Sandberg: Trump's immigration ban defies American values - CNET

The Facebook exec says the president's executive orders put the dreams, futures and safety of immigrant women and children at risk.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/facebook-sheryl-sandberg-trump-immigration-ban-defies-american-values/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Super Mario Run only got 5 percent of players to cough up their coins - CNET

Super Mario Run jumped high with number of downloads, but fell short in number of people who actually paid.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/nintendo-super-mario-run-5-percent-paid-earnings/#ftag=CAD590a51e

iPhone 7 propels Apple to record-shattering sales - CNET

Who says the iPhone is boring? The company reports record unit sales despite few changes to the look of its flagship device.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/apple-iphone-7-tim-cook-first-quarter-sales/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Amazon to spend $1.49 B on new centralized air cargo hub - CNET

The investment, which could create over 2,000 new jobs, points to Amazon's continued ambitions to expand in shipping and logistics.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/amazon-to-spend-1-49-billion-on-new-centralized-air-cargo-hub/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Apple's 'Get A Mac' star switches to Huawei - CNET

Commentary: Justin Long, he who personified Apple in its greatest years, wants to sell you a phone from a different company in a new ad campaign.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/apples-get-a-mac-star-swiches-to-huawei/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Facebook weeds out more fake news - CNET

Called out for a raft of fake news stories that allegedly affected the 2016 US election, Facebook is systematically adding steps to show what's real.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/facebook-weeds-out-more-fake-news/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Super-old sea creature discovered, gives us super-new creeps - CNET

A 500-million-year-old creature adds to the fascinating chain of early life on Earth.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/super-old-sea-creature-discovered-gives-us-super-new-creeps/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Trump will 'friend' the Supreme Court on Facebook Live - CNET

The White House said President Donald Trump will announce his pick for the next justice of the Supreme Court on Facebook Live.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/trump-will-friend-the-supreme-court-on-facebook-live-scotus/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Is space the fountain of youth? NASA twins study may provide clue - CNET

A study on twin astronauts Scott and Mark Kelly is looking at how Scott's year in space affected his body. One early finding surprised researchers.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/nasa-twins-study-scott-mark-kelly-space-station-telomeres/#ftag=CAD590a51e

WhatsApp sued by German watchdog group over privacy - CNET

WhatsApp and Facebook have been in hot water in Germany since September for how they share data. The heat is now turned up to 11.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/whatsapp-sued-german-watchdog-vzbz-privacy-concerns/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Orangutans, you swingers. Now there's a Tinder for you - CNET

Samboja the female orangutan will scroll through pictures of males and let zookeepers know which ones she'd like to invite over for a little monkey business.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/tinder-for-orangutans-apes-mating-touchsreens-apenheul-primate-park/#ftag=CAD590a51e

You won't get the Galaxy S8 phone next month, but Samsung might reveal this tablet - CNET

The rumored tablet could have a 9.6-inch screen and 12-megapixel camera.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/you-wont-get-the-galaxy-s8-phone-next-month-but-samsung-might-reveal-this-tablet/#ftag=CAD590a51e

See a 'firehose' of lava shooting into the ocean - CNET

A National Park Service ranger captures a stunning moment of nature's power as a blood-red flow of lava leaps into ocean water in Hawaii.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/hawaii-firehose-lava-ocean-national-park-service/#ftag=CAD590a51e

The hottest trending videos on YouTube right now - CNET

Clips from the 2017 SAG awards, a weird sculpture in Denmark, and a puppy reunited with his favorite toy are my top YouTube videos this week.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/the-hottest-trending-videos-on-youtube-right-now/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Uber will use self-driving Daimler cars... eventually... probably - Roadshow

The deal with Mercedes' parent company is yet another step toward Uber's goal of not having to do pesky things like pay humans.

from
https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/uber-daimler-mercedes-benz-deal-self-driving-cars/#ftag=CAD590a51e

FCC cable set-top rules headed for regulatory graveyard - CNET

The Republican-led FCC is no longer considering rules that would have ended cable set-top box rental fees.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/fcc-cable-set-top-rules-headed-for-regulatory-graveyard/#ftag=CAD590a51e

St. Louis Cardinals nailed for big league hack - CNET

The National League powerhouse loses two draft picks and must pay $2 million in fines for hacking the Houston Astros in 2013.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/cardinals-astros-computer-hacking-baseball-fine/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Sorry, gamers. You can't copyright your face. - CNET

A New York federal judge dismisses a proposed lawsuit, saying gamers didn't show Take-Two's facial-scanning tech harms their privacy.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/sorry-gamers-you-cant-copyright-your-face/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Sorry, Nexus 6 and Nexus 9 owners won't get the next Android update - CNET

As Google announces Nougat 7.1.2, some of its old flagship Nexus devices get left behind.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/android-update-nexus-6-nexus-9-nougat/#ftag=CAD590a51e

'Star Trek: Discovery' finally warps into production - CNET

"Star Trek: Discovery" officially starts filming, and a behind-the-scenes teaser video drops lots of hints for fans.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/star-trek-discovery-starts-production-cbs-all-access/#ftag=CAD590a51e

'Lord of the Rings' cast reunites, fights a cave troll - CNET

An unofficial cast reunion of "Lord of the Rings" actors turns into an imaginary battle, with cutlery .

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/lord-of-the-rings-cast-dominic-monaghan-reunion-cave-troll-hobbits/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Newegg launches landing page for Indiegogo gizmos - CNET

The tech-focused retailer and crowdfunding site take the next step with their partnership to bring a handful of new products to Newegg.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/newegg-indiegogo-launches-landing-page-for-crowdfunding-gizmos/#ftag=CAD590a51e

See a forceful Christopher Walken-as-Darth Vader impression - CNET

It's probably a good thing Christopher Walken didn't star as Darth Vader in the original Star Wars films.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/christopher-walken-as-darth-vader-impression/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Luminar: The Hot Editing App That Adapts to You

As an online professional, you naturally have your share of problems to solve and challenges to face. You look for tools to help you work your problems, ease your workload, and contribute to building better products.

One of the challenges you likely face is working with images. Unless you happen to be a professional photographer or at least a very experience one, you have to rely on other sources when you are in need of quality photos. Even if you have a basic photo editing tool, it may not suffice, and you’ve found that tools that can do the job are often cumbersome to work with, or have a steep learning curve.

If you happen to be a Mac user, here’s some good news for you.

            Check out Luminar; the new photo editor for Mac that adjusts to your skillset.

• Luminar is the perfect photo editor for your creative imagery projects.
• Online marketing? Luminar enables you to create the attractive images required to adequately support a marketing campaign.
• Luminar can help to brand you as a pro blogger.

Luminar Mac photo editor is precisely what you need to get your output to the next level.

The World’s First Photo Editing Software That Adapts to Your Skill Level and  Style

Highly sophisticated, complex apps can be more trouble to try to work with that they are worth; or so it seems at times. This isn’t true with Luminar. Luminar is indeed a sophisticated, complex piece of software, but it’s UI is oh so friendly and easy to work with. You can do a bang-up photo editing and enhancing job the first time through, and you’ll only get better.

This brief tutorial demonstrates just how easily Luminar adapts to your skill level in spite of its many powerful and versatile features. Check out this table comparing Luminar’s features with those of Aperture and Lightroom to see for yourself.

