When you go out shopping, or to a baseball game, or wherever, odds are fair that you lock your car doors when you leave. You probably want to protect your...
New Zealand's national broadcaster (TVNZ) discriminating against non-Windows users?
Update: It seems that using the gxine plugin, it is possible to view those video streams on Ubuntu anyway. Some people at least got it to work using Epiphany. I can confirm that this does work, but for some reason, it won't work for me with Firefox. ... (more in the full post)
The new multiple face of Internet threats - Calgary Herald
New licensing from Microsoft: Now you are only half shafted!
Microsoft treats us today to some new and improved (TM) licensing: Apparently, it is now allowed to move some server installations around a data center. Mind you, it was also technically possible before (because that's what you can do with collection... (more in the full post)
Some MID around the Intel Developer Forum 2008
Even before the official exhibition opens at the�Intel Developer Forum in San Francisco we can see the big them of mobility going around. Below are just a sample of the devices I could see when entering the main event centre hall.
All those devices are based on Intel Atom:
Lenovo Ideapad U8 (above), running Linux, 512 MB RAM, 8 GB SSD
Asus R50A (above), running Microsoft Windows Vista, 1 GB RAM, 32 GB SSD
Clarion MiND (above), running Linux, 512 MB RAM, 8 GB SSD
Aigo P8880 (above), running Linux, 512 MB RAM, 4 GB SSD
USI MID-150 (above), running Linux, 512 MB, 8 GB SSD
Below you see a video with Ultra Mobility Group Uday Keshavdas showing three Intel Atom-powered devices that will be on hand this week at IDF San Francisco, including the special Oylmpic edition Lenovo ideapad.
Amit Mital, General Manager Live Mesh will keynote the Microsoft Tech Ed New Zealand 2008
Microsoft New Zealand has confirmed Amit Mital, General Manager Live Mesh and Developer Platform, as its keynote speaker for the Microsoft Tech Ed New Zealand 2008.From the page:[quote]Software-plus-Services is Microsoft's st... (more in the full post)
Xero is going international
Wellington-based Xero is going international, according to a release in the NZSX and a blog post. Xero is a listed company in the NZX and this is from the official announcement:
Xero wishes to advise that by early 2009 it will release a global version of its award-winning online accounting software.
Xero is choosing to disclose this part of its strategy now in order to openly respond to growing international sales enquiries.
Earlier this week Xero was named as one of the world's Top Ten Best Application User Interfaces of 2008 by Nielsen Norman Group, the US-based analysts and experts in software design.
'King of usability' and award judge Jakob Nielsen commented about Xero: "Making accounting fun? That's an award-winning design."
The award has led to a surge in interest from small businesses internationally asking when Xero will be available in countries outside its initial target markets of New Zealand, the UK and Australia.
Xero is a web-based accounting software-as-a-service platform. Sounds boring, but they managed to create an easy to use, good looking software that works for the company owner and for the accountant.
Is this another example of a monopoly taking advantage of it's customers? or just a rant.....
Is this another example of a monopoly taking advantage of it's customers?
I've blogged before that I catch the train everyday. Have been doing so, from my current stop for about 7 years.
My story begins a couple of months ago, a text comes out of the blue Epuni Station will be closed for asbestos testing" - this was 14 May 2008.
So I rock on down the next morning, and there is a bus there waiting to take little ole me to the next, and main, station on the Hutt Line.
I go to the the inquiries desk and they tell me a couple of days for testing.
Monday, I rock on down, expecting the bus to be there, what its not? Why wasn't I told? And even the station at this point has no external signs, only after going under the subways do I see the boards over the stairs.
So at this point I start taking the bus to the main train station. I ask at the station, send emails to tranz metro, and get I don't know from the ticket office, and no reply from tranz metro.
Fast forward a month and there is an article in the local newspaper saying, yes asbestos was found and they will rebuild the station.
This continues with no word, no communication (and what looks like no progress) until the middle of July where its announced the station will re-open end of July.
31 July I ask the man at the inquiries desk, and he tells me that no it wont be open (tomorrow - Thursday) but also no hint that it would in fact. open in 2 weeks.
11 August, text comes out saying it will be open on the 12th.
So imagine my surprise when I get down to the station on the 13th to find that in 3 months, the only noticeable change is the fact the internal stairs are still blocked and that there is no roof.
So I could just make this a rant against tranz metro, and I kind of have, but the story does serve a bit of a point of how a monopoly can through lack of communication, leave a sour taste in the mouths of everyone concerned and because they are a monopoly, the consumer has no options but to take it, as they cannot take their business elsewhere.
Monopoly = Fail.
4 Minutes To Compromise
How fast can you download all of the latest patches? Well, if you were to install Windows from scratch on a PC, then connect to the Internet to download all...
Local vs Hosted Servers
When dealing with IT companies especially the smaller ones, most of them recommend getting a local server. Why is that? Well the short answer is because they make a-lot of money out of it. When quoting all they show is the purchase costs and maybe the setup costs. Left out of the pricing is hardware and software upgrades every 2-3 years, electricity, backup costs and the killer is on-going support.
Cost Generally Not Included In Server Quotes
· Server replacement every 3 years or so
· Operating system upgrades – purchased every year or two
· Technical time required to update operating system service patches
· Hardware failure “fixes” for PCs and servers
· Antivirus software updates – purchased every year
· Technical time to update antivirus software
· Technical time to manage the removal of viruses caught by antivirus software
· Managing changes to the setup/physical location/profiles of PCs
· Technical time to manage spy ware – load software, clear files
· Technical time to perform backups, remove tapes off site
· Disaster recovery plan implementation
· Air conditioning & UPS to manage the server
· Data corruption repairs
· Electricity for onsite servers
I am not against having a local server as at times it is the ideal solution however for a lot of small to medium enterprises a hosted solution is far more beneficial and cost effective. Hosted server services have the benefit of fixing your IT expenditure, back up is automated and you get additional benefits like being able to access your software and files from anywhere with a PC and a broadband connection.
Also covered with a hosted server solution is disaster recovery and business continuity protecting your data from earthquake and fire to accidently deleting that file that you really need.
An Information Week article states "The security company unveiled a study this past April showing that 33% of respondents said they believe a major data-loss incident involving accidental or malicious distribution of confidential data could put them out of business. The study, called Datagate, is based on a survey of more than 1,400 IT professionals at companies with at least 250 employees in the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Australia."
With a hosted solution you have tighter controls on your data, reducing the risk of theft or a malicious attack.
The flip side of having a hosted terminal services solution is that if you have a slow internet connection there can be a delay from when clicking and something happening, which can be frustrating at times and the biggest risk is not being able to access your files and software at all if the internet connection goes down, however these risks can be mitigated with redundancies. Although these risks exist, a lot of businesses are seeing the benefits outweighing the risks and moving to hosted solutions.
Dan Ballard is an IT Consultant for Horizon Pacific and specializes in providing technology services and solutions to small to medium businesses. 0800 485 465
No comments:
Post a Comment