Characteristics Of A Good Trading Platform

I have certainly traded on various trading platforms throughout my career. Some platforms were a joy and sheer pleasure to work on; others made me want to set my head on fire. The variety of trading platforms available to traders ranges from terrible platforms to excellent ones.

To meet, I simply list high-quality platforms and terrible ones. Unfortunately, if I take that approach, a pile of lawsuits will build up and if I stop and give up, my mailbox will overflow. So I've picked out a few features of a great online trading platform and listed why I find them particularly effective.1

Of course, the effectiveness of a platform is directly related to the quality of the data feed. For this article, we'll assume that all platforms have an appropriate data feed, and simply remove that variable from the discussion.

Here you can find most of the common trading platforms reviewed.

A good platform has a high-quality charting toolbar

Being able to draw trend lines, Fibonacci retracements, pivot points, and many other tools other than me traders may find necessary is essential when using trading and active charts. You don't need a physics degree to draw these symbols easily. The method for entering trend lines and other symbols should be simple. After all, the main focus in trading is the price action on the chart, which doesn't understand how to draw a line on the chart.

A good platform should be easy to read and interpret

A good platform should be easy to read and easy to set up. You do not need to read the 200-page manual to operate the software. Charts should be clear and easy to understand, and index readings should be legible and prominent. A platform that is difficult to set up or requires daily maintenance to set up wastes valuable trading time and ultimately costs traders. A good quality program also saves the previous day's settings and the correct settings should appear when you start the program the next day, so you don't have to add oscillators and indicators every day.

A good platform has a complete oscillator and indicator

There's nothing more annoying than using a platform that doesn't have a complete set of indicators or a way to add those indicators to your chart. Many low-end platforms have 5-6 basic metrics, which is the range of features. Also, with a good platform, you should be able to adjust the duration and other variables of the indicator to your personal preferences. Again, performing these functions should not be excessively time-consuming. They should be self-explanatory, and you don't have to page through the dreaded 200-page manual to see how to set up a 14-period setting on a commodity channel index.

A good platform allows for number entry and exit options

A good trading platform will allow you to quickly set the number of contracts you want to trade and provide a means to set a profit target and stop-loss limit. This should be a smooth activity and does not require excessive time. Most good trading platforms also have clauses that allow you to expand your trades at certain profit points. Also, good platforms have trailing stops that are simple to set up and easy to understand. You should also be able to set up simple bracket trades with minimal effort.

A good platform never fails or crashes

There is no worse feeling than a brisk trade and failed platform software. There is no excuse for software incompatibility with the operating system. The platform is the essence of the profession and it should be done that way. This particular requirement is one of the things that annoy my pet as I have been trading on a platform that has been built for a very shaky and long and frustrating day.

I have never and will never use that platform again. Software architects are well aware of the design flaws inherent in trading platforms and there is no reason why these flaws should not be addressed in a way that ensures traders of a crash-free trading experience. There is nothing worse than buggy software.

Trading platform software has many other unique flaws, but these five stand out as trading killers in my book. I will not tolerate these glitches and will quickly change the platform if these problems occur at any frequency. Of course, one-off defects are also to be expected. However, consistent and recurring flaws in trading platform software are inexcusable.

 

Microsoft unveils All-New Secure Mode in latest version of Edge

Microsoft in a recent announcement has stated that it has launched a ‘Super Duper Secure Mode’ in its recent version of Edge browser, which will offer users greater protection against common vulnerabilities and security breaches. The latest Super Duper Secure Mode (SDSM) will help users alleviate browser attacks by inactivating the Just-In-Time component in V8.

V8 is a new technology that has been linked with a large number of security vulnerabilities in recent years. It is a robust and open-source JavaScript engine, designed and developed by the Chromium Project for Google Chrome and Chromium web browser. This technology will allow the engines to convert vital JavaScript into machine code, resulting in huge gains in speed and usability but losses for security.

In order to defend and overcome the plethora of bugs bundled V8, Super Duper Secure Mode will disable the engine, thereby removing "roughly half" of the issues present. Moreover, it also enables users to toggle between Balanced and Strict modes, giving them greater control over the encrypted security codes and allowing them to mitigate through different web sources.

