In the realm of digital communication, clarity is king. Whether you’re diving into a crucial virtual meeting, launching into a live stream, or recording your latest podcast episode, the presence of background noise can detract significantly from the quality of your audio. This is where noise gate software like NoiseGator shines, offering a solution to keep unwanted noise at bay. In this article, we’ll take a look at Noise Gator, a popular noise cancelling software option. We’ll discuss the pros and cons to help you decide if this software is right for you. We’ll also offer an alternative option if Noise Gator doesn’t suit your needs. 

What is NoiseGator & How Does it Work?

NoiseGator is a lightweight noise gate software that surpresses noise and does not let it pass to your microphone. It’s a Java based application, requiring Java 7 or higher for Windows and Java 6 or higher for Mac. 

Imagine having a virtual gatekeeper that only lets sounds louder than a specific level pass through. This means background noise like the hum of an air conditioner, keyboard typing, or distant conversations can be significantly reduced or eliminated, allowing only your voice to be clearly heard.

Noise gates work by monitoring the sound level in real-time. When the noise falls below the set threshold, the gate ‘closes,’ muting the noise. As soon as you speak or the sound exceeds this threshold, the gate ‘opens,’ allowing the audio to pass through. 

How to Set Up the NoiseGator Software?

One of the downsides of using NoiseGator is that you’ll have to install an additional virtual audio interface, as it doesn’t work simply on its own. Since NoiseGator only takes an audio input and applies a software gate to it, there’s no way to tell Skype or any other conferencing app to use that newly filtered audio. 

So, you’ll need to install virtual drivers such as SoundFlower for Mac or VBAudio for PC. Also, VBAudio might require Java Runtime Environment, so if you don’t have that already you’ll need to install it too. They are relatively easy to install, but this is still an extra step that is required to make this software work.

The first step is to install NoiseGator. Once you have installed the software, follow along with these steps:

• Run the NoiseGator software. The software doesn’t create a shortcut in the Start Menu automatically, so you’ll have to run the exe file. 
• Select “Cable Input (VB Audio Virtual Cable) on the “Output” dropdown menu. This is the virtual cable software. If you’re not able to see it in the drop-down menu, check to make sure it has been installed properly and try restarting your computer. 
• Then, right-click on the speaker icon in the Taskbar and click on “Playback Devices.” “Cable Input” should be selected. Right click on it to make sure that it is not disabled and click “Enable” if necessary. 
• After you’ve selected the virtual audio cable software, you can then begin to adjust the settings within NoiseGator. Adjust the “Threshold” levels depending on the loudness of the noise around you that you want to filter out. 

Once you’re done configuring the software, you’ll need to also separately set it up with any other program you want to use it with. 

Disadvantages of Using the NoiseGator Software

While NoiseGator is a useful tool, it’s not without its drawbacks:

• Requires External Configuration: For optimal performance, it often needs to be paired with virtual audio cables or additional software.
• Limited Advanced Features: Compared to newer software, it lacks advanced noise cancellation technologies and audio enhancement features.
• Potential Latency Issues: Some users may experience a slight delay between speaking and the audio transmission, affecting real-time communication.

NoiseGator Alternative: Krisp Noise Cancelling Software

Krisp transcends traditional noise cancellation techniques by utilizing AI to not only eliminate background noise but also to enhance overall audio quality. Unlike NoiseGator, Krisp offers:

• Advanced Noise Cancellation: Krisp can cancel out both inbound and outbound noise, ensuring clear communication regardless of source or environment.
• Background Voice Cancellation: Beyond mere background noise, Krisp adeptly filters out secondary voices within the user’s vicinity, ensuring the primary speaker’s voice is distinctly heard.
• AI Meeting Assistant Features: Beyond noise cancellation, Krisp doubles as an AI meeting assistant, providing real-time transcription, AI-generated meeting summaries and audio recordings. This suite of tools elevates Krisp from a simple noise cancellation tool to a comprehensive platform for enhancing virtual communication efficiency.

Popular Uses for the Krisp App

Krisp’s versatility makes it an ideal choice for a wide range of applications:

• Professional Meetings & Calls: Ensure your voice is heard clearly, without interruptions from background noise.
• Podcasting & Streaming: Achieve studio-quality sound directly from your home.
• Remote Work & Education: Enhance communication and focus by eliminating distracting noises.

Find the Right Noise-Canceling Software for You

Choosing the right noise-canceling software depends on your specific needs. If your primary requirement is basic noise gating, NoiseGator might suffice. However, for those seeking a holistic solution that offers exceptional voice clarity and elevates the efficiency of virtual meetings, Krisp is undoubtedly the superior choice. 

When comparing NoiseGator and Krisp, it’s clear that Krisp offers a significantly superior solution. Krisp not only addresses the fundamental need for noise cancellation with unparalleled proficiency but also introduces advanced features that redefine the standards of virtual communication. Its ability to cancel both inbound and outbound noises, along with secondary voices, ensures that every virtual interaction is as clear and productive as possible.

Moreover, Krisp’s role as an AI meeting assistant offers a unique blend of voice clarity and productivity enhancement. The addition of audio recording, transcription services and AI meeting summaries based on those transcriptions positions Krisp as not just a tool but a comprehensive solution for anyone looking to optimize their online communication and collaboration.

The post How to Use Noise Gator Software for Noise Cancellation appeared first on Krisp.

We’ve all been on a conference call where someone’s voice echoed during the meeting. Sometimes, it’s simply distracting and annoying, but other times the echo can be so bad that it’s impossible to understand the speaker. 

How many times have you had to interrupt a call to say, “Sorry, there’s a bit of an echo on your end!”

Speaker phones, conferencing devices, and laptops are offering better quality sound than ever, but they can still run into problems with echo on audio and video calls. 

That’s why Acoustic Echo Cancellation is so important. It’s a way of solving the issue and ensuring every call you have is clear and echo-free. Let’s take a look at this feature and why it’s a necessary part of any conference technology. 

What is Acoustic Echo?

First of all, let’s talk about what Acoustic Echo is and why it happens. This issue mostly occurs due to how sound is captured by the technology you are using to have the call.  

When you are on a call on speakerphone, the speech of the person you are talking to gets played out from the loudspeaker. This is referred to as “far-end speech.” Also, your own voice is captured by the microphone and sent across the network to the other end of the call. This is referred to as “near-end speech.” 

However, the microphones don’t just capture the near-end speech, they can also capture the far-end speech. If the far-end speech is transmitted to the other side of the call, the other person will hear their own voice, after a slight delay for network and processing. 

This problem often occurs when the caller is on speakerphone, and it’s possible to resolve the issue by using headphones. However, that’s not always the case. Acoustic Echo also can be an issue not only on speakerphones but also on mobiles and other handsets, due to the mechanical coupling of the earpiece speakers and microphones. 

This is the “echo” we are concerned with, and the length of the delay determines how annoying it will be. So, how long does an echo need to last until it becomes significantly disruptive to the phone call? 

Acoustic Echo vs Room Echo

When most people hear the word, “echo,” they immediately think of shouting into an empty room to hear their voice repeating back to them over and over again. And while this kind of echo, called room echo, is more familiar to us, it’s actually different than what you experience on a call or online meeting, which is acoustic echo.

How Much Echo is Too Much?

You might think that you’d be able to ignore a small echo, but it really does have quite an impact on your ability to listen to a call. Even a little bit of echo can be too much for most people to handle. 

How significant of a delay does there have to be for it to annoy the listener?

An echo with a delay of less than 40ms will most likely not annoy the listener. In fact, this type of delay is usually barely noticed. However, an echo of more than 40ms is enough to be perceived by the human ear. 

An echo of this length can make speech very difficult to understand. Over a full phone call, it can become incredibly annoying for all participants. Plus, it can result in callers not understanding each other and important information being missed. 

How Does Acoustic Echo Cancellation Work?

What do we need to do to cancel out the Acoustic Echo? Let’s take a closer look at how we combat this echo with Acoustic Echo Cancellation.  

In order to stop this from happening, you’ll need a mechanism that blocks the transmission of far-end speech back to the other party in the call. It should block any echoes, reverberations, and unwanted added sounds from the signal passing through the acoustic space. 

Acoustic Echo Cancellation works by creating a filter that can do exactly that. It’s based on an adaptive algorithm, which adapts this filter to model the acoustic path. The output of the filter is then removed from the acoustic path signal in order to create a “clean” signal output. Any echoes in the call environment are removed. 

For example, let’s say you’re having a call with someone, and you are on speakerphone. The filter will block out any echoes and reverberations in your space, so the person you are calling will only hear your voice. 

