Tag Archives: Apple iPod Touch

About 1092 days ago Business Software

The Best 5 iPad Apps for Business

our beautiful site

Already a consumer success with more than 1 million units sold within one month of its U.S. launch, Apple’s iPad (from $499 is also gaining traction among mobile professionals looking to remain productive on the go. Not everyone agrees on whether this “magical” tablet was built for business, of course — be sure to read our discussion here – but those who do use it work now have many dedicated applications (“apps”) to choose from at the App Store (part of iTunes). This includes Apple’s own iWork offerings, such as Pages for word processing, Numbers for spreadsheets and Keynote for presentations ($9.99 apiece), and dozens of inexpensive third-party apps (see below). “Not only is the iPad built for travel — it’s just a pound and a half and with a battery pushing 12 hours between charges — but its stunning 9.7-inch screen makes it a convincing showpiece to display media, online content or a visual presentation to a client or customer,” says Scott Steinberg, CEO for the TechSavvy Global technology consulting firm in Seattle. “And its online, on-demand apps can transform the device into a portable language translator, note taker, personal digital assistant, information hub, voice recorder, invoice tracker, CSM tool, and so on.” Not only does the iPad feature many dedicated apps for the platform, but out of the box it works with most of the 200,000 apps designed for iPhone and iPod touch. Tim Doherty, research analyst and mobility expert for small and mid-sized businesses at IDC, a Framingham, Mass.-based market research firm, believes the iPad is still “pricey” for widespread deployment in a company, the tablet form factor lends itself well to data capture type applications, such as replacing a traditional clipboard. “Business executives may be drawn to the devices because of its ‘wow’ factor, and what I find compelling is the pricing of the mobile broadband for iPad, which is certainly more attractive than the traditional $60 a month mobile broadband card,” says Doherty. “But ultimately they probably won’t ready to ditch their laptops for this first iteration of the device.” Doherty thinks competition will help drive the price down. “In the future, increased competition from vendors offering Android tablets, a possible WebOS tablet from HP and potentially a BlackBerry tablet from RIM can help drive pricing down and adoption up,” adds Doherty. “Like iPhone did in helping to drive the smartphone market, iPad can do for the tablet market, to the benefit of multiple vendors.” Recommended iPad apps for business The iPad apps you need for business depends on your specific needs, naturally, but along with the aforementioned Apple iWork offerings, the following are five excellent tools to consider. Dragon Dictation (free)Nuance’s easy-to-use and accurate app will transcribe your voice into text like a personal secretary. Once transcribed, you can save the work, e-mail, or send as text message. Also consider Nuance’s free Dragon Search, which lets you ask a question into the iPad’s microphone and you’ll see the relevant answers and/or websites pooled from online sources. WebEx for iPad (free)Need to attend an online meeting but nowhere near your PC? No worries, as you can join the WebEx conference call, brainstorming sessions or presentation on your iPad. Experience live, real-time data and audio wherever work takes you — and save time and money on traveling for meetings. Evernote (free)Got a million dollar idea while on the go? Figured out how to fix your sales hurdles? Type, draw, or speak it inside of Evernote, a powerful tool available for iPad, and so long as you’re online it’ll immediately synchronize with your Mac or PC for safe keeping. The simple interface and powerful options make this app an ideal one for mobile businesspersons. LogMeIn ($29.99)Don’t fret if you forgot an important document or presentation on the office or home PC (or Mac). Use your fingertip on the iPad to remotely log into one or more computers, anywhere on the world, to access what you need as if you were in front the other screen(s). LogMeIn can also be used to troubleshot a colleague’s computer or play Flash-based games if you find some downtime. Square (free)With Square Inc.’s clever software, small and mid-sized businesses can quickly and securely accept card and cash payments on the spot. When the transaction is completed, use this app to generate e-mail and SMS receipts on the spot. Features include itemized lists of sold products or services, adjustable sales tax options, and more.  