 

Gamification is shaping the online gambling industry

Gamification is one of the terms that give clear hints about its meaning even to those who haven’t heard it before. It is a broad concept that applies to many facets of modern living and not surprisingly, it also affects the online casino & slots industry. It was wholeheartedly embraced by Internet gambling operators, as a useful tool to attract new players and improve customer retention. Gamification turns things that are not necessarily a game into one while tapping into the competitive spirit of participating players.

Engaging Online Players through Gamification

The most popular video and slots games and the ones that have passed the test of time with flying colors are the ones that succeed at engaging players. In addition to being fun, engaging, and providing immediate satisfaction, video games also have the quality of growing on people. Some fear this trait and dismiss it as addiction, as it has players coming back for more over and over again. The system was successfully implemented in other activities and the online casino industry was quick to respond.

In the Internet gambling arena, the additional element of fun is added through Gamification. The concept shouldn’t be confused with the casino & slots games themselves, even though they are at the cornerstone of online casinos. Instead, it refers to the short and long-term rewards that the casino offers to players for being active and performing various tasks on the platform. At some operators, it takes the form of leader boards and loyalty programs, while others tap into its potential through a layered system of bonuses and promos.

Gamification has the advantage of giving people a clear path towards success while making the voyage just as fun as the destination. It provides online casino players with the desire to participate, be successful and improve. By providing people with clear objectives that need to be cleared in a timely fashion, it keeps them motivated to achieve concrete objectives. Depending on the creativity of the casino, it can take the shape of mini-games, such as quizzes, wheels of fortune, and other competitions.

Examples of Gamification at Casinos

Gamification takes different forms in online gambling, but there are a couple of popular concepts that can be found at most casinos and online slots sites. Leaderboard and loyalty programs are at the backbone of many VIP schemes we can find at online casinos. Players are rewarded with points for completing various actions and playing on real money. Such points help them move up the leaderboard and unlock progressively better rewards through the loyalty program.

The use of in-game currency is also regarded as an effective Gamification tool. This type of resource is only valuable on the site, so it has no use outside the platform. At the casino, it helps players keep track of their actions and monitor progress in a simple way. Experience points are also awarded by casinos and can be spent on various rewards, better bonuses, and access to exclusive offers. The use of progress bars and customizable characters is another trait of Gamification inspired by the most immersive video games. 

What you need to know about payment processing

Taking card payments can be crucial for keeping up your business with the speed of technology. Card payments are known for improving productivity of your employees and customer experience. However, it can be hard to find the right card payment system. As a result, there are good chances that you can be paying high rates on a contract to leave your business with a lot of bills. It’s important to find a good deal when it comes to card payments so that you can reduce the costs of your business. This post explains what you need to know about payment processing.

Understanding payment processing

When a customer buys a service or product using a card, it means the payment has to be processed via a series of stages. These stages can involve verifying and accepting that the payment is genuine before the money is transferred into your account. This process is called payment processing.

There are usually payment processors which are companies that are responsible for managing debit and credit card transactions. Therefore, a payment processor transfers cash from the customer’s account to your account.

It’s worth noting that there are several parties that are involved in this payment processing. This include a customer who buys a product or service from you, the merchant who sells the product or service to a customer, the payment processor that processes the transaction, the acquirer of your card who verifies the transaction and gets the money from the issuing bank, and the card network that handles payments between the issuer and acquirer.

The payment process can also involve several stages. One of these stages is called the authorization stage that can take just a few seconds. Once your customer offers their card at your card terminal or a payment gateway, the information of the transaction is sent to their card issuer via a payment processor.

The card issuer then can approve or disapprove the transaction after doing verification and authentication checks. The issuing bank also sends the approval status via the merchant bank and card association to reach you as a merchant.