The filter can also detect any unrelated sounds in the acoustic path. For example, if music is playing in the near-end space, it can be picked up by the far-end signal. The adaptive filter will cancel the sound of the music. This allows for a clear conversation–even if there is music in the background. 

For instance, if you’re on a hands-free call in your car while music is playing, you won’t have to pause the music during the conversation. Both the music AND the voice of the other speaker will be eliminated from the signal that is being picked up by the microphone. At that point, only the local speaker’s voice is sent out on the far end. 

Krisp’s Acoustic and Room Echo Cancellation: Essential for Clear Communication 

If you’re trying to have an important phone call, whether it’s for work or to catch up with a loved one, you don’t want to be distracted by annoying echoes. That’s why it’s so important to avoid this echo with some sort of Acoustic Echo Cancellation. 

All video and audio conference technology needs to address this issue, or it is going to cause issues regularly on phone calls. 

In addition to making your calls clearer and easier to understand, having acoustic echo cancellation will save you a lot of money. You will be able to have excellent sound quality in any conference room, without having to invest in sound-absorbing construction and materials. 

The good news is that Krisp supports Acoustic Echo Cancellation! It works by not letting the echo captured by your actual microphone reach the other participants on your call. That means that you’ll be able to communicate online with total ease. 

Krisp removes room echo in real time during your call by having Room Echo Cancellation built right into our bi-directional Noise Cancellation. That means you can take a call in any room, even an echoey one, and you’ll still sound great. You’ll be able to take a call with multiple participants, all in different environments, with each one coming through loud and clear. 

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Still have questions about how Krisp’s Acoustic Echo Cancellation works? Feel free to contact us at any time in the comments section below or by contacting us at [email protected]i! 

The post What is Acoustic Echo Cancellation? appeared first on Krisp.

In this article, we’ll look at some of the tools designed to help you make your podcast, so you can get your thoughts, ideas and stories into the ears of your listeners.

These are 7 great podcast recording tools you should check out as you get your show started! They are all easy to use, packed with great features and very affordable.

The 7 Best Podcast Recording Tools

Iris – Best Platform Designed for Podcasts

Compatibility: Iris is browser based, so it will work on any computer that will run Chrome, Firefox, Brave, Edge, Opera or Safari.

Price: Starts at $9 per month to record audio and video

Iris is a really neat tool, because it was designed specifically FOR recording podcasts remotely. It includes a number of great features, such as HD video recording, separate audio tracks, team member features and much more.

You can have up to 9 people recording together, so it’s a great option if you want to interview a large group or have a roundtable or panel discussion. The software is designed to back up your files while you are recording, so you never have to worry about losing an interview.

Plus, the platform also offers you several options for downloading your audio and video files. You can download them locally from each guest for the highest quality file, or quickly share and publish a composed version.

Zoom – The Easiest Podcast Tool to Use

Compatibility: Windows, macOS

Price: Host groups calls of up to 45 minutes for free, Unlimited plan starts at $14.99 per month.

Zoom is not really designed to be a podcasting tool. It’s a video conferencing tool, but it will allow you to record both audio and video from your calls. If you already have Zoom and you don’t want to download other podcasting software, it might be worth a try!

It can be a great option, because most people have already used it before and are familiar with how it works. When you are interviewing guests, it can be nice to use a tool they already know – especially if they are not very technologically adept.

You can simply invite your guests to a Zoom meeting and record the conversation, then download the audio file. There are no audio editing features, so you’ll need to use another program if you want to edit your audio afterwards.

If you want to give it a try, we have a handy article with some useful tips on using Zoom to record your podcast.

Read next: How to Record a Podcast on Zoom (Step-by-step guide)

Krisp – The Essential Tool for Clean Audio

Compatibility: Windows, macOS

Price: Free version of Krisp comes with a set number of free Noise Cancellation minutes and Pro version provides unlimited noise cancellation. Learn more about Krisp plans.

Imagine you put all the effort into researching and preparing a great podcast. You email an important guest and the agree to be on your show. After taking the time to record the interview – you listen back to the finished product.

You realize with horror that you can hear your dog barking and horns honking in the background, making the audio distracting and unprofessional. Instead of listening to your great ideas or intriguing guests, your audience will be focused on the interruptions instead.

How do you avoid this happening? You can use a tool like Krisp to make sure your audio is always crystal clear and perfect.

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Krisp works by using a highly sophisticated AI to determine the difference between your voice and background noise, then intelligently filter it out. It’s easy to use and integrates with a wide range of audio recording and podcasting software.

Riverside.fm – The Best for Live Podcasting

Compatibility: Works only with Chrome on laptops or desktops, or with the Riverside.fm iPhone app on the iPhone.

Price: From $19 per month

If you record your show live, Riverside.fm is a great option for you. It allows you to do live podcasting, with integrations for Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, Twitch and more. This opens up a lot of possibilities for podcasting! Imagine hosting a live sports or arts event commentary, or a special event podcast. When you record live, your podcast becomes an event in itself and your listeners have a chance to interact.

Riverside.fm allows you to record up to 8 people, and it will record video as well as audio. Plus, you will even be able to accept live call-ins from listeners. This will enable you to turn your podcast into a dialogue and have conversations with your audience.

It’s a highly rated app that has been used by several big names, including Fox Sports, Microsoft, Disney and Spotify.

Adobe Audition – The Best for Efficient Editing

Compatibility: Windows, mac OS

Price: $20.99 per month as a single app, free trial available

Adobe Audition is part of the “Creative Cloud Suite” released by Adobe, so if you already have this suite you might have access to it. If not, you can pay a monthly fee to use it as a single app.

It’s designed for recording and editing podcasts, and it has a lot of great advanced tools to help you make your audio sound professional. For example, you can apply noise-reduction, advanced compression and much more.

One great time-saving feature is batch processing, which will allow you to apply certain audio editing effects to one file, save it, then apply those same edits to a “batch” of other files. This will save you a TON of time if you have multiple podcast episodes to edit.

GarageBand – The Easiest to Use

Compatibility: macOS, iOS

Price: Free

Garage Band is a great option for beginner podcasters, because it is very easy to use. It has a very intuitive interface and you’ll get the hang of it in a short amount of time. It’s great for combining multiple audio tracks into a single audio recording, such as separate recordings from a remote interview.

Plus, it’s free to download – so you don’t need to invest a lot of money when you get started. Also, your GarageBand software comes with a bunch of pre-recording sound bites, synths, loops and jingles you can use to add background music and make your podcast more layered and interesting.

Unfortunately, GarageBand is only available on mac computers. So, if you use a PC it won’t be an option for you.

SquadCast – Great for Group Interviews

Compatibility: SquadCast is browser based, so it will work on any computer that will run Chrome, Firefox, Brave, Edge, Opera or Safari.

Price: From $10 per month for 2 hours of audio recording per month, or $20 for 5 hours of audio.

This recording software allows you to record up to 3 people at the same time, so it’s really helpful for recording a group podcast. For example, if you host a podcast with a co-host, and you regularly have one guest – then SquadCast might be just right for you.

This software also allows you to see the other people when you are recording audio, which is helpful because it gives you visual queues so you don’t talk over one another. It’s also very simple to use, so it’s great for beginners. Companies such as ESPN and Shopify use Squadcast, so you know it’s a professional app with a great experience.

SquadCast doesn’t have as many features as Riverside.fm. For example, you can see the video but you aren’t able to record it. However, it is cheaper than Riverside.fm, so if it suits your needs it might be your best bet!

Which Podcast Tool is Right For You?

These are just a few of the many excellent podcast tools available for those who want to start their own podcast show. These days it’s easier than ever to create a podcast, and you can produce a high quality finished product with the right software and a few pieces of equipment.

Find the tools that work best for you and develop a process for recording your remote podcast. It will be tricky at first, but the longer you stick with it the more you’ll develop your unique voice. Plus, with every episode you’ll get more efficient at the recording process, so you can focus more on the content!

The post 7 Best Podcast Recording Tools (2022) appeared first on Krisp.

You’ll wonder how you attended all those Zoom meetings with the neighbor’s leaf-blower droning in the background, or your kids fighting over the remote in the next room. You’ll listen to old audio recordings and they will sound so jarring and noisy. 

Once you get used to the perfect clarity of a noise cancelling software – there really is no going back. 

Don’t know what a noise cancelling app is? Wondering how it works and why you might need one? Keep reading to find out. 

What is a Noise Cancelling Software?

A noise cancelling software is an app designed to reduce background noise on conference calls, voice recordings and any sort of audio. 

Without the app, the person you are speaking with will hear all noises in your environment. With a noise cancelling app working as a virtual filter on your microphone they will hear your voice and ONLY your voice, coming through loud and clear. 

