Caveat Emptor!
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"Caveat Emptor" is a latin term meaning "Let the Buyer Beware." It is used to describe the need for someone purchasing a product or service to have a pretty good idea of what they are getting before they sign on the dotted line. Besides sounding cool (because it's latin) it's also really good advice. So how does this apply to computers, you ask? I think I'll "Carpe Diem" and tell you!
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Most of us have had this happen:
You're working away, minding your own business, mind set on the next task to accomplish, when suddenly your computer starts making a funny noise, or turns itself off, or starts smoking. The screen goes black, and the first surge of panic sets in. You cross your fingers and repeat your most powerful mantra to coax the maligned machine into cooperation, but a press of the power button does nothing except cause your heart to sink a few more meters.
Once you realize that this isn't just a "fluke", you come to the realization that you're "going to have to get this thing fixed." So what now? Yellow pages? Big box store? Your next door neighbor's kid? How do you make the right decision for your and your computer?
When your computer or network stops working, you quickly realize how much you depend on your technology. Our daily productivity can easily slow down or even come to a halt when we can't get to our stuff.
Most of us panic because so much of our lives is our data - our documents, music and pictures that we access everyday.
So who do you trust when these issues arise? Can just anyone fix your problems, explain it like a human being and keep your data safe, all without charging you more than your house payment?
The Lay of the Land
According to "The Consumerist" about 70% of computer repair companies and consultants don't know what they are doing. They caused a simple problem with a desktop computer and called out 10 repair companies to come and fix the issue. Of the 10 companies that came out (some local, some national and even big retailers) 7 of the 10 misdiagnosed the problem. To further complicate the issue, 6 of the 10 suggested that the customer replace their computer rather than repair it.
In California, a consumer activist group took 4 identical computers into computer repair shops. The only thing wrong with the computers was that a cable had been unplugged inside of each desktop. Again, they used a combination of local and "Big Box" stores. Not surprisingly, only 1 out of the 4 found the problem. The one that correctly diagnosed the problem fixed it at no charge. For the other 3, the prices ranged from $89 to $159 to repair the WRONG problem.
And how about the safety of your data? In England last year, some Journalists brought a laptop in to a big national retailer and placed a folder on the desktop marked "confidential" and "private." They also placed files containing passwords to bank accounts in the folders, as well as some private pictures. What they found is that the technician copied the files over to his personal thumb drive for later inspection, and even attempted to gain access to the bank account using the passwords in the folder! The passwords were fake of course, but the intention was obvious.
Choosing a computer service provider
Consider the following criteria to find a reliable computer support provider:
Price
Shop price and see what the going rate is for your area. Be careful of shops that have "fixed pricing." This usually means that they have a fixed price for diagnosing, fixed price for data backup, fixed price for virus removal, etc. An hourly tech can usually do all of these for less money, by the time you add it all up.
Turnaround time
A computer service organization can be the cheapest, the fastest, or the best. They cannot be all 3. Cheaper is usually slower or not very good, and faster service is sometimes more expensive.
Data security
Use a company with a good reputation. Check with the Better Business Bureau and ask if the company has a non-disclosure policy for customer data. Look for awards won by the company or other industry recognition.
Motivation
Know who's out there and what their motivations are. The "big box" retailers and parts warehouses are there to sell you stuff. Period. They don't particularly care if your computer gets repaired as long as you buy your parts from them. The technicians at these stores are trained to upsell you on new computers. We hear this frequently and every time I see someone go into these places carrying a computer, it's all I can do to avoid chasing them down with a business card to do a "computer intervention."
Qualifications
The smaller shops are typically not qualified to do repairs or replace parts in today's high tech computers. If you have a smaller shop that you trust, or an individual that you would like to use, ask about certifications. The bare minimum certification that a technician should have before touching your computer is the CompTIA A+ certification. This doesn't mean that they are an experienced troubleshooter, but it does prove that they know a hard drive from a hole in the ground.
How do we measure up?
Available Technology employs only certified technicians. We perform service on-site or at our location and provide most services within 24 hours. We have been voted
Best of the Upstate for the last 4 years. We guarantee our work and are dedicated to the satisfaction of each customer.
Still, it never hurts to be sure, so we called around to our competitors and asked about the price, qualifications and turnaround time of a very common repair, a hard drive replacement.
Here's how we stack up:
Geek Squad
Certified Techs: No
Cost - $199 - $299 + $89 for hard drive
Time - 3 - 5 days
Total = $388
Office Depot
Certified Techs: No
Cost - $349.99 + Cost of hardware ($99)
Time - 7 - 10 days
Total = $448.99
Local Warehouse Store:
Certified Techs: No
Cost - $99/flat rate + diag fee $59 + Backup $59 + drive ($79)
Time - 3 -7 days
Total = $296
Available Techology Inc:
Certified Techs: YES
Cost - $199 + drive ($69)
Time - 24 - 48 hours
Total = $268
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If you or someone you know has a repair issue, please use Available Technology. We provide fast, professional computer service for your home or office. And we care.
So take heart if your computer is mortuus, and take up the phrase that I use to feel confirmatus when things are going malus. ManeoFortis!
Be safe and be smart. Remember: Your computer should work for you, not the other way around.
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Habits of Superstitious Computer Users - Available Technology Inc.
Superstitious Much?
A few days ago, as I walked along avoiding cracks in the sidewalk and tossing my lucky rabbit's foot, I began to think about superstitions. From horseshoes to 4 leaf clovers, everyone has heard of, if not participated in, totally illogical activities, the belief in which couldn't possibly effect the results that the participant desires. For example, when I play basketball, I tie a double knot in my left shoe and a triple knot in my right. Why? Because at some point in High School after our team won a particular hard-fought game, I noticed that I had accidentally tied my shoes this way. I've done it ever since.
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The dictionary defines the word "superstition" as:
"A belief or notion, not based on reason or knowledge, in or of the ominous significance of a particular thing, circumstance, occurrence, proceeding, or the like."
So a superstition is any activity that a person illogically believes will guarantee that something desirable will happen, or more commonly, that something unpleasant will be avoided.
Common superstitions usually have no basis in truth and are largely geographically centered. In other words, we Americans (or our English ancestors) might believe that it is necessary to throw salt over your left shoulder in order to hit evil spirits in the eye, but other cultures would see us do it and laugh themselves into a coma.
Interestingly, some superstitions are nearly universal. The best one I can think of is "knocking on wood" after saying that something hasn't or won't happen. (I do this, but I'm not sure where I picked it up.) This practice can be traced back as far as ancient Egypt and earlier, and occurs in some form in almost all major cultures on the planet. The explanation that most people prefer is that the ancient belief that spirits either dwelled in or guarded trees and the evidence of tree worship date back thousands of years.
Greeks worshipped the oak as it was sacred to Zeus, Celts believed in tree spirits, and both believed that touching sacred trees would bring good fortune. Irish lore holds that "touching wood" is a way to thank the leprechauns for good luck. Pagan religions believed (and still do) in the existence of protective tree spirits. Chinese and Koreans thought the spirits of mothers who died in childbirth remained in nearby trees.
A Jewish version traces the origin to the Spanish Inquisition of the 15th century. At the time, persecuted Jews fled to synagogues built of wood, and they devised a coded knock to gain admission. Since this practice spared countless lives, it became common to "knock on wood" for good luck.
Regardless of whether you have a lucky tie, or lucky shoes, or a "mantra" to recite before a big day, you have a superstition.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
What does this have to do with computers? Well, technology is supposed to have elevated our race onto a cultural and spiritual plain that leaves no room for extra-empirical influences. To put it another way, there is no more mystery. Everything's been figured out, there is nothing new under the sun. But being amazingly evolved, complex, intellectual beings, we spend half of our precious time avoiding black cats, walking under ladders, opening umbrellas indoors or breaking mirrors. Because MAYBE . . . just maybe . . . there really IS something out there that we don't understand.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Computer users are some of the most superstitious people on the planet. Every day they work with things that they can't see and don't understand.Working with all kinds of computer users, we have seen just how many kinds of superstitions we all cling to.
