Thematically, the Netflix series Keep Breathing and The Sandman couldn't be more different. The former is a straightforward drama, involving a New York lawyer whose plane crashes and leaves her stranded in the remote Canadian frontier. While the latter is a fantasy tale from Neil Gaiman, bringing his beloved DC Comics series of the same name to life.

The common thread here, though, is that both series debuted on Netflix within the past two weeks. Keep Breathing, at the end of July, and The Sandman on Friday, August 5. What's more, both series in spite of their recency have already shot all the way to the top of the Top 10 Netflix series global streaming list.

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2 of Netflix’s newest shows are also the biggest in the world right now originally appeared on BGR.com on Tue, 9 Aug 2022 at 23:23:15 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Rainwater is an important part of our planet’s ecosystem, and it helps fuel access to drinking water in many places. However, a new study suggests that rainwater is now unsafe to drink. The study says that “forever chemicals” have reached unsafe levels. These forever chemicals are scientifically known as per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and they don’t break down in the environment.

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New study says rainwater is now unsafe to drink originally appeared on BGR.com on Tue, 9 Aug 2022 at 20:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Samsung will unveil the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Flip 4 on Wednesday, two foldable devices that will help the Korean company cement its position at the top of the foldable market. But Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi decided to ruin Samsung's foldable party with the Mix Fold 2 teasers in anticipation of its own launch event on Thursday. The company is already showing videos of the new foldable handset, teasing the phone's crazy thin design.

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Xiaomi Mix Fold 2 teaser reveals one of the thinnest foldable phones we’ve ever seen originally appeared on BGR.com on Tue, 9 Aug 2022 at 19:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Thor: Love and Thunder is already a major financial success for Disney, having made $700 million globally since the July 8th premiere. And that's without China and Russia, where the film has not been released. But the story isn't perfect, and we've already highlighted the big expected Avengers plot hole. Some have also theorized that Love and Thunder creates a major plot hole for Endgame, the biggest Avengers movie to date.

But we're going to explain why that's not the case. Thor 4 doesn't ruin the Endgame plot, and that's because Marvel gave Avengers 4 the best possible plot armor there is. Not only that, but the MCU has also set in motion a turn of events that further strengthens the Endgame plot. Beware, MCU spoilers will follow.

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Here’s why Thor: Love and Thunder didn’t create a major Endgame plot hole originally appeared on BGR.com on Tue, 9 Aug 2022 at 17:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

I don't know about you, but my jaw is still hanging on the floor after Better Call Saul's unsurprisingly masterful penultimate episode on Monday night, titled simply Waterworks. Which, as we now know, was a sly reference of sorts to not only Kim Wexler's soul-crushingly boring new job at Palm Coast Sprinklers in Florida. But, also, to her gut-wrenching, tearful breakdown on the bus during this episode. When the weight of everything from her life with Jimmy/Saul became too much to bear.

In terms of everything that made Waterworks one of the all-time great episodes in the Vince Gilligan-verse, I mean, where do you even begin? There was the shot of Gene, in black-and-white, with his old Saul Goodman TV commercial reflected in his glasses (in color). Or how about Kim, standing outside the law office of Breaking Bad-era Saul Goodman, having just signed divorce papers and smoking a cigarette? And there's Jesse Pinkman, asking her whether this guy Saul is any good.

"When I knew him, he was," Kim coolly tells Jesse, before flipping her hood over her head and running out to her car in the rain.

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Better Call Saul finale: Some of you already guessed the ending originally appeared on BGR.com on Tue, 9 Aug 2022 at 17:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Slowly but surely, Apple is making the switch to USB Type-C across its wide range of devices. MacBooks have been shipping with USB-C charging ports for years. They were joined by the iPad Pro, iPad Air, and iPad mini recently. We are still waiting for a USB-C iPhone, but in the meantime, a new report suggests the AirPods charging case could be next.

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Apple may launch AirPods with USB-C charging cases in 2023 originally appeared on BGR.com on Tue, 9 Aug 2022 at 16:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

NASA says that Solar Cycle 25 is already exceeding predictions. As a result, the space agency says that solar flares will increase over the next few years. And that it could cause some problems for Earth throughout 2025.

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NASA says solar flares are about to get a lot worse – here’s what that means originally appeared on BGR.com on Tue, 9 Aug 2022 at 15:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Did you think smart home devices were going to be another fly-by-night trend when they first started to emerge? Don't worry, there were plenty of other people who thought the same thing. Hey, we all make mistakes.

We can still remember all the "hot takes" when smart home devices first started picking up steam. Who wants a connected coffee maker? Why would anyone need to turn off a lamp with a phone?

Best-Selling Esicoo Smart Plugs (4-Pack)

Price: $18.77
You Save: $1.20 (6%)
Buy Now

Kasa Mini Smart Plugs (4-Pack)

Price: $24.99
You Save: $5.00 (17%)
Buy Now

Well, at this point we can safely say that smart home gadgets are clearly not a fad. In fact, the exact opposite is most definitely the case. You can find pretty much anything and everything with built-in connectivity these days.

And smart home gadgets like the popular ones on Amazon aren't going anywhere anytime soon. Especially not with the incredible smart home device deals we found for August 2022.

Prime Day 2022 might be behind us, but there are still plenty of excellent deals out there!

Are you new to the smart home gadget space? Or is your home already littered with connected devices?

In either case, there are always cool new things being released all the time. On top of that, long-time best-sellers are constantly being discounted over at Amazon. That means something you passed up before might be a steal right now while it's on sale.

In this post, we've rounded up 10 different smart home devices Amazon shoppers can't get enough of right now.

Best discounted smart home devices on Amazon

The TP-Link Kasa Mini Wi-Fi Smart Plugs everyone loves so much are the new version of the model that has been a best-seller for as long as we can remember. They're more compact than ever before and they retail for $30 per 4-pack.

That is already about the same for a 4-pack as you'll pay for one rival smart plug. In fact, Amazon's own smart plugs retail for $25 each! As good as TP-Link's price is, however, you can save even more if you buy a set right now. Thanks to a limited-time sale, your cost per smart plug is only $5.99. That's a new all-time low price!

Kasa Mini Smart Plugs (4-Pack)

Price: $24.99
You Save: $5.00 (17%)
Buy Now

Or, if you're not tied to the Kasa brand, you can spend even less.

Get Esicoo Wi-Fi smart plugs with thousands of 5-star Amazon reviews for $4.69 each. Plus, they still work with both Alexa and Google Assistant just like the Kasa plugs. At under $5 apiece, you won't find a better deal on top-rated smart plugs.

Best-Selling Esicoo Smart Plugs (4-Pack)

Price: $18.77
You Save: $1.20 (6%)
Buy Now

More great deals for August 2022

Oh, and what about the insanely popular MyQ smart garage door opener? It's selling for $29 right now on Amazon, which is more than fair. But if you use a recurring promotion, you'll end up getting yours for free.

Amazon's Key promotion constantly comes and goes, so you'll have to keep an eye out for it. Once it returns again, you'll be able to get get a $30 Amazon credit for buying a $29 device and trying Amazon Key delivery.

The only problem is the Key promotion is that as I mentioned, this promo keeps coming and going. If it doesn't work for you this week, however, you should definitely check that page again next week to see if it's back.

Those deals are great, and there are so many more great sales going on right now at Amazon. You can save 10% on the awesome SwitchBot Curtain that transforms any curtains into smart curtains. Plus, get the SwitchBot Hub Mini so you can control your curtains with your voice or smart home system.

Better yet, the new Wyze Cam v3 Spotlight home security camera with color night vision is on sale at a discount. This awesome new model almost never goes on sale!

You can also pick up a best-selling Govee Smart Bluetooth Meat Thermometer for just $22.99, which is a terrific deal.

Top 10 smart home devices on sale in August 2022

Scroll through all 10 of our picks below to see more of the best smart home devices on Amazon.

TP-Link Kasa Mini Wi-Fi Smart Plugs

Insanely popular TP-Link Kasa Mini Wi-Fi Smart Plugs are the #1 best-selling smart plugs out there among BGR Deals readers and it's not even close. Of course, it's pretty easy to figure out why.

These awesome smart plugs include all the features you'd expect. They're all durable and an app that is a cut above most rival offerings. The most popular model sells for $15 each, but Amazon's awesome deal recently offered shoppers a nice big discount.

They sold out fast back then and they've continued to sell out pretty regularly ever since. Now, they're finally back in stock again for even less than they cost last year on Black Friday. In fact, these best-selling smart plugs just hit a new all-time low price!

Of note, this is the newest model that's even more compact than the previous version.

Amazon's current deal on TP-Link Kasa Mini Wi-Fi Smart Plugs could sell out yet again now that the cat's out of the bag. This deal first popped up last month and it was scheduled to end earlier this month. It did end... but now it's somehow back!

Kasa Smart Plug Mini 15A, Smart Home Wi-Fi Outlet Works with Alexa, Google Home & IFTTT, No Hub…

Price: $24.99
You Save: $5.00 (17%)
Buy Now

Esicoo Wi-Fi smart plugs

If you want reliable plugs that are remarkably affordable, this is as good as it gets. These Esicoo Wi-Fi smart plugs work with every major voice assistant and smart home platform, and Amazon shoppers love them. Smart plugs are must-have smart home devices, and this is as cheap as it gets.

• This best-selling option works with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and popular smart home platforms
• The free companion app for smartphones lets you control your plugs from anywhere
• Works with iPhone, Android phone, or tablet
• No hub required
• Control your plugs manually or set schedules, timers, and rules
• Create groups to control more than one plug at a time
• Easy to install and easy to operate — the perfect addition to any smart home setup

Smart Plug ESICOO - Alexa, Echo & Google Home - Only WiFi 2.4G (4-Pack)

Price: $18.77
You Save: $1.20 (6%)
Buy Now

Wyze Cam v3 Spotlight home security camera

Wyze's awesome next-generation Wyze Cam v3 Spotlight home security camera has all the key features that made the original and second-generation models so popular. That includes nice clear 1080p video, motion and sound detection, two-way audio, and 14-day rolling cloud storage for free (that's right... FREE!).