No more apologizing for your noisy environment or having to mute your microphone when you’re not speaking. With just one click, the app will connect to any calling app and will start filtering audio automatically. 

How Does Noise Cancelling Software Work?

So, how does the app tell the difference between your voice and the random conversations behind you in the coffee shop, or the barking of your dog outside? 

The noise cancellation technology of Krisp relies on AI and a Deep Neural Network to learn the difference between human speech and background noise. To train this network, Krisp collected and listened to over 2.5 thousand hours of audio, with 50,000 unique speakers and 20,000 different types of noises. 

It sounds quite complicated – but it’s really simple. The machine learning system learns what a human voice sounds like, then it is able to select only that part of the audio signal while cutting out the background noise. 

Krisp noise cancelling software adds a digital between your physical microphone and speaker and your conferencing apps, not letting any noise pass through. When the app removes the noise coming from other participants to you, it receives the audio, processes it on your device to remove noise and then transmits it to your physical speakers. 

When Krisp removes the noise going from you to other participants, the sound comes in through your physical microphone, is processed on your device to remove noise and then is transmitted to the conferencing app. 

You don’t need to worry about privacy or security at all. Because all audio processing happens directly on your laptop, none of your audio or voice data will ever be sent to the servers. 

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8 Reasons Why You Need a Noise Cancelling Software

Here are some of the reasons why you might use a noise cancelling app. 

1. You’ve had to start working from home due to the pandemic. 

Millions of people have switched to working remotely this year due to the Coronavirus pandemic. If this is true for you, then you have probably found that your home environment may not be as quiet as your office cubicle. 

From the banging of construction next door to the sound of your roommate practicing the guitar, a noise cancelling app will eliminate any hint of a non-professional environment. 

2. You’re a parent (or owner of a noisy pet!)

Anyone who has pets or kids knows that being quiet is sometimes just not in their nature. 

A noise cancelling app can block out meowing cats, barking dogs, squawking parrots or toddlers singing Baby Shark at the top of their lungs for the 43,599th time. 

3. You are job searching and have to do Zoom interviews. 

A Zoom interview is your chance to put your best face forward and really dazzle a potential new employer. If they can’t hear you over the noise in the background, that’s not going to make a great first impression. 

With noise cancelling technology, you can have a crisp, perfect and professional-sounding interview. Now, all you have to do is make sure you’re dressed the part (at least, from the waist-up!). 

4. Your home is currently under construction. 

You’re looking forward to your newly renovated kitchen. However, the other members of your team won’t enjoy the droning of drills and banging of hammers as you discuss the company’s new marketing campaign. 

With a noise cancelling software, no one has to know that your house is currently a construction zone. (Now, if only we could invent an app that would make contractors get work done faster!) 

5. You like to work in bustling coffee shops and other public places. 

Working in a cute cafe or coffee shop can be a delight. You have interesting surroundings, delicious lattes, yummy snacks and plenty of people-watching to enjoy when your mind wanders. 

What’s NOT charming, however, is your boss having to ask you to repeat yourself for the third time because they can’t hear you over the chatter at the next table. 

6. You travel a lot for work and have to take calls on the go. 

There’s no need to worry about noise when you’re on the road, you can just carry on with business as usual. 

No matter where you go, your noise cancelling software goes with you. So, you can take a call from an airport waiting area, a busy bus station, a moving train, and the background noise will automatically be cancelled out. 

7. You have trouble hearing people when it’s noisy on their end. 

If you are hard of hearing or have auditory processing difficulties, you might find it especially difficult to understand people when they are talking over a lot of background noise. 

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If you have the Krisp Windows or Mac app installed on your computer, you can also use it to filter the audio of the person you are listening to. This will help to isolate their voice and make sure it’s clear and easy to understand.

8. You’re a podcaster and you want to record crisp audio.

When you’re recording your podcast, you don’t want any background noises ruining the audio. But creating your own soundproofed studio is expensive! You aren’t able to invest in pricey equipment, but you still want your podcast to sound good. 

With a noise cancelling app like Krisp, you can make your podcast sound more professional, even on a small budget. 

How to Get Started with Krisp Noise Cancelling Software

Getting set up with Krisp noise cancelling app is pretty easy. All you have to do is download the app from the website and install it. 

There are detailed instructions here on what to click and how to change your microphone settings. There’s also a handy wizard that pops up when you install the app, so you can simply follow along with the instructions. 

Once you have the app installed, you can set it as the default device for microphone and speaker in all your conferencing apps, such as Zoom, Skype and many others. 

The free version of Krisp provides a set number of free Noise Cancellation minutes per day depending on your account type and supports over 800 communications apps including Zoom, Google Meeet, MS Teams and many others.

If that’s not enough, the Pro version covers unlimited minutes. Check what else comes with Krisp Pro.

With the noise cancelling technology installed, you’ll be set up for all your future calls and meetings to be noise and distraction free. Once you’ve heard how peaceful all that silence can be, you’ll never want to go back!

The post 8 Reasons Why You Need a Noise Canceling Software appeared first on Krisp.

However, when you start communicating with your customers, clients and business colleagues via text, you are wandering into a potential etiquette minefield. 

Business texting brings with it a number of potential pitfalls and it’s important to be aware of these mistakes so you can avoid them. There are certain challenges that come up when texting which don’t apply in other types of mediums. Also, if you are used to texting casually and don’t have a lot of experience with business texting – it can be difficult to adjust. 

Here are some important tips to keep in mind when it comes to business texting. 

1. Ask If Texting Is Okay

Before you start communicating with someone you work with via text, ask them for their permission to communicate with them in this way. 

Some people choose not to use texting for professional purposes, preferring to keep their business messages on email and use texting only for personal matters. 

Also, not everyone wants you to be able to communicate with them day and night. They like to keep their work communication separate from their personal life, so they can concentrate on being present with friends and family on the evenings and weekends. They might prefer to communicate via email, because it’s easier to switch off. 

You can ask the person you work with, “is it okay if I text you, or would you prefer to communicate via another method?” Also, if they change their mind later and would rather message in a different way, be open to listening to their concerns. 

2. Use the Right Tone

Although texting can have a more casual and immediate feel than email, it’s still important to maintain a professional tone. You wouldn’t send a text to someone you work with in the same tone and style as you would send to a friend. 

Avoid sending excessive emojis, memes and GIFs – as there has been a study that shows it makes people think you’re incompetent. Also, it probably doesn’t have to be said, but swearing or explicit content is a no-no as well. There might be the odd situation where you have a fun and casual workplace atmosphere and this may be appropriate. However, in most situations it’s a good idea to opt for a more neutral tone and add in humour later once you get to know your colleagues. 

A good tone to strive for in your business messages is friendly and casual, but still professional. Above all, the most important thing is to be clear and make sure your message is put across in a straightforward and easy to understand way. 

Also, make sure your tone is polite.Using “please” and “thank you” goes a long way and will make anyone you are communicating with feel more like helping you when they receive your texts.

3. Keep It Brief

Texting should be used to communicate short messages in a brief and concise way. If you have something very complicated to explain, it’s better to send an email or have a face to face meeting. 

Long texts can be difficult to read, especially if the formatting of the text provider changes how they are displayed. Also, it’s hard to read over and check the text for clarity before sending it when you are typing it into your phone. 

Also, make sure you limit the frequency of your messages and you aren’t sending over multiple texts with irrelevant information. Only send a communication if it is important and relevant for your business. 

However, although you should be keeping your text messages brief – avoid the temptation to use abbreviations. They can be confusing and make your text messages look unprofessional. You can still keep things brief without using acronyms and abbreviations. 

4. Save Frequent Message Templates

Here’s a great time-saving tip. When it comes to sending a message that you often have to send in a work environment, consider drafting up a template and then filling it in with the relevant information every time you have to use it. 

For example, if you are a contractor and potential clients often ask you the same questions when enquiring about your services, you can have prepared responses written that succinctly answer those questions. All you have to do is copy and paste and change the names and specifics – and you’ll save yourself from having to type out the same answer again and again. 

This can work for many situations. You can have a set template to message new team members when you are onboarding them, or to send a summary after a meeting. Every time you find yourself typing out the same message more than once, consider saving it as a template to use it next time. 

The key is to make sure you don’t send the same message to the same person twice – or they might start to notice that it sounds a little familiar! 

5. Watch Out for Autocorrect

Sometimes autocorrect can come in handy when sending texts. However, many times the changes that autocorrect makes are unwanted and incorrect. They can lead to mistakes that are embarrassing and unprofessional. 

For every text you send to a business colleague or client, it’s important to read over the message before you send it. You’ll catch any unfortunate auto-correct mistakes before they make you look silly. 