· I will never upgrade. Something will stop working if I do. It's been this way for as long as I can remember. And it's not that bad.
Of course, these folks have a point. We are all resistant to change, but in technology, the change is almost always good. Have a plan and embrace change. You'll be glad you did.
· If the computer doesn't obey, tell it again . . . and again. It has been said that the definition of insanity is doing the same things and expecting different results. My document didn't print the first 5 times, so let's try again. If only telling it louder could make a difference so it really knows you mean business.
Find and fix the problem before the problem fixes you.
· Never reboot! These people think that the computer is like a tightrope act. Or a house of cards. It's working now, so hold your breath and . . . don't . . .move. This is actually the opposite of what we recommend. Rebooting fixes about 25% of all computer problems. There's nothing that can be messed up that we can't fix so don't be scared. Reboot it!
· I'm happy with my mouse from 1994, thank you. It was good enough for my Dad, so it's good enough for me. Can you find an adapter to adapt my old technology to a slightly less-old technology? This scanner is fine. The new ones do 25 pages a minute and this one does 2, but I can wait.
Favorites are good. Comfort is good. But don't miss out on all the advantages that progress can afford.
· I'm computer illiterate! If a problem occurs, these folks are ready to take the blame. I have actually had people tell me. "The email won't work. I must have pressed the 'check mail' button wrong!"
I love telling our customers that it really isn't their fault. Believe me, of all the computer problems that we deal with, very few are actually "user error." Be confident and do as much as you need to on the computer, learn it well, and don't be afraid to realize that these are very complex machines. Sometimes things just go wrong.
Ancient Computer Rituals. A conversation with this kind of user starts like this: "I turn it on, then go get a cup of coffee. If it isn't up by the time I get back, I turn the monitor on and off. The sometimes I have to unplug the printer and plug it back in to get the computer to come up. If it makes a clicking noise I have to shut down and start over again." These people refuse to believe that the computer is basically like a toaster: You push the bread down and the toaster pops toast back up. It isn't magical. It isn't alive. It's a tool - that you can use to advance your career, grow your business, play games, whatever. But the computer does what you make it do, not the other way around. Take the time to understand what happens when you press the power button or how the peripherals like mouse and keyboard relate to the inner workings of the computer. Here's a great simple tutorial to help you learn hardware basics.
· It has a mind of its own! Users who normally have a good handle on technology can fall into this one. This happens when the computer does something totally unexpected or just plain crazy, like spitting out 100 pages of gibberish or the cursor jumps around the screen erratically. Many times this turns out to be virus related, or dust in the mouse, or a failed print job that won't go away.
Patience is the key here. Take your time, reboot and see if the problem goes away. If not, call us! We're not "Ghostbusters", but I've never seen a possessed computer yet that we couldn't exorcise.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
It's fun to laugh at, but truthfully, superstitions are a part of what makes us wonderful as a people. Even with all the change that has been seen for the last 5000 years, we are basically the same. 3D tv and iPhones and instant access to information hasn't made us any less scared of the unknown than our ancestors who have been fossils for the last millennium. I'm sure that the first humans on Earth felt that they could make it rain by doing something like pouring water over a sacred stone. And thousands of years later, I'm also sure that that's one of the things that makes us so unique in God's creation.
Call us at http://www.available-tech.net/ for more information!
A few days ago, as I walked along avoiding cracks in the sidewalk and tossing my lucky rabbit's foot, I began to think about superstitions. From horseshoes to 4 leaf clovers, everyone has heard of, if not participated in, totally illogical activities, the belief in which couldn't possibly effect the results that the participant desires. For example, when I play basketball, I tie a double knot in my left shoe and a triple knot in my right. Why? Because at some point in High School after our team won a particular hard-fought game, I noticed that I had accidentally tied my shoes this way. I've done it ever since.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
The dictionary defines the word "superstition" as:
"A belief or notion, not based on reason or knowledge, in or of the ominous significance of a particular thing, circumstance, occurrence, proceeding, or the like."
So a superstition is any activity that a person illogically believes will guarantee that something desirable will happen, or more commonly, that something unpleasant will be avoided.
Common superstitions usually have no basis in truth and are largely geographically centered. In other words, we Americans (or our English ancestors) might believe that it is necessary to throw salt over your left shoulder in order to hit evil spirits in the eye, but other cultures would see us do it and laugh themselves into a coma.
Interestingly, some superstitions are nearly universal. The best one I can think of is "knocking on wood" after saying that something hasn't or won't happen. (I do this, but I'm not sure where I picked it up.) This practice can be traced back as far as ancient Egypt and earlier, and occurs in some form in almost all major cultures on the planet. The explanation that most people prefer is that the ancient belief that spirits either dwelled in or guarded trees and the evidence of tree worship date back thousands of years.
Greeks worshipped the oak as it was sacred to Zeus, Celts believed in tree spirits, and both believed that touching sacred trees would bring good fortune. Irish lore holds that "touching wood" is a way to thank the leprechauns for good luck. Pagan religions believed (and still do) in the existence of protective tree spirits. Chinese and Koreans thought the spirits of mothers who died in childbirth remained in nearby trees.
A Jewish version traces the origin to the Spanish Inquisition of the 15th century. At the time, persecuted Jews fled to synagogues built of wood, and they devised a coded knock to gain admission. Since this practice spared countless lives, it became common to "knock on wood" for good luck.
Regardless of whether you have a lucky tie, or lucky shoes, or a "mantra" to recite before a big day, you have a superstition.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
What does this have to do with computers? Well, technology is supposed to have elevated our race onto a cultural and spiritual plain that leaves no room for extra-empirical influences. To put it another way, there is no more mystery. Everything's been figured out, there is nothing new under the sun. But being amazingly evolved, complex, intellectual beings, we spend half of our precious time avoiding black cats, walking under ladders, opening umbrellas indoors or breaking mirrors. Because MAYBE . . . just maybe . . . there really IS something out there that we don't understand.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Computer users are some of the most superstitious people on the planet. Every day they work with things that they can't see and don't understand.Working with all kinds of computer users, we have seen just how many kinds of superstitions we all cling to.
· I will never upgrade. Something will stop working if I do. It's been this way for as long as I can remember. And it's not that bad.
Of course, these folks have a point. We are all resistant to change, but in technology, the change is almost always good. Have a plan and embrace change. You'll be glad you did.
· If the computer doesn't obey, tell it again . . . and again. It has been said that the definition of insanity is doing the same things and expecting different results. My document didn't print the first 5 times, so let's try again. If only telling it louder could make a difference so it really knows you mean business.
Find and fix the problem before the problem fixes you.
· Never reboot! These people think that the computer is like a tightrope act. Or a house of cards. It's working now, so hold your breath and . . . don't . . .move. This is actually the opposite of what we recommend. Rebooting fixes about 25% of all computer problems. There's nothing that can be messed up that we can't fix so don't be scared. Reboot it!
· I'm happy with my mouse from 1994, thank you. It was good enough for my Dad, so it's good enough for me. Can you find an adapter to adapt my old technology to a slightly less-old technology? This scanner is fine. The new ones do 25 pages a minute and this one does 2, but I can wait.
Favorites are good. Comfort is good. But don't miss out on all the advantages that progress can afford.
· I'm computer illiterate! If a problem occurs, these folks are ready to take the blame. I have actually had people tell me. "The email won't work. I must have pressed the 'check mail' button wrong!"
I love telling our customers that it really isn't their fault. Believe me, of all the computer problems that we deal with, very few are actually "user error." Be confident and do as much as you need to on the computer, learn it well, and don't be afraid to realize that these are very complex machines. Sometimes things just go wrong.
