According to Global Esport News, fans of the popular game Fortnite were taken by surprise when Apple blocklisted the game from its store. The mobile giant and the game company, Epic, are engaged in what appears to be a heated legal battle. Since August last year, the two companies have been at loggerheads when Epic tried to side-step Apple’s 30% fee on in-app purchases by introducing its own in-app payment system. Unfortunately, this battle appears to drag on with no end in sight as it is predicted to take years to resolve.

What is the Bone of Contention?

Epic Games, Fortnite’s owner, pointed accusing fingers at Apple, saying the company has monopolized its store by expressing direct authority over eligible apps and how they are managed. On the other hand, Apple countered the allegation by stating Epic’s attempt to avoid its 30% commission fee through underhanded means.

As the warring companies traded accusations, a US court in September ruled that Apple had no right to prohibit app developers from directing users to third-party payment systems. One would think that Epic had acquired victory until the judge also ruled that Epic had failed to prove that Apple was running an illegal monopoly related to its store. However, the ruling stated that Apple demonstrated “anticompetitive conduct”, as shown by California Laws.

The judge’s declarations led both companies to appeal the judgements.

The chief executive of Epic Games, Tim Sweeney, tweeted;

“Apple spent a year telling the world, the court and the press they’d welcome Epic’s return to the App store if they agree to play by the same rules as everyone else. Epic agreed, and now Apple has reneged in another abuse of its monopoly power over a billion users”.

According to the letter shared by Sweeny, Apple stated that Epic had ” committed an intentional breach of contract, and breach of trust by, concealing code from Apple”, and it will not welcome the app back on the app “until the district court’s judgment becomes final and non-appealable.”

Apple confirmed that the correspondence was authentic.

Developers Have Had Enough

In other news, Epic isn’t the only company to complain about the operations of the App Store. Spotify is one such company that has been particularly outspoken. Recall that the popular streaming platform lodged an antitrust complaint to the European Commission in March 2019, stating that Apple technically forced the company to up its subscription rates to meet up with the store’s exorbitant in-app commission fee.

While the relationship between developers and the App store was initially mutually beneficial, many developers criticized Apple for exercising complete authority over the rules and prices governing the apps, leaving no say for developers. Furthermore, since the store is the only medium for IOS users to access these apps, developers are forced to agree with the rules or lose a gazillion existing and prospective customers. Developers have long expressed displeasure over this structure but met deaf ears. Also, if you don’t play by the rules, you get banned!

The Fees Have an Advantage

Apple claims that the 30%  in-app commission isn’t baseless. According to the company, the fees are used to pay for the costs incurred from hosting apps. Apple states that their intentions are far from profiting from the charges; instead, they run the store. To their credit, they assert that the majority of apps on the store are free. It stands to reason that free apps profit from ads and sales to third parties, which Apple doesn’t benefit from.

Customers Are on The Receiving End

As this legal battle rages on, the Apple store customers bear the brunt of it. New customers can’t download Fortnite, while users who already have the game can’t download the latest updates, including the new season 4. How unfortunate!

Will this dispute come to a good end? That remains to be seen!

A loan can either be a lifesaver or a disaster depending on what you make of it! Many people secure loans to finance purchases and services they can’t afford at specific times; however, if not properly harnessed, a loan can be a person’s worst nightmare. To avoid falling into this dilemma, you need to understand how loans work before borrowing money from lenders. So read on to learn the basics of loans.

Basic Loan Terms

You need to learn the key three terms associated with loans: Principal, Term, and Interest Rate.

Principal

A principal is defined as the amount of money you borrow from a lender with a committed agreement to pay back.

Term

This is the stipulated timeframe or duration that a loan is expected to cover. You are obligated to pay back the borrowed money within specified time frames. Note that term varies per lender and loan.

Interest Rate

Lenders charge their clients a specific amount for borrowing money, known as the interest rate. This amount is usually a percentage of the principal. It may also be calculated based on the rate the Federal Reserve charges financial institutions to borrow money from each other (known as the federal funds rate). Banks typically charge rates based on the federal funds rate.

Fees Associated With Loans

Most loans are given for a fee. The fees you have to pay in return for a loan vary from lender to lender. Notwithstanding, here are some common ones :

Application Fee: Fees charged for the process of approving a loan

Processing Fee: Fees charged for administering a loan.

Origination Fee: Covers cost of securing a loan (mainly applicable to mortgages)

Annual Fee:  This is a flat fee paid to the lender yearly ( This fee is typically reserved for credit cards).

