Kingdom Hearts 3 gets new gameplay trailer from the world of Big Hero 6!

Want to know what’s going on with Kingdom Hearts 3? Here’s everything we know so far

In the early years of gaming, there were quite a few swings taken at the creation of a game utilizing Disney properties. Most of those games ranged anywhere from unplayable to mediocre as far as quality goes.

Then in 2002, Square released Kingdom Hearts onto the PlayStation 2. Disney fans and gamers rejoiced as they finally had a significant video game with Disney characters. Thus far, there have been a total of nine Kingdom Hearts games and here in 2018 Square stands poised to release a new entry to the gaming public.

We have been hearing rumblings about Kingdom Hearts 3 for years now but there is finally light at the end of the tunnel for fans of the series. As it stands now, we should see a release toward the end of 2018. However, what do we know about Kingdom Hearts 3 right now? Let’s take a look.

What’s new with Kingdom Hearts 3?

All the latest Kingdom Hearts 3 details can be found straight ahead. Be sure to check back often to find out everything new as we head toward release!

September 10, 2018

Ahead of Tokyo Game Show (TGS) 2018, Square Enix has released a new Kingdom Hearts 3 trailer showcasing the world of San Fransokyo in Big Hero 6. Along with new gameplay, we got a glimpse at cinematics from the worlds of Monsters, Inc., Tangled, and Toy Story.

July 17, 2018

Those looking to pre-order Kingdom Hearts 3 just received some extra incentive to do so from GameStop. The company has revealed that one of three fabric posters will be included with your pre-order of the game, and it’s up to you to cast your vote on Twitter with the hashtags noted in the image above to decide which one it will be.

June 11, 2018

Sony had their own piece of exclusive Kingdom Hearts 3 footage to show at E3 2018. The new footage confirms the inclusion of Pirates of the Caribbean. This isn’t the franchise’s first appearance in a Kingdom Hearts game, with Kingdom Hearts 2 having been the first.

Yes, Captain Jack Sparrow is back, and Sora’s crew are on deck to help him live the pirate’s life. The gameplay sequences for this world seem pretty epic, with both a ship battle and a fight with a huge sea monster being featured. The trailer also shows that a replica version of Riku will make an appearance.

Alongside that new footage, we get word that not only will there be a special edition Kingdom Hearts 3 PlayStation 4 console, but you’ll also be able to buy all three mainline Kingdom Hearts games as a bundle. That means you’ll get Kindom Hearts 1.5 HD Remix, Kingdom Hearts 2.5 HD Remix, and Kingdom Hearts 3 in the same package. They’ve even thrown in Kingdom Hearts 2.8: Final Chapter Prologue for good measure.

A release date for the special edition PS4 has not yet been confirmed, though it’s likely we’ll see it on or close to Kingdom Hearts 3’s release date, which was previously confirmed to be January 29th, 2019.

June 10, 2018

Square Enix has announced a release date for Kingdom Hearts 3. It’ll be arriving January 29th, 2019. Originally, their goal was to get the game out in 2018. However, the company needs more time to ensure the game is the best it can be before launch.

With that news, we also saw a new trailer at E3 2018 that revealed new details, namely showing off new content and abilities surrounding previously unannounced Disney franchises. Those franchises include heavy-hitting staples such as Frozen and Lion King, with Elsa and Mufasa making appearances, respectively.

A whole new world

Since its inception, an important element of the Kingdom Hearts games has been the setting. Part of the joy of these games is the opportunity to explore familiar Disney worlds in a way that is not possible when you’re watching a film. Some of the worlds which have been tapped for inclusion in KH3 include Andy’s House from Toy Story, Twilight Town, Mount Olympus from Hercules, Monsters Inc, Tangled, and even San Fransokyo from Big Hero 6.

With Disney owning just about every existing IP under the sun there doesn’t seem to be many worlds left that are not within their reach. However, everything indicates that all the worlds tapped for inclusion will remain those who lie directly under the Disney Umbrella, as well as some from underling Pixar.