Plus, you get a companion app for iOS or Android that's streamlined and easy to use. It also integrates with smart home platforms and even supports popular voice assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant.

Then, on top of all that, it has a fantastic new feature that colorizes night vision recordings! That way, they're clearer, more vivid, and up to 25 times brighter. How cool is that?!

Other home security cameras are equipped with standard night vision that works pretty well, to an extent. But anyone who has seen night video captured by those cameras knows that it's not exactly crystal clear.

In fact, plenty of footage recorded at night isn't even clear enough to make out a person's face. Doesn't that sort of defeat the purpose?

The upgraded Wyze Cam v3 Spotlight is terrific, and it's definitely a steal at its full retail price of just $52. Grab one now, however, and you'll pay even less than that. It's not a massive discount, sure, but this model rarely goes on sale. In fact, the last time it went on sale, the discount only lasted for a few hours.

We wouldn't be surprised to see this deal disappear very soon. But when it does, the Wyze Cam still costs so much less than rival models at $52. It truly is the best home security camera on Amazon despite costing a fraction of what big brands charge.

Wyze Cam v3 Spotlight with Color Night Vision, Wired 1080p HD Indoor/Outdoor Video Camera

Price: $50.89
Buy Now

Chamberlain MYQ smart garage door opener

The MyQ smart garage door opener is back in stock right now after having sold out recently. It used to retail for $40, but now it's just $29 even when it's not on sale. Sometimes, however, there are extra discounts you can take advantage of.

Even if you miss out on snagging one with an extra discount, there's still another way to save. On top of any other deals, you can often take advantage of a special promotion.

The MyQ works with Amazon's Key service for in-garage deliveries, and you can get a $30 Amazon credit if you enter the promo code KEY30 when placing your first Amazon Key order.

If you're able to catch this promotion when it inevitably comes back, you'll basically end up getting a MyQ for free. How amazing is that?!

This is one of the best smart home devices out there, so you're getting a great deal either way.

MyQ Smart Garage Door Controller Hub (New Version with Bluetooth)

Price: $29.00
Buy Now

SwitchBot Curtain

Anyone who has seen them knows that smart curtains and smart blinds are awesome. Unfortunately, they can also be excruciatingly expensive. That's why the SwitchBot Curtain smart curtain controller is so awesome.

This brilliant Amazon find works with just about any setup you might have. The only curtains that won't work are the kind that has grommets. It takes about 30 seconds to install a SwitchBot Curtain on any curtain rod.

That's not an exaggeration. You'll probably spend more time finding your step stool than you're going to spend setting up your SwitchBot Curtain.

After that, all you need to do is install the app and you'll be able to open and close your curtains right from your smartphone or using timers!

The SwitchBot Curtain retails for just $109, which is a phenomenal value. It's on sale right now though, and it's a steal at the discounted price.

If you want the full experience though, you'll need one more gadget that happens to be on sale right now at a new lower retail price. Definitely pick up the $39 mini hub so you can connect everything to your smart home setup.

SwitchBot Electric Motor for Smart Curtains

Price: $99.00
Buy Now

SwitchBot Hub Mini Smart Remote

Price: $39.00
You Save: $10.00 (20%)
Buy Now

Govee Smart Bluetooth Meat Thermometer

I cook steak and other meats perfectly every single time. But I'm definitely not a professional chef or even really an amateur chef. If I'm not a whiz in the kitchen, how do I cook my dishes perfectly every single time?

Well, I just found a little gadget that makes it almost impossible to cook anything but perfect steak. It’s called the Govee Smart Bluetooth Meat Thermometer, and it's one of the best purchases you can make for your kitchen and grill.

All you do is pop in a probe before you put meat on the grill or in the pan. It stays in place the entire time you cook. The gadget connects wirelessly to your smartphone and relays internal temperature readings in real-time. Then your phone alerts you when it reaches the target temp so you can stop cooking. How brilliant is that?!

There are plenty of similar products out there, but this one is particularly popular for a few reasons. First, the long-range connectivity works at a distance of up to 196 feet.

It also costs much less than most rivals thanks to a new lower retail price and an extra discount. You'll receive the Govee Smart Bluetooth Meat Thermometer itself along with two temperature sensors that run into your grill or onto your pan if you're using a cooktop.

Also, if you want four sensors instead of two, there's a different deal you need to see.

The top-rated Soraken Wireless Meat Thermometer with 4 Probes retails for $50. It's a best-seller at that price, but there's a big discount right now for Prime members. That means if you hurry, you can pick one up at the lowest price of the season.

Govee Smart Bluetooth Meat Thermometer

Price: $22.99
You Save: $7.00 (23%)
Buy Now

Soraken Wireless Meat Thermometer with 4 Probes

Price: $37.99
You Save: $22.00 (37%)
Buy Now

Kasa Smart Light Switch HS200

Kasa Smart Light Switch HS200, Single Pole, Works with Alexa and Google Home

Price: $14.99
You Save: $5.00 (25%)
Buy Now

Free Blink Mini when you buy a Blink Outdoor camera

Blink Outdoor – 1 camera kit with Blink Mini

Price: $99.99
You Save: $34.99 (26%)
Buy Now

August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen)

August Wi-Fi, (4th Generation) Smart Lock – Fits Your Existing Deadbolt in Minutes, Silver

Price: $219.99
Buy Now

Lumiman Smart WiFi Light Bulb

Smart WiFi Light Bulb, LED RGBCW Color Changing, Compatible with Alexa and Google Home

Price: $18.99 ($9.50/Count)
Buy Now

BroadLink Smart Home Hub-WiFi Remote Control IR Blaster

BroadLink Smart Home Hub-WiFi Remote Control IR Blaster for Home Automation

Price: $25.99
Buy Now

Go here to see this month's best deals online!

The post Best smart home device deals for August 2022 appeared first on BGR.

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1. Today’s deals: Shark vacuums, Thermacell mosquito repellers, $50 Beats headphones, more

Trending Right Now:

1. New drug recall: 67 medicines might be contaminated – here’s the full list 
2. 2 of Netflix’s newest shows are also the biggest in the world right now
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Best smart home device deals for August 2022 originally appeared on BGR.com on Tue, 9 Aug 2022 at 15:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

1. FBI search of Mar-a-Lago helps show how probe of Trump documents has changed  The Washington Post
2. Hillary Clinton promotes 'But Her Emails' merch after FBI search of Trump's Mar-a-Lago  Yahoo News
3. EDITORIAL | Following the facts to Mar-a-Lago  Star Tribune
4. Opinion | The F.B.I. Raid at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Home  The New York Times
5. The FBI’s Dangerous Trump Search  The Wall Street Journal
6. View Full Coverage on Google News

1. Four takeaways from the Wisconsin, Vermont and Minnesota primaries  CNN
2. Primaries highlights: Updates from Wisconsin, Vermont, Minnesota, Connecticut  The Washington Post
3. Wisconsin: Mandela Barnes looks to November in race against Ron Johnson  Business Insider
4. Live updates: Wisconsin, Vermont and Minnesota election results 2022  CNN
5. Five takeaways from primaries in Wisconsin, Minnesota and beyond  The Hill
6. View Full Coverage on Google News

1. Federal court rules that House committee can access Trump’s tax records  NBC News
2. Trump's tax returns to be obtained by House after Appeals court ruling  9NEWS
3. Appeals court says House can obtain Trump's taxes from the IRS  CNN
4. OnPolitics: POTUS signs computer chips manufacturing bill into law  USA TODAY
5. House Can Obtain Trump’s Tax Returns From I.R.S., Appeals Court Says  The New York Times
6. View Full Coverage on Google News

1. Afghan Muslim arrested for killings that shook New Mexico's Islamic community  Reuters
2. Primary Suspect Arrested In Murders Of Four Muslim Men In Albuquerque  NBC News
3. Suspect detained in Albuquerque killings: Live updates  CNN
4. Muslim candidate cancels public appearances  Albuquerque Journal
5. Albuquerque police say suspect charged in murders of 2 Muslim men | full video  CBS News
6. View Full Coverage on Google News

1. Judges overturn 7 murder convictions after misconduct allegations  Chicago Tribune
2. Eight murder convictions tied to disgraced CPD detective being tossed  CBS Chicago
3. Afternoon Briefing: 7 murder convictions overturned in a single day  Chicago Tribune
4. Kim Foxx: Former cop a 'stain on our criminal justice system'  WGN TV Chicago
5. Seven murder convictions linked to CPD Detective Reynaldo Guevara tossed  CBS Chicago
6. View Full Coverage on Google News

1. Michels wins Wisconsin GOP governor primary, will face Evers  The Associated Press - en Español
2. Trump's pick will win Wisconsin GOP gubernatorial primary, CNN projects  CNN
3. In their own words: Candidates make final push on Wisconsin primary election day  WISN 12 News
4. Trump-backed Tim Michels projected winner in battleground Wisconsin's GOP gubernatorial primary  Fox News
5. Voters in Wisconsin have spoken. Now the counting begins  Madison.com
6. View Full Coverage on Google News

1. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler concedes primary defeat to Trump-endorsed challenger Joe Kent  The Seattle Times
2. Pro-impeachment GOP Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler concedes, as Trump-backed challenger Joe Kent takes lead  Fox News
3. Jaime Herrera Beutler concedes to Joe Kent in Washington primary  KGW News
4. Pro-impeachment Republican Herrera Beutler concedes in House race  The Hill
5. Trump-backed challenger Joe Kent surpasses U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler | FOX 13 Seattle  FOX 13 Seattle
6. View Full Coverage on Google News

1. NJ Turnpike crash: 1 killed, 5 injured after Megabus en route to Philadelphia overturns in Woodbridge  WPVI-TV
2. New Jersey Turnpike crash involving overturned bus leaves at least 1 dead: police  Fox News
3. State Police: 1 dead, multiple injured in bus crash on N.J. Turnpike  CBS New York
4. One Dead, Multiple Victims Hurt When Double-Decker Megabus Overturns On NJ Turnpike (PHOTOS)  Daily Voice
5. At Least 1 Killed After Bus Headed to Philly Crashes on NJ Turnpike  NBC10 Philadelphia
6. View Full Coverage on Google News

Blizzard will stop selling Overwatch loot boxes on August 30th, the studio announced in a blog post published on Tuesday. The date coincides with the end of the game’s recently launched Anniversary Remix Vol. 3 event. Blizzard notes players will still have the chance to earn free loot boxes after the 30th. Additionally, the game will automatically open any loot boxes in a player’s inventory before the launch of Overwatch 2 on October 4th. With the new game set to replace Overwatch at that point, that will ensure players don’t lose any skins and other cosmetics before the switch.