Late Fee: Fees charged for making late payments

Prepayment Fee: This is generally applicable to home and car loans; this is the fee a lender charges for paying a loan off before term.

How do You Qualify for a Loan?

Before you get a loan, you have to prove that you are qualified to earn the loan. This is because lenders need assurance that you can pay back the loan. The key factor that most lenders use in gauging a client’s suitability for a loan is credit. Your credit gives a detailed history of your past loans and your repayment approach. A high credit score means you can be trusted with a loan, while a poor credit rating says otherwise.

In cases where your credit history is poor, or your debt-to-income ratio (amount of money you are borrowing versus the amount you earn) is dissatisfactory, you may get the loan with collateral. You give the lender a valuable asset to hold on to so they can sell it when you are unable to repay the loan.

How do You Apply for a Loan?

Every lender has an application process which typically entails providing information about yourself. However, bear in mind that some application and approval processes are more daunting than others. If you are looking for a hassle-free lender with the most straightforward application process, you might want to consider CashnGo. This is a unique lending platform that uses technology to simplify the process of obtaining loans. In addition, with this platform, you can get your loan approved within mere seconds! How amazing!

Keep this in mind……

Getting a loan is a “give and take” business. While you use loans to meet financial needs, lenders use them to make a profit. Hence, most lenders don’t give loans for free. Instead, you have to give something in return, such as collateral, or pay associated application fees. Also, some loans have complex schedules and payment systems, so without ample understanding and research, you could incur exorbitant interest rates, costs, and debt, defeating the loan’s original purpose.

Having proper knowledge and understanding of loans will help you make informed decisions about debt, improve your saving skills and maintain a good credit history.

A handyman is a person who does home repairs and other minor construction projects. They are often self-employed or work for an independent contracting company. This can include installing cabinets, building closet shelves, and assembling furniture among other things. A handyman is usually not licensed to perform any electrical wiring or plumbing work which falls under the jurisdiction of a professional electrician or plumber respectively.

Handymen typically charge by the hour rather than by project cost since many tasks take less time than others to complete such as putting together furniture from Ikea instructions. In today’s world, it seems as if everyone is looking for a handyman.

Whether you’re a homeowner who needs things fixed around the house or an individual with some free time on their hands and want to make money on the side, being a handyman is a great way to do both!

What do they actually do?

Handyman services can be used for a variety of things. From repairs and maintenance to landscaping and more, there are many jobs that handyman can do well. If you’re looking to hire someone in your area, check out it then. Handymen are often seen as the fixers-it of the world. They can do anything from painting your house to installing a new kitchen.

Can handymen install an air conditioner?

The answer is yes! A handyman can do many different jobs around your home, while there are certain tasks that he cannot handle, there is no shortage of things that he could possibly help with.

Do handymen do electrical work?

As a handyman, we’ve only done electrical work with another licensed electrician present to provide guidance and back up support. That being said, there are many states where people with licenses can do their own electrical work – but they need to follow strict safety rules for themselves and those around them. You might think that hiring a handyman is the way to go. But are they qualified to do electrical work? That’s something you should find out before you hire anyone.

It can be very dangerous if someone who isn’t trained in the field of electricity tries to fix something on their own. They may not know how much power is being used or what voltages are safe for working with, which could end up causing an electric shock or worse- death.  If you’re looking for someone qualified to take care of any problems with your electrical system, find the one today. We will send out one of our expert technicians right away and get everything sorted out so it doesn’t cause any trouble.

Benefits of Using Handyman

• Solves the problem of not being able to do things around your home – whether you’re a single person with limited time, are just starting out in life, are an expecting mother who needs the help or someone who has physical limitations.
• You can save money by not having to call in professionals every time something small goes wrong
• Handymen have experience so they know how to fix any problems that come up.
• Save time and money by hiring a handyman
• Get expert advice from an accredited professional
• Schedule appointments with little to no effort on your end
• Find trusted professionals in your area
• Get your handyman tasks done more efficiently
• Use some or all of the annual service for different needs (snow removal, lawn removal, general maintenance)
• Access long term discounts unavailable to DIYers
• Sort out any issue with a clear and thoughtful response

Simplicity is usually the key to a happy life, and that rings true for home cooks, too. A lot of the time, recipes are complicated, packed with ingredients, and sacrifice nutrition for flavor.

None of that’s necessary. You can have amazing home-cooked meals with recipes that are easy to make and use just a handful of easy-to-get ingredients.