Color Splash

There are several ways to create a color splash effect, each of which is quite simple. You can, for example, create the effect with a B&W filter and masking brush. Load the file and click on the “Add Filter” button to see the image in B&W. Then, click on the Brush icon, select the Brush Erasing mode, and brush out the monochrome to restore the color.

Image Resizing

Upload an image in Luminar, edit it, and click “Shift-Command-E” to launch the export menu. The choose the appropriate sizing more, and click Save. The result? Your image is resized to your specifications.

 

Get Creative with Luminar

Nestled within Luminar’s amazing toolkit are three filters designed to get your creative juices flowing. You can do some amazing things with the Texture Overlay, Dramatic, and Color Temperature filters, as you will see when viewing the videos.

 

The Color Temperature Filter

You can make some images more relaxing by cooling them down using a bluish hue. Others can be made more intense, by warming them up using a reddish hue. Simply pick Color Temperature from the menu, and adjust the red or blue slider buttons (temperature and tint) as shown in the video. Like the other features found in this Mac image editor, this one is a breeze to work with.

 

Adding Texture with the Texture Overlay Filter

This can be an enjoyable experience; one in which you can do a great deal of experimenting to get a result that you find especially appealing. This could be a grungy look, a vintage look, or something that could best be described as uniquely creative.

It’s simply a matter of selecting the Texture Overlay filter, choosing a texture, and adjusting the lightness/darkness as you’ll see in this video:

 

The Dramatic Filter

As the name implies, the Dramatic filter allows you to create some downright exciting images. This filter helps make Luminar an image editor Mac users simply love working with. The video demonstrates the stunning results you can achieve by giving a photo an urban, gritty look. Simply select “Dramatic” in the menu, and use the slider button to get the result you want.

 

5 Cool Features Unique to Luminar that Offer a Special Touch

                                    With these unique features, you can get results like this!

1.  Split Color Warmth – One slider is for warm colors, one is for cool colors. Adjusting them to add warmth, or produce a cool hue, enables you to do some creative toning, or increase a photo’s vibrancy.

2. Split Toning – You may wish to add color to either highlighted or shadowy regions in a photograph. Simply select the region type, and adjust the hue and saturation sliders. The “Amount slider” is used to increase overall intensity.

3.  Golden Hour – This is a must-have filter when your sunset or sunrise photos are either too dark, or the anticipated subtle lighting effects appear washed out. Golden Hour’s sliders allow you to intensify subtle sunrise/sunset tones; or emulate them.

4.  DeHaze – This filter lets you cut through haze and fog to bring out details that risk being lost in the mist. This tool consists of a single slider button.

5.  Workspaces – This cool feature is a time saver. It allows you to set up one or more workspaces consisting of filters commonly used for various types of photographs. Once you’ve selected a workspace, you can modify it if needed.

 

Luminar can be used in several ways. You can use it as standalone software, as a plugin for Lightroom, Aperture, or Photoshop, or as an extension for Photos.

The easiest and best way to learn more about this impressive photo editor is to take it for a test drive.

Read More at Luminar: The Hot Editing App That Adapts to You

from
https://webdesignledger.com/luminar-hot-editing-app-adapts/

Even Sprint beat AT&T and Verizon in customer growth - CNET

An end-of-year surge in signups suggests Sprint is starting to pull itself out of a death spiral at last.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/even-sprint-topped-at-t-verizon-in-customer-growth/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Walmart kills its Amazon Prime copycat - CNET

The company gets rid of ShippingPass to make room for free two-day shipping for all.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/walmart-kills-shippingpass-amazon-prime-free-two-day-shipping/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Chinese chatters send whopping 14B virtual cash envelopes over new year - CNET

It comes as China spends in the trillions of dollars in the financial tech world.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/wechat-users-send-14b-virtual-cash-envelopes-over-chinese-nye/#ftag=CAD590a51e

There's definitely a new 'Game of Thrones' short story coming this year - CNET

No, there's no guarantee that George R. R. Martin will finish "The Winds of Winter" this year. But at least we'll get a new story in 2017.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/george-r-r-martin-writing-special-game-of-thrones-short-story/#ftag=CAD590a51e

MacBook Pros with Touch Bars banned from law exams - CNET

The Touch Bar's predictive text could let students cheat their way into a passing mark.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/macbook-pros-with-touch-bars-banned-from-law-exams/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Lego's new social network for kids uses Lego emoji to communicate - CNET

Branding, or community-building? Lego's first dive into a kid hub filled with crazy Lego sculptures will be a moderated work in progress.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/legos-social-network-for-kids-uses-lego-emoji-to-communicate/#ftag=CAD590a51e

You actually need to win the lottery to get PSVR in Japan - CNET

Japan, home of PlayStation, is struggling to keep up with demand for PlayStation's virtual reality platform.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/you-actually-need-to-win-the-lottery-to-get-psvr-in-japan/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Amazon's Jeff Bezos promises to fight Trump's immigration ban - CNET

The tech chief tells Amazon employees affected by the ban "the full extent of Amazon's resources are behind you."

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/amazon-ceo-jeff-bezos-promises-fight-trumps-immigration-ban/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Rihanna and Azealia Banks in Trump fight, post each other's phone number - CNET

Commentary: You know the issue is serious when celebrities go all out to ruin each other on Twitter and Instagram.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/rihanna-and-azealia-banks-have-trump-fight-tweet-each-others-phone-number/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Every WWE star you need to know about - CNET

Want to get into pro wrestling but don't who to look out for? These are the faces you'll want to be familiar with.

from
https://www.cnet.com/pictures/wwe-every-star-wrestler-you-need-to-know/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Apple Watch 'theater mode' is real - CNET

WatchOS 3.2, now in beta for developers, lets you quickly mute the sound on your Apple Watch and avoid waking the screen when you raise your wrist.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/apple-watch-theater-mode-is-real-available-to-developers/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Your family tree begins with this ugly wrinkled sea sack - CNET

No, your grandma isn't the oldest bag going round.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/your-family-tree-begins-with-this-ugly-wrinkled-sea-sack/#ftag=CAD590a51e

What the WWE Royal Rumble told us about WrestleMania - CNET

Did you think Roman Reigns would be wrestling for a title at WrestleMania? Think again.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/royal-rumble-wwe-told-us-about-wrestlemania/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Thousands of Googlers protest Trump's immigration order - CNET

Google employees, including cofounder Sergey Brin, from offices worldwide gathered to speak out against President Trump's immigration restrictions.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/google-employees-protest-trump-immigration-ban-sergey-brin-sundar-pichai/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Here's what tech has to say about Trump's immigration ban - CNET

Over the weekend, Silicon Valley spoke out against President Donald Trump's immigration ban. Here's what they had to say.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/tech-apple-google-facebook-uber-amazon-airbnb-tesla-microsoft-trump-immigration-ban/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Nextbit Robin phone will be no more as new owner Razer steps in - CNET

Robin phones will see software support for the next year, but don't expect a sequel soon.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/nextbit-robin-phone-will-be-no-more-as-new-owner-razer-steps-in/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Apple pulls online Activation Lock tool - CNET

The status check page could reportedly be used to steal valid iPhone and iPad serial numbers from Apple device owners.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/apple-pulls-online-activation-lock-tool/#ftag=CAD590a51e