In June, Blizzard announced Overwatch 2would abandon loot boxes in favor of a seasonal battle pass and a “consistently updated” in-game store. The move came after the studio said it would not release Diablo Immortal in Belgium and the Netherlands due to laws in those countries against that kind of monetization.

Google Stadia is still very much alive and kicking — and has made some updates that will make it easier to livestream games. XDA Developers reported that Stadia will unveil a new Party Stream feature that enables players to privately broadcast their gameplay to up to nine other users, who can opt to either play or watch. Users can take advantage of Stadia’s party chat features during these streams, including emoji and voice reactions. A Google spokesperson confirmed the news to Engadget in an email.

Stadia already allows players to directly share their gameplay to YouTube. The Party Stream feature accommodates gamers who don’t want to broadcast their games to the world — but merely wants to share it with a few friends. We've already seen platforms like Discord (with its Go Live feature) tap into this need to gamestream to a select few. Party Stream also saves Stadia players the trouble of using Twitch to share games with friends, which requires downloading a third-party encoder.

Other updates include the ability for players to switch devices mid-game without ending the livestream. For example, you could stream a Stadia game from your PC and then resume playing it on your Android device— without halting the streaming session.

According to XDA Developers, Party Stream began rolling out to users on Monday and should be available to all players in the next 24 hours. Keep in mind that it is currently only limited to desktop and Android devices — but will likely expand to more devices in the future.

Amazon's palm-reading payment technology will soon be available in many more Whole Foods stores. The company is rolling out Amazon One to more than 65 Whole Foods shops in California, starting with Malibu, Montana Avenue and Santa Monica locations in Los Angeles. More stores in LA, Orange County, Sacramento, the San Francisco Bay Area and Santa Cruz will come online in the "coming weeks."

Before, palm-based payments were only available in a handful of Whole Foods stores in Austin, LA, New York City and Seattle. In California, you could also try Amazon One at the company's Style fashion store in Glendale and certain Fresh and Go locations.

As usual, One is meant to streamline retail shopping. So long as you link your palm and payment card to the service, you just have to hover your hand over a scanner to complete a purchase. While you still have to stop at a checkout terminal, you don't have to pull out a phone like you do with Amazon's camera-based Just Walk Out system.

Third-party adoption may be trickier. While Amazon has touted plans to use One at concert venues and sport stadiums, there's been a mounting backlash over worries palm data could be misused or stolen. Amazon has maintained that it holds info in secure, One-exclusive cloud storage, but politicians have still been concerned enough to grill company leadership over its practices. There's a reluctance to trust biometric tech like this, and the Whole Foods expansion isn't guaranteed to assuage people's fears.

After launching earlier this summer, Yamaha’s flagship TW-E7B true wireless earbuds are now available in the US. You can buy them starting today for $279.95. The TW-E7B have a few things going for them. They’re the first true wireless earbuds from Yamaha to include the company’s proprietary active noise cancelation algorithm. Yamaha claims its take on ANC doesn’t “color” audio the way some implementations do. The earbuds also feature an internal microphone that monitors how the shape of your ear affects audio output and adjusts accordingly.

Many of the other software features you’ll find on the TW-E7B are standard at this price range. The usual ambient mode makes an appearance, as does Google’s Fast Pair. For gamers, there’s a low-latency mode you can activate by triple tapping the volume down button on the right earbud. On that note, the inclusion of built-in volume controls is notable. Most true wireless earbuds don’t have them. Bluetooth codec support isn’t as extensive as some of the earbuds we’ve seen hit the market recently, but you do get access to AAC and aptX adaptive.

According to Yamaha, you can get up to six hours of battery life from the earbuds alone, and a total of 22 hours with the included charging case. The casing protecting the 10mm drivers is IPX5 certified against moisture. The TW-E7B are available in four colors: black, dark blue, beige and white. They also come with five different silicone eartips.

The number of hours streamed and watched across Twitch, YouTube Gaming and Facebook Gaming have dropped significantly over the last year, according to the latest Streamlabs and Stream Hatchet report on the landscape of livestreaming. Between April and June, streamers on the three platforms were live for 273 million hours. That's down 19.4 percent from Q2 2021 and 12 percent from the previous quarter.

Viewers tuned in to streams for 7.36 billion hours across the three platforms last quarter. That's a drop of 18.1 percent year over year (viewership was at 8.99 billion hours in Q2 2021) and 8.4 percent from the previous quarter. The slowdown for all three platforms could be a case of people spending more time outside than they did last year for pandemic-related reasons.

Twitch is still by far the biggest player among the three platforms, with 76.7 percent of market share in terms of hours watched (5.64 billion) and 92.7 percent of hours streamed (204.2 million). Those figures dropped by 13.4 percent and 16 percent from Q2 2021. The number of unique channels streaming on the platform dropped by nearly 2 million to 9.6 million as well.

However, Twitch's Just Chatting category continues to go from strength to strength. Hours watched there actually grew by 2.2 percent from the previous quarter, giving the category its highest ever viewership. The most-watched categories after that were Grand Theft Auto V (465 million hours) and League of Legends (464 million).

YouTube Gaming viewership actually remained steady from the previous quarter, though it dropped 13.1 percent from Q2 2021 to 1.13 billion hours. The total hours streamed dropped by 9.6 percent year over year to 8.05 million.

Facebook Gaming suffered a bigger setback, per the report, despite Meta's efforts to court creators. The number of hours watched fell by a whopping 51 percent from a year ago to 580 million. There was an even bigger drop in terms of hours streamed, from 20.8 million in Q2 2021 to 7.9 million last quarter — a decline of 62 percent.

Perhaps we'll soon start seeing some of those numbers creep up again, though. With a recession looming, folks may spend more time indoors again, tuning back into streamers they enjoyed watching during the first 18 months or so after COVID-19 took hold.

It took several months, but you now have access to 1Password's major updates on your phone. The company has released 1Password 8 for Android and iOS, and many of the desktop version's features have carried over to mobile. For starters, there's a new home screen that provides quicker, customized access to frequently-used passwords. There's also a new navigation bar to help you find info across every account you use.

The updated 1Password is also better at dealing with an era when data breaches are all too common. The Watchtower dashboard has reached mobile devices, providing alerts when a breach compromises your login. The tool also helps you randomly generate answers to security questions, and even encourages you to strengthen your sign-ins by generating an overall security score. More advanced passwords, two-factor authentication and other changes can boost your rating.

The additions won't necessarily persuade you to switch from LastPass and similar password managers. However, they might make a good case for trying 1Password f you routinely search for passwords or want a broader picture of your digital security.

You no longer have to reach for your Android phone to try Google's learn-to-read tool. Google has launched a beta web version of Read Along that offers a similar experience on your computer. As before, the virtual helper Diya encourages your kids to read aloud and offers correctional feedback. Children can read at different skill levels and receive digital prizes for completing goals.

The beta currently supports reading on Chrome, Edge and Firefox, with functionality for Safari and other browsers due "soon." Kids can learn in several languages, including English and Hindi. You can sign in for a personalized experience, but Google makes clear that you don't need an account. All speech recognition also happens in your browser, so you don't have to worry that someone might grab your child's voice recordings.

Read Along's web version won't change your mind if you prefer the personal touch. However, Google isn't pitching this as a full substitute for human contact. It helps kids improve their reading in moments where their parents aren't available, and could help schools teach literacy when one-on-one time isn't practical.

Ford will open up orders for the next wave of F-150 Lightning reservation holders this Thursday, but those buying the electric pickup as of this week will need to dig deeper in their pockets. The automaker is bumping up the prices by between $4,200 and $8,900, depending on the trim. It cited "significant material cost increases and other factors" as reasons for the adjustments.

“Current order holders awaiting delivery are not impacted by these price adjustments,” Model E chief customer officer Marin Gjaja said in a statement. “We’ve announced pricing ahead of re-opening order banks so our reservation holders can make an informed decision around ordering a Lightning.” Those who have a reservation and already received an invite order but chose to wait for their preferred configuration to be available will "receive a private offer for use in upcoming waves," Ford said.

The base F-150 Lightning now costs $46,974 (up by $7,000) and the standard mid-range XLT is $59,474, which marks an increase of $6,500. At the higher end of the scale, Ford bumped up the price of the Platinum Extended Range by just over $4,000 to $96,874. The biggest increase, per The Verge, is for the Lariat Extended Range, which has jumped up by $8,900 to $85,974. Those prices don't include the delivery fee.

As somewhat of a makegood for the price increase, models with the standard-range battery will have a target EPA-estimated range of 240 miles, an increase of 10 miles per charge. That battery is available for the Pro, XLT and Lariat trims. Ford is also adding Pro Trailer Hitch Assist tech, which it says will make it easier for drivers to hitch trailers thanks to automatic steering, throttle and brake controls. It's available as part of the Tow Technology Package on Pro, XLT and Lariat trims and as standard on some Lariat trims and the Platinum trim.

Ford is changing up the color options too. Avalanche Gray and Azure Gray metallic tri-coat options will replace Atlas Blue, Ice Blue Silver and Smoked Quartz Metallic. Those will not be available on models it builds as of this fall.

The automaker temporarily capped reservations at 200,000 last December, after receiving enough to fill three years of production capacity. Ford began making the F-150 Lightning in April and it started deliveries the following month. It has sold more than 4,400 to date. Starting in 2023, the company aims to produce 150,000 units per year at a plant in Dearborn, Michigan.

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  If you’re late to the AI party, don’t worry. It’s easier than you think to start leveraging artificial intelligence tools in your marketing strategy. Here are 10 AI marketing tools every marketer should start using today.