Ancient Computer Rituals. A conversation with this kind of user starts like this: "I turn it on, then go get a cup of coffee. If it isn't up by the time I get back, I turn the monitor on and off. The sometimes I have to unplug the printer and plug it back in to get the computer to come up. If it makes a clicking noise I have to shut down and start over again." These people refuse to believe that the computer is basically like a toaster: You push the bread down and the toaster pops toast back up. It isn't magical. It isn't alive. It's a tool - that you can use to advance your career, grow your business, play games, whatever. But the computer does what you make it do, not the other way around. Take the time to understand what happens when you press the power button or how the peripherals like mouse and keyboard relate to the inner workings of the computer. Here's a great simple tutorial to help you learn hardware basics.
· It has a mind of its own! Users who normally have a good handle on technology can fall into this one. This happens when the computer does something totally unexpected or just plain crazy, like spitting out 100 pages of gibberish or the cursor jumps around the screen erratically. Many times this turns out to be virus related, or dust in the mouse, or a failed print job that won't go away.
Patience is the key here. Take your time, reboot and see if the problem goes away. If not, call us! We're not "Ghostbusters", but I've never seen a possessed computer yet that we couldn't exorcise.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
It's fun to laugh at, but truthfully, superstitions are a part of what makes us wonderful as a people. Even with all the change that has been seen for the last 5000 years, we are basically the same. 3D tv and iPhones and instant access to information hasn't made us any less scared of the unknown than our ancestors who have been fossils for the last millennium. I'm sure that the first humans on Earth felt that they could make it rain by doing something like pouring water over a sacred stone. And thousands of years later, I'm also sure that that's one of the things that makes us so unique in God's creation.
Call us at http://www.available-tech.net/ for more information!
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Keeping Your Identity Safe Online - Available Technology January 2012
Did you ever want to disappear?
I think everyone has that thought once in a while. Wouldn’t it be nice to be invisible to phone calls, coworkers, kids, taxes and ,recently, political robo-calls? But though every once in a while, most of us would like to close our eyes and pretend no one else existed, it just isn’t practical, not to mention possible.
Several people in history have managed it. For example, Amelia Earhart, probably the most famous “disappearer” of all, vanished along with her copilot somewhere over the South Pacific in 1937. Glenn Miller, jazz musician and famous band leader, disappeared as well when his flight went over the English Channel in 1944. 3 lighthouse keepers off the coast of Scotland disappeared in 1900 and were never seen again. An opera “The Lighthouse” was written about the incident. Perhaps fittingly, Agathie Christie, the renowned mystery writer, went missing in 1926 for a total of 11 days. She reappeared, however, but offered no explanation for where she had been or why she fell out of contact.
Had these and others been alive today, they may have disappeared on purpose to avoid internet hackers and email phishing schemes. Being invisible on the internet isn’t quite possible, but you can certainly do a lot to protect yourself and your online activities.
Read on to see what you can do to be invisible to hackers avoid seeing your credit card funds disappear.
Am I really a target?
· The answer is YES. Here are a few recent breaches and statistics:
· The recent Playstation database breach exposed 70 million information records to hackers on the internet.
· Morgan Stanley Smith Barney lost 34000 investments clients’ data
· The London Health Service said that a laptop was stolen that contained the unencrypted medical records of 8.6 million patients
· Keystroke-recording Trojans were found on hundreds of computers in public libraries across the US
· 1/3 of users in the UK report being infected with malicious software in 2010
· It is estimated that 70 million Americans have enough personal information shared on the internet to have their identities stolen.
Really? I’m not really sure . . .
Believe it.
10 million ID thefts were reported in 2009. The average amount stolen was $500 per victim. The most common internet crime by far is credit card fraud. Almost everyone has had this happen or personally knows someone that has had the experience.
Arizona, Florida and California have the most incidences of credit card fraud.
Every 79 seconds an identity is stolen.
The most surprising fact concerning identity theft is that even though 85% of computer users believe that they are actively being targeted for identity and credit card theft, only 45% of people are really concerned and take steps to keep themselves protected.
I believe it! So What can I do?
Luckily, some very simple steps can greatly reduce the chance that you will be victimized.
Use STRONG Passwords
A proper password should have at least 10 characters. It should contain both upper and lower case characters. It should contain numbers and symbols.
The general rule for passwords is that if any part of the password appears in the dictionary, it is not a good password. Hacking algorithms are so good these days that even a seemingly strong password can be hacked. It’s just a matter of time before your top-secret sacred password that you’ve used for years (password1) will be compromised.
Never use a bank pin as a password, and avoid using the same passwords for everything. I know this is tempting, but don’t do it!
Someone once illustrated to me how strong their password was by telling me “It’s so long and complex that I can’t remember it!” I proceeded to look at his desktop calendar, and there in the bottom right hand corner, was the long and complicated password written down for anyone to see. After I pointed this out, he changed it to a 10 character, easier to recall, credential. So remember, if you can’t remember it, it isn’t very secure.
Minimize what you share
When choosing what to put out there on Facebook, Twitter, your Blog or your personal website, follow these simple rules:
NEVER EVER . . .
1. Share your Address with the public
2. Share your phone number with the public
3. Share your Birthday with the public
Fill out only what is necessary and skip the “optional fields.”
If the form you are filling out is not critical, or if you are signing up for a “one and done” transaction that will not require ongoing communication with the vendor, feel free to lie.
Safely Dispose of old computers
If you have old equipment that at one time held important personal information, don’t just take it to be recycled. Call us to destroy the data for you, or at least remove the hard drives from the equipment and destroy them or keep them in a secure location. Even after a drive is formatted, data can be recovered from the hard drives years later by anyone who comes across it.
Opt out of everything that is unnecessary
Take the time to remove yourself from the newsletters, coupon sites, and online subscriptions that you never take the time to read. The less communication with internet sources, the less your exposed risk will be.
Use Online Banking
You might think that it makes sense to stay away from online banking if you are trying to stay safe online, but in reality, it makes sense to check your transactions frequently. If you are using some sort of online banking you are much more likely to catch a suspect purchase quickly rather than after charges have been incurred for an entire month.
Use an Online Identity Protection Service
Although we don’t use or endorse any online identity protection service, here is a side by side comparison of the most popular services to consider.
http://www.nextadvisor.com/identity_theft_protection_services/index.php?a=2&kw=gidtpb8+protect%20your%20identity&gclid=CPSAmdSf6q0CFZMj7Aod3Xlg6Q
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you have any questions about internet security, please call us. We would be happy to answer any questions you may have. And if you really want to disappear, you can get “How to Hide: A Practical Guide to Vanishing and Taking Your Assets With You” by David Wilkening. http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/how-to-hide-david-wilkening/1100821025?ean=9781601383099
Happy Hiding!
I think everyone has that thought once in a while. Wouldn’t it be nice to be invisible to phone calls, coworkers, kids, taxes and ,recently, political robo-calls? But though every once in a while, most of us would like to close our eyes and pretend no one else existed, it just isn’t practical, not to mention possible.
Several people in history have managed it. For example, Amelia Earhart, probably the most famous “disappearer” of all, vanished along with her copilot somewhere over the South Pacific in 1937. Glenn Miller, jazz musician and famous band leader, disappeared as well when his flight went over the English Channel in 1944. 3 lighthouse keepers off the coast of Scotland disappeared in 1900 and were never seen again. An opera “The Lighthouse” was written about the incident. Perhaps fittingly, Agathie Christie, the renowned mystery writer, went missing in 1926 for a total of 11 days. She reappeared, however, but offered no explanation for where she had been or why she fell out of contact.
Had these and others been alive today, they may have disappeared on purpose to avoid internet hackers and email phishing schemes. Being invisible on the internet isn’t quite possible, but you can certainly do a lot to protect yourself and your online activities.
Read on to see what you can do to be invisible to hackers avoid seeing your credit card funds disappear.
Am I really a target?
· The answer is YES. Here are a few recent breaches and statistics:
· The recent Playstation database breach exposed 70 million information records to hackers on the internet.
· Morgan Stanley Smith Barney lost 34000 investments clients’ data
· The London Health Service said that a laptop was stolen that contained the unencrypted medical records of 8.6 million patients
· Keystroke-recording Trojans were found on hundreds of computers in public libraries across the US
· 1/3 of users in the UK report being infected with malicious software in 2010
· It is estimated that 70 million Americans have enough personal information shared on the internet to have their identities stolen.