​Lyft tops Apple App Store, because...#DeleteUber - CNET

Uber reportedly buys promoted tweets and Facebook ads to say it's helping immigrants, while Lyft's app grows in popularity.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/lyft-tops-apple-app-store-delete-uber-kalanick-trump-immigration-protest/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Are we all just living in a holographic universe? Maybe - CNET

Since the 1990s, some physicists have suggested our reality is like a 3D projection of a two-dimensional universe. Now one team says it has evidence to support the wild idea.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/holographic-universe-hologram-reality-big-bang-physics/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Amazon's Alexa will place that annoyingly long Starbucks order for you - CNET

Starbucks now lets you order through its Alexa assistant and iPhone app, which means less time waiting in line to get your name spelled wrong.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/starbucks-amazon-alexa-ai-barista-compatibility/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Peter Capaldi leaving 'Doctor Who' - CNET

"It's been cosmic", says the TARDIS star as he announces plans to make way for a new Doctor at Christmas.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/peter-capaldi-leaving-doctor-who-steven-moffat-chris-chibnall-bbc-season-10/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Play Netflix's Atari-style 'Stranger Things' video game - CNET

Now you can run around the Upside Down and save the day from Demogorgon in 8-bit glory.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/play-netflixs-atari-style-stranger-things-video-game/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Nothing says Trump-Putin bromance like gold-plated iPhones - CNET

From luxury smartphone maker Caviar comes a limited-edition pair of phones honoring a lovefest of global proportions.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/donald-trump-vladimir-putin-iphone-7-gold-caviar/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Facebook tool protects other accounts when hackers strike email - CNET

Currently, hackers with access to your email could use it to recover passwords from most of your other accounts. This tool aims to stop that.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/facebook-tool-recover-accounts-extra-security-email/#ftag=CAD590a51e

NASA captures Saturn's rings in mind-blowing detail - CNET

NASA's Cassini mission sticks its face into Saturn's rings and sends back some luscious close-ups that are out-of-this-world.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/saturn-rings-nasa-cassini-images-mind-blowing-detail/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Refugee ban leads to airport chaos, but Trump blames anything else - CNET

Commentary: On Twitter, the president insists his immigration ban wasn't the problem. Instead, he faults a computer outage, protesters and a senator's tears.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/donald-trump-refugee-immigration-ban-airport-protests-delta-computers/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Trump's next target? Work visas tech firms rely on - CNET

A newly drafted executive order could dramatically change hiring practices in the tech industry, reports Bloomberg.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/trump-work-visa-h1b-next-executive-order-tech-industry/#ftag=CAD590a51e

​Airbnb: Stranded refugees can stay with us for free - CNET

The home-rental site creates a webpage that lets people volunteer their homes to immigrants who've been affected by President Trump's executive order.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/airbnb-stranded-refugees-immigrants-stay-free-trump-executive-order/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Feel a drone's terror at being stalked by a house cat - CNET

Watch as a ruthless hunter tries to swipe a tiny drone out of the air in a battle of machine versus feline.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/drone-cat-chase-tiny-whoop/#ftag=CAD590a51e

​Smart home, smart lock, smart deals - CNET

From Home Deals: A smart lock can be your first step into a smart home. Here are the best deals out there on smart locks

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/smart-home-smart-lock-smart-deals/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Car2Go gets fancy by adding Mercedes-Benz vehicles to its fleet - Roadshow

Daimler's car-sharing service now includes the Mercedes CLA and GLA.

from
https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/car2go-gets-fancy-by-adding-mercedes-benz-vehicles-to-its-fleet/#ftag=CAD590a51e

So much for the Trump-tech alliance! (The 3:59, Ep. 170) - CNET

Many tech industry heavyweights criticize President Donald Trump's new immigration ban, which may kill off efforts for both sides to work together.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/trump-tech-immigration-uber-apple-iphone-7-the-359/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Audi recalls nearly 600,000 Q5 and A5 models over fire, airbag risks - Roadshow

Blocked coolant pumps could lead to fires and corroded airbag inflators could spray shrapnel into the cabin.

from
https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/audi-q5-a5-recall-over-fire-airbag-risks/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Unveil Secrets of the Best Converting CTA Buttons

The power of call-to-action buttons shouldn’t be underestimated. This is probably one of the most effective conversion-generating elements on your site. Although it may not seem to be as informative as the main body of your page/article/headline, but is probably the last chance to motivate your visitors to take an action as they scan through your content. So, what are the secrets of the proper use of CTA buttons on your site or blog? How to make them bring you the desired results? Let’s find it out.

CTA buttons play a huge role in your online marketing efforts. In the contemporary highly competitive world, it’s not enough to create “good” content only. Every piece of information that you share on your blog or site should be compelling and appealing to your audience so that it triggers their emotions and motivates for an action. Text links within your copy can also help you encourage the readers to click. Still, call-to-action buttons are considered as the most effective clickable element of your site, which can also boost your conversion rates.

A good call to action is the one that encourages people to click. If it neither catches the eye nor triggers any emotions, then there is no point to keep it on the page. Believe it or not, but with some simple tweaks can turn a CTA button into a powerful lead generating engine that can grow your site’s conversions to a great degree. Before we dig deeper in investigating the major secrets of clickable call-to-action buttons, let’s cast a glance at the basic tips to consider.

Must-follow tips:

• Any CTA button that you add to your website should complement with its overall design and look contrasting to its background.
• The button should look natural within interface. The key factors that influence the way you need to present it on your web project are the industry to which you are related, your audience, the type of content/products you represent, etc.

CTA buttons come in different shapes, colors, sizes. They also feature different texts and positioning. Which choices are the most effective for your web project? Which ones will bring the desired conversions? Let’s now uncover the major principles of clickable call-to-action buttons.

Wording for CTA Buttons

When it comes to CTAs, texts are far more important than their graphical presentation. Call-to-action buttons should clearly communicate what action a person will make with a click. A word or a phrase that you write on it should trigger clicks and sales, as well as communicate the benefit. So, what are the right words to add to CTA buttons?

• Phrases starting with “Get…” communicate benefits that people can attain from your offer.

• To make people curious about what you are saying, you can enhance a CTA button with “See …” phrase.
• Those users who are thirsty for knowledge will find phrases starting with “Read …” appealing.

• People who reach your site with the primary goal to spend money will react on “Buy …” phrases.

Keep the copy short and easy to understand for a wide audience. You can also make call-to-action buttons more actionable while adding “Now” to the text. Moreover, you can enhance the buttons with widely-recognizable signs like arrows pointing at the button and images/cartoons/animations staring at it.

A message containing a CTA button converts 2.5 times better than the one featuring pure texts. The stats is taken from a study conducted by Adroll on Facebook back in 2014. Still, different buttons target different audiences. For example, a “Book Now” is more likely to convert better on travel sites, “Learn More” is for education resources, “Download” is for marketing experts interested in getting a new e-book, etc.

 

In order to make your business a success, you need to guide people to the places where they are expected to take an action. Before we move to specific practical tips, let’s consider the key ways how to “prepare” the audience for conversion.

• Resonate with the needs of your audience.
• Show a reason to take the next step.
• Communicate every statement clearly.
• Ask to click and explain what the reader will get after hitting a call to action button.