1. Personalize

 Personalize is an AI-powered technology that helps you identify and produce highly targeted sales and marketing campaigns by tracking the products and services your contacts are most interested in at any given time. The platform uses an algorithm to identify each contact’s top three interests, which are updated in real-time based on recent site activity.

Key Features

• Identifies  top three interests based on metrics like time on page, recency and frequency of each contacts
• Works with every ESP and CRM
• Easy to get up and running in days
• Enterprise-grade technology at a low cost for SMBs

2. Seventh Sense

  Seventh Sense provides behavioral analytics that help you win attention in your customers’ overcrowded email inboxes. Choosing the best day and time to send an email is always a gamble. And while some days of the week generally get higher open rates than others, you’ll never be able to nail down a time that’s best for every customer. Seventh Sense eases your stress of having to figure out the perfect send-time and day for your email campaigns. The AI-based platform figures out the best timing and email frequency for each contact based on when they’re opening emails. The tool is primarily geared toward HubSpot and Marketo customers 

Key Features 

3. Phrasee

  Phrasee uses artificial intelligence to help you write more effective subject lines. With its AI-based Natural Language Generation system, Phrasee uses data-driven insights to generate millions of natural sounding copy variants that match your brand voice. The model is end-to-end, meaning when you feed the results back to Phrasee, the prediction model rebuilds so it can continuously learn from your audience.

Key Features 

• Instantly generates millions of human-sounding, brand-compliant copy variants
• Creates tailored language models for every customer
• Learns what your audience responds to and rebuilds the prediction model every time

4. Hubspot Seo

  HubSpot Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is an integral tool for the Human Content team. It uses machine learning to determine how search engines understand and categorize your content. HubSpot SEO helps you improve your search engine rankings and outrank your competitors.Search engines reward websites that organize their content around core subjects, or topic clusters. HubSpot SEO helps you discover and rank for the topics that matter to your business and customers.

Key Features 

• Helps you discover and rank for topics that people are searching for
• Provides suggestions for your topic clusters and related subjects
• Integrates with all other HubSpot content tools to help you create a well-rounded content strategy

 5. Evolve AI

  When you’re limited to testing two variables against each other at a time, it can take months to get the results you’re looking for.Evolv AI lets you test all your ideas at once. It uses advanced algorithms to identify the top performing concepts, combine them with each other, and repeat the process to achieve the best site experience.

Key Features 

• Figures out which content provides the best performance
• Lets you test multiple ideas in a single experiment instead of having to perform many individual tests over a long period of time
• Lets you try all your ideas across multiple pages for full-funnel optimization
• Offers visual and code editors

6. Acrolinx

  Acrolinx is a content alignment platform that helps brands scale and improve the quality of their content. It’s geared toward enterprises – its major customers include big brands like Google, Adobe and Amazon - to help them scale their writing efforts. Instead of spending time chasing down and fixing typos in multiple places throughout an article or blog post, you can use Acrolinx to do it all right there in one place. You start by setting your preferences for style, grammar, tone of voice and company-specific word usage. Then, Acrolinx checks and scores your existing content to find what’s working and suggest areas for improvement. The platform provides real-time guidance and suggestions to make writing better and strengthen weak pages.

Key features

• Reviews and scores existing content to ensure it meets your brand guidelines
• Finds opportunities to improve your content and uses automation to shorten your editorial process.
• Integrates with more than 50 tools and platforms, including Google Docs, Microsoft Word, WordPress and most web browsers.

7. MarketMuse 

MarketMuse uses an algorithm to help marketers build content strategies. The tool shows you where to target keywords to rank in specific topic categories, and recommends keywords you should go after if you want to own particular topics. It also identifies gaps and opportunities for new content and prioritizes them by their probable impact on your rankings. The algorithm compares your content with thousands of articles related to the same topic to uncover what’s missing from your site.

Key features:

• The built-in editor shows how in-depth your topic is covered and what needs improvement
• Finds gaps and opportunities for new content creation, prioritized by their probable impact and your chance of ranking

8. Copilot

Copilot is a suite of tools that help ecommerce businesses maintain real-time communication with customers around the clock at every stage of the funnel. Promote products, recover shopping carts and send updates or reminders directly through Messenger.

Key features: 

• Integrate Facebook Messenger directly with your website, including chat history and recent interactions for a fluid customer service experience 
• Run drip messenger campaigns to keep customers engaged with your brand
• Send abandoned cart, out-of-stock, restock, preorder, order status and shipment notifications to contacts 
• Send branded images, promotional content or coupon codes to those who opt in
• Collect post-purchase feedback, reviews and customer insight
• Demonstrate social proof on your website with a widget, or push automatic Facebook posts sharing recent purchases
• Display a promotional banner on your website to capture contacts instantly

9. Yotpo

Yotpo’s deep learning technology evaluates your customers’ product reviews to help you make better business decisions. It identifies key topics that customers mention related to your products—and their feelings toward them. The AI engine extracts relevant reviews from past buyers and presents them in smart displays to convert new shoppers. Yotpo also saves you time moderating reviews. The AI-powered moderation tool automatically assigns a score to each review and flags reviews with negative sentiment so you can focus on quality control instead of manually reviewing every post.

Key features:

• Makes it easy for shoppers to filter reviews and find the exact information they’re looking for
• Analyzes customer feedback and sentiments to help you improve your products
• Integrates with most leading ecommerce platforms, including BigCommerce, Magento and Shopify.

10. Albert AI

  Albert is a self-learning software that automates the creation of marketing campaigns for your brand. It analyzes vast amounts of data to run optimized campaigns autonomously, allowing you to feed in your own creative content and target markets, and then use data from its database to determine key characteristics of a serious buyer. Albert identifies potential customers that match those traits, runs trial campaigns on a small group of customers—with results refined by Albert itself—before launching it on a larger scale.

  Albert plugs into your existing marketing technology stack, so you still have access to your accounts, ads, search, social media and more. Albert maps tracking and attribution to your source of truth so you can determine which channels are driving your business.

Key features:

• Breaks down large amounts of data to help you customize campaigns
• Plugs into your marketing technology stack and can be used across diverse media outlets, including email, content, paid media and mobile

Final Saying

There are many tools and companies out there that offer AI tools, but this is a small list of resources that we have found to be helpful. If you have any other suggestions, feel free to share them in the comments below this article. As marketing evolves at such a rapid pace, new marketing strategies will be invented that we haven't even dreamed of yet. But for now, this list should give you a good starting point on your way to implementing AI into your marketing mix.

1. What is affiliate marketing?

 Affiliate marketing is a way to make money by promoting the products and services of other people and companies. You don't need to create your product or service, just promote existing ones. That's why it's so easy to get started with affiliate marketing. You can even get started with no budget at all!

2. What is an affiliate program?

 An affiliate program is a package of information you create for your product, which is then made available to potential publishers. The program will typically include details about the product and its retail value, commission levels, and promotional materials. Many affiliate programs are managed via an affiliate network like ShareASale, which acts as a platform to connect publishers and advertisers, but it is also possible to offer your program directly.

3. What is an affiliate network and how do affiliate networks make money? 

 Affiliate networks connect publishers to advertisers.  Affiliate networks make money by charging fees to the merchants who advertise with them; these merchants are known as advertisers. The percentage of each sale that the advertiser pays is negotiated between the merchant and the affiliate network.

4. What's the difference between affiliate marketing and dropshipping?

 Dropshipping is a method of selling that allows you to run an online store without having to stock products. You advertise the products as if you owned them, but when someone makes an order, you create a duplicate order with the distributor at a reduced price. The distributor takes care of the post and packaging on your behalf. As affiliate marketing is based on referrals and this type of drop shipping requires no investment in inventory when a customer buys through the affiliate link, no money exchanges hands.

 5. Can affiliate marketing and performance marketing be considered the same thing?

 Performance marketing is a method of marketing that pays for performance, like when a sale is made or an ad is clicked This can include methods like PPC (pay-per-click) or display advertising. Affiliate marketing is one form of performance marketing where commissions are paid out to affiliates on a performance basis when they click on their affiliate link and make a purchase or action.

 6. Is it possible to promote affiliate offers on mobile devices?

 Smartphones are essentially miniature computers, so publishers can display the same websites and offers that are available on a PC. But mobiles also offer specific tools not available on computers, and these can be used to good effect for publishers. Publishers can optimize their ads for mobile users by making them easy to access by this audience. Publishers can also make good use of text and instant messaging to promote their offers. As the mobile market is predicted to make up 80% of traffic in the future, publishers who do not promote on mobile devices are missing out on a big opportunity.

7. Where do I find qualified publishers?

 The best way to find affiliate publishers is on reputable networks like ShareASale Cj(Commission Junction), Awin, and Impact radius. These networks have a strict application process and compliance checks, which means that all affiliates are trustworthy.

8. What is an affiliate disclosure statement?

 An affiliate disclosure statement discloses to the reader that there may be affiliate links on a website, for which a commission may be paid to the publisher if visitors follow these links and make purchases.

 9. Does social media activity play a significant role in affiliate marketing?

 Publishers promote their programs through a variety of means, including blogs, websites, email marketing, and pay-per-click ads. Social media has a huge interactive audience, making this platform a good source of potential traffic.

10. What is a super affiliate?

 A super affiliate is an affiliate partner who consistently drives a large majority of sales from any program they promote, compared to other affiliate partners involved in that program.  Affiliates make a lot of money from affiliate marketing Pat Flynn earned more than $50000 in 2013 from affiliate marketing.

11. How do we track publisher sales activity?

 Publishers can be identified by their publisher ID, which is used in tracking cookies to determine which publishers generate sales. The activity is then viewed within a network's dashboard.

 12. Could we set up an affiliate program in multiple countries?

 Because the Internet is so widespread, affiliate programs can be promoted in any country. Affiliate strategies that are set internationally need to be tailored to the language of the targeted country.

13. How can affiliate marketing help my business?

Affiliate marketing can help you grow your business in the following ways:

•  It allows you to save time and money on marketing, which frees you up to focus on other aspects of your business.
•  You get access to friendly marketers who are eager to help you succeed. 
• It also helps you to promote your products by sharing links and banners with a new audience.
•  It offers high ROI(Return on investment) and is cost-effective.