Really? I’m not really sure . . .
Believe it.
10 million ID thefts were reported in 2009. The average amount stolen was $500 per victim. The most common internet crime by far is credit card fraud. Almost everyone has had this happen or personally knows someone that has had the experience.
Arizona, Florida and California have the most incidences of credit card fraud.
Every 79 seconds an identity is stolen.
The most surprising fact concerning identity theft is that even though 85% of computer users believe that they are actively being targeted for identity and credit card theft, only 45% of people are really concerned and take steps to keep themselves protected.
I believe it! So What can I do?
Luckily, some very simple steps can greatly reduce the chance that you will be victimized.
Use STRONG Passwords
A proper password should have at least 10 characters. It should contain both upper and lower case characters. It should contain numbers and symbols.
The general rule for passwords is that if any part of the password appears in the dictionary, it is not a good password. Hacking algorithms are so good these days that even a seemingly strong password can be hacked. It’s just a matter of time before your top-secret sacred password that you’ve used for years (password1) will be compromised.
Never use a bank pin as a password, and avoid using the same passwords for everything. I know this is tempting, but don’t do it!
Someone once illustrated to me how strong their password was by telling me “It’s so long and complex that I can’t remember it!” I proceeded to look at his desktop calendar, and there in the bottom right hand corner, was the long and complicated password written down for anyone to see. After I pointed this out, he changed it to a 10 character, easier to recall, credential. So remember, if you can’t remember it, it isn’t very secure.
Minimize what you share
When choosing what to put out there on Facebook, Twitter, your Blog or your personal website, follow these simple rules:
NEVER EVER . . .
1. Share your Address with the public
2. Share your phone number with the public
3. Share your Birthday with the public
Fill out only what is necessary and skip the “optional fields.”
If the form you are filling out is not critical, or if you are signing up for a “one and done” transaction that will not require ongoing communication with the vendor, feel free to lie.
Safely Dispose of old computers
If you have old equipment that at one time held important personal information, don’t just take it to be recycled. Call us to destroy the data for you, or at least remove the hard drives from the equipment and destroy them or keep them in a secure location. Even after a drive is formatted, data can be recovered from the hard drives years later by anyone who comes across it.
Opt out of everything that is unnecessary
Take the time to remove yourself from the newsletters, coupon sites, and online subscriptions that you never take the time to read. The less communication with internet sources, the less your exposed risk will be.
Use Online Banking
You might think that it makes sense to stay away from online banking if you are trying to stay safe online, but in reality, it makes sense to check your transactions frequently. If you are using some sort of online banking you are much more likely to catch a suspect purchase quickly rather than after charges have been incurred for an entire month.
Use an Online Identity Protection Service
Although we don’t use or endorse any online identity protection service, here is a side by side comparison of the most popular services to consider.
http://www.nextadvisor.com/identity_theft_protection_services/index.php?a=2&kw=gidtpb8+protect%20your%20identity&gclid=CPSAmdSf6q0CFZMj7Aod3Xlg6Q
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you have any questions about internet security, please call us. We would be happy to answer any questions you may have. And if you really want to disappear, you can get “How to Hide: A Practical Guide to Vanishing and Taking Your Assets With You” by David Wilkening. http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/how-to-hide-david-wilkening/1100821025?ean=9781601383099
Happy Hiding!
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Technology and nature don't mix? Yeah, right!
Technology and Nature Don't Mix? Yeah, Right!
I recently took up flyfishing after many years of being away from the sport. Brett from the Blue Ridge Outfitter showed me a great stretch of water and we started out early in the morning.
The weather was beautiful . . . sweltering outside but stone cool under the trees at the edge of the water. Feeling rather "Hemingwayish" with nothing but the stream for company, we found what was hatching, and started catching some nice fish. The river rushed all around me and the sound was like meditation. I was totally immersed in the perfect outdoor experience. Then, at once, I was jolted back to reality. Then . . . my cell rang . . .
There is nothing I like more than being outdoors. We work with technology all day, everyday, and nothing heals more than disconnecting from the network and connecting with nature.
Even though a part of me rebels against the idea of using anything electrical in association with a trip into the woods, there are actually a lot of great apps that you can use to enhance the outdoor experience.
Here are a few things that can help make your outdoor adventures easier, safer and more enjoyable! You can look these up on the Android Marketplace or Apple App Store.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Geocaching:
Like treasure hunts? Then Geocaching is for you! It’s played throughout the world by anyone using a GPS enabled device. Most phones support this now so usually that’s all you need. You use the GPS to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, which contain notes, trinkets, toys or even money. Geocaching isn’t just for the outdoorsy types . . . you can geocache in the city too!
These apps will help you find places to look for, and give hints to finding your next cache.
Groundspeak's Geocaching
The iPhone 3G, 3GS and 4G use a combination of GPS, Wi-Fi positioning and cell towers to determine your approximate location. Groundspeak's iPhone Application then queries the Geocaching.com database in real-time and provides a list of geocaches near you.
Android's leading compass, featuring location display and geo-tagged notes. The #1 compass app for Android, featuring different styles, location display, and Catch Notes integration for easy location notes.
SeekCache
If you like to hit the geocaching trails without a lot of prep and hoopla, then check this out. Open the Seek Cache app on your iPhone and wait a few seconds for it to determine your GPS coordinates. A list of nearby caches pops up in a Safari browser window, and you’re off. What could be easier?
Nature:
Weather Channel
Planning any outdoor adventure requires you be in touch with the weather, and the Weather Channel app is a must since it provides the most accurate info you can get.
Google Skymap
This app allows you to easily and quickly identify and locate stars, planets, constellations and more with a just a touch of the screen or by simply pointing to the sky. Have fun with family and friends discovering the night sky. Looking for a planet or star? Just use the finder and let the arrow guide the way.
iBird Pro
During your down-time while you sit back and relax and enjoy the outdoors this year, try out the iBird Pro app. This app, iBird Plus, is an interactive guide to the most popular bird species found in the backyards of North America.
Wildflowers
The North Woods Wildflower Identification Guide is filled with 68 different beautifully drawn wildflowers growing in North America today. Identify flora while you hike!
MyNature Animal Tracks
Animal tracks can be found in nearly every square mile of North America! With the MyNature app you are now equipped with a database with 7 search-able track categories fully illustrated by size and shape for quick selection plus a complete description of track measurements, full color digital images of an actual track in the wild and even range maps showing each animals distribution across North America.
Butterfly Collection
Get Butterfly Collection and explore a picture library of butterflies and moths from all over the world. Flick to browse 240 of these enchanting insects. Their unique shapes, patterns, and colors are captivating, whether you’re a butterfly enthusiast or simply looking for some artistic inspiration.
Camping and Hiking:
Trails.com
The Trails app is the single most useful app I have found for Hiking and Camping. The Trails.com app offers over 48,000 trail guides from the top outdoor publishers. Trail guides cover over twenty-four different outdoor activities including everything from mountain bike trails to off-road trails. You can search trails nearby, view details of specific trails and even get up-to-date weather conditions to ensure a quality outdoor experience.
Knot Guide
Knots are used in sailing, climbing, tree trimming, jewelry making, and everyday tasks such as attaching a load to your vehicle. Knot Guide has 17 different categories include: Bends, Binding Knots, Climbing Knots, Decorative Knots, Fishing Knots, Hitches, Lashings, Loops, Rope Care, Sailing Knots, Scout Knots, Shortenings, Splices, Stopper Knots, and Whippings.
Camping Recipes
When mac and cheese doesn’t cut it, check out Camping Recipes for iPhone, where you will find delicious and easy camping recipes that will satisfy big or picky appetites. This app offers easy, delicious recipes for camping and hiking!