If you are getting fed up with your autocorrect consistently making the wrong corrections, you can always turn it off entirely or replace the words and phrases with the ones you want. You can also create shortcuts for words and phrases you type frequently. For example, if you type “omw” your phone will automatically spell out, “on my way.” Here’s a helpful article that explains how to do it. 

6. Respond Promptly

Texting is a more immediate communication than email, so most people will expect a more immediate response. If someone messages you with a question, it’s expected that you will reply as promptly as possible. After all, they texted you because it’s a quick way to send information directly and get the attention of the recipient. 

Of course, no one is expecting you to respond within five minutes – especially if you are busy or if it’s the weekend. Generally, when it comes to business messages a 

If you don’t have an answer, it’s helpful to acknowledge that you have received their message. You can say something like, “That’s a great question! I’m looking into it and I will let you know as soon as I can.”  

7. Pay Attention to Timing

Consider that many people sleep with their smartphones next to their beds, so you don’t want to accidentally wake them up with a work-related text that could have waited until morning. Try to keep your business texting limited to within business hours, so that you can respect their peace and quiet during sleeping hours. 

Of course, this can be difficult and not always possible when you are working remotely with team members who live in different time zones. However, it’s still worth keeping in mind – out of respect and consideration for the people you are communicating with. 

If you know your recipient is likely to be asleep, consider sending them an email instead so that they can read it when they wake up. 

8. Include Your Name 

Keep in mind that unless the person you are texting has added you to their contact list, your text might appear in their phone with a phone number rather than a name. This can be confusing and they might be unsure about who is texting them. 

Try to sign off with your name at the end of a text, especially if you are texting them for the first time. You’ll let them know who is sending the message and make it easy for them to update your info in their contacts. 

Depending on the content of the message, you may also want to address the recipient by their name as well. This will let them know that the message is intended directly for them, rather than being a broadcast to multiple people or a spam message. 

9. Always Check the Recipient

Sending a text to the wrong person can be easy to do. All it takes is a careless slip of the finger or an incorrect auto-suggest for someone with a similar name. However, repairing the damage of a text sent to the wrong person can be very difficult – especially if the information is sensitive or negative. 

Always check to make sure that your message is going to the right person before you send it. Also, watch out when replying in group texts, as you may not be fully aware of everyone who is in the group. 

10. Don’t Use Texts for Project Management

When it comes to communicating information about a complex set of projects that require input from multiple sources, text messaging is not the best medium. 

When you are going back and forth on a project via text, it becomes a long chain of messages that you have to scroll back through when you need to check back on the details. It’s very easy for someone to miss important information if they haven’t been looking at the text stream. 

A better tool for this sort of collaboration is to use project management software such as Trello or Asana. It allows you to create tasks and comment directly on them, so that your messages are organized in a relevant way. You can also tag relevant team members to make sure they see the task. 

11. Write A Clear Call to Action

When sending text messages in a professional environment, it’s important to think about what you want the recipient to DO once they have read your text. Are you scheduling a meeting with them? Do you want them to send you over an important document via email? Do you need them to complete a task before a certain deadline?

If so, make sure that the call to action is very clear in the text message itself. Whether it’s a payment reminder, an appointment reminder or a request for something, the message should always be clear. 

A good call to action is simple, polite and often starts with a verb. For example, “please book a time on my calendar for a meeting this week” or “please send your timesheet to Samantha by 4pm this Friday.” 

12. Don’t Use Texts To Convey Sensitive Information

Be very careful about texting delicate and sensitive information, such as giving someone feedback on their performance, talking about something that went wrong or firing them. These are messages that should be conveyed face to face, so schedule a meeting instead. 

Remember, if you send an insensitive message via text, the information can live on forever in a screenshot. It’s much more respectful to talk to your employee or colleague ace to face. 

Also, when you speak to someone face to face about a delicate issue, you’ll have the opportunity to clear up any potential confusion and answer any questions they might have. 

Text In A Thoughtful, Considerate Way

Business texting can be more challenging than casually texting with your friends, as there is much more on the line. It’s important to be aware of etiquette rules, so you can avoid offending or annoying your business contacts and looking unprofessional. 

With these texting tips in mind, you can communicate via text in the best possible way. With each text message you send, you’ll be on your way to building your professional reputation and growing and improving your relationships with those who you work with. 

The post 12 Business Texting Tips for Your Productivity appeared first on Krisp.

If you’re the type of person who often uses your phone for calling people – you might be wondering whether there is an app that can improve the experience. What are the options for the best dialer apps for iOS? 

There are many advantages to using a dialer app. First of all, the app saves you a lot of time because you don’t have to type in numbers manually. You can automatically dial, which is convenient for those who work in customer service or phone-based sales. 

You can also find apps that offer call blocking, speed dial buttons, built-in caller ID and integrations with other apps such as Messenger and Whatsapp. 

So without further ado, let’s see which are the best dialer apps for iOS.

What To Look For in a Dialer App?

What should you look for when choosing a dialer app? The truth is, it depends on what you want to use the app for. Here are some questions to ask yourself:

• Will you be joining in with meetings and conference calls? If so, you should look for apps that are compatible with Zoom, Hangouts or other conference call apps you use. 
• Could you use some help staying organized? Some apps will sync with your calendar app, so you can keep track of all your meetings. 
• Do you need an app that offers VoIP capabilities? This refers to Voice Over Internet Protocol and it allows you to make phone calls over the internet rather than using a mobile network or landline. 
• Do you often make calls in noisy settings? You may want to look for an app with noise cancellation qualities, so you can block out background noises and be heard clearly. 

8 Best Dialer Apps for iOS

Note: The Krisp Phone app will be removed from the app store and will be no longer available for download as of December 26th. However, if you’ve already downloaded it to your mobile device – you can continue to use it until then. As of December 26th, the app will be officially shut down. All existing users will be signed off and the app will no longer function. Please read more about our decision here.

1. Krisp Phone

Krisp Phone is a mobile dialer for iOS, which allows you to join in with a conference or meeting or make outgoing calls from anywhere in the world. 

One of the best features of Krisp is the ability to cancel out any background noise. Krisp uses the power of AI to differentiate between the human voices on a call and the background noise such as barking dogs, noisy children or coffee shop chatter. It will remove all background noise that is unnecessary to the call, leaving only the crisp and clear voices. 

With Krisp Phone, you can get a second phone number to keep your privacy. Additionally, you can authenticate your phone number and use your own caller ID when having calls.

It’s great for professionals who take calls while on the go and want to sound more professional.

Pricing Details

Krisp Phone has a one-time trial with 100 minutes of noise-free calls from any country to US & Canada.

With Krisp Pro you get unlimited noise-free calls & text messages from any country to US & Canada, as well as ability to add a second phone number and use it as dialer app.

Where to Download It

You can download Krisp Phone from the App Store.

Download Krisp Phone

Note: The Krisp Phone app will be removed from the app store and will be no longer available for download as of December 26th. However, if you’ve already downloaded it to your mobile device – you can continue to use it until then. As of December 26th, the app will be officially shut down. All existing users will be signed off and the app will no longer function. Please read more about our decision here.

2. Eyecon

One of the primary functions of the Eyecon app is as a caller ID. It will allow you to identify calls and see photos and names of unknown callers and contacts in your phone book. 

When you sync the app with Facebook, you’ll automatically see the photos of the person who is calling you. You can also sync Eyecon with Viber, Whatsapp, Skype, Linkedin and several other apps. It’s also very easy and fast to set up a contact after you receive a call from someone who isn’t in your phonebook. 

The app offers you a lot of options for personalization. You will have control over how your name and contact information appears to your friends when you call them. Also, the app will show you the contacts you speak to regularly first, as you’re more likely to call them. 

Eyecon also has a handy “can you talk?” feature that allows you to found out if your friends are free before you call them. They will have the chance to either answer the phone, call you back or let you know they are busy and can’t take the call. 

Pricing Details

Eyecon is free to download and offers optional in-app purchases. 

3. Truecaller

Truecaller is one of the well known and popular ones among dialer apps for iOS, with over 200 million active users and 10 billion spam calls identified and blocked so far. It was founded in Sweden in 2009, when the creators of the app wanted to build a service that would easily identify calls from unknown numbers. 

The primary purpose of the Truecaller app is to keep scam and telemarketing calls off your phone. It lets you see who is calling with a caller ID, which is based on a crowdsourced directory within their system. 

Although the Truecaller app uploads your contacts to their database in order to make their caller ID more accurate, they respect your right to privacy. According to their official policy, your phonebook is never made searchable or public. 

The app also offers smart messaging features that let you chat with your friends and send message and photos.

