News That Actually Matters

Did you give the gift of productivity or entertainment for the smartphone user on your holiday list this year? If not, here are some tips for next year. Techies can be hard to buy for, especially for those of us who are less than technically inclined. Don’t fret! These ideas will help you to be the gift selecting champion of the day (and maybe even the year)!

Gifting Goes Virtual

Smartphone applications or subscriptions for smartphone services are a great gift to give your computer junkie. With all the apps and services out there, there is definitely something for everyone, from the completely nerdy techie who loves computer or gaming apps to the wine aficionado who wants an app to help to keep their tasting journal up to date, every type of techie is covered.

It is important to note that smartphone apps are not one size fits all-not every app will work on every type or generation of phone. They cannot be returned if you buy the wrong one, so be sure you know what brand of phone your techie is using before buying a gift card or credit toward their app purchases or subscriptions.

Gift Peace of Mind, Organization and Much More with One Small Purchase

Now if you really want to wow the technically inclined person on your shopping list, consider purchasing a subscription to a service like hosted e-mail. Hosting offers many benefits such as e-mail filtering and wireless syncing.

Advanced e-mail filtering roots out the spam and malicious phishing e-mails. This saves valuable space on smartphone data plans and protects the user from accidentally downloading something which could harm their network or be used to steal their personal information.

Wireless syncing automatically updates calendars, contacts and e-mails. This feature is a time-saver because your nerd won’t have to go searching for the proper cords and plugs to physically sync their phones to their computers. It also helps to prevent things like missed appointments or double booking!

Whether for Christmas, birthdays, appreciation gifts, or another occasion…gifting a subscription to a hosting service is a great idea because this is something that your giftee is not going to want to return. They will reap the benefits of hosting every day and may even find that they are able to be more productive when using their smartphone since they will be able to sync everything and keep tabs on their schedule and e-mails regularly. The gift of productivity, fun, or entertainment gift is sure to please your techie-and just think, next year, you can buy them a renewal, so no shopping required!

Want to learn more about hosted email benefits and options? Check out http://www.getsyncd.com.

We all know that antivirus software and anti-spam protection are a necessity in today’s business world. No matter how secure your network is, no matter what steps you take to protect your computer system, and no matter if your network is hosted on a cloud infrastructure or onsite, viruses, Trojan horses, malware, and spam can bypass your firewalls and creep their way into your employees’ inboxes.

There are many products to choose from when considering the best antivirus solution for your business, but not all are created equal. Before you invest, investigate the options and understand the key differences between products made for consumer use and their more robust cousins aimed at keeping business networks safe.

The Problem

Although commercial computers experience infection rates half as much as consumer PCs, that doesn’t mean your company’s network is safe. Even with a staff of IT professionals working diligently to close off access points in your system, today’s virus developers are becoming increasingly sophisticated, figuring out new ways to attack. When attackers find one hole plugged, they simply move on to the next unprotected area. The tools of the trade are easier to get, and quicker to deploy, making it nearly impossible to keep up with the increasing number of threats.

The creators of malware often run illegitimate business that are more profitable than legitimate models. And when there’s a market, there’s sure to be any number of providers eager to get their share of it. Malware isn’t expected to be going away anytime soon – if ever.

The Fix

The biggest weapon a company has against malware is a late-release antivirus program that is continually updated with the latest security patches.

Most of us have heard of the common antivirus providers that offer a free basic product, such as Avira and Avast! along with upgrade options from McAfee, Symantec Norton, and Panda. Unfortunately, the majority of products aimed at the consumer market aren’t sufficient to protect a vast network integrated with mobile computing devices and a variety of platforms. Nor are these solutions truly scalable.

A better solution is to go with a product specifically created to provide more robust security in the commercial environment. Look for such features as quarantine management, fine level control, comprehensive reporting, deep level searching, and end user summaries.