Bug Repellent
Keep pesky mosquitoes and other insects far away with Bug Repellant. This app emits a high frequency that is harmless to humans, pets and plants. It can be used while camping, hunting, fishing, farming and sleeping
Flashlight
Simple but often overlooked, the flashlight app can really be handy in a pinch.
CompassGo
Given a “thumbs up” by Macworld, this simple GPS compass allows you to set a certain location in its memory so you can find your way back with ease. It’s great in the wilderness but even more helpful when trying to find your car in a crowded parking lot.
Army Survival
With more than 1,400 pages, Army Survival is a comprehensive guide pulled straight from the U.S. Army Field Manual 21-76, titled “Survival.” It includes psychology of survival, basic survival medicine, shelters, water procurement and more.
Maplets - Maps for All National Parks, Subway, Ski Resorts and more
The most comprehensive map app on the app store, with over 5000 maps in the US and worldwide including Yosemite, New York Subway, London Tube, Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, State Parks, and more!
Running
Get Running! – Couch to 5K
I like to run and this is a great app for those just starting out. Targeted more for beginner runners, Get Running provides users with a specific training regimen over the course of nine weeks, with the end goal of being able to run for 30 minutes. Audio prompts guide users through each workout and even provide encouragement along the way.
Ghost Running
Sometimes, the best motivation is competition, and who better to compete with than yourself? Ghost Race enables you to track your times on various routes and compare your performance from day to day. The app’s audio function also keeps you updated on your progress against your ‘Ghost’ in real-time.
RunKeeper
RunKeeper Pro is probably the most well-known of the running apps on this list. This is a feature-rich app that enables GPS tracking, distance, speed monitoring, caloric output and activity history for any number of activities you partake in including sports such as running, cycling, hiking, skiing and swimming. You can also sync all the data to RunKeeper’s website to monitor progress and share publicly. RunKeeper also offers a simplified version of the app for free.
Other Sports
FishMate - Fishing Times With Tight Lines
A great fishing app, FishMate, gives you information on the major and minor feeding times, moon phase as well as weather forecasts to help you plan your fishing outings. Developed by former touring professional bass angler and the host of the syndicated radio fishing show called Tight Lines, Sammy Lee, this app is full of Mr. Lee's 30 years of fishing experience. The app features Fishin' Time, which tells you everything you need to plan your fishing trip, current weather conditions for your area and places to store photos of your catch.
Surfline
For surfers and bodyboarders, finding the perfect beach means finding the best surfing conditions. Surfline has a free iPhone app that lets you monitor surf conditions at local beaches. It is location aware and automatically shows the conditions of the beaches closest to you. Each location has current conditions, 5 day forecast and if available, a live stream of the actual location.
iNavX Marine Navigation
Never lose sight of land with iNavX Marine Navigation. This app turns your iPhone into a detailed NOAA RNC U.S. waters marine chart, then plots your position in real time. Before you set sail, tap to get the latest weather, tide, and current forecasts.
iTrailMap 3D
Designed for skiers and snowboarders, this application gives you 3-D tracking on mountains and trails. You can record your tracks and also upload them on the web. There is also a free version that doesn’t include the 3-D aspect.
RiverGuide for Kayakers
If you’re thinking about kayaking, rafting or canoeing in the near future, consider this app. In moments, it gives you the cubic feet per second of most U.S. rivers.
Trackback - Hunting Edition
Tag GPS waypoints for your car, base camp, stand, etc. and navigate back to them whenever needed.
Orvis Fly Fishing
I could have used this on my last fishing trip. The Orvis app provides
Animated Knots and flycasting instruction including the 10 most common casting mistakes.
You also get the field guide to top 100 trout flies, Orvis fishing reports, Podcasts, glossary and equipment guides.
Virtual Nature:
If the outdoors aren’t your thing, you can still reach out to nature from the comfort of your La-Z-Boy.
A Real Tree
This app plants a virtual tree on your device. You can watch it grow over time. The cool thing is that when you buy the app for $.99, A Real Tree plants . . . you guessed it . . . a real tree somewhere in the world. A Real Tree works with organizations that provide materials and education to local communities to plant trees in an ecologically-beneficial manner. Local communities learn how to plant trees while avoiding toxic pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers. Local communities plant trees that produce nutritious fruits and crops that they can live off of and make a living on.
Koi Pond
The classic Koi Pond. Peaceful and fun. This app is one of the most realistic water-based simulation apps available on the iPad. The water is multi-touch reactive, there is plenty of customization like lights, decorations, and plants, eight different breeds of koi, and you can shake your iPad to feed them.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So nature and gadgets can live in harmony after all! Who knew! Whether you get outside with or without your devices, make sure you get outside and enjoy all that your area has to offer. And read Hemingway's "Big Two-Hearted River." It'll make you want to go for a hike!
I recently took up flyfishing after many years of being away from the sport. Brett from the Blue Ridge Outfitter showed me a great stretch of water and we started out early in the morning.
The weather was beautiful . . . sweltering outside but stone cool under the trees at the edge of the water. Feeling rather "Hemingwayish" with nothing but the stream for company, we found what was hatching, and started catching some nice fish. The river rushed all around me and the sound was like meditation. I was totally immersed in the perfect outdoor experience. Then, at once, I was jolted back to reality. Then . . . my cell rang . . .
There is nothing I like more than being outdoors. We work with technology all day, everyday, and nothing heals more than disconnecting from the network and connecting with nature.
Even though a part of me rebels against the idea of using anything electrical in association with a trip into the woods, there are actually a lot of great apps that you can use to enhance the outdoor experience.
Here are a few things that can help make your outdoor adventures easier, safer and more enjoyable! You can look these up on the Android Marketplace or Apple App Store.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Geocaching:
Like treasure hunts? Then Geocaching is for you! It’s played throughout the world by anyone using a GPS enabled device. Most phones support this now so usually that’s all you need. You use the GPS to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, which contain notes, trinkets, toys or even money. Geocaching isn’t just for the outdoorsy types . . . you can geocache in the city too!
These apps will help you find places to look for, and give hints to finding your next cache.
Groundspeak's Geocaching
The iPhone 3G, 3GS and 4G use a combination of GPS, Wi-Fi positioning and cell towers to determine your approximate location. Groundspeak's iPhone Application then queries the Geocaching.com database in real-time and provides a list of geocaches near you.
Android's leading compass, featuring location display and geo-tagged notes. The #1 compass app for Android, featuring different styles, location display, and Catch Notes integration for easy location notes.
SeekCache
If you like to hit the geocaching trails without a lot of prep and hoopla, then check this out. Open the Seek Cache app on your iPhone and wait a few seconds for it to determine your GPS coordinates. A list of nearby caches pops up in a Safari browser window, and you’re off. What could be easier?
Nature:
Weather Channel
Planning any outdoor adventure requires you be in touch with the weather, and the Weather Channel app is a must since it provides the most accurate info you can get.
Google Skymap
This app allows you to easily and quickly identify and locate stars, planets, constellations and more with a just a touch of the screen or by simply pointing to the sky. Have fun with family and friends discovering the night sky. Looking for a planet or star? Just use the finder and let the arrow guide the way.
iBird Pro
During your down-time while you sit back and relax and enjoy the outdoors this year, try out the iBird Pro app. This app, iBird Plus, is an interactive guide to the most popular bird species found in the backyards of North America.
Wildflowers
The North Woods Wildflower Identification Guide is filled with 68 different beautifully drawn wildflowers growing in North America today. Identify flora while you hike!
MyNature Animal Tracks
Animal tracks can be found in nearly every square mile of North America! With the MyNature app you are now equipped with a database with 7 search-able track categories fully illustrated by size and shape for quick selection plus a complete description of track measurements, full color digital images of an actual track in the wild and even range maps showing each animals distribution across North America.
Butterfly Collection
Get Butterfly Collection and explore a picture library of butterflies and moths from all over the world. Flick to browse 240 of these enchanting insects. Their unique shapes, patterns, and colors are captivating, whether you’re a butterfly enthusiast or simply looking for some artistic inspiration.
