(This column originally appeared in Forbes)
Here are five things in tech that happened this week and how they affect your business. Did you miss them?
1 — This guy reviews laptops for a living and he says this is the best laptop under $500
Sean Riley of Laptop magazine just gave his endorsement for the best laptop under $500 bucks. Lenovo’s Duet 5 Chromebook is Sean’s pick for its superior display quality — detachable screen — and extensive 13-hour battery life. The one drawback Sean pointed out is system performance but only in comparison to other laptops on the market. His overall score for the Duet 5 is 4.5/5 stars. (Source: Laptop)
Why this is important for your business:
I’m in the market for a new laptop and I’ve never owned a Chromebook. I’ve got this thing that because it’s hard drive space is limited or that it’s not Microsoft then a Chromebook isn’t the right device for me. But that’s silly — I love my Android phone, Microsoft apps will work on it fine and when am I ever not online? Sean’s endorsement may be my buying tipping point.
2 — Microsoft brings a green screen feature to Teams meetings
You can now beef up your virtual meetings with a cinema-quality backdrop. Microsoft has just added a green screen feature to Microsoft Teams — providing a much richer experience with backgrounds. Users can now appear as if they’re in a variety of settings that are on par with the technology used in film. (Source: betanews)
Why this is important for your business:
This could be a game change for people that do videos but want to significantly enhance their backgrounds. Microsoft’s upgrade to its virtual meeting space has raised the bar as users can manipulate their backgrounds to enhance presentations — to provide more privacy based on the screen setting — and a host of other cool effects. Microsoft points out green screen significantly improves upon definition and sharpness of one’s image. Green screen is available on Teams Public Preview.
3 — Google reshuffles its virtual assistant unit with a focus on Bard A.I. technology
CNBC reported on a recent announcement from the company that Bard — the AI-generated assistant — will be front and center in terms of ongoing development. Google is in the midst of a large-scale promotion of its AI-powered technology. It recently sent out a message to the public announcing the testing phase for Bard with an invitation to try the technology. (Source: CNBC)
Why this is important for your business:
Google has also been quietly working on Bard over the past few years and was forced to launch it earlier then they planned after ChatGPT stole the show. Most business owners I speak to aren’t paying much attention to either until their underlying AI improves and becomes more accurate. But think of the possibilities when Bard is really ready for prime time for what you can ask it to do with your data from Google. I’m going to write about this in the not-too-distant future.
4 — TipHaus, which helps companies distribute tips, raises $3.5M and launches a banking tool
TipHaus — described as the “world’s first and only end-to-end solution for tip distribution” — is a startup that was founded by Leif Magnuson. With a customer base that includes restaurants and hotels — TipHaus helps managers calculate and manage tip distributions to their staff. (Source: GeekWire)
Why this is important for your business:
Now in more than 2,000 locations nationwide — TipHaus offers its software ($99/month per location) that’s linked to an establishment’s point of sale system. Tips are systematically distributed eliminating manual time and unintended errors.
5 — PayPal launches Apple Pay support for small businesses
Financial services company PayPal has added ApplePay to its system for small and medium-sized businesses. (Source: iClarified)
Why this is important for your business:
As financial institutions continue to make efforts to streamline and secure electronic transactions — PayPal is mindful of the challenges SMBs face. “The retail landscape is constantly evolving and SMBs need access to a range of tools to help them drive sales…” Nitin Prabhu — PayPal’s VP, Merchant Experiences and Payment Solutions — said.
