Posted by The Blogging Desk on Fri, Jul 15, 2011
Press Release via MacRumors:
Streamline your purchasing process and put more power and productivity in the hands of your workforce. Every paid app in the App Store is available for businesses to buy in volume through the program website. Simply search for the apps you need, enter the quantity you want to buy, and complete the transaction with your corporate credit card. Apps are available for purchase at the same price listed in the App Store.
A few years ago, I would have been slapped in the face if I had brought up the possible enterprise implications of the iPhone. Have you ever had a frappé slapped out of your hands sending the sweet, delicious drink onto your khakis? It's not enjoyable. Or financially wise, for that matter.
However, this volume licensing does matter financially for companies that need to sort out many hundred, thousands...or even tens of apps for their employees. It can get hairy passing around an iTunes account for users and keeping tracks of apps. That should get easier with iCloud but now the big bosses can buy apps in massive quantities and keep track of their items that way. Boom!
I'd like to see if Windows Phone 7 can make things like that happen. They're a little slow to the draw on many features but they seems to be catching up slowly but surely. At this point, I wonder if Ballmer now considers the iPhone a threat in the enterprise market?
Posted by The Blogging Desk on Mon, Jan 10, 2011
- by Jack, "Babyface", Doyle
Apps, apps, apps. That’s what every smartphone owner out there wants, more apps! Well that’s exactly what the ad networks want, so they can steal, steal, and steal more of your personal information. A recent article written in the Wall Street Journal titled, “Your Apps Are Watching You,” brings this little known fact to light in great detail. According to The Journal, 101 iPhone and Android apps were analyzed to uncover how these apps behaved, what data was being transmitted without your authorization, and where it was being sent. Consumers should be appalled by the data that is being stolen from them.
Android phone owners will be happy to know that the Apps available for the iPhone leaked a considerable amount more of user’s personal data than did the Android apps. Usernames, passwords, Contacts, Age, Gender, Location, Phone Unique IDs, and Phone Number, are among the list of items being sent to software vendors and 3rd party ad agencies. Some of the apps, I.E. Google Maps, legitimately need to access your location in order to provide the user with accurate directions. This feature can also be turned off in the App. But, why does Angry Birds need to access your Contacts and send it to a 3rd party? Why is Bejeweled 2 sending your Phone Number to a 3rd party? And, why does a majority of the Apps send your Phone Unique ID to a 3rd party? You should be asking yourself, “Should I really be using this App?”
Not every App is a pilfering criminal. Many of the apps put under the microscope simply communicated only with the software vendor to authenticate the user or to provide information about the user’s surroundings based on location. There were a handful of Apps that are, unbeknownst to you, stealing your personal information and sending it off to ad agencies. I highly recommend that you read the article in the WSJ.
It is a very eye opening experience and may make you think twice about installing that new App or game. If you'd like some security advice from Trigon, don't hesitate to contact us!
Posted by The Blogging Desk on Wed, Jan 05, 2011
by Mark, "The Mind, Sarro
Like it or not Apple is here and becoming more integrated into business environments. I myself on one occasion or another have used my iPad or iPhone for a business need. Here are 10 Apps that will keep you moving forward for your business needs.
Skype
- This app allows you to instant message make and receive calls to anyone else on Skype with your iPhone or iPad. The newest version of this app allows you to use it over 3G and to keep it running in the background.
- The app is compatible with iPhone and iPad. iOS 3.0 or laterand is free in the app store. 4.5 star rating.
LogMeIn Ignition
- This app will allow you directly control your Mac or PC along with all of your programs and files. You can remotely run any business application like CRM, ERP, Salesforce, and Microsoft Office.
- The app is compatible with iPhone and iPad; iOS 3.0 or later and it costs $29.99 in the app store. 4 star rating.
iTranslate
- A universal translator for your phone! 52 languages, Text-to-Speak features can say the translation for you in the language you choose.
- The app is compatible with iPhone and iPad: iOS 3.0 or later and is free. 3.5 star rating.
Evernote
- Create text, photo and audio notes, auto-synchronize your notes to your Mac, PC and web.
