For years, social media platforms and YouTube have been criticized for quietly serving explicit material to users. In one of the most recent instances, Meta was found running Instagram ads that promoted child sexual abuse material, some of them featuring AI-generated imagery, and was ordered by the Indian government to take them down. But there are plenty of other ways that sexually explicit material is promoted through seemingly harmless social media apps. The latest addition to this sordid chain of events is TikTok.
According to research conducted by the UK’s Centre to End All Sexual Exploitation (CEASE) and Australia’s Collective Shout, TikTok has become a funnel for promoting adult content hosted on platforms such as OnlyFans. Titled “The TikTok to OnlyFans Pipeline: How TikTok is promoting, normalising and glamourising the sex industry,” the report is the result of a year-long investigation into how OnlyFans is being normalized on the platform.
“After more than a year immersed on the platform, I’ve concluded that TikTok acts as an industrial-scale digital pimp, funnelling girls into the sex industry through a frictionless pipeline,” Melinda Tankard Reist, Movement Director at Collective Shout, said in a press statement. The report details numerous ways in which OnlyFans content is covertly promoted on TikTok, a platform with a high proportion of young users.
Corn emojis, glitzy auditions, and a link in the bio
According to the report, certain creators slip coded references to their OnlyFans accounts into seemingly harmless lifestyle content, such as “get ready with me” videos, shopping hauls, and even baking or pet clips. Performers may use the word “corn” in place of “porn,” or pair a corn emoji with a star emoji. These accounts also lean on emojis, gestures, and suggestive usernames that nudge viewers toward the links in their profiles, and eventually to explicit material on sites like OnlyFans and Fansly. TikTok isn’t the only platform where such patterns exist, either. To this day, it’s easy to spot the same tactics across YouTube, Instagram, and even Snapchat.
Many of these videos also flaunt a lavish lifestyle, with cash, big houses, private jets, and expensive cars, all supposedly paid for by OnlyFans earnings. That messaging only acts as a potent lure for more young women to consider joining the platform. Back in July, a News Corp investigation reported that underground agents were approaching underage girls on social media, promising them fame and money on OnlyFans once they turned 18.
Researchers also found that TikTok hosts audition videos for the Bop House, a Miami-based production house whose rotating group of women sell sexual content on OnlyFans. Would-be recruits respond by posting sexually suggestive dances tagged with Bop House recruitment. These accounts don’t explicitly promote OnlyFans, but their subtle hints can easily guide viewers there.
“TikTok strictly prohibits the sharing or showing of sexual content and we use advanced technologies to enforce our community guidelines. In addition, our systems are designed to prevent age-inappropriate content from reaching teens,” TikTok said in a statement shared with The Guardian.
This won’t be the first time that TikTok has landed itself in hot water. The company is already facing multiple investigations and lawsuits accusing it of building an addictive algorithm that serves unhealthy content to young users, often worsening their body image, self-esteem, and mental health issues.
You were a farmer. At least, you think you were. Now you’re stuck inside a strange warehouse, standing in front of an endless haystack. You don’t remember how you got here, who brought you here, or why the doors won’t open. There is only one instruction: Find the needles. Megastore: Tidy Up Together
There are some in the pile. You start by hand, with a metal detector. You end up with belts, balers, scanners and robotic arms doing the looking for you. Place real machines, wire the power, feed them by belt. Sell the hay, buy more machines, get given a bigger pile. Nobody has said what happens when you finish.
The pile Begin By Hand
The tools Buy tools like shovels, buckets, wheelbarrows, pitchforks, vacuums. Anything that helps you process hay manually!
Start Automating Automate everything! Build robots, drones, conveyor belts, hay wrappers, paper machines, sorting machines, and advanced systems that process hay and search for needles while you focus on expanding your factory.
Hay products Turn ordinary hay into valuable products! Process it into hay pulp, compressed bales, eco bricks, hay paper, pellets, and much more. Build new production lines, unlock advanced machinery, and find better ways to turn your mountain of hay into profit.
Tech tree Progress through a huge tech tree with over 300 upgrades! Unlock new machines, improve production speed, increase efficiency, expand your factory, and discover entirely new ways to process hay.
What happens when you collect all the needles?
– Who knows?
Screenshots
SystemRequirements
Minimum
OS: Windows 10 64-bit
Processor: 4 cores / 8 threads, Intel i5-8400 or Ryzen 5 2600
Memory: 8 GB RAM
Graphics: dedicated GPU with Vulkan 1.3 support and 4 GB VRAM, GTX 1050 Ti or RX 570
DirectX: Version 12
Storage: 3 GB available space
Additional Notes: Integrated graphics are not supported and may crash
Support the game developers by purchasing the game on Steam
InstallationGuide
TurnOff Your Antivirus Before Installing Any Game
1 :: Download Game 2 :: Extract Game 3 :: Launch The Game 4 :: Have Fun 🙂
Your company needs to find the right Tekla design and engineering services for every project it takes on. Meeting a deadline means precision, efficiency, and technical know-how in delivering high-quality results. It is really hard to find companies that, amidst so many, can bring value and expertise to the work. This guide puts in the limelight the top 23 companies in this particular field so you can better see who could handle your project with professionalism. Cad Crowd is another great channel through which to gain access to skilled Tekla freelancers who can provide flexible solutions in Tekla and will be able to address the needs of your firm.
1. Cad Crowd
Cad Crowd is most definitely one of the best places for Tekla design and engineering services. Cad Crowd uses Tekla to connect clients with freelance professionals in structural engineering services, detailing, and engineering. Cad Crowd offers flexibility, speed, and a greater talent pool so that projects of any size can be executed with efficiency. Unlike other companies, Cad Crowd allows for higher control over project selection and communication. Therefore, Cad Crowd would most definitely be ideal for firms in search of high-quality Tekla structure solutions without them having to pay massive overheads. The well-deserved reputation it carries regarding reliability and expertise turns it into a priority for firms from all parts of the world.
Advenser Engineering Services Pvt. Ltd. is an independent company that provides end-to-end Tekla design and structural engineering solutions to various firms across diversified industries. This company is involved in detailed and accurate modeling, detailing, and project management that help construction and manufacturing projects. A team in the company, along with Tekla software, develops accurate steel and concrete designs to ensure coordination among the stakeholders. Though it would be great for standard projects, it cannot give Cad Crowd the breadth of options or flexibility that it will offer. For companies needing ultra-speedy access to highly specialized Tekla BIMsight experts with diversified experience, Cad Crowd can be adept at handling unique or large-scale structural engineering projects.