Not only is the latter easier, but it comes with a lot of benefits, too. Let’s go over some of the benefits of simple recipes, now.

Shorter Cooking Periods

Most people can agree that cooking is a fun, and even cathartic, activity. However, that tends to decline a bit when a recipe requires you to hover over a stove for hours on end.

Using simple recipes to produce the same jaw-dropping results drastically cuts the time you spend in the kitchen, and it makes cooking a more pleasurable experience overall.

Health Benefits

Some foods taste great until you find out they have 20 different ingredients and only five of them are things you’re familiar with. Usually, the extra ingredients are things designed to have specific effects on the food, but they don’t alter the taste or presentation in any positive way. This is especially true with processed foods.

For example, you might buy a frozen pack of meatballs to add to your homemade spaghetti and find that they’re packed with “extenders”. These can be harmless plant material or glorified science projects, and they’re meant to lower costs. Sometimes, they contain carcinogens that increase your risk of cancer.

By using simple, fast recipes to make your meatballs at home, you’d bypass all the additives, increase the amount of flavor and nutrients you get from them, and have a healthier meal overall.

Flavor

Having more ingredients doesn’t mean more flavor. It just means the recipe is convoluted. Too many flavors often clash and make a dish taste out of balance, and the primary flavors can’t shine.

By using fewer ingredients, each flavor comes through in the end result, and the food is more flavorful overall.

Costs

It’s a lot cheaper to buy seven quality ingredients for your dish than it is to buy eight main ingredients and twenty different spices you might not use again for quite a while.

Not only do you get higher quality food that’s healthier for you, but you also save money. How many times have you purchased special spices for one dish, and not needed them again until they were already stale? That’s a waste of money.

Accessibility

Simple recipes with just a handful of ingredients are simply more accessible. Think about it. If you hand a lengthy recipe with fifteen ingredients to a friend who doesn’t know how to cook, they’re likely to become overwhelmed and not even bother. However, if you give them a simple recipe with just a few ingredients, they might have it for dinner that night.

Simple recipes allow everyone to make high-quality food without being overwhelmed or intimidated.

Try Flavorful Home for the Best Simple Recipes

If you need some new simple recipes to add to your repertoire, check out Flavorful Home. Every recipe has seven ingredients or less, and they’re accessible for beginners and pros alike.

Carpentry is an industry that thrives on careful planning and strategic approaches to product creation. Because of this, carpenters all around the world are making use of revolutionary new 3D modelling services. This technology has transformed the way in which they are able to operate their businesses and brought growing success to the carpentry industry as a whole.

What Are 3D Modelling Services?

3D modelling services involve carpenters inputting customer requirements to create an interactive digital version of what the finished product will look like. They can then present this to the customer and anybody else involved in the project to receive feedback and make any necessary adjustments before the project actually commences.

How Do Carpenters Use It?

Once carpenters have created their digital version of the finished product, they can present it to the client in the form of a photorealistic visual, virtual reality, or an animated video. In allowing people to see the actual project, the team will be able to identify any potential issues are things to keep in mind before they even occur. Instead of simply commencing a project and making adjustments as they run into problems, they can commence a project once they have already predicted these problems and made adjustments for combating them.

3D modelling services also allow carpenters to provide accurate quotes and timeframes for their projects based on the detail that they are able to see in the 3D recreations. Customizing projects to the needs of both the client and the carpenter has never been easier with this new revolutionary technology. It has become increasingly popular for carpenters to use due to the numerous benefits it can offer their business and its operation.

Where Do They Get It?

There are many options of 3D modelling services out there. It is up to you to decide which features are essential to you when selecting a software for your 3D modelling. Software that is suitable for the individual business is essential as it will fulfil the specific needs of the carpenter and the clients that they typically serve. The manufacturing instructions gained from the 3D modelling need to be appropriate and applicable to you. The better you are able to interact with 3D modelling services, the better the results of your project will be.

Conclusion

Thanks to revolutionary 3D modelling services, there is no longer a large margin of error in carpentry projects. Customer requirements can be drawn up, problems predicted, and adjustments made before building commences. This saves everyone involved time and money and makes for guaranteed higher quality products being produced. The final results of a project are sure to be some of your best with 3D modelling services.

Using a reliable financial broker can help you avoid several potholes and panic-inducing problems. In addition to improving your financial score sheet, they go above and beyond to make handling and managing your finances a stress-free affair. On the whole, they make life enjoyable and easier for you. A financial broker can eliminate these problems for you:

1. Your Credit Score is No Longer a Barrier

We’ve all seen it happen or even experienced it — situations where your credit score is too low to qualify for loans. When you need money urgently to address an emergency but lenders won’t even look your way. But with credible financial brokers like My Finance Broker, you can secure good credit loans regardless of your credit history. You will no longer have difficulty borrowing money to meet every day and impromptu demands.