About 1330 days ago Business Software

Top 10 Free Apps and Services for Business

our beautiful site

Times are tough, but you can save your company some cash by taking advantage of many free applications and services to help you remain lean and competitive. This includes many downloadable programs for your BlackBerry, iPhone, or Android smartphone as well as tools for PC productivity, such as online back-up options, voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) software, and no-cost office suites. Free apps are sought-after downloads today in business. It’s not just because it makes sense to those watching their bottom line, but the apps are getting a lot more robust instead of simply covering the basics, says Scott Steinberg, publisher of Digital Trends. “You’d be surprise what you can find today when it comes to free applications — and there’s plenty of free apps to choose from for your smartphone, PC, or a cloud-computing solution that bridges the two,” adds Steinberg. Steinberg says he’s most excited about the explosion in downloadable apps for smartphones. “The apps transform phones into notebook replacements, audio recorders, GPS navigation devices, note-taking devices, and even gaming getaways for those in need of an entertainment fix while traveling for business.” Speaking of travel, Chris Silva, an analyst at the Cambridge, Mass.-based Forrester, the technology research company, says many of these free productivity tools have an inherent benefit compared to traditional desktop software: “On-the-go businesspersons want to be able to access their content wherever and whenever, and on any device — and while Microsoft recently unveiled a ‘cloud’ component to [Microsoft] Office, we’re finding people are turning to Google’s established and free Gmail for e-mail, file storage, document sharing, and so on.” Caveat emptor There’s little dispute that cost-cutting measures are critical — especially given the current state of the economy — but there are a few things about free software that businesses should be aware of. Silva reminds businesses that these free apps are still not as full-featured as paid versions. “Productivity suites might not have the 500-plus menus and tools built into Microsoft Office, for example, but most people don’t venture outside of ‘create, format, print and share’ anyway,” he says. “Many companies, especially small to mid-sized businesses, are finding these free alternatives to be good enough for their needs.” Silva also warns of two other possible downsides to free apps. “It’s no secret there are occasional Gmail outages, which means you can’t access your e-mail, or Skype congestion that can affect call quality, along with other issues associated with Internet-based solutions,” he says. “Plus, there are always increased security risks in allowing your employees to use any kind of software they want. You’ll need to take steps to educate employees about risks, about some company information that shouldn’t be shared with Gmail or IM, and mitigate these with policies.” Best bets for free apps If you’re looking for completely free apps for your smartphone or PC, consider the following recommendations: Skype – Available for PCs and select smartphones (iPhone and Windows Mobile), Skype lets you make free phone calls to any other Skype user on the Internet via VoIP technology. PC users can also chat using video, swap files, or pay a few cents a minute for “Skype Out” calls to landlines and cell phones. Gmail – Google’s free Web-based e-mail solution reliably keeps you in touch with others, regardless of the platform you’re using it on. Benefits include loads of storage, little spam, contact and calendar management, and support for Google Talk between multiple devices. OpenOffice.org – Sun Microsystems’s free Microsoft Office alternative offers a suite of productivity tools, including word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, databases, and graphics. It supports multiple operating systems and has a portable version that runs off a USB key. Documents To Go – With a free version included on newer BlackBerry devices, this clever app suite allows for viewing and editing of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents. It’s usually bundled with PDF To Go, as well, supporting Adobe’s popular Portable Document Format. Zoho – Free for individuals, Zoho’s range of productivity and collaboration apps include Zoho Mail, Zoho Chat, Zoho CRM, Zoho Writer, Zoho Discussions, Zoho Sheet, Zoho Meeting, Zoho Show, Zoho Creator, Zoho Docs, Zoho Invoice, Zoho Notebook, Zoho Projects, Zoho Wiki, Zoho Reports, and others. Windows Live SkyDrive – Microsoft is offering up to 25GB of free online storage. Only a Windows ID is required (such as a Hotmail e-mail address) and this password-protected virtual drive can be accessed for virtually any online computer in the world. Some folders can be set up for sharing, while other are for your eyes only. Remote Desktop Lite – Use your iPhone or iPod touch to securely access a Windows XP Professional computer, anywhere on the planet. This software provides full access to your PC — via Wi-Fi or EDGE — as if you were in front of the machine you’re accessing. At the time of writing this, Remote Desktop Lite is the no. 1 free business app at Apple’s App Store. Call Time Tracker by momentum – As the name suggests, Redwood Technologies’ free app for Blackberry helps business professionals account for their time in order to bill hours and recover expenses. Ideal for lawyers, consultants, salespeople, realtors and IT professionals, this app pops up at the end of calls and you can easily mark it as billable time. Nice Office – BlackBerry users can manage their e-mail, calendar, contacts, and tasks from this one free suite of tools. Nice Office securely also grants access to forms and documents, lets you record sales activity while on the go and automatically logs device activity, and provides a detailed report on mobile interactions with your contacts, including calls, messages, and appointments. Google Maps – While it doesn’t provide audio-based turn-by-turn commands, Google Maps is a completely free and powerful tool for your smartphone that can help you find nearby establishments (such as restaurants, gas stations, or hotels), show overhead street views (even with satellite imagery), and give you accurate directions to a destination. It works via GPS or even cellular technology (though the latter isn’t as accurate).

