Archive for the ‘Free Software’ Category

Bemidji State University students at the ready to help with tax prep – Bemidji Pioneer

This year, BSUs campus is closed to the public, and only a handful of those Tax I and II students are actually in Bemidji, so this vital assistance will be provided virtually -- and it is vital -- as 2020 has brought to light some unique tax situations.

Generally, the VITA program is only geared toward individuals making less than $57,000 per year, the elderly, persons with disabilities and those who speak limited English. However, during the pandemic, the Internal Revenue Service has launched a new program -- FSA (facilitated self-assistance) -- of which BSU is a facilitator, and its open to anyone, regardless of income status.

This program, BSU adjunct faculty of accountancy Sandra Kranz explained, allows Americans of any level of income to download and use the software Tax Slayer to file their taxes for free.

They are opening it up to anybody, any income level. Essentially what they are doing is offering the ability to use that software for free and e-file for free, both federal and state, Kranz said. Its like other software preparation that you can pay for, that lets you just answer questions and it prepares your return for you. This is the same kind of thing, and its free.

It is being launched in our tax district -- which is Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin, I believe -- and were the only (district) in the United States thats offering it right now.

She explained the program is in its first year, and if it works well, the IRS is hoping they can roll it out to the whole country next year.

Providing tax help through the VITA program is beneficial for not only community members, but also the accounting students.

Every year when (the students) first have to do this VITA and help people, they are always scared to death, Kranz explained with a laugh. Theyre always like, Oh my word, oh my word, what if I do something wrong?

Kranz said she loves the program because of how rewarding it is to see the students start to use what they have been learning and be able to apply it to real life situations.

Usually, within a week or two they are comfortable with it, she said. Most of them enjoy it because you really feel like youre helping people out.

Due to COVID-19 precautions, students will answer community members questions via email as they file their own taxes through the free FSA program. Only four of the Tax II students are even currently in Bemidji, Kranz said, the rest are all in their home communities due to classes being online. Kranz said volunteers will reply with an answer to each question within 24 to 48 hours.

Our students in Tax I and Tax II have to pass certification exams that the IRS puts out, and they will be available to people to ask questions as they are filing their taxes themselves, Kranz explained. Our students will answer those questions that are within the typical scope of VITA. If you are making a million dollars and using that software, we might not be able to answer your questions.

Students wont be hung out to dry if they are unsure. Kranz and assistant professor of business administration Jeffrey Everhart will be standing by to help.

Jeff and I, well be back-up to them if they have questions about the questions, Kranz said.

For some, taxes may be a tad more complicated this year. From stimulus checks to student loan forbearance to PPP loans and unemployment, there are a number of things to consider that may come into play when filing tax returns.

Kranz said one of the more important things for people to know is that people will have the opportunity to indicate whether or not they received economic stimulus payments.

There is a spot to indicate whether or not you got a stimulus payment and how much you got. You dont have to pay it back, you dont have to pay tax on it or anything, but if you put it in there, then they will calculate how much you should have gotten, and if you didnt get that much, they will add it to your refund, Kranz said. If for some reason you got overpaid, they will not take it back, so you dont have to be afraid.

The unemployment is taxable, Im sorry to say, Kranz added. If you received unemployment, you will get a statement from the state that tells you how much you got in unemployment, and you do have to include that in your taxable income. Its sad but its true.

Those interested in either the FSA Tax Slayer software, the VITA tax help, or both, can visit the BSU website for more information. To access the software download link and connect with assistance, send an email to VITAFreeTaxInfo@bemidjistate.edu. The address will send an automated email response with more information.

The email will include what information you will need -- W2s, past tax returns, etc. -- to begin filing your taxes, as well as information regarding the software.

The IRS began accepting and processing tax returns on Feb. 12, and students will be available Monday through Thursday from now until April 15 to offer support via email to anyone with tax questions within the scope of VITA.

If returns are outside of this scope, taxpayers will need to identify other opportunities for support, such as contacting the IRS directly, working with a professional tax preparation service, or using a commercial self-guided tax preparation service such as TurboTax, according to BSUs website, however, anyone can request to use the free software from BSU, Kranz said.

Student assistants will never require or ask for a social security number, home address, other identification, nor solicit a payment.

To connect with assistance and for hours of service, visit bemidjistate.edu and search for VITA.

Here is the original post:
Bemidji State University students at the ready to help with tax prep - Bemidji Pioneer

Third-Generation Extension Board from Pervasive Displays Supports All iTC EPDs and Provides Extensive Free Software Library – Display Daily

Pervasive Displays has introduced the EXT3 extension kit and evaluation board, with support for its entire range of iTC ultra-low power e-paper displays for industrial, commercial and retail applications, along with extensive software libraries to help reduce its customers engineering effort.