Pricing Details

The Truecaller Basic option is free and includes Caller ID and Spam Blocking. The Premium Version of the app has no ads and features Caller ID and Spam Blocking, as well as the option to see who viewed your profile, have more contact requests and much more. The Premium version of the app is $1.99 monthly, or $17.99 yearly (the price varies by country). 

4. Drupe

Drupe is one of the most popular mobile dialer apps. It features a very easy to use and attractive interface, as well as a call recorder, call blocker and much more. The smart caller ID tracker and blocker make it easy to find out unknown numbers, so you can avoid spam calls. 

The app is designed to allow you to dial, message, schedule, tweet, email and set reminders, all from one place. It’s easy to access from the “drupe dots” that appear on your lock screen – just swipe up to use the app. You can even customize the look of your Drupe screen to match your style and preferences. 

The app even allows you to add animated GIFs to your outgoing calls – as long as the recipient also has Drupe installed. You can also set alarms and notifications for your missed calls and snooze them for later. Plus, the app features a built-in call recorder that allows you to record both sides of the conversation so you can play it back later for your reference. 

Pricing Details

The app is free to download and offers optional in-app purchases. 

5. Speed Dial

This is a simple and useful dialer app for iOS that allows you to get in touch with your friends with only one click. You can customize your speed dial screen to display the friends you keep in touch with most regularly. It is designed to help you communicate quickly with your frequent contacts and it also comes with Apple Watch integration. 

Speed Dial makes it very easy to add contacts – and you can even organize your contacts into groups. This is a useful feature for those who manage a lot of work calls on their phone. 

With Speed Dial you can switch to sending text messages by long-pressing on your contact widget. You can also change this function in the setting options to Whatsapp, call reminder and more. 

Plus, Speed Dial also offers a feature that allows you to speak the name of your contact to quickly call them. This can be handy when you are walking or driving somewhere and need to call someone. 

Pricing Details

The basic version of the app is free to download and offers some in-app purchases. 

6. Contacts+

Contacts+ is another one of the best dialer apps for iOS, because of the seamless way it helps you keep track of your contacts without cluttering up your address book. It connects all your accounts to create a unified address book for you, syncing up to date information across all your devices. 

The app also features a business card scanner. Imagine you’re at a conference or a networking event and someone hands you a business card. You can quickly scan it and the app will transcribe it and sync it to your connected account. 

Pricing Details

The basic plan is free and includes one amount, with space for up to 1,000 contacts. Plus, you can scan and save up to 5 business cards. 

The Premium version costs $9.99 per month and includes five accounts, with space for up to 25,000 contacts. You can scan 50 business cards per month, plus you’ll have access to Premium-only features like third party integrations with Google Sheets, Zapier and more. 

There’s also a Team & Small Business option, available at $14.99 per user per month and designed for small start-up teams. 

7. Google Voice

Google Voice is an app that gives you a phone number for text messaging, calling and voicemail. The app only works for personal Google Accounts in the US, but if you qualify you’ll be able to use it on your smartphone and computer – as well as across all your devices. 

The app allows you to filter spam automatically and block any numbers that you don’t want to hear from. You can customize your settings for voicemail, text messages and forwarding your calls. 

All of your calls, text messages and voicemails will be backed up and stored, making it easy to search through your history. You can also send a receive individual and group SMS messages across all of your devices. 

Pricing Details

Google voice is free, but it is only available in the US. Calls to the US and Canada are free, and calls to other countries will be charged at the listed rates. 

8.  Instacall

Instacall is another great smart dialer app, with a beautiful design and a powerful search function. It allows you to select up to five of your favorite contacts, and then call them quickly and directly by tapping a custom notification. 

This app helps you to organize your contacts, create groups and do much more. You can also  customize the colors to suit the aesthetic of your phone. There’s also a Lite version of the app, with fewer features.

The app also supports multiple languages, such as Danish, Dutch, Japanese, Polish, Turkish and Czech, making it usable all over the world. 

Pricing Details

Instacall is $3.99.

Find the Best Dialer App for You

If you use your smartphone for calls a lot, dialer apps for iOS offer many features that can make your life easier. 

The most basic dialer app is simply the “phone” part of your smartphone – the default option that comes already installed. Every mobile phone will come with a simple dialer app built in that does the basics – such as display contacts and dial phone numbers. For many people this will be sufficient, but there are many other options out there. 

When you start to try different dialer apps, you’ll see there is so much more that a good dialer app can do. Some apps allow you better search function and automatic dialing, help you organize your contacts and much more. 

It’s worth taking the time to try out a few different dialer apps, to find out which one is the best for you. With the right dialer app, calling can be a lot more convenient and enjoyable. 

The post Dialer Apps for iOS | 8 Best Dialer Apps to Use in 2022 appeared first on Krisp.

A conference call is an important opportunity to connect with your team, even if you are spread out around the world. It allows you to share ideas verbally, collaborate and communicate in a way that is often not possible via email. 

A lot of preparation goes into a good conference call. It’s essential to think ahead about the timing, software and plan for the meeting. There are a lot of things you’ll need to plan so your conference call is as productive as it can be. 

Let’s look at some of the important aspects to setting up the ideal conference call. 

Select The Right Software

One of the first steps to setting up your conference call is to choose the right software. There are a lot of options out there – each with their own different features. Take the time to try a few of them, so you can determine which is the best for you. 

Here are a few of the most popular options:

Microsoft Teams

This is a unified communication and collaboration tool that combines workplace chat, file storage and collaboration, video meetings and application integration. It integrates into Office 365 and other Microsoft Office apps. 

The advantage is that it is highly customizable and offers a lot of features. However, it is only convenient to use in a Microsoft-centric environment and its complexity means it can take a while to learn to use it. 

Zoom 

Zoom can be a bit complicated to use at first, but once you get the hang of it – it’s a very functional app. (We have created a guide to help you here.) 

It costs $15-$20 per month per host and it has a lot of great features that are very useful during conference calls. You can talk with up to 100 people and even use screen sharing and other features to get your message across. 

Skype

Available for both Mac and Windows, Skype has been on the scene for quite a while. It has been the go-to app for conducting one on one conferences and meetings for many years. 

With the Skype app, you can call local and international phone numbers. You can also use screen-sharing, call recording and file-sharing features. However, while Skype works well for one on one conferences, the quality degrades significantly when more participants are added to the call. 

Google Meet

Since this is a Google product, you know right away that it will be a reliable service. It is free, easy to use and will automatically import all of your friends and contacts from your Gmail account. 

It also integrates with Google Calendar, making it easy to schedule meetings with the rest of your team. 

Choose The Right Time Zone

If your team is spread across different locations, it can be challenging to choose a time for a conference call that works for everyone. 

One of the most helpful apps for this is the free website Time Zone Convertor. It is a time difference calculator that is designed to help you find the ideal time for a conference call that will work for everyone involved. 

You can enter the time zones, then click on “Meeting Planner” to get a chart that will show you where the time zones match up and suggest possible meeting times. If a time is too early or late in either time zone, it will appear yellow or red. Times that fall within normal working hours for both time zones will appear green. 

You can add as many different time zones as necessary, making it easy to see at a glance which times are best for everyone. 

Make Sure Everyone Gets the Invite

The next step in planning your conference call is to make sure that everyone gets the invite. You don’t want participants to miss the meeting because they didn’t get the invite! 

There are several great apps that have this feature built in. For example, apps like Google Calendar will send out email invites to meeting participants so they are aware of the conference call. 

Calendly is also a great scheduling app that syncs with Google Calendar and will create meeting reminders. It is designed to automatically adjust meeting times to the participants home time zone, which saves a lot of confusion.  

It’s also a good idea to ask meeting participants to RSVP, so you can make sure they got the invite. (If you are using Google calendar, this can be done easily with the click of a button!)

Send Out an Agenda For The Meeting

Plan out what will be discussed in advance, so the conference call will be focused and efficient. If you have a well thought out agenda before the meeting, you will waste less time. You’ll focus more, make decisions and finish the meeting with clear directives. 

Your agenda should include the following:

• The purpose of the meeting. 
• Anything from the previous meeting that needs to be followed up on or addressed. 
• A list of questions or issues you will tackle during this meeting. 
• A section of time at the end of the call to summarize everything and talk about next steps. 

It’s a good idea to have a rough sense of how long each topic will take to cover during the meeting, so that you can keep things moving along. If you feel that too much time is being taken up by one topic and no progress is being made, you can move on and come back to it later. If you have a lot of ground to cover, you’ll need to be quite strict with your conference call agenda. 

You can also prepare any visual aids you will need during the conference call, such as slides and images. If you require any of the other participants to prepare materials before the call, make sure they have plenty of warning beforehand. 

