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      The UK economy is climbing again - but the road ahead looks rocky

      news.movim.eu / TheGuardian · Wednesday, 13 March - 13:37

    Figures may seem positive at first glance but the broader picture for UK plc is still one of relative stagnation

    Britain’s economy is on the road to recovery. After a dismal end to last year as soaring living costs forced households to cut back their spending, official figures show growth returned in January, with a modest 0.2% increase .

    The early signals show that the UK is on track to emerge from a minor recession within months, powered by a recovery in consumer spending amid resilient pay growth and receding inflation. But that isn’t to say the economy is racing ahead, or that a renaissance in living standards awaits.

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      The hard truth is that Britain’s entrepreneurs simply don’t innovate | Phillip Inman

      news.movim.eu / TheGuardian · Saturday, 10 February - 14:35

    Billions in tax relief is showered on UK small businesses in the belief that they are transforming the economy. They aren’t

    Entrepreneurs are a false god. We offer them billions of pounds’ worth of tax breaks and subsidies, and a lot of goodwill, when research suggests that most, after pocketing the cash, will do little to help UK plc prosper.

    Academic studies have found that small business owners, while being a significant slice of the economy and a source of employment, are very rarely the spur for innovation or increases in productivity, let alone the wellbeing of the workers under their employ (health and safety is worse in small businesses).

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      Sainsbury’s does not rule out job cuts as it reveals plans to use more robots

      news.movim.eu / TheGuardian · Wednesday, 7 February - 15:21

    Increased use of automated tills, warehouse robots and AI forecasting tools part of £1bn cost-cutting drive

    Sainsbury’s is to use more automated tills and warehouse robots as well as AI forecasting tools to ensure it has the right stock in stores as part of a £1bn cost-cutting effort over the next three years.

    Simon Roberts, the chief executive of Sainsbury’s, did not rule out job losses as a result of the changes, but made no announcement on redundancies and said workers would be able to change their roles and adapt to new ways of working.

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      Labour rules out raising corporation tax above 25% in next parliament

      news.movim.eu / TheGuardian · Thursday, 1 February - 14:03

    Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves tells business summit of measures to boost investment, productivity and certainty

    Labour will not raise corporation tax above its current rate of 25% during the next parliament, the party has pledged, in an attempt to offer businesses greater certainty.

    The shadow chancellor, Rachel Reeves, said the tax pledge included maintaining full expensing, which allows businesses that invest in IT equipment and machinery to claim back up to 100% of the cost of the investment by writing it off against tax on their profits. She said Labour would also maintain the annual investment allowance introduced by Jeremy Hunt.

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      Four simple steps to make Linux's Bash prettier and more functional for non-expert users

      GadgeteerZA · news.movim.eu / gadgeteerza-tech-blog · Monday, 7 November, 2022 - 21:35

    https://upload.movim.eu/files/62f168f3fbecac605d21a105beda461820293db1/e3kJiws0LKfa/BASH_Thumbnail.jpg

    Many remote (and even local) commands can executed so much quicker when using Bash instead of graphical user interfaces, but for newer users, Bash can be an unfriendly and cumbersome environment.

    In this video I show how, with the installation of just three applications and some alias commands, we can make working with Bash much faster, easier, and prettier!

    See https://youtu.be/OR2G9OSlmVI

    #technology #Linux #Bash #tips #productivity

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      5 Tax Apps That Will Make the Worst Chore of the Year Easier

      pubsub.dcentralisedmedia.com / LifehackerAustralia · Monday, 11 July, 2022 - 00:35 · 5 minutes

    While tax time usually conjures the image of piles of paper and shoeboxes full of old receipts, it doesn’t have to be that way. If you’re sick of shuffling through hard copy documents to get your finances sorted every July, here are our top five apps that’ll save you time and stress as you work towards getting your tax return sorted this tax time. (Note that this list is collated from online reviews, recommendations and popular opinion. We have not reviewed these products ourselves unless otherwise stated.)