Many manufacturers are looking to move away from TN/STN displays to an ultra-low power e-paper alternative, where the image on screen can be maintained without consuming any power. The EXT3 helps engineering teams evaluate e-paper technology before making system-level decisions. This includes deciding which host microcontroller to use, what screen size and color to select, and the amount or type of memory needed to deliver an optimum user experience.

The EXT3 provides a simple way to achieve these design objectives. It provides a convenient way to interface a host microcontroller and optional touch-sensitive panel to any of Pervasive Displays E-Ink displays that use the companys internal timing controller (iTC) technology. This covers its black/white and the black/white/red displays available in multiple screen sizes and dimensions, from the 1.54in Aurora, to the 12.2in Spectra.

The EXT3 also comes with open-source software resources, allowing design teams to evaluate all of Pervasive Displays iTC-based displays. This helps developers find the right solution for their application, by providing a quick and simple way of connecting the display to the EXT3. On board, the EXT3 includes a 1 Mbyte / 8 Mbit Flash memory and an expansion pad for adding additional memory (Flash or RAM) if the application requires it. This enables engineers to accelerate their design cycle and arrive at the most optimal MCU/memory/display combination for their application.

The new EXT3 board provides a simpler way of evaluating the many features and benefits of EPD technology, including fast and partial update, said Charming Su, Senior VP at Pervasive Displays. Engineers can use the extension board to connect their preferred MCU to any of our iTC-based displays with hardly any additional engineering effort. This makes evaluation and development easier and reduces the customers time to market.

To further support customers, the EXT3 is supplied with a complementary expansion kit that provides open-source, license-free EPD driver firmware and a library of basic graphic elements for developing graphical interfaces. The EXT3 Plus kit includes an advanced version of the graphic library and the EXT3 Touch board, which allows developers to add touch-panel integration to their designs. All EXT3 kits support the evaluation of fast and partial update modes of operation.

Pervasive Displays designs, manufactures and markets e-paper displays for applications requiring high resolution, good readability and low power consumption. The company focuses on commercial and industrial applications including retail, logistics, healthcare, security and manufacturing. Its mature TFT, integrated circuit and e-paper platforms reduce risks and improve product value. Pervasive Displays simplifies the work of designers by providing both standard and custom displays and offering extensive technical support through an ecosystem of partners. Design resources include detailed product specifications, application notes, reference designs, source code and applications support. The company is based in Tainan City, Taiwan and Oregon, USA.

Read the original here:
Third-Generation Extension Board from Pervasive Displays Supports All iTC EPDs and Provides Extensive Free Software Library - Display Daily

LastPass Limiting Free Accounts to Either Computer or Phone – MacRumors

Password management software LastPass is changing for free users, with the company today announcing that it no longer plans to provide free access on both computers and mobile devices. Instead, those using the free plan must choose a device type to use the service with.

To use LastPass on all devices, a LastPass Premium account is required. LastPass Premium is priced starting at $3 per month when billed annually. LastPass is offering a discount at the current time that brings the price down to $2.25 per month.

For free users, the first login on or after March 16 will set the active device type, and LastPass is providing three opportunities to switch preferred devices.

Along with the access change, as of May 17, 2021, email support will be limited to Premium and Families customers. LastPass free account holders will have access to the Support Center with self-help resources and access to the LastPass Community.

View post:
LastPass Limiting Free Accounts to Either Computer or Phone - MacRumors

Free Music making Software Market Size 2021 Global Demand, Business Opportunities and COVID-19 Scenario Analysis The Bisouv Network – The Bisouv…

The latest survey on Global Free Music making Software Market is conducted covering various organizations of the industry from different geographies to come up with a 100+ page report. The study is a perfect mix of qualitative and quantitative information highlighting key market developments, challenges that industry and competition are facing along with gap analysis and new opportunity available and trend in the Free Music making Software Market.

Our Exclusive Report Offers:

Get Sample Copy of Report with Complete TOC @ https://www.in4research.com/sample-request/51982

Research Coverage of Free Music making Software Market:

The market study covers the Free Music making Software market size across different segments. It aims at estimating the market size and the growth potential across different segments, including application, type, organization size, vertical, and region. The study further includes an in-depth competitive analysis of the leading market players, along with their company profiles, key observations related to product and business offerings, recent developments, and market strategies.

A detailed study of business strategies for growth of the Free Music making Software Market with Leading players

Based on product type, the Free Music making Software market is segmented into:

Based on application, the critical illness market is segmented into:

For more Customization, Connect with us at https://www.in4research.com/customization/51982

Impact of COVID-19:

Free Music making Software Market report analyses the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on the Free Music making Software industry.Since the COVID-19 virus outbreak in December 2019, the disease has spread to almost 180+ countries around the globe with the World Health Organization declaring it a public health emergency. The global impacts of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are already starting to be felt and will significantly affect the Free Music making Software market in 2020.

