Archive for the ‘Free Software’ Category

Payroll4Free Review (2022): Pricing, Features and How It Stacks Up – Forbes

Payroll4free is easy to use. It has a user-friendly interface making it easy for users to navigate through the site. The layout is also intuitive, so you will not have any problems when using this service. The customer service is one of its strongholds as they are available 24/7 via phone, email or chat.

HR.my is another free payroll software that seems to compete with Payroll4Free in terms of features. The best part of HR.my is that it packs quite a punch with its offers of unlimited employee management and data storage as opposed to the other 25 employees limit. However, since its a crowdfunded project, customer support is not so responsive.

On the other hand, TimeTrex is more suitable for SMBs and offers a free-to-use community edition of their payroll software.

Featured Partners

Benefits administration

Yes

Base Price

$8 per user, per month

Benefits administration

Yes

Base monthly price

$40 per month plus $6

Pricing

$40 per month + $6 per user

Tax forms

Fee-free W-2 and 1099 processing

Direct deposit

Four day maximum turnaround time

Go here to read the rest:
Payroll4Free Review (2022): Pricing, Features and How It Stacks Up - Forbes

How to display updated Windows 11 system information with BgInfo – TechRepublic

With the help of the free utility app BgInfo, you don't have to remember all of your Windows 11 system information because it will always be available on your desktop.

As a practical matter, it is difficult to remember specific hardware and software information regarding your personal computer, particularly if the PC is a few years old. The exact CPU, network adapter, or version of Windows 11 we are using is just not information most of us remember and are ready to recite when asked. Yet this is just the kind of information that is often vital for identifying your system and troubleshooting problems.

SEE: Web 3.0 quick glossary (TechRepublic Premium)

The task of identifying systems and the hardware and software currently in use can be accomplished simply and easily with an app called BgInfo, which is part of the Sysinternals suite of utility applications freely available from Microsoft. By running BgInfo and making a few decisions on which information you would like to display, you can overlay pertinent system information on your Windows 11 desktop background image where it can be viewed at any time.

Figure A shows you a cut out of a standard Windows 11 desktop. Note that the current version is blank and devoid of system information.

Figure A

Download BgInfo from the Sysinternals website and extract the contents of the ZIP file into the C:WindowsSystem32 folder. You should have two new files in that folder, as shown in Figure B.

Figure B

When you run BgInfo, you will be presented with a configuration screen that you can use to change the default settings, as shown in Figure C. Under most circumstances the default settings will be adequate, but you may adjust to fit your needs.

Figure C

Once you are satisfied with your configuration settings, click the OK button. Now, when you look at the Windows 11 desktop, you will see your system information incorporated into your Windows 11 desktop background image, as shown in Figure D.

Figure D

As an alternative to downloading BgInfo, you may run the application directly from the Sysinternals Live website. Navigate to the BgInfo page and scroll down to the link shown in Figure E. When you click it, you will run BgInfo remotely.

Figure E

BgInfo can also be run from the command prompt with various parameters and switches applied. The switches allow you to save system information into a configuration file, a popup overlay or onto the Windows 11 taskbar as a user accessible icon. The available configuration parameters include:

By default, BgInfo replaces your current Windows 11 desktop background with a new one. However, by changing the default configuration settings, you can have BgInfo use the current background image and replace it with a version updated with your system information. The original image will still be intact on your system if you wish to change back.

Placing a shortcut to BgInfo into your Startup folder will update the Windows 11 system information every time the system is booted, so it will always display the latest information. Always available and up to date system information on your desktop could come in handy when you are trying to troubleshoot.

Read more:
How to display updated Windows 11 system information with BgInfo - TechRepublic

Returns At KnowBe4 (NASDAQ:KNBE) Are On The Way Up – Simply Wall St

Did you know there are some financial metrics that can provide clues of a potential multi-bagger? Firstly, we'd want to identify a growing return on capital employed (ROCE) and then alongside that, an ever-increasing base of capital employed. Put simply, these types of businesses are compounding machines, meaning they are continually reinvesting their earnings at ever-higher rates of return. Speaking of which, we noticed some great changes in KnowBe4's (NASDAQ:KNBE) returns on capital, so let's have a look.

For those who don't know, ROCE is a measure of a company's yearly pre-tax profit (its return), relative to the capital employed in the business. The formula for this calculation on KnowBe4 is:

Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) (Total Assets - Current Liabilities)

0.034 = US$12m (US$606m - US$259m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to June 2022).