Another stage is called the clearing stage that happens at the same time the authorization occurs. Therefore, for every transaction, sales information is sent  from a merchant to the acquirer. And, the acquirer then formats this data to become a clearing message that is transmitted to the card association, such as MasterCard and Visa. This message is sent to the card issuer and then they calculate the settlement obligation.

Lastly, there is the settlement stage that usually happens at the end of each day. The transaction information that occurs during the day is transmitted to the acquirer from your business. The acquirer then separates the transactions and sends them to the right card association. When card associations receive the transactions, they separate them and send them to each card issuer. Lastly, the issuer can charge the account of the cardholder and send the money to the merchant. Keep in mind that this settlement process can take at least one to three days.

Why you should accept card payments

Today, few customers carry cash and they are now preferring card payments because they are convenient. Card payments have become popular and they are expected to become a good alternative payment method. No wonder, many customers look forward to using card payments when they are visiting shops. By accepting card payments, you can make life easier for the customers. Also, you can rest assured that you are increasing your customer base so you need to get the Eposnow.

Another benefit of accepting card payments is that it assists to give credibility to your business. It can also provide a sense of professionalism to your business regardless of whether you are operating a small and medium business or a large business.

Card machines also offer a good level of security because you don’t handle a lot of cash on site to make your premises safer. You can also monitor intake well so that you can spend less time handling paperwork. Therefore, you can focus on other important areas of your business. Remember that card payments can also minimize the theft risks from your business. It means there is less risk for your employees or robbers from accessing your money.

By now you may be wondering how a point of sale terminal works. Well, you should remember that a point of sale terminal refers to a cash register that can read debit cards and credit cards. Ideally, it’s simply a computer that is designed to read, store, and even process card information. This allows you to complete sales or offer services to your customers.

When a customer uses either a debit card or a credit card to make a payment, a point of sale terminal can read the magnetic stripe on the card using a card reader. It checks this information to determine if there is adequate money in the account of the customer to send to the merchant.

The point of sale system can save information from transactions, such as the account number of customers, amount paid, and date and time. It can maintain this data so that you can use it to analyze and process a variety of business reports.

Also, the point of sale system can send the information to the receipt printer so that it can print a receipt or even send a text or email to the customer. You should remember that you can decide to rent or purchase a point of sale terminal. Purchasing a point of sale system can involve high upfront costs while renting it can involve monthly payments.

Above all, you can find different point of sale systems that vary in their functions. Therefore, depending on the needs of your business, it’s important to choose the system that works well for your business. And, because there are many point of sale system suppliers on the market, you need to make sure that you get the one that has the right features for your business. The choice of payment methods, technology, and components can have a huge impact on your business.

 

‘It’s Epic’: Millennial and Gen-Z Entrepreneurs on Drawing Inspiration from ‘Think and Grow Rich’

Napoleon Hill wrote ‘Think and Grow Rich’ in 1937 and it still speaks to today’s entrepreneurs. The book’s portrayal of imagination and its impact on the subconscious mind is an eye-opener. Mr. Hill is revered as a trailblazer for his extraordinary depiction of cognitive scenarios that lead to the creation of wealth. From the world's leading entrepreneurs, thought leaders, cultural icons, psychiatrists, to neurosurgeons, the author continues to inspire men and women across geographies.  

 

Robert Herjavec, a judge on ABC’s ‘Shark Tank’, is a self-made tech mogul. He recommended the book (to young entrepreneurs) while talking to CNBC in a video-call from Google’s headquarters back in 2017.

“If I had to recommend one book, it would have to be Napoleon Hill’s ‘Think and Grow Rich.’” “It’s epic.”

Daymond John, founder of fashion brand FUBU and investor on ‘Shark Tank,’ said he learned one of his top productivity tricks from the book.

 

“The first time I read about goal-setting was in Napoleon Hill’s ‘Think and Grow Rich.’ I was 16 years old.”

 

“I read the book every night before I go to bed, so it’s the last thing I think about,” he says. “And I read them every morning when I wake up.”

 

Clifford Jones, who is an author, shared the experience after reading the book.

 

“I will never forget the feeling I had when I first finished reading Napoleon Hill’s classic book, ‘Think and Grow Rich.’ I felt empowered as if I could conquer the world.”