 14. How do I find quality publishers?

 One of the best ways to work with qualified affiliates is to hire an affiliate marketing agency that works with all the networks. Affiliates are carefully selected and go through a rigorous application process to be included in the network.

15. How Can we Promote Affiliate Links?

 Affiliate marketing is generally associated with websites, but there are other ways to promote your affiliate links, including:

• A website or blog
• Through email marketing and newsletter
• Social media, like Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.
•  Leave a comment on blogs or forums.
• Write an e-book or other digital product.
• Youtube

 16. Do you have to pay to sign up for an affiliate program?

 To build your affiliate marketing business, you don't have to invest money in the beginning. You can sign up for free with any affiliate network and start promoting their brands right away.

17. What is a commission rate?

 Commission rates are typically based on a percentage of the total sale and in some cases can also be a flat fee for each transaction. The rates are set by the merchant.

Who manages your affiliate program?

 Some merchants run their affiliate programs internally, while others choose to contract out management to a network or an external agency.

18. What is a cookie?

 Cookies are small pieces of data that work with web browsers to store information such as user preferences, login or registration data, and shopping cart contents. When someone clicks on your affiliate link, a cookie is placed on the user's computer or mobile device. That cookie is used to remember the link or ad that the visitor clicked on. Even if the user leaves your site and comes back a week later to make a purchase, you will still get credit for the sale and receive a commission it depends on the site cookies duration

19. How long do cookies last?

 The merchant determines the duration of a cookie, also known as its “cookie life.” The most common length for an affiliate program is 30 days. If someone clicks on your affiliate link, you’ll be paid a commission if they purchase within 30 days of the click.

Final Saying

Imagine a world in which you can do transactions and many other things without having to give your personal information. A world in which you don’t need to rely on banks or governments anymore. Sounds amazing, right? That’s exactly what blockchain technology allows us to do.

It’s like your computer’s hard drive. blockchain is a technology that lets you store data in digital blocks, which are connected together like links in a chain. 

Blockchain technology was originally invented in 1991 by two mathematicians, Stuart Haber and W. Scot Stornetta. They first proposed the system to ensure that timestamps could not be tampered with.

A few years later, in 1998, software developer Nick Szabo proposed using a similar kind of technology to secure a digital payments system he called “Bit Gold.” However, this innovation was not adopted until Satoshi Nakamoto claimed to have invented the first Blockchain and Bitcoin.

So, What is Blockchain?

A blockchain is a distributed database shared between the nodes of a computer network. It saves information in digital format. Many people first heard of blockchain technology when they started to look up information about bitcoin.

Blockchain is used in cryptocurrency systems to ensure secure, decentralized records of transactions.

Blockchain allowed people to guarantee the fidelity and security of a record of data without the need for a third party to ensure accuracy.

To understand how a blockchain works, Consider these basic steps:

• Blockchain collects information in “blocks”.
• A block has a storage capacity, and once it's used up, it can be closed and linked to a previously served block.
• Blocks form chains, which are called “Blockchains.”
• More information will be added to the block with the most content until its capacity is full. The process repeats itself.
• Each block in the chain has an exact timestamp and can't be changed.

Let’s get to know more about the blockchain.

How does blockchain work?

Blockchain records digital information and distributes it across the network without changing it. The information is distributed among many users and stored in an immutable, permanent ledger that can't be changed or destroyed. That's why blockchain is also called "Distributed Ledger Technology" or DLT.

Here’s how it works:

• Someone or a computer will transacts
• The transaction is transmitted throughout the network.
• A network of computers can confirm the transaction.
• When it is confirmed a transaction is added to a block
• The blocks are linked together to create a history.

And that’s the beauty of it! The process may seem complicated, but it’s done in minutes with modern technology. And because technology is advancing rapidly, I expect things to move even more quickly than ever.

• A new transaction is added to the system. It is then relayed to a network of computers located around the world. The computers then solve equations to ensure the authenticity of the transaction.
• Once a transaction is confirmed, it is placed in a block after the confirmation. All of the blocks are chained together to create a permanent history of every transaction.

How are Blockchains used?

Even though blockchain is integral to cryptocurrency, it has other applications. For example, blockchain can be used for storing reliable data about transactions. Many people confuse blockchain with cryptocurrencies like bitcoin and ethereum.

Blockchain already being adopted by some big-name companies, such as Walmart, AIG, Siemens, Pfizer, and Unilever. For example, IBM's Food Trust uses blockchain to track food's journey before reaching its final destination.

Although some of you may consider this practice excessive, food suppliers and manufacturers adhere to the policy of tracing their products because bacteria such as E. coli and Salmonella have been found in packaged foods. In addition, there have been isolated cases where dangerous allergens such as peanuts have accidentally been introduced into certain products.

Tracing and identifying the sources of an outbreak is a challenging task that can take months or years. Thanks to the Blockchain, however, companies now know exactly where their food has been—so they can trace its location and prevent future outbreaks.

Blockchain technology allows systems to react much faster in the event of a hazard. It also has many other uses in the modern world.

What is Blockchain Decentralization?

Blockchain technology is safe, even if it’s public. People can access the technology using an internet connection.

Have you ever been in a situation where you had all your data stored at one place and that one secure place got compromised? Wouldn't it be great if there was a way to prevent your data from leaking out even when the security of your storage systems is compromised?

Blockchain technology provides a way of avoiding this situation by using multiple computers at different locations to store information about transactions. If one computer experiences problems with a transaction, it will not affect the other nodes.

Instead, other nodes will use the correct information to cross-reference your incorrect node. This is called “Decentralization,” meaning all the information is stored in multiple places.

Blockchain guarantees your data's authenticity—not just its accuracy, but also its irreversibility. It can also be used to store data that are difficult to register, like legal contracts, state identifications, or a company's product inventory.

Pros and Cons of Blockchain

Blockchain has many advantages and disadvantages. 

Pros

• Accuracy is increased because there is no human involvement in the verification process.
• One of the great things about decentralization is that it makes information harder to tamper with.
• Safe, private, and easy transactions
• Provides a banking alternative and safe storage of personal information

Cons

• Data storage has limits.
• The regulations are always changing, as they differ from place to place.
• It has a risk of being used for illicit activities 

Frequently Asked Questions About Blockchain

I’ll answer the most frequently asked questions about blockchain in this section.

Is Blockchain a cryptocurrency?

Blockchain is not a cryptocurrency but a technology that makes cryptocurrencies possible. It's a digital ledger that records every transaction seamlessly.

Is it possible for Blockchain to be hacked?

Yes, blockchain can be theoretically hacked, but it is a complicated task to be achieved. A network of users constantly reviews it, which makes hacking the blockchain difficult.

What is the most prominent blockchain company?

Coinbase Global is currently the biggest blockchain company in the world. The company runs a commendable infrastructure, services, and technology for the digital currency economy.

Who owns Blockchain?

Blockchain is a decentralized technology. It’s a chain of distributed ledgers connected with nodes. Each node can be any electronic device. Thus, one owns blockhain.

What is the difference between Bitcoin and Blockchain technology?

Bitcoin is a cryptocurrency, which is powered by Blockchain technology while Blockchain is a distributed ledger of cryptocurrency 

What is the difference between Blockchain and a Database?

Generally a database is a collection of data which can be stored and organized using a database management system. The people who have access to the database can view or edit the information stored there. The client-server network architecture is used to implement databases. whereas a blockchain is a growing list of records, called blocks, stored in a distributed system. Each block contains a cryptographic hash of the previous block, timestamp and transaction information. Modification of data is not allowed due to the design of the blockchain. The technology allows decentralized control and eliminates risks of data modification by other parties.

Final Saying

Blockchain has a wide spectrum of applications and, over the next 5-10 years, we will likely see it being integrated into all sorts of industries. From finance to healthcare, blockchain could revolutionize the way we store and share data. Although there is some hesitation to adopt blockchain systems right now, that won't be the case in 2022-2023 (and even less so in 2026). Once people become more comfortable with the technology and understand how it can work for them, owners, CEOs and entrepreneurs alike will be quick to leverage blockchain technology for their own gain. Hope you like this article if you have any question let me know in the comments section

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What is Grammarly?

Grammarly is a tool that checks for grammatical errors, spelling, and punctuation.it gives you comprehensive feedback on your writing. You can use this tool to proofread and edit articles, blog posts, emails, etc.

Grammarly also detects all types of mistakes, including sentence structure issues and misused words. It also gives you suggestions on style changes, punctuation, spelling, and grammar all are in real-time. The free version covers the basics like identifying grammar and spelling mistakes

whereas the Premium version offers a lot more functionality, it detects plagiarism in your content, suggests word choice, or adds fluency to it.

Features of Grammarly

• Spelling and Word Suggestion: Grammarly detects basic to advance grammatical errors and also help you why this is an error and suggest to you how you can improve it
• Create a Personal Dictionary: The Grammarly app allows you to add words to your personal dictionary so that the same mistake isn't highlighted every time you run Grammarly.
• Different English Style: Check to spell for American, British, Canadian, and Australian English.
• Plagiarism: This feature helps you detect if a text has been plagiarized by comparing it with over eight billion web pages.
• Wordiness: This tool will help you check your writing for long and hard-to-read sentences. It also shows you how to shorten sentences so that they are more concise.
• Passive Voice: The program also notifies users when passive voice is used too frequently in a document.
• Punctuations: This feature flags all incorrect and missing punctuation.
• Repetition: The tool provides recommendations for replacing the repeated word.
• Proposition: Grammarly identifies misplaced and confused prepositions.
  
• Plugins: It offers Microsoft Word, Microsoft Outlook, and Google Chrome plugins.

What is ProWritingAid?

ProWritingAid is a style and grammar checker for content creators and writers. It helps to optimize word choice, punctuation errors, and common grammar mistakes, providing detailed reports to help you improve your writing. 

ProWritingAid can be used as an add-on to WordPress, Gmail, and Google Docs. The software also offers helpful articles, videos, quizzes, and explanations to help improve your writing.

