, but you`re so damn sure you`re not feeling confident around that person.
Your only way out of this dilemma is to put those thoughts under the microscope and examine their validity. But you can`t do this unless you journal these thoughts on paper so you can analyze them slowly and with better understanding.
Many studies recommend daily journaling for better mental health. One study found that four weekly sessions of journaling – 20 minutes each – helped American veterans cope with their post-war lives.
Another study by Michigan State University found that writing about your feelings makes you less worried and may help you perform better in an upcoming stressful task. If all these studies suggest you should keep a journal, then it might be a good idea to try it. After all, what`s bad about getting to know yourself better.
Tip#2: Meditate like your life depends on it (Cause it does)
Life is so stressing and anxiety-provoking, and if you have a bad temper, that`s even worse. I used to be a very short-tempered person. Not the typical short-tempered man but more of the take no shit from nobody, can`t stand a critic type.
Everyone around me told me I should meditate, or see a doctor, but I didn`t. Until I lost my temper one day in front of a big fish who didn`t like my attitude – well, who blames him – and I lost a dream, five-figure a month client.
The first thing I did back home that night was open the Word file where I keep my journal, scripted down the entire situation then wrote to myself this line: That`s Why You Should F*ckin Meditate. And I vowed I would meditate every morning for the rest of my life.
I`m cool now, all from ten minutes of just sitting down there and watching myself breathing in and out. And I recommend you do the same cause meditation rocks.
Daily meditation will ease stress, enhance your self-awareness, increase your attention span, lower any depressive symptoms, improve your sleep, and will give you a better mood. So why not try it? Use this detailed meditation guide. No matter how busy you are, you`ll always have five spare minutes to do whatever you want. Make them count.
Tip#3: Run, Forrest, Run!
Months ago, I had a surgery and the doctor told me not to do high-intensity workouts for a while. If I was to exercise, I had to either choose between brisk walking and light jogging, so I reluctantly chose the latter and yes, it changed my life.
Though I couldn`t burn as many calories as I used to with high-intensity training, I began to cherish the pep talk Will Smith once gave on MTV. What Smith said on live TV was that running is the best way to overcome the inner voice within you that begs you to jump ship when the going gets tough– he precisely called running the key to life, why?
Because when you – and I`m quoting Smith – learn how to defeat that voice when you`re running, you`ll learn how not to quit when things get hard in your life. You teach yourself how to concentrate and how to tunnel your vision, breath, and power to the single goal of getting one step closer to the finish line.
I highly encourage that you run around the block, or at the gym, at least once a week. Don`t do it for the six packs. There`s a bunch of other activities to lose weight faster, but not so many that will teach you how to control your mind and stay mentally sharp.
Marwan Jamal is a fitness and health blogger at Healthline and a great fan of the gym and a healthy diet. He follows the trends in fitness, the gym, and a healthy life. He loves to share his knowledge through useful and informative articles.
You’ve read 3 Essential Tips to Spring Clean Your Mind, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you’ve enjoyed this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.
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“In America, people with pre-existing mental health issues have access to firearms but not healthcare. Thanks, Republicans!” ― Oliver Markus Malloy, Inside The Mind of an Introvert
He can’t be bad if he nurses animals…
He can’t be bad if he nurses animals…
It’s the first day of spring! We hope you’re making plans to get…
It’s the first day of spring! We hope you’re making plans to get outside on your public lands to enjoy the coming color. We’re excited for scenes like last year’s Superbloom at Carrizo Plain National Monument in California, where wildflowers put on a spectacular show. Photo by Bob Wick, Bureau of Land Management.
Desexing the Kinsey Institute
Over the past three years, the Kinsey Institute has quietly become a shell of its former self. Perhaps tellingly, its new director Sue Carter’s own research on vole monogamy has been cited by pro-abstinence and anti-pornography organizations to justify their positions. Carter was an unusual choice to lead the institute. Although she is the first biologist to head up the institute since Kinsey himself, her career has focused on rodents—in particular, on the prairie vole, one of the few mammals that pair-bonds and is monogamous.
3 Ways To Build A Personal Brand Based On Authenticity
In today’s society, people are used to getting a taste of products for free. When a product or service is so high-quality that its creator is confident enough to give it away, that tells audiences it’s truly valuable.
Take Chance the Rapper, for example: He has risen to stardom over the past seven years — performing for President Barack Obama at the White House, hosting “Saturday Night Live,” and winning three Grammys in 2017 for his rap album “Coloring Book.” If that’s not impressive enough, he managed it all while giving fans his music for free. He’s taken the road less traveled, and zigging when everyone else is zagging draws attention from his fans.
I’m certainly not a rapper, but I have relied on a similar method for success in the 17 years I’ve led a gift strategy and logistics company, and I wrote about it in my book “Giftology.” I’ve built a personal brand based on giving and authenticity, and I can show you how to do the same. Here’s where to start:
Give back to your collaborators and supporters
When building a brand, most people focus on scrounging for every penny to help them rise to the top. But like Chance, I focus on what I can achieve alone, then collaborate with others to let them shine. In my case, that means partnering with the people providing me gifts, then putting the spotlight on them. A core value of my business is relationship-building, because even if I can give only a little at the start of a relationship, my partners and I will grow together over time.
Build a giving mentality into the fabric of your personal brand to help set it apart. As often as you can, donate time or resources to give back to the people or companies that helped you get where you are. Chance, for example, champions causes and invests time and money into revamping Chicago and its public schools. Ensure the messaging you create to market your personal brand focuses on how you’ve helped others, not on how you’ve helped yourself.
Be gracious early on
I follow the Gary Vaynerchuk mindset of playing the long game, which Chance demonstrates with every album he releases. While giving his music away for free might seem might seem crazy at first, he’s really just building good faith with his audience, which pays off in spades. It’s the same reason I ask anybody I’m engaging whether I can comp a gift on his behalf to help him look good. This freemium model has helped us land a number of clients, including pro sports teams like the Orlando Magic, and it builds goodwill.
Make the first move of generosity by giving your connections something on the front end. It doesn’t have to be an extravagant gift, either. Maybe you can only afford to take someone out for coffee at a trendy local shop while you network and send him a handwritten thank-you note after your meeting — that’s OK. That act of kindness can be enough to keep you top of mind the next time an opportunity comes along that should have your name written all over it.
Go off-book
Any time you can surprise and delight by blazing your own trail is a chance to impress those around you. Just because society has set a standard doesn’t mean you can’t change it. Chance the Rapper doesn’t bow to the pressure of $10 million offers from record labels; he pursues his own vision. Technology has made it easier than ever to build a brand that bucks the status quo, regardless of your credentials.
It’s also a great opportunity to set yourself apart from competitors. Going off the beaten path can be a powerful indicator of who you are and what your brand is. Breaking patterns gets noticed, so whether you’re simply changing the way you present yourself on social media or pulling stunts in your community to generate buzz, don’t be afraid to stand out from the crowd.
Chance the Rapper is known not only for offering his music for free and for his charitable work, but also for becoming a lifestyle icon. No matter your industry, chances are good your personal brand will benefit if you take a page from his book. Take it from me: A personal brand built with authenticity will take you far.
The post 3 Ways To Build A Personal Brand Based On Authenticity appeared first on Dumb Little Man.
Sig Nordal 