It’s been said that a company’s best R&D department is its own users. Although it might be true that a lot of amazing people have been behind some of the most innovative work in laser technology, it’s the users who have still brought some of the best applications to the table.

Only a brief glance through industry literature would reveal some of the most innovative laser applications today. If you doubt that, check out boss laser on youtube. In the meantime, read on for more.

Engraving and Marking

Engraving and marking are two of the most common applications of laser technology today. And why not? Anyone would be hard pressed to find a way to accomplish this type of work that would be quicker, easier, and save more time and money than with lasers. In fact, lasers were almost made for this type of work.

Not only do lasers accomplish engraving and marketing better than any other method, but they are great at creating logos, symbols, and practically anything else to give products a professional look. Lasers do their work in a manner that is mechanically resistant, inimitable, with high contrast, and on practically any surface. Further, lasers work their magic without ink or any chemical additives. Lasers also require no alteration of the treated surface to work.

When laser work was done in the past, it was usually heavy and industry-specific work. Not anymore. Today, lasers can be portable, and they can be used by everyone from those who are technically inclined to hobbyists.

Laser Cutting

Cutting is a job made for lasers. In fact, the first lasers were designed specifically for cutting, particularly metal. A lot has passed since the 1960s when this stage was passed, and development has come a long way. But, to a great extent, lasers are still responsible for the cutting of many different types of materials.

Fortunately, the types of materials that can be cut with lasers is only one benefit. Others include the precision of those cuts, which have become the standard for cutting materials. Lasers will also cut the most precise and intricate designs in a wide range of materials, including everything from wood to metal and fabric to glass. There is no limit to what lasers can’t cut or do it better.

Laser Welding

Lasers are used by a wide range of industries for the purpose of welding pieces and parts together. Further, they accomplish it at nearly every and any stage of the production process.

Laser welding has advantages that make it the perfect solution to welding issues. These include accomplishing a weld at lower temperatures than many other methods. As a result, lasers make a weld without distortion of any type in the materials being worked on. Lasers have the further benefit of not allowing for contamination of the material, nor is there any material lost as a result of the cutting process.

These are only a few of the many applications of lasers in today’s world. Check out Boss Laser for more information.

Linux is a widely popular OS in the market. Some of its applications are smartphones, cars, home appliances, supercomputers, enterprise servers, home desktops, etc. Due to its highly robust and reliable nature, it is extensively used to run desktops, embedded systems, and servers worldwide. 

MonoVM cares is a leading software company. It provides top-of-the-range web hosting plans at competitive prices. Their web hosting plans assures you of fast load times, 24’7 support, and 99.99% uptime. Let us learn more about what is Linux operating system and about its working environments.

What is Linux?

Over years, Linux has grown into a very trusted and robust computer ecosystem on this entire planet. It is open-source code software that enables users to use, edit, and distribute freely all across the web.

Linux comes in various versions to suit the distinctive needs of a user. These versions are referred to as distributions.  Some of the popular distributions of Linux are as follows:

• LINUX MINT
• DEBIAN
• MANJARO 
• UBUNTU
• SOLUS
• ANTERGOS
• ELEMENTARY OS
• FEDORA
• OPENSUSE

Different Parts Of The Linux OS

Linux OS is composed of various parts. Let us look into each of them one by one: 

• Bootloader software that helps manages the boot procedure of the computer. 
• Kernel software that forms the core of the Linux system. It manages memory, peripheral devices, and CPU. 
• Init system that manages the boot process of the Linux system 
• Daemons are the background services that include printing, scheduling, sound, etc.
• A graphical server that displays the graphics.
• A desktop environment that includes inbuilt apps such as web browsers, configuration tools, files managers, and games.

Reasons To Use Linux

Linux has certain characteristics that make it more preferable than other OS such as Windows, Mac, iOS, etc. Let us learn about these features:

• Highly secure and least susceptible to malware viruses, sudden system failure/ crashes, and slow-downs. 
• Allows users to circulate globally under an open-source license.
• Another good thing about this OS is that the repairs are not expensive
• Zero cost of entry
• No licensing fee
• Free and simple to install
• Highly stable and dependable software

Popular Linux Desktop Environments

You can use Linux systems via the command line or text-based system. This method to access Linux is done majorly by several system administrators and software developers.

The common and widely used way to access is through its graphical user interface that looks similar to Mac and Windows OS. The GUI facilitates access to software that includes multimedia software, email programs, web browsers, and word processors.

