What is Hypothesis Testing

Hypothesis testing determines whether a hypothesis is consistent with the sample data. A hypothesis is a specific statement about the parameters of the population.

The specification of a null hypothesis and an alternative hypothesis is the first step in free level 3 accounting course testing a population parameter hypothesis. An assumption about the population parameter is the null hypothesis.

The population parameter values (also known as the critical values) at which the null hypothesis ought to be rejected are defined by the alternative hypothesis. These fundamental principles are established by:

The size of the test, which demonstrates our aversion to rejecting a true null hypothesis, and the distribution of the test statistic when the null hypothesis is true.

Example: A hypothesis test has six parts:

A value for a parameter that is presumed to be true is defined by the null hypothesis.
The range of values below which the null hypothesis must be rejected is defined by the alternative hypothesis.

When the null hypothesis is true, the distribution of the test statistic is known. The willingness to incorrectly reject a true null hypothesis is reflected in the test size.

The critical value, a number compared to the test statistic to determine whether the null hypothesis should be rejected; Additionally, the test statistic and critical value are used by the decision rule to decide whether or not the null hypothesis should be rejected.

Determine whether the slope coefficient is statistically significant from zero at a 5% significance level for a regression model that was estimated using 46 observations and has =0.76 and Sb=0.33. With a sample size of 46 and a 5% l.o.s, the critical t-value is 2.02.

We conclude the alternative hypothesis (the slope coefficient is not zero) and reject the null hypothesis because 2.30 is greater than 2.02.

Why is it important to test hypotheses?
Hypothesis Testing could be used to comprehend and draw conclusions about the population from sample data. A Hypothesis Test is helpful in determining which of the two statements about the population that are incompatible with one another is supported by sample data.

Filling your orangery with unique treasures

Ceramics, wooden conservatories made in UK glass, antique furniture, and art can all add a touch of class to your garden room. The excitement of finding unusual and decorative items from a favorite era and learning about its history is enjoyed by collectors, connoisseurs, and homeowners alike.

It’s a good idea to do some research on antique dealers who know their stuff and can help you find good finds, whether you like the idea of Jamb’s Venetian Renaissance mantelpiece or an Art Deco mirror.

Keep in mind that damaged antique furniture can be restored to its original finish when looking for it. Your antique dealer should be able to connect you with specialist restorers who can restore lost treasures to their former glory by utilizing both traditional methods and cutting-edge equipment.

Notes on Design: Comfortable Sofas If your orangery or garden room has a living area, a sofa is likely to be the focal point. To personalize your space, experiment with scatter cushions and throws of varying textures.

You will need to approach your furniture in a slightly different way because there is so much glazing. In this kind of space, large, bulky objects will not work as well. Beverley Boswell, an interior designer, shared her recommendations for selecting seating for glazed extensions in one of our previous blog posts:

The hotel’s main focal point is the orangery

It’s a fascinating space that looks almost like a lovely glass box. When you entered the room, the specifications were made to ensure that nothing would block the expansive views of the garden beyond.

All the furniture in the orangery is very low, and we teamed up with the group from London-based furniture producers Soane England to plan custom renditions of their Child Bear Couches.’ – Beverley Boswell discusses the Linthwaite House Hotel’s interiors.

Choose furniture that works with the room’s proportions and doesn’t take up too much space. Choose handmade seats that are made using traditional methods and techniques and are elegant and versatile in design. If at all possible, look for features like handcrafted frames made of sustainable hardwood, which will guarantee a sturdy structure.

A good sofa is one in which the frame is held together with wooden dowels or corner brackets rather than glue or nails. To determine whether the sofa has a sturdy frame, lift one side off the floor. The timber is twisted and weak if the opposite side does not lean at an angle.

Check the sofa’s depth and back support, as well as the cushions, to see if they are supportive. Choose traditional eight-way hand-tied springs rather than sofas lined with webbing or mesh because they quickly begin to sag.

Notes on Design: Coffee Tables

Large tables with tops made of natural stone look amazing in an orangery or garden room, making it easier to connect the indoor and outdoor areas. In a bright and airy extension, glass table tops can also look impressive.

I like an ottoman with upholstery. Mark Jones, our designer, states, “It is great for putting your feet up and adds additional sound-absorbing material.” Be sure to choose fabrics that won’t fade in the sun, as always.

Choosing a storage unit that matches your requirements

Do you urgently require a storage unit but are unsure of the procedure? This definitive guide to storage units will assist you in selecting the ideal designer plastic boxes solution that meets your needs.

Spend some time learning about storage options before signing up for the first one you see. When looking for a storage unit, keep in mind the following Stored-provided factors.

Price

Before looking for a storage unit, establish a spending plan that works for you. Never try to spend more than your budget allows, keeping in mind your limitations. Set a budget that won’t put you in a financial bind because you’ll have to pay rent for a few months.

Look for exclusive deals and promotional bundles once you have a budget. You can inquire about ongoing deals or discounts.

Type of storage

There are many different kinds of storage services in London, and you won’t believe it. The storage companies put in long hours to accommodate a wide range of customers and provide them with adaptable storage options. When you know what you want to store, you can only choose the best storage for yourself.

You will be able to select an option that is best for you if you beforehand determine the purpose of your storage. The following are some of the most typical kinds of storage service providers:

Storage for personal belongings, furniture, and belongings belonging to students, businesses, and commercial establishments Storage that is located too far away, in the middle of nowhere, will only exacerbate existing issues. Traveling to and from and burning fuel will take up an entire day.

Your storage unit can only be used if it is close to your house or in the middle of your daily commute. Suppose you have a dinner meeting to attend and need to get your faux fur coat quickly; All of your worries will vanish in a nearby storage facility.

Convenience

In today’s fast-paced world, nobody has time or energy to waste. People have to make time for both work and leisure despite their tight schedules and deadlines. Convenience should come first when looking for a storage unit.

Choose a full-service storage company that makes your life easier and lets you make reservations and payments online. Inquire about additional amenities like a forklift, padlock, and cardboard boxes while you are at the storage facility.

Nowadays, renting a storage unit is very simple. Storage businesses have made storage units accessible by establishing online presences and social media pages across a variety of platforms. The customer is responsible for selecting a dependable storage unit because there are so many options in the market.

You can reserve your storage unit without leaving your home, but you must make an educated choice. When you’re looking for a storage unit, keep in mind everything we’ve said and you’ll soon find the best one!

Why Should You Have a Home Safe

Home safes can protect numerous things for you, from resources, records, and different things. This implies security from burglary, insurance from ecological harm, and assurance for other people who might run over touchy things, like weapons, and incidentally harm themselves.

There are a lot of motivations to have a protected at home and a lot of The Lock Surgeon Sutton Coldfield choices.
A home safe can be a method for safeguarding resources, a method for safeguarding delicate records, a method for safeguarding cash or substantial ventures, it might try and be a method for shielding others from weapons. There’s a ton of motivations to put resources into a protected and a ton of choices you have for your speculation.

The following are a few reasons you might not have thought about with regards to motivations to have a home safe.

Hostile to Robbery

The first and most clear reason for a safe is to secure and defend resources against criminals, explicitly thieves. Whether it’s gems, family legacies, or money, you’ll need to keep these things secured in case of a home attack or even a cordial face chooses to go sneaking around for resources when you’re not looking.

Catastrophic events: Individuals frequently fail to remember how harming catastrophic events can be. Regardless of whether you live in a space inclined to typhoons or cyclones, forceful tempests, high breezes, and flooding can cause serious harm in your home and to your assets. A home safe or lock box can safeguard against natural attack.