What Color to Use

Words and size of call-to-action buttons are not the only factors letting you communicate with your audience. Colors into which CTAs are painted play a predefining role as well. There is no one specific color that will appeal to different audiences in a similar manner. When thinking about the color choice, remember about the people whom you target. Are those males or females? Do you target youngsters or adults? Based on the way you answer these question, you can decide upon the most appropriate colors for CTAs. For example, call-to-action buttons painted in warm colors (like red and orange) will be more appealing to women. Men, in their turn, give preference to cool colors, like green and blue.

 

You shouldn’t forget about your business niche as well. If you work in the food-related industry, then combinations of red, yellow and greed colors will have an appetizing effect on your visitors. A general rule that you need to consider is making a CTA button contrasting to the content and backgrounds surrounding it.

 

Call-to-Action Button Placement

This is one of the most important factors that one needs to consider. Is one button per page enough? Maybe you should put more than two CTAs on one page? What is the optimal placement of a call to action button on the page? Well, there is no one fit it all rule. In order to find the best and the most effective placement of the button on your site, you need to run A/B testing to find out what solution fits your project the best.

One of the most popular recommendations provided by online marketers is that you need to include at least 2 call-to-action buttons to the text of your offer – 1 in the beginning after the introduction, and another one in the end. Thus, you can welcome people to learn more about the things that you are talking about as they land on the page and motivate them for a purchase after they have looked though the entire publication.

When placing a button above or below the fold, you need to make it accessible to a person when they are ready to buy. Thus, you can choose from the following options:
Place CTAs in navigation.

Put it at the bottom of the page for those people who will scroll the text to its end.

After ad copy for motivated users who will have a desire to buy after they read an advertisement. Here is a good example from TemplateMonster’s team.

On any other page of your site, which is frequently visited by your audience (like reviews, privacy policy, features, about story, etc.).

Use the Power of Animation

What we are talking about at this point is a hover effect, which can change the button’s color on the mouse-over. By changing its physical appearance, the call-to-action buttons looks far more captivating. A changing color keeps the users alerted that it is ready to be used. From the physiological point of view, a blinking button plays with a user’s mind and motivates them for an action.

Conclusion

Wrapping it up, we should say that only A/B testing will show what color, size, texts or whatsoever work better on your site. A call to action button is an integral part of your online marketing campaign. It should correspond to your own corporate style and stand out from the rest of the content provided on the page. A CTA button is like a final step that leads people towards conversion after they have learned the necessary details about your product/service. The position of CTAs on your site should stand out with its clarity and visibility. Simple, short urgent phrases will keep the audience alerted and motivated for an action.

We hope that you find the aforementioned tips and examples useful, and they will help you attain the desired conversion boost on your website.

Good luck!

Read More at Unveil Secrets of the Best Converting CTA Buttons

from
https://webdesignledger.com/unveil-secrets-best-converting-cta-buttons/

Astronauts strike superhero poses for crew photo in space - CNET

The astronauts of the International Space Station show off their superpowers in a not-so-traditional crew portrait.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/astronauts-superhero-poses-iss-international-space-station/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Fitbit cuts 6 percent of employees amid missed 2016 goals - CNET

The wearable maker estimates its fourth-quarter revenue to be as much as $178 million short of its goal.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/fitbit-cuts-6-of-employees-amid-missed-q4-goals/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Amazon gives 'Mozart in the Jungle' a fourth season reprise - CNET

The award-winning show will premiere later in 2017, according to Amazon, along with a third season of "Red Oaks."

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/amazon-greenlights-fourth-season-of-mozart-in-the-jungle/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Google celebrates immigrant rights activist in Doodle - CNET

The doodle comes only three days after President Trump issued an order banning citizens of seven Muslim countries from entering the US. Coincidence?

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/google-celebrates-immigrant-rights-activist-in-doodle-fred-korematsu/#ftag=CAD590a51e

3 reasons this Samsung Galaxy S8 exclusive isn't necessarily a slam dunk - CNET

Being the first out with Qualcomm's new Snapdragon 835 chip is a real win. But there are plenty of ifs, ands and buts.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/3-reasons-this-samsung-galaxy-s8-exclusive-isnt-necessarily-a-slam-dunk/#ftag=CAD590a51e

'Father of Pac-Man' Masaya Nakamura dies at 91 - CNET

The arcade pioneer founded Namco in 1955 and continued to hold an honorary position at the company until his death.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/father-of-pac-man-masaya-nakamura-dies-aged-91/#ftag=CAD590a51e

iPhone 7 may break Apple's losing streak - CNET

Still, no one is expecting a "wow!" from the company's fiscal first-quarter results.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/apple-iphone-7-plus-first-quarter-2017-earnings/#ftag=CAD590a51e

GM and Honda plunge $85M into hydrogen fuel cell push - Roadshow

The joint venture targets mass production of fuel cell systems in 2020.

from
https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/gm-honda-hydrogen-fuel-cell-manufacturing-push/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Quebec mosque massacre shocks social media - CNET

Social Cues: President Trump's ban on the entry of refugees worldwide and of travelers from seven Muslim-majority countries dominates social feeds.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/quebec-mosque-trump-muslim-ban-protest-korematsu-bannon-schumer-social-cues/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Google creates $4M crisis fund to support immigration causes - CNET

The move follows criticism by Google's CEO of President Trump's controversial executive order to restrict entry to the US by citizens of seven countries.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/google-creates-4m-crisis-fund-to-support-immigration-causes/#ftag=CAD590a51e

​Meet Gordon, your gleaming white robot barista - CNET

Startup Cafe X opens its first machine-operated cafe in San Francisco. Human baristas may shudder, but tech has been replacing humans for decades.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/robot-coffee-barista-startup-cafe-x/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Stop Losing Prospects With Disappearing Contact Form Submissions

Ever wondered why your conversion rates are so low even though you spend a good amount of time sharing your latest stories on social media and receiving a good amount of traffic?

While user experience and market fit are crucial for every business, a surprising reason for low conversions could be a misbehaving contact form on your website. Over the past 2 months we have worked with 3 successful businesses online with broken contact forms that prevented prospects from connecting with business development or support staff.

In each of the three cases incoming emails have been lost entirely, or over 50% of the submissions were not passing due to technical errors – such as JavaScript conflicts, AdBlock extensions, email server limits or upgrades that broke anything behind the scenes, hence preventing a successful contact with company’s reps.

I failed to contact the business through their form

The worst part is that, in many cases, customers would give up on getting in touch with you, and the problem may be lurking in your platform for months.

Here are 7 suggestions for preventing complete dependability on a flaky contact form and increase the conversion rates for your business.

1. Simplify Your Contact Form

Longer contact forms asking for too much personal data would send some of your prospects away. Keeping it simple would save everyone time, and reduce the gap between you and your potential clients.

In addition to the marketing aspect of the problem, longer contact forms present more opportunities for a contact form to stop working. For example:

• a phone field would require validation that wouldn’t match a country code format;
• a text field may accept HTML which isn’t validated properly behind the scenes;
• numeric fields could strip values for customers who input text instead.

Validation labels may be invisible for some reason (such as disabled JavaScript or a styling glitch), and that’s yet another problem that you would have to worry about in a traditional setup.