Features of ProWriting Aid

Here are some key features of ProWriting Aid:

• Grammar checker and spell checker: This tool helps you to find all grammatical and spelling errors.
• Find repeated words:  The tool also allows you to search for repeated words and phrases in your content.
• Context-sensitive style suggestions:  You can find the exact style of writing you intend and suggest if it flows well in your writing.
• Check the readability of your content: Pro Writing Aid helps you identify the strengths and weaknesses of your article by pointing out difficult sentences and paragraphs.
• Sentence Length: It also indicates the length of your sentences.
• Check Grammatical error: It also checks your work for any grammatical errors or typos, as well.
• Overused words: As a writer, you might find yourself using the same word repeatedly. ProWritingAid's overused words checker helps you avoid this lazy writing mistake.
• Consistency: Check your work for inconsistent usage of open and closed quotation marks.
• Echoes: Check your writing for uniformly repetitive words and phrases.

Difference between Grammarly and Pro-Writing Aid

Grammarly and ProWritingAid are well-known grammar-checking software. However, if you're like most people who can't decide which to use, here are some different points that may be helpful in your decision.

Grammarly vs ProWritingAid

• Grammarly is a writing enhancement tool that offers suggestions for grammar, vocabulary, and syntax whereas ProWritingAid offers world-class grammar and style checking, as well as advanced reports to help you strengthen your writing.
• Grammarly provides Android and IOS apps whereas ProWritingAid doesn't have a mobile or IOS app.
• Grammarly offers important suggestions about mistakes you've made whereas ProWritingAid  shows more suggestions than Grammarly but all recommendations are not accurate
• Grammarly has a more friendly UI/UX whereas the ProWritingAid interface is not friendly as Grammarly.
• Grammarly is an accurate grammar checker for non-fiction writing whereas ProWritingAid is an accurate grammar checker for fiction writers.
• Grammarly finds grammar and punctuation mistakes, whereas ProWritingAid identifies run-on sentences and fragments.
• Grammarly provides 24/7 support via submitting a ticket and sending emails. ProWritingAid’s support team is available via email, though the response time is approximately 48 hours.
• Grammarly offers many features in its free plan, whereas ProWritingAid offers some basic features in the free plan.
• Grammarly does not offer much feedback on big picture writing; ProWritingAid offers complete feedback on big picture writing.
• Grammarly is a better option for accuracy, whereas ProWritingAid is better for handling fragmented sentences and dialogue. It can be quite useful for fiction writers.

ProWritingAid VS Grammarly: Pricing Difference

• ProWritingAid comes with three pricing structures. The full-year cost of ProWritingAid is $79, while its lifetime plans cost $339. You also can opt for a monthly plan of $20.
• Grammarly offers a Premium subscription for $30/month for a monthly plan  $20/month for quarterly and $12/month for an annual subscription.
• The Business plan costs $12.50 per month for each member of your company.

ProWritingAid vs Grammarly – Pros and Cons

Grammarly Pros

• It allows you to fix common mistakes like grammar and spelling.
• Offers most features in the free plan
• Allows you to edit a document without affecting the formatting.
• Active and passive voice checker
• Personal dictionary 
• Plagiarism checker (paid version)
• Proofread your writing and correct all punctuation, grammar, and spelling errors.
• Allows you to make changes to a document without altering its formatting.
• Helps users improve vocabulary
• User-friendly interface
• Browser extensions and MS word add-ons
• Available on all major devices and platforms
• Grammarly will also offer suggestions to improve your style.
• Enhance the readability of your sentence
• Free mobile apps 
• Offers  free version

Grammarly Cons

• Supports only English 
• Customer support only via email
• Limits to 150,000 words
• Subscription plans can be a bit pricey 
• Plagiarism checker is only available in a premium plan
• Doesn’t offer a free trial
• No refund policy
• The free version is ideal for basic spelling and grammatical mistakes, but it does not correct advanced writing issues.
• Some features are not available for Mac.

ProwritingAid Pros

• It offers more than 20 different reports to help you improve your writing.
• Less expensive than other grammar checkers.
• This tool helps you strengthen your writing style as it offers big-picture feedback.
• ProWritingAid has a life plan with no further payments required.
• Compatible with Google Docs!
• Prowritingaid works on both Windows and Mac.
• They offer more integrations than most tools.

ProWritingAid Cons

• Editing can be a little more time-consuming when you add larger passages of text.
• ProWritingAid currently offers no mobile app for Android or iOS devices.
• Plagiarism checker is only available in premium plans.
• All recommendations are not accurate

Summarizing the Ginger VS Grammarly: My Recommendation

As both writing assistants are great in their own way, you need to choose the one that suits you best.

• For example, go for Grammarly  if you are a non-fiction writer
• Go for ProWritingAid if you are a fiction writer.
• ProWritingAid is better at catching errors found in long-form content. However, Grammarly is more suited to short blog posts and other similar tasks.
• ProWritingAid helps you clean up your writing by checking for style, structure, and content while Grammarly focuses on grammar and punctuation.
• Grammarly has a more friendly UI/UX whereas; ProWritingAid offers complete feedback on big picture writing.

Both ProWritingAid and Grammarly are awesome writing tools, without a doubt. but as per my experience, Grammarly is a winner here because Grammarly helps you to review and edit your content. Grammarly highlights all the mistakes in your writing within seconds of copying and pasting the content into Grammarly’s editor or using the software’s native feature in other text editors.

Not only does it identify tiny grammatical and spelling errors, it tells you when you overlook punctuations where they are needed. And, beyond its plagiarism-checking capabilities, Grammarly helps you proofread your content. Even better, the software offers a free plan that gives you access to some of its features.

Are you searching for an ecomerce platform to help you build an online store and sell products?

In this Sellfy review, we'll talk about how this eCommerce platform can let you sell digital products while keeping full control of your marketing.

And the best part? Starting your business can be done in just five minutes.

Let us then talk about the Sellfy platform and all the benefits it can bring to your business.

What is Sellfy?

Sellfy is an eCommerce solution that allows digital content creators, including writers, illustrators, designers, musicians, and filmmakers, to sell their products online. Sellfy provides a customizable storefront where users can display their digital products and embed "Buy Now" buttons on their website or blog. Sellfy product pages enable users to showcase their products from different angles with multiple images and previews from Soundcloud, Vimeo, and YouTube. Files of up to 2GB can be uploaded to Sellfy, and the company offers unlimited bandwidth and secure file storage. Users can also embed their entire store or individual project widgets in their site, with the ability to preview how widgets will appear before they are displayed.

Features

Sellfy includes:

Online Store

Sellfy is a powerful e-commerce platform that helps you personalize your online storefront. You can add your logo, change colors, revise navigation, and edit the layout of your store. Sellfy also allows you to create a full shopping cart so customers can purchase multiple items. And Sellfy gives you the ability to set your language or let customers see a translated version of your store based on their location.

Sellfy gives you the option to host your store directly on its platform, add a custom domain to your store, and use it as an embedded storefront on your website. Sellfy also optimizes its store offerings for mobile devices, allowing for a seamless checkout experience.

Product hosting

Sellfy allows creators to host all their products and sell all of their digital products on one platform. Sellfy also does not place storage limits on your store but recommends that files be no larger than 5GB. Creators can sell both standard and subscription-based products in any file format that is supported by the online marketplace. Customers can purchase products instantly after making a purchase – there is no waiting period.

You can organize your store by creating your product categories, sorting by any characteristic you choose. Your title, description, and the image will be included on each product page. In this way, customers can immediately evaluate all of your products. You can offer different pricing options for all of your products, including "pay what you want," in which the price is entirely up to the customer. This option allows you to give customers control over the cost of individual items (without a minimum price) or to set pricing minimums—a good option if you're in a competitive market or when you have higher-end products. You can also offer set prices per product as well as free products to help build your store's popularity.

Sellfy is ideal for selling digital content, such as ebooks. But it does not allow you to copyrighted material (that you don't have rights to distribute).

Embed options

Sellfy offers several ways to share your store, enabling you to promote your business on different platforms. Sellfy lets you integrate it with your existing website using "buy now" buttons, embed your entire storefront, or embed certain products so you can reach more people. Sellfy also enables you to connect with your Facebook page and YouTube channel, maximizing your visibility.

Payments and security

Sellfy is a simple online platform that allows customers to buy your products directly through your store. Sellfy has two payment processing options: PayPal and Stripe. You will receive instant payments with both of these processors, and your customer data is protected by Sellfy's secure (PCI-compliant) payment security measures. In addition to payment security, Sellfy provides anti-fraud tools to help protect your products including PDF stamping, unique download links, and limited download attempts.

Marketing and analytics tools

The Sellfy platform includes marketing and analytics tools to help you manage your online store. You can send email product updates and collect newsletter subscribers through the platform. With Sellfy, you can also offer discount codes and product upsells, as well as create and track Facebook and Twitter ads for your store. The software's analytics dashboard will help you track your best-performing products, generated revenue, traffic channels, top locations, and overall store performance.

Integrations

To expand functionality and make your e-commerce store run more efficiently, Sellfy offers several integrations. Google Analytics and Webhooks, as well as integrations with Patreon and Facebook Live Chat, are just a few of the options available. Sellfy allows you to connect to Zapier, which gives you access to hundreds of third-party apps, including tools like Mailchimp, Trello, Salesforce, and more.

Pricing and Premium Plan Features

Free Plan

• Price: $0

The free plan comes with:

• Up to 10 products
• Print-on-demand products
• Physical products

Starter Plan

• Price: $19/month

Starter plan comes with:

• Everything is Free, plus:
• Unlimited products
• Digital products
• Subscription products
• Connect your domain
• 2,000 email credits

Business Plan

• Price: $49/month

The business plan comes with:

• Everything in Starter, plus:
• Remove "Sellfy" branding
• Store design migration
• Cart abandonment
• Product upselling
• 10,000 email credits

Premium Plan

• Price: $99/month

The premium plan comes with:

• Everything in Business, plus:
• Product migration
• Priority support
• 50,000 email credits

Sellfy Review: Pros and Cons

Sellfy has its benefits and downsides, but fortunately, the pros outweigh the cons.