Camping and Hiking:
Trails.com
The Trails app is the single most useful app I have found for Hiking and Camping. The Trails.com app offers over 48,000 trail guides from the top outdoor publishers. Trail guides cover over twenty-four different outdoor activities including everything from mountain bike trails to off-road trails. You can search trails nearby, view details of specific trails and even get up-to-date weather conditions to ensure a quality outdoor experience.
Knot Guide
Knots are used in sailing, climbing, tree trimming, jewelry making, and everyday tasks such as attaching a load to your vehicle. Knot Guide has 17 different categories include: Bends, Binding Knots, Climbing Knots, Decorative Knots, Fishing Knots, Hitches, Lashings, Loops, Rope Care, Sailing Knots, Scout Knots, Shortenings, Splices, Stopper Knots, and Whippings.
Camping Recipes
When mac and cheese doesn’t cut it, check out Camping Recipes for iPhone, where you will find delicious and easy camping recipes that will satisfy big or picky appetites. This app offers easy, delicious recipes for camping and hiking!
Bug Repellent
Keep pesky mosquitoes and other insects far away with Bug Repellant. This app emits a high frequency that is harmless to humans, pets and plants. It can be used while camping, hunting, fishing, farming and sleeping
Flashlight
Simple but often overlooked, the flashlight app can really be handy in a pinch.
CompassGo
Given a “thumbs up” by Macworld, this simple GPS compass allows you to set a certain location in its memory so you can find your way back with ease. It’s great in the wilderness but even more helpful when trying to find your car in a crowded parking lot.
Army Survival
With more than 1,400 pages, Army Survival is a comprehensive guide pulled straight from the U.S. Army Field Manual 21-76, titled “Survival.” It includes psychology of survival, basic survival medicine, shelters, water procurement and more.
Maplets - Maps for All National Parks, Subway, Ski Resorts and more
The most comprehensive map app on the app store, with over 5000 maps in the US and worldwide including Yosemite, New York Subway, London Tube, Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, State Parks, and more!
Running
Get Running! – Couch to 5K
I like to run and this is a great app for those just starting out. Targeted more for beginner runners, Get Running provides users with a specific training regimen over the course of nine weeks, with the end goal of being able to run for 30 minutes. Audio prompts guide users through each workout and even provide encouragement along the way.
Ghost Running
Sometimes, the best motivation is competition, and who better to compete with than yourself? Ghost Race enables you to track your times on various routes and compare your performance from day to day. The app’s audio function also keeps you updated on your progress against your ‘Ghost’ in real-time.
RunKeeper
RunKeeper Pro is probably the most well-known of the running apps on this list. This is a feature-rich app that enables GPS tracking, distance, speed monitoring, caloric output and activity history for any number of activities you partake in including sports such as running, cycling, hiking, skiing and swimming. You can also sync all the data to RunKeeper’s website to monitor progress and share publicly. RunKeeper also offers a simplified version of the app for free.
Other Sports
FishMate - Fishing Times With Tight Lines
A great fishing app, FishMate, gives you information on the major and minor feeding times, moon phase as well as weather forecasts to help you plan your fishing outings. Developed by former touring professional bass angler and the host of the syndicated radio fishing show called Tight Lines, Sammy Lee, this app is full of Mr. Lee's 30 years of fishing experience. The app features Fishin' Time, which tells you everything you need to plan your fishing trip, current weather conditions for your area and places to store photos of your catch.
Surfline
For surfers and bodyboarders, finding the perfect beach means finding the best surfing conditions. Surfline has a free iPhone app that lets you monitor surf conditions at local beaches. It is location aware and automatically shows the conditions of the beaches closest to you. Each location has current conditions, 5 day forecast and if available, a live stream of the actual location.
iNavX Marine Navigation
Never lose sight of land with iNavX Marine Navigation. This app turns your iPhone into a detailed NOAA RNC U.S. waters marine chart, then plots your position in real time. Before you set sail, tap to get the latest weather, tide, and current forecasts.
iTrailMap 3D
Designed for skiers and snowboarders, this application gives you 3-D tracking on mountains and trails. You can record your tracks and also upload them on the web. There is also a free version that doesn’t include the 3-D aspect.
RiverGuide for Kayakers
If you’re thinking about kayaking, rafting or canoeing in the near future, consider this app. In moments, it gives you the cubic feet per second of most U.S. rivers.
Trackback - Hunting Edition
Tag GPS waypoints for your car, base camp, stand, etc. and navigate back to them whenever needed.
Orvis Fly Fishing
I could have used this on my last fishing trip. The Orvis app provides
Animated Knots and flycasting instruction including the 10 most common casting mistakes.
You also get the field guide to top 100 trout flies, Orvis fishing reports, Podcasts, glossary and equipment guides.
Virtual Nature:
If the outdoors aren’t your thing, you can still reach out to nature from the comfort of your La-Z-Boy.
A Real Tree
This app plants a virtual tree on your device. You can watch it grow over time. The cool thing is that when you buy the app for $.99, A Real Tree plants . . . you guessed it . . . a real tree somewhere in the world. A Real Tree works with organizations that provide materials and education to local communities to plant trees in an ecologically-beneficial manner. Local communities learn how to plant trees while avoiding toxic pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers. Local communities plant trees that produce nutritious fruits and crops that they can live off of and make a living on.
Koi Pond
The classic Koi Pond. Peaceful and fun. This app is one of the most realistic water-based simulation apps available on the iPad. The water is multi-touch reactive, there is plenty of customization like lights, decorations, and plants, eight different breeds of koi, and you can shake your iPad to feed them.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So nature and gadgets can live in harmony after all! Who knew! Whether you get outside with or without your devices, make sure you get outside and enjoy all that your area has to offer. And read Hemingway's "Big Two-Hearted River." It'll make you want to go for a hike!
Thursday, June 2, 2011
What are Tablets Really Good for ? Available Technology Inc - June 2011
What are tablets really good for?
As technology changes and develops without our consent, new devices (and new ways of using old devices) pop up frequently. This frequency of change makes it impossible for any of us in the business world to get too “dug in” to the way we do things. I once had a client promise to give me his brand new laptop if I could find him an IBM Selectric typewriter, and though I suppose that’s one way to circumvent the tide of time, I doubt anyone could stay that course over one or two tech generations.
I am a creature of habit. I still run Windows XP on my main workstation. My Nikon SLR is approaching 8 years old. When things work, I stick with them. But part of what we do everyday is sort out the “tools” from the “toys”, and help our clients decide what new technology will really help them in their everyday business processes, so we stay on top of every new phone, processor, screen technology, etc that rolls off of the Chinese assembly line. I love to see new devices come from concept, to prototype, to adolescence, then finally to mainstream reality, and because of this, I love the concept of “the tablet.”
I beta tested a tablet computer in 2000. It was from Cisco, had a 7 inch screen, ran Windows 98 . . .and it was useless. It was one of the first implementations I had seen of wifi in a portable device, which was nice to see, but you couldn’t USE it. Over the years, the tablet has evolved to a usable and even profitable device. For some things. Let’s explore some of the things that your business can do with a tablet.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
The first recorded use of the word “tablet” was in 1880 when it was used to refer to a pad of writing paper. Previous to that, “tablet” was most often used to refer to the Mosaic Ten Commandments, flat stone slates that contained the original Ten Commandments inscribed by the hand of God and given to Moses to present to the Israelites.
Steve Jobs would like you to believe that his tablet, the iPad, is as historically significant as Moses’ engraved variety. Although Apple, Samsung and Motorola have designed some amazing and useful devices, I don’t think anyone would attempt to say that the tablet is on par with any Divine revelations to the human race. In fact, I have observed that the biggest social accomplishment of the tablet in general may be that instead of retiring to the restroom with the Sunday paper, folks are now heading to the loo with an iPad under their arm. Congratulations, Steve Jobs.