While Kingdom Hearts 3 isn’t a traditional open world game, Square Enix has a clear goal to increase the scope and capacity of each world. Some of these levels are the most expansive we’ve ever seen in a Kingdom Hearts game. You’ll especially feel the scale at places like Toy Box in the Toy Story world, or Mount Olympus over in Hercules’ corner. Despite the increased size, Square Enix manages to create each world with the level of detail that’ll make you feel like you’re in the theater watching your favorite movies all over again. It’s this nice balance of scope and focus that gets us excited to be sucked into Disney’s magical kingdom once more.

Characters Welcome

Another critical element of the Kingdom Hearts series has, of course, been characters. There is something undeniably exciting about running into some of your favorite Disney denizens whilst you progress through a KH game.

While your main characters will remain steadfast – Sora and the gang are back – there are some additions. With the inclusion of the aforementioned worlds, it should come as no surprise that we will see end up crossing paths with their related character inhabitants. You’ll certainly be seeing Woody, Buzz, and the glutton of other toys living in Andy’s room for the Toy Story sections. I, for one, am totally ready to get some heals from Beymax.

And that’s alongside mainstays such as Goofy, Donald Duck, and Mickey Mouse, all of whom have proven to be valuable comrades for Sora over the years.

Gameplay

Kingdom Hearts 3 will seemingly feature a keen blend of all the combat mechanics introduced in each previous title. Keyblades still cut foes down with ease and magic is still here to help you quickly dispel waves of enemies. However, we’ll also be seeing new mechanics such as character summons, keyblade transformations, link attacks, something Square Enix is calling “attractions,” and more. Here’s a quick rundown of what those types of attacks are:

• Character Summons: You can call on one of your Disney or Pixar friends to fight alongside you for a short time.
• Keyblade Transformations: Alongside your keyblade’s normal abilities and combos, you can transform the keyblade after hitting a series of uninterrupted attacks. The temporary transformation unlocks a wealth of new abilities, as well as a finisher attack.
• Link Attacks: Like Character Summons, this mechanic brings your friends into the fray, but instead of being there as a sidekick they’ll execute a more coordinated and powerful attack with Sora.
• Attractions: These are flashy, big abilities that play out like rides you’d see at Disneyworld and Disneyland. For instance, you can call on something like a water ride to splash through a ton of foes.

There will also be other miscellaneous gameplay mechanics that may be unique to certain worlds and sequences. For instance, Sora can take control of robot Gigas at Toy Box to help him get around the store and fight enemies faster. Expect a lot of variety in this regard.

Players will get stronger as the game goes on with a leveling system that should increase your power, health total, mana pool, and offer new abilities. And it’s not just Sora getting this treatment, either – all your mainstay companions have their own experience to grow.

World traversal has been a big part of the Kingdom Hearts series, and Sora’s movement abilities are seeing some interesting changes with this entry. Sora has seemingly been practicing parkour as a new mechanic allows him to scale up, down, and across walls. This is likely to help players quickly maneuver through a world is just as wide as it is tall, with verticality being a staple element of Kingdom Hearts.

As was the case in most Kingdom Hearts games to date, you’ll be fighting enemies who use Darkness for evil. Darkness is both an alternate realm and an actual force of energy. Good characters can use Darkness to augment their abilities, though the bad ones use it with far more malevolent intentions. Much of your battling will be done against those known as the Heartless, a common enemy in the game. The Heartless are actually living forms of the darkness that exists in everyone’s heart. Their goals are likely driven by some evil no-gooder behind the scenes, as the heartless don’t act on any sort of feeling or emotion of their own.

When can I play?

Square Enix has announced that Kingdom Hearts 3 will now launch January 29th, 2019. The game was originally given a 2018 launch window, but Square Enix has felt the need to delay it, likely to make sure it gets the polish it needs.

If you want to get in line early, you can always head over and preorder a copy for $60.

See at Amazon

In its long and storied history, Kingdom Hearts has done a stellar job of taking the elements that work and adding new ones. Like a fine wine, Kingdom Hearts has (mostly) gotten better with age. At this point, we don’t know everything about what is in store for us but as the year progresses we will undoubtedly see more new pieces of the puzzle unveiled.