About 1634 days ago Tools on Managing Technology

Must-Have Tech Tools for 2009

Each year seems to get better with inexpensive, innovative technology for small businesses.  And for 2009 I’ve found some excellent products to recommend for you.    Here is my annual list of 10 tech tools you can’t live without in 2009.  These picks can help you be that well-equipped entrepreneur running a successful and mobile business, being more productive and having more fun — with less drudgery: iPod Touch–  Last year I recommended the iPhone.  But I got a 16 GB iPod Touch for myself. The iTouch is like an iPhone without the phone.  In essence it’s a PDA combined with an iPod for downloading podcasts, music, and video.  I wanted to continue using my existing telephone because it’s comfortable to hold against my ear.  But I couldn’t pass up the iTouch’s ability to sync my Outlook calendar and contacts; get access to Gmail when on the road; and surf the Web.  Many of the iTunes Store apps also are available for the iTouch to expand functionality. Twitter tools– Twitter, the 140-character micro blogging platform, is rapidly evolving as the place where small business contacts are being made and expanded, and conversations are happening.  Here are three must-have Twitter utilities:  TweetBeep, which sends you email alerts when your name or URL has been mentioned on Twitter; Mr.Twitter, which allows you to intelligently expand your Twitter contacts; and the Twitter Tools plugin for WordPress which allows you to pull in tweets to display on your blog and allows you to post blog posts on Twitter from within the WordPress application. Google Apps Premier for Business– Google has created an offering that is hard to turn down for small businesses needing to bring together a distributed workforce or virtual team.  For $50 per user per year, you can get Gmail with a 99.9 percent uptime guarantee using your own domain name for e-mail addresses.  Among other things, you also get use of Google Calendar and Google Sites, which can be used to create a simple company Intranet.  Best of all, you can do it yourself, or find vendors who will set you up on Google Apps inexpensively through the Solutions Marketplace that Google has established. Amazon Web Services– Amazon Web Services, a division of Amazon.com, provides inexpensive cloud computing infrastructure.  Among the services are Amazon S3 storage for backing up company data and websites and Cloudfront, which allows your website content to be distributed from multiple points to enhance speed no matter where users are located. There are no long term contracts required.  You pay as you go, and for only as much as you use.  And it’s pretty cheap. HP Touchsmart PC– This is a visually stunning personal computer that has several aesthetically pleasing, productivity-enhancing features.  It is a CPU and monitor in one.  As the name suggests, you can navigate by touching the screen if you wish.  And it has a unique way of presenting applications, with fanned-out and scrolling displays of its software applications and media.  It’s primarily targeted to consumers.  But some small businesses are seeing the advantages of the large monitor size (from 22” to 25.5”) which lets you have several applications visible at once.  Also, the clarity of the high definition monitor makes it ideal to display a video feed or photo slideshow in a business lobby or at a trade show, for instance. Flip HD Mino Video Camera– Everyone from the New York Times to my video guru friend Jim Kukral is “flipping” over the Flip.  It’s a very small, light, cheap camera that takes good quality video for the price (and can deliver HD output).  It has a USB plug so you can plug directly into a computer to transfer the video.  It even comes in a range of beautiful color combinations like pink, lime green, and black.  Video is increasingly more important to have on your website to get found in search engines, and what easier way to get started creating video for your website.  Mini notebook computer– Entrepreneurs have discovered the joy of not lugging around a laptop that weighs seven pounds.  Instead, the latest thing is the mini notebook:  ultra light, small, pared-down notebooks weighing less than three pounds. They’re now being called “netbooks” because their optimum use is to connect to the Internet and use applications in the cloud, with few apps loaded on the machine. The Asus Eee PC is one of the smallest and cheapest, retailing for a little over $300.  Dell has its Inspiron Mini 9, which comes in stunning colors like cherry red.  Just remember that with most minis you will sacrifice some comfort (keyboards are less than full size), features and computing power, in exchange for easy portability. Business card scanner– If you attend a lot of conferences and networking events, you’re likely to end up with stacks of business cards that go into a drawer.  It took work to make those contacts, so make sure you capitalize on all that work by inputting the information into your contact management system.  A business card scanner will save you considerable time.  I use CardScan and find it to be very accurate — it even seamlessly transfers the scanned information into Outlook. Digital picture frame– HP has a nice line of digital picture frames to display your favorite digital photos.  The smallest is a 3.5” digital picture frame that is no bigger than a coffee cup.  It stores/displays 45 images.  You can download images directly from your digital camera by inserting your camera’s SD memory card into the frame.  It is battery operated, so there are no wires.  It includes an AC adapter.  Best of all, it retails for around $59, making it affordable as a holiday gift to give employees or customers. Backup iPod battery– Although Apple has improved battery life in its second generation products, your battery life could be as little as two or three hours for an iPod, iPod Touch, or iPhone. If you use yours heavily while on business trips, you will eventually run out of juice. That’s where the Richard Solo Backup Battery for iPods and iPhones comes in. The device will recharge your battery either partially or fully.  So the next time you’re trying to watch two movies on a four-hour flight on your iPod Touch, you can get through them both before you have to find an electrical outlet or plug it in to your laptop. Bonus tool:  The Mobigrip– There’s no sadder sight than a Blackberry Curve with a cracked display screen because it fell out of your hand to the pavement. The Mobigrip is an inexpensive little helper that sticks to the back of any mobile device and has a little bungee cord that wraps around your finger.  Voila — your mobile device stays put. At first I was skeptical, but it really works and it’s reasonably comfortable.  It’s inexpensive enough that you could have a supply customized with your logo and give them as trade show swag or customer gifts. And if you are curious about last year’s picks, visit:   Must-Have Tech Tools for 2008.  Anita Campbell is a writer, speaker and radio talk show host who closely follows trends in the small business market at her site, Small Business Trends.

