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Hallie Sam

Business

Why Hollywood studios love forensic watermarking tech

Access to fast internet and smart devices have expanded the video content industry in a big way, which explains the success of over-the-top (OTT) portals, like Netflix and Amazon Prime. However, this has also increased their headache due to video piracy. OTT platforms have traditionally utilized digital rights management (DRM) technologies to keep premium video content from being pirated. This is an advanced technology, which largely depends on always-on internet devices, and enables OTT service providers to manage their users, apply AES encryption to their video assets, and break video files into shorter content blocks to avoid piracy.

However, the piracy ecosystem has evolved over time and become more sophisticated, and some premium HD content is still leaked for unauthorized users to exploit, despite best attempts.

Pirates take advantage of an OTT system in which DRM protected content is transmitted using digital-analog duality, particularly at the client end, where each piece of video content must be decrypted and delivered as an analogue signal for viewing. Pirates use sophisticated programs to intrude at this point and attempt to grab the continuous video stream from the OTT server.

Hollywood studios are concerned about this leakage because they stand to lose big money in revenue from their premium content. The content production and DRM industries have attempted to close this gap by adding video watermarking to its arsenal of security tools. This is a more advanced function that embeds non-obtrusive text or codes in video frames that aren’t apparent to the human eye or easily identifiable by recording software, and, in this sense, stands at variance with visible watermarks that can spoil the user experience.

There are largely four parts to forensic watermarking technology: (a) copyright or ownership data which is encoded in (b) the host signal or video frame – a video file is a collection of static video frames – which is used in conjunction with (c) a secret watermarking key to create (d) a watermarked video frame. Even if the combinations of frames from the original video file undergo resolution, transcoding, copying, or distributive changes, the copyright message should stand strong during the whole life-cycle of the video frame in a comprehensive forensic watermarking architecture. Otherwise, the watermark cannot be called robust.

Hollywood studios expect OTT platforms to add not only multi-DRM measures to combat piracy, but also a powerful forensic-watermarking option so that their anti-piracy teams can readily discover how and from which users their premium content is pirated. OTT platforms find both services in multi-DRM SaaS vendors which also maintain a database of embedded watermarks.

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Business

3 Tips to Manage Your Digital Notes

You take in dozens of gigabytes of data daily in this internet age. Access to information from thousands of different sources is undoubtedly beneficial in numerous ways. However, this has also caused the average internet user to struggle because of the constant information overload. Your brain is not designed to take in massive chunks of information within a short time and process it accurately, then store it. Therefore, as you use your computer or smartphone, especially for business, it is necessary to organize all these ideas systematically.

Your computer is like your second brain and contains information that you need to run your business effectively. Hence, it would be best to have tools and tips that will help you categorize everything in an easy-to-understand format. If you struggle to organize your digital notes and files, here are some tips that will come in handy.

  1. Use an excellent note-taking app

The type of note-taking app that you use plays a significant part in how you’ll view your notes if at all you are even able to see these notes. There are several such apps, but most are basic and sometimes come pre-installed on your laptop or phone. While they may work for personal use, they are not always ideal for business use. You want to choose a note-taking app with beneficial features, including optical character recognition (OCR), tags, and folders. It is worth paying a small subscription fee to access them.

For instance, if you run a clean beauty business, you can have different folders for your brand product packaging and catalog design, suppliers, and advertising ideas. Some of these superior note-taking apps even offer collaborative note-taking.

  1. Organize notes into notebooks or folders

Folders, called Notebooks on some apps, are essential when organizing digital notes manually. They will come in handy in the future when you intend to look into a particular topic. For instance, you can have a folder on influencer marketing. The names you give each folder will depend on the notes you’ve taken and how you intend to utilize them. If you are undecided, you can begin with easy folders such as Inbox, Suppliers, Marketing, and Product list. Once you have named your folders, you can always rename them in the future after you figure out how you want to utilize each of them.