Basically, AECOM is an engineering services company providing end-to-end services in Tekla-based structural modeling and detailing. Often associated with large infrastructure and construction projects, AECOM has a number of experienced engineers along with technical teams on its payroll. With this experience, AECOM is capable of fulfilling the requirements for industry standards and integrating workflows for Tekla to optimize projects. However, their traditional corporate model does not offer that much flexibility or customization over projects as Cad Crowd does, because it is the platform that links customers directly with specialized freelancers who easily adapt to particular project requirements while keeping high quality in structural engineering.
AGS Steel Detailing supports construction companies in structural steel detailing and engineering using Tekla. They provide highly accurate 3D models, fabrication drawings, and supporting calculations for structural analysis required for the flawless execution of projects. The core of its business is a solution in steel structures that they put into practical implementation for medium and large project needs. Of course, while strong in their segment, those needing more comprehensive Tekla support or faster turnarounds on their projects are better supported through Cad Crowd’s community of freelancers. The community offers flexible opportunities on a wide variety of structural and engineering projects, meaning even complex or unusual designs get specialized attention without constraints based on one firm’s in-house capacity.
Arup provides value-added services in structural engineering and Tekla modeling for commercial and infrastructure projects, among other uses. The teams shall integrate software from Tekla to create accurate 3D models, where assured detailed designs meet international standards. Arup is known for innovative solutions combined with technical rigor. However, their bigger corporate structure may limit their speed and flexibility in the execution of projects, in contrast to Cad Crowd, in as much as Cad Crowd allows firms to engage directly with more capable Tekla freelancers to make quick adjustments to specific project needs. If a firm is looking for both expertise and adaptability, then Cad Crowd remains an accessible and reliable option for Tekla design services.
With Backoffice Pro, firms receive highly detailed steel and concrete models in Tekla for design and structural engineering. It assigns a team to the client for accurate 3D modeling design services, drafting, and project support that coordinates smoothly with both the architect and the contractor. This particular company will be working for firms that need reliable ongoing outputs from Tekla. On the other hand, Cad Crowd has provided relatively fewer services in terms of freelancer variety and global reach. Cad Crowd can give access to a much wider network of Tekla specialists; thus, it allows firms more flexibility, speed, and customized support across a wide range of structural projects while delivering the same level of precision and quality in their engineering services.
Bechtel undertakes Tekla-based structural design and engineering for infrastructure and big industrial projects. They would develop comprehensive steel fabrication drawings and project coordination in Tekla to ensure that the work is accurate and in compliance with the general standards of the industry. Bechtel has a pristine record for technical integrity and hence could be considered a reliable choice for large-scale building projects. Again, their corporate model could not provide Cad Crowd with the same flexibility or direct access to freelancers. For companies needing immediate access to specialized Tekla talent, smaller groups that adapt more easily, and working groups not restricted by large-scale traditional engineering processes, Cad Crowd can provide it all concerning project needs.
Brainstorm Infotech mainly deals with services related to Tekla structural engineering and modeling; thus, it provides a high level of detail in both steel and concrete design. The modeling work by the staff is supported by accurate 3D models, coordination drawings, and fabrication-ready documentation. Brainstorm Infotech is ready for daily engineering work but cannot compete with Cad Crowd in diversification among engineering design freelancers and flexibility within projects. Cad Crowd connects the client directly to the Tekla professionals the client needs to complete a project from any part of the world. This makes it so much easier to meet unique demands on projects and a wider variety of competencies. That way, it will be super easy to scale projects without limitations to internal capacity, and thus, precise structural engineering solutions are guaranteed.
Burns & McDonnell also adds value through engineering services that include, but are not limited to, Tekla-based structural modeling and detailing and coordination of commercial and industrial projects. Other concerns include compliance, accuracy, and coordination with other engineering disciplines so that projects may be smoothly implemented. While these traditional services provide for successful performance in heavy, large projects, they may not necessarily be flexible. Companies looking for immediate access to specialized freelancers in Tekla or adaptive project support are encouraged to take a look at Cad Crowd’s platform as a means of engaging directly with such experienced pros. It gives them both precision and agility in the efficient execution of Tekla engineering projects, independent of any in-house capacity limitations.
CAD Outsourcing does the work of providing construction and fabrication firms with Tekla design and structural engineering, detailing steel, creating 3D models, and architectural drafting services in order to deliver projects efficiently and right on point. For more frequent standard requirements in engineering, CAD Outsourcing is reliable, but it is more niche-oriented than Cad Crowd when connecting businesses to a wider group of Tekla freelancers. Cad Crowd allows quick scaling with diverse expert talent and greater flexibility on projects that are out of the ordinary. In terms of companies needing different types of expertise and fast project turnarounds, it is the adaptability of Cad Crowd that will be better positioned to deal with a variety of Tekla-based engineering projects with precision and professional support.
DPR Construction offers commercial and industrial projects structural engineering and design services based on Tekla. Their teams work to deliver detailed, accurate 3D modeling, steel detailing, and coordination with contractors and stakeholders. DPR Construction has become notable for reliability and meeting standards in engineering; however, flexibility and the ability for project customization remain somewhat restricted in comparison with Cad Crowd, which facilitates direct contact with professional freelancers who have experience in Tekla. Cad Crowd will be able to offer fast scalability of projects, opting for professionals in any particular project, and managing it in an agile way. The capability of doing so will make it a practical alternative for companies in search of quality Tekla design and engineering services outside of the conventional traditional firm offering.
The Eneca Group provides Tekla structural modeling, architectural detailing designers, and engineering for construction and manufacturing. Its people are committed to accuracy, compliance, and coordination between the design and fabrication teams. While the Eneca Group is good with routine tasks in Tekla, it probably is not as versatile as Cad Crowd. Cad Crowd opens companies up to a greater range of freelancers specializing in a number of the varied workflows available within Tekla. This equates to faster project completion with tailored solutions for very particular needs. Companies seeking reliable, flexible professional Tekla design services often find Cad Crowd more suitable for complicated or tight-timeframe engineering projects.