About 1634 days ago PCs, Laptops, and Notebooks

Santa Baby, Slip These Gadgets under the Tree

our beautiful site

Santa baby, slip an iTouch under the tree, for me Been an awful tough year, Santa baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight. This holiday season, the little somethings that small business owners are asking Santa to slip under the tree include lightweight notebook computers, next-generation smart phones, HD cameras, and more. With the economy in the doldrums, there’s not a whole lot to celebrate this year and not a whole lot of IT money left to celebrate with. But small business owners who’ve managed to squirrel away a little of their annual computing budget to spend on themselves or their employees before Dec. 31 have a sleigh full of electronic devices to choose from. According to a very informal poll of several dozen small business owners, here are some of the most popular items on their holiday wish lists: Little laptops Sallie Goetsch, a podcast producer at The Podcast Asylum in California, wants a UMPC — an ultra-mobile PC — the latest in lightweight computing. Also known as a tablet PC, netbook or subnotebook, the devices run 13” or smaller, weigh just a couple pounds, have touch screens and/or QWERTY keyboards and come with built ins like GPS and Wi-Fi and a variety of options. Goetsch wants something to take to conferences and events and prefers a UMPC over a smart phone. “I never did learn how to type with my thumbs,” she says. “I’m trying to decide which one, the new HP? The EEE?” Joe Pulizzi, owner of Z Squared Media, a Cleveland, Ohio, content marketing firm and founder of the Junta42 content marketing blog network, wants a mini laptop too. Pulizzi has a 17” Toshiba laptop in his home office, but it’s too big for the road. “Sometimes small is better,” he says. Pulizzi has his eyeona Toshiba Portege with a 12.1” display, built-in fingerprint reader, webcam, digital card reader, and 4 USB ports. Smartphones Linda Musgrove, owner of an Aventura, Fla., trade show consulting firm called Trade Show Teacher, already has a smartphone. But that hasn’t stopped her from lusting after the HTC Touch Pro, Sprint’s Windows Mobile 6.1 smartphone with a slide-out QWERTY keypad, touch screen, expandable memory, 3.2 megapixel camera, Wi-Fi, GPS, and Bluetooth support. The device will do double duty, managing Musgrove’s business and “my crazy family,” she says. Nancy White, owner of Custom Interface, a Bingen, Wash., custom electronics manufacturer, treated herself to an AT&T Tilt smartphone as an early Christmas present. It hasn’t been pure love at first sight — “It takes three screens to get to speed dial” — but she does love the fact that it comes loaded with Microsoft Outlook, “so the interface with my work desktop is fantastic,” she says. Cameras and gadgets When it comes to gadgets, former newspaper photographer Jay Bryant has a soft spot for cameras. This holiday, Bryant, now business development vice president at Live World, a San Jose, Calif., social networking company, has his eye on the Kodak Zi6 Flip Cam in HD. The palm-sized device has a 2.4” screen and weighs 3.8 ounces and has built-in USB port and editing software. “I’m going to try my hand at video blogging,” Bryant says. “And I’m going to start recording some of my presentations to review them afterward to see how I can do better,” Bryant says. Plus, at a suggested retail price of $180, “it’s cheap,” he says. After Andre Preoteasa, IT director at Castle Brands got himself an Apple iPod Touch, he was the most popular guy at the New York City fine spirits distributor. “Everyone in the office is asking to use it. Everybody wants one,” Preoteasa says. “It’s literally a computer in your pocket, and a very posh one.” Reviewers have dubbed the second-generation iPod Touch the iPhone’s baby brother, with many of the same features — music and video player, Safari Web browser, email, iTunes store, etc. — minus the ability to make cell phone calls. Prices run $270 to $400 for models with 8, 16 or 32 GB flash memory. Travis Isaacson, senior director of organizational development at Access Development, a Salt Lake City, affinity marketing business, doesn’t want anything that fancy, just an iPod Classic with 120 GB of memory instead of the old 80 GB model he has now so he can squeeze in more of the business books he downloads from Audible.com. Nov Omana, managing principal at Collective HR Solutions, a San Mateo, Calif. HR industry consultant, doesn’t like it when people sitting next to him at Starbucks or on an airplane peek at his laptop screen. So this holiday his wish list includes a pair of MyVu Shades, eyewear that looks like regular sunglasses but blocks out whatever is showing on a laptop or iPod screen for everyone except the person wearing them. The $199 device, which comes with built-in earbuds, is primarily sold as a way to watch videos in private but Omana thinks it has big potential with business travelers. “The next generation may allow us to just ‘see’ each other in a virtual world or over the net no matter where we are,” he says. John Klebes, business development program manager at Sig Sauer, the Exeter, N.H. gun maker, has his eye on the Livescribe Pulse Smartpen, a $200 digital pen with built in microphone, speaker, display screen and tiny camera. The Smartpen can record notes in written and audio form simultaneously when used with special “digital paper” embedded with microdots. “It sounds like a very useful tool and I wouldn’t turn down one for Christmas,” Klebes says.

About 1725 days ago Business Software

Webtop OS: What’s on Your Desktop?