I think Square knows that part of the magic and joy in these games is the surprise of running into unexpected characters. I have no doubt that they are holding a few cards close to their chests for the time being but I can’t wait to find out what those cards are.

What do you want to see in Kingdom Hearts 3?

Updated September 2018: Square Enix revealed a new trailer showcasing the world of San Fransokyo from Big Hero 6!

PlayStation 4

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4 reasons you should get into the Sonos ecosystem right now

Now’s the time to jump aboard the Sonos train.

Thanks to gadgets like the Amazon Echo and Google Home, smart speakers have quickly become one of the hottest consumer tech gadgets around. It’s been great fun seeing this new product category come to life, and in addition to new brands emerging to jump aboard this train, other companies have been learning to adapt and change their ways to beat Amazon and Google at their own game.

One such company is Sonos.

Although Sonos has been around since 2002, the company’s recently been given a whole new light thanks to the rise of smart speakers. Gadgets like the Sonos One and Sonos Beam are speakers featuring Alexa, but when compared to competing devices, the high price tags that accompany Sonos’s gear often deters people and leads them to look at cheaper, more affordable options.

That’s perfectly fine, but if you’ve got the cash to spare, there are a few big reasons you should seriously consider picking up a Sonos speaker for your house — or two or three. Maybe even 10.

Here’s why you need to get into the Sonos ecosystem right now.

The sound quality is amazing

The Amazon Echo ($99) and Google Home ($129) might be considerably cheaper than the $199 Sonos One, but if you’re familiar with the phrase “you get what you pay for,” it applies perfectly to this scenario.

While sound quality on the Echo and Home is fine, it absolutely pales in comparison to the One.

The Sonos One doesn’t sound like a smart speaker — instead, it sounds like a really, really good speaker that just happens to have built-in voice controls. There’s noticeably more punch and clarity with the One that you just don’t get with more affordable options.

See at Amazon

There’s a big lineup of different speakers

There’s no doubt the Sonos One is one of the best-sounding smart speakers available right now, but if you find yourself needing more volume, bass, or anything else, it’s far from the only product in Sonos’ lineup.

If you want a more powerful home speaker and are OK with giving up the Alexa smarts, the Play:5 delivers room-filling audio that puts the Google Home Max and Apple HomePod to shame.

Want to upgrade your TV’s built-in speakers? Sonos now has three different soundbars to choose from — the Playbar, Playbase, and recently released Beam. If you really want to go crazy, you can even splurge for the $699 Sonos Sub that’ll shatter your house’s foundation, but it’ll totally be worth it.

Sonos Beam review: Raising the sound bar

Hell, you can even buy the new Sonos Amp amplifier if you want to upgrade any exisitng speakers you have.

Everything works and is easy to manage

All of those products serve a big purpose on their own, but what really ties all of this together is how each and every Sonos products works beautifully with one another.

No matter how many Sonos devices you have, everything is controlled via the Sonos app. You can see what rooms have speakers in them, browse through songs/podcasts from any services you’ve connected (e.g. Spotify, Pocket Casts, etc.), search for a particular song, add a subwoofer or surround sound speakers to your soundbar, and plenty more.

It’d be easy for all of these controls to be messy and convoluted, but for the most part, Sonos lays everything out in a manner that makes sense and is easy to understand. I don’t know if I’d call it the greatest app ever made, but it’s ten times better than the mess that is the Google Home app.

Everyone is welcome 🤗

The Sonos One and Beam both support Alexa. Earlier this year, the One, Beam, Playbase, and second-gen Play:5 got updated with AirPlay 2 and support for Siri commands. At some point before 2018 is over, Sonos will finally bring over the Google Assistant.

Rather than limiting yourself to one specific ecosystem, Sonos products are designed so that you can choose which platform(s) you want to use. Want to use Alexa to control your smart lights while also using AirPlay to stream your favorite music? You can do that with Sonos.

Giving users so much choice and not locking them down into one camp is pretty rare in 2018, so it’s awfully reassuring to know that an option like this still exists.

What do you think?