Significant Archives

It’s not dependably gems and cash, in some cases the resources you really want to safeguard. Frequently, it’s significant and delicate reports. This can be birth authentications, federal retirement aide cards, Visa data, or other monetary or personality pieces. You need to keep these in safes too to keep them shielded from harm and safeguarded from meddlesome eyes.

Substantial Speculations: It’s interesting, however individuals actually hold unmistakable ventures. This could be bonds, stock testaments, coins, or even ingots. These could be passed down things, gifts, or other substantial ventures and you’ll need to guard them in the event that you store them in your home as opposed to in a bank or vault. A home safe can shield these things from harm or robbery.

Weapons

It’s not dependably resources, cash, or archives, it’s weapons. Many individuals keep weapons safes as a method for keeping weapons liberated from harm and keep them from more youthful individuals from the family who might hurt themselves on the off chance that they go over them.

SUN PROTECTION YOU DON’T WANT TO SKIP

When individuals arrive at a particular age, they might take a stab at everything possible to look more youthful. There are many enemy of maturing items accessible, yet the fact of the matter is a large number of them don’t fill in as publicized. One of the best and demonstrated ways of looking more youthful effectively is with a fragmentary CO2 laser treatment.

The skin reemerging laser hair removal birmingham works by sending a bar through the skin to make little sections inside it. The skin will normally go to attempt to fix those segments by pushing out old skin and supplanting it with new skin. The fresher and better skin can make individuals admire a decade more youthful rapidly. Here are a portion of the manners in which laser skin reemerging can make you look more youthful.

Further develops Kinks AND Scarcely discernible differences: Kinks and barely recognizable differences are unavoidable for the vast majority eventually, yet it doesn’t mean they need to live with them. A solitary fragmentary CO2 laser treatment can fundamentally further develop these skin imperfections, which will decrease the presence of maturing. That, yet the treatment will likewise support the skin’s composition, tone and surface.

Kill PIGMENTATION AND SKIN Abnormalities

Different skin abnormalities and pigmentation can foster over the long run. Whether it’s because of broad sun harm, earthy colored spots, lopsided pigmentation or whatever else, a laser skin reemerging treatment can go far in wiping out these anomalies. Contingent upon the number of these skin imperfections you have and where they are found, you wouldn’t believe how much a solitary treatment can work on your appearance.

Reestablishes SKIN Versatility: Skin versatility can gradually diminish as you age. This can prompt kinks and the presence of being more seasoned than you really are. A skin reemerging laser can assist with straightening out the skin and further develop skin flexibility by invigorating collagen creation. Furthermore, the best part is the system will advance an additional a half year of consistent collagen creation so you can partake in the outcomes for essentially that long.

LOOK More youthful WITH Only ONE TREATMENT

With a solitary fragmentary CO2 laser treatment, the body will go to work supplanting the old skin with new skin right away. It might require as long as a week or so before huge outcomes are seen, however the skin will continually be working on over the course of the following a half year. Furthermore, contingent upon how well you care for your skin a short time later, the outcomes can be delighted in for a long time.

Lightspeed’s Alex Kayyal will talk Series A pitfalls at TechCrunch Early Stage 2024


There is perhaps no bigger jump for a startup to make than from the incubatory seed stage to its Series A round. Given how large a step-up landing a Series A can be, there are many guidelines out there. But most seem to be a little outdated in today’s market. The venerable rule that a startup should have $1 million in annual recurring revenue or equivalent, for example, seems anachronistic today. After all, some companies have raised in recent quarters with less, while others with more struggled to attract capital.

Enter Lightspeed Venture Partners’ Alex Kayyal, who is coming to TechCrunch Early Stage 2024 to discuss how startups can avoid common pitfalls on the path to raising their own Series A.

Not that raising an A round was ever easy — how many times have we discussed a Series A crunch at TechCrunch over the years? A startup’s first lettered round is when big dreams and potentially bigger markets run directly into venture expectations like sales repeatability, CAC payback, and the like. It’s akin to going from middle school to graduate school in a single leap.

So, bring a notebook because Kayyal — formerly of Salesforce Ventures, and a backer of companies like Gong and Algolia — is bringing his insight to our shindig. And, of course, as with all TechCrunch Early Stage events, he’ll answer questions directly.

Ticket prices increase on March 29. Book your tickets now and save $200 before we go into late-bird pricing.

Is your company interested in sponsoring or exhibiting at TechCrunch Early Stage 2024? Reach out to our sponsorship sales team by completing this form.





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Help Us Define Industry Standards and Find Out if You Are Being Paid Fairly in 2024 – Take Part in the GAAPweb Salary Survey


GAAPweb; one of the UK’s leading specialist sites for Accountancy & Finance jobs, is turning to its valued audience and followers to contribute to their 2024 Salary Survey.

Following a year of uncertainty and continued resilience to innumerable economic challenges, GAAPweb strives to investigate and understand the 2024 financial employment market. Building on findings from previous GAAPweb audience insight surveys, it strives to determine the current trends, challenges and changes facing the financial recruitment landscape.

GAAPweb asks for your confidential feedback from across the accountancy and finance profession including Accountants, Finance Managers, CFOs, and other finance professionals, at all levels of experience, across all sectors.

The 2024 Salary Survey will provide you with the unique opportunity to find out if you’re being paid fairly in your current role and help us define industry standards by showing employers and recruiters what sort of environment you want to work in.

Participate in the GAAPweb 2024 Salary Survey today – link: https://data.reachplc.com/240312532136342



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Camo Is A Neutral (And Also Makes Me Manspread)


In a surprise turn of events, I’ve become rather attached to a pair of camo-print cargo trousers. In fact I’ve barely taken them off for an entire week, wearing them with everything from cashmere jumpers to pretty blouses and cotton t-shirts. It’s a surprise turn of events because I’ve had a bit of an aversion to camo print since I got together with my husband. In 2003. When we first met he was camo mad – he wore camo trousers, a camo shirt, a camo jacket and I’m pretty sure he owned camo-print trainers too. It was like dating a giant Action Man.

Anyway, he single-handedly managed to put me off it and, other than a lovely cotton jacket I got from Hush a few years ago, I’ve more or less avoided camo in its ubiquitous “various shades of green” form. Until now.

Ad info: no paid or sponsored content. Contains press samples and affiliates are marked *. 

Is it the cut of these Me+Em cargo trousers* that I love, the way they just fall in an ever-so-relaxed way from the hip? Or have I finally realised that those many and varied muted shades of green, all jumbled together, make for a print that is hugely easy on the eye? There’s a saying that “leopard is a neutral” – and I concur – but camo is even better at blending seamlessly into the background. (Quite literally. It’s designed to be the ultimate neutral, when you think about it – so long as you’re standing in dense forest or lying in the shrubbery.)

Me + Em camo cargo trousers, here* and olive jumper, here*

I think it’s both the cut and the print that make me love them. And, maybe, a touch of nostalgia. The trousers make me feel as though I’ve gone back in time and managed to weasel my way into being the fifth member of All Saints. They give me firm belief that I can tackle any physical challenge, despite the fact I have the upper body strength of a two month-old baby. When I wear them they totally change my demeanour – I positively strode through London in them the other day, actively channeling Bruce Willis in Die Hard. I had the overwhelming urge to throw myself into a bit of parkour every time I passed a set of steps or crossed a bridge and, when my train was held on the tracks outside of Paddington with no explanation, I was more than ready to slide open the window in between carriages, commando-roll out of it and save my own skin.