 

“For me, the most powerful lesson in the book is ‘definiteness of purpose.’ In chapter six, Hill addresses imagination and teaches us that, ‘… definiteness of purpose is the starting point from which one must begin.’”

 

There are several ground-breaking concepts that ‘Think and Grow Rich’ manages to depict charmingly is the reason it continues to be relevant today. One of the ideas that struck me the most is that there is no association between passion and purpose. The relation between the two is perfectly drawn in the book. Simply put, passion is related to impulsivity, whereas purpose is connected to a definite practical plan. This clearly hints that passion and purpose are two different things. If you long for something, doesn’t mean you will succeed at it. However, a definite practical plan about launching a business, for instance, is bound to bear fruit.

 

Importantly, here are the book’s most notable lessons that millennial and Gen-Z entrepreneurs would want to consider while launching a business: Thoughts are powerful things, Desire, Faith, Specialized Knowledge, Imagination, Shun Procrastination, Mastermind Alliance, Sex Transmutation, Subconscious Mind, and Fear.

 

The quotes used in this piece were extracted from CNBC and The Business Journals.

 

What framework is a good choice for web developers.

When you create any project that aims to create a web application you have to decide what kind of method you will use. Usually developers are using popular php framework systems. Nowadays, web developers choose from two most popular php frameworks – Symfony and Laravel.

Symfony vs Laravel – what are the basic informations of both frameworks?
What are the advantages of using the Symfony framework?
Laravel framework - what are the characteristics of this system?
Laravel vs Symfony – what are the differences and which of these frameworks is better? Let’s find out.

Symfony vs Laravel – what are the basic informations of both frameworks?

Both Symfony and Laravel php framework were created in 2011 and are intended for web development and to create web apps. Both frameworks are based on model-view-controller and open source license. Both Symfony and Laravel seem to be very similar, but there are also a lot of differences.

What are the advantages of using the Symfony framework?

First of all, Symfony was created to be used to make big projects. Symfony is also considered very efficient. Of course, this performance depends on what work is being done, but it is actually at a good level. As Symfony components the developers have used bundle elements, which are packages of files with a specific action. As the template engine, this framework is using Twig, which is very popular and often used by php application developers.

Laravel framework - what are the characteristics of this system?

One of the main features of the Laravel framework is that it is built on top of Symfony components. Using Laravel is a guarantee of fast and intuitive work, because from the beginning there is no need to do everything yourself. Laravel also has a system that handles authorization. When it comes to database support, this framework is also really simple and easy to use, and as everyone knows data access data access is extremely important. Laravel also has lovely object relational mapping. Despite this, Laravel works better for developing small web apps. Using it for large projects can be a bit problematic, though that doesn't mean it can't be done.

Symfony vs. laravel – it could be a tough decision. Choosing a good framework is extremely important. For this reason, it is a good idea to take a close look at all the possibilities that Symfony as well as Laravel offer. Both of these frameworks offer interesting capabilities and innovative solutions, and both are also popular and frequently 

Microsoft Starts to Roll Out Its Brand New Cloud Gaming to Xbox Consoles

Tech Giant Microsoft, in a recent press meet, has announced that it has started to roll out Xbox Cloud Gaming on Xbox Series X / S consoles. To get the game on their consoles, users will require a Game Pass Ultimate subscription. Microsoft also has stated that the users might not have access to the feature right away. The company will roll out its new cloud games in November to a subset of Xbox gamers and later to everyone in supported markets.

Cloud gaming on Xbox consoles will have several applications. Gamers can try demo games that are available on Game Pass without having to download them completely. Also, there is a multiplayer invite for a game; gamers can play it without installing the game. Xbox Cloud Gaming will allow the gamers to stream the game so they can jump right in.

With Xbox Cloud Gaming, users can play some most exclusive next-gen games like Recompile, The Medium, and The Riftbreaker, with the last-gen console. Microsoft's most famous Flight Simulator is not available yet, but the company has assured that it will add to its cloud game library in early 2022.