Fluor provides Tekla design and structural engineering services for industrial, commercial, and infrastructure markets. Other services include detailed modeling, steel and concrete fabrication drawings, and project coordination. Fluor has enormous qualifications in all matters of engineering, paying great attention to standards. Its corporate model is probably less flexible than Cad Crowd’s network of freelancers. Companies that need immediate access to specialized Tekla talent or customized solutions for specific projects may get more value from Cad Crowd. Cad Crowd connects you with experts from a huge range of Tekla workflows, from bidder to detailer, providing accurate and efficient service, able to adapt to fluctuating project sizes and timelines.
IndiaCADworks provides construction and fabrication projects with Tekla structural modeling, detailing, and design engineering services. The team executes 3D modeling for steel and concrete structures with accurate drawing and coordination support. Traditional engineering workflows can rely on IndiaCADworks. On the other hand, Cad Crowd offers broader flexibility and a wide pool of Tekla experts; firms can thus select freelancers who fit best for particular projects. This would make it easier and faster to accomplish the projects, while tapping into specialized skills is possible for solving certain unique structural challenges. Companies seeking adaptive and professional Tekla design solutions often find Cad Crowd advantageous, since such service either outperforms or complements traditional engineering firm services both in quality and responsiveness.
Jacobs provides various Tekla-based engineering services for industrial projects, including but not limited to structural modeling, detailing of steel, and project coordination. These teams guarantee conformance and accuracy, coordinating with contractors and architects. Solutions provided by Jacobs are always reliable and sound from a technical point of view, but perhaps their corporate structure prevents them from considering the peculiarities of a project straight away. Cad Crowd, on the other hand, can enable firms to draw on an extended network of specialized freelancers in Tekla and, therefore, fast turnaround, flexible management of projects, and engineering solutions fitted into the client’s framework. Professional know-how joined with the ability to be agile and directly involved-like traditional firms cannot provide-offers Cad Crowd workable alternatives to businesses in need of efficient and quality Tekla design services.
Kiewit Corporation provides Tekla design and structural engineering in major construction and infrastructure projects. This team ensures the accuracy and coordination of a project, including steel detailing, 3D modeling, and fabrication-ready drawings. Suffice it to say, Kiewit is reliable, having broad-based experience in the successful execution of very challenging projects. However, the corporate model does not offer any flexibility or the ability to adapt to changes in an instant, as Cad Crowd does. Thus, if your firm requires specialized Tekla expertise with quicker turnover and customizable support, it would be better served by Cad Crowd. Cad Crowd connects companies directly with highly qualified 3D engineering freelancers from around the world, letting projects scale efficiently while keeping high-quality outputs. That is quite a practical alternative for any firm in search of precision and flexibility regarding Tekla engineering services.
Nucor Corporation provides full detailing in Tekla and structural engineering services to contractors and fabricators. Its staff ensures highly accurate 3D models, fabrication documentation, and coordination with the contractor. As much as Nucor is known for technical quality and adherence to industry standards, firms may find challenges regarding customization and flexibility in the way of project engagement. Cad Crowd provides access to a greater range of Tekla freelancers, so companies can hire specialized engineering design talents for particular projects and achieve quicker results. Thus, Cad Crowd will be able to offer flexible solutions across different workflows in structural engineering and assure quality, flexible, and efficient Tekla outputs not possible with traditional corporate models.
Schuff Steel Company remains the largest specialist in Tekla-based structural steel detailing and engineering services. The staff develops precise 3D models, fabrication drawings, and coordinates for construction projects. While Schuff Steel effectively realizes large-scale steel projects, firms needing greater flexibility, specialized expertise, or faster project completion may find value in Cad Crowd. With Cad Crowd, customers can be directly involved with experienced Tekla freelancers from all over the world on adaptive solutions for everything from simple to more complex projects. That would mean allowing companies to scale their projects efficiently while ensuring accuracy and compliance. Indeed, Cad Crowd is a practical, reliable alternative to traditional steel detailing firms for those firms that need high-value Tekla design services with quicker turnarounds and bespoke support.
Silicon Engineering Consultants provide Tekla structural modeling, detailing, and engineering for a wide variety of construction and industrial design firms. A team is involved in ensuring the accuracy of 3D modeling, steel and concrete detailing, and fabrication documentation. As reliable as Silicon Engineering Consultants may be for Tekla solutions, Cad Crowd opens wider access to freelancers and quicker flexibility for projects that need special attention. Firms can make use of Cad Crowd in the outsourcing of specialized Tekla experts who can fit the specific needs of the project at hand, ensuring customized workflows and efficient delivery. Cad Crowd consolidates expertise in professional engineering with flexibility, making it ideal for firms looking for quality Tekla outputs without limitations that characterize traditional consultancy services. This will ensure precision and responsiveness in cases of complex engineering assignments.
Stantec provides a broad range of Tekla design and structural engineering services for projects ranging from commercial and industrial to infrastructure. Their teams provide 3D modeling, steel detailing, and coordinated drawings for construction workflows. While Stantec will maintain accuracy and technical competence in the work provided, firms may find limitations in flexibility and direct access to particular experts. Cad Crowd is more specialized as a freelance service in Tekla and thus has more flexibility in terms of adapting to the exact needs of the project. It extends the reach of its solutions further. Architectural design firms can thus rely on Cad Crowd to efficiently manage different Tekla projects while ensuring premium quality outputs. It is in this mix of precision, accessibility, and flexibility that Cad Crowd becomes the pragmatic alternative for firms desiring reliable Tekla engineering.
Steelarch Designers is a Tekla-based service provider mainly for structural modeling and steel detailing in construction and industrial projects. It deals in services such as 3D models, fabrication drawings, and project coordination support. While Steelarch Designers is okay for standard steel projects, in-house capacity may be somewhat limited in terms of flexibility for larger or more unique assignments. Cad Crowd connects companies with professional Tekla freelancers to offer adaptable and scalable solutions from simple to complex structural engineering needs. Hence, companies can efficiently finish projects with high accuracy and tailored support. Firms in need of versatile professional Tekla design services usually find Cad Crowd more responsive in fulfilling the diverse requirements of such projects.