2. Saves You Stress and Time

The inability to access loans and investments as at when needed can birth stress, anxiety, and even depression. Hours spent thinking and brooding about money are automatically eliminated when using a financial broker. A broker provides stress-free access to lenders and investment opportunities. On top of this, you don’t have to do any legwork or complete a mountain of paperwork, thus saving your time and energy. These financial magicians handle everything for you in exchange for so little.

3. No More Negative Credit History

Making several applications in a bid to find a direct lender can negatively impact your credit history which lowers your approval chances. Several credit inquiries from these lenders inevitably leave traces on your credit file and impede your odds of gaining approval. However, using a single, trusted financial broker can get you the loan you desire without jeopardizing your credit history.

4. Keeps Loan Sharks at Bay

The desperation to get a loan, by all means, can make one engage the services of a loan shark which typically doesn’t end well. Having a financial broker means you don’t have to enlist the “illegal” and “bothersome” help of loan sharks who charge exorbitant interest rates and enact severe penalties for failing to meet their terms.

5. Saves Extra Cost

Believe it or not, a financial broker can help you maintain your budget without stretching it too thin. There are several fees involved when signing up for a mortgage or other financial products. These include appraisal fees, origination fees and application fees. Brokers can get their lenders to forfeit some or all of these fees, so it wouldn’t pose a financial burden on you.

The Takeaway

Financial problems should be avoided like the plague and financial brokers do a good job keeping the worst of them at bay. With a broker, you get to dissociate from stress, anxiety, loan sharks and all the problems that money can cause. This is why using a good financial broker is good for you!!

Electronic cigarettes are a great temptation for people these days. Apart from traditional cigarettes, you might have seen various e-cigarettes or vape pens on the market become increasingly popular. The reason for the increased popularity of these vape devices is their tempting flavors, the variety of them, the aroma they leave behind and their positive effects that they can have on their users.

Many people think that vaping also has negative health effect similar to traditional cigarettes, but few know the many positive effects it can have on mental health and mental wellbeing.

For most people, the use of a vape juice is the best way to relax after a hectic day at work. These days, the vaping trend has become so popular.

How Vaping can help deal with anxiety

Anxiety and stress are common these days, especially amongst the youth. Anxiety is becoming more and more recognized in today’s population. To deal with stress, using a vape can be a perfect option. It helps to relax your mind giving you a calm sensation which is why many people choose to vape when they are under stress.

Using a vape sends signals to your brain that there is nothing to worry about and everything will be alright. The nicotine levels found in the vape juice help to reduce anxiety through its calming and soothing qualities, helping the user through situations of above average levels of stress and unease.

What is Vape juice?

Vape juice or E-juice is the fluid present in electronic cigarettes that help to create the actual vapor. This vape juice is present in vaping devices such as vape pens or Mods. These are battery-operated and provide energy to heat the vape juice. Not all E-liquids contain nicotine and, you can easily find simple E-liquids in the market tool. It is up to you whether or not you want nicotine contained within your liquids. If you are prone to addiction, it may be in your best interest to steer clear from any nicotine vape juice products, due to it being a highly addictive product.

What are the best flavors for the vape?

Vape juice contains different ingredients which are used to make up different types of flavors. Some of these fascinating flavors include Coffee, Strawberry, Blueberry, Menthol, Watermelon, Mango, Vanilla, Caramel, Bubblegum, and Butterscotch. All of these can come in varieties which are either nicotine free or contain nicotine, so regardless of where you sit on the scale, you can enjoy the flavors.

Vape flavors with Nicotine:

These days, Nicotine is the principal ingredient in vaping devices. You will be able to find any flavour with nicotine in it, because of the huge demand for nicotine vape juice and its related products. The vaping market is a huge industry, and in some countries nicotine vape juice is freely available just about everywhere because of the popularity of these devices.

Final Verdict:

Vaping can be an option if you are looking to reduce your anxiety or stress. Vape juice comes in a variety of flavours, so you are able to pick a favorite that you can use to help relate to thoughts of peace. When you feel an anxiety attack coming up or you are going to enter a stressful situation, then these products can be utilized. Most importantly, make sure you are using the device only to calm your mind, as regular use can result in a heavy reliance on nicotine.