Thus, KnowBe4 has an ROCE of 3.4%. Ultimately, that's a low return and it under-performs the Software industry average of 10%.

View our latest analysis for KnowBe4

Above you can see how the current ROCE for KnowBe4 compares to its prior returns on capital, but there's only so much you can tell from the past. If you'd like, you can check out the forecasts from the analysts covering KnowBe4 here for free.

The fact that KnowBe4 is now generating some pre-tax profits from its prior investments is very encouraging. About three years ago the company was generating losses but things have turned around because it's now earning 3.4% on its capital. In addition to that, KnowBe4 is employing 581% more capital than previously which is expected of a company that's trying to break into profitability. This can tell us that the company has plenty of reinvestment opportunities that are able to generate higher returns.

On a related note, the company's ratio of current liabilities to total assets has decreased to 43%, which basically reduces it's funding from the likes of short-term creditors or suppliers. So this improvement in ROCE has come from the business' underlying economics, which is great to see. Nevertheless, there are some potential risks the company is bearing with current liabilities that high, so just keep that in mind.

In summary, it's great to see that KnowBe4 has managed to break into profitability and is continuing to reinvest in its business. Astute investors may have an opportunity here because the stock has declined 15% in the last year. That being the case, research into the company's current valuation metrics and future prospects seems fitting.

One more thing, we've spotted 1 warning sign facing KnowBe4 that you might find interesting.

While KnowBe4 isn't earning the highest return, check out this free list of companies that are earning high returns on equity with solid balance sheets.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Simply Wall St does a detailed discounted cash flow calculation every 6 hours for every stock on the market, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any company just search here. Its FREE.

Original post:
Returns At KnowBe4 (NASDAQ:KNBE) Are On The Way Up - Simply Wall St

Open Text Corporation (NASDAQ:OTEX) insiders who sold US$7.9m worth of stock earlier this year are probably glad they did so as market cap slides to…

Insiders at Open Text Corporation (NASDAQ:OTEX) sold US$7.9m worth of stock at an average price of US$53.22 a share over the past year, making the most of their investment. The company's market valuation decreased by US$423m after the stock price dropped 4.0% over the past week, but insiders were spared from painful losses.

Although we don't think shareholders should simply follow insider transactions, we would consider it foolish to ignore insider transactions altogether.

View our latest analysis for Open Text

The Vice Chairman, Mark Barrenechea, made the biggest insider sale in the last 12 months. That single transaction was for US$5.7m worth of shares at a price of US$54.89 each. While we don't usually like to see insider selling, it's more concerning if the sales take place at a lower price. The silver lining is that this sell-down took place above the latest price (US$38.23). So it may not tell us anything about how insiders feel about the current share price.

In total, Open Text insiders sold more than they bought over the last year. You can see a visual depiction of insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last 12 months, below. If you click on the chart, you can see all the individual transactions, including the share price, individual, and the date!

If you are like me, then you will not want to miss this free list of growing companies that insiders are buying.

Many investors like to check how much of a company is owned by insiders. We usually like to see fairly high levels of insider ownership. Open Text insiders own about US$169m worth of shares (which is 1.7% of the company). I like to see this level of insider ownership, because it increases the chances that management are thinking about the best interests of shareholders.

It doesn't really mean much that no insider has traded Open Text shares in the last quarter. While we feel good about high insider ownership of Open Text, we can't say the same about the selling of shares. In addition to knowing about insider transactions going on, it's beneficial to identify the risks facing Open Text. You'd be interested to know, that we found 2 warning signs for Open Text and we suggest you have a look.

Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies.

For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions, but not derivative transactions.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Simply Wall St does a detailed discounted cash flow calculation every 6 hours for every stock on the market, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any company just search here. Its FREE.

The rest is here:
Open Text Corporation (NASDAQ:OTEX) insiders who sold US$7.9m worth of stock earlier this year are probably glad they did so as market cap slides to...

Virtual reality, autonomous weapons and the future of war: military tech startup Anduril comes to Australia – The Conversation

Earlier this month, posters started going up around Sydney advertising an event called In the Ops Room, with Palmer Luckey. Rather than an album launch or standup gig, this turned out to be a free talk given last week by the chief executive of a high-tech US defence company called Anduril.

The company has set up an Australian arm, and Luckey is in town to entice brilliant technologists in military engineering to sign on.