A study by Unbounce reported 15% conversion rate on forms with 6+ fields, 20% with 3-5 fields, and 25% for contact forms with only 3 input fields.

Simplify your contact form and reduce the number of lost prospects on the way.

2. Use Gravity Forms

 

WordPress website owners who heavily rely on contact forms can benefit from using Gravity Forms.

Gravity Forms is a powerful plugin that allows for building complex forms, include conditional statement, integrate with membership platforms and payment gateways. But in addition to that your contact submissions are stored in the WordPress database as well – visible from a list in the administrative dashboard.

Even if your email server is down, not responding, hitting spam filters or anything along those lines, a submission would be processed and ready for review in your WordPress admin area.

As an added benefit, you can leverage the power of the plugin for other uses – such as receiving guest posts for your website (automatically published as drafts to your editors).

3. Stop AJAX Submissions

AJAX submissions are often used in contact forms as they provide a better customer experience – getting a form submitted without refreshing the entire page.

The problem is that AJAX may be interrupted in different cases, such as:

• A minor JavaScript glitch in your site that interrupts other features
• A PHP notice or warning that interrupts the successful callback and freezes the submission process
• Clients using old unsupported browsers (such as corporate networks running Internet Explorer 7)
• Intranets disabling JavaScript for non-whitelisted websites

Disabling AJAX submissions and sending users to a helpful “Thank You” page can solve some of those problems and increase the success rates of your contact form submissions.

4. Hide Warnings and Notices on Production

Some production websites allow error printing on the front-end even for third-party visitors. Those messages appear in the header or within the content area of your website in the event of a code warning or a communication error with the site.

This may not be obvious to you or your development team when the site appears to be working properly. Sadly, customers could still manage to interact with areas of your website in a “creative way” that triggers and displays errors on the site. And new notices or warnings can show up after updating a plugin or introducing a content change by editors.

That leads to poor customer experience, and is a potential security vector that hackers could use for learning more about your hosting provider and installation, coming up with effective strategies for breaking into your website.

Disabling debugging output on production sites is a must, and should improve the overall user experience. It will also ensure that contact form entries don’t get lost due to those code glitches getting in the way and interrupting the submission process, hence losing your emails on the way.

5. Live Chat

Integrating a live chat in your website is a good way to interact with your visitors in real time, and also let them report a problem easily before closing the browser window.

There are plenty of live chat services that provide a simple embed script (or an extension for various CMS) and pop up on your website given predefined conditions. You can enable the chat globally across your entire site, or only on pages where visitors are expected to get in touch with you (such as the Contact Us page or a Customer Service documentation).

6. Ticketing System

Who handles contact form entries for your business?

If your company employs more than 20 people, chances are that different inquiries are handled by different staff members within your company. Multinational businesses even have different branches and offices, with responsible people for each location.

One creative way to solve that problem is by integrating a ticketing system in a contact form’s disguise. There are plenty of Software as a Service help desks that could be integrated in your website, as well as outstanding plugins for WordPress website owners such as Awesome Support. Similarly to Gravity Forms mentioned above, a ticketing system will also store the contact form submission in a separate database which solves the “disappearing emails” aspect of the problem.

Additionally, a business assistant or a customer support agent of yours can easily reassign tickets to different team members. This can even be done automatically with some software solutions, with a conditional rule assigning a ticket to an agent depending on the selected department or product in your form.

7. IM channels and Social Media

During the third quarter of 2016, Facebook reported 1.79 billion monthly active users. Gen Y communicates primarily through instant messengers and social media, as the majority of college students applying for job expect a phone call instead of an email as they don’t actively use emails for business.

Twitter revolutionized the social interactions with businesses and influencers by providing a transparent and open channel for everyone to connect with corporations and individuals outside of their network, which also increased the importance of the Community Manager position for brands managing their conversations across various online channels.

Providing multiple contact alternatives for website visitors is more time consuming, but the easier it is for a prospect to communicate with you, the higher the possibility for them to become a regular client. Consider providing a phone number, Twitter account and Skype or WhatsApp accounts that visitors may use for contacting you. With the rise of the smartphone industry and low-cost plans with 3G and 4G, consumers often find it easy to communicate through online channels other than email for questions, support, or setting appointments.

---

Email isn’t going anywhere, but due to technical malfunctions and zealous spam filters, communication may be lost in-between. Make sure that you provide a bulletproof solution for your customers and contact alternatives in order to provide incredible customer experience and close more leads for your business.

Read More at Stop Losing Prospects With Disappearing Contact Form Submissions

from
https://webdesignledger.com/stop-losing-prospects-with-disappearing-contact-form-submissions/

Offsetting Paths in Adobe Illustrator

In this tutorial, we’re going to learn how to offset paths in Adobe Illustrator.

Download Adobe Illustrator.

Read More at Offsetting Paths in Adobe Illustrator

from
https://webdesignledger.com/offsetting-paths-in-adobe-illustrator/

Netflix shows get top TV nods at 2017 SAG Awards - CNET

On a night of passionate political speeches, "The Crown," "Stranger Things" and "Orange is the New Black" demonstrate yet again that online shows are gaining momentum -- and respect.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/sag-awards-netflix-the-crown-stranger-things-orange-is-the-new-black/#ftag=CAD590a51e

A messy galaxy that defies description - CNET

A new Hubble photo shows a gloriously messy galaxy that is difficult to confine to a single category.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/a-messy-galaxy-that-defies-description/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Asteroid whizzing by Earth 6 times closer than the moon - CNET

A newly discovered space rock the size of a truck makes the closest pass by Earth of any asteroid since last September.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/asteroid-2017-bh30-whizzing-by-earth-at-10-times-closer-than-the-moon/#ftag=CAD590a51e

​DeleteUber hashtag takes off over response to immigration ban - CNET

Celebrities are among the many Twitter users leaving the ride-hailing app to protest what they saw as a tepid response to President Trump's executive order.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/deleteuber-twitter-takes-off-over-uber-response-to-immigration-ban-trump-travis-kalanick/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Russia's deadliest new war machines - CNET

Russia is massively increasing its military spending. Here are the incredible new tanks, ships and more that the country has been spending all those rubles on.

from
https://www.cnet.com/pictures/russias-deadliest-new-war-machines/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Baby dolphin dies after tourists pull it out of the water for selfies, report says - CNET

Commentary: In Argentina, an animal dies so that humans can take a picture. And this isn't the first time.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/baby-dolphin-dies-after-tourists-pull-it-out-of-the-water-for-selfies/#ftag=CAD590a51e

US border agents checking Facebook profiles, lawyer says - CNET

Social media accounts are being checked for political views in the wake of President Donald Trump's immigration ban, according to a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/border-patrol-agents-checking-facebook-profiles-trump-immigration-ban/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Super Bowl ticket prices are steep, but dropping - CNET

StubHub says big game sales have been sluggish, which means fans planning to go might want to see if prices come down later in the week.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/super-bowl-2017-ticket-prices-steep-but-dropping-stubhub/#ftag=CAD590a51e

On immigration order, it's Donald Trump vs. Kim Kardashian - CNET

Commentary: President Donald Trump's immigration ban sees him facing a more powerful Twitter opponent: Kim Kardashian.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/donald-trump-vs-kim-kardashian-immigration-ban/#ftag=CAD590a51e

As immigration ban hits, Trump tweets anger at NY Times - CNET

Commentary: The president isn't using Twitter to explain his ban on refugees and immigrants. He has other things on his mind.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/trump-tweets-anger-at-ny-times-immigrant-ban/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Microsoft HoloLens isn't a toy, creator says. At least not yet - CNET

Alex Kipman, the father of Microsoft's augmented reality goggles, says it will be a while before the price of HoloLens is ready for the mass market.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/microsoft-hololens-alex-kipman-interview-ar-vr/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Tech calls Trump immigration ban 'bigotry' and 'un-American' - CNET

The tech industry is striking back at President Donald Trump's immigration order, saying it hurts employees and divides the country.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/tech-strikes-back-at-trump-immigration-ban-apple-google-microsoft-box-netflix-twitter-cook/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Apple's Cook takes aim at Trump's immigration ban - CNET

Apple CEO Tim Cook says the company "would not exist without immigration, let alone thrive and innovate the way we do."