That’s enough rambling from me — what do you think about all this? Do you have Sonos products in your home or are your audio/smart speaker needs served elsewhere? Let me know in the comments below!

Sonos One and Alexa are a match made in heaven

Amazon’s Prime-exclusive 128GB LG G6+ is $70 off today only

Worth dealing with a few extra apps.

As part of its daily deals, Amazon has the Prime-exclusive LG G6+ on sale for $409.99, which is $70 less than it normally sells for. It’s never dropped this low, and has even sold for as much as $520 in the past. It features a 5.7-inch 18:9 display, dual-cameras on the rear, 128GB of storage paired with 4GB of RAM, and more. The 3300mAh battery will help you keep powered through the day, and as an unlocked device you’ll be able to easily use it on AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, and other MVNO carriers that operate off of their networks.

It has a microSD card slot as well, so you can add some extra storage to hold even more photos, videos, and all of your important files. Prime-exclusive phones no longer display lock screen ads, and instead come pre-loaded with a few Amazon apps and widgets. Honestly, it’s a rather small trade-off for the value here, so be sure to grab one today before the price jumps back up.

See at Amazon

The Sphero Bolt is a new robotic ball with programmable lights

A well-rounded device.

The new Sphero Bolt is an app-enabled robotic ball you can control with your phone. It even has an 8 x 8 pixel display you can program with custom LEDs. That might not seem like much but you can use it to distinguish different Bolt balls from each other and play games. The Bolt has an array of sensors more advanced than previous generations like the SPRK+ which can track speed, acceleration, direction, and more. The Bolts will communicate with each other through infrared, too, which works even while rolling around and on the move.

Sphero wants you to know the Bolt has educational uses, too. Whether you’re buying one for the classroom or the home, you can use the free apps to learn how to control them, design and play games, and write some basic codes for them. Sphero Play is the app for having fun and playing games. Sphero Edu is the app for more classroom-oriented learning. Both are free and compatible on a wide range of devices.

The Bolt starts at $149.99. It does add some extra features like the LED matrix, 100-foot range Bluetooth, and a water and scratch-resistant shell, but you can always go with the more affordable option, the $50 Sphero Mini. It’s another app-controlled robotic ball worth trying out for a third of the price. The Bolt comes with an inductive charging base, protractor, and sticker sheet.

See at Sphero

Gurman on 2018 iPhone Names: iPhone Xs, iPhone Xs Max, and Possibly iPhone Xr

Just two days before Apple is expected to unveil new iPhones at Steve Jobs Theater, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has outlined the potential names of the devices, along with his other expectations for the media event.

Gurman believes Apple will introduce three new iPhones, as widely rumored, including a 5.8-inch model named “iPhone Xs,” a larger 6.5-inch model named “iPhone Xs Max,” and a lower-priced 6.1-inch model that Apple has considered naming “iPhone Xr,” according to his sources familiar with the company’s plans.

Those three names have already surfaced in various reports over the past few weeks, and now that they’ve been corroborated by Gurman, who has a very reliable track record, there is an especially good chance they are accurate.

Apple has used “s” branding for several iPhone models over the years, including the iPhone 4s, iPhone 5s, and iPhone 6s, which were iterative versions of the iPhone 4, iPhone 5, and iPhone 6 respectively. iPhone Xs would keep with this trend, as the device is expected to closely resemble the iPhone X.

Gurman doesn’t specify why Apple will apparently ditch its “Plus” branding for its largest iPhone, although “Max” certainly sounds fresher, and emphasizes that the 6.5-inch model would easily be Apple’s largest iPhone ever.

Meanwhile, some Twitter users have speculated that “Xr” could be short for “X Reality,” a mix of augmented reality and virtual reality, but it could also be short for something as simple as “regular”—we may never find out. Other speculated names for the 6.1-inch model include “iPhone Xc,” à la iPhone 5c, and “iPhone 9.”

Apple has routinely expressed a “profound interest” in augmented reality in particular, but it seems unlikely the company would emphasize the technology in the 6.1-inch iPhone, especially if it has only a single-lens rear camera.