 

  1. Create shortcuts 

You will usually have folders accessed more frequently than others in your note-taking taking. Because they already receive more action, a helpful tip is to make them more accessible. You can either create shortcuts to these folders or mark them as favorites. It will then become easier for you to make changes to existing notes and add new ones.

The folders that you barely open as they are just used to hold notes in case a need arises in the future don’t need to be in the front or center.

It is easy to accumulate a lot of digital notes. Hence, it is essential to have them organized for ease of access. Having well-organized information and ideas will also make it easier for you to understand everything and put them to good use.

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Business

Three reasons why your business needs a virtual receptionist

With the technology and trends developing every day, as someone who owns a business, you need to know how to make your clients feel happier. There are uncountable ways in which you can improve the quality of your product and services as per your consumer’s preferences and likings. But, is it worth it if you can’t hear your consumers out?

This is when a virtual receptionist shows up to save the day. A virtual receptionist is quite similar to an offline receptionist in the way of working. The only difference is that instead of being in your office, they will be in some call center or somewhere else. Now you might think, if my receptionist is not in my office, how will my clients come to the office and ask their queries? The answer is that they won’t have to. They can get their answers from home itself while talking to your virtual receptionist.

Here are three reasons why your business needs a virtual receptionist today:

After-hours service:

It is not an unknown fact that the clients demand an answer to their query as fast as it is possible. If you are closed for even a day, a sense of dissatisfaction occurs in them. But if you have a virtual receptionist who answers all the queries on your behalf even in the after-hours of the office, your clients will be happy and full of satisfaction.

Appointment conveniences:

Having a virtual receptionist makes sure that none of your appointments are canceled suddenly. They keep up to date with whoever is supposed to show up by connecting them and in turn, keep you updated for the same.

Make an impression:

If a client calls and your virtual receptionist answers, it shows how you have a structural way of working. This makes a very good impression on potential clients as well.

Who doesn’t like to be heard, right? Be it a query or any dilemma, a consumer has the right to receive satisfactory communication from the business that invests in it. Now, think about it- are you able to answer every call with the dedication that it deserves without letting it impact your flow of work? If your answer is no, then you should get a virtual receptionist for your business today!

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News

Benefits of Organ Transplant Feature in Health Insurance Policies

Since the dawn of the 20th century, health care has seen an exponential growth. The rate at which the medical field continues to grow increases with each passing year. At this point, medical science has advanced enough for patients to get their organs replaced by newer and healthier ones. However, with newer technologies and practices the cost of healthcare gets even higher than before. The same applies to organ transplants. Moreover, until very recently, most insurance companies did not cover the expenses that are involved in organ transplants like harvesting screening etc. At the same time, India has experienced a sharp rise in the instances of organ transplants.

However, health insurance has seen a lot of change in this regard and is still gradually evolving to make organ transplants much easier. Many insurance providers in India are taking an initiative to create insurance products that have a provision for organ transplant support.

Health insurance coverage for organ donation and transplant in India

A case of organ transplant is a sign when critical illness insurance comes handy. Organ transplant requires two major things. The first is an organ donor and the second is an organ receiver. Hence, these are the two primary concerns that health insurance needs to address. Health insurance coverage is valid for diagnosed conditions, procedures, surgeries, and other treatments that require hospitalization. So, if you are an organ receiver, health insurance makes it absolutely clear that their coverage will include payment for tests and procedures that are involved in the transplanting of the organ. Moreover, the coverage will only be up to the limit of the sum insured. * Standard T&C Apply

However, other expenses that are connected to organ donation will not be included in the policy. These expenses will have to be covered by the organ receiver out of their own pocket. There are some insurance companies that cover those expenses as well. But, getting that coverage included in your policy will make the premium higher.