Test Out Everything Technical

Try out any sound features, video, headphones, and other technical aspects of the meeting before the call. That way, you won’t waste precious time and look unprofessional by trying to figure them out during the call.

 If you plan to use screen sharing features in your call, it’s also important to test these out beforehand as well. To help you make sure you get the most out of the way you are using screen sharing in your conference calls, we created this useful guide. 

Create a Quiet Space

When you’re participating in a conference call, you don’t want background noises distracting you. Not only does it appear unprofessional, it can also be disruptive to other people on the call and can cause you to miss important information. 

So, think about how you can eliminate noise from your environment as much as possible. Set up your computer in a quiet room, shut the door and ask everyone in your household to give you peace and privacy. 

Also, consider the echo of the room you are in. This can be distracting to other participants, so it’s a good idea to seek out a space with carpeting or other fabrics that will absorb the sound. 

Krisp is, of course, a very effective way to get rid of background noise and make sure you are heard clearly by others on your conference call. It works in a “bi-directional” way, which means you won’t hear any noise coming from anyone else on the call and they won’t hear any background noise coming from you. Krisp works with over 800 different conferencing apps, and supports voice messaging, streaming, recording and more. 

Dial In Early

Especially if you are the host, make sure you are in the conference call a few minutes before it is scheduled to start. This is a helpful bit of conference call etiquette, as it ensures you’re ready and prepared as soon as others start to show up. 

There are also other etiquette rules you should follow when you are on a conference call. For example, you should pause often between your speech to allow other participants to clarify or ask something. 

We have a helpful guide with tips on conference call etiquette, so take a look and make sure you are considering these important points. 

Summarize Next Steps In a Follow-Up Email

Finally, the last step you should take after the conference call is to summarize the next steps in a follow up email. 

Send an email immediately after the call, outlining the next actions everyone has agreed to take.  This is helpful to let participants know what needs their focus. In the email, you can also let participants know about when to expect the next meeting, so they can plan ahead. 

With a bit of preparation and thought, – and the right tools and apps – you can make sure your upcoming conference call is as productive as possible. 

The post How to Set Up a Conference Call appeared first on Krisp.

Many software programs have a free alternative and if the software is something you only use occasionally, then that may be absolutely the best option for you. 

However, in some cases you get functions with the paid version that can truly increase your performance. If you use the software on a regular basis and it makes a big difference in your productivity, it becomes easy to justify the investment. Every now and then, it’s worth paying for software. 

Check out a few of the most popular paid software programs for Windows 10 and apps you might want to check out. 

The Best Windows Software

CCleaner

CCleaner is a very handy app that is designed to clear your system of unnecessary files. It’s considered one of the most popular PC optimization software options around – for good reason. 

It is a powerful tool for clearing up disk space and will often identify several gigabytes to be removed. Using this software can deliver a noticeable boost in performance and system speed. 

It’s important to note that all the functions of CCleaner could be performed with the tools within Windows. However, this would take much more time and patience. CCleaner is the easy way to free up disk space with just a few clicks. 

How Much Does it Cost?

This software offers both free and paid versions. If you want features such as real-time monitoring, automatic updates, premium support, privacy protection and scheduled cleaning, you should opt for the paid version. 

The paid version, CCleaner Professional, costs $19.95 for one PC for one year. There’s also a package option for 3 PCs for one year for $29.95, or for 3 PCs for two years for $54.95. 

Microsoft Office 365

Microsoft Office 365 brings together Word, Outlook, Excel, OneNote, Powerpoint and Publisher –  creating a powerful suite for freelancers and businesses. It’s one of the best paid software for Windows 10 available. 

One of the big advantages of using Microsoft Office 365 is that it allows you to have all your apps (from word processing to email to chat) in one place. Sharing files between apps is extremely simple and convenient. Multiple team members can work within the same document at the same time and it is easy to share files between different users. 

You’ll also be able to work on or offline and easily sync what you’ve been working on to the cloud once you get an internet connection. 

The newest version of Microsoft Office 365 is even more intuitive, with AI features that suggest files you might need, or people who may want to see a copy of that PowerPoint presentation. 

How Much Does it Cost?

There are many different plan options available, ranging from $5.99-$7.99 per user per month. There’s also a one-time purchase option for Office Home and Student for $119.99 per month. The membership fees include software updates when they happen. 

Krisp

Krisp is a very useful app for anyone who has regular conference calls, but can’t always find a quiet environment. It uses innovative noise cancelling technology powered by a deep neural network to remove background noise from any call. 

Whether it’s your kids playing in the background, your dog barking outside or construction noise on your street, Krisp will make it sound like you are surrounded by complete silence. It integrates with over 800 communications apps, including Meet, Teams and Zoom. 

Plus, you don’t have to worry about security as all the audio is processed right on your device and not stored anywhere. When it comes to the best Windows software, it’s a very useful option! 

How Much Does it Cost?

Krisp operates on a freemium model and provides a set number of free noise cancellation minutes per day depending on your account type. It supports over 800 apps, including Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet. The Pro version offers an unlimited usage for all features. There are also Team and Enterprise versions designed for multiple users. Head to the pricing page to learn more about the available plans.

F.lux

F.lux makes using your computer easier on your eyes, making the color of the display adapt to the time of day. It gives your screen a warmer hue at night and a brighter, sunlight hue during the day. This will help you avoid eye strain and also make it easier to get to sleep at night, even if you’ve been working late. 

You can set the software to your desired screen lighting settings, then forget about it. F.lux does the rest automatically. 

How Much Does it Cost?

The basic version of F.lux is free for individuals and there is also a paid Corporate Edition The corporate edition costs $200 USD for up to 10 devices. You can add on additional devices after that for $10 per device. 

Display Fusion

Having a multi-monitor setup can be a fantastic way to improve your productivity. You can jump quickly between different screens seamlessly and get more done. If you want to make multi-screen work even more efficient, consider using Display Fusion. 

The software offers powerful features such as TitleBar Buttons, Multi-Monitor Taskbars, customizable HotKeys and so much more. It even allows you to have separate Functions, Trigger rules and even Screen Savers for each monitor. You can even dim your unused monitors automatically, allowing you to focus even better on the task at hand. 

How Much Does it Cost?

DisplayFusion is available for a one-time license for $16.49 USD. or, you can save a bit of money by purchasing a 4-pack for $45.99 USD. 

Fences

Fences is a smart app that allows you to automatically organize your desktop shortcuts and icons. You can save a lot of time navigating around your PC by automatically placing the shortcuts and icons you use the most into resizable shaded areas on your desktop known as “fences.” 

You can then use the “roll-up” feature to keep your Fences on the desktop where it’s easier to find them. The software even allows you to create multiple pages of fences, then quickly swipe between them. It can take a bit of time to set it up, but once you do you’ll find your desktop so much easier and enjoyable to use. 

How Much Does it Cost?

The basic version of Fences is available for €9.99 (approximately 11 USD) and Fences For Business is available for €14.99 (approximately 17 USD). There’s also an advanced version called Object Desktop, which costs €28.99 (approximately 32 USD). It’s a more powerful suite of desktop enhancements, including other applications such as Tiles, SpaceMonger and Iconpackager.

Revo Uninstaller Pro

If you want to be able to quickly and effectively remove programs from your PC, Revo Uninstaller Pro is a great option. The paid version offers several more features than the free version – such as a full 64-bit functionality. (The free version can only remove 32 bit apps). 

The difference is important. When an application is uninstalled, it can leave behind junk files on your PC that affect system performance. The Pro version will allow you to completely uninstall these programs, without leaving anything behind. There’s even a forced uninstall setting, that allows you to clean up previous botched uninstalls. 

How Much Does it Cost?

Revo Uninstaller Pro costs $39.25 for a single license. You can also purchase a package to use Revo Uninstaller Pro on three PCs for $58.86, or five PCs for $98.10. 

At the time this article is being written there’s a promotional price available for two years of Revo Uninstaller Pro for $19.97 – a great deal on one of the best Windows software options. 

Enpass

Using a password manager can save you a lot of time and also help you keep your data more secure. If you’re using the same password for all of your websites, accounts and services you are setting yourself up to fail. 

Enpass is software that stores your password locally – or uses third party cloud storage for syncing. The software enables automatic password capture and will generate unique, strong passwords for you for every site. 

It also gives you the option to store your sensitive financial information, so you can use it as a virtual wallet and store your personal IDs, bank info and credit cards in there. 

How Much Does it Cost?

Enpass was once known for having no subscription model and only selling permanent licenses for its software. However, since November 2019 it introduced its first subscription offering. The premium version of the mobile app costs $7.49 for 6 months or $11.99 for the year. You can also opt for the permanent software license for all platforms for $59.99 (marked down to $39.99 at the time of writing this article.).