    Best tax apps to help you lodge your tax return

    With so many of us working from home now there are more expenses and tax deductions to keep track of than ever before. If you don’t want to get caught out by the looming tax deadline we suggest you check out some of these apps to help keep your expenses in order all year round.

    Australian Taxation Office app

    tax apps tax return Tax time deduction apps. Image: ATO Price: Free Platforms: iOS, Android The official app is mentioned first up because you can trust it to accurately reference the ATO’s rules and regulations. The ATO’s official app has gone through a number of upgrades since it was first released. There’s a tool that lets you digitally keep track of your deductions throughout the year and then export them directly into your tax return. This myDeductions feature will also let you log car trips if you use your car for work. It also has a number of tools and calculators, such as a tax withheld calculator and the ability to view your tax accounts (including your Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) balance and your upcoming lodgment and payment due dates. While you’ll be redirected to the ATO’s myTax service to actually lodge your return, data entered into myDeductions will sync up, and you can even use this app after the fact to check the status of your tax return. If you’re a small business owner, the ATO app has a couple of tools for you as well, such as a business performance check that’ll show you how your business matches up against its competitors in your industry. Best of all, it’s free. Read more about it here.

    Etax app

    tax time apps Tax time deduction apps. Image: Etax Price: Free to start, $70.90+ to lodge Platforms: iOS, Android Etax promises to help you lodge your tax return in just minutes. The app is free to download and it’s also free to start your tax return. You only have to pay once when you want to lodge a return, with fees starting from $70.90. You can even opt to have your fee taken out of your return, as many do when handling their tax through an accountant. Your tax return will be reviewed by a registered accountant before lodging. The Etax app is largely designed to make the process of lodging easier. Questions are asked in plain English rather than tax-office jargon, and you’re even able to message an accountant if you need help. Like the ATO’s app, Etax also allows you to snap photos of your important documents to easily import them. Read more about it here.

    My Tax Calculator Australia app

    tax time apps Tax time deduction apps. Image: My Tax Calculator Australia Price: $12.99 Platforms: iOS , Mac OS While my Tax calculator (not to be confused with the government’s myTax tool) is a bit older, it’s still a great tool for tax time, developed by a chartered accountant. The Mac OS version is only available for devices with an M1 chip, while the iPad and iPhone editions need at least iOS 12 or later. You’ll need to fork out $12.99 for either. My Tax Calculator is a collection of tax calculators, which were last updated to include the ATO’s 2020 rates. Its tools cover a huge range of tax-related areas, with everything from HELP debts to PAYG withholding to working out whether it’s in your best interest to salary sacrifice your superannuation. For investors, it also has a Capital Gains Tax calculator so that you can plan your next move with your shares, investment properties or other capital assets. Read more about it here.

    Squirrel Street tax app

    Tax time deduction apps. Image: Squirrel Street Price: Monthly plans from $26.95 Platforms: Web, iOS Formerly known as Shoeboxed, Squirrel Street is a quick and easy way to keep track of your receipts. The core of the service allows you to send images of your documents to Squirrel Street, which will scan, verify and digitally store them. Don’t worry about the ATO with this one – the ATO will happily accept digital documents as well as physical ones. Squirrel Street offers pricing plans that suit both individuals and businesses. Plans start at $27.95 a month for 50 documents and go up to $295.95 a month for 600 documents and a 1-day turnaround. The app is a lot easier than most receipt-keeping apps, however. Squirrel Street will extract all the information from your receipts automatically – all you need to do is snap a picture. Outside of tax time, you can even use this to keep track of expenses to be reimbursed by your workplace. If you already use accounting software, Squirrel Street is compatible with a number of them including MYOB, Xero, QuickBooks and more. Read more about it here.

    Mileage Logbook tax app

    Tax time deduction apps. Image: Driversnote Price: Free Platforms: iOS, Android Mileage Logbook by Driversnote is an ATO compliant vehicle logbook app that tracks your trips and creates mileage documents for the hand-over at tax time. The app tracks your trips through your GPS and will auto-log them when you’re done. It’s then easy to classify trips, name locations and split journeys between different employers. When it’s time to log your documents, you can download them as PDF or Excel spreadsheets for handover to the ATO or your employer. You can also access the ATO’s mileage rates. Read more about it here.