Expenses associated with the organ donor

There are 6 main types of medical expenses that have to be covered in regard to the organ donor. These expenses include:

  • Organ screening to check whether the organ donor is compatible with the organ receiver. This includes the donor’s blood group and overall physical well-being.
  • Pre-hospitalization costs need to be covered after the donor has been finalized. Organ donor might have to take certain medication, treatment, etc. before they can be hospitalized for organ donation.
  • Hospitalization costs for the organ donor’s admission and stays in the hospital. This includes the cost of the room, nursing expenses, doctor consultations, etc.
  • Cost for the organ transplantation surgery is the main cost of the entire procedure. This includes the cost of harvesting the organ, transplanting it into the recipient, fees of the surgeon, etc.
  • Post-surgery complications are also a cost associated with the process. This can include costs like recovery, adapting the body after the loss of an organ, etc.
  • Post-hospitalization costs are the final piece of expense that is required. This includes medication for the donor, follow-up consultations with the doctor.

* Standard T&C Apply

Out of all the costs mentioned above, the only costs that are not covered under health insurance are pre-hospitalization, post-hospitalization costs of the donor, and post-surgery complication expenses. Even some companies that do offer these coverages place a sublimit or restriction on the money that can be spent on it.

These are some benefits as to how health insurance comes handy when an organ replacement is required. When buying, make sure that you purchase a cashless health insurance for a hassle-free claim experience. Insurance is the subject matter of solicitation. For more details on benefits, exclusions, limitations, terms and conditions, please read sales brochure/policy wording carefully before concluding a sale.

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Automotive

Selecting a Suitable Car Insurance Cover Made Easy

Car insurance is a legal mandate in India. Having an insurance cover for your car is essential to drive it legally. However, selecting a policy among the plethora of alternatives can not just be daunting, but also confusing to many.

Reasons like a variety of plans, different features, varied coverages offered are few that make it increasingly difficult to pick the right car insurance cover. In this process you can take help of tools like a car insurance calculator that not just compares based of premium, but also the features. This article enlists how can you select a suitable insurance cover making it easy for you to zero down on one.

Selecting a car insurance starts with deciding on the type of insurance coverage you want—a third-party cover or a comprehensive cover. Third party car insurance plans, also known as liability-only policies, are those which provide insurance coverage against legal liabilities that may arise due to an accident. Such accidents may result in either property damage or injury to a third person, both of which attract legal consequences. Thus, safeguarding you in case of such incidents. For these reasons mentioned above, a third-party policy is the one that is a minimum requirement as per the law.

On the other hand, a comprehensive policy is an alternative to third-party plans. This insurance cover provides protection not just from third-party legal liabilities, but also various damages to your car. These damages may be caused due to an accident or as a result of other natural and man-made perils. Hence, a comprehensive plan must be preferred for the broader coverage it offers.

Other than deciding on the type of insurance policy, the factors mentioned below can be used to select a suitable insurance plan:

  • Customer Support

The support that your insurance company provides is essential to be checked before you avail a coverage. This will help to lodge a claim round the clock, if need be. Most insurers provide all-day facility to lodge claims and some even have the claim facility via their mobile application. * Standard T&C Apply

  • Cashless garage network

Another feature to look at when you buy car insurance online or offline is the cashless garage network. This network is a chain of service garages that are associated with the insurance company that can help you avail the cashless repair facility. As the name suggests, you need not pay for the cost of repairs upfront, but instead, the insurance company pays for it to the service garage. * Standard T&C Apply

  • Claim Settlement ratio

Claim settlement ratio is the proportion of claims that are settled in comparison to the total claim applications received by the employer. The higher this ratio, the higher is the probability that a valid claim is honoured by the insurer. Thus, policies must be bought considering the claim settlement record of the insurer. * Standard T&C Apply

  • Customisability of insurance coverage

Do not forget to review if your car insurance policy is customisable. Customisation benefits by helping you choose the exact coverage that you need thereby fulfilling all your insurance requirements. * Standard T&C Apply

These are some of the crucial pointers that can help to choose the right insurance coverage, be it for a first-time buyer or not. Insurance is the subject matter of solicitation. For more details on benefits, exclusions, limitations, terms and conditions, please read sales brochure/policy wording carefully before concluding a sale.