Groupy 

Are you the type of person who often has 17 different browser tabs and 5 different programs open at once? Are you looking for a way to keep what you’re working on more organized? 

Groupy is a handy program that lets you group your various open windows and programs into one single windows. This makes it easy to switch between them while you are working. 

You can group together any open windows into tabs within a single window, even programs like Outlook, Slack, Word, Excel and File Explorer. You can even save your groups of applications together for future usage. No more looking around and opening and closing multiple programs! 

How Much Does it Cost?

Groupy costs €4.99 to download (approximately $6 USD). When it comes to paid software for WIndows, this is a very affordable option and really worth the price! 

However, you can try it free for 30 days first to see if you like it and if it makes a difference in your work flow. Groupy is also part of the Stardock Object Desktop, which is a powerful suite of desktop enhancements for Windows. 

The pack costs €24.99 (approximately $30 USD) and also includes Curtains (adds additional style modes to Windows 10), Cursor FX (customizes your cursor), Multiplicity (controls two PCs with one keyboard and mouse) and several more programs. 

Breevy

If you find yourself typing out the same snippets of text again and again, Breevy can save you a lot of time. You can set up a shortcut for a text expansion and it will automatically expand into a full block of text. For example, set for your email address you can simply type “@@” and the full address will appear no matter what application you are using. 

You can even use it to abbreviate phrases you type often. For example, “tyfe” can expand to “Thank you for your email regarding…” etc. 

Plus, Breevy offers more than just the text expansion feature. It also offers folders to organize your expansions, thousands of autocorrect entries and much more. Once you get the hang of using it, you’ll be able to fill out forms and enter information in seconds with the handy shortcuts. It’s one of the most convenient and best paid software for Windows options out there. 

How Much Does it Cost?

Breevy costs $34.95 as a one time payment for the software. If you want to give it a try before you commit, there is a free 30 day trial available. 

Seer Pro

If you are familiar with using macOS devices, you may know the “quick look” tool that allows you to view file contents without even opening a file. With Seer Pro, you can use that same feature in Windows. In fact, Seer Pro is even faster, more powerful and more customizable than the macOS version. 

This software allows you to quickly preview files by pressing the spacebar. The app includes support for a wide range of file formats. Plus, it even allows you to copy images, text or photo frames right from the preview. 

This simple yet handy app can really change the way you interact with files on your PC and is very easy to use and install. 

How Much Does it Cost?

You can download Seer Pro to your Windows 10 computer for $12.49 USD. It also has a free trial, so you can test it out before you decide if it’s the right option for you. 

iA Writer

Do you find it difficult to concentrate when you are writing? Wish you had a clean, simple interface with no distractions? iA Writer is one of the best paid software for Windows 10 options designed for writing productivity. It is used by half a million people around the world, so it is definitely doing something right! 

One of the great features of iA Writer is that when you are writing, only the current line will be highlighted while the rest of the text is greyed out. This will help you focus directly on what you are writing. 

Not only will the software help you concentrate, it can also improve your writing! It  will highlight different parts of speech, such as adjectives, adverbs and nouns, in different colors. This allows you to spot when you have used too many adjectives, or are relying on weak verbs. 

Also, it has a dark theme which can be a lot easier on the eyes when you are staring at a screen for a long time. 

How Much Does it Cost?

iA Writer costs $29.90 USD, but you can give it a try for free for 14 days before you buy.

Best Software for Windows 10 – The Best Options

These are just a few examples of the best paid software for Windows 10. These software options can really be work paying for – especially if they save you time or significantly improve your productivity. 

Often these types of software options will have offer free trials, which is a great way to give them a try and find out whether an app is helpful for you before you commit to the paid version. 

The post 12 Best Windows Software for You to Use in 2022 appeared first on Krisp.

Due to school closures and social distancing, everyone is cooped up in the house together – and many are finding it incredibly challenging to get work done. 

If you’re in this situation you might be feeling frustrated and overwhelmed trying to balance childcare, work and everything else on your plate. It’s time to stop, take a deep breath and make a plan. 

Although it is difficult to be productive when you are working from home with kids, there are practical steps you can take. It IS possible to work from home with kids and stay productive! 

The trick is to be proactive and take control. Here are some tips that will help: 

Things You Can Do Yourself

First, let’s look at the things that YOU can do to squeeze more time out of the day – and make yourself more efficient in that precious time. 

Focus On The Big Picture

Do your best to focus on weekly goals rather than daily goals, as the day can be unpredictable. On some days, your kids will play together quietly, you’ll get lots done and you’ll feel focused and relaxed. On other days, you’ll find yourself mediating sibling fights, mending scraped knees and pleading with your little ones to stop using the pots and pans as a drum set. 

Looking at the week as a whole, rather than measuring your progress daily, will help you feel less stressed out about the odd unproductive day. If the kids are restless, you can take a break and play outside without feeling pressure. You’ll make up for it on other days, so just trust that everything will even out in the end. 

Have a Clearly Defined Office Space

Work in a room where you can close the door and let your kids know not to interrupt you. It can be a dedicated home office, or simply a spare bedroom with a desk in it. The most important thing is having a lock on the door. 

If your children are old enough to play unsupervised, let them know that they should only knock on your office door if there is an emergency. (An emergency more serious than wanting a cookie, or a turn with the TV remote.)

How you set up your home office really makes a difference as well. Working on a bed or a comfy chair is a big mistake. There’s a risk of work time accidently turning into nap time. A desk or a table where you can sit upright will help you focus and avoid back and neck pain. 

Also, get yourself a pair of headphones that will help you tune out noise during work calls. The Krisp app is incredibly helpful for parents working at home, as it uses AI technology to cancel out background noise. Even if your kids are watching Frozen for the 5,694th time and singing along – no one on your conference call will hear a thing. 

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Work In Small Bursts

Divide your work up into small tasks that can be done while the children watch a TV show, or take a nap. You might not be able to work on a large project for three hours interrupted, but you’ll be able to get chunks of work done throughout the day.

Small tasks don’t seem like much at the time, but they will move you forward. A great way to take advantage of small periods of time is to use the Pomodoro Technique. Developed by Francesco Cirillo in the 1980s, this time management method has been shown to improve focus. It requires you to decide on a task, set a timer for 25 minutes, then work only on that task for the designated time.  

Working on one task at a time in such a focused way will make you more accountable, and minimizes the time you spend procrastinating. Many people find that a task that might have taken them an hour when unfocused, can be completed within a 25 minute “Pomodoro” session. 

Look for Time-Saving Measures in Your Work

Since you have less time than usual to work, this is the time to employ any possible productivity measures that will save time. 

Here are some useful apps for making your workflow more streamlined:

• Text Expander: If you find yourself writing the same thing regularly, use this app to quickly insert “snippets” with a simple keyboard shortcut. 

• IFTTT: Use “If This, Then That” to connect all your tools together and make them work harmoniously. For example, you can set it so that if you star an email in Gmail, a task on your to-do list is automatically created.  

• Evernote: An incredibly useful app that can be synced across all your devices, Evernote makes it possible to jot down ideas on your phone while watching your kids play – then access them in an instant when you’re back at your computer.

• Buffer: If you use social media in any capacity in your work, Buffer can be a life-saver. It allows you to quickly schedule out content over all your media channels in advance – so you can forget about it for the rest of the week. 

Looking for more? Check out these productivity-boosting apps.

Get Active! 

Keeping your kids cooped up inside will make them more restless. Soon enough, you’ll have wild children climbing the walls and becoming increasingly loud and disruptive.

Instead, get outside in the backyard and run around. Play very physically demanding games, such as tag, team sports or relay races.

The key is to make them them all tuckered out so they will be calmer for the rest of the day. You might even find that they fall asleep earlier – so you have more time to work. 

Get Up Early Or Work Late

Make the most of the time when your kids are asleep. If you have older children who tend to sleep in, get up before them and squeeze in some work in the morning. If you have young children who go to bed early, your prime work time can be in the evening. 

And of course, there’s always nap time. If you’ve used the strategy in the last point and your kids have been playing energetic games all morning, they might be ready for a nap in the afternoon. 

Things Others Can Help You With

You don’t have to struggle through this alone! There are many ways others may be able to help you achieve your work goals. Here are a few things others can help you with. 

Encourage Older Kids to Entertain Younger Ones

If you have children old enough, let them teach or lead their younger siblings. They can teach their younger siblings a skill, lead them in a game or read them a story. 

This is a great way to keep everyone occupied – and it also teaches your older kids responsibility and how to care for others. You might even find that the together-time strengthens the bond between siblings as well. 