The cost of maintaining IT in the business world is not cheap, and sometimes can even be astronomical. Large companies with in-house IT staff must hire specialized employees, and spend large portions of their budget on computer maintenance. There are updates, downloads, upgrades, IT staff overtime and perhaps even company downtime. Small and mid-sized businesses that outsource these services can save some money, but still can spend a big chunk of the company budget getting the job done. But there may be a solution already available, in fact one that’s been around for ages and whose time has finally come. “Webtops make absolute sense for a … [small or mid-sized business] that’s looking for an easy and inexpensive way to maintain its system and afford to hire more workers,” says Chris Pirillo, podcast tech guru and former host of TechTV program Call for Help. “It’s less of a power drain, and a much lower cost in IT expenses for multiple people.” What a webtop is The webtop — sometimes less accurately called a WebOS, or Web operating system — represents a return to the old client/server model of mainframe computing. The term “webtop” — short for web desktop — was coined as early as 1996 to characterize the migration of desktop applications to the browser. Webtops provide an environment similar to that of Windows, Mac, or a similar graphical user interface on Unix and Linux systems. They are virtual desktops running in a Web browser. In a webtop, the applications, data, files, configuration, settings, and access privileges reside remotely over the network. Much of the computing takes place remotely. The browser is primarily the window used to access the remote desktop software. To be called a webtop, it must have four things: Able to be launched automatically from a browser (i.e., no manual download, installation, or update process on local machine). Tight integrated between the user’s native browser and all the Webtop applications. Communicate seamlessly with a central server using HTTP. Use a graphic user interface (Windows-like environment). Back in 2000, Gartner Research released a prediction that “Webtops will become mainstream by 2002, and users will be free from relying on laptops to access the applications and information they need.” While that hasn’t come true, what’s held it back is not any lack of technology, but just the lack of Internet speed and computing power to manage this long-distance functionality. The world of Web 2.0 is changing that deficiency, and some companies are paying attention. Businesses revising desktop strategies Many large companies, including DaimlerChrysler, Sabre, BMW, Amadeus, and Deutsche Bank, are revising some of their desktop strategies to take advantage of webtops. And small and mid-sized businesses can likewise benefit. In contrast to the usual IT money pit, companies offering webtops handle the majority of maintenance remotely with limited client interaction required, with the company left to handle only a fraction of the costs. This distribution of computing power can not only dramatically decrease IT costs, but can also significantly improve a team’s performance through integrated data sharing and closer communications within the webtop platform. The webtop is an inevitability in this age of Web 2.0. With the growth in sheer numbers of Web-based applications, combined with the ubiquity of high speed Internet the capability for a completely portable operating system has arrived. The kind of functionalities you’ll find in a webtop includes file hosting, applications like word processor, spreadsheet, graphics and video programs, games, e-mail and contact management, desktop widgets, and almost anything you’d expect from the operating system existing on your desktop. While the general opinions of webtop reviewers make it sound like everyone should embrace the concept, not everyone sings their praises. There’s been plenty of resistance to the use of webtops — a large portion of the industry of software makers, for instance. The use of remote shared software applications — much of it open source — means far less commercial software will need to be installed on each workstation, meaning fewer software licenses sold. “If the webtop became a reality, Microsoft has the most to lose,” says Gene Phifer, managing vice president and analyst at Gartner, “because right now Microsoft owns the eyeballs of corporate Earth.” A work in progress Keep in mind webtops are still a work in progress, and as you’ll see when you test them, they are still finding the occasional bug to squash. Response lag time is still an issue at times, for one thing. Coming advances in new technologies, like the soon-to-be-released Adobe Flash 10 (currently in beta), may increase their functionality and speed the response time, but only time will tell. “I’ve tried several of them over the years,” said Pirillo, “and haven’t found any that are quite ready to handle the business world — yet. It may be a few years before webtops will be considered a business tool. But I have no doubt that it’s coming.” Webtops are a major strategic shift for many small businesses, especially those who have resisted outsourcing any IT services. Given the advances in reliability, security, and redundant backup protection that hosted services provide, however, it’s much more cost effective to focus on your core business than to dedicate resources to IT. Once webtops achieve a standardized level of functionality, and all of a company’s applications, data, and e-mails can be brought to individual users with lightning speed through any mainstream browser from a secure, managed data center, then the change will come. A webtop might be useful for your company needs, but before you spend a cent, run a few tests to see if the concept fits your business model. SIDEBAR: Webtops to Get You Started This Mashable page also has a much more comprehensive list of 45 webtops. Here’s a short list of a few of the better webtops to look consider: Glide — Has full suite of usual desktop applications, including word processing, spreadsheets, presentation, etc. Also handles video, audio, and digital pics, with graphics editing built in as well. Includes integration with and support for almost any cell phone or handheld, including BlackBerry, Palm, Windows Mobile, Symbian, and iPhone. Looks and works great on the iPod Touch as well. Just point your handheld or cell phone browser at Glidemobile.com and you’ll see what I mean. Offers 5 GB storage free, 15 GB is 4.95/mo. Also has a kids’ version, KidsGlide.com. G.ho.st (Global Hosted Operating SysTem) — As their slogan says, “G.ho.st provides a free Web-based Virtual Computer to every human being.” In alpha testing so far, but nice set up. Won a number of awards, including a Red Herring 100 Europe award. First joint Palestinian-Israeli technology start-up, operates in the Palestinian territories. Integrates with Zoho for office software. Well thought out, one to watch. Cloudo — Founded in 2006 in Stockholm, the company is privately held. Offers standard fare in terms of a webtop, including file hosting, virtual desktop widgets, applications, e-mail and contact management, and a full suite of programs you’d expect from a regular desktop OS. Visually appealing standard layout, but Cloudo offers a big range of themes, and can even mimic other operating systems including various flavors of Windows, Mac, and Linux so you can feel right at home. Currently in private developer alpha as of February 2008, Cloudo is an Ajax based virtual desktop application. Desktoptwo — Based in Mexico, built and hosted by Sapotek.com. Desktoptwo includes 1GB of free space, and includes a fully-featured OpenOffice.org suite, converted into a Java applet. Also offers RSS reader, mp3 player, IM, blog, mail and more.

