The Case for the "Micro-ERP": Why Small Businesses Need Better Integration.

Finding apps that cover all aspects of the administrations of micro, and small, businesses, is something that proves to be hard and expensive to do. Shopping around apps for a laundromat has revealed that apps that are affordable focus to much on the operational side of things, and leave out the administrative side.

Most give allow to manage sales, and what is in stock, but when you want to know how the stock is used or accounting for the period directly from the app it can’t be done. Managing the operation is easy, but managing the administration is something that the apps can’t help you with. Which is strange, since that is something businesses of all sizes need to do, and being able to do so from the app you use on daily basis would make it more easy to manage.

The worst part, is that the ones that have the option are far too expensive for a micro, or small, business to pay. While doing the administration on other apps is doable, using the same app for all the needs of the business would make the app a lot more useful and effective.

What I wonder now, is why I don’t see such integration. The two main reasons I see, are that micro and small businesses aren’t asking for it, or what developers need to add those features isn’t there. Or it could be a mix of both, that in some sectors users aren’t asking for those features, so developers don’t look into them.

Coming from being on the administrative side of thing on a medium size business, I might have different expectations on the tools that these kind of apps need to have to help businesses reach their goals. Yet, I’m sure that development of these features for micro, and small, businesses is doable. Not only that, is something that would make those kind of businesses more resilient.

Another feature I’d like to see on those apps for micro,and small businesses, is the ability of users to use the app remotely and without interfering with the day to day operations. The way most developers expect remote access is not one that helps with this.

To be honest, that these apps are available for micro, and small businesses, is a huge step forward. Yet, there is still a lot of development room to make those apps even more useful, and valuable, for those businesses.

Escaping Google’s Influence: A Review of the Zen Browser

I've been using the Zen browser for a couple of months now, and it is quite a great web browser. Before using Zen, I used Firefox for well over a decade and never imagined that I'd make the jump to other browser in that time.

Specially since I prefer open source apps, and most browsers out there are proprietary or heavily based on Chrome tech. While I used Android, Gmail, and Google Maps, I prefer my browser to be out of Google's influence. So, Zen being based on Firefox made it a good choice for me to at least give it a try.

To be honest, it took a really short time to make Zen my favorite web browser. Mainly because of two things, it is easy to easy to use, and I can use my Mozilla account with it. After a decade using Firefox, being able to use my Mozilla account made it a lot easier to make the jump, since all my history of use and other things came along to Zen without a problem. So much so, that I've been using Zen as I'd use Firefox from day one, with some minor adjustments that actually have made my web browsing that much easier.

So much so, that the only two web browsers I'd recommend are Zen and Firefox. Both work great on Windows and Linux, so they are some of the few apps I can recommend for users who use any of those OSes. I've personally used them on both, and they work the same, making them a no brainier to recommend.

If you are a Firefox user that is frustrated where it is going, or want a web browser that feels more modern that uses the same core tech, Zen is what you are looking for. The same if you want a modern web browser that uses none of Google's stuff under the hood.

At long last, there is and option to Google's dominance on the web browser arena- 

The Case for Minimalist AI: Only Where We Want It

There is no doubt that AI(Artificial Intelligence) is a useful tool in a variety of ways, from prompting ideas to analyzing data for patterns, but it doesn't need to be at the center of every action that a user makes with a computer, tablet, or smartphone. It shouldn't be integrated to every app either, the user should be the one who decide which apps should come with AI integrated to it, how and when to use it.

The push to integrate AI to everything by tech companies, is making what should be the next big thing in computing is being oversold to consumers and making many of them resistant to even learn to use it to their advantage. AI is a great tool to have in many ways, but it shouldn't on every app, and should a opt in when it is shipped with an app.

AI development has had several problems, one of the main ones when facing user is that companies don't seem to know how implement it and it has felt somewhat half baked at times. No only that, at times since companies don't seem to have a concrete idea what to with it, the users have done things that are questionable with AI tools Things like deep fakes of adult content with quite questionable themes.

Another thing, is pushing it on every product they have no matter if their users even want it or not. Some apps could have waited a bit longer, while others have no place of AI. One big example is Microsoft integrating Copilot directly on Windows by default. Copilot should be an app that has to be given permissions to what it has access and how much of it. Not every users needs to Copilot to make their computer useful to them, much to give it access to their whole computer.

At the end, AI to be most useful need to be in places where the user actually wants it to be and access only to what it needs to be useful at that task. What has put off users from AI is not that it exists, is that it companies have made misuse of it and tried to make users make use of no matter what they want.

To be honest, in time most people will end up using AI in some way because it is a great tool. But, now its adoption will take longer because companies made people distrust AI because of their actions. 

The Incentive of Care: Why Local Owners Work Harder for You

As life goes by, I've noticed that I prefer going to small shops and businesses. Mainly because, whit the right people, small shops and businesses attention tends to feel a lot more personal.

This kind of places tend to do so, because they tend to serve a smaller number of clients and that gives them the chance to actually create personal connections with the people they serve. As such, their service feels more tailored and personal to those who use their services or buy their products. Not only that, the owners of these businesses have a better chance to react to the wants or needs of their clients, making the whole experience feel even more personal.

While the offerings of small shops and business can compete on the number of products or services they can offer, they can compete on offering a more tailored offering to people they serves, making them a better option at times even when they can be a bit more expensive.