Pros

• It takes only a few minutes to set up an online store and begin selling products.
• You can sell your products on a single storefront, even if you are selling multiple product types.
• Sellfy supports selling a variety of product types, including physical items, digital goods, subscriptions, and print-on-demand products.
  
  
• Sellfy offers a free plan for those who want to test out the features before committing to a paid plan.
• You get paid the same day you make a sale. Sellfy doesn't delay your funds as some other payment processors do. 
• Print-on-demand services are available directly from your store, so you can sell merchandise to fans without setting up an integration. 
• You can conduct all store-related activities via the mobile app and all online stores have mobile responsive designs.
• Everything you need to make your website is included, including a custom domain name hosting, security for your files, and the ability to customize your store
• The file security features can help you protect your digital property by allowing you to put PDF stamps, set download limits, and SSL encryption.
• Sellfy provides unlimited support.
• Sellfy provides simple and intuitive tax and VAT configuration settings.
• Marketing strategies include coupons, email marketing, upselling, tracking pixels, and cart abandonment.

Cons

• Although the free plan is helpful, but it limits you to only 10 products.
• Payment plans often require an upgrade if you exceed a certain sales amount per year.
• The storefront designs are clean, but they're not unique templates for creating a completely different brand image.
• Sellfy's branding is removed from your hosted product when you upgrade to the $49 per month Business plan.
• The free plan does not allow for selling digital or subscription products.

Conclusion

In this article, we have taken a look at some of the biggest benefits associated with using sellfy for eCommerce. Once you compare these benefits to what you get with other platforms such as Shopify, you should find that it is worth your time to consider sellfy for your business. After reading this article all of your questions will be solved but if you have still some questions let me know in the comment section below, I will be happy to answer your questions.

Note: This article contains affiliate links which means we make a small commission if you buy sellfy premium plan from our link.

SEMrush and Ahrefs are among the most popular tools in the SEO industry. Both companies have been in business for years and have thousands of customers per month.

If you're a professional SEO or trying to do digital marketing on your own, at some point you'll likely consider using a tool to help with your efforts. Ahrefs and SEMrush are two names that will likely appear on your shortlist.

In this guide, I'm going to help you learn more about these SEO tools and how to choose the one that's best for your purposes.

What is SEMrush?

SEMrush is a popular SEO tool with a wide range of features—it's the leading competitor research service for online marketers. SEMrush's SEO Keyword Magic tool offers over 20 billion Google-approved keywords, which are constantly updated and it's the largest keyword database.

The program was developed in 2007 as SeoQuake is a small Firefox extension

Features

• Most accurate keyword data: Accurate keyword search volume data is crucial for SEO and PPC campaigns by allowing you to identify what keywords are most likely to bring in big sales from ad clicks. SEMrush constantly updates its databases and provides the most accurate data.
• Largest Keyword database: SEMrush's Keyword Magic Tool now features 20-billion keywords, providing marketers and SEO professionals the largest database of keywords.


• All SEMrush users receive daily ranking data, mobile volume information, and the option to buy additional keywords by default with no additional payment or add-ons needed
• Most accurate position tracking tool: This tool provides all subscribers with basic tracking capabilities, making it suitable for SEO professionals. Plus, the Position Tracking tool provides local-level data to everyone who uses the tool.
• SEO Data Management: SEMrush makes managing your online data easy by allowing you to create visually appealing custom PDF reports, including Branded and White Label reports, report scheduling, and integration with GA, GMB, and GSC.
• Toxic link monitoring and penalty recovery: With SEMrush, you can make a detailed analysis of toxic backlinks, toxic scores, toxic markers, and outreach to those sites.
• Content Optimization and Creation Tools: SEMrush offers content optimization and creation tools that let you create SEO-friendly content. Some features include the SEO Writing Assistant, On-Page SEO Check, er/SEO Content Template, Content Audit, Post Tracking, Brand Monitoring.

Ahrefs

Ahrefs is a leading SEO platform that offers a set of tools to grow your search traffic, research your competitors, and monitor your niche. The company was founded in 2010, and it has become a popular choice among SEO tools. Ahrefs has a keyword index of over 10.3 billion keywords and offers accurate and extensive backlink data updated every 15-30 minutes and it is the world's most extensive backlink index database.

Features

• Backlink alerts data and new keywords: Get an alert when your site is linked to or discussed in blogs, forums, comments, or when new keywords are added to a blog posting about you.
• Intuitive interface: The intuitive design of the widget helps you see the overall health of your website and search engine ranking at a glance.
• Site Explorer: The Site Explorer will give you an in-depth look at your site's search traffic.
• Domain Comparison
• Reports with charts and graphs
• JavaScript rendering and a site audit can identify SEO issues.
• A question explorer that provides well-crafted topic suggestions

Direct Comparisons: Ahrefs vs SEMrush

Now that you know a little more about each tool, let's take a look at how they compare. I'll analyze each tool to see how they differ in interfaces, keyword research resources, rank tracking, and competitor analysis.

User Interface

Ahrefs and SEMrush both offer comprehensive information and quick metrics regarding your website's SEO performance. However, Ahrefs takes a bit more of a hands-on approach to getting your account fully set up, whereas SEMrush's simpler dashboard can give you access to the data you need quickly.

In this section, we provide a brief overview of the elements found on each dashboard and highlight the ease with which you can complete tasks.

AHREFS

The Ahrefs dashboard is less cluttered than that of SEMrush, and its primary menu is at the very top of the page, with a search bar designed only for entering URLs.

Additional features of the Ahrefs platform include:

• You can see analytics from the dashboard, including search engine rankings to domain ratings, referring domains, and backlink
• Jumping from one tool to another is easy. You can use the Keyword Explorer to find a keyword to target and then directly track your ranking with one click.
• The website offers a tooltip helper tool that allows you to hover your mouse over something that isn't clear and get an in-depth explanation.

SEMRUSH

When you log into the SEMrush Tool, you will find four main modules. These include information about your domains, organic keyword analysis, ad keyword, and site traffic.

You'll also find some other options like

• A search bar allows you to enter a domain, keyword, or anything else you wish to explore.
• A menu on the left side of the page provides quick links to relevant information, including marketing insights, projects, keyword analytics, and more.
• The customer support resources located directly within the dashboard can be used to communicate with the support team or to learn about other resources such as webinars and blogs.
• Detailed descriptions of every resource offered. This detail is beneficial for new marketers, who are just starting.

WHO WINS?

Both Ahrefs and SEMrush have user-friendly dashboards, but Ahrefs is less cluttered and easier to navigate. On the other hand, SEMrush offers dozens of extra tools, including access to customer support resources.

When deciding on which dashboard to use, consider what you value in the user interface, and test out both.

Rank Tracking

If you're looking to track your website's search engine ranking, rank tracking features can help. You can also use them to monitor your competitors.

Let's take a look at Ahrefs vs. SEMrush to see which tool does a better job.

Ahrefs

The Ahrefs Rank Tracker is simpler to use. Just type in the domain name and keywords you want to analyze, and it spits out a report showing you the search engine results page (SERP) ranking for each keyword you enter.

Rank Tracker looks at the ranking performance of keywords and compares them with the top rankings for those keywords. Ahrefs also offers:

You'll see metrics that help you understand your visibility, traffic, average position, and keyword difficulty.

It gives you an idea of whether a keyword would be profitable to target or not.

SEMRUSH

SEMRush offers a tool called Position Tracking. This tool is a project tool—you must set it up as a new project. Below are a few of the most popular features of the SEMrush Position Tracking tool:

All subscribers are given regular data updates and mobile search rankings upon subscribing

The platform provides opportunities to track several SERP features, including Local tracking.

Intuitive reports allow you to track statistics for the pages on your website, as well as the keywords used in those pages.

Identify pages that may be competing with each other using the Cannibalization report.

WHO WINS?

Ahrefs is a more user-friendly option. It takes seconds to enter a domain name and keywords. From there, you can quickly decide whether to proceed with that keyword or figure out how to rank better for other keywords.

SEMrush allows you to check your mobile rankings and ranking updates daily, which is something Ahrefs does not offer. SEMrush also offers social media rankings, a tool you won't find within the Ahrefs platform. Both are good which one do you like let me know in the comment.

Keyword Research

Keyword research is closely related to rank tracking, but it's used for deciding which keywords you plan on using for future content rather than those you use now.

When it comes to SEO, keyword research is the most important thing to consider when comparing the two platforms.

AHREFS

The Ahrefs Keyword Explorer provides you with thousands of keyword ideas and filters search results based on the chosen search engine.

Ahrefs supports several features, including:

• It can search multiple keywords in a single search and analyze them together. At SEMrush, you also have this feature in Keyword Overview.
• Ahrefs has a variety of keywords for different search engines, including Google, YouTube, Amazon, Bing, Yahoo, Yandex, and other search engines.
• When you click on a keyword, you can see its search volume and keyword difficulty, but also other keywords related to it, which you didn't use.

SEMRUSH

SEMrush's Keyword Magic Tool has over 20 billion keywords for Google. You can type in any keyword you want, and a list of suggested keywords will appear.

The Keyword Magic Tool also lets you to:

• Show performance metrics by keyword
• Search results are based on both broad and exact keyword matches.
• Show data like search volume, trends, keyword difficulty, and CPC.
• Show the first 100 Google search results for any keyword.
• Identify SERP Features and Questions related to each keyword
• SEMrush has released a new Keyword Gap Tool that uncovers potentially useful keyword opportunities for you, including both paid and organic keywords.

WHO WINS?

Both of these tools offer keyword research features and allow users to break down complicated tasks into something that can be understood by beginners and advanced users alike.

If you're interested in keyword suggestions, SEMrush appears to have more keyword suggestions than Ahrefs does. It also continues to add new features, like the Keyword Gap tool and SERP Questions recommendations.

Competitor Analysis

Both platforms offer competitor analysis tools, eliminating the need to come up with keywords off the top of your head. Each tool is useful for finding keywords that will be useful for your competition so you know they will be valuable to you.

AHREFS

Ahrefs' domain comparison tool lets you compare up to five websites (your website and four competitors) side-by-side.it also shows you how your site is ranked against others with metrics such as backlinks, domain ratings, and more.