About 1756 days ago Telecom and Wireless

The Business Case for the iPhone 3G

our beautiful site

A few months ago, IncTechnology assessed the worth of the Apple iPhone for business purposes, but the newer iPhone 3G — which launched with much fanfare on July 11 — introduced more than 100 new features not found in its predecessor. This includes “3G” wireless connectivity, therefore users no longer need to find a Wi-Fi hotspot to access applications or download files at high-speeds. But do these additions and improvements make it easier to justify buying an iPhone for work? Here’s what the experts say: Faster, more secure e-mail Those who need access to secure corporate e-mail while on the go were happy to hear Apple’s Steve Jobs announce Microsoft Exchange server support for the iPhone and 3G connectivity, allowing users to access data at higher speeds when not in a wireless hotspot. While this is true, it seems the smartphone is still missing some security features which might not sit well with your IT department. “Apple delivered on Exchange functionality, yes, but the iPhone is still missing one security policy available in Windows Mobile and BlackBerry devices,” cautions Ken Delaney, vice president of mobile computing at the Stamford, Conn.-based Gartner research and consulting group. “While the new iPhone supports the ability to remote ‘wipe’ a device if lost or stolen but doesn’t force the use a complex password, which some potential customers might take issue with.” GPS The addition of GPS support in the iPhone is handy for when traveling to a client’s office or finding a nearby restaurant based on your location. “If you’re a mobile professional who travels three or four days a week, an iPhone might make sense for email, browsing and multimedia — and now, GPS for local search and directions,” says Nathan Dyer, senior analyst for enterprise mobility at the Boston, Mass.-based Yankee Group. “GPS capabilities might not be provisioned by IT but can be very useful to those who spend a lot of time on the road,” Dyer adds. Keyboard The “soft” on-screen keyboard might still be an issue for those used to button-based QWERTY keyboards found on most BlackBerry or Windows Mobile devices, but in the end it boils down to personal preference, says Dyer. “Yes, the [iPhone] keyboard takes time to get used to, but if you talk to users they’ll generally adapt their typing style to the touch keyboard,” explains Dyer. “It’s not for everyone — some will struggle while others will adapt after a grinding out the steep learning curve.” Delaney says to buy a device that matches your needs, and says to think of it this way: A BlackBerry Pearl with its compressed SureType keyboard and small screen would be ideal for voice first, e-mail second, and browsing third. A BlackBerry Curve’s QWERTY keyboard, on the other hand, means the user priorities would be e-mail first, voice second, and browsing third. An iPhone’s huge screen and button-less keyboard suggests browsing first, e-mail second, and voice third. “The iPhone’s onscreen keyboard makes it difficult to type without making mistakes — it’s not a fault, per se — but just be aware there are tradeoffs with the smartphone you choose” says Delaney. Mobile Me Mobile Me is a new pay-for-use service designed to keep your computer (Windows or Mac) and iPhone or iPod touch all in sync when it comes to e-mail, contacts, and calendar entries. Dyer says Mobile Me seems to be geared more to consumers than the small or mid-sized business crowd, but he can see this “as a useful application for those who juggle their professional life, from 9 to 5, and personal life, from 6 to whenever, help make life easier with wireless synchronization of contacts and appointments.” Cost still an issue Delaney says even with these new business-like features — including 3G speeds, support for Microsoft Exchange, GPS, Mobile Me and the App Store — many will find the high price for the iPhone a tough sell at the office. “Considering you can get a BlackBerry for about $79 these days, it’s hard to justify an iPhone for business,” says Delaney. “As a result, some bosses are saying ‘if you want to use an iPhone for work, go ahead, but you’ll have to buy it yourself.’”