Where your antivirus program resides is another consideration. Cloud technology is becoming an increasingly popular option for many businesses although some executives fear the removal of physical data from their onsite premises. Rest assured that most the cloud vendors use highly functional security patches. If you are still worried about the safety of your data on a cloud, ask the vendor to provide a copy of their SAS70, which shows exactly what measures are in place and how often the security updates are installed. Some cloud vendors include robust antivirus solutions in the price of their hosting packages, making it very affordable to keep your data safe and secure.

Whatever antivirus solution you choose, be sure that it will provide maximum protection. There are few things worse than losing your company’s records to malware or infecting the computers of everyone who logs onto your website.

Dana Prince writes for GetSync’d. Learn more about GetSync’d, Kerio Connect Hosted Email services, and find out about GetSecure — free antivirus protection and spam protection offered by http://www.GetSyncd.com.

Although Apple started the new revolution of mobile computing with its wildly popular iPad, many smartphone and netbook manufacturers are now jumping on the bandwagon. With so many consumers purchasing the Apple iPad, it just makes sense that the PC industry would want a piece of the tablet mobile computing pie. Dell, Samsung, Avaya, Lenovo, and Cisco have all recently announced plans to bring their own touch screen tablets to the market in the next several months.

With all these new tablets entering the market, how can you decide which one will provide the maximum computing, collaboration, and mobile unified communications capabilities? There are several considerations to take into account before shelling out your cash on a new mobile device.

Shopping for a Tablet? Factors to Consider

Let’s start with operating systems. Of course, the iPad uses Apple’s iOS, but the majority of new tablets hitting the market will be based on the Android OS made popular by the latest smartphones. The Android platform has already proven its exceptional capabilities for a wide variety of utilizations. Lenovo is the sole exception, opting for Microsoft’s Windows 7 OS.

Along with the Android OS, all will utilize 3G, the third generation of developments in wireless technology for increased bandwidth. Only one, the Avaya DVD, is instead offering Dongle for security authorization.

What about size and weight? At just a half a pound and with a tiny five-inch screen, the Dell Streak is the smallest of the new tablets. It’s also one of the cheapest, with a proposed price of $550; of course it also has the fewest features. At the top end of the scale is the Lenovo X201, which weighs in at three pounds but features a screen just over twelve inches.

When it comes to Wi-Fi technology standards, the choices are 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, or 802.11n.Apple and Cisco are the only two manufacturers to currently offer them all.

As far as features in relation to price and size, none of the new tablets really comes anywhere close to what you get with the Apple iPad. Since it’s been on the market for a while now, the price has come down and it’s the beefiest when it comes to computing capabilities.

Tablet Mobile Computing Success

Unfortunately, tablets are not the best choice if you need heavy-duty computing functionality. But when it comes to communication and collaboration, a tablet is a good smartphone alternative. Email access, texting, and media playing are the best features on a tablet, taking smartphone capability to the next level by offering a larger screen. Another advantage of a tablet over a smartphone is the ability to use it as an eBook reader.

Since communication and collaboration are the two advantages of a tablet, it’s best to connect these devices with synchronization service for your business. Choose a service that updates data between devices immediately and wirelessly. It’s also a good idea to ensure that the synching works across platforms so that Apple and Android users can share calendars, contacts, and project notes. Some mobile syncing applications will offer extras, such as free antivirus and anti-spam service.

Some Disadvantages of Tablet PCs

The biggest disadvantage of a tablet is data input. Yes, the touch screen is larger than a smartphone, but tablets just aren’t set up to easily input data other than through check boxes. Freeform text and graphics are often a requirement of mobile computing in many businesses and any of the tablets currently available or proposed do not address this capability.

Tablets make mobile computing easier but they are not computing workhorses so may not be as productive as you’re hoping. You may want one now but look at your options before investing in one, particularly if you already own a smartphone and investigate available apps / software tools that could make your tablet work the way you need it too.

GetSync’d could be great for your tablet and GetSync’d customers also get free GetSecure antivirus and anti-spam protection.