Thornton Tomasetti brings structural engineering designers and modeling services based on Tekla for complex construction and infrastructure projects. Its teams realize accurate steel and concrete detailing, 3D modeling, and fabrication-ready documentation. While highly acclaimed for technical excellence, this corporate structure would be a deterrent to quick engagement and flexibility. Cad Crowd is a source of diverse freelancers who utilize Tekla and thus may seamlessly move into whatever needs arise for professional firms. That makes the execution of unique or high-demand structural engineering tasks a lot easier. Companies seeking quality Tekla outputs but with more customizable support faster generally find Cad Crowd a practical and efficient alternative in many cases.
Trimble provides engineering support through the Tekla software solution in structural modeling, detailing, and project coordination. It supports workflow optimization in Tekla for firms to provide accurate steel and concrete design. And as good as Trimble might be with its tools and services, Cad Crowd opens up a fantastic network of freelancers in Tekla and lets the quick implementation of the designs by firms take place. Cad Crowd offers flexible project management, matched expertise, and faster turnover for particular needs in structural engineering. Companies seeking professional Tekla service that can be integrated with flexible execution find Cad Crowd more approachable because it can integrate precision, specialized talent, and responsive support on a host of projects.
The right Tekla design and engineering service will take what is a potentially overwhelming project and make it an easy, successful experience. A perfect team will mix accuracy, quality, and imagination to give your firm the added oomph that it needs. Cad Crowd makes finding and hiring the best structural design freelancers in the field pretty easy-you will be able to access experts that can take on projects of any scale. If you explore Cad Crowd today, then you can find the Tekla design and engineering services that will take your next project to the next level. Contact us for a free quote.
MacKenzie Brown is the founder and CEO of Cad Crowd. With over 18 years of experience in launching and scaling platforms specializing in CAD services, product design, manufacturing, hardware, and software development, MacKenzie is a recognized authority in the engineering industry. Under his leadership, Cad Crowd serves esteemed clients like NASA, JPL, the U.S. Navy, and Fortune 500 companies, empowering innovators with access to high-quality design and engineering talent.
Welcome to Dungeon Master, PC Gamer’s regular RPG column, where Online Editor Fraser Brown delves into PC gaming’s most beloved and enduring genre. Grab a seat in our badly-lit tavern and please ignore the goblin puke.
We love a big RPG dilemma, don’t we? Right up until the point where we actually have to make the choice and we stare at our screens for an uncomfortably long time, hoping we’ll figure out a way to make a call and not feel absolutely terrible about it later.
For my money, the best—agonising, guilt-inducing—choices are the really personal ones. I love that Mass Effect lets me determine the fate of the galaxy in all these different ways, but it never gives me a reason to care about the rachni, for instance, or the council, so when I have to decide to save them or let them die, it becomes more of an abstract moral choice.
Disco Elysium, then, left me in tatters. It’s more personal and intimate than a productive therapy session. There’s a card you can read pretty early on, stuck inside a ledger, that opens the wound that Harry worked very hard—by abusing alcohol and drugs—to forget. If you toss it, you never get it back. That was a hard one. Is ignoring it a kind of liberation? Or are you just helping Harry hide from his trauma?
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It’s effective because it’s powerfully relatable. You don’t even need to have experienced a cataclysmic breakup to understand Harry in that moment. We’ve all got shit we’d really love to forget. Self-destructive choices that we made in a heated moment, leaving regret to constantly claw at us.
Relationship drama should be excellent fodder for RPG choices, but that rarely ends up being true. Usually they end up being friction free, but sometimes you’ll be walloped with the classic trope of being forced to decide if they live or die—a cheap trick to force us to care about someone, even if they actually suck. Yeah, I’m talking about you, Ash.
That’s why Geralt’s romantic misadventures are so effective at spitting out challenging conundrums. The best thing about The Witcher 3‘s approach is that you can choose not to make a decision. It’s so rare for games to recognise that indecision is another choice.
I desperately wanted Geralt to be happy. He deserved it. But I could not figure out the best way to go about giving him his happily ever after. The depths of his feelings for Yennefer nudge you towards making sure they have a life together, but god she’s toxic. She regularly makes him feel like shit. Triss actually seems to make him happy, but is that just the safe pick?
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So I never made the choice. I told both of them I loved them, and they left me tied to a bed while they went off to get drunk. My inability to make a choice was the worst choice. But it also ended up feeling poignant—Geralt so often gets in the way of his own happiness.
OK, what about you lot? What’s the toughest choice I’ve had to make in an RPG? Let me know in the comments.
Google is rolling out its November update for Googlebook, and it includes a handful of improvements to make the platform more reliable and less frustrating to use.
The biggest change is in how Googlebook handles memory used by its on-device AI services. Google has updated its NPU driver and optimized AICore memory management, freeing up 3GB to 6GB of system RAM, as per a Reddit post by Google’s Mishaal Rahman. That’s a significant bump for laptops with 16GB of RAM, especially when jumping between a lot of apps and browser tabs.
Chrome should also behave better under heavier workloads. The update improves the way the system reclaims memory when background AI services conflict with browser processes, reducing the chances of unexpected tab reloads and crashes. I’m almost tempted to say the update is the kind of fix that arguably should have been in place before Googlebook launched, but better late than never.
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The November release covers a wide range of hardware and software issues. Convertibles should no longer lose keyboard and touchpad input when you switch between tablet and laptop modes. Google has also fixed Zoom crashes using simulated backgrounds, filters, blur effects, and 3D avatars.
External displays get a little love, too. Now you should be able to play DRM-protected streaming content such as Netflix, rather than just seeing a black screen. USB microphones and multichannel audio interfaces should work as expected too. Bluetooth users can also get lower audio-video synchronization delays and more reliable reconnection for wireless mice.
Linux users and security get some love, too
(Image credit: Derrek Lee / Android Central)
Google hasn’t forgotten about those who use Googlebook for development work. The Linux Terminal beta brings in a bunch of fixes, including more reliable shell sessions after sleep, better SSH port forwarding, and improved multi-window management. Google also fixed a memory leak when closing terminal tabs and made Linux VM updates less destructive, preserving user storage and custom SSH configurations.
Security is another part of the release. The Android security patch for November 1, 2026 resolves around 60 vulnerabilities. Google also updated the Linux 6.18 kernel and Ti50 security chip firmware, fixing unexpected restarts, boot loops, and noisy fans.