About 1787 days ago Telecom and Wireless

How to Standardize on a Mobile Device

our beautiful site

Summer 2008 marks the first anniversary of the iPhone, complete with the release of version 2.0. The iPhone has to be one of the most hyped-up product releases in a generation. Apple fans can tick off the new features by heart. But if you want to stump the band, ask this question: is it a smart phone? “I have never been so flamed, so badly as when I said the iPhone wasn’t a smartphone,” says Bill Hughes, a principal analyst from In-Stat, who says the first version was really more of a feature phone. He’s reserving judgment on version 2.0. The truth is most mobile devices in the United States are so-called feature devices. In a recent In-Stat survey conducted and authored by Hughes, cell phones remain the most popular mobile devices that Americans own and carry around on a regular basis. Smartphones rank below digital cameras. Other high productivity mobile devices, like the mobile Internet device (MID) rank somewhere between AM/FM radios and two-way radios. More people still carry a pager, rather than a MID, according to the survey. The big companies that manufacture and sell carriage plans for this next generation of higher functioning mobile devices are betting the farm this will all change in the next couple of years. So which mobile technologies should business owners plan on adopting for their remote or traveling workers? Hughes separates this next class of mobile devices into four categories, with the advantages and disadvantages therein: Ultra Mobile PCs (UMPCs) are basically little laptops. They’re what used to be referred to as sub-notebooks. UMPCs can do anything a laptop can do. It runs on the same operating systems with the same applications. It’s just smaller, weighing less than two pounds with a maximum seven-inch screen. The whole sub-notebook trend never really took off, but players like Microsoft, HP, Samsung and Sony are hoping for different results this time. UMPCs are currently popular in Asia. U.S offerings range in price from $800 to $1,000. Advantages: For road warriors tired of lugging around a full-size notebook through airports, the advantages are pretty obvious. UMPCs come with a QWERTY keyboard. Still UMPC makers this time around are not selling them as a laptop replacement. “Ultra Mobile PCs are being marketed as more of a companion device. It mirrors what’s on your laptop,” says Hughes. Disadvantages: Though very productive for getting work done in tight places (like the window seat in coach), it’s not an all-in-one device dooming users to carrying multiple devices. A thousand dollars is a lot of money for a secondary device. Battery life is an issue, as well. “Smaller unit, smaller battery,” points out Hughes. Mobile Internet Devices (MIDs) typically weigh under a pound and also include a QWERTY keypad. They are designed for the singular use of Wi-Fi access to the Internet. The iPod touch is one of the most popular examples of a MID in the U.S. market. The average cost of a MID runs between $400 to $700. Advantages: Most of what the average worker needs is increasingly Web-based: e-mail, core applications, logging into the company network, even voice over internet protocol (VoIP). This could be a simple solution for most employees. Disadvantages: MIDs are Wi-Fi devices only. It’s much easier to find cellular coverage than a hotspot while traveling. “There’s a lot of free Wi-Fi out there, but you have to find it,” says Hughes.  Battery life is limited, as well. Smartphones are probably best described as a combination PDA and cell phone. They also allow third party applications to be downloaded to the device. Additionally, they store and sync up contact databases and calendars. By far, out of this class of mobile devices, smart phones have made the most headway in the U.S. market. It’s hard to put a definitive price range on smart phones. They typically sell at a discounted rate as low $100, perhaps up to $400, bundled with a two year contract. Advantages: Users can access the Web through their cellular connection. It’s an all-in-one device. Among the four options laid out, it’s clearly the most popular choice to date. In-Stat claims 25 to 30 percent of all business users in the United States now have a smartphone. Disadvantages: While great for on the fly communications and light work, the average worker is begging for hand cramps and other ergonomic angst if they take on heavy computing tasks. With more employees spending more of their time out of the office than in the office, this clearly isn’t a silver bullet solution. Battery life is also a major complaint, although better than UMPCs. Smartphones with a mobile companion could be the best of all worlds, according to Hughes. “Traditionally, you start a new job and you’re issued a desk, a desk phone, and a desktop PC. Five years from now, I can see that, instead, you’re issued a smart phone and a docking station. When you travel, you pull out your mobile companion to do your work,” says Hughes. A mobile companion is about the same size as a UMPC and costs about $500. Advantages: The mobile companion offers all the ergonomic features that a smart phone lacks. It’s a fully functioning QWERTY keyboard and a bigger screen all of which syncs up with your smart phone. Even with the cost of the smart phone, it’s still a cheaper option than a UMPC and the user is not married to a harder to find Wi-Fi connection. Plus, users can maximize battery life by ping- ponging between the two devices; recharging one while using the other. Disadvantages: Mobile companions are virtually unheard of in the U.S. market and there are very few offerings available. Using larger keyboards and screens as peripherals for PDAs is nothing new among American mobile users. They are likely to confuse those offerings with mobile companions, as they become available. It’s not the devices that are limited All four of these options are currently available in the United States, but with the exception of the smartphone almost non-existent among mobile users. “Any of these four options could be a good option, making mobile employees more fully productive. But, are companies committed to making them more productive?” asks Hughes. To understand what is holding up widespread adoption, business owners and mobile users need to recognize it’s time to update their attitudes about mobile use. “I haven’t seen smart phones as a replacement for laptops. Best productivity is going to come from giving the user the most comfortable device for them,” says Josh Kaplan, president of Rescuecom, a nationwide IT support firm. Kaplan’s attitudes are typical and not incorrect, to be fair, in this current market. Here are some of the other popular user trends among mobile workers that may be holding up this next wave of mobile devices: One in three American workers carries more than one cell phone. American workers like to segregate their cellular use between two devices — one for home and one for work. According to In-Stat, 51 percent say it’s because they don’t want to mix work and personal calls. The second most popular reason is that they have two jobs. One in five American workers carries more than one portable computing device. Almost half, surveyed by In-Stat, say they want one that is small and easy to whip out to use anywhere; the other for more heavy duty computing that requires good ergonomics. Americans aren’t that dissatisfied with what they have. According to that same In-stat survey, 36 percent actually say they’re satisfied with what they have. The biggest complaint (23 percent) is keeping their devices charged, which is relatively a minor inconvenience. When asked, respondents listed more complicated issues like syncing devices, managing multiple service plans, and the weight of carrying around multiple solutions doesn’t even rank in the double digits. Nearly half of all business users choose none of the above. Forty-five percent of all business users don’t carry a mobile data device of any kind. Some four out of 10 respondents say they see it as a luxury, while another one in three prefers their desktop ergonomics.