Worn with Sézane tee, here*

I also found myself manspreading, which I’d say is the only downside to these cargo pants. I couldn’t sit in a chair without having my knees set apart by at least eighty centimetres, which is quite the angle I can tell you. It’s not a leg position one normally adopts unless they are doing gymnastics or something vaguely gynaecological.

Or they have a penis. Because it seems to be an unwritten rule that if you do have a penis, you must spread your legs wide to give it enough breathing room – it must not be crowded – and to allow enough cooling air to circulate around it easily and efficiently. (The ratio appears to be one cubic metre of air space for every six inches of penis, though I must admit that my scientific study in this area has quite a flawed methodology. Namely the fact I’m just guessing.)

I don’t have a penis, but still find myself man-spreading in the camo pants. Limbering up for the imaginary parkour I’m going to do, stretching out the old thigh muscles. It must be a camo-print side-effect because I just can’t seem to close my knees whilst wearing it, it’s as though they’re repelling one another.

And that’s not the only alarming development: I also find myself continually tempted to utilise the extra pockets in the cargo pants. The ones halfway down the leg. Quelle horreur! Obviously I’ve done everything within my power to resist, despite them being the perfect practical replacement for a handbag: credit cards in one knee-pocket, iPhone in the other. You could fit a paperback book in there, for crying out loud. But I mustn’t allow it – I’m not Bear Grylls. I don’t want to wake up one day to find that I’ve booked a solo bivouacking expedition to the Peruvian mountains just so that I can fill my many pockets with foil blankets, balls of twine and endless boxes of water purifying tablets.

That way madness lies.

Anyway, I really like the trousers. I instantly warm to any garment that can be worn with trainers and won’t shrink in the wash but these are something decidedly special. They have a chic cut (I mean, they’re Me+Em so of course they do) and they work beautifully with my more delicate tops as well as the ever-useful chunky knits.

Worn with MABE Apparel blouse, past season

You can find the Camo Cargo Trouser at Me+Em here* – they’ll look great in spring, with a t-shirt and little bouclé Chanel-ish jacket and will work right through the summer, on all but the hottest of days, with a sporty ribbed vest top and flip-flops. A proper all-year-round wardrobe staple. Size down one, unless you like things incredibly loose – I am wearing a UK8 here and would usually be a 10-12.

Read more fashion posts….

Worn with Arket cashmere jumper, here* and Fitflop Rally Knit trainers, here*

I think the aforementioned “character-changing garment” thing warrants further discussion: is there a certain type of clothing that makes you behave in a completely different manner? If I wear cowboy boots, for example, I definitely have more swagger when I walk. If I ever wear knee socks, I can’t help but speak in a childish voice. Please say it’s not just me…



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Superhuman launches AI-powered instant replies


Email startup Superhuman is launching an AI-powered instant replies feature today with the company looking to double down in AI-fueled functionality this year. The feature gives you three contextual replies as options to quickly respond to an email.

Superhuman has been built around the idea to get you to inbox zero in the fastest way. Instant replies are one more feature to quickly get emails out of your way. You can think of Instant replies as equivalent to Gmail’s smart replies, but Superhuman said its feature is more contextual and personal.

The core concept is the same though. You will get three potential reply options when you hit reply to an email. While the prompts are short, when you click on any of the options, Superhuman writes out a full-sentence reply to you.

As the demo video shows below, when you tap on “Interested” to an email asking you to speak on a panel, the client types out a full sentence with the sender’s name. You can press the tab to switch between replies and press enter to send one. The company said that users who were part of the beta test of instant replies are sending emails twice as fast.

Adding AI to email

Superhuman has already launched a few AI-powered products. Last year, it launched Superhuman AI, which helps users draft better emails with options to change the length or tone.

In January, the company extended the functionality to iPhone and iPad apps as well. In November, the startup launched an auto-summarize feature, which shows a one-line summary on top of your emails.

Some of Superhuman’s competitors have also included AI-powered features in email workflows. Shortwave, a startup founded by ex-Googlers, has launched things like asking AI questions about emails, instant summaries, and a way to use AI to reply to emails quickly. Readdle’s Spark email client rolled out an AI assistant last year. Major tech companies like Microsoft and Google have introduced AI-powered features for Outlook and Gmail.

Superhuman co-founder and CEO Rahul Vohra told TechCrunch that the key differentiator for the company in terms of AI-powered features is its stickiness. He noted that an average user uses AI 25 times a week to write emails.

Superhuman’s roadmap

Superhuman says that the first phase of the AI-powered product was having an assistant for the email; the second phase is to have AI work automatically without invoking it with features like auto-summary and instant replies; and the third phase will replace certain parts of a user’s daily workflow like using an AI agent for scheduling or writing full emails on their behalf.

Vohra said that the company could be profitable anytime it wants and it is a strategic decision. The company’s CEO mentioned that it has five years of runway. So a new funding round is not something he is thinking about on a “day-to-day” basis.

Superhuman has kept its price of $30 per month consistent since the launch. But Vohra mentioned that the company might revisit its pricing later this year.

He said that apart from investing in AI products, the company is focusing on making its offering for teams stronger.

“Imagine instead of constantly forwarding or writing an email, internally you can just share a thread. And then on that shared thread, you can put comments and reactions. We are thinking about transforming email from something that’s pure productivity into a platform for smart collaboration. And that’s a big deal because historically, email has been single-player. It was designed in an era where tools were inherently not collaborative,” Vohra said.

The company is also thinking about building special edition email clients starting with Superhuman for sales directed toward account executives and customer managers with integrations like Salesforce and Hubspot.



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Our 7 Best Bosch Dishwasher Picks (2024 Guide)


Affiliate Disclosure: We may be compensated if you purchase through links on our website. Our Reviews Team is committed to delivering honest, objective, and independent reviews on home products and services.

In This Review: Top 7 Picks | Bosch Benchmark Series SHX89PW75N | Bosch 300 Series SHE53C86N  | Bosch 500 Series SHP65CM5N  | Bosch Benchmark Series SHP9PCM5N  | Bosch 300 Series SPE53B52UC | Bosch 800 Series SGV78C53UC | Bosch 100 Series SHE3AEE5N | Buying Guide | Tips for Getting a New Dishwasher | FAQ | Methodology

For many homeowners, the dishwasher is the most important appliance because it saves so much time. However, most people also want their dishwasher to look beautiful in the kitchen, operate without being disruptive, and effortlessly remove residue from dinnerware and silverware. If you’re like many conscientious buyers searching for a new dishwasher to put in a new build or replace a dishwasher, you may be considering Bosch due to the brand’s exceptional reputation for producing some of the best dishwashers out there.

When buying a Bosch dishwasher, you can expect to pay anywhere from $650 to $2,500 based on the model you choose. Prices vary within the product range based on loading capacity and special features. The This Old House Review Team has researched the best Bosch dishwashers carefully in order to highlight some of the top models within this brand’s lineup. Our best overall pick is the feature-rich Bosch Benchmark Series SHX89PW75N. This model impresses with adjustable rack space, excellent drying performance, and ultra-quiet operation. However, we also think that other models are worth taking a look at before you make your decision. Keep reading to see our reviews of popular Bosch dishwashers.