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Google says the update is being rolled out gradually to supported models, including devices from Acer, ASUS, Lenovo, HP, and Dell. Owners can find it under Settings > System > System Update. You want the build number CL3B.260622.286.R2.
Early reactions on Reddit have been largely positive, with some owners already reporting smoother performance. That said, users are reporting issues, including Chrome spell check and notification syncing problems after waking from sleep.
Clear plans start with reliable client information and shared internal processes.
Scenario comparisons can make trade-offs easier for clients to understand.
Simple visuals and plain language help turn projections into useful decisions.
Technology can reduce repetitive work, but professional review remains essential.
Consistent records, security practices, and team reviews support better client service.
Financial planning becomes difficult when a client’s investments, taxes, retirement goals, insurance needs, debt, and spending are reviewed in isolation. A connected process helps advisory teams explain how these decisions affect one another, while financial planning software for advisor teams can support a more consistent way to organize information and test choices. Clients do not necessarily need longer reports. They need to understand their current position, the decisions before them, and the actions most likely to move them toward their goals. In 2026, teams that combine disciplined planning procedures with clear communication can make each meeting more productive.
Why Clear Planning Matters More
Clients often arrive with questions that cross several areas of their financial lives. They may want to know whether they can retire sooner, help a child, buy a property, manage a business transition, or increase spending without undermining long-term security. A plan that treats those questions as connected decisions is easier to act on than a collection of separate account reviews. Technology can speed up organization and calculations, but speed alone does not create value. The goal should be to give advisors more capacity for thoughtful client conversations, not simply produce more outputs. A useful planning process makes assumptions visible, identifies trade-offs, and leaves the client with a clear next step.
Start With a Shared Planning Framework
Every team should establish a core set of information required before meaningful projections begin. This usually includes income, assets, liabilities, regular expenses, expected changes in spending, insurance coverage, estate considerations, tax details, goals, and key dates.
Separate The Essential From the Optional.
Not every detail needs to be collected during the first meeting. Define which facts are necessary for an initial planning discussion and which can be gathered later. This keeps onboarding manageable while ensuring every advisor works from the same baseline. A shared framework also prevents clients from receiving very different experiences depending on who prepares the plan.
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Improve Data Quality Before Running Projections
A sophisticated model cannot compensate for incomplete or misunderstood inputs. Before relying on a projection, review account ownership, tax treatment, timing, liquidity, income stability, and whether an expense is ongoing or temporary. Assign responsibility for reviewing new data so important updates do not remain buried in emails or meeting notes.A reliable financial planning process ensures that accurate and updated information supports every projection and client recommendation.
Use a Simple Pre-Projection Checklist
Confirm the source of each major figure.
Check dates, time frames, and ownership details.
Review unusual income, expenses, or one-time transactions.
Document material assumptions used in the plan.
Ask the client to confirm the summary before finalizing recommendations.
Make Scenario Planning Easier to Follow
One forecast can imply more certainty than a financial plan can reasonably provide. Instead, compare two or three realistic paths, such as retiring at different ages, changing savings levels, adjusting planned spending, or making a major purchase. Each scenario should show both the potential benefit and the trade-off. Keep the comparison focused on the client’s decision. Explain which assumptions have the greatest influence on the result, such as inflation, investment returns, longevity, savings, or spending. Projections should be presented as planning tools, not promises or guarantees. A structured financial planning process helps advisors present realistic scenarios and guide clients toward informed financial decisions.
Turn Complex Numbers Into a Clear Client Story
Lead with the conclusion before presenting the supporting calculations. For example, begin with the client’s current outlook, then explain the primary risk or opportunity, and finally identify the actions within the client’s control. Plain language is usually more useful than technical labels. Charts, timelines, and short written summaries can support the conversation by clarifying a choice. A strong report does not attempt to display every number. It helps a client answer the question, “What should I do next?”
Use Technology Without Losing Human Judgment
Planning tools can help teams organize data, draft documents, track workflows, and test scenarios during meetings. However, every output still requires review for complete data, appropriate assumptions, and client-specific context. Technology should support the advisor’s process rather than substitute for accountability. Responsible use also means setting clear boundaries for automated tools. As discussions about human judgment alongside AI tools make clear, organization and preliminary research are different from making personalized recommendations. Empathy, professional experience, and an understanding of the client’s priorities remain central to advice. An effective financial planning process combines technology with professional expertise to deliver accurate, personalized client guidance.
Build Consistency Across the Advisory Team
Shared templates and review standards reduce avoidable differences in client deliverables. Establish conventions for file names, planning assumptions, plan updates, and records of client decisions. Regular peer reviews can reveal recurring data errors, unclear language, or steps that create delays. Standardization should apply to the process, not force identical recommendations. Advisors still need room to reflect each client’s goals, family circumstances, risk tolerance, and changing priorities. A consistent financial planning process ensures that all team members follow reliable standards while adapting recommendations to each client’s needs.
Protect Client Information and Maintain Good Records
Limit access to sensitive information according to job responsibilities, use appropriate permissions, and review how documents are stored and shared. Teams should also evaluate a vendor’s security practices before adding new software or connecting systems. The SEC’s guidance on safeguarding customer information reinforces the importance of written policies and procedures for covered firms. Maintain a clear record of material changes, client instructions, and important planning assumptions. Good records improve continuity when several team members serve the same household and make future reviews more efficient.
Measure Whether the Process Is Working
Track measures that reveal whether planning is becoming clearer and more reliable, not merely whether more plans are completed. Useful measures may include:
Time required to prepare a plan.
Number of revisions after client review.
Frequency of data-entry errors.
Client completion of agreed follow-up items.
Time spent in client-facing work.
Advisor adoption of the shared planning process.
A Practical 30-Day Improvement Plan
Week One: Map the current process and identify common delays.
Week Two: Create a shared data checklist and core assumptions list.
Week Three: Build a straightforward format for scenario comparisons.
Week Four: Test the process with a small group of clients and gather feedback.
Common Questions Advisory Teams Ask
How Much Should Every Plan Be Standardized?
Standardize the core process, data requirements, and review procedures. Recommendations should remain tailored to the client’s circumstances.
How Many Scenarios Should Be Shown?
Show only the number needed to support a decision. Too many options can make an otherwise clear conversation harder to follow.
