5 Free Classes To Take During Circuit Breaker Period

Learning new skills often take a toll on your time, effort, and money. Fortunately for you, the current circumstance has put time in your favor. Put it to good use by taking up one or two free online classes that will enrich your skills. Moreover, you can add this newly acquired information to your resume and get more chances of moving ahead.

#1: ACQUIRE A GOOGLE CERTIFICATE

Website: https://learndigital.withgoogle.com/digitalgarage

Did you know that you can get a be a Google-certified digital marketer without paying a cent? Well, Google’s Digital Garage allows you to take 26 structured topics from how to build your online shop to the meaning of web analytics. It is an online academy that lets you dive into the ABCs of digital marketing. Each topic has several videos that give you a run-down of the topic and short quizzes to test your understanding of each one.

You must complete every topic to attain the 26 badges. Then, you must pass the final MCQ quiz to become a Google-certified digital marketer! Having “Google” on your resume sure sounds beautiful in the eyes of any Singaporean office. Give it a try!

#2: BROWSE THROUGH COURSERA

Website: https://www.coursera.org/collections/popular-free-courses

Coursera has a plethora of free and paid classes taught by top instructors from some of the world’s best universities and educational institutions including Stanford, Penn, Johns Hopkins, Duke, Columbia, and Yale. You can earn degrees and certifications through this website.

Topics range from personal development to data science. Each course consists of videos, quizzes, projects, and more. You can earn certificates to qualify for your work or an upcoming promotion. Nonetheless, it is an efficient way to pass time.

#3: TRAIN IN MICROSOFT

Website: https://support.office.com

How many of you have put “proficient in Microsoft Office” in your resume? I am guilty myself. Howeover, there is a legitimate training grounds for Microsoft Office. Training includes unlocking functions of Word, Powerpoint, and Excel.

Simply watch the video lessons that will give you a step-by-step guide through all the possible functions of the Microsoft Office. This way, you can be a wiz at Microsoft Office.

#4: EARN A FACEBOOK BLUEPRINT

Website: https://www.facebook.com/business

Interestingly, Facebook has its own online course. Facebook Blueprint allows you to get a crash course on Facebook and Instagram advertising.

These courses span a variety of topics, so you can get your pick from knowing more about Facebook ads to knowing more about Facebook Live. Worry not about the length of the course as all topics are divided into bite-sized information explained through paragraphs and photographs. You will be rewarded with a downloadable certificate upon completion of each course.

#5: LEARN HOW TO ANIMATE

Website: https://www.khanacademy.org/partner-content/pixar

Last but not the least is Pixar In A Box. We are all familiar with the heartwarming animation films produced by Pixar. However, are you familiar with what goes on behind the scenes? In this free course, you will be able to learn the art of storytelling, animation, and hair stimulation directly from Pixar staff.

In a series of online video lessons, you will get to digest topics in simple language. You will be able to animate bouncing balls, build a swarm of robots, and make virtual fireworks explode. This collaboration between Pixar Animation Studios and Khan Academy is sponsored by Disney.

BONUS: NTUC LearningHub has partnered with GO1 to offer Singaporeans free online courses until May 31, 2020. This initiative was launched last April 11. Courses vary from Change Management to Data Analytics. These are designed for bite-sized learning, so you will not be overwhelmed. Learn at your own pace and your own schedule by visiting ntuc.mygo1.com.

Read More...

Microsoft S’pore runs 10.10 sale offering huge discounts on Surface, Xbox and more!

10.10 Sale is on: Save up to S$1,143 on Surface

From now, until 13 October, get great savings on Surface, Xbox and more!

Save 20% on selected Surface Book 2, Surface Laptop 2, Surface Pro 6 and more.

The Surface Studio 2 is also on sale with its price slashed by as much as $1,143! You can pick up a new Surface Studio 2 i7/32GB RAM/2TB SSD at only $6,475 (U.P. $7,618)

Click here to shop now.

Share this news with your friends and loved ones!

Read More...

Microsoft Corporation’s Most Expensive Fails

There is a significant reason why Microsoft Corporation continues to thrive alongside massive tech names such as Apple and Samsung. It taps the global market due to its persistence. Throughout its journey to innovation, it made some incredible moves and a bunch of missteps. Who can forget about Bob and its emergence in 1995?

On that note, here are some of “Microsoft Corporation’s Most Expensive Fails”.

2006: ZUNE

As people bid farewell to the portable CD players, early 2000s embraced the integration of a music player and a downloading service. Apple took advantage of the rich financial potential in the music hardware. In fact, it sold 100 million iPods by 2006.

When Microsoft decided to compete, it was to late! Launched in 2006, Zune was considered as one of Microsoft’s worst product of all time. How so? It not only came with a US$249 (about S$338) price tag, but it also came with an unappealing exterior (e.g., having brown as a color option). Zune’s sales in 2009 were around US$117 million (S$161 million), while Apple’s iPods sold about US$3.3 billion (S$4.5 billion) in the same period of time. Imagine their dismay!

2010: KIN

Spending about US$1 billion (S$1.38 billion) in development and a partnership with renowned designer Danger Inc. were not enough to save Microsoft from the Kin’s downfall! Kin One and Kin Two were released in 2010 as Verizon exclusives. These phones featured touchscreen displays and slider keyboards. Furthermore, it was packed with social-networking capabilities including Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace. So far, so good!

However, the Kin phones did not support downloadable games and applications. Every single Kin phone required a data plan too. Within two months, Verizon stopped selling the Microsoft Kin because of its underwhelming sales. All traces of kin were gone within a year.

2012: WINDOWS RT

Windows RT is a discontinued operating system developed by Microsoft. Many believe that it was a predictable demise. You see, the Windows RT confused its users as it was launched alongside a superior operating system – the Windows 8. They may look the same, but they do not work in the same way!

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Windows RT was designed specifically for energy-efficiency. It could only run software downloaded from the Windows Store, which was not enough for many people. Selling low-cost products that operate on it were not helpful either. With these reasons, Microsoft Corporation lost about US$900 million (S$1.24 billion) on unsold Surface RT tablets by 2013.

Which Microsoft products did we miss? Feel free to express your thoughts below!

Sources: 1 & 2

Read More...

Microsoft drops prices of the latest Surface Pro, just in time for the Great Singapore Sale.

Microsoft’s most powerful laptop at good price

Microsoft has announced price drop for the latest Surface Pro model, available for a limited period. You can now buy the latest Surface Pro i7/ 16GB RAM/ 1TB SSD for just $3,405 instead of its usual retail price of $3,888.

Add Microsoft Complete Warranty for $183 for extended protection for your device and includes accidental damage coverage for two years. Also includes software and hardware support. (U.P. $229)

Build your bundle and enjoy a massive savings of $529! Buy here now >>

The promotion will run from now till 30 June 2018 and is available while stocks last.

The deal include the latest Surface Pro i7 that comes packed with high-performance 16GB RAM and a 1TB SSD.

  • Price: $3,588
  • Saving: $529
  • Optional addition of Office 365 Home and save $20
  • The ultimate laptop with versatility of a studio and tablet
  • Breeze through tasks with a powerful 7th Generation Intel Core processor
  • Get more done with all day battery life –– 50% more battery life than Surface Pro 4
  • Get to work faster with the fastest startup and resume of any Surface Pro yet ​
  • Newly redesigned front-facing speakers and quieter fanless cooling system
  • Vibrant 12.3″ PixelSense high definition Display

Buy here now >>

Read More...