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/tim-cook-trump-immigration-apple-memo-executive-order/#ftag=CAD590a51e

CNET UK podcast 512: The truth about the Note 7 and a Boeing love letter - CNET

The team discuss Samsung's honesty about the Note 7, we find out about the most exciting new smartphones and Katie waxes lyrical about her love of the Boeing 747.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/cnet-uk-podcast-512-the-truth-about-the-note-7-and-a-boeing-love-letter/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Google CEO speaks out against Trump's immigration order - CNET

The company reportedly tells some employees to cut overseas trips short and return to the US, as a Trump ban on immigration from Muslim countries kicks in.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/google-donald-trump-immigration-order-memo-workers-sundar-pichai/#ftag=CAD590a51e

'Alien,' 'Harry Potter,' 'Doctor Who' actor John Hurt dies at 77 - CNET

John Hurt, the British actor known for playing eccentric, empathic characters such as the Elephant Man, Harry Potter's wand maker Ollivander and Hellboy's guardian, passes away.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/alien-harry-potter-actor-john-hurt-dies-at-77/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Netflix, Amazon, YouTube at Sundance: A new world order? - CNET

Digital natives are taking bigger roles at Sundance as lines blur between movies that screen and those that stream.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/netflix-amazon-sundance-youtube-sundance-screenings-buys/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Twitter makes two national security letters public - CNET

The social network releases the letters after previously being held to gag orders by the FBI.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/twitter-fbi-national-security-letters-google/#ftag=CAD590a51e

4 best iOS.3 features coming soon - CNET

The last major iOS 10 update before the big iOS 11 release in June brings some useful upgrades to the settings screen and Maps app on your iPhone or iPad.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/4-new-ios-3-features-coming-soon/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Powerful tweets remember Jewish refugees turned away by US - CNET

On Holocaust Remembrance Day, a new Twitter account shares the names and faces of Jewish refugees aboard a German ship denied entry to the United States in 1939.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/holocaust-memorial-day-twitter-st-louis-manifest-jewish-refugees/#ftag=CAD590a51e

What will Apple look like in 2017? (Apple Byte Extra Crunchy, Ep. 69) - CNET

The W1 chip was its biggest innovation in 2016. Can Apple surprise us this year? We hope so.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/what-will-apple-look-like-in-2017-apple-byte-extra-crunchy-ep-69/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Mark Zuckerberg drops lawsuits over Hawaiian land - CNET

The Facebook CEO says it was a mistake to take legal action against locals who own plots of land within his beachfront property on Kauai.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/zuckerberg-hawaii-lawsuits-kauai-facebook/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Apple joins AI research group - CNET

The famously secretive company joins competitors in a consortium that's researching the uses of artificial intelligence.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/apple-amazon-google-facebook-microsoft-ai-research-watson/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Zuckerberg criticizes Trump's executive orders on immigration - CNET

The Facebook CEO takes to his social network to speak out against the president's anti-immigration policies.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/mark-zuckerberg-donald-trump-facebook-executive-order-president-white-house/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Apple: You share iCloud data, and we'll make iPhones smarter - CNET

The company believes privacy is important, but services like Siri work better when a company can analyze real-world data.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/apple-privacy-iphone-ios-icloud-data-siri-ai/#ftag=CAD590a51e

'10 Cloverfield Lane' hits Amazon in February 2017 - CNET

Amazon Prime video picks up the sort-of sequel to "Cloverfield" as well as a bunch of James Bond movies.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/10-cloverfield-lane-hits-amazon-in-february/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Nvidia Shield owners rejoice: You now have Amazon and more - CNET

The powerful streaming and gaming box has gotten better and better since its 2015 debut. The latest upgrade makes the original just as good as the all-new version. We go hands-on.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/nvidia-shield-owners-rejoice-your-box-now-has-amazon-lotsa-other-upgrades-too/#ftag=CAD590a51e

HBO Go latest to jump on Apple single sign-on: 'Westworld' bingeing, here we come! - CNET

Now you don't have to keep typing in your login info to watch your favorite HBO shows.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/get-ready-for-a-weekend-of-streaming-hbo-go-added-to-apple-single-sign-on/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Bride in a T. rex costume makes for the best first look ever - CNET

Sometimes true love comes in the form of an extinct Cretaceous-period dinosaur.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/t-rex-costume-makes-bride-groom-first-look-wedding/#ftag=CAD590a51e

I blew into a Tostitos bag and it told me to call an Uber - CNET

An alcohol-detecting Tostitos chip bag wants you to be safe on Super Bowl Sunday and call an Uber if you've been drinking.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/tostitos-bag-alcohol-super-bowl-uber-frito-lay/#ftag=CAD590a51e

LG 2017 OLED TVs now up for preorder, starting at $2,500 - CNET

Revealing pricing for the "cheaper" 2017 OLED TVs in LG's C7 series for the first time, retailer B&H sets the 55-incher at $2,500 and the 65-incher at $4,000.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/lg-oled-tv-now-up-for-pre-order-2017-model-starting-at-2500/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Behind-the-scenes 'Lego Batman Movie' video celebrates teamwork - CNET

Watch this "Behind the Bricks" featurette for more footage of the Caped Crusader and his pals.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/lego-batman-movie-behind-the-scenes-featurette-video/#ftag=CAD590a51e

PayPal on Amazon? It might happen yet - CNET

Amazon may be one step closer to accepting PayPal after the payment giant's CEO said the two company's had been in talks.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/paypal-on-amazon-it-might-happen-yet/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Zoo wants your help collecting deadly spiders - CNET

Would you offer to catch poisonous spiders in the name of science? The Australian Reptile Park hopes so.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/australian-zoo-needs-help-collecting-deadly-spiders/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Real Pokemon pokeballs you can throw in battles are the next big thing - CNET

These Tomy Throw 'n' Pop Pokeballs were our favourite find at the UK Toy Fair in London. Battle your friends with collapsible dice and collect miniature Pokemon figures.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/real-pokemon-pokeballs-you-can-throw-in-battles/#ftag=CAD590a51e

This Victorian dream home can be yours ... in Lego - CNET

Build a Victorian house replica one brick at a time with this new project up for a vote on the Lego Ideas site.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/lego-victorian-dream-home-can-be-yours/#ftag=CAD590a51e

These are the techy, geeky toys to watch for in 2017 - CNET

An inflatable RC BB-8 droid, a nippy electric skateboard and a beautiful story book that comes to life are our picks from the UK's biggest toy fair.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/these-are-the-techy-geeky-toys-to-watch-for-in-2017/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Weekend Streaming: Flying sharks abound with 'Sharknado 4' on Netflix - CNET

If you've been dying to watch the fourth installment of the "Sharknado" series, you're in luck. Netflix just added it.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/weekend-streaming-flying-sharks-abound-with-sharknado-4-on-netflix/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Alien-looking 'E.T.' insect found trapped in ancient amber - CNET

Researchers discover a very strange old creature that looks like it should be trying to phone home.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/alien-et-insect-amber-oregon-state-university-george-poinar/#ftag=CAD590a51e

How will a Closed Internet And Net Neutrality Impact Web Design?