It is important to consult a doctor before using these products, to ensure that they are the best fit for you and your situation.

An online pharmacy is a site where you can buy prescription drugs without having to visit your local pharmacy. With the internet, it’s now possible to find almost any drug at an affordable price and receive it within just a few days in the comfort of your own home. Online pharmacies offer many different benefits that may not be available with traditional brick-and-mortar pharmacies.

In the era of online shopping, people are looking for new ways to save money and get the best deals. One of these methods is buying prescription drugs online. Online pharmacies offer a number of advantages that traditional drugstores do not, including cheaper prices and a larger selection of products.

In this article, we will explore what your options are when it comes to ordering prescription drugs online so you can make an informed decision about whether or not this service is right for you!

Cheaper prices

As mentioned previously, this Canada Drugs is able to offer you cheaper prices for your medication. Often in Canada and the United States, medication can be very expensive. This is especially so for those who suffer from chronic illnesses and require regular medication. Often, people will be paying high prices for these medications every single month! When you shop online here, you will be able to find the medications you need for a much cheaper price overall. Furthermore, you will be able to buy the medications in bulk for cheaper. As a result, you will be able to save money in the long term.

Price match and beat

Canada Drugs offers a 125% price match. So, what does this mean? How can a price match be over 100%? Well, how it works, is that you find a medication online which is sold for cheaper than Canada Drugs. You refer this to Canada Drugs, and they will not only match the price of the medication but will actually discount it by 25%! Thus, the 125% price match. This allows you to save a significant amount of money on your medications, whilst keeping business regular at Canada Drugs.

For those looking for medications cheaper online, Canada Drugs is the place to be. By shopping from here, you are saving a lot of money in the long term and will be able to find the medications you need as well.

For online medications, look no further than Canada Drugs!

Excellent customer service is hinged on a technically oriented support system as well as a hitch-free operation. No matter your business’s experience, you can’t maintain or attain an impeccable customer support service without modern systems designed to improve operation.

If you don’t want your business to suffer by losing customers to a poor support system, then you need to embrace contemporary systems that provide a seamless workflow and boosts service efficiency. Learn how to build and maintain a quality customer support service with these effective call center systems.

Top 4 Call Center Systems

1. Call Routing and virtual phone system

Call routing and virtual phone system enables automatic distribution to select channels, thus improving customer experience. It connects your customers directly to the right personnel, which eliminates waiting time and reduces contact costs. It includes several advantages like call volume tracking, average handling, and response time. Call routing and virtual phone system also enables seamless call rerouting to appropriate personnel. The vast majority of businesses have adopted this calling system and you should too.

2. Customer Relationship Management (CRM)

Businesses can now successfully evaluate and maintain quality relationships with their customers via customer relationship management (CRM) software. The software gives a detailed account and assessment of each customer’s journey and provides a useful history for future use.

CRM is used to track customer interactions including customer purchases and calls. The information obtained from the software can be used to curate a personalized service for each customer in sync with their preferences and requests. Also, CRM can help businesses figure out why customers are contacting the call center in the first place ( through macro-level analysis). It is quite the tool for call centers!

3. Quality Management

Quality management is another software system that provides high-quality operations, service maintenance, and reliable support services. The system targets three main aspects of customer service operations, namely: call recording, monitoring, and report maintenance. Call recording software allows an agent to record parts or 100% customer conversations with a call center.

The agent can use these recordings to track all interactions between clients and the business as a way of garnering feedback and evaluating interaction quality. Call monitoring and maintenance, on the other hand, reviews recorded calls, provides performance feedback completes preloaded forms, and provides key reports and metrics. It redefines customer support with much-needed reviews and modifications, by leveraging customer interaction history. It is more efficient than listening to live calls.

4. Text and Speech Analytics

Text and Speech Analytics is a call system software that uses keywords to provide conversation history between an agent and a customer. When looking for a specific conversation record, the agent types and searches certain keywords in either recorded or written form, and the software provides the required information. It is especially useful when agents are required to extract information from customer conversations that occurred in the past.

For example, the software allows the agent to select about 50 calls where the customer uses the phrase “I want to cancel my order”. Next, they sort through the recordings and forward them to employees who can analyze and address the reason for the cancelation request.

Conclusion

There are several call center systems you can use to maximize your customer service operation. However, when it comes to performance and efficiency, these four are the best of the lot and are guaranteed to output splendid results. So if you manage a business that banks on a reliable customer support system, you should incorporate these call center systems into your business operations.