Most often than not, also the service that comes along with the experience, or product, you get from them make it worth while since you know that who is at the other side of the counter has an incentive to give you a better deal to keep you coming back. Not only that, when you become a regular the incentive to better serve your needs becomes even greater since your good will and word become the best advertisement they can have. In many ways, the incentive to create a sense of community around them is quite bigger, since that community is what will support them in the long run.

for them, treating their costumers like people is far stronger. Specially since the owners, and employees, tend to make roots at the community they serve because they know they people who live in it because they are their costumers and friends.  While this can be a double edge sword, if it is well managed it can be their biggest strength since it means that their costumers are far more loyal to them since they feel like the business is part of the community and it serves them in some level.

The biggest problem for this businesses if their reluctance to adopt new technologies that could better help them to stay relevant in their communities, like the web, smartphones, and the like. Those who are able to integrate new tech that their clients adopt too, are the ones who become even stronger.

To be honest, the ones I like the most are those small shops and business that adopt those new techs that don't lose that human touch. 

From Dongles to Bluetooth: My Two-Decade Wireless Journey

I've always used wireless tech whenever possible since the early 2000s, when at the time it meant using a dongle to connect your mouse or keyboard wireless to your computer or laptop. On the headphone side of things, I didn't use Bluetooth one since the ones I like were to expensive until about 5 years ago.

But, since I started using Bluetooth keyboard, mouse, and headphone about 4 years ago, they have become my favorite way to connect this kind of peripherals  to my my laptop when I'm use them at the office or home office. When on the go, I mainly bring with me Bluetooth headphone and mouse, the mouse is something I don't always use when I'm at the coffee shop, or bar, working or just browsing the web.

To be honest, Bluetooth peripherals are more than good enough for working, casual gaming, browsing the web, or things along those lines. Specially if you don't like looking at wires on your desk, and want a cleaner desk setup, it makes sense having any of these peripherals, specially since they have come down in price as the Bluetooth has matured, and more people use keyboards, mice, and headphones on their setups.

I don't see them becoming as cheap as their wired counterparts, but with time the price difference won't be that big, and more people will be able to get a workable Bluetooth keyboard or mouse that will be more than good enough for most use cases. Specially on the headphone and mouse category, since most people who use a laptop as their daily driver won't need to have a Bluetooth keyboard at hand, unless they want on for their office, or home office setup. Personally, that is my case, I've a Bluetooth for my hone office and my office, but when I'm any where else I just bring my Bluetooth mouse and headphone with me.

Even if I got a desktop for my any of my offices, I would look for them to have Bluetooth. I don't really want to go back to use dongles, since they take a port away and I rather have those ports available to use for other things, like USB sticks, external hard drives, charge my laptop, or monitors.

As time goes by, I see mobile tech becoming better. Which means that people will be better able to set their setups to their specific needs. Even portable monitors are becoming better and cheaper as time goes by, which is greet for those who like to work with a couple of monitors, or want to connect their smartphone to a bigger display when the task calls for it.

As someone who has rooted for mobile tech to get better, I'm somewhat happy where it is now and hopeful for its future. 

The Hustle Culture Trap

The problem with the hustle culture is that it makes work not just a part of your life , not just a part of it. It is unhealthy to focus just on the hustle, as it is not giving any importance at all.

Yet, it is important to keep a balance between work, rest, and doing other things just because you enjoy doing them. While you can enjoy, even love, what you do to be productive, you can also feel the same way about you do just because you enjoy them just for the sake of doing them.

Jobs are just part of your life, and they are just jobs. The rest of your life outside work is just as important, and worthy of being enjoyed as much as you do your job.

Most importantly , modern tech has made possible to have a better balance. We can be more productive at work, and enjoy our free time more giving us access to find more things that enrich our lives outside it. Sadly, it has been used to try to blur the line between the two. Just because we have always have access to a laptop, or a smartphones, it doesn't mean our time is available to work all the time.

Life is not about the hustle, hustle is just a part of your life. Hustle doesn't mean anything much if you don't give yourself the chance to enjoy what happens outside it. 

From Bluetooth to DaVinci Resolve: Living a Frictionless Life on Linux

Linux distros like Linux Mint, Ubuntu, and Pop OS! are getting better as an alternative for Windows and macOS, but they lag behind mainly because the average user don't see them. Even when they do, they get the idea they are hard to use and they requiere them a level of expertise that it isn't actually required.

I'm aware that they are several more Linux distros that are user friendly, but my daily driver is Linux Mint and I've hands on experience with Ubuntu and Pop OS!. The main reason I use Linux Mint, and can recommend Ubuntu or Pop OS! to beginners is that they are easy to use with a low learning curve coming from either Windows or macOS. Not only that, apps like Chrome, Firefox, and Spotify, run without problems on them. Even da Vinci resolve is available on Linux distros.

Hardware wise, unless the user has an usual setup Linux will run almost on every hardware out there. Most consumer hardware is supported out of the box, but testing before installing a distro is highly recommended. Personally, I've yet to find a laptop and printer that doesn't work on Linux.

All Bluetooth mice, keyboards, and headphones I've used work out of the box on Linux Mint. The only complain I've, is that not all of them show their battery status, but they work as expected. Currently I've to laptops running Linux Mint 22.3, and the Bluetooth keyboard I use at my home office connects with both without issue when I ask the keyboard to do so. I'm sure the mouse I use would do the same, but I do use different ones.

There are still some rough edges, but in general Linux Mint and Pop OS! are great options for those  who a Linux distro that just work, or want to get into Linux. I can't recommend Ubuntu as much, but is a good option too. At the end of the day, the best and what works for you is a personal choice.

At the end of the day, Linux distros have come a long way. And Linux Mint and Pop OS! are a couple of Linux distros that focus on ease of use and being user friendly.