Gurman also expects the 6.1-inch model to have an LCD screen, rather than an OLED display; an aluminum frame, instead of stainless steel edges; and a wider range of color options, with some reports mentioning blue, red, and orange. Like the current iPhone X, it should have a notched display and Face ID.

Many analysts expect the iPhone Xs to be priced from $899, with the iPhone Xs Max starting at $999 and the iPhone Xr priced anywhere from $699 to $849 in the United States. These would be the prices for the base models with 64GB of storage, with configurations up to 512GB expected to be available.

Last year, the iPhone X was released November 3, six weeks after the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus launched. This year, Gurman expects all three new iPhones to be available for purchase much closer to their announcement date, but he cautions that the 6.1-inch model could be available in limited quantities initially.

Apple may elect to delay availability of the 6.1-inch model entirely, according to some analysts, including JP Morgan’s Rod Hall:

Still, Apple has faced tight supply of the new low-cost model due to minor complications fitting backlights for the LCD screen, according to people familiar with the matter. That could mean the lower-cost device ships in limited quantities initially, they said. Apple may be tempted to delay availability of the LCD version to gauge demand for the more expensive largest new iPhone, Goldman’s Hall said.

Beyond the iPhone, Gurman expects the Apple Watch Series 4 lineup to be unveiled Wednesday. These models will likely have larger displays, as seen in a marketing image leaked by 9to5Mac’s Guilherme Rambo and Zac Hall. The website also leaked a marketing image for the so-called iPhone Xs and iPhone Xs Max.

Gurman concludes his report with a list of other products in Apple’s pipeline for release by the end of this year, including its long-awaited AirPower charging mat, a lower-cost notebook to succeed the MacBook Air, two new iPad Pro models with Face ID, and a so-called “pro-focused” upgrade to the Mac mini.

Our guess is that AirPower availability may finally be confirmed at Wednesday’s event, alongside a new pair of AirPods with “Hey Siri” support, while new Macs and iPad Pro models with Face ID could be enough for an October event.

Many of these details have been rumored numerous times leading up to September, so fortunately there is just over 48 hours to go until the real deal. MacRumors will be providing live coverage of Apple’s event from Steve Jobs Theater on Wednesday, starting around 8:15 a.m. Pacific Time.

Related Roundup: iPhone Xs
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Nintendo DS Game ‘Professor Layton and the Curious Village’ Coming to iOS App Store in U.S.

The iOS App Store Twitter account over the weekend revealed that the 2007 Nintendo DS game Professor Layton and the Curious Village will be making its way to the App Store in the United States in the near future (via Engadget). Japan received a port of the puzzle game on the iOS App Store and Google Play Store this past June.

Of course, with just a single tweet there isn’t much additional information about the iOS release for the original Professor Layton game in the United States. Given that this will be a direct port of the game, it appears that Professor Layton and the Curious Village will not be one of Nintendo’s mainline apps that are taking established characters and franchises and making them into mobile-friendly titles, like Super Mario Run and Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp.

Professor Layton and the Curious Village is coming to iOS 🎩 #Nintendo

Stay tuned for more info. pic.twitter.com/UjE7fo28DQ

— App Store (@AppStore) September 9, 2018

That’s because the puzzle-based gameplay of the Professor Layton games should already be an easy transition to smartphones. In the first game, players take on the role of Professor Layton and his young assistant Luke as they navigate around a small village named St. Mystere. Originally developed by Level-5 and published by Nintendo worldwide, the game is mostly centered on solving puzzles and brainteasers presented by characters around the village.

Since the first game, the Professor Layton series has seen numerous sequels over the years, with the last game coming out in 2017. That game, Layton’s Mystery Journey, was the first sequel in the series to debut on mobile [iOS Direct Link] alongside the release on Nintendo 3DS. Otherwise, the original Professor Layton games had yet to make it to the iOS App Store before now.

Tag: Nintendo
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Kuo: USB-C on 2018 iPad Pro, Touch ID on 2018 MacBook, EKG and Ceramic Backs on All Apple Watch Series 4 Models, More

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has issued a new research note today, obtained by MacRumors, that outlines several predictions about Apple’s upcoming products, including new iPhone, iPad Pro, Apple Watch, and MacBook models.