Can Automation Replace a Financial Advisor?
Automation can assist with organization, calculations, and workflows. It does not remove the need for professional judgment, explanation, and client communication.
What Is The Best First Step For a Small Team?
Improve data collection and build a repeatable review process before adding more tools or more complexity.
Conclusion
Clearer client plans begin with reliable information, shared planning standards, useful scenario comparisons, and thoughtful explanations that reflect each client’s goals and circumstances. When advisory teams follow a consistent process, they can reduce avoidable errors, improve collaboration, and make it easier for team members to understand a client’s financial position and next steps. Technology can further support this process by organizing information, streamlining routine tasks, and helping advisors compare different financial scenarios more efficiently. However, tools should support rather than replace professional judgment and meaningful client conversations. By explaining assumptions, outlining potential trade-offs, and turning complex information into practical action steps, advisors can help clients feel more confident about their choices. This balanced approach supports more consistent planning while ensuring recommendations remain personal, understandable, and aligned with each client’s priorities.
Happy touch your Mac day! Apple’s new PROLED MacBook Pro is now in the hands of customers. We picked up one of the new machines to get our greasy fingerprints all over that pristine OLED display.
It’s been five years since Apple last redesigned the MacBook Pro, so it was due for an update. The PROLED MacBook Pro looks a lot like the mini-LED model, but it’s thinner and lighter. The 14-inch model is about half a millimeter thinner and weighs just over three pounds, while the 16-inch model is almost a millimeter thinner and weighs four pounds. Apple shaved off about half a pound for the 14-inch model and 0.7 pounds for the 16-inch model, and while that doesn’t sound like much, it makes a big difference. You can feel how much lighter it is the second you take it out of the box. Apple brought back the glowing logo for the PROLED MacBook Pro, so everyone around you will know you have the fancy new OLED model.
The OLED display is the major new feature, and it looks as good as you would expect from a display in a laptop starting at $2,899. Blacks are true black, and since each pixel lights up individually, there’s none of the bloom you get with mini-LED when viewing bright objects on a dark background. The PROLED MacBook Pro can get super bright too, and that brightness paired with the deep blacks, HDR content looks great. OLED sometimes isn’t bright enough outdoors, but that’s not the case here.
The display bezels are thinner, and the 16-inch machine is actually 16.3 inches instead of 16.2. There’s also an iPhone-like Dynamic Island that replaces the notch and houses Siri AI, Live Activities, and more. The Dynamic Island makes sense because you can now touch the MacBook Pro’s display. It works like touching an iPhone or iPad, so you can swipe through webpages, tap buttons, drag and drop, and pinch to zoom.
Touch isn’t meant to replace the trackpad and keyboard, but it’s there if you want it. Apple made some tweaks to macOS, so menu options expand a little more when you touch them than when you click them, and tiny window resizing buttons get larger. Apple put a sturdier hinge in the PROLED MacBook Pro so the display won’t move as much when you tap it, but it’s not perfect. It does still jiggle depending on where you tap.
The touch feature is fine, but it’s probably not a reason to go out and get the PROLED MacBook Pro. It has the potential to be useful in some situations, but it’s not going to dramatically change the way most people use a laptop.
New chips weren’t ready in time for the PROLED machines, so they use the same M5 Pro and M5 Max as the mini-LED models. That’s a disappointment in a laptop that starts at almost $3,000. Since Apple is still selling the mini-LED models, you’re basically paying a $400 premium for the higher-end OLED display, the thinner and lighter design, and the touch functionality.
The better display and the lighter weight are going to be worth the price for some people, and the touch is just a bonus.
Star Wars Zero Company developer Bit Reactor has laid of an unspecified number of developers, after furloughing its entire team and then hiring some of that staff back.
As reported by the Star Wars website Bespin Bulletin, several designers of the acclaimed tactics game have taken to LinkedIn to announce that they have been let go by the studio. Among those affected are senior environment artist Ryan Lopez, who worked on the game for three and a half years and has been on furlough for the past three and a half months.
“While it stings, I’m really proud of what we built together,” Lopez wrote in a LinkedIn post.
It’s been a tumultuous few months for Bit Reactor. In September, it was reported that the studio had furloughed up to 80% of its staff in the weeks leading up to Zero Company’s launch, with the studio having reportedly “run out of most of its money” ahead of the game’s launch. At the time, former senior technical artist Zachariah Scott said the project was built with “shocking austerity”. Scott also accused Bit Reactor of “concealing the fact that the team was furloughed weeks ago” after the company made the announcement.
Star Wars Zero Company | Official Gameplay Trailer – YouTube
Within a month, Zero Company had sold one million copies and Bit Reactor subsequently announced it had hired back some of its staff. In a statement posted on Bluesky, CEO Greg Foertsch stated that the furlough had been a response to “unexpected business developments outside of our control” and “necessary to help us eventually bring as many people back as we can”.
Clearly, though, Zero Company’s commercial performance hasn’t been enough to bring back everybody. Which is a shame, considering that Zero Company is by all accounts a brilliant Star Wars adventure. Resident word Jedi Ted Litchfield called it ” one of the best games of 2026 and a new all-timer Star Wars videogame” in his Star Wars Zero Company Review.
Keep up to date with the most important stories and the best deals, as picked by the PC Gamer team.
Zero Company isn’t the only knockout Star Wars game to release this year either, with Star Wars: Galactic Racer providing a similarly scintillating experience in a galaxy far, far away. Indeed, the performance of both games appears to have pleased Star Wars overlords Lucasfilm, and the company is keen to do more creative spins on the universe in the vein of Zero Company and Galactic Racer.
Managing a brand with a handful of locations requires dedication. Managing a brand with fifty, a hundred, or a thousand locations requires an entirely different operational playbook. By 2026, implementing local seo automation will stand as the definitive dividing line between multi-unit brands that dominate regional search results and those that disappear from the map. This systematic process simplifies the management of online visibility, keeping your enterprise at the top of local search results without draining your marketing resources.
**** SUGGESTION: image of a map showing a cluster of business locations to emphasize regional presence ****
Franchisors, operations directors, and multi-location business owners need scalable methods to thrive across diverse geographic markets. The goal is to deploy strategies that keep your locations highly visible and intensely competitive. From streamlining directory management to refining hyper-local on-page tactics, these targeted techniques will multiply your marketing output and accelerate brand growth.