Anduril makes a software system called Lattice, an autonomous sensemaking and command & control platform with a strong surveillance focus which is used on the USMexico border. The company also produces flying drones and has a deal to produce three robotic submarines for Australia, with capabilities for surveillance, reconnaissance, and warfare.

The PR splash is unusual from the normally secretive world of military technology. But Luckeys talk opened a window onto the future as seen by a company transforming US & allied military capabilities with advanced technology.

Unlike most defence tech moguls, Luckey got his start in the world of immersive tech and gaming.

While at college, the Anduril founder had a brief stint at a military-affiliated mixed reality research lab at the University of Southern California, then set up his own virtual reality headset company called Oculus VR. In 2014, at the age of 21, Luckey sold Oculus to Facebook for US$2 billion.

In 2017 Luckey was fired by Facebook for reasons that were never made public. According to some reports, the issue was Luckeys support for the presidential campaign of Donald Trump.

Luckeys next move, with backing from right-wing venture capitalist Peter Thiels Founders Fund, was to set up Anduril.

Since Luckeys departure, Facebook (now known as Meta) has broadened its efforts beyond the virtual and augmented reality market. A forthcoming mixed reality headset plays a key role in its plans for a metaverse being pitched to business and industry as well as consumers.

We can see similar pivots from consumers to enterprise across the immersive tech industry. Magic Leap, makers of a much hyped mixed-reality headset, later imploded and re-emerged focusing on healthcare.

Read more: 'Potential for harm': Microsoft to make US$22 billion worth of augmented reality headsets for US Army

Microsofts mixed-reality headset, the HoloLens, was initially seen at international film festivals. However, the HoloLens 2, released in 2019, was marketed solely to businesses.

Then, in 2021, Microsoft won a ten-year, US$22 billion contract to provide the US Army with 120,000 head-mounted displays. Known as Integrated Visual Augmentation Systems, these headsets include a range of technologies such as thermal sensors, a heads-up display and machine learning for training situations.

Speaking to the Sydney audience on Thursday, Luckey framed his own shift to defence not as one of economic necessity, but of personal fulfilment. He described saying your job is worthless to new recruits in social media companies making games or augmented reality filters.

That kind of work is fun but ultimately meaningless, he says, whereas working for Anduril would be professionally fulfilling, spiritually fulfilling, fiscally fulfilling.

Not all technology workers would agree that defence contracts are spiritually fulfilling. In 2018, Google employees revolted against Project Maven, an AI effort for the Pentagon. Staff at Microsoft and Unity have also expressed consternation over military involvement.

The first audience question on Thursday asked Luckey about the risks of autonomous AI weapons run by software that can make its own decisions.

Luckey said he was worried about the potential of autonomy to do really spooky things, but much more concerned about very evil people using very basic AI. He suggested there was no moral high ground in refusing to work on autonomous weapons, as the alternative was less principled people working on them.

Luckey did say Anduril will always have a human in the loop: [The software] is not making any life or death decisions without a person whos directly responsible for that happening.

This may be current policy, but it seems at odds with Luckeys vision of the future of war. Earlier in the evening, he painted a picture:

Youre going to see much larger numbers of systems [in conflicts] you cant have, lets say, billions of robots that are all acting together, if they all have to be individually piloted directly by a person, its just not going to work, so autonomy is going to be critical for that.

Read more: UN fails to agree on 'killer robot' ban as nations pour billions into autonomous weapons research

Not everyone is as sanguine about the autonomous weapons arms race as Luckey. Thousands of scientists have pledged not to develop lethal autonomous weapons.

Australian AI expert Toby Walsh, among others, has made the case that the best time to ban such weapons is before theyre available.

My own research has explored the potential of immersive media technologies to help us imagine pathways to a future we want to live in.

Luckey seems to argue he wants the same: a use for these incredible technologies beyond augmented reality cat filters and worthless games. Unfortunately his vision of that future is in the zero-sum framing of an arms race, with surveillance and AI weapons at the core (and perhaps even billions of robots acting together).

During Luckeys talk, he mentioned that Anduril Australia is working on other projects beyond the robotic subs, but he couldnt share what these were.

Read more: Australia's pursuit of 'killer robots' could put the trans-Tasman alliance with New Zealand on shaky ground

View post:
Virtual reality, autonomous weapons and the future of war: military tech startup Anduril comes to Australia - The Conversation