Best Bosch Dishwashers: Our Top 7 Picks

Compare Top Bosch Dishwashers

Terms To Know for Bosch Dishwashers

  • Sound Level: Measured in dBA (A-weighted decibels), this tells you how loud the dishwasher is while running. Lower numbers are quieter.
  • Place Settings Capacity: Refers to how many place settings can fit in the dishwasher at one time. One place setting is a plate, bowl, drinking glass, coffee cup and silverware.

Best Overall

Good for: Someone who will settle for nothing less than clean, spotless dishes.

What Are People Saying About the Bosch Benchmark Series SHX89PW75N?

Overall, this is a highly-rated Bosch dishwasher that gets nearly universal acclaim from reviewers. It earns points for its whisper-quiet performance and delivery of streak-free, perfectly cleaned items after every wash. Some reviewers have pointed out that the three-piece kickplate can make the dishwasher look different than expected after installation, and others had issues with the controls.

“Cleans dishes really well and it’s super quiet. I have to put my ear next to the door to make sure it’s on!” —America V via BestBuy

“We’ve used Bosch dishwashers since July 1999 and have been energized advocates of their product. However since our purchase of this model, I’m sorry to say that it’s been a complete letdown. We’ve had it for 10 months and it has been a very frustrating 10 months. The cleaning and noise features are outstanding but the electronic controls are woefully inadequate. I have to constantly shut down the power and hot water line to the unit so that it can reset itself. The machine will just turn on the controls by itself and lockup. The RESET BUTTON does not reset the controls. I have to pull the power cord and turn off the hot water supply and let it sit for 15 mins before I can hook it back up and start the machine. Extremely frustrating!” — Frustrated Popsy via Bosch

Best Front Control

Good for: Someone who wants easy-to-access controls.

What Are People Saying About the Bosch 300 Series SHE53C86N?

Overall, reviewers are in love with the high-end look and easy operation of this dishwasher. A few did find that it had some quirks that needed to be worked out before they could find the right settings.

“Washes brilliantly; dishes have never come out of our previous dishwasher as clean! Glasses are spotless. The third rack for flat utensils and silverware is great. Everything feels sturdy and well built. Dishes come out totally dry and [it] handles plastics well. [It’s] quiet even on the heavy setting, [and] smart features are a nice plus; you can choose to prioritize different things (sound level, sanitization, cleanliness, etc.) with Smart Wash and even change button sound levels.” —Chris via BestBuy

“The shallow, top, third shelf I could do without.  A few items fit and get clean okay, but not necessary. The other two shelves are poorly designed…the supports all at angles that make it impossible to stand flat items straight up. When in the store, I was told a smart phone was not needed to operate the dishwasher…because I asked. At home the manual had CR codes to scan for maintenance instructions…not sure what to do about that.” —FrankW via BestBuy

Most Flexible

Good for: Someone who has been searching for a powerful, quiet dishwasher with a pocket handle.

What Are People Saying About the Bosch 500 Series Dishwasher SHP65CM5N?

Overall, this dishwasher gets praise for its loading capacity and ability to get after caked-on debris. However, some reviewers have been left frustrated by the controls and HomeConnect app-based features that dominate the interface.

“This unit cost more than I originally planned to spend, but I’m very happy with my choice. It does a great job cleaning my dishes despite having hard water and no water softener in my house. There is no heating element for drying. Instead, the heat retained from the hot water does most of the drying, and then the door automatically opens. […] Since there’s no heating element, there’s no “top rack only” restriction. Plastic can go anywhere. It’s Bluetooth, so my phone notifies me when the cycle is finished. And [being] a Bosch, I have confidence in the workmanship.” —Ima49 via BestBuy

“Unless you are a technology wizard, this dishwasher is impossible to set up in Home Connect.” —Joyce M via BestBuy

Quietest Operation

Good for: A busy household where the dishwasher is always running.

What Are People Saying About the Bosch Benchmark Series SHP9PCM5N?

While reviewers are in love with the whisper-quiet performance of this dishwasher, a few did feel that the racks feel flimsy for such a high-end model.

“I can’t believe I waited so long for this upgrade! It’s so quiet you don’t even know it’s on! It was hard not to rinse the dishes before I loaded but once I tested it they came out spotless and completely dry. Even the plastic ware was dry. Takes a bit to learn to load it, but I love this machine!” —PamD via BestBuy

“Ordered Bosch after lots of research. Very disappointed — silverware holder [is] very very small, [and] silverware doesn’t always get clean. [It’s] difficult to arrange dishes/glasses; odd configuration.”— KathyT via BestBuy

Best ADA Compliant

Good for: Someone needing a smaller dishwasher with easy-to-reach controls and features.

What Are People Saying About the Bosch 300 Series SPE53B52UC?

Reviewers are overall very impressed by the strong performance of this compact dishwasher. While the consensus is that this design fits more than expected, some reviewers were frustrated that tall items couldn’t fit without blocking the spray arms, while others mentioned poor drying performance.

“I am very happy with my new dishwasher. Fit perfectly in my 18” opening with standard height cabinets. My husband installed without any problems. Love love love the third drawer for silverware so I can remove [the] basket from the bottom drawer and free up more space for dishes, very nice with a smaller dishwasher. The adjustable middle drawer allows you to accommodate different size dishes on either middle and bottom drawer, and is not difficult to do.” — Nanette via BestBuy

“Love the dishwasher even though it refuses to dry plastic bowls. Even with JetDry it just will not dry them. Couple of my frying pans are the same way.” —DianaP via BestBuy

Best Built-In

Good for: Someone with an aesthetic kitchen who wants to hide appliances.

What Are People Saying About Bosch 800 Series Dishwasher SGV78C53UC?

The overall consensus on this Bosch model is that it’s “worth it,” citing excellent cleaning performance, quiet operation, and ease of loading. Most issues shared by reviewers had to do with the complexity of installing a built-in model, while some felt that loading dishes was not as intuitive as expected.

“I am more than thrilled with my Bosch dishwasher. It’s quiet, efficient, easy to load and adjust racks to desired positions, and performs better than any dishwasher I’ve ever owned. I especially love the CrystalDry feature and how it leaves my dishes drier and even more spot-free. Our custom panel was also very easy for our installer and the overall result is just plain beautiful! I couldn’t be happier!” —#homechef26 via Bosch

“Two main issues for us with this dishwasher. It doesn’t hold near as many dishes as our previous dishwasher. The inside tub seems much smaller. Also our previous custom cabinet front didn’t fit. Will need a new one. Bosch should make all models the same specs for the fronts.” —Walt via Bosch

Best Value

Good for: Someone looking for an affordable dishwasher without feeling like they’ve settled.

What Are People Saying About the Bosch 100 Series Dishwasher SHE3AEE5N?

While reviewers are pleased by the ability to get a Bosch dishwasher at such an affordable price, some reviewers were less than dazzled by the drying power and hard-to-load configuration.

“[…] I personally love [this dishwasher]. If you have done your homework, you know that there is no heating element at the lower part for drying. I found this not to be an issue at all. There is a learning curve, however, on placement of cups that have a slight depression on the bottom of a cup or mug. Be sure to place these items at a slight angle for drainage of excess water deposit. […] I have found the items all come out clean and even have a nice shine. There are several cycles to choose from; most complete cycles take about 3 [hours], similar to current other bands. The front panel is a low black [matte] finish making fingerprint clean-up easy. […]” —Dees via Bosch

“This dishwasher looks great, but I am so confused by the setup inside. On the bottom rack, the rows are too slanted and close together to put dishes in each row. I have to either put a [space] between each dish or scatter them on each side. The top row is ok, but I don’t understand the levels. I have had no issues with the washing of the dishes and the options for washing are helpful.”  — JenD via Bosch

What Do You Need To Know Before Buying a Bosch Dishwasher?