Various desktop environments are used with this OS, and One of them being GNOME. It is amongst the oldest Linux desktop environments. It is sturdy and versatile commercial desktop software. It comes in two versions as GNOME 3, GNOME 2.

Another popular Linux environment is KDE. Newly introduced systems are LXDE and XFCE that have grabbed popularity due to their speedy and simple code and pleasant designs.

Google’s Chrome and Android OS are based on Linux. They are more compatible with mainstream Linux software.

Conclusion

Linux is a highly preferred platform on Earth. Its reliability, efficiency, and open-source feature make it stand out from the rest. 

Virtual Private Server Hosting or VPS Hosting has cemented its place as the hosting of choice for various types of websites, especially SMBs and growing websites. VPS Hosting allows you better control over your resources compared to a Shared Hosting plan. Also, the dedicated virtualized environment ensures that other websites on the same server do not interfere with your resources. 

VPS Hosting offers full root access and one-click scalability. However, one may fall in the trap of scaling up a lot of resources which may not go into proper usage. Therefore, it becomes very important to optimize your VPS setting to get the most out of it. In this article, we have chalked out the 5 most important tips that will help you reap in the benefits from your VPS Server. 

But first, let us understand how VPS works. A VPS Server works on the principle of server virtualization by splitting a single physical server into multiple virtual servers with the use of applications called the hypervisor. Each virtual server works in isolation and does not interfere with other websites on the same server. Linux VPS Hosting gives root access to the client so one can install and configure the application as per their requirements. 

Tips to Optimize your VPS Server

1. Optimize your Apache: An ill-configured Apache can put heavy stress on the server by consuming unwanted resources. This may prevent other processes from functioning in the right manner. The recommended setting for VPS is as follows.

• StartServers: With StartServers, you can decide the number of child server processes which can be started during startup. It is highly recommended to set this value to 5.
• KeepAlive: This function allows the conversation between the server and the browser through the same connection rather than opening a new one with each request. For smooth operation, it is recommended to set the maximum KeepAlive request to 100. 
• MaxClients: This value determines the number of actual requests that can be served simultaneously. The recommended value for VPS is 150. 

1. Keep the MySQL version updated: Since updating MySQL may require some prior technical knowledge, it is recommended to take the help of technical experts if you are unsure of doing it by yourself. Keeping an updated MySQL is a prerequisite for getting the best out of your VPS Server. Outdated versions like 5.1 are not recommended for peak performance. 
2. Cache your content: Caching involves creating static files for your resource-intensive website and then serving the cached file if the user revisits the same page. This eliminates the need for making a new request to the server every single time, thus decreasing the time taken to load all the processes. Caching software like Varnish can speed your VPS website by up to 1000 times. 
3. Make use of CDN: CDN works by storing data of your website on multiple servers across the world. When data is requested, it is retrieved from the nearest proximate location, thus speeding the process of data loading. Additionally, it reduces the load on the server by decreasing the number of HTTP requests made to it. 
4. Content optimization: To know the fault lines in your content, it is advisable to make use of the free tools available like Google’s Page Speed and WebPageTest. 

Conclusion

Choosing a Linux VPS Hosting for your website can only prove to be a good decision if you optimize it well and make the most out of it.

NEC Curing the Most Common Pain Points in Business Communications

NEC Enterprise Solutions, the pioneers in communication systems for small and medium businesses is pleased to share that they have resolved the ‘Manic Monday’ call traffic faced by Appletree Medical practice based at Derbyshire, UK. The center that provides primary healthcare for people in Duffield, Little Eaton and surrounding villages, has been facing constant challenges with regards to the Monday morning call traffic spike. The patients struggle to get through to their Monday morning appointments and the staff were also under too much pressure.

The situation stabilized when the medical center has installed the NEC SV9100 communication platform along with the MyCalls Call Management Application. The app allows the patients to manage their time more effectively wherein they could stay on line or call back later depending upon the position-in-queue announcements made by the platform.

The app also offers detailed call reports with information on call duration of each and every call along with highlighting the busiest times of the day. Accordingly, businesses can schedule their staff to handle the peak call periods. The platform also comes with a MyCalls Call Recorder which helps the staff stay professional in their calls at all times. Stephen Leather, the practice manager says “The move to SIP has made significant savings in terms of line rentals and call charges. We’ve gone from £400 per month to £170 per month saving well over 50%. In fact, the saving has been so significant it has covered the cost of the switch to SIP technology”.