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Business

Mark Roemer Oakland Shares the Benefits of Hiring Busing Development Consultants

Introduction

Mark Roemer Oakland believes that hiring business development consultants have become an essential factor in every business culture. Therefore, every business owner has started hiring business development consultants to get an external viewpoint and shape their business accordingly. The benefits of hiring business development consultants are mentioned below:

The Benefits

  1. Focussing on the core business capacities- No matter what your business is, business development consultants can help you focus on the core business capacities. You may often feel frustrated while sorting out the information needed for your business; in such cases, a consultant can help you with the required information. A business development consultant ensures that you focus only on the area of concern without wasting time dealing with unnecessary information.
  1. Getting help from the experts- When hiring a business development consultant, you are getting in touch with an expert well-versed with your business criticalities. Therefore, a consultant can help you with an immediate solution to any issues you are currently facing. When guided by a business master, it can be a game-changer for your business. They guide you with the most genuine advice in the process of accomplishing your goals and targets.
  1. Support in the business tasks- Sometimes, undertaking all the recent business trends becomes difficult for business owners, and the business development consultant can come to your help. Being experts in the sphere, they help you with all the innovative practices that can boost your business. Maybe you have been following a few practices for a long time, but it shows no outcome; in such cases, a consultant can share his view about what is going wrong and what has to be done.
  1. Undertaking cost-effective methods- When you hire a business development consultant, you can quickly solve all the day-to-day issues you face. However, without a consultant, you will end up messing up in emergencies and will need to spend a huge sum in sorting out the issues. The expert can help you with the most cost-effective solution to your problems within the required time frame, which can help you save much effort and costs.
  1. Expanding your business- If you want to expand your business, hiring a business development consultant can help you perform all the required steps and smoothly complete the entire process. An expert helps you with the most genuine business evaluation and directs you to make the desired decisions. He will help you recognize your weaknesses and strengths and how your steps can impact your business.

Conclusion

According to Mark Roemer Oakland, the points mentioned above will help you clearly understand how a business development consultant can help your business grow. With the rising demand for innovation and the increasing competition among the companies, it has become crucial for every business owner to hire a business development consultant. A single wrong step can have a huge impact on your business, and therefore, it is best to get advice from an expert and help your business reach heights.

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Business

Signs of Water Damage Requiring Immediate Restoration Services

There are endless signs of water damage someone should know. It is no secret that water damage causes constant problems. This is true, especially when not noticed on time and dealt with as deserved. However, the consequences of leaving water damage unsolved for long may worsen the situation, which can be quite expensive in the long run.

Water damage does not only spread fast but can cause structural damages. For instance, the development of mold after water damage can destroy the wall and other things it comes in contact with. But probably one of the biggest problems is that water damage doesn’t manifest itself until after some time. So how does one know that damage has occurred and should seek water restoration Houston services?

Well, this article addresses some of the most critical indicators of water damage. Kindly note that this list does not touch on all the possible signs. But of course, it discusses some of the most common that no one should ignore.

Listen

In most cases, someone may not see water but can hear it. When water damage is imminent, it means something must have gone wrong with the piping system or some source of water. And more often than not, the sound of dripping water is enough to conclude water is misbehaving somewhere. Some of the sounds include rushing water or creaking floorboards. Regardless of the case, it is an excellent idea to seek professional assistance.

Smell

Abnormal smells, some of which may include bad odor, are an indicator of water damage. For instance, areas damaged with water will be damp, and it usually has some unique odor. At worst, it will be accompanied by a musky smell of mold. So, for the fastest and most reliable assistance with your water restoration, Houston needs to be wary of such smells.

Mold

This is no brainer. Like they say, where there is smoke, there is fire, mold, and water go hand in hand. So, with the slightest sign of decay, especially where it is unexpected, the chances are that water damage has occurred. Dealing with mold is one of the most challenging tasks of restoration services. Especially when it has affected a larger area, it is highly advised to call for professional assistance as fast as possible.