- The app is compatible with iPhone and iPad; iOS 3.0 or later and is free in the app store.
- 3 star rating.
Awesome Note (+Todo)
- An innovative note taking app with the flexibility to insert images into notes, insert maps, create To-do notes, alarms, calendar view in every folder, full sync with Google Docs and Evernote.
- The app is compatible with iOS 4.0 devices and is $3.99. 4.0 star rating.
Dropbox
- By far one of my favorite apps; this app allows you to easily share and sync files and folders across multiple computers. The app requires an account with Dropbox, which is free and includes 2.0 GB of storage. Simply install the client on the PC you want to share files with and drag and drop files or folders into your “My Dropbox” folder.
- The app is compatible with iPhone or iPad and is free. 4.0 star rating.
LinkedIn
- The app for managing your professional social network account. This app gives you the ability to look up the details and connect with over 85 million professionals.
- The app is compatible with iPhone and iPad devices and is free. 2.5 star rating.
1Password (For iPhone)
- This app will securely store your important information and can automatically log you into websites with a single tap.
- The app is compatible with all iPhone devices and is $9.99. 4.0 star rating.
Print n Share
- Print to all printers and any document type via your Mac/PC. Prints to most WiFi/Wireless printers without extra software. Mount your iPad/iPhone/iPod as a network disk on your Mac/PC. Drag and drop documents and files to or from your devices.
- The app is compatible with iPhone and iPad and is $8.99. 4.0 star rating.
Mocha VNC Lite
- This app provides access to a VNC server. You can remotely connect to your Windows PC or Mac OS X and see the files, programs and resources the same as if you were sitting right in front of it. I have this app and the Mocha Remote Desktop Lite installed on my iPad and I have used both of these for various business and personal needs.
- The app is compatible with iPhone and iPad and is free. 3.0 star rating.
Trigon prides itself on being on the cutting edge for new mobile technology, and the iOS platform is no different. Contact us today on how we can help your mobile needs.
Posted by The Blogging Desk on Wed, Dec 08, 2010
First, onto the Chrome browser updates;
This year, the number of people using Chrome has tripled from 40 to 120 million. Speed is what people love most about Chrome, and we’re always working to make the browser even faster. Therefore we’re bringing Google Instant to the Omnibox, showing search results and loading web pages as you type. We’ve also overhauled V8, Chrome’s JavaScript engine. It now runs complex JavaScript programs up to twice as fast as before. These two features are available in our early access channels and will be rolling out to everyone soon.
This was definately the most boring part of the presentation. You know, all the mumbo jumbo about V8 and HTMhoo-ha that nobody really knows anything about. They really should have just had a slide that said "It's like, way faster" then moved onto the Web Store. Just saying, Google.
Today the Chrome Web Store is open for business. Developers have already started uploading apps, and we expect the number to grow over time. Right now the store is only available in the U.S., but will expand to many countries and currencies early next year. The store will be featured prominently in Chrome, helping people discover great apps and developers reach millions of users around the world.
To me, this was the most interesting news. The Chrome Web Store is a place to find the hottest web apps, or, most slickly designed websites. Many of the "web apps" are HTML or Flash ports of popular iPad apps. The Amazon Windowshopper and NPR web apps are nearly identical to their iPad counterparts. To me, that just raises UI questions. Why would I want to use an iPad app with a mouse? No thanks.
If anything, the Web Store is a great place to find new, well designed, intuitive web apps that you would have missed otherwise.
The test notebooks exist only to test the software—they are black, have no branding, no logos, no stickers, nothing. They do have 12.1 inch screens, full-sized keyboards and touch pads, integrated 3G from Verizon, eight hours of battery life and eight days of standby time. Chrome notebooks are designed to reach the web instantly, are easy to share among friends and family, and simply by logging in, all of your apps, bookmarks and other browser settings are there. Setting up a new machine takes less than a minute. And even at this early stage, we feel there is no consumer or business operating system that is more secure.
In the first half of next year Chrome notebooks will be available for sale from Acer and Samsung. More manufacturers will follow. Also, Chrome OS is designed to work across a wide range of screen sizes and form factors, enabling our partners to deliver computing devices beyond notebooks.