The True Cost of Manual Search Management
Relying on spreadsheets to track digital footprints across hundreds of zip codes leads directly to lost revenue. Search engines increasingly prioritize hyper-local relevance. Users expect exact store hours, accurate phone numbers, and location-specific inventory the moment they type a query on their mobile devices. Meeting these expectations requires absolute precision.
**** SUGGESTION: screenshot of an error in a spreadsheet showing mismatched business information ****
You need a framework that instantly synchronizes data the second a store manager reports a holiday closure or a change in services. Search algorithms reward absolute consistency. A single mismatched address on a secondary directory can drag down the primary Google Business Profile ranking for that specific branch, sending a highly qualified customer straight to a competitor.
Core Multi Location SEO Challenges
Consistency Across Listings
Manually keeping names, addresses, and phone numbers identical across dozens of directories for hundreds of locations exhausts marketing teams. Discrepancies confuse search engines and frustrate customers, leading directly to reduced map pack visibility and a sudden drop in foot traffic.
Managing Numerous Locations at Scale
A standardized, cookie-cutter marketing strategy fails at the neighborhood level. Customers in Chicago interact with businesses differently than customers in Dallas. Customizing promotions, photos, and Q&A sections for individual markets quickly becomes chaotic without a central command framework. Customization without a clear framework leads to wasted resources and missed localized opportunities.
Tracking Local Metrics Accurately
Assessing campaign performance across fragmented data silos creates massive blind spots. Understanding performance at each location requires detailed, localized analytics. Consolidating ranking data, conversion metrics, and engagement statistics from various regional sources can overwhelm even the most capable marketing departments.
Key Techniques for Local SEO Automation
Using software to streamline local search operations changes the mathematical reality for marketing teams. Automating local SEO involves deploying precise tools to manage listings, track customer reviews, and update business information instantly. Here are the most effective techniques for modernizing your approach:
1. Centralized Management Systems
Deploy a centralized command system to control all location listings from a single dashboard. This consolidated approach guarantees that:
**** SUGGESTION: diagram showing how a centralized management system connects multiple location databases ****
All business information updates uniformly across every connected directory.
New franchise locations instantly populate across the internet on opening day.
Brand guidelines remain strictly enforced at the local level.
2. Automated Listing Updates
Manual data entry wastes hours of expensive marketing talent. Companies that automate their local search operations save an average of 30 hours per month in manual listing updates, according to Yext. This level of efficiency provides massive advantages:
Instantaneous updates push out across all platforms when business information changes.
Automated sweeps reduce human error and improve overall search accuracy.
Teams redirect their saved time toward high-level revenue generation.
3. Real-Time Review Monitoring
Customers leave reviews on multiple platforms at all hours of the day. Software sweeps these platforms and funnels feedback into a single feed.
**** SUGGESTION: screenshot example of a review alert notification system ****
Set up immediate alerts for new reviews, enabling lightning-fast responses from local managers.
Utilize sentiment analysis tools to spot recurring complaints and improve customer service protocols.
On-Page SEO for Multi-Location Websites
Location-Based Content
Replicating the exact same page template and just swapping out the city name no longer works. Search engines want authentic local signals.
**** SUGGESTION: screenshot of a location-specific webpage highlighting unique local content ****
Develop distinct, localized copy for each individual location page.
Highlight regional events, community partnerships, or local staff members to engage the specific neighborhood.
Embed interactive maps and written driving directions from local landmarks.
Advanced Schema Markup
Injecting structured data into the HTML of your location pages translates your business data directly to search crawlers. This specific code includes:
**** SUGGESTION: diagram illustrating how schema markup improves search visibility for local businesses ****
NAP (Name, Address, Phone number) details mapped to exact geographic coordinates.
Specific business hours, holiday closures, and accepted payment methods.
Geography-specific attributes that help secure rich snippets in local search results.
Off-Page SEO Strategies
Local Backlink Acquisition
Earning links from regional news outlets, local sponsorships, and community blogs sends strong proximity signals to search algorithms.
Establish mutually beneficial relationships with local businesses, chambers of commerce, and neighborhood organizations.
Produce highly valuable localized content that community publishers will naturally want to share and reference.
Sponsor regional youth sports teams or local charities to generate organic links pointing directly to the specific location page rather than your corporate homepage.
Social Media Engagement
A corporate social feed ignores the distinct personality of individual markets.
**** SUGGESTION: screenshot example of a local social media post customized for a specific audience ****
Customize social media publishing strategies to reflect the culture of each location.
Encourage user-generated content by asking local patrons to tag the specific store location in their photos and check-ins.
Utilize approval workflows that allow regional managers to post authentic content while maintaining corporate brand standards.
**** SUGGESTION: funnel-graphic showcasing the four steps of implementing local SEO automation ****
The sequence begins with Awareness: mapping out every existing directory listing across your entire network and identifying critical data errors. Evaluation follows, where marketing teams analyze which specific platforms drive the highest volume of local foot traffic and phone calls. Automation Implementation serves as the primary turning point, locking in accurate data via API integrations to protect your listings from unauthorized changes. Finally, Continuous Monitoring and Adjustment takes over, utilizing intelligent software to flag new duplicate listings and track local keyword rankings month over month.
Checklist for Optimizing Multi Location SEO
[ ] Set up a centralized management dashboard to control all global and regional listings
[ ] Automate updates of business information across all tier-one and tier-two directories
[ ] Implement real-time review monitoring and strict response time protocols
[ ] Create deeply unique, localized content for every single location landing page
[ ] Inject hyper-local schema markup to capture rich snippets in search results
[ ] Acquire local backlinks through community partnerships and regional sponsorships
[ ] Roll out location-specific social media strategies with corporate oversight
[ ] Integrate local seo automation software to track unbranded keyword rankings by zip code
Measuring Success Across Hundreds of Locations
Running a multi-location campaign requires precise key performance indicators. Look beyond simple website traffic. Track local pack impressions, map routing requests, and click-to-call actions originating directly from search engines. Segment your reporting by region to identify underperforming markets that require additional resource allocation.
Monitor the split between branded and unbranded search queries. If a location only generates traffic when users search for your exact company name, that specific branch is failing to capture organic local demand. Leveraging software allows you to pinpoint these exact deficiencies and deploy targeted campaigns to correct them.