Kuo expects Apple to replace Lightning with a USB-C interface on 2018 iPad Pro models, with an 18W power adapter in the box. That sure sounds like the next iPad Pro will have a USB-C port, instead of a Lightning connector, but the wording is somewhat ambiguous, so he could be referring to a USB-C charger.

In addition to Face ID support, we expect the new iPad Pro models’ main upgrade to include replacing Lightning with a USB-C interface and bundling with a new unibody design 18W power adapter, which cancels the removable plug design…

Kuo adds that 2018 iPhone models will retain the Lightning connector and remain bundled with a 5W power adapter, not the widely rumored 18W power adapter with a USB-C port, which could be for 2018 iPad Pro models after all.

His research note with TF International Securities adds that Apple’s widely anticipated lower-priced MacBook may replace the current 12-inch MacBook. Again, the wording is somewhat ambiguous, so it’s unclear if Kuo means the 12-inch MacBook will be refreshed, or if it will be entirely replaced.

Kuo expects the new lower-priced MacBook to support Touch ID fingerprint authentication, but without a full-out Touch Bar, which remains exclusive to select 13- and 15-inch models of the 2016 and later MacBook Pro:

The new low-price MacBook may replace the position of the current 12″ MacBook. We expect this new model to support the Touch ID but it will not have the Touch Bar. Everwin Precision is the main beneficiary because it is the first time this company will enter the Mac casing supply chain and its shipments account for 20% of the new MacBook model’s D parts.

As far as the Apple Watch Series 4 lineup is concerned, Kuo believes all models will feature ceramic rear casing, rather than aluminum or stainless steel, whereas just the high-end Edition model is ceramic in the Series 3 lineup. He also believes all Series 4 models will have electrocardiography (ECG or EKG) functionality.

The new Apple Watch models will have narrower bezels, support electrocardiography (ECG), and all be equipped with ceramic backs (currently, some models are equipped with composite backs). We believe the new Apple Watch models will attract more users on supporting ECG. The ECG supplier is Osram (LED design)…

Kuo also said production of the rumored 6.1-inch iPhone with an LCD has been postponed to late September to early October due to quality issues with the assembly and display, echoing a report from Mark Gurman earlier today.

Last, Kuo still expects Apple’s long-awaited AirPower charging mat and new AirPods to be released by the end of the year.

Related Roundups: iPad Pro, Apple Watch, watchOS 4, watchOS 5, MacBook, iPhone XsTags: Ming-Chi Kuo, TF International SecuritiesBuyer’s Guide: 10.5″ iPad Pro (Don’t Buy), Apple Watch (Caution), 12.9″ iPad Pro (Caution), MacBook (Don’t Buy)
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Apple Music Now Separates Studio Albums From Singles & EPs

Following the addition of 116 global “Daily Top 100” charts that display the most-streamed songs on Apple Music, the service has now introduced another long-requested update: separating an artist’s main albums from various singles and EPs (via Reddit).

Previously, when you navigated to an artist’s profile on Apple Music, you would find a scrollable list of their entire body of work, combining albums, singles, and EPs all in one place. Now, Apple Music has separated these into multiple sections.

First, there is a new “Essential Album” list that showcases the artist’s most influential albums (some artists don’t have this), and below that is “Albums,” where every studio album can be found by that artist. Below that are areas for music videos and artist playlists, and then you’ll find “Singles & EPs,” “Live Albums,” “Compilations,” and “Appears On.”

As with the “Essential Album” area, the appearance of these sections depends on the artist, so while some have an “Appears On” section, some will not. To check out the new artist profiles, navigate to Apple Music on iOS or macOS, and search for an artist in the search tab.

Although Apple Music will not have a major update as part of iOS 12, Apple has been rolling out a few small quality-of-life updates for the streaming music service over the summer. In the weeks after WWDC, Apple updated Apple Music with a “Coming Soon” section, specific album launch dates, slightly tweaked artist profiles, rolled out Friends Mix to select users, and introduced full-length operas.