Use the Competing Domains section to see a list of your most direct competitors, and explore how many keywords matches your competitors have.

To find more information about your competitor, you can look at the Site Explorer and Content Explorer tools and type in their URL instead of yours.

SEMRUSH

SEMrush provides a variety of insights into your competitors' marketing tactics. The platform enables you to research your competitors effectively. It also offers several resources for competitor analysis including:

Traffic Analytics helps you identify where your audience comes from, how they engage with your site, what devices visitors use to view your site, and how your audiences overlap with other websites.

SEMrush's Organic Research examines your website's major competitors and shows their organic search rankings, keywords they are ranking for, and even if they are ranking for any (SERP) features and more.

The Market Explorer search field allows you to type in a domain and lists websites or articles similar to what you entered. Market Explorer also allows users to perform in-depth data analytics on These companies and markets.

WHO WINS?

SEMrush wins here because it has more tools dedicated to competitor analysis than Ahrefs. However, Ahrefs offers a lot of functionality in this area, too. It takes a combination of both tools to gain an advantage over your competition.

Pricing

Ahrefs

• Lite Monthly: $99/month
• Standard Monthly: $179/month
• Annually Lite: $990/year
• Annually Standard: $1790/year

SEMRUSH

• Pro Plan: $119.95/month
• Guru Plan:$229.95/month
• Business Plan: $449.95/month

Which SEO tool should you choose for digital marketing?

When it comes to keyword data research, you will become confused about which one to choose.

Consider choosing Ahrefs if you

• Like friendly and clean interface
• Searching for simple keyword suggestions

• Want to get more keywords for different search engines like Amazon, Bing, Yahoo, Yandex, Baidu, and more

Consider SEMrush if you:

• Want more marketing and SEO features
• Need competitor analysis tool
• Need to keep your backlinks profile clean
• Looking for more keyword suggestions for Google

Both tools are great. Choose the one which meets your requirements and if you have any experience using either Ahrefs or SEMrush let me know in the comment section which works well for you.

Are you looking for a new graphic design tool? Would you like to read a detailed review of Canva? As it's one of the tools I love using. I am also writing my first ebook using canva and publish it soon on my site you can download it is free.  Let's start the review.

Canva has a web version and also a mobile app

What is Canva?

Canva is a free graphic design web application that allows you to create invitations, business cards, flyers, lesson plans, banners, and more using professionally designed templates. You can upload your own photos from your computer or from Google Drive, and add them to Canva's templates using a simple drag-and-drop interface. It's like having a basic version of Photoshop that doesn't require Graphic designing knowledge to use. It’s best for nongraphic designers.

Who is Canva best suited for?

Canva is a great tool for small business owners, online entrepreneurs, and marketers who don’t have the time and want to edit quickly.

To create sophisticated graphics, a tool such as Photoshop can is ideal. To use it, you’ll need to learn its hundreds of features, get familiar with the software, and it’s best to have a good background in design, too.

Also running the latest version of Photoshop you need a high-end computer.

So here  Canva takes place, with Canva you can do all that with drag-and-drop feature. It’s also easier to use and free. Also an even-more-affordable paid version is available for $12.95 per month.

Free vs Pro vs Enterprise Pricing plan

The product is available in three plans: Free, Pro ($12.99/month per user or  $119.99/year for up to 5 people), and Enterprise ($30 per user per month, minimum 25 people).

Free plan Features

• 250,000+ free templates
• 100+ design types (social media posts, presentations, letters, and more)
• Hundreds of thousands of free photos and graphics
• Invite members to your team
• Collaborate and comment in real-time
• 5GB of cloud storage
• Try Canva Pro for free for 30 days

Pro Plan Features 

• Everything Free, has plus:
• 100+ million premium and  stock photos, videos, audio, and graphics
• 610,000+ premium and free templates with new designs daily
• Access to Background Remover and Magic Rexxxx
•  Create a library of your brand or campaign's colors, logos, and fonts with up to 100 Brand Kits
• Remove image backgrounds instantly with background remover
• Rexxxx designs infinitely with Magic Rexxxx
• Save designs as templates for your team to use
• 100GB of cloud storage
• Schedule social media content to 8 platforms

Enterprise Plan Features

• Everything Pro has plus:
• Establish your brand's visual identity with logos, colors and fonts across multiple Brand Kits
• Control your team's access to apps, graphics, logos, colors and fonts with brand controls
• Built-in workflows to get approval on your designs
• Set which elements your team can edit and stay on brand with template locking
• Unlimited Storage
• Log in with single-sign on (SSO) and have access to 24/7 Enterprise-level support.

How to Use Canva?

To get started on Canva, you will need to create an account by providing your email address, Google, Facebook or Apple credentials. You will then choose your account type between student, teacher, small business, large company, non-profit, or personal. Based on your choice of account type, templates will be recommended to you.

You can sign up for a free trial of Canva Pro, or you can start with the free version to get a sense of whether it’s the right graphic design tool for your needs.

Canva Sign Up

Designing with Canva

When you sign up for an account, Canva will suggest different post types to choose from. Based on the type of account you set up  you'll be able to see templates categorized by the following categories: social media posts, documents, presentations, marketing, events, ads, launch your business, build your online brand, etc.

 Start by choosing a template for your post or searching for something more specific. Search by social network name to see a list of post types on each network.

Templates

Next, you can choose a template. Choose from hundreds of templates that are ready to go, with customizable photos, text, and other elements.

You can start your design by choosing from a variety of ready-made templates, searching for a template matching your needs, or working with a blank template.

Elements

Inside the Canva designer, the Elements tab gives you access to lines and shapes, graphics, photos, videos, audio, charts, photo frames, and photo grids.The search box on the Elements tab lets you search everything on Canva.

To begin with, Canva has a large library of elements to choose from. To find them, be specific in your search query. You may also want to search in the following tabs to see various elements separately:

Photos

The Photos tab lets you search for and choose from millions of professional stock photos for your templates.

You can replace the photos in our templates to create a new look. This can also make the template more suited to your industry.

You can find photos on other stock photography sites like pexel, pixabay and many more or simply upload your own photos.

When you choose an image, Canva’s photo editing features let you adjust the photo’s settings (brightness, contrast, saturation, etc.), crop, or animate it.

 When you subscribe to Canva Pro, you get access to a number of premium features, including the Background Remover. This feature allows you to remove the background from any stock photo in  library or any image you upload.

Text

The Text tab lets you add headings, normal text, and graphical text to your design.

When you click on  text, you'll see options to adjust the font, font xxxx, color, format, spacing, and text effects (like shadows). 

Canva Pro subscribers can choose from a large library of fonts on the Brand Kit or the Styles tab. Enterprise-level controls ensure that visual content remains on-brand, no matter how many people are working on it.

Audio

Create an animated image or video by adding audio to capture user’s attention in social news feeds.

If you want to use audio from another stock site or your own audio tracks, you can upload them in the Uploads tab or from the more option.

Video

Want to create your own videos? Choose from thousands of stock video clips. You’ll find videos that range upto 2 minutes

You can upload your own videos as well as videos from other stock sites in the Uploads tab. 

Once you have chosen a video, you can use the editing features in Canva to trim the video, flip it, and adjust its transparency.

Backgrounds

On the Background tab, you’ll find free stock photos to serve as backgrounds on your designs. Change out the background on a template to give it a more personal touch.

Styles

The Styles tab lets you quickly change the look and feel of your template with just a click. And if you have a Canva Pro subscription, you can upload your brand’s custom colors and fonts to ensure designs stay on brand.

Logos

If you have a Canva Pro subscription, you’ll have a Logos tab. Here, you can upload variations of your brand logo to use throughout your designs.

With Canva, you can also create your own logos. Note that you cannot trademark a logo with stock content in it.

Publishing with Canva

With Canva, free users can download and share designs to multiple platforms including Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Slack and Tumblr.

Canva Pro subscribers can create multiple post formats from one design. For example, you can start by designing an Instagram post, and Canva's Magic Rexxxxr can rexxxx it for other networks, Stories, Reels, and other formats.

Canva Pro subscribers can also use Canva’s Content Planner to post content on eight different accounts on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Slack, and Tumblr.

Canva Team

Canva Pro allows you to work with your team on visual content. Designs can be created inside Canva, and then sent to your team members for approval. Everyone can make comments, edits, revisions, and keep track via the version history.

Canva Print

When it comes to printing your designs, Canva has you covered. With an extensive selection of printing options, they can turn your designs into anything from banners and wall art to mugs and t-shirts. 

Canva Print is perfect for any business seeking to make a lasting impression. Create inspiring designs people will want to wear, keep, and share. Hand out custom business cards that leave a lasting impression on customers' minds.

Canva Apps

The Canva app is available on the Apple App Store and Google Play. The Canva app has earned a 4.9 out of five star rating from over 946.3K Apple users and a 4.5 out of five star rating from over 6,996,708 Google users.

In addition to mobile apps, you can use Canva’s integration with other Internet services to add images and text from sources like Google Maps, Emojis, photos from Google Drive and Dropbox, YouTube videos, Flickr photos, Bitmojis, and other popular visual content elements.

Canva Pros and Cons

Pros:

• A user-friendly interface
• Canva is a great tool for people who want to create professional graphics but don’t have graphic design skills.
• Hundreds of templates, so you'll never have to start from scratch.
• Wide variety of templates to fit multiple uses
• Branding kits to keep your team consistent with the brand colors and fonts
• Creating visual content on the go
• You can find royalty free images, audio, and video without having to subscribe to another service.

Cons:

• Some professional templates are available for Pro user only
• Advanced photo editing features like blurring or erasing a specific area are missing.
• Some elements that fall outside of a design are tricky to retrieve.
• Features (like Canva presentations) could use some improvement.
• If you are a regular user of Adobe products, you might find Canva's features limited.
• Prefers to work with vectors. Especially logos.
• Expensive enterprise pricing

Conclusion

In general, Canva is an excellent tool for those who need simple images for projects. If you are a graphic designer with experience, you will find Canva’s platform lacking in customization and advanced features – particularly vectors. But if you have little design experience, you will find Canva easier to use than advanced graphic design tools like Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator for most projects. If you have any queries let me know in the comments section.