Jaosn Hiner of TechRepublic (http://tek.io/lh8gRr) says that the iPad is only good for 3 things: reading, playing, and taking notes. I agree with this assessment. Tablets are consumption devices, not creation devices. Some artists have made beautiful works of art with a tablet and a stylus, but these accomplishments are the exception that proves the rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Can a tablet replace a computer? Yes, for some people. If you primarily use your computer to check email, read news, surf the web and play simple games, then you may be able to ditch your bulky PC and settle down with an iPad or Xoom. Just don’t expect them to do everything your computer did, like cut and paste easily, edit graphics, or work with spreadsheets and documents in any quantity. Your attempts will soon become frustrating, and your tablet may not last long enough to see the light of morn.
The tablet can be very useful for your business, and here’s how you can get started taking advantage of the tablet’s size and flexibility.
• Take credit card payments
Apps like Square and Intuit’s GoPayment allow you to take payments from your customers right on an iPad or Android based tablet. Card swipers that connect wirelessly are available for these devices, and if the tablet has 3G capability, your technicians or representatives can take payments at the customer’s door. Businesses love 3G access since they can take payments even if the internet in their building is down. It makes a great cash register backup!
• Let your Clients Book Their Own Appointments
Personal Trainers, Salons, and other service based businesses use applications made for their industry to book appointments. The customer comes in and in the waiting area, they are handed an iPad or other tablet, on which they can choose their services and even their stylist / trainer, tap a confirmation and be brought back to their room at their scheduled time.
Plumbers, HVAC service providers and others can deploy the tablet to their technicians who take them onsite. Their appointments are pushed to their device, from which they can give estimates, take orders, and even get signatures right from the pad.
Many of these apps are free, or require a monthly fee. But if nothing exists for your particular business, it can be written especially for you. Interested? Call us!
• Present Your Company to Clients in an Interactive Way
Businesses are also using tablets to show their customers and prospects what products and services they offer in new innovative ways. Mercedes dealerships have deployed iPads to their salespeople who can easily pull up financing options and vehicle specs on the device to show the customer. You can also use a tablet as an interactive brochure. Rather than have them read last month’s “Guns and Ammo,” why not hand them an iPad with a multimedia presentation of all the services you offer? Customers and clients can peruse your website while they wait, or as a presales warmup before a big presentation. If your sales folks are used to carrying a laptop with a Powerpoint presentation, have them use a tablet instead. It lends credibility to your business and creates an elegant professional impression.
• Take applications and increase your paperless-ness
Many doctor’s offices have begun accepting medical forms and other paperwork from a tablet rather than handing patients paper to fill out. The filler-outer can easily type into the document and save when finished. The office personnel can then print or file the document without ever touching a sheet of paper.
• Tablets are a great way for new employees to watch training videos and take training exams
Because of the tablet’s portability, a new employee or applicant could comfortably watch video material or fill out job applications on a tablet.
• Grow your marketing list
I heard of an Orthodontist that handed a tablet to each patient that came in, with the company’s facebook page up on the screen. They asked the patient to sign in and “like” their Facebook page while they sat. This helped the practice to grow their Facebook friends by 200% monthly.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
There are many other ways that tablets can be utilized in the workplace. They are truly versatile, inexpensive, accessible and fun devices. Rather than playing “Angry Birds” on your Samsung Galaxy, think of ways you can put it to work for you.
If it all seems like too much to take in, take 2 “tablets” (the aspirin kind) and give us a call! We’ll help you sort it all out.
Mike Lane
Available Technology Inc
http://www.available-tech.net/
As technology changes and develops without our consent, new devices (and new ways of using old devices) pop up frequently. This frequency of change makes it impossible for any of us in the business world to get too “dug in” to the way we do things. I once had a client promise to give me his brand new laptop if I could find him an IBM Selectric typewriter, and though I suppose that’s one way to circumvent the tide of time, I doubt anyone could stay that course over one or two tech generations.
I am a creature of habit. I still run Windows XP on my main workstation. My Nikon SLR is approaching 8 years old. When things work, I stick with them. But part of what we do everyday is sort out the “tools” from the “toys”, and help our clients decide what new technology will really help them in their everyday business processes, so we stay on top of every new phone, processor, screen technology, etc that rolls off of the Chinese assembly line. I love to see new devices come from concept, to prototype, to adolescence, then finally to mainstream reality, and because of this, I love the concept of “the tablet.”
I beta tested a tablet computer in 2000. It was from Cisco, had a 7 inch screen, ran Windows 98 . . .and it was useless. It was one of the first implementations I had seen of wifi in a portable device, which was nice to see, but you couldn’t USE it. Over the years, the tablet has evolved to a usable and even profitable device. For some things. Let’s explore some of the things that your business can do with a tablet.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
The first recorded use of the word “tablet” was in 1880 when it was used to refer to a pad of writing paper. Previous to that, “tablet” was most often used to refer to the Mosaic Ten Commandments, flat stone slates that contained the original Ten Commandments inscribed by the hand of God and given to Moses to present to the Israelites.
Steve Jobs would like you to believe that his tablet, the iPad, is as historically significant as Moses’ engraved variety. Although Apple, Samsung and Motorola have designed some amazing and useful devices, I don’t think anyone would attempt to say that the tablet is on par with any Divine revelations to the human race. In fact, I have observed that the biggest social accomplishment of the tablet in general may be that instead of retiring to the restroom with the Sunday paper, folks are now heading to the loo with an iPad under their arm. Congratulations, Steve Jobs.
Jaosn Hiner of TechRepublic (http://tek.io/lh8gRr) says that the iPad is only good for 3 things: reading, playing, and taking notes. I agree with this assessment. Tablets are consumption devices, not creation devices. Some artists have made beautiful works of art with a tablet and a stylus, but these accomplishments are the exception that proves the rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Can a tablet replace a computer? Yes, for some people. If you primarily use your computer to check email, read news, surf the web and play simple games, then you may be able to ditch your bulky PC and settle down with an iPad or Xoom. Just don’t expect them to do everything your computer did, like cut and paste easily, edit graphics, or work with spreadsheets and documents in any quantity. Your attempts will soon become frustrating, and your tablet may not last long enough to see the light of morn.
The tablet can be very useful for your business, and here’s how you can get started taking advantage of the tablet’s size and flexibility.
• Take credit card payments
Apps like Square and Intuit’s GoPayment allow you to take payments from your customers right on an iPad or Android based tablet. Card swipers that connect wirelessly are available for these devices, and if the tablet has 3G capability, your technicians or representatives can take payments at the customer’s door. Businesses love 3G access since they can take payments even if the internet in their building is down. It makes a great cash register backup!
• Let your Clients Book Their Own Appointments
Personal Trainers, Salons, and other service based businesses use applications made for their industry to book appointments. The customer comes in and in the waiting area, they are handed an iPad or other tablet, on which they can choose their services and even their stylist / trainer, tap a confirmation and be brought back to their room at their scheduled time.
Plumbers, HVAC service providers and others can deploy the tablet to their technicians who take them onsite. Their appointments are pushed to their device, from which they can give estimates, take orders, and even get signatures right from the pad.
Many of these apps are free, or require a monthly fee. But if nothing exists for your particular business, it can be written especially for you. Interested? Call us!
• Present Your Company to Clients in an Interactive Way
Businesses are also using tablets to show their customers and prospects what products and services they offer in new innovative ways. Mercedes dealerships have deployed iPads to their salespeople who can easily pull up financing options and vehicle specs on the device to show the customer. You can also use a tablet as an interactive brochure. Rather than have them read last month’s “Guns and Ammo,” why not hand them an iPad with a multimedia presentation of all the services you offer? Customers and clients can peruse your website while they wait, or as a presales warmup before a big presentation. If your sales folks are used to carrying a laptop with a Powerpoint presentation, have them use a tablet instead. It lends credibility to your business and creates an elegant professional impression.
• Take applications and increase your paperless-ness
Many doctor’s offices have begun accepting medical forms and other paperwork from a tablet rather than handing patients paper to fill out. The filler-outer can easily type into the document and save when finished. The office personnel can then print or file the document without ever touching a sheet of paper.
