Microsoft confirms layoffs as part of reorganization plans

TechCrunch

After confirming that they were reorganizing their sales and marketing divisions, Microsoft has announced that it’ll layoff “thousands” of its workforce. It’s said that it’ll impact mostly sales jobs outside of Microsoft U.S. but the company isn’t specifying how many they would lay off. In a statement released to CNN Tech, Microsoft says they are "taking steps to notify some employees that their jobs are under consideration or that their positions will be eliminated. Like all companies, we evaluate our business on a regular basis. This can result in increased investment in some places and, from time-to-time, re-deployment in others."

Top tips for marketing with Twitter

Are you currently utilizing Twitter as a marketing tool for your business? If not, and you’re simply sticking with other social media like Facebook and Instagram, you are missing out. Statistics show that approximately 42% of customers learn about new services and products on Twitter.

As a result, it is important for your brand to have a base on the Twitter platform. Not only is it incredibly easy to create an account, but it is just as straightforward to make posts and interact with customers. However, what isn’t so simple is being able to market effectively with the platform.

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You can catch Pikachu during the anniversary event of ‘Pokèmon Go’

It seems appropriate that for the first anniversary of one of the biggest games to come out in recent history will feature its most iconic character. Pokèmon Go, which is celebrating its one year anniversary this month, will be running an anniversary event starting July 6^th to 24^th. That event will give you the opportunity to get a special Pikachu that’s wearing Ash’s hat. Aside from that, Niantic says, “You’ll also be able to stock up for Raid Battles and the events ahead with the special limited-time Anniversary Box, which will include Incubators, Max Revives, Ultra Balls, and Raid Passes at a discount in the in-game shop.”

If you were expecting more, unfortunately that’s all we’re getting for now. Trading or legendary monsters still aren’t available. But this is most likely due to the overwhelming popularity of the game. As it attracted so many users, the game needed “rebuilding and rewiring” of its infrastructure to keep it running at the scale it was running, as Niantic CEO John Hanke admits. Hanke says this put them at around six months behind. For now we have to settle with Pikachu.

Source: Kotaku

Renowned Swiss designer Yves Béhar wants to help you sleep better

Yves Béhar and his team at fuseproject partnered with a startup called Rythm to help you get better quality sleep. The startup unveiled a device they called Dreem, a headband of sorts that makes use of white noise via bone conduction to help you fall asleep quicker. It also monitors your brain function while in deep sleep and syncs that with “sound stimulations” to help improve deep sleep by up to 31 percent. At the same time, the device also serves as an alarm, but without the obnoxious, blaring sound you’re used to. Dreem can be controlled via an Android/iOS app and is now available for pre-order for US$399 (around CA$520) until July 15^th. Afterwards, it’ll cost US$499 (around CA$650).