Tag: Apple Music
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Run a Successful Business Right Now, With These 4 Hints

In the modern world you need to understand exactly what is involved in running a successful business. There are a fair few things to keep in mind in this respect, and the more you can work toward success, the better it will be for the future. There are a lot of things you need to assess because plenty of things can go wrong in the world of modern business. Consider what is involved in generating success and bringing more positive attention to the company.

There are a lot of things you sometimes need to keep in mind if you want to make sure you can guide the business in the best possible direction. So, this is something you need to make sure you focus on for the good of the company. These are four of the biggest tips you need to keep in mind if you are serious about taking your company to greater heights.

Budget Properly

You have to make sure you do as much as possible to budget properly and help the business grow that way. There are so many different things that can affect and impact upon your business finances, and the best thing you can do is to try to budget properly. Business owners need to keep in control of their money, and this is a great way of making sure you keep the company afloat in the right way.

Hire the Right People

Hiring the right people is absolutely essential for boosting productivity as well as protecting the reputation of the brand. There are a lot of things that play a role in the the way the company should move forward, and there are so many different elements to keep in mind. Think about what you can do that is going to help you improve and enhance the business moving forward, and conducting a background check on the people you hire are an essential way of achieving this moving forward.

Be Competitive

Staying competitive in the current market is so important, and this is one of the most essential things to think about. You need to understand what is involved in the process of competing as a modern brand. There are a lot of things to keep in mind here, and it is important that you come up with ideas to help achieve this. Consider what is involved in the way the company is viewed in the business market, and try to improve this.

Branch Out

Branching out and boosting your brand abroad is one of the best things you can do to make the company more successful. There are a lot of things that have to play a role in the business moving forward, and this is something that you should think hard about. There are so many things to consider here, and this can have a big bearing on the way your company progresses.

Keep this in mind when you are trying to take your business to the next level. There are so many things that have to play a role in the running of a business. If you follow these you will find yourself much more likely to achieve a great level of business success. It is so important that you do as much as possible to improve the way the company is run.

Google’s ‘Touring Bird’ can make it a whole lot easier to plan a trip

Creating an itinerary for an upcoming trip isn’t everyone’s idea of fun. Google Search can help you surface ideas via local tourism websites and other offerings like Trip Advisor, but the experience can often end up feeling more like a chore than a pleasure.

To help smooth out the process of planning a vacation, Google has come up with a new travel tool called Touring Bird.

Emerging from the company’s Area 120 lab where Googlers are encouraged to develop their own product ideas, web-based Touring Bird has already done the searching for you, and in its own words “helps travelers explore, compare, and book tours, tickets, and activities from multiple providers in top destinations around the world — all in a single place.”

At the current time, 20 locations are listed, including Boston, Chicago, and New York, as well as cities farther afield such as London, Paris, and New Delhi — more are on the way. Around 400 local contributors have added information for 25,000 activities, together with some 2,000 personal tips on how to get the most from your visit.

Touring Bird offers lots of helpful information in sections like “top sights” and “tours and activities.” Also, check out the section for free tours offered by local guides, and another for the best way to explore a city according to your interests. These include iconic sites in each city, ideas for getting off the beaten path, places for history buffs, and suggestions for a range of food and drink experiences.

A notable feature that makes Touring Bird a lot more effective than a simple web search is the built-in filter, which lets you sort information by price (free options also listed), cancelation policy, how much time the experience needs, and the time of day when it’s available.

Touring Bird is the latest effort by Google to smooth out the trip-planning process for travelers. Besides ongoing moves to bake more travel services into mobile search, the web giant has also rolled out Google Destinations and Google Trips. And, of course, there’s the ever-useful Maps, Earth, and Street View tools that allow for even greater planning.

Speaking to Travel + Leisure about its latest travel-based offering, Lax Poojary, who leads the Touring Bird team, said: “A leisure trip to a destination is usually between three to eight days. People want to do top activities and attractions in the first few days, but then they want to do more immersive things — we wanted to build a one-stop shop.”

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