Let's be honest. We all thought Chrome OS was going to just fade away. Not so! The OS that's just a browser is finally quasi-real. Thanks to the Web App Store, you can now "install" apps to the browser. They even look like icons on the main window. Google has wisely connected these two projects to make them as seemless as possible.
It remains to be seen, though, if people have room for a cloud OS, next to their phone, tablet, laptop, desktop, and refrigerator OS. I'm excited to get one of these test units.
It's going to be great to test out Citrix's tools which make users able to access their Excel files, etc, just using a laptop running a browser. Trigon should be a leading voice on how these new tools can help your small to mid-sized business.
Posted by The Blogging Desk on Mon, Nov 29, 2010
Techcrunch:
Google TV might be in a bit of a pickle if a Best Buy and Sony sale is any indication. The platform launched a few weeks ago with the Logitech Revue and Sony Internet TV. Both are loaded with the same system and so both are suffering the fate of Big Media’s blockade. It’s a sad story, really. Google TV aimed to bridge the span between subscription-based TV and Internet content, but so far said bridge is still held up bybureaucratic red tape nonsense.
Sony seems to be solving one of the platform’s biggest deal breakers: the price. Google TV units are crazy expensive. The Logitech Revue launched at $300 and that price is still holding strong even at retailers like Amazon amidst nearly site-wide Black Friday sales. It’s the Sony set-top box model that’s uncharacteristically on sale right now even though it’s less than a month old. This doesn’t look so well for Google’s living room takeover plans.
Say it ain't so, Google TV!
For those that may have missed some stunning articles on the topic, Google TV piggy-backs onto your cable subscription and offers you a browser to view online videos and also play apps. There was one tiny problem in all of that. The networks didn't want you watching their free online content using a Google TV.
Viacom recently joined ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox as the networks that refuse to have their content viewed for free via the Google TV browser. Oops! Maybe Google should have contacted these groups before selling their product as the ultimate video viewer. Sounds like they need some work on their strategy.
So what do these price-drops mean? Is this the end of the Google TV?
I do love me some innovation, but it most likely is indeed the end of Google TV in its current form. If anything, the product will serve as an Android OS for cable providers. Before Android and iOS, most phones sold had clunky operating systems. Heck, most ran Windows Mobile. Now, carriers can throw Android on their phones for pretty much no cost. I expect the same to happen with carrier set-top boxes.
Just don't expect the innovation that Google was hoping for.
Don't treat your small to mid-sized business like Google TV. You need a handsome IT strategy. Trigon can help your business to serve smoothly from West Chester to Montgomeryville. Let's get started!
Posted by The Blogging Desk on Tue, Nov 23, 2010
TechCrunch:
Asked what he would say to Jobs if he were present today at the Web 2.0 Summit, Balsillie shot back: “You finally showed up.” The implication being that RIM practically invented the smartphone category and is not going anywhere.
Balsillie went on to contrast the Blackberry approach to Apple’s when it comes to web apps. There may be 300,000 apps for the iPhone and iPad, but the only app you really need is the browser. “You don’t need an app for the Web,” he says, and that is equally true for the mobile Web. The debate over mobile apps versus the mobile Web. Blackberry is betting on the Web, much like Google .
Oh no, he didn’t.
Jim Balsillie is the RIM head honcho and was willing to chat about the new BlackBerry iPad competitor, the Playbook. The surprising part about the Playbook is the OS. It’s essentially running on Adobe Air. It doesn’t just allow Adobe’s tools, it flat out embraces them. Balsillie is going to great lengths to let people know that the web is the way to go for their tablet.
The problem with that is Steve Jobs said the same thing when the iPhone was first introduced in 2007. He had previously said that the Maps app trumped any web app that Google had to offer, but when the developer conference came around, he crushed everyone’s dreams. The thousands of developers in attendance were disheartened to hear that Job’s original vision for the iPhone was web apps. (This was a full year before the App Store) We all know what happened next. Developers Jailbroke their phones so that they could learn the internal code themselves to develop their own apps, without Apple’s help.