About 1787 days ago Mobility Tips and Tricks

How to Standardize on a Mobile Device

our beautiful site

Summer 2008 marks the first anniversary of the iPhone, complete with the release of version 2.0. The iPhone has to be one of the most hyped-up product releases in a generation. Apple fans can tick off the new features by heart. But if you want to stump the band, ask this question: is it a smart phone? “I have never been so flamed, so badly as when I said the iPhone wasn’t a smartphone,” says Bill Hughes, a principal analyst from In-Stat, who says the first version was really more of a feature phone. He’s reserving judgment on version 2.0. The truth is most mobile devices in the United States are so-called feature devices. In a recent In-Stat survey conducted and authored by Hughes, cell phones remain the most popular mobile devices that Americans own and carry around on a regular basis. Smartphones rank below digital cameras. Other high productivity mobile devices, like the mobile Internet device (MID) rank somewhere between AM/FM radios and two-way radios. More people still carry a pager, rather than a MID, according to the survey. The big companies that manufacture and sell carriage plans for this next generation of higher functioning mobile devices are betting the farm this will all change in the next couple of years. So which mobile technologies should business owners plan on adopting for their remote or traveling workers? Hughes separates this next class of mobile devices into four categories, with the advantages and disadvantages therein: Ultra Mobile PCs (UMPCs) are basically little laptops. They’re what used to be referred to as sub-notebooks. UMPCs can do anything a laptop can do. It runs on the same operating systems with the same applications. It’s just smaller, weighing less than two pounds with a maximum seven-inch screen. The whole sub-notebook trend never really took off, but players like Microsoft, HP, Samsung and Sony are hoping for different results this time. UMPCs are currently popular in Asia. U.S offerings range in price from $800 to $1,000. Advantages: For road warriors tired of lugging around a full-size notebook through airports, the advantages are pretty obvious. UMPCs come with a QWERTY keyboard. Still UMPC makers this time around are not selling them as a laptop replacement. “Ultra Mobile PCs are being marketed as more of a companion device. It mirrors what’s on your laptop,” says Hughes. Disadvantages: Though very productive for getting work done in tight places (like the window seat in coach), it’s not an all-in-one device dooming users to carrying multiple devices. A thousand dollars is a lot of money for a secondary device. Battery life is an issue, as well. “Smaller unit, smaller battery,” points out Hughes. Mobile Internet Devices (MIDs) typically weigh under a pound and also include a QWERTY keypad. They are designed for the singular use of Wi-Fi access to the Internet. The iPod touch is one of the most popular examples of a MID in the U.S. market. The average cost of a MID runs between $400 to $700. Advantages: Most of what the average worker needs is increasingly Web-based: e-mail, core applications, logging into the company network, even voice over internet protocol (VoIP). This could be a simple solution for most employees. Disadvantages: MIDs are Wi-Fi devices only. It’s much easier to find cellular coverage than a hotspot while traveling. “There’s a lot of free Wi-Fi out there, but you have to find it,” says Hughes.  Battery life is limited, as well. Smartphones are probably best described as a combination PDA and cell phone. They also allow third party applications to be downloaded to the device. Additionally, they store and sync up contact databases and calendars. By far, out of this class of mobile devices, smart phones have made the most headway in the U.S. market. It’s hard to put a definitive price range on smart phones. They typically sell at a discounted rate as low $100, perhaps up to $400, bundled with a two year contract. Advantages: Users can access the Web through their cellular connection. It’s an all-in-one device. Among the four options laid out, it’s clearly the most popular choice to date. In-Stat claims 25 to 30 percent of all business users in the United States now have a smartphone. Disadvantages: While great for on the fly communications and light work, the average worker is begging for hand cramps and other ergonomic angst if they take on heavy computing tasks. With more employees spending more of their time out of the office than in the office, this clearly isn’t a silver bullet solution. Battery life is also a major complaint, although better than UMPCs. Smartphones with a mobile companion could be the best of all worlds, according to Hughes. “Traditionally, you start a new job and you’re issued a desk, a desk phone, and a desktop PC. Five years from now, I can see that, instead, you’re issued a smart phone and a docking station. When you travel, you pull out your mobile companion to do your work,” says Hughes. A mobile companion is about the same size as a UMPC and costs about $500. Advantages: The mobile companion offers all the ergonomic features that a smart phone lacks. It’s a fully functioning QWERTY keyboard and a bigger screen all of which syncs up with your smart phone. Even with the cost of the smart phone, it’s still a cheaper option than a UMPC and the user is not married to a harder to find Wi-Fi connection. Plus, users can maximize battery life by ping- ponging between the two devices; recharging one while using the other. Disadvantages: Mobile companions are virtually unheard of in the U.S. market and there are very few offerings available. Using larger keyboards and screens as peripherals for PDAs is nothing new among American mobile users. They are likely to confuse those offerings with mobile companions, as they become available. It’s not the devices that are limited All four of these options are currently available in the United States, but with the exception of the smartphone almost non-existent among mobile users. “Any of these four options could be a good option, making mobile employees more fully productive. But, are companies committed to making them more productive?” asks Hughes. To understand what is holding up widespread adoption, business owners and mobile users need to recognize it’s time to update their attitudes about mobile use. “I haven’t seen smart phones as a replacement for laptops. Best productivity is going to come from giving the user the most comfortable device for them,” says Josh Kaplan, president of Rescuecom, a nationwide IT support firm. Kaplan’s attitudes are typical and not incorrect, to be fair, in this current market. Here are some of the other popular user trends among mobile workers that may be holding up this next wave of mobile devices: One in three American workers carries more than one cell phone. American workers like to segregate their cellular use between two devices — one for home and one for work. According to In-Stat, 51 percent say it’s because they don’t want to mix work and personal calls. The second most popular reason is that they have two jobs. One in five American workers carries more than one portable computing device. Almost half, surveyed by In-Stat, say they want one that is small and easy to whip out to use anywhere; the other for more heavy duty computing that requires good ergonomics. Americans aren’t that dissatisfied with what they have. According to that same In-stat survey, 36 percent actually say they’re satisfied with what they have. The biggest complaint (23 percent) is keeping their devices charged, which is relatively a minor inconvenience. When asked, respondents listed more complicated issues like syncing devices, managing multiple service plans, and the weight of carrying around multiple solutions doesn’t even rank in the double digits. Nearly half of all business users choose none of the above. Forty-five percent of all business users don’t carry a mobile data device of any kind. Some four out of 10 respondents say they see it as a luxury, while another one in three prefers their desktop ergonomics.