    Lodging your tax return

    When it comes time to lodging your actual tax return you might be looking for some more tips (beyond tax apps) on tax time for 2022. You can read more details on the ATO website or check out our guide to lodging your tax return for the first time. This article has been updated with new apps since its original publication.

    The post 5 Tax Apps That Will Make the Worst Chore of the Year Easier appeared first on Lifehacker Australia .

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      OnlyOffice 6.3 Released, This is What’s New

      pubsub.do.nohost.me / OMG Ubuntu · Tuesday, 29 June, 2021 - 12:30

    onlyoffice 6.3 dark mode Open source office suite ONLYOFFICE (that's how it's styled, not me shouting) has been updated. In this post we detail what's new and where to download it.

    This post, OnlyOffice 6.3 Released, This is What’s New is from OMG! Ubuntu! . Do not reproduce elsewhere without permission.

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      How to Enable Microsoft Edge’s New ‘Kids Mode’

      pubsub.dcentralisedmedia.com / LifehackerAustralia · Friday, 19 February, 2021 - 18:00 · 2 minutes

    Microsoft is testing a new “Kids Mode” for Edge that makes the browser safer for younger users with just a few clicks.

    How to Try Out the Upcoming Firefox Redesign Now

    Later this year, Mozilla will update Firefox’s desktop design with the new Proton interface. The visual overhaul is expected to include:

    Read more

    Edge already has several family features, but those settings must be manually set up and apply to all users in a family group. Kids Mode, however, can be turned on or off by the parents and comes with heightened security and content filters built-in, including blocked sites, Bing Safe Search, and family-friendly browser themes.

    Kids Mode is still in development, but you can try it out early in the latest Edge Canary build. It will come to the developer build next, then should be available in the stable build sometime in the future. If you download Edge Canary for Kids mode, keep in mind it will install as a separate version of Edge — so if you’re trying to keep your kids away from certain content, you’ll need to make sure they’re using Edge Canary instead of the normal version. It’s also important to note that Edge Canary is full of other unfinished features and settings, which could cause occasional crashes and other errors.

    How to enable Kids Mode

    Whether you test Edge’s Kids Mode out early or wait for it to come to a more stable version, turning it on is easy: Open the browser, then click the Profile image in the upper-right, and select “Kids Mode.”

    With Kids Mode on, Edge will prevent access to a list of pre-determined websites, which can be modified by going to Settings > Family S afety . This menu also includes activity reports and lets you manage all the other profiles and devices used by your family. Bing will also be permanently set to ‘Safe Search’ when the browser is in Kids Mode.

    Finally, Kids Mode can be customised with its own kid-friendly browser themes — just click the settings icon from a new tab and click “Custom, and then “Manage” under “Background Image.”

    [ The Verge ]

    The post How to Enable Microsoft Edge’s New ‘Kids Mode’ appeared first on Lifehacker Australia .

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      5 Monitor Stands for Every Working Setup

      pubsub.dcentralisedmedia.com / LifehackerAustralia · Thursday, 18 February, 2021 - 22:55 · 5 minutes

    Positioning your monitor higher up can make for a more comfortable working environment, along with saving space on your desk. Plus, being able to properly and fully adjust your monitor’s position can make a world of difference to your ongoing health. Here are the main things to consider when choosing a monitor stand.

    If you buy a a monitor it always comes with a stand of some kind, but you’re frequently stuck with a single position and single height point. If you’re very lucky, you might be able to mildly tilt your monitor to reduce neck strain or onscreen glare, but that’s often it when it comes to adjustments.

    Now, if you do have a monitor with a fully adjustable arm for height and tilt considerations, then all you need to do is read up your product manual and adjust it on your desk when you’re working from home.