Discoloration

This is yet another sign of water damage. For the better part of it, the effect comes with streaks of water running down the side of a wall. In most cases, it may signal an overflowing gutter leaving watermarks behind. It is also common to notice this on the ceiling and just any other part of the house. Regardless of where the discoloration happens, it is an excellent idea to reach out for professional assistance.

Summary

Other signs like warped flooring and peeling walls are common signs of water damage. No matter the case, the importance of hiring professionals to help can never be underestimated. But just not any other expert. It is priceless to choose a contractor with a positive reputation for doing timely and quality water restoration service.

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Business

How To Port From BSNL or Jio To Another Network?

MNP or mobile network portability is one of the best features available for telecom operators in the country. Now, telecom users can change their telecom service provider if they are unhappy with their service. For example, if you don’t want to use BSNL or Jio service, you can port to Vi or Airtel without changing your phone number.

On the other hand, you have to complete your postpaid bill payment and abide by various other rules and regulations to avail the service. If you are looking to port your telecom service provider from Jio or BSNL to any other service, you will find all the necessary details below.

Eligibility Criteria To Port From BSNL or Jio To Another Network?

Undoubtedly, you can change port your phone number from one service provider to the other if you are eligible to do so. We have listed the eligibility criteria for all the people who want to port from BSNL or JIO to any other network service provider.

  • When you are porting your phone number, you must be the first owner of the number. One should also not port the number during the change of ownership process.
  • There is no connection between the court of law and porting of the mobile number, nor does the court of law prohibit phone number porting.
  • One cannot port their phone number until they clear pending dues or any other subscription fee. In the case of postpaid connections, the customer must clear the BSNL postpaid bill payment ‘Outstanding Dues’ to be eligible for the porting service.
  • One can only change the telecom service provider after using the service for more than 90 days.

Documents Required To Port From Jio or BSNL To Any Other Network?

When you port your phone number to any other network service provider, you must submit your identity and address proof along with the porting code. Here is the list of the documents which you have to submit while porting your phone number,

  • Address proof or Aadhar card
  • A passport size photo, and
  • Porting code.

How To Port From BSNL or Jio To Any Other Network?

Before applying for a new connection, you must have a unique porting code from your current telecom service provider. All the BSNL users can send an SMS to PORT <SPACE> Mobile Number to 1900 to get UPC or Unique Porting Code.

Jio users can also use the same process to get the UPC before applying to other network service providers.

How to Port To Airtel From BSNL To Jio?

If you want to port to Airtel, then you have to visit the official website of Airtel and submit your UPC. You have to select the plan then and complete your payment from Airtel Payments Bank. Once done, an executive from the company will call you to take all the necessary documents. You can select the date and time slot based on your convenience. One can also pay BSNL bills on Airtel Payments Bank.

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Business

Which is better Post Office FD or Bank FD

As you might know already, a fixed deposit is one of the best investment options for individuals looking for consistent returns and low investment risk. That said, banks aren’t the only ones offering the facility. Even Post Offices offer fixed deposits facilities for individuals like yourselves. So then, which one is better? A post office fixed deposit or a bank fixed deposit? Here’s what you need to know.

Post office fixed deposit vs Bank fixed deposit

Here’s a detailed comparison of the two fixed deposit schemes.

Post office fixed deposit Bank fixed deposit
Post office FDs come with a tenor of 1 to 5 years. The tenor of bank fixed deposit schemes range from 7 days to 10 years.
Depending on the tenor of your choosing, the post office FD interest rate can be anywhere from 5.5% to 6.7% Depending on the bank and the tenor of your choosing, the rate of interest can be anywhere from 2.9% to 6.75%
You can only prematurely withdraw a post office fixed deposit after 6 months from the date of deposit. You can prematurely withdraw a bank FD at any point in time.
The investment under 5-year post office FDs can be claimed as deductions under section 80C of the Income Tax Act, 1961 to the tune of up to ₹1.5 lakhs each financial year. To claim deductions up to ₹1.5 lakhs each financial year under section 80C of the Income Tax Act, 1961, you would have to opt for special tax-saving bank FDs.

