Apple: Connecting to Customer with Empathy and the 3 Fs Apple gets customer service. By reading your verbal and nonverbal cues, Apple employees empathize with what’s not working well. They’re encouraged to use the three Fs – feel, felt, found. They feel what the customer is saying, share a time when they felt that way, and tell them the solution in terms of what the support rep found. Along with what to say, they also know what not to say....

Here is a look at how national security concerns related to ID card technology may be impacting your life now or in the near future. State and Federal Cooperation The REAL ID Act of 2005 was part of the continued response to the events of 9/11. The stated goal is to toughen up up the standards for what is considered an acceptable documentation for identity verification. All states require some proof of identity before issuing a license, but the requirements varied greatly across the country....

In May of this year, Google also announced the indexing of tweets, saying that tweets will be included in desktop searches when the Google app is used. But the latest announcement mentioned that tweets will already be included in all desktop searches in English. We’re pretty much keeping our fingers crossed that in the coming months Google will announce the inclusion of tweets in mobile searches as well. After all, mobile browsing has now become so popular that more people are using their smartphones and tablets to search instead of their desktop PCs....

When Spotify opened for limited public use in 2008 in Europe, it was a blip on the radar. Listeners could only enjoy the tool with a paid subscription, and it was only available in certain markets. After years of setbacks with record labels, funding, and music ownership rights, Spotify finally launched its U.S. service for listeners in 2011. The success of the music streaming service was hard-won, but in a market of ever-changing variables, Spotify’s hold is shaky at best....

Chicago, here’s your chance to show us what ya got! Join us at 1871 for an evening of Chicago’s hottest early-stage startups and cocktails with your neighbors and technophile friends. Also, before the startup showcase, we’ll be joined by Harper Reed, former CTO at Obama for America and Threadless, for another edition of Tech Cocktail Sessions. Don’t miss out. We’ll have a gaggle of startups on hand showcasing their goods, but before the event kicks off, we want to know what you think: Who is Chicago’s Hottest Showcasing Startup?...

On May 2nd, Tech Cocktail is headed to Projective Space in NYC for an evening of startups, local tech enthusiasts, and great conversation- served over cocktails, of course. < Register for the Mixer Here > We’ll have a dozen up-and-coming startups on hand showcasing their goods, but before the Mixer kicks off, we want to know what you think – who is NYC’s Hottest Showcasing Startup? Let us know your thoughts by answering the poll at the end of this post (ends at 6:00pm local time on the day of the event)....

Sure, sequels are huge, but even the original films in the most beloved franchises weren’t that original: Star Wars is just a classic epic fantasy remixed with space samurai and an opening title crawl swiped from Flash Gordon. Why? Because it was tried-and-true. Over-relying on a special, unique idea is easy to do. George Lucas himself isn’t immune: His 1986 financial disaster Howard the Duck might have been a little too unique....

Blacksburg is a small town located in rural Southwest, Virginia, but it is quickly becoming a technological “hub” in the state of VA as well as along the East Coast. With a population of approximately 42,000, how is it possible that this little town in rural America can compete with the likes of Silicon Valley and NYC? The answer is easy: intelligent students collaborating in a close-knit environment with very little to do....

Why AR Works AR has one major driving force behind its adaptation: It’s cheap. As much as tech-heads love extolling the benefits of everything from VR to mech suits to flying cars, nothing ever catches on unless it’s accepted by the masses, and thanks to income inequality, the masses are keeping their checkbooks close to their vest. Unlike VR, AR doesn’t require a $700 headset to work. Any 2D screen, from your smartphone to your TV set, can handle AR....

The biggest reason is to play catch up: Netsuite, founded in 1998, was an early cloud company, and has leaned into that definition in recent years. Oracle, meanwhile, could benefit from a stronger cloud focus. From Forbes: It should also grow Netsuite’s scope, the Wall Street Journal notes: Furthermore, the acquisition makes sense given Oracle’s recent history of purchases: “Oracle in general has been an aggressive acquirer of smaller companies throughout 2016, with recent pick-ups including Opower and Textura,” Techcrunch said of the move....

Caters to Millennial Demographic Millennial users lead social media interaction, and any platform that utilizes them is one that will lead your business to success. Periscope specifically targets them, unlike the other social media available on the market. Streaming could lead to an influx of new customers and a boost invaluable customer interaction. Give a Peek Into Your Company Culture Showcasing company culture may seem intimidating, but it could be an unexpected advantage to bringing attention to your business....

6.1 million individuals in the US can be categorized as remote workers, whether self-employed or employed for organizations on a full-time or part-time basis. Where you are located is of little importance in today’s connected workplace as long as you fit into the overall scheme of things at the company and contribute effectively to the brand’s growth. The reasons why remote working is gaining rapidly in popularity are many. The recent economic downturn leading to widespread joblessness across the globe contributed to more and more people switching to being self-employed and setting up flexible work from home businesses....

The company was quick to address the issue when informed, but not before the details of its users had been exposed. While it’s uncertain whether or not these details have actually made it into the public domain, it’s healthy to act with a little caution. In other words, those with an Adobe Creative Cloud subscription should be wary when checking their email, as internet scammers might have access to millions of Adobe user emails....

According to a recent survey from The App Factor, young people (age 18-34) are the most likely to believe that hacking technology is impossible. Whether its smart cars, smart doorbells, or smart guns, respondents from this age group insisted that security is the last thing on their mind. And they couldn’t be more wrong. When it comes to smart technology, pretty much everything can be (and already has been) hacked....

But can it help you win an argument with your spouse? Does it shine your shoes? Does it make you fly? I didn’t think so. Here are 10 gadgets that we’d like to see from Apple in the future. iGlass “Just like a glass to hold any beverage you can imagine, but of course costs 5X what a normal glass costs and you will feel much more powerful and creative while drinking from it....

With Dallas Startup Week in full swing, I compiled a list of the top 10 startups I think are just killing it in their own ways and asked them to tell me about the best part of building a company in Dallas. Here they are (in no particular order), the top 10 Dallas startups on fire right now: PICKUP PICKUP is an on-demand delivery service that allows you to request the services of pick-up drivers and their vehicles....

We asked ten entrepreneurs what the most surprisingly effective promotional strategy for their business was. Check out their answers below and start thinking outside the box for your next campaign: Hand-Selecting Ideal Clients While automation was the first key to a recent marketing explosion, the second has been hand-selecting ideal clients. I took a step back and systemized my sales process, making a firm decision on who I wanted to serve....

Budge Budge is an app that capitalizes on our innate propensity to engage in challenges with our friends/peers, and leverages that into an opportunity to give back to social causes. Whether it’s challenging your friend to a simple game of chess or towards reaching a certain health goal, the person who ends up failing the challenge must make a donation towards a charity of the winner’s choosing. Charity Miles Previously covered on Tech....

The ecosystem comes with plenty of accolades: the University of Arizona has been regarded as a top-tier research institution and bio tech hub; Arizona State University has been recognized as one of the top 50 schools for entrepreneurship; the University of Advancing Technology has one of the top cybersecurity programs in the country; and Seed Spot has been regarded as one of the leading social-conscious incubators in the country. Early-stage startups that are bubbling out of Arizona institutions and incubators can often be found at one of the 25 plus co-working spaces scattered throughout the state....