A dishwasher’s design can dramatically impact the flow of your kitchen. When selecting the best Bosch dishwasher, it’s important to pay attention to a few design features that can affect just how convenient you find doing the dishes every day. Here’s what you need to know.

Type

One of the details that will impact how you interact with your dishwasher the most is its control interface. The two designs to choose from are top-control and front-control interfaces. Take a look at what each one offers.

Top-Control

A top-control interface on a dishwasher is designed to be concealed when the dishwasher door is closed. That means that you’ll need to pull down the door to interact with the control panel. The benefit of a top-control dishwasher is that you don’t have to look at the control buttons or LCD display.

Front-Control

With a front-control dishwasher, all of the controls are visible on the front panel. You don’t need to open the door of the dishwasher to access your panels. While some people prefer the ease of this design, the look can be less “sleek” compared to top-control dishwashers. There is also the risk of accidentally pressing buttons on the dishwasher while moving around the kitchen.

Built-In

A built-in dishwasher is an aesthetic option that is designed to blend in with your cabinets. Choosing this option takes special planning because you will need to either build or order a custom cabinet panel that attaches to the front of your stainless-steel dishwasher. Built-in dishwashers have top-control panels that remain hidden until the door is opened.

Noise Level

Noise levels on dishwashers are measured in A-weighted decibels, which is how loud something sounds to the human ear. With Bosch, every model offers quiet performance. However, people who are particular about sounds should focus on whisper-quiet models that make nearly undetectable sounds. Bosch’s 38-decibel dishwasher is considered the quietest in the industry.

Design

The biggest aesthetic feature of a modern dishwasher is the handle. Most dishwashers feature a classic bar handle that protrudes slightly. While a bar handle is great for easy grasping, it does visibly “bump out” from the cabinet line. A pocket handle is an indented handle that is more discreet.

Energy Efficiency 

The good news is that all Bosch models are exceedingly efficient, with most of them earning the ENERGY STAR distinction. When shopping for Bosch models, be sure to look for the kilowatt hours used per year. Most models in the lineup use just 200 to 300 kilowatt hours annually.

Extra Features

One thing that makes Bosch impressive is that this manufacturer loads most of its special features into models at all price tiers. However, it’s important to know what you can or can’t live with as you look at different price points. Here’s a rundown of the big features to consider.

Smart Features

Bosch now integrates Wi-Fi and smart features into all of its dishwashers. That means that you can monitor cycles, time cleanings and control settings from your smart device. Some people do feel frustrated by their inability to select certain features from the dishwasher control panel.

Adjustable Third Rack

Many models have an adjustable third rack. All Bosch third-rack dishwashers provide extra space and flexibility for adding ramekins, measuring cups, odd-sized bowls, and flatware.

Interior Light

Don’t be alarmed if your new Bosch is displaying a red light. Bosch dishwashers are so quiet that the manufacturer decided to install something called InfoLight® in certain models. Designed to let you know that your dishwasher is actually running, this feature projects a red light on your floor. Prioritize this one if you’re worried about accidentally opening a dishwasher while it’s still cycling through.

Water Softener

If your home has hard water, selecting a dishwasher with a built-in water softener is important for getting rid of streaking and cloudiness. Many people blame streaks and mineral deposits on their dishwashers not working properly. In reality, you may just need to switch to softened water.

Tips for Getting a New Dishwasher

The day your new dishwasher arrives is always exciting. These tips will ensure that you can get set up correctly.

Take Advantage of Professional Installation

Most retailers offer professional installation services with delivery. Take advantage of this option to ensure that your dishwasher performs to the manufacturer’s standards. Improper installation could result in damage to the dishwasher. It can also lead to leaks that can damage your kitchen.

Choose the Right Installation Spot for Your Dishwasher

Dishwashers need a hot water connection. Generally, this connection comes from your kitchen sink. That’s why it’s recommended that you install your dishwasher along the same wall as your sink.

Make Plans for Necessary Electrical Work

Most dishwashers sold today come with power cords that can be plugged into outlets. That means you’ll need to have an outlet available if this is the option you’re choosing. If you select a model that needs to be hardwired, you’ll likely need an electrician to set up the connection for you. Always read the manufacturer manual closely before selecting a new dishwasher to ensure you’re getting the option you want.

Frequently Asked Questions About Bosch Dishwashers

What do place settings mean in a dishwasher?

Place settings describe a dishwasher’s capacity. A single place setting consists of a plate, bowl, drinking glass, coffee cup and silverware. A standard full-sized dishwasher should hold between 10 and 16 place settings.

How long is Bosch’s warranty on dishwashers?

Bosch dishwasher warranties for parts and labor last one year, but you can also purchase an extended warranty for your Bosch dishwasher.

How do you reset a Bosch dishwasher?

To reset most Bosch appliances, press the Start button for 3 to 5 seconds. This should clear your settings.

How does Bosch’s PureDry work?

PureDry is an energy-efficient closed drying system that dries dishes without pulling in outside air or using an exposed heating element. Moisture is instead whisked away from dishes while they cool. PureDry is much better for plastics compared to traditional drying, since they can be placed on any rack without fear of melting.

Our Methodology

This Old House has empowered homeowners and DIY-ers for more than four decades with top-notch home improvement advice in the form of television programs, print media, and digital content. Our team focuses on creating in-depth product and service review content. To date, we’ve published over 1,600 reviews on products in the home space, including power tools, outdoor equipment, major appliances, kitchen gadgets, electronics, and more that focus on product quality and helpfulness to our readers.

To provide our readers with the best recommendations possible, we rely on several key sources of information to help guide our selection process.

Initial Research: Our research process began by generating a list of [products] with a significant number of verified buyer reviews and an average customer review rating of 4–5 stars. We looked at positive and negative reviews alike, focusing on information from both satisfied and critical buyers. 

Expert Insights: To complement our in-house expertise, our team looked at reviews and videos from trusted publications and independent testers, spoke with subject matter experts, and drew insights from reader contributions.

Final Product Selection: We then began fine-tuning our list by replacing older models with the latest versions and eliminating any discontinued models. From there, we compared each model’s feature set to create a final short list, selecting the best-in-class options for various buyers, budgets, and scenarios.

Once we conclude our research, we craft a comprehensive, user-friendly article of recommended products and additional information to help our readers make the right purchase.

Questions or Comments?

To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews Team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.



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Five cash flow trends impacting small businesses


Over the last 12 months, we’ve surveyed over 4,500 small business owners across the globe to find out how they’re managing cash flow amidst macroeconomic conditions such as high inflation and interest rates. The survey findings became a series of Money Matters reports that were released in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States

Here are five interesting (and somewhat concerning) trends in these reports that compare and contrast the results across the six countries.