    If your monitor doesn’t allow for that, you’ll need to get yourself a stand or a monitor arm to elevate and properly place your screen at an optimal viewing angle. Here’s what you should consider when buying:

    • Monitor stand or monitor arm? The choice largely rests on how and where you’re actually placing your monitor, with most stands acting as simple risers – meaning that they’re easy to install or move around but lack flexibility – while monitor arms typically work off desk or wall clamps, which means more installation work but a wider range of position possibilities once they’re in place.
    • Clamp or VESA? If you opt for a monitor arm, you’re generally better off with a VESA-compliant arm, but that presumes that your monitor also has VESA mounting ports. If it doesn’t you may need to look into a clamp style arrangement, or simply use a riser-style stand instead.
    • Height adjustment, angle adjustment or both? Most people think of a monitor stand as being just a matter of raising your monitor upwards, but it’s also possible to adjust tilt with many monitor arms. This can make for even more comfortable viewing, especially if your working from home arrangement involves areas that get sun glare throughout the day.
    • How many monitors do you need? If you’re used to working in a multi-monitor environment, you may need to look for multiple mounts, or a monitor stand that can clamp onto more than one screen. You’re going to lose a lot of the benefit of a monitor stand arrangement if you have to look down on your second or third monitors.

    What about setup? While there’s a degree of personalisation depending on your monitor size, desk arrangement and needs, there’s some simple rules to follow to minimise the ergonomic impact of staring at a monitor all day:

    • Chair first: Make sure you’re adjusting your viewing position relative to the normal position of your work chair. If it’s a fixed chair that’s set, but if you have a gas lift capable model you may want to adjust it to your normal working position. There’s no point adjusting your monitor view if it’s not relative to the way you typically sit to work.
    • Work to your eye line: This isn’t a makeup tip, but a good rule of thumb for raising and placing your primary monitor. If your eyeline is sitting towards the top third of the screen, then you’re typically in the zone for best ergonomics. If you look over the top of your monitor it’s probably too low, but if you’re looking at the middle from your normal eyeline position, it’s too high.
    • Primary monitor first: Adjust your secondary monitors to the same viewpoint as your primary monitors. While you may have to turn slightly to view them – preferably by turning your chair rather than twisting your neck – there’s no point in having one high monitor and then a much lower one if you use them all the time.

    Monitor Stand and Arm options

    North Bayou F160 Dual Monitor Full Motion Desk Mount $109.99
    If your home working environment involves a multi-monitor setups, it makes sense to have the maximum adjustment possibilities to raise both monitors at once. The North Bayou F160 uses a gas spring mount for its two arms which can take up to 6.5kgs per arm, and it’s workable for displays between 17″ and 27″ in size.

    FITUEYES Clear Computer Monitor Riser $33.99
    If you’re just after a little raise in your monitor profile but don’t want a stand that makes a large visual impression because your work from home space is also your living space, the FITUEYES riser could be a good match. It’s a tempered glass riser-style mount with adjustable legs, so you’re not fixed to a single position. The claim is that it can take up to 25kg on the glass, which is more than enough for any monitor, or even most all-in-one computer styles.

    Kensington 52785 Monitor Stand $27.30
    Kensington’s simple monitor stand uses snap-in risers to enable optimal viewing angles for monitors up to 21 inches in size, although you might be able to enable a larger display if it’s got a smaller base in play.

    FITUEYES DT204201WB 2 Tiers Monitor Stand $36.99
    You don’t get adjustability with the FITUEYES DT204201WB, so it’s essentially just adding 14cm of height to your monitor experience. However, where other risers tend to leave blank space underneath, this one includes a distinct shelf, which means you can make the most of your desk space while using it, especially if you need somewhere to store paperwork or other gadgets and cables.

    WELL WENG Bamboo Dual Monitor Riser MR1-TP $49.99
    Making the most of your desk space is also a trick that the Well Weng MR1-TP should handle well, with a central shelf that places dual monitors on either side and enough space underneath the primary riser for a small laptop or desktop unit. For those of an environmental bent, the bamboo build could be an attractive point too.

    Editor’s note: Descriptions and features are as taken from manufacturer/seller claims on Amazon.

    The post 5 Monitor Stands for Every Working Setup appeared first on Lifehacker Australia .