• Tablets are a great way for new employees to watch training videos and take training exams
Because of the tablet’s portability, a new employee or applicant could comfortably watch video material or fill out job applications on a tablet.
• Grow your marketing list
I heard of an Orthodontist that handed a tablet to each patient that came in, with the company’s facebook page up on the screen. They asked the patient to sign in and “like” their Facebook page while they sat. This helped the practice to grow their Facebook friends by 200% monthly.
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There are many other ways that tablets can be utilized in the workplace. They are truly versatile, inexpensive, accessible and fun devices. Rather than playing “Angry Birds” on your Samsung Galaxy, think of ways you can put it to work for you.
If it all seems like too much to take in, take 2 “tablets” (the aspirin kind) and give us a call! We’ll help you sort it all out.
Mike Lane
Available Technology Inc
http://www.available-tech.net/
Monday, May 9, 2011
Achieving the Paperless Office - Available Technology Inc.
Achieving the Paperless Office
Why go paperless?
• Reduce Clutter
• Save on Storage Costs
• Find Documents Quickly
• Backups!
• Access documents from anywhere
Secret Weapon? OCR! (Optical Character Recognition) Does exactly what the name suggests. Scans documents and indexes every word so documents can be located quickly and easily
Get Started!
1. Reduce Incoming Paper
a. Unsubscribe from mailing lists and trade publications. Get online versions of magazines and newspapers
b. If you don’t read it, cancel it!
c. Check the little box that allows vendors to send you “electronic statements”
2. Reduce Outgoing Paper
a. Don’t print it if you don’t absolutely have to
b. Utilize email, “Drop Box” (www.dropbox.com), and internet faxing (www.metrofax.com)
3. Reorganize the paper you already have
Tools You will Need . . .
• Unwavering Patience and Stony Determination
• A Scanner – Fujitsu Scansnap or Xerox Documaster (http://scanners.fcpa.fujitsu.com/scansnap11/index.html)
(http://www.xeroxscanners.com/en/us/)
• OCR Software – Adobe Acrobat or ReadIris Pro
http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobatpro.html
http://www.irislink.com/Readiris
The Result:
1. Spend less time organizing and less $$ on paper
2. Save some trees
3. Have your files always with you
4. Instantly Search all your Documents
5. Less Clutter = More
Friday, August 6, 2010
64 bit computing vs. 32 bit
Most computers these days come with a 64 bit operating system installed. But sometimes, 64 bit isn't the best option. Many times we are asked about the between these 2 platforms.
64 bit computing has been around for a long time. AMD was the first to introduce a 64 bit processor, but it wasn't widely accepted until Intel implemented the technology in some of its newer processors.
In order for 64 bit to be an advantage for the user,you need an operating system that supported the technology and applications that are written to use the new code. Before Windows® Vista and OS X 10.6, that was hard to come by. You've probably seen that Windows® 7 comes in 32 and 64-bit version and wondered what the difference is. Even now, I'm still surprised at how long it's taken to convert everyone over.
Without getting too technical or doing any math, I'll explain the difference and why you should go with it.
The Difference:
In computing architecture, 32-bit and 64-bit refer to the size of data in terms of integers and memory addresses. CPUs and memory simply support 64-bit long values. It's easy to think about it in terms of literal addresses, too. Say you have a phone book, we'll call it a the 32-bit phone book, and the integers are the contact information for people. The 32-bit phone book can list a total of 4 gigabytes (GB) of memory, or over 4 billion integers. So this "32-bit phone book" can hold the names and contact information of all the people on the planet living today. Contrast that with the range of 64-bit addressing, which is over 18 quintillion integers and more memory that you get get right now, and you can say that the "64-bit phone book" would be able to store the names and contact information for all the people that ever were or will be on the planet.
For your computer, this gives you support for more system memory, and that means better multitasking and generally improved performance across the board.
How to get it:
It's quite easy to get a 64-bit system these days. Most every modern computer, application, and operating system is designed around the 64-bit architecture. Due to both availability and price, your average desktop computer system supports between 8 GB and 16 GB memory maximum, with high-performance motherboards, systems, and servers supporting much higher total, but still nowhere near the theoretical limit of the 64-bit range. That's just fine because buying anything near a petabyte (PB) of memory in this day and age would be a poor decision.
There's still plenty of headroom in the 64-bit architecture to last for many years to come, even considering how fast technology advances.
Just go with it:
The obvious benefit to having more memory in your system is that it lets you hold more data in a place that the CPU can access quickly. Your RAM is a much faster resource than the virtual memory that your hard drive uses, in part because of the way the data is stored, on chips, and because of the speed of the interfaces. You may notice when your system is low on available RAM, it begins to chug and hang; that's your hard drive trying to keep up with the speedy demands of the CPU.
I was quite familiar with the warning message in Windows XP, telling me I was out of free memory. While it's generally seen as the sweet spot amount of RAM to have, having more than 4 GB of memory in a 64-bit operating system can make it easier to manage large multimedia files like high definition videos and is essential for high-resolution 3D gaming. Audio and video recording also become more stable because the RAM provides an ample buffer while the hard drive busily spins away recording your data.
Plus, you can do fun things like open every Tech Tip article in your web browser at the same time!
If you have any questions or comments don't hesitate to drop us a line in our comments section!
64 bit computing has been around for a long time. AMD was the first to introduce a 64 bit processor, but it wasn't widely accepted until Intel implemented the technology in some of its newer processors.
In order for 64 bit to be an advantage for the user,you need an operating system that supported the technology and applications that are written to use the new code. Before Windows® Vista and OS X 10.6, that was hard to come by. You've probably seen that Windows® 7 comes in 32 and 64-bit version and wondered what the difference is. Even now, I'm still surprised at how long it's taken to convert everyone over.
Without getting too technical or doing any math, I'll explain the difference and why you should go with it.
The Difference:
In computing architecture, 32-bit and 64-bit refer to the size of data in terms of integers and memory addresses. CPUs and memory simply support 64-bit long values. It's easy to think about it in terms of literal addresses, too. Say you have a phone book, we'll call it a the 32-bit phone book, and the integers are the contact information for people. The 32-bit phone book can list a total of 4 gigabytes (GB) of memory, or over 4 billion integers. So this "32-bit phone book" can hold the names and contact information of all the people on the planet living today. Contrast that with the range of 64-bit addressing, which is over 18 quintillion integers and more memory that you get get right now, and you can say that the "64-bit phone book" would be able to store the names and contact information for all the people that ever were or will be on the planet.
For your computer, this gives you support for more system memory, and that means better multitasking and generally improved performance across the board.
How to get it:
It's quite easy to get a 64-bit system these days. Most every modern computer, application, and operating system is designed around the 64-bit architecture. Due to both availability and price, your average desktop computer system supports between 8 GB and 16 GB memory maximum, with high-performance motherboards, systems, and servers supporting much higher total, but still nowhere near the theoretical limit of the 64-bit range. That's just fine because buying anything near a petabyte (PB) of memory in this day and age would be a poor decision.
There's still plenty of headroom in the 64-bit architecture to last for many years to come, even considering how fast technology advances.
Just go with it:
The obvious benefit to having more memory in your system is that it lets you hold more data in a place that the CPU can access quickly. Your RAM is a much faster resource than the virtual memory that your hard drive uses, in part because of the way the data is stored, on chips, and because of the speed of the interfaces. You may notice when your system is low on available RAM, it begins to chug and hang; that's your hard drive trying to keep up with the speedy demands of the CPU.
I was quite familiar with the warning message in Windows XP, telling me I was out of free memory. While it's generally seen as the sweet spot amount of RAM to have, having more than 4 GB of memory in a 64-bit operating system can make it easier to manage large multimedia files like high definition videos and is essential for high-resolution 3D gaming. Audio and video recording also become more stable because the RAM provides an ample buffer while the hard drive busily spins away recording your data.
Plus, you can do fun things like open every Tech Tip article in your web browser at the same time!
If you have any questions or comments don't hesitate to drop us a line in our comments section!
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