Most small businesses experienced cash flow issues in the past 12 months

In all the countries surveyed, most small businesses reported at least some cash flow issues in the past year – ranging from 72% of small businesses in the UK, to 87% in Australia. Singapore (28%) reported the highest share of respondents with significant cash flow issues and the UK (11%) had the smallest share reporting significant cash flow issues. In addition, Australia (13%) had the lowest share of small businesses that said they had not experienced cash flow issues over the year and the UK (28%) had the highest share. 

bar graph showing whether small businesses across Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Singapore, UK and US have experienced cash flow issues

Across all countries, at least a third of small business owners have not paid themselves because of cash flow issues

Poor cash flow has impacted respondents in a variety of ways in the past year. One of the most alarming was the high proportion of respondents that said they had not been able to pay themselves. Indeed, this was the top impact in New Zealand (46%), US (45%), UK (41%) and Canada (31%). Not being able to be paid will clearly have a flow-on impact on the personal finances of small business owners. 

bar graph showing share of respondents who said that cash flow issues meant they couldn't pay themselves across Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Singapore, UK and US

Cash flow management causes elevated stress levels but at two different levels

This survey also explored the non-financial impacts of cash flow issues on those who reported at least some cash flow impacts. Stress was the top non-financial impact reported in each country but there were two distinct groups of results. The most stressed countries were the United States (84%), the United Kingdom (82%) and New Zealand (80%). The other group of three countries also had similar results, but at a lower level – Australia (57%), Canada (54%) and Singapore (53%). 

“Having less cash flow indicates that the business is struggling which may result in me becoming unemployed. I’ve spent nights worrying and stressing how I can provide for my child and keep on top of personal finances as well as my business.” Anonymous survey respondent

Small businesses have lifted prices a median of 6-8% in the past year

One way to improve cash flow is to lift prices and, in each country, more than half the respondents said they had done this in the past year. The largest proportion was in New Zealand (63%) and the smallest was in Singapore (53%). 

The survey also asked by how much prices had been raised, with the median result (for those who lifted prices) being 6-8% in all the countries.

bar graph showing share of respondents who lifted prices in the last 12 months across Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Singapore, UK and US

Small business in UK least likely to have capacity to absorb a financial shock

However, the results became interesting when we asked respondents if they thought they would be able to handle a financial shock. 

In the UK only 22% of respondents said they had capacity to absorb a financial shock, the lowest response out of all countries surveyed. However, the UK was also the only country where more respondents disagreed with the statement (27%) than agreed, i.e. more people thought they couldn’t manage if there was a financial shock than could.

At the other end of the scale, over half (53%) of respondents running small businesses in Singapore agreed that they had capacity to absorb a financial shock. This was well above the next nearest country, Australia (40%). 

This result seems counterintuitive to the earlier question, where Singapore small businesses reported the highest share of significant cash flow issues and the UK the lowest.

Bar graph showing number of respondents that said whether they can or can't absorb financial shock across Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Singapore, UK and US

These are just five trends that we’ve identified but you can take a deep dive into all the individual Money Matters reports yourself and look for more similarities and differences in the experiences of small business. 
In addition, our reports look at different tools to help you manage your cash flow, from talking to your accountant and bookkeeper about pricing strategies, to products that Xero offers to support small businesses globally. These include online invoice payments, eInvoicing, Xero Analytics Plus and now bill payments in the UK.



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Why Does Your Music Need Audio Mastering?

Audio mastering is the secret weapon that bestows upon your music the professional edge it requires to not only stand out from the crowded musical landscape but also to captivate and resonate with listeners on a profound level. It is the final brushstroke that enhances the sonic canvas, ensuring that your musical creations are not just heard but experienced in their full glory, leaving an indelible mark on the hearts and minds of your audience.

Indeed, audio mastering stands as the conclusive and transformative phase in the intricate journey of music production, wielding its prowess to bestow a polished and distribution-ready finesse upon your tracks. This intricate process involves the adept application of a set of meticulous procedures aimed at optimizing the holistic sonic landscape, including sound quality, dynamics, and loudness.

Influence of Audio Mastering

The impact of mastering reverberates across the diverse array of playback systems, ensuring that your music resonates with equal brilliance whether it’s experienced through high-fidelity studio monitors, car audio systems, or personal headphones. This adaptability is crucial, as it guarantees a consistent and enjoyable listening experience for your audience, irrespective of the platform they choose for musical immersion.

Without the meticulous intervention of audio mastering, your music may find itself grappling with potential pitfalls such as a lack of clarity and punchiness. Moreover, it runs the risk of being overshadowed by louder counterparts when placed on popular streaming services. The mastering process serves as the sonic alchemist, delicately sculpting and refining your music to address these concerns, ensuring that every note, beat, and lyric is delivered with optimal impact.

Unwanted noise, imbalances between individual elements in the mix, or inconsistent tonal balance throughout an album are challenges that audio mastering deftly tackles. It is the sonic architect that identifies and rectifies these nuances, fostering a harmonious equilibrium within the music. By fine-tuning these elements, mastering provides the necessary finesse to elevate your music beyond mere recordings, transforming them into auditory masterpieces that captivate the discerning ears of listeners.

Advantages of Audio Mastering

The benefits of audio mastering extend far beyond the final stages of music production, playing a pivotal role in elevating the overall quality and impact of your musical creations. Let’s delve into the multifaceted advantages that audio mastering brings to the table:

  1. Enhanced Sound Quality: Audio mastering serves as a sonic refining process, allowing mastering engineers to apply precise adjustments to crucial elements such as EQ, compression, and stereo processing. These nuanced interventions bring forth the inherent richness and character of each track, contributing to a polished and professional sound that resonates with clarity and depth.
  2. Optimized Tonal Balance: One of the primary objectives of mastering is to improve the tonal balance of individual songs within an album or EP. By carefully sculpting the frequency spectrum, mastering engineers ensure that each element in the mix is heard with optimal clarity, creating a harmonious and well-balanced sonic landscape.
  3. Consistency Across Devices: Mastering goes beyond the studio environment, addressing the challenges posed by various playback devices. Whether your audience listens through headphones, car speakers, or high-fidelity audio systems, mastering ensures consistency in playback. This adaptability guarantees that listeners can enjoy your music as intended, regardless of the device they choose for the musical experience.
  4. Optimized for Different Formats: With the diverse array of music distribution platforms available, mastering becomes essential for optimizing levels tailored to specific formats. Whether it’s streaming services, CDs, vinyl records, or other physical media, mastering engineers calibrate the audio levels to ensure that your music translates seamlessly across different formats, preserving its sonic integrity.
  5. Balanced Volume Levels Between Tracks: Audio mastering addresses the potential issue of uneven volume levels between tracks on an album or playlist. This meticulous leveling prevents jarring disparities in loudness, creating a smooth and uninterrupted listening experience. This consistency is not only appreciated by individual listeners but also facilitates DJs and radio hosts in seamlessly incorporating your music into their sets.
  6. Facilitates DJ and Radio Integration: Properly leveled tracks, a result of effective mastering, make it easier for DJs and radio hosts to incorporate your music into their sets. The balanced volume levels ensure smooth transitions, allowing your tracks to seamlessly blend with other pieces without abrupt changes in loudness that might disrupt the flow of the overall presentation.
  7. Maximizes Sonic Potential: Perhaps the most overarching benefit lies in the fact that audio mastering maximizes the sonic potential of your music. By investing in professional mastering services, you take your music from good to great, ensuring that it not only meets industry standards but stands out as a captivating and sonically exceptional creation.

January Favourites: I’m A Stampfluencer Now


January “favourites” and what an eclectic mix we have going on here! Family photo albums, rubber stamps and a stand-up show that will have you chortling away and wishing for more. As per monthly favourites tradition, there’s a video to accompany this post – it’s right at the bottom of the page.

Ad info: no paid or sponsored content. Contains press samples and affiliate links are marked *. 