There are two things that enable the Internet to be a truly viable resource for businesses, hobbyists and everyone in between: open Internet access and net neutrality. Unfortunately, net neutrality has been in the crosshairs for many years. Additionally, President Donald J. Trump has spoken out several times in the past about his desire to close parts of the Internet. Not only would this dramatically change life as we all know it but it would also drive up prices and alter the web design industry.

What Does a Closed Internet Look Like?

Nations such as North Korea, Saudi Arabia and China have censored the Internet in a variety of ways. For example, the North Korean government controls every website that the country’s citizens can visit. Of course, only a few thousand of the 25 million residents are able to access the unbelievably dismal total of 28 sites that the government has deemed appropriate for public usage.   

China is another example of the dangers of allowing Internet censorship. The Chinese government filters searches, reroutes search terms to propaganda websites and erases all sites and information that don’t match up with their official version of events. In other words, if you’re in China and look up Tiananmen Square Massacre, you’re going to be rerouted to a site that offers a positive viewpoint of the Communist Party.

If all of this sounds uncomfortably similar to the concept of “alternative facts,” it’s time to pay closer attention to President Trump’s numerous comments on closing parts of the Internet. Although he has claimed that this would be done in an effort to block ISIS and other terrorist groups from recruiting via the Internet, he could just as easily flip the switch based on widespread dissent. The Communications Act of 1934 even appears to give Trump the authority to do so without any Congressional approval if he declares the U.S. to be in public peril or under the threat of war.   

As you can imagine, a closed Internet would drastically change the number and type of web design projects. Imagine for a moment that you were a web designer in North Korea. You’d have to be employed by the government to get any work at all, and with only 28 sites, there wouldn’t be room for a lot of designers.

This is the most drastic outlook, of course, and the U.S. reality of a closed Internet would probably be more akin to Saudi Arabia’s form of censorship that blocks 400,000 websites. Again, though, this would drastically reduce the need for web designers, and it would also make it necessary to create sites that are controversy free. Long gone would be the days of creative freedom, especially if you’re designing for a client who needs their website to stay up and uncensored. This would likely mean sticking to certain predetermined acceptable parameters for content and design.

What about Net Neutrality?

The U.S. Internet doesn’t need to be closed in order to render it less profitable for web designers and businesses. Net neutrality could be destroyed instead. There have been many battles fought over this concept already, and watchdogs are highly concerned with Trump’s selection of Ajit Pai for the role of Chief Communications Regulator.

Pai is a well-known critic of net neutrality, and he has already indicated that he plans to revisit FCC rules, including Internet regulations. If net neutrality is allowed to be destroyed, Internet providers may be able to openly and freely impose throttling, blocking and even discrimination. How would this impact website designers and the average Internet user? The costs are immeasurable at this point, but it’s clear that everything would become more expensive and cumbersome.

For example, website design and hosting companies such as SquareSpace and GoDaddy currently make the process of building and launching a website affordable for everyone. However, if net neutrality falls apart, small business owners, pop culture enthusiasts and other similar users may end up unable to retain a viable website presence. After all, how can a small business owner compete if traffic to their website is throttled because they or their customers cannot afford a larger high speed access fee?

Many Internet service providers have already been caught purposefully slowing down Internet access in certain cities and to high profile websites. In other words, the technology exists to basically extort business owners into paying more money if they want their site to load in a decent amount of time. When you consider the fact that 47 percent of consumers expect a website to fully load within 2 seconds, time quite literally becomes money. Surveys indicate that 40 percent of users leave sites that aren’t loaded within 3 seconds, and every second of delay causes a 7 percent reduction in conversions.  

The Bottom Line for Web Designers

In either scenario, creativity is going to be stifled, as will profits. It’s possible to put some nice unique touches on a site right now without going past the 2 to 3 seconds rule, but what happens if you’re designing for a small business and they already have a 2-second penalty imposed because they’re paying for a slower access speed? Anything beyond the most basic design elements will push them past the 3-second mark, and their profits will plummet.

As a result, more companies will fail and less businesses will need to hire a web designer. Additionally, discount hosting and design providers may no longer be able to turn a profit because so many small businesses and personal sites will become too expensive to maintain at a high enough speed.  

It’s a vicious cycle, and it’s poised to push the Internet into the hands of only the richest individuals and most successful companies. Web design would likely become a much more cut-throat industry with fewer openings, and frustrated consumers would seek out major sites that can afford to pay for faster access. It’s unclear at this time if a closed Internet or the death of net neutrality are truly on the horizon in the U.S., but all signs indicate that it’s time to become educated about what these things could mean for web designers and everyone else who relies on the Internet for the source of income.   

Read More at How will a Closed Internet And Net Neutrality Impact Web Design?

from
https://webdesignledger.com/will-closed-internet-impact-web-design/

Sprint announces limited-time $50 all-you-can-eat mobile deal - CNET

New Sprint subscribers will be able to buy a $50 Unlimited data, talk and text contract until the end of January 2016

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/sprint-announces-limited-time-50-all-you-can-eat-mobile-deal/#ftag=CAD590a51e

'Falling Water' dives deep into dreams, with hints of deja vu - CNET

Executive producer Gale Anne Hurd talks about the cerebral sci-fi series that searches for meaning in the surreal moments created when we close our eyes.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/falling-water-tv-series-gale-anne-hurd-power-of-dream/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Best home theater upgrades for the big game - CNET

Buying a television is only half of the best big game experience. Upgrade your AV system too with one of these speakers, soundbars, receivers or streamers.

from
https://www.cnet.com/pictures/best-home-theater-upgrades-for-the-big-game/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Starz app comes to Amazon Fire TV, still not Comcast-compatible - CNET

Starz has announced that its Starz app is now available for the Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV stick.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/starz-app-comes-to-amazon-fire-tv-still-not-comcast-compatible/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Puzzle game Myst finally appears on Android phones - CNET

Best-selling puzzle game is finally debuting as RealMyst on Android, only eight years after it came to Apple devices.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/puzzle-game-myst-finally-comes-to-android-phones/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Nissan set to bring two radically different concepts to Tokyo Motor Show - Roadshow

One's an electric Juke, and the other is a next-generation Z. Talk about opposites.

from
https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/nissan-set-to-bring-two-radically-different-concepts-to-tokyo-motor-show/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Police tweet slyly appeals to owner of 5.5 lbs of marijuana - CNET