Will the same thing happen to RIM’s PlayBook? Mobile web apps sure are nice, but when compared to native mobile apps, they look plain silly.
If you're interested in getting your mobility up to speed at your small to mid sized business, be sure to let us know. Trigon may be based out of Wayne, PA, but we also support Abington, Chester and many others!
Posted by The blogging Desk on Thu, Oct 28, 2010
by Chad Weaver
The reviews are in. This IT support/gadget lover guy is truly impressed with what Microsoft has done with the new windows 7 phones. It is amazing to think that this company might actually “get it” for the first time in a long time, and that it may be what the consumer really wants. I know, you’re saying, “Windows 7 the operating system really seemed to stop the slide away from consumer mistrust and anger. I mean Vista, friends!” I would also like to mention this; has anyone seen a single Mac vs. PC commercial in a long time? Must have done something right there. Take that, Apple!
I have been looking at all the boring presentations and long form reviews. They do complement the fact that these phones really do seem sleek. I was a little worried when I heard Microsoft was going to try to enter the smart phone market again. I mean have you ever used a Windows Mobile device?
It was painful and traumatizing.
It got the job done but it wasn’t really fun getting there at all. To see what they have done here is truly amazing. They’re putting great features in a standard OS where it will be the same experience whether you by Samsung HTC and so on. Integration with Zune? My poor little Zune looks like a relic now. Blackberry needs to look out, if Microsoft offers robust business features RIM is looking more and more like a dinosaur. Well, like the mobile dinosaur that Microsoft used to look like. They just keep pushing the same subpar models and features, hanging on to the “Business” moniker. This might not be an iPhone killer or an Android killer but RIM is on the ropes for sure. I must also say I got into the business of IT support because of Microsoft and it’s really great to see them making waves again. I might even think to try one of their phones out, I don’t know that I would give up my shiny new iPhone but who knows these things are much snazzier then I first thought.
Don't be scared, things won't get weird. We'll be there to help with your mobility needs. Contact us for more info!
Posted by The blogging Desk on Tue, Oct 26, 2010
Windows IT Pro:
Like the rest of the world, I was perplexed at Steve Ballmer's response in a recent interview at the Gartner Symposium where he cited the "next version of Windows" as the riskiest product coming up. While talking about a product that's still 2 years away can feel a bit out of place (like seeing Christmas decorations on sale in October), I'd like to take a look at a few of the more supported rumors about Windows 8 and which, if any, of them could add up to the riskiest product in Microsoft's portfolio.
What does it all mean, Basil? Yes, I just fit an Austin Powers quote in this post. Beat that!
So what DOES it all mean? What could be so risky with Windows 8 that even Steve Ballmer has to point that out? I mean, he put out the Kin and didn't think to mention that was risky. Let's be honest, here. Let's go through some of the finer points of the IT Pro article and see what we can come up with.
A purely hosted OS. With Google planning the Chrome OS release by the end of this year, some Internet commentators have suggested that Microsoft could release Windows 8 as a purely cloud-based where everything would be accessed through the Internet.
Yowza! I'm on record, somewhere, saying that Chrome OS will be a dud. Sure, Grandma would love to check their Facebook and that's about it, but regular folk like you and me need Apps. Sweet, glorious Apps! None of this HTML5 stuff. At least not for the next 5 or so years.
New App Store model. In the past few months, Microsoft has leaked that Windows 8 will have an App Store model similar to iTunes. The idea here is that you will be able to go to a dedicated place to search for applications for Windows, and you'll have the confidence that those solutions are vetted and compatible with your Windows system.
Apple just recently announced they are going this exact route with the Mac App Store. It will be similar to the iOS App Stores with the exception being that you can still download apps from the developers website if you wish. But to the new Mac owner, this is a huge boon. To the non-techie, non-developer people that just want to go to one place to update all their ups with no fuss, no muss, why not let Microsoft take care of the update process for all of your apps? Does anyone not realize how simple it is to update apps on an iPhone or iPad? Silly simple.
Electronic distribution only. This one is kind of interesting—what if Microsoft released Windows 8 only as an electronic version? This would save them a bit on distribution costs, but overall shouldn't affect the system too much.