Let’s begin with the stamps, because I’ve bored my friends and family enough with these and need to move onto new victims. I’m going to give you two good reasons why stamps (the rubber sort that you ink, not the ones you stick to envelopes) need to become part of your life and the first reason is incredibly wholesome. Because don’t you miss the fun little craft projects of your childhood? Remember colouring in for hours on end, or cutting up bits of paper and glueing them to other bits of paper and then getting them all over the floor and table and wondering why your mum always looked so…fatigued? Crafty stuff was great. We loved it and then we became adults and most of us just stopped. No time, no desire to create extra mess, no real need to create anything whatsoever.

What if I gave you something marginally crafty and artistic to do that didn’t really make mess and that satisfied the urge to produce something nice to look at whilst requiring minimum effort?

Stamps! They’re bloody foolproof! Someone else has done the hard, artistic bit; you just need to ink the thing and slap it on some paper, Early Man style. Mindless, childish escapism and because someone with talent has made the stamp it also makes you look and feel quite accomplished. Tempted? Good: I am a stamp influencer now. A stampfluencer.

But wait: it’s not just the satisfying, highly therapeutic nature of ink-stamping I’m selling to you here. That was just the first reason. What if – reason two – stamping could actually save you money? Think about all of those notecards and birthday cards and Funky Pigeon things you spend on constantly and imagine if you could simply pop open your stamps box (yes, I have made one) and print yourself something lovely and charmingly rustic to send to your nearest and dearest? Or to your child’s perpetual rota of classmates who seem to have about eight birthdays a year? Each?

Grab your Catherine Redgate stamp (special edition ones that make it look as though every card has been hand-illustrated, absolute genius) and press it onto a (recycled paper for extra wholesomeness points) card, then slip the card into a brown envelope and you’re away.

You can get bespoke stamps, lovely stamps with your company branding, stamps to make patterns with (I printed my own Christmas wrapping paper after seeing The English Stamp Company do it on Instagram, which was what started the whole thing off) and there are dozens of pretty botanical and animal stamps to personalise your stationery or make greeting cards or anything you fancy.

You can find the English Stamp website here – they’ve given me a code for readers to get 10% off, it’s RUTHCRILLY10.


From printing my own cards to…printing my own family photo albums. Granted I don’t do the actual printing but even choosing the photos and ordering them correctly takes hours on end and so I’m claiming the praise for these Papier books.

I’ve used Papier a few times before; I like that their photobooks have a sort of matted-down finish that looks very chic and stylish. If you want glossy vibrancy and crazy Comic Sans captioning (my Mum) then this might be too understated for you, but I love the Millennial vibes. Possibly because I’m so close to being an actual Millennial. (Born 1980. Keep wheeling out that fact to make me feel more relevant and youthful.)

Just be careful when you’re choosing photos for these books – make sure they have good brightness. It’s very easy to be tricked into thinking photos look great because everything looks nice and vivid on a backlit screen; different story in print. Turn your screen brightness right down to about 20% and think to yourself: does this picture need some extra lift? Are there areas that are just varying shades of black? I have to do quite a bit of tweaking.

You can get £10 off at Papier with my MentionMe link here* – this is just the standard customer one you get at checkout, so once you order yourself you will get your own code to pass along to friends and family. Every little helps, etc.

Anyway, I’m doing one photo album for every year since having my first baby and I’m currently on 2019, so quite a bit to catch up on. I’ve decided going forward to put photos into a special phone album as I go along to cut out the bulk of the sorting work. Honestly, it took hours per book! But worth it.


Next favourite: entirely free and I’m sure you’ll get excellent value from it: it’s the comedian Jen Brister’s comedy show, The Optimist. I had tickets to see this live last year but was ill and so I was overjoyed when Jen announced that she was posting the televised version online. She’s wicked. In every way. Highly recommend taking an hour or so out of your evening to sit with this on and laugh along to her rants. She’s like a very sexy John Cleese when she starts losing the plot…

Jen Brister The Optimist


Now to the beauty favourites. Some clear winners here – these are things that made me instantly go oooh and make a mental note to tell you about them. First, the Bio-Active Ceramide Enriched Moisturiser from The Inkey List. A highly nourishing, deeply hydrating face cream that manages to be rich yet completely non-greasy and that helps to repair the skin barrier. (Something most people need these days because they use every single acid and retinoid on the market, all at the same time, six-and-a-half days a week. It’s a problem.)

Inkey List don’t do frills or fancy packaging but the cream itself is a silky, luxurious-feeling sophisticate that costs less than twenty quid. You cannot go wrong with this. Decant it into a fancy glass pot, if packaging is what floats your boat!

Inkey List Ceramide Enriched Moisturiser*


Some hair heroes to finish, ones that are particularly good if you have hair that requires styling (or is the sort of length that looks better choppy and casual rather than silky and sleek) and doesn’t do well with heavy, ultra-moisturising products.

Firstly the Cool Girl wash and conditioner from Sam McKnight (online here*): these properly nourish hair without weighing it down. If you like to wave or curl your hair and you need to retain as much texture and volume as possible but still want to help repair and prevent damage then this range is just the ticket. Packaging comes in the perfect shade of pink, as a sidenote. Meaningless to some but I rather like the fact it matches my bathroom tiles!

Then the Arkive Everyday range. The conditioner is slightly – just slightly – heavier than Sam McKnight’s one, but still doesn’t weigh hair down and leaves everything feeling soft and light and ready to style. You can find Arkive at Boots here*. It’s sometimes on offer in their 3-for-2 promotions so worth stocking up when you spot it!

Right. I’m off to stamp some things. Fast running out of paper, so if you see me walking about with what looks like multiple cat tattoos on my arms, neck and face then fear not – I’ll have just treated myself to a different sort of inking.



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Bluesky opens to everyone, Rivian reveals its new SUV, and governments exploit iPhones


Hey, folks, welcome to Week in Review (WiR), TechCrunch’s regular newsletter that recaps the last few days in tech.

This week, social network Bluesky opened for anyone to join — which feels appropriate here in NYC, given the sunshine and unseasonably warm temperatures we’ve been enjoying. For those more inclined to while away the days indoors — and contemplating a Vision Pro purchase — Brian published his review. Give it a read; he doesn’t mince words.

Lots else happened, including a Rivian SUV reveal, government hackers targeting iPhone owners and Meta cutting off third-party access to Facebook Groups. We cover it all and more in this edition of WiR — but first, a reminder to sign up to receive the WiR newsletter in your inbox every Saturday.

News

Nothing but Bluesky: After almost a year as an invite-only app, Bluesky, a promising micro-blogging platform backed by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey, is now open to the public.

Rivian’s new ride: Rivian will reveal its next-generation vehicle — a smaller, cheaper electric SUV known as R2 — on March 7, the company announced Monday morning.

Governments targeting iPhones: Government hackers last year exploited three unknown vulnerabilities in Apple’s iPhone operating system to target victims with spyware developed by a European startup, according to Google.

Meta severs Group access: Meta recently announced it’ll soon be shutting down its Facebook Groups API. It’s throwing some businesses and social media marketers into disarray, Sarah writes.

A WeWork comeback: Adam Neumann, who co-founded flexible workspace provider WeWork in 2010 and notoriously stepped down nine years later, is attempting to buy the company out of bankruptcy, according to reports.

Chinese hackers lurking inside: China-backed hackers have maintained access to American critical infrastructure for “at least five years” with the long-term goal of launching “destructive” cyberattacks, a coalition of U.S. intelligence agencies warned on Wednesday.

Analysis

Apple Vision Pro review: In his review of the Vision Pro, Brian writes that the $3,500 headset is very much still a work in progress — offering glimpses of a future that’ll live or die by developers.