The outbreak of COVID-19 has brought effects on many aspects, like flight cancellations; travel bans, and quarantines; restaurants closed; all indoor events restricted; emergency declared in many countries; massive slowing of the supply chain; stock market unpredictability; falling business assurance, growing panic among the population, and uncertainty about future.

COVID-19 can affect the global economy in 3 main ways: by directly affecting production and demand, by creating supply chain and market disturbance, and by its financial impact on firms and financial markets.

Get the PDF to understand the CORONA Virus/COVID19 impact and be smart in redefining business strategies: https://www.in4research.com/impactC19-request/51982

Geographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions along with their respective countries, with production, consumption, revenue, and market share and growth rate of Free Music making Software in the following regions:

Lastly, this Free Music making Software Market report provides Industry intelligence in the most comprehensive way. The report structure has been kept such that it offers maximum business value. It provides critical insights into the market dynamics and will enable strategic decision-making for the existing market players as well as those willing to enter the Free Music making Software Market.

Table of Content

Chapter 1. Research Objective

Chapter 2. Executive Summary

Chapter 3. Strategic Analysis

Chapter 4. Free Music making Software Market Dynamics

Chapter 5. Segmentation & Statistics

Chapter 6. Free Music making Software Market Use case studies

Chapter 7. KOL Recommendations

Chapter 8. Investment Landscape

Chapter 9. Competitive Intelligence

Chapter 10. Company Profiles

Chapter 11. Appendix

Buy Exclusive Report at https://www.in4research.com/buy-now/51982

For More Details Contact Us:

Contact Name: Rohan

Email: [emailprotected]

Phone: +1 (407) 768-2028

Continue reading here:
Free Music making Software Market Size 2021 Global Demand, Business Opportunities and COVID-19 Scenario Analysis The Bisouv Network - The Bisouv...

Android emulator BlueStacks 5 is here, but its still emulating Android 7 Nougat – Android Authority

If you want to emulate Android on your PC, there are few systems out there as robust as BlueStacks. The totally free emulation suite gives you the ability to access apps and games from the Google Play Store right on your Windows 10 or macOS machine.

Related:15 best Android emulators for PC and Mac

Today, the company is formally launching BlueStacks 5, the latest iteration of the software. This is a follow-up to BlueStacks 4, which first launched in 2018.

According to the company, BS5 offers significantly faster boot, installation, and launch times when compared to BS4. This is due to the app being a complete rewrite of the previous system. Unfortunately, the operating system the game emulates has not been updated. Just like with BS4, BS5 is based on Android 7.1.2 Nougat the 2016 iteration of the Android operating system.

BlueStacks was kind enough to give us a beta version of BlueStacks 5. We tried it out for a bit and have some thoughts on it below. If you want to give BS5 a shot for yourself, you can download the software here. Please note that the US version of the app wont launch until February 16, 2021, so you might need to wait to grab it.

When you first open BlueStacks 5, its kind of like you are first starting a new Android phone. It takes the software a bit of time to boot the phone, and then you need to use your Google account to log into the Play Store. Once youre in, you can start downloading Android apps, which will then appear in your app drawer within BlueStacks.

The way the company designed and promotes the software makes it clear that its primary focus is gaming. In fact, BlueStacks 5 comes with pre-loaded custom keyboard/mouse mappings for many popular games. If you want to play a game that doesnt have custom mappings already, you can always create them yourself.

You dont need to be a gamer to use BlueStacks 5, though. You can download productivity apps, email clients, social media apps whatever you like. Of course, those apps will need to work well with Android 7.1.2 Nougat. If they dont, the user experience could be limited.

See also:The history of Android: The evolution of the biggest mobile OS in the world

All in all, my time with the beta of this software showed that its slightly better than BlueStacks 4. I think the layout of BS5 is superior and I appreciated how tweaking settings, macros, graphics properties, etc., is much more straightforward.

However, I didnt feel it was faster or more stable than BS4. Some of my apps crashed and the emulated Play Store tried to make me re-buy games Ive already paid for. Additionally, its only a matter of time before serious incompatibility problems will occur with Nougat as the emulated OS. Eventually, BlueStacks will need to target a higher version of Android, which will make BlueStacks 5 obsolete.

Still, if you want to play games or use Android apps on your PC, BlueStacks gets the job done. Its not perfect, but its free!

Read the rest here:
Android emulator BlueStacks 5 is here, but its still emulating Android 7 Nougat - Android Authority