The other VoIP phones for small business is the GT210 which offers support for 1 line and 2 call appearances. It also includes a 3-way voice conferencing to maximize productivity. The other features in the phone are LCD Screen, 10/100 mbps ports, customizable 3xml programmable soft keys, EHS support, integrated PoE, and multi-language support. The IP desktop phones deliver the most effective communications. Customers can now choose from a professional range of intuitive and cost-effective desktop phones. The NEC phones offer high quality interactions, fast response, ultimate service and TLS & SRTP security encryption technology to protect calls and accounts.

To know more visit https://www.nec-enterprise.com/

NEC Enterprise Solutions

NEC Enterprise Solutions is a leader in Information and Communications Technology. NEC offers customised communications and IT solutions for businesses. The NCE solutions specialists understand the unique business challenges and come up with the right solutions for their clients.

Many people think that the commands on a mac vary greatly from a windows pc. However, this is not always the case. Learn usage with this guide for mac users.

Apple offers a computer for just about any scenario. The Mac mini is a budget-friendly option for college students while the Mac Pro is one of the top options for creative pros.

If you’re new to the Mac ecosystem, you’re in for a long list of pleasant surprises. Check out this guide for Mac users to learn how to get the most out of your Apple experience.

System Preferences

System preferences allow you to customize the operating system on your Mac. This is the menu you use when you first set up your computer and need things like parental controls in place.

The system preferences menu includes shortcuts to important tasks like printer setup, security & privacy, and software updates.

Expect this menu to change with software updates as Apple adds or removes certain features. But this is where you go to control your overall experience on the computer.

Choose to add or remove widgets from the desktop or mission control. For example, you can customize notifications to alert you of new calls without interrupting what you’re doing on the computer. Choose from a banner to a full alert inclusive of a description of the notification. This is especially helpful when receiving texts through iMessage.

You might not want to know the contents of the text message right away to avoid getting distracted at work so you can adjust it to a banner to stay focused.

Access the system preferences menu by clicking the Apple icon in the top left corner or through your shortcut toolbar.

Customize Finder

One of the biggest similarities between PC and Mac is the way Finder resembles Windows. Finder is accessed through the shortcut toolbar at the bottom of your home screen.

This blue smiley face icon opens up a menu of programs organized by category. On the left-hand menu are the destinations where each file is located.

On the right are the documents, applications, or other media stored in that destination. For example, if you have Dropbox downloaded to your desktop, it will appear as a destination on the left-hand column of the Finder window. Click ‘Dropbox’ to open up folders from your Dropbox account. The Finder window is customizable allowing you to choose which destinations appear as ‘Favorites’ on the menu.

To change which items appear in your sidebar, click ‘Finder’ then ‘Preferences’ to add and remove the destinations that make the most sense for your browsing needs.

There are color-coding options available to help keep documents and folders organized within the Finder window. Instead of the ‘Programs’ menu, Finder organizes programs you download to the ‘Applications’ menu.

This is the menu where Apple’s native software is located if it isn’t already pinned to the shortcut menu.

How to Use Safari

Internet Explorer is to Windows what Safari is to Mac. Apple uses Safari as its default web browser across devices.

With the web address or URL, you can navigate the world wide web using Safari. Follow these steps to get started:

1. Click ‘Safari’ from the Dock or the Finder menu.
2. Click the blank grey address bar at the top center of the window.
3. Type in the website address of the destination and click return.

The toolbar in Safari can also be used as a search bar. When you enter a phrase or keywords, Google search results appear. Safari allows you to add browser extensions called plug-ins. These plug-ins are helpful for tasks like blocking ads or enhancing one of your apps.

Not every extension is available for free. You might need to first pay for an app or service to gain access.

Consider downloading extensions to keep you updated on current news, help with productivity or compare online prices. Check available extensions through the app store by clicking ‘Safari’ in the top left corner of the browser window.

Click ‘Safari Extensions’ and a menu will appear featuring both paid and free extensions for your web browser. Once downloaded, these tiny icons will appear at the left and right of your search toolbar.

You need a payment method set up in your iCloud account before you can download paid extensions.

Dock: The Shortcut Toolbar

The Dock is the shortcut toolbar located at the bottom of your home screen on a Mac. This is where all your frequently used programs are located.

When you first set up your computer, this list might contain random programs native to Apple. But once you begin downloading new apps and software, you can pin them to the dock menu for easy access.