Joe Rogan, liberated: Amanda writes why it’s good for Spotify that Joe Rogan’s podcast is no longer exclusive.

Podcasts

On Equity, the crew took a deep look at a number of startup fundraisings, including new capital for vertical software-as-a-service, fintech and edtech; how quickly SUMA Wealth is growing; and why Bluesky is flying high.

Meanwhile, Found featured Beatrice Dixon, the co-founder of plant-based vaginal wellness brand The Honey Pot.

And on Chain Reaction, Jacquelyn interviewed Devin Finzer, the CEO of NFT marketplace OpenSea. He co-founded OpenSea in 2017, and it quickly became one of the best-known — and well-funded — NFT marketplaces.

TechCrunch+

AI, ol’ reliable: Alex writes that it appears the market is willing to accept that software imbued with new AI capabilities will cost more — so software companies of all sizes will have something new to upsell existing customers and potentially land new accounts.

Fast fashion breakup: Fast fashion is an industry ensnared in labor issues and copyright problems, and it has an immense environmental impact due to its wastewater and carbon emissions — which is why VCs need to reconsider it, Rebecca writes.

Bonus round

A sidewalk robot success story: Sidewalk delivery robot services appear to be stalling left and right. But a pioneer in the concept, Starship Technologies, says it’s profitable and has now raised a round of funding to scale up to meet market demand.





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Tax Fraud Blotter: We have a winner


Mule the merrier; cashing out; going for the gold; and other highlights of recent tax cases.

Jacksonville, Florida: Tax preparer Iona Coates has been sentenced to two years in prison for a scheme to file false returns and to two years in prison for an unrelated online romance scam, the sentences to run concurrently.

She owned and operated Bits & Bytes Accounting Services, which provided tax prep and bookkeeping services. Between 2015 and 2020, Coates claimed $228,788 in refunds on her individual federal income tax returns by falsely reporting that taxes had been withheld from her income and had been paid to the IRS. She further created nearly 20 sham entities for filing false returns that claimed fuel tax credits. Between 2017 and 2019, Coates prepared and filed 35 such returns.

In 2020, Coates also met two individuals online through a dating website. She subsequently provided them with her bank account information and began receiving money into her account. In December 2020, Secret Service agents met with Coates and explained that she was acting as a “money mule” in an online romance scheme. As the agents described, the individuals, acting as fake suitors on dating websites, convinced victims to send money to Coates’s bank account.

The Secret Service advised Coates to cease participation in the scheme, as the individuals were using her bank account to facilitate their theft. Coates, however, soon began acting as a money mule for another online romance scammer and from December 2020 to September 2021 received $229,376.26 into her accounts from victims of the scheme, which she sent to the scammer.

Coates, who previously pleaded guilty, was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release. She was ordered to pay some $186,288 in restitution to the U.S. for the tax charges and $229,376.26 to the victims of the romance scheme.

Pompton Lakes, New Jersey: Bookkeeper Richard Winter has admitted his role in embezzling from clients.

From January 2016 through December 2019, Winter schemed to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars by authorizing bank wire transfers from the victim companies, diverting vendor payments to his own bank accounts through an online payment portal and issuing checks payable to cash from the victim companies and depositing those checks into his bank accounts.

Winter failed to file returns reporting the income he received from his fraud for tax years 2016 through 2019.

The wire fraud charge carries a maximum of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greater. The tax evasion charge carries a maximum of five years in prison and a $100,000 fine, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense. Sentencing is July 9.

Fairfield, New Jersey: Tax preparer Omar Khater, 33, has admitted to conspiring to steal more than $4.4 million by defrauding the IRS.

Omar, and a conspirator were relatives who worked together and with others to steal victims’ identities that they used to file false returns and fraudulently receive federal refunds. They electronically submitted tax documents to the IRS claiming that the individual taxpayers listed on those documents had earned certain income or won thousands — in some cases millions — of dollars in gambling and lottery winnings. The false filings also claimed tax withholdings on the purported income or winnings that entitled the tax filer to refund payments.

This scheme caused the U.S. Treasury to issue refunds of $4.49 million.

The count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in prison; the count of conspiracy to defraud the IRS is punishable by up to five years. Both counts are also punishable by a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross loss or gain caused by the offense, whichever is greater. Sentencing is June 12.

Norwich, Connecticut: Tax preparer David Etienne, 49, has been sentenced to two years in prison, to be followed by a year of supervised release, for tax fraud.

Etienne, who pleaded guilty in September, operated as a preparer through several businesses, including Los Maestros Inc., Los Maestros Group, Tax Experts USA and Tax Experts USA Inc.

For the 2012 through 2021 tax years, he prepared numerous federal returns for clients. The returns included false expenses and losses in connection with sole proprietorship businesses when he knew the taxpayers had not operated such businesses, false unreimbursed employee expenses and false medical, dental or education-related expenses.

Etienne’s conduct involved tax losses, affecting both the IRS and the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services, of some $600,000.

Suffern, New York: Business owner Joseph Schwartz has admitted his role in a $38 million employment tax fraud involving nursing homes he owned nationwide.

From Oct. 31, 2017, through May 30, 2018, Schwartz was the owner of Skyline Management Group and related entities with headquarters in New Jersey. Schwartz admitted that he was required to collect, truthfully account for and pay over to the IRS on behalf of employees of Skyline trust fund taxes but failed to do so. The taxes totaled $38.9 million.

Schwartz admitted he was also an administrator of the Skyline 401(k) and had an obligation to file a 5500 financial report for calendar 2018 but knowingly and willfully failed to file the report.

The employment tax fraud count is punishable by up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greater. Failure to file a Form 5500 related to the retirement plan count carries a maximum of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greater. Sentencing is May 22.

Sacramento, California: Richard Jason Mountford has pleaded guilty to conspiring to file false claims against the U.S.

From 2016 to 2020, he conspired with another person to submit false individual income tax returns seeking undeserved refunds. Mountford and his co-conspirator filed income tax returns in their own names, as well as in the names of two other unwitting individuals, that falsely reported they were employed by a company, received wages from that company and had federal taxes withheld from those wages, fraudulently claiming a refund was due. Most of the returns filed as part of the scheme also falsely reported alimony payments to inflate refunds.

The IRS issued $873,723 in unwarranted refunds to the conspirators. Mountford deposited $757,075 of these fraud proceeds into his bank accounts and subsequently purchased nearly $360,000 worth of new cars. He also distributed to his co-conspirator about $170,000 in cash and gold bars.

Sentencing is April 11, when Mountford will face up to 10 years in prison.

Las Vegas: Restaurant owner Raul Gil, 64, has been sentenced to 37 months in prison for skimming $5 million dollars in cash sales and filing false federal income tax returns, with a tax loss of $1.6 million over five years.

Gil owned and operated three local restaurants and from 2014 through 2018 instructed his manager/internal bookkeeper to create false sales numbers that underreported cash sales at the restaurants by some $5.1 million. Gil provided the false sales records to an outside tax preparer for his federal income tax returns.

During an audit in July 2018, Gil told his accountant to provide to the IRS false P&Ls that matched the figures reported on the returns. He also told his bookkeeper to provide to the IRS false daily cash and sales reports purportedly printed from the restaurants’ POS systems. During interviews with the IRS, Gil lied that the reports and records were accurate.

In total, Gil caused a tax loss to the IRS of some $1.6 million.

He was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release and to pay $2,228,943.65 in restitution.



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