I'm all for this one. Microsoft should lead the way in terms of digital distribution. "Hey honey, what are you doing over there?" "Oh, nothing. Just clicked to update to Windows 8, fool!" Boom! That's what I'm talking about. I've wished that MS would have taken a more digital route with their 360 games instead of catering to GameStop and the like. When a new game drops I should be able to hop onto the XBOX Marketplace and download it to my system. Why can I not do this?
Those are just a few of the reasons why Windows 8 could be "risky". Rest assured, we'll be ready to pwn all risk associated with the new OS, so be sure to give us a buzz.
Posted by The Blogging Desk on Thu, Oct 21, 2010
by Chad Weaver
Microsoft has announced their entry in to the cloud productivity with the announcement of Office 365. This is a cloud based solution for businesses that looks to align itself in the same marketplace with Google and its Apps for business. The product is not yet released, but the beta testing for both the small business and enterprise versions of this offering are now open to a limited number of people. The two offerings come in at a very affordable $6.00 a user for the small business offering and up to $28.00 for the full enterprise offering, per month.
The small business offering is suited for organizations up to 25 users while giving them access to Exchange online, SharePoint, Lync Online, and the full set of Office Web Apps. These offerings are accessible from desktop as well as mobile devices including my favorite, the iPhone. This is through the browser of the workstation, and sorry for all you Chrome users; while Safari is approved, it looks like Chrome is out. The enterprise offerings include enterprise friendly additions, up to and including a voice offering and integration with your AD domain. There is a lot of product here as well as a pay per use model. This might just be the next best thing from Microsoft. I really would love to get me a crack at the Beta and give an update on my impressions of the product and how it compares with the traditional offerings. (hinthint)
Being in the IT Support world or well at least in the Philadelphia area you can really see how reliant companies are to their office and productivity products, and the ability to take them mobile is really looking to be the next big thing. Not to mention the transition to the cloud. So many more products and solutions are moving to the cloud, why not our good old friend office? In a way it’s brilliant - no more worrying about keeping the installs up to date, controlling access, installing products needed. With the access controls built in this is looking to be pretty hot.
I can’t stress how much I am looking forward to the cloud!
Interested in moving your infrastructure to the cloud but were too afraid to ask? Fear not! Send us some info!
Posted by The Blogging Desk on Fri, Oct 15, 2010
Google's Tim Bray:
This is an excellent product. It’s fast, beautiful, useful, responsive, and convenient. If Samsung picks the right price point and channels, they’ll sell a ton.
It has one really irritating design flaw: the four standard Android “buttons” are touch-sensitive areas on glass which, in dim light, you can’t see unless they’re back-lit, which too often they’re not. A month in, my fingers know where they are, but it shouldn’t take multiple days to learn to use basic controls when there are only four of them.
A secondary flaw is intrinsic: It’s kind of big, compared to a phone. Deal with it — or not — as you choose.
Ok, that last one is an odd one. Tim Bray is a Google Developer Evangelist. What's that mean? Imagine me getting a job telling people how great cheezy poofs in order to get them to eat a ton. Side note: what an amazing job that would be.
Still not word on pricing for the Galaxy Tab, but thanks to Tim Bray, we have a pretty exhaustive review to go on and make rash assumptions. I was taken aback by his comments on the browser usage. When loading a website, more often than not, the Tab will load the mobile version of the site. That can be thanks to the "Android" User-Agent string of the device. To the regular website, it looks as if you're using a phone to load the site. That would annoy me. A lot. I've also heard varying degrees of slow-down and stutter while scrolling, but Tim doesn't mention that in his review.
The Network options are very confusing as well. It seems like Samsung will be selling these subsidized at Verizon and other places. The price is rumored to be $199 with a 2 year contract, so one would have to think that a 3G-less model would run around $499 or higher. That could be a tough sell considering that there are no real Tab-specific apps ready yet, and the screen real estate is significantly smaller than that of an iPad.
What say you, internet?
Worried about whether or not your IT Support company serving the Philadelphia area will help you and your Galaxy Tab? Worry not, friend! We're here to help.