Let Them Video-Call Family Members and Friends

Your child can call an aunt, uncle, grandma or grandpa on the phone and video chat with them for a while. They can read stories, play games, talk, sing, dance and much more. While they are occupied with the conversation, you can get some work done. It’s almost like having a virtual babysitter! 

By doing this, you’ll also be ensuring that your children stay connected to the other important people in their lives. Staying connected with family is more important now than ever. 

Swap In and Out With Your Spouse 

If you have a partner who can help with the childcare – things will be a lot easier. You may find that the most productive strategy is to alternate your workday schedule. Take turns working and taking care of the kids, allowing each adult time to concentrate solely on work.

If you or your partner has work that needs to be done without interruption, the other can take the kids outside to play or on a walk. This type of teamwork can be essential for figuring out how to work from home with kids. 

Above All, Set Reasonable Expectations

The truth is that you won’t get as much done as usual. This is a very strange situation, so don’t be too hard on yourself and don’t feel guilty. Set reasonable expectations with your employer so they are aware that your work calls may be interrupted – or you may need longer deadlines. 

If you are a freelancer and you set your own deadlines, this is a great opportunity to use the strategy of “under promise and over deliver.” In other words, if you think you might be able to complete something by Wednesday, tell your client Friday instead. You’ll have the extra time if you need it, and if you get it done by Thursday you’re ahead of schedule rather than being late! 

Also, this is a time to cut yourself some slack when it comes to parenting. It’s a worldwide pandemic, after all. Don’t let it stress you out that your kids are getting more screen time than usual – it might be necessary for getting through the day. Letting them have a few more special indulgences doesn’t mean you’re a terrible parent. It means you’re doing what you need to do to get through these difficult times. 

Have you had any success figuring out how to work from home with kids? Do you have any tips to share? We’d love to hear them – share your tips on Twitter and make sure to tag us!

Read next:

4 Timeless Productivity Principles for Remote Workers

3 Solid Productivity Strategies to Boost Remote Work Productivity

How to Deal With Procrastination? 4 Main Types of Procrastinators

Next section: Best Tools and Resources to Work from Home

Go back: Work From Home Guide

The post How to Work From Home With Kids and Stay Productive appeared first on Krisp.

However, millions more are adapting to working from their kitchen tables, spare bedrooms and home offices due to office-closures and shelter-in-place orders. Coronavirus transformed the work landscape almost overnight – but will things stay this way?

Let’s take a look into some of the reasons why it took a major worldwide pandemic to shift many workplaces towards remote work – and why this new style of working might be around for the long term. 

Why Were Businesses Hesitant To Allow Employees To Work From Home Before Coronavirus?

While many businesses had the option to let their employees work from home, they have been hesitant to switch over to this model. What were some of their reservations?

• Many employers were worried about productivity. They were concerned employees wouldn’t get as much done and would waste time if they were allowed to work unsupervised. 
• Employers were also concerned about not being able to communicate effectively with team members. 
• They also assumed that switching to remote work would be too big of a change to handle. 
• Another concern was the need to invest in new technology and software to make remote working possible. 

These concerns, and others, kept many businesses from taking the leap to remote work. When the COVID-19 global pandemic hit, it gave many businesses no choice but to address their hesitations and switch to the work from home model. 

Reasons Why Working From Home May Continue After Coronavirus is Over

So, now that many businesses have switched over to working from home in order to comply with lockdown rules during the pandemic – will these habits stay? Will we continue to work from home – even when it’s not required?

There are certainly many reasons why working from home may continue after COVID-19, such as:

Employers Have Invested In It

Companies have set up the means, processes and technology their teams need to work from home. Coronavirus made it necessary. This transition likely included purchasing new technology and software, setting up new schedules and routines, and establishing workflows. 

Additionally, companies like Krisp have facilitated remote work transitions with their COVID-19 Plan & Pricing Updates, ensuring seamless communication for remote teams.

Since they have invested time, energy and capital into working from home, they will be more likely to stick with it when all this is over. After all, why not take advantage of what has already been established? 

The huge advantage to remote work is that the benefits and lower costs of these systems only compound as the scale of the company grows. Building a distributed team now means a company will be ideally set up for growth over the next several years. 

It’s Healthier

Working from home is better for preventing the spread of diseases. This doesn’t just include COVID-19 but also applies to any other colds, flu, and illnesses. 

Many office workers have felt the pressure to show up to work, even when they are feeling under the weather. 

With a newfound focus on our collective health, perhaps workplaces will want to reduce instances of coworkers bringing their coughs and sniffles to the office. 

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It’s Better For The Environment

If more businesses switched to a work from home system over the long term, the environment could see some major benefits. 

For example, if an employee has an average daily roundtrip work commute of 30 miles, according to Stanford’s carbon emissions calculator they will be emitting 330lbs of carbon dioxide emissions every month. That’s nearly four thousand pounds per year! Working from home will eliminate those carbon emissions immediately (as well as save you money on fuel!)

In addition, if everyone worked from home, there would be no need to use resources and valuable land to build large office buildings. Our homes would do double duty as our offices instead, and we could use office space for other purposes. 

It’s Good For Employee Happiness

Another reason why working from home might stick around is because it makes employees happy. When your employees are happier, they are more productive and more likely to be loyal to your organization. 

According to a study by Owl Labs called “The Global State of Remote Work,” full-time remote workers say they are happy in their jobs 29% more than on-site workers. After all, working from home can often allow for a better work-life balance, less office drama and a lot less stress. 

Even just not having to brave a cold morning commute can be a happiness-booster for employees. Instead, they can get a bit of extra sleep, make a delicious home-cooked breakfast and log into their workplace while still wearing their favorite pair of fuzzy slippers. 

It Improves Productivity

Many companies have been worried that their employees would be less productive when working from home. They were concerned that employees would abuse the arrangement, not working a full shift or not focusing on the tasks. 

However, research has found that the opposite is true. People who work from home have actually proven to be MORE productive. 

In fact, according to a study conducted by Airtasker, remote employees work 1.4 extra days a month than employees in an office – resulting in more than three additional weeks of output per year. Employees working from home often face fewer distractions and can focus on their work in a more meaningful, self-directed way. 

It Saves Money

The truth is that many organizations make decisions with the bottom line in mind. Considering this, there is something to be said for how much money working from home can save the business. 

There’s no need for the company to pay for office space, supplies, electricity, computers or any of the other expenses that keep the office running. Real estate needs are reduced significantly when only a handful of vital employees need to remain onsite. Overhead can be drastically reduced, allowing companies to allocate that capital elsewhere. 

For example, when the company Trip.com (previously CTrip) experimented with letting their employees work from home, they figured that they saved around $2,000 per year per employee on office space. The findings were published in a study by the National Bureau of Economic Research. 

Of course, the other benefits of remote work, such as improved employee loyalty and productivity, will also influence the bottom line in a positive way. Overall, the work from home model is much more effective and efficient.

It Allows Companies to Hire Better Talent

Another huge advantage to working with a remote team is that your hiring options are no longer limited to your physical location. You can hire the best person for the job, no matter where they are located. This will allow you to build an incredibly strong team of people around the world who are the best at what they do. 

Also, a flexible work from home policy itself attracts better talent. When word gets out that you allow your employees the freedom to work from anywhere they please. This can make your company more desirable to work with. 

It Creates Opportunities for Diversity

Last but definitely not least, working from home is offering us incredible opportunities to improve workplace diversity. The online work environment can be free of bias and microaggressions, making it more comfortable 

Remote work makes it easier to employ talent from different countries all over the world – adding a global perspective to your team. Team members can be hired from anywhere and bias is reduced, as accents can’t be heard when you type. When employees work remotely, the focus is on their output rather than their appearance, age, gender, ethnicity or any other factor. 

Also, women are able to return to work sooner after having a baby or while caring for family members. Employees with disabilities are able to avoid the commute to the office and work in their home environment, which is already designed for their needs. They can also fit their physiotherapy or doctor appointments into their schedule more easily. 

Conclusion

Even when we CAN go back to our offices eventually, we should ask ourselves whether we SHOULD. There are a lot of advantages to working remotely that are worth considering. 

Perhaps this necessary shift towards working from home was the nudge we needed all along to transition toward a better system. Remote working might just stick around – and the days of the office may be coming to an end.

Read next:

Remote Work Stereotypes: 7 Common Myths Debunked

15 Remote Working Statistics You Need to Know in 2022

Next section: How to Build a Home Office

Go back: Work From Home Guide

Mentioned sources:

National Compensation Survey 2019

The Global State of Remote Work 2019 by OwlLabs

Stanford’s carbon emissions calculator

National Bureau of Economic Research

The Benefits of Working From Home Report by Airtasker

The post How Is Work From Home Going To Stay, Even After COVID-19? appeared first on Krisp.