 

However, these fixed deposit schemes tend to have lower interest rates compared to a post office fixed deposit.

The interest on post office FD is calculated on a quarterly basis and is paid out annually. With bank FDs, you can opt to receive the interest periodically, or choose to reinvest it for higher returns.

Conclusion

So, there you have it. Both post office FDs and bank FDs are great investment options for individuals. That said, if you prefer a more customizable tenor with the ability to prematurely withdraw your investment within 6 months of opening the account and the option to reinvest the interest, then bank FDs may just be the one for you. On the other hand, if you prefer high interest rates, periodical interest payouts, and the ability to claim your investment as deductions, then post office fixed deposits may be the way to go.

If post office FDs are something that you might be interested in, head on over to Finserv MARKETS to learn more about them. Also, while you’re there, you could also use our very own post office FD calculator to get an idea of the kind of returns that you’re likely to get.

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Business

ULIP Plans – Understand its jargon

ULIPs have recently proved to be one of the most enriching investment options. In addition to offering a chance to generate wealth along with having life insurance, ULIPs help in many non-financial ways as well.  Having to choose the right fund to invest money in, teaches you to evaluate things logically and make smart decisions. ULIPs often come with a lock-in period. This means that you cannot withdraw from the policy for a certain amount of time. Hence, you have no option but to learn how to make regular and systematic investments over a longer period of time.

Even though they benefit you in so many ways, you must have a thorough knowledge of the policy before purchasing one. This means knowing about the various terms that are associated with it. Here are a few terms related to ULIPs that you should know about:

  • Fund value

Fund value is a term used to describe the value of your ULIP fund. Essentially, it is the sum of the monetary value of all your investment units. This means that it is a figure of how much money has your unit-linked fund reached.

  • Sum assured

Every type of insurance product has a term called sum assured. As the name suggests, it is an amount of money that has been promised to the policyholder. It is the main life coverage feature of ULIPs. In the case of the policyholder’s death, the nominee mentioned in the plan will receive a payout. This feature is also known as the death benefit.

  • Partial withdrawal

Withdrawal in itself means to remove or to extract. We hear of withdrawing numerous times in our daily lives. The biggest example you can look at is your bank account. Where you withdraw the money in the account for your own use. It is similar in the case of ULIPs. The money you give as a premium is invested into various funds. In the case of an emergency, if you need money you can go for a partial withdrawal from the investment fund. This means you can sell some units and get some money for your needs.

  • Fund switch

Switching means changing from one thing to another. This is something you can do with ULIPS as well. You may know that part of your premium goes towards an investment fund with the hopes of growing. However, these funds can perform well or bad depending on the market conditions. Hence, there is always a chance that your fund does the opposite of what you wanted it to do. Fortunately, ULIP plans have a feature of fund switching. This feature allows you to switch from one fund to another. If your fund is underperforming, you can contact your fund manager to put your money into another one. Insurance providers offer a certain number of free switches. If you switch more than your switching limit, you would have to pay a fee.

  • Top-up premium

If you have ever bought different types of insurance policies, you may be aware of the term top-up. ULIPs have a concept of top-ups too. However, it is different for other insurance products. With regular life insurance, you get a top-up and you simply buy more coverage. In the case of ULIPs, you pay an extra premium to buy units. Each of these units has a face value which means a monetary value. You can put these additional units into your coverage or investment funds.

Contract

The idea of a contract is based on the act of agreement. If two parties participate in a discussion and come to a common ground, it is called an agreement. A contract is an acknowledgement of that agreement. However, a contract is not just for settling discussions and disputes. It is also a sign of a promise. This especially applies to ULIPs. When you buy the policy, you enter into a contract with the insurance provider. The policy document is proof that you and the insurance provider have reached an agreement. This contract states that you will pay them a premium and they will offer life coverage and an investment opportunity.

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