The dock can also store files you are currently working on. For example, if you are writing a report and need quick access to it every day, drag it from its folder down into the dock and a shortcut is instantly created.

Keep in mind that the more you add to the dock, the smaller the icons become. You can adjust the size of dock icons or choose to hide it using the system preferences menu.

Navigating the Keyboard

Keyboard shortcuts make the experience on a Mac. For example, Command + F opens a search window that scans the web page or documents you currently have open for keywords or phrases.

The popular control + alt + delete function in Windows has a Mac equivalent. When you need to end a program right away, use Force Quit using this guide https://setapp.com/how-to/ctrl-alt-delete-on-mac.

On a Mac, the Command button is necessary to perform common tasks using keyboard shortcuts. Macs include two Command keys on either side of the space bar to give you easy access to popular commands.

Beginner’s Guide for Mac Users

This brief guide for Mac users is only a starting point for getting to know an Apple computer. There are many hidden shortcuts to tasks including how to customize software that you will learn over time.

The simple Mac operating system makes it easy to use trial and error as you explore your new machine. For more information and tech tips, visit our blog for updates.

Big Data is changing the world for the better. Now many restaurant businesses are using big data to understand their customers and to satisfy them with better services.

They are using their data to personalize the marketing and to go through the deep of the demographic dives.

The emerging chains and leading names in the industry are considering the data-driven analytics to get better exposure and dominate the competitors with enhanced customer satisfaction.

Some restaurants are using ServiceNow consulting for the better integration of data. ServiceNow is an automation system that automates the operations by creating a single system for all business processing. It will boost productivity and will ensure faster employee inquiry while meeting the security needs of the business.

How Restaurants Are Gathering Big Data

Restaurants are using advanced technologies to record the big data and utilize them to boost the efficiency of their businesses and to offer a better experience to their customers. The data involves everything ranging from placing orders to making payments.

Now restaurants are using digital tools such as ServiceNow consulting, mobile apps, kiosks, and table-side tablets. They are trying to offer more convenient and fast options for ordering and easy and secure payments.

These modern devices can ensure greater personalization and customization by collecting data from the previous behavior of customers. Restaurants are using qualitative analytics to create customer purchasing profiles.

These profiles are handy for the growth of a restaurant business. Also, it can offer more suitable options for customers.

Once they know the liking and disliking of a particular customer, they can design the service accordingly to create a more appealing environment for that specific customer. As a result, customers will be more satisfied and will certainly prefer that restaurant over others.

By using the data-gathering sensors, restaurants can track the customers, guests, and employees and can use the data to boost the overall efficiency of the restaurant.

These data will improve the guest experience and ordering process while minimizing the waiting time. They are also using the Internet of Things. As a result, all the devices, including the kitchen tools and appliances, are connected to the data gathering tools.

They are using the smart kitchen tools to monitor the food preparation and inventory that ultimately offers better order accuracy as well as improved efficiency.

The multiple sources of data enable restaurants to make smart decisions related to their businesses and customers. They are now focusing on easy data integration to get useful data warehousing.

Boosts the Sale

Restaurants are gathering data from different sources, including restaurant inventory, restaurant SEO marketing, and even sales data. All these data help to gain insights into the customer behavior and efficiency of the restaurant.

They use the data to offer personalized services to boost the experience of their customers. All these efforts lead to enhanced customer satisfaction. Improved customer satisfaction is a must to increase sales.

Provides Better Efficiency

The big data not only helps to offer customized solutions to customers, but it also plays an vital role in boosting the efficiency of restaurant service. Larger restaurants use different data sources and maintain around ten and even more software vendors for the proper integration of the data.

Data from all these software offer valuable insights independently. Restaurants are analyzing the data of all the sources and are using them to find better opportunities. Also, data integration and independent data enable them to discover the areas of improvement. They can consider some changes to get better exposure.

Prepares for the Future

A restaurant business needs to act smart to dominate the industry and to satisfy the present customers and grab the attention of new ones.

For this, they need to prepare the roadmap. They need the data of the present and past to focus on the future. It will help to decide what they should do next to satisfy customers.

Big Data will help to gather and analyze the data to create actions for staff or managers. Big data will offer the required insights and will enable them to work more efficiently for the benefit of restaurants.

Big Data is helping restaurants in more than one way. By effectively interpreting the data and putting them into action, restaurants can meet the expectations of customers and can achieve the desired success.