Commentary: A large amount of pot was apparently delivered to the wrong address.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/marijuana-police-tweet-seeks-pot-owner-lost-and-found/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Meet Jon Hamm, the hologram (aka the holohamm) - CNET

As fun as it was pretending the "Mad Men" star was my Ken doll, the gimmick also gave a glimpse at how mixed reality may put stars at our sides.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/jon-hamm-hologram-marjorie-prime-holohamm-sundance-mixed-augmented-reality/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Beautiful scene shows universe is growing quicker than we knew - CNET

Gravity's effect on light has shown the universe is growing at an accelerated rate.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/space-scene-shows-the-universe-is-growing-quicker-than-we-thought/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Social media tries to remind us why science matters - CNET

Social Cues: Also trending on Twitter and Facebook are an Uber boycott and the Doomsday Clock.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/science-trump-bannon-kehlani-uber-doomsday-clock-social-cues/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Oscars almost never nominate horror flicks, but they should - CNET

When you look closely at the numbers, and the larger history of the industry, the only explanation is bias.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/the-oscars-need-to-reward-horror-flicks-movies-academy-awards-with-green-room-dont-breathe/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Aston Martin Vanquish S Volante is one beautiful swan song - Roadshow

This is one of the last cars on the market to sport a naturally aspirated V12 engine. So it goes.

from
https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/aston-martin-vanquish-s-volante-is-one-beautiful-swan-song/#ftag=CAD590a51e

What to expect from the 2017 Geneva Motor Show - Roadshow

It's not just about supercars -- though plenty will be there.

from
https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/what-to-expect-from-the-2017-geneva-motor-show/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Best big TVs for the big game 2017 - CNET

Soon the Atlanta Falcons and the New England Patriots will play in the most-watched TV event of the year. Here are seven big, beautiful TVs on which to enjoy the game--and many more afterwards.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/best-big-tvs-for-the-big-game-2017/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Prosthetic limb maker wants you to really feel VR - CNET

Getting to grips with VR is looking more stylish by the minute.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/prosthetic-limb-maker-wants-you-to-be-able-to-feel-vr/#ftag=CAD590a51e

CNET giveaway: TuneIn premium subscription and more! - CNET

Don't miss your chance to win a one-year TuneIn Premium subscription, TuneIn-branded headphones and an Amazon Echo Dot (second generation). The sweepstakes ends February 9, 2017.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/cnet-giveaway-tunein-premium-subscription-and-more/#ftag=CAD590a51e

'Mix and match' makes many kinds of Magic: The Gathering - CNET

The latest expansion set for Magic: the Gathering is all about reinvention. Fitting for a game that needs to recreate itself every few months.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/magic-format-aether-revolt-commander-ben-hayes/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Panasonic puts its robots to hard labor at Japanese airport - CNET

While the world's not quite ready for a drink-serving R2-D2, at least this one can collect your dirty dishes.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/panasonic-robots-hospi-japan-narita-airport/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Ford SmartLink gives older cars remote start, other connected features - Roadshow

This summer, owners of Ford and Lincoln cars of model year 2010 and later can add SmartLink, a device that enables remote services, car location and the ability to monitor teen drivers.

from
https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/ford-smartlink-gives-older-cars-remote-start-other-connected-features/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Apple taking baby steps in India, sells 2.5m iPhones in 2016 - CNET

The company came in 10th place in phone sales during the fourth quarter, but sold more iPhones in India last year than ever before.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/apple-taking-baby-steps-in-india-sells-2-5m-iphones-in-2016/#ftag=CAD590a51e

​Airbnb makes it rain, turning a profit for the first time - CNET

The home-rental company became profitable in the second half of 2016 and is expected to stay that way through the next year.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/airbnb-first-profit-home-rental-travel-startups/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Data Privacy Day: Will you ever have control of your personal info? - CNET

Experts at a summit in San Francisco say today's hottest tech can violate your privacy. The surprise: they think it will get better.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/data-privacy-cybersecurity-hack-devices-toys-fitness-trackers-cars-stole-information/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Nintendo wants you to play the Switch on the toilet - CNET

Commentary: A new ad shows precisely what the gaming device was Nintended for. It isn't pretty.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/nintendo-switch-ad-play-on-the-toilet/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Human-pig hybrid grown in lab. (Actually happened) - CNET

Scientists at the Salk Institute inject human stem cells into a pig embryo in research to create organs for transplantation.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/hybrid-human-pig-stem-cells-embryo-organ-transplantation/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Google's harder look at moon shots seems to be paying off - CNET

The search giant has shut down or scaled back some of its most ambitious projects. But its other wild bets are starting to make more money.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/google-alphabet-earnings-fourth-quarter-4q-2016/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Great, now Facebook wants to put ads in Messenger - CNET

The social media giant is working on another way to put ads in front of eyeballs, this time taking to its IM app.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/facebook-messenger-gets-more-ads/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Samsung Galaxy S8 rumored to launch March 29 - CNET

Plus a glimpse at the phone purported to be Samsung's newest Galaxy flagship.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/samsung-galaxy-s8-march-29-rumor/#ftag=CAD590a51e

The smartwatches and fitness trackers we can't wait to see in in 2017 - CNET

It should be another exciting year in wearable tech. These are the gadgets we can't wait to get our hands on.

from
https://www.cnet.com/pictures/smartwatches-and-fitness-trackers-coming-in-2017/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Netpicks: Everything coming and going on Netflix for February 2017 - CNET

It's a short month, but the streaming service has a big selection of quality titles coming to the US.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/netpicks-everything-coming-and-going-on-netflix-for-february-2017/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Men paying $1,500 on rent-a-date apps for Chinese New Year - CNET

Commentary: You don't want your family to think you're alone, do you?

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/rent-a-date-chinese-new-year-apps/#ftag=CAD590a51e

2017 Nissan Rogue Hybrid undercuts Toyota RAV4 by almost $3,000 - Roadshow

And it starts just a few thousand above Kia's new Niro hybrid crossover.

from
https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/2017-nissan-rogue-hybrid-undercuts-toyota-rav4-by-almost-3000/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Soon, artificial intelligence could check your skin for cancer - CNET

Stanford researchers create a machine-learning algorithm that performs just as well as dermatologists when it comes to recognizing the potentially deadly skin disease.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/ai-artificial-intelligence-skin-cancer-stanford-university-smartphones/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Here are the new cars with the highest resale value, according to KBB - Roadshow

Kelley Blue Book just released its 2017 Best Resale Value Awards, which looks at new cars with high resale values. Here are the winners for each of the individual categories, arranged in no real order whatsoever.

from
https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/pictures/here-are-the-new-cars-with-the-highest-resale-value-according-to-kbb/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Doomsday Clock now 30 seconds nearer the apocalypse, because Trump - CNET

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, which created the clock 70 years ago, says it's now two and a half minutes to midnight just one week after Donald Trump became US president.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/doomsday-clock-reset-30-seconds-nearer-the-apocalypse-because-trump/#ftag=CAD590a51e

Google Pixel 2 rumored to be better, faster, stronger - CNET

And there may be a budget Pixel on the way, too.

from
https://www.cnet.com/news/google-pixel-2-rumored-to-get-even-better-faster-stronger/#ftag=CAD590a51e