Conclusion
Implementing these local seo automation techniques fundamentally upgrades how multi-location businesses control their digital footprints. By focusing on centralized management, algorithmic data syndication, and highly tailored content strategies, your brand will dominate regional search rankings and connect more effectively with local audiences.
Search behavior will only grow more sophisticated. Staying ahead with these precise techniques gives you a permanent competitive edge against slower, less organized competitors. Embrace these automated strategies and position your entire enterprise for massive success in 2026 and beyond.
To aggressively expand your multi-location footprint, audit how these techniques align with your current operations. Identify which specific geographic markets offer the highest ceiling for immediate growth. By integrating elite search strategies with powerful management technology, your brand’s online presence will function as an unstoppable asset for capturing new customers across every location you operate.
Categories: SEO, Local Marketing, Franchise Growth, Marketing Automation, Multi-Location Strategy
Takenaka Corporation, one of Japan’s oldest construction companies, now runs ARES CAD software on more than 8,600 installations across the company. It started with ARES Commander in 2019, rolled it out company-wide in 2021, and added the cloud solution ARES Trinity in 2024.
This case study explains why Takenaka chose ARES, what problems it solved, and what other construction and engineering firms can learn from the move.
Timeline: ARES Commander in 2019, company-wide rollout in 2021, ARES Trinity in 2024
Scale: more than 8,600 ARES installations by 2025
Main reasons: full DWG compatibility, lower CAD costs, a smooth 2D tool next to BIM, and better version control
See how ARES Commander, ARES Trinity and ARES Kudo could work for your team. Start the 30-day free trial at graebert.com and work with your DWG files in a CAD tool built around full DWG compatibility.
Who is Takenaka Corporation?
Takenaka Corporation is a Japanese construction company founded in 1610. With more than 400 years of craftsmanship and innovation behind it, the company is now speeding up its digital transformation, with a focus on cloud-based workflows and CAD integration.
Takenaka wants to address social issues such as rapid environmental change, a sharp decline in the construction workforce, and new ways of working. In 2021 it introduced its “Construction Digital Platform”. All data from construction processes, including project operations and human resources, is now collected centrally. It forms the base for advanced use of AI and other technologies.
As part of this effort, Takenaka moved the storage and management of its drawing data from in-house file servers to cloud storage. This keeps the data secure and gives authorized people access to drawings and other project data at any time, from anywhere.
Takenaka chose ARES Commander because it needed a fully DWG-compatible 2D CAD tool that works smoothly alongside BIM. At the time, the company was promoting BIM across the whole organization. The shift from familiar 2D CAD to BIM was slow, so Takenaka looked for a new 2D tool that would keep daily work running without friction.
ARES Commander is CAD software for desktop computers. Its full DWG compatibility meant that Takenaka’s teams could keep working with the drawing format they already used. Takenaka started implementing ARES Commander in 2019.
How ARES cut CAD costs while Takenaka expanded BIM
Takenaka rolled out ARES across the company in 2021 to cut 2D CAD costs and move investment toward BIM at the right time. The CAD software it had used until then kept rising in price year after year.
ARES is cost-effective and offers all the DWG-compatible features Takenaka needs. The company concluded that quality would not suffer, even with lower costs than its previous software, and that it could still test drawings effectively.
Today Takenaka has deployed ARES Commander across the company, with 8,600 installations on PCs.
Why Takenaka added ARES Trinity for cloud collaboration
In 2024, Takenaka added ARES Trinity, Graebert’s cloud solution, to fix version control problems on large-scale projects. ARES Trinity combines three CAD applications with cloud-based collaboration features.
When many people edited drawings in cloud storage, version control became complicated. ARES Trinity handles version control and other collaboration features well, so Takenaka decided to adopt it. Version control of drawings is now much smoother.
Takenaka now sees a clear path to solving the challenges of large-scale operations. It also reports that requests from CAD operators are handled flexibly, and it hopes the software stays easy to use and valuable for CAD users.
ARES Kudo and the future of construction
ARES Kudo is a browser-based online CAD solution, and it also serves as the core of ARES Trinity’s collaboration technology. Together, ARES Commander on the desktop, ARES Kudo in the browser and the cloud features of ARES Trinity let teams work on the same drawings from different devices.
Takenaka says the social issues it faces cannot be solved by one company alone. It aims to share effective measures with stakeholders and to work with the wider construction industry to solve them.
What other construction firms can learn from Takenaka
Keep DWG. Full DWG compatibility let Takenaka change CAD software without changing its drawing format.
Pair 2D with BIM. A reliable 2D tool keeps daily work smooth while the company moves toward BIM.
Plan for cost. Takenaka moved away from software that rose in price every year and put the savings toward BIM.
Fix version control early. Once many people edit drawings in cloud storage, versions get messy. Built-in collaboration solves this.
Roll out in stages. Takenaka went from the first ARES Commander installations in 2019 to company-wide use in 2021, then to ARES Trinity in 2024.
Frequently asked questions
Which company moved 8,600 CAD users to ARES?
Takenaka Corporation, a Japanese construction company founded in 1610, has more than 8,600 ARES installations across the company.
Why did Takenaka choose ARES Commander?
Takenaka needed a fully DWG-compatible 2D CAD tool to work alongside BIM, and it wanted to lower 2D CAD costs. Its previous CAD software kept getting more expensive each year.
Is ARES Commander compatible with DWG files?
Yes. ARES Commander is fully DWG compatible, which was a main reason Takenaka selected it.
When did Takenaka start using ARES?
Takenaka began implementing ARES Commander in 2019, expanded it across the company in 2021, and adopted ARES Trinity in 2024.
What problem does ARES Trinity solve?
ARES Trinity handles version control and collaboration when many people edit drawings in cloud storage. Takenaka adopted it to solve version control problems on large-scale projects.
What is ARES Kudo?
ARES Kudo is a browser-based online CAD solution. It is also the core of the collaboration technology in ARES Trinity.
Is there a free trial of ARES?
Yes. ARES offers a 30-day free trial.
Try ARES Commander CAD Software yourself
See how ARES Commander, ARES Trinity and ARES Kudo could work for your team. Start the 30-day free trial at graebert.com and work with your DWG files in a CAD tool built around full DWG compatibility.
