Traditionally Microsoft has been at the receiving end of most tech related jokes. In many ways all the barbs are justified as its OS’s have been bulky, resource hungry and its browser has been a clunky app that that just barely got things done.
The main reason that Microsoft enjoys a majority share of the OS and browser market is that
a. Initially it was virtually the only proper OS available for PC users
b. Apple failed to penetrate the consumer market significantly
c. Internet Explorer was forced upon users
But all that seems to be changing as of late.
Over the years IE has seen many challengers to its crown and the most notable of the 90’s challengers, Netscape has disappeared into the wings. Opera has made a comeback, but Firefox, Chrome and Safari have been the biggest reasons for IE losing market share. After making constant one percent drops over the years, it was one very rare occasions that IE managed to get gain any market share. But over the last two months IE has done the impossible and actually gained ground. This is a significant reflection of how much IE has improved.
Windows 7 has also contributed greatly to Microsoft’s fortunes as it has also gained market share. In fact, it has overtaken Windows Vista in market share. The reason for this could be that Microsoft has finally produced an OS that actually does what is supposed to do without asking for too much. Vista was probably the worst OS to come out of Redmond and the bad press it has generated over the years will take some time to fix. However, currently, the signs are good for Microsoft and the company can afford to smile after a long time.
-
Reasons for Microsoft to smile
August 31, 2010 by publisher
-
Keeping Tab with A Fleet GPS Tracking System In Place
August 18, 2010 by publisherThe current trend of having a fleet GPS tracking is fast catching up with almost all of the fleet managers. It is not only convenient to have a tracking system for the fleet but also safer. By taking the help of a fleet tracking system the worry and concern about the vehicles is totally taken out and the manager’s minds and they can concentrate on expanding their business rather than wasting their time worrying about the whereabouts of their company’s fleet of vehicles.
Many employees do think that installing a GPS tracking device in the vehicles is being done only to keep tabs on their activities and many of them even consider this as a huge question mark on their loyalty by the employers. But if the employee is actually doing his or her job properly there is no need to worry about the tracking device. It is only the trouble makers that should worry about the tracking device being fitted in to the vehicles that they drive.
Using real time GPS vehicle tracking is a very wise decision as the exact timings of the arrival and the departure of the vehicles can be predicted. In addition to this facility the vehicle can be continuously monitored for the speed limits and if in case the driver decides to exceed the permissible speed limit or veer off from the decided route then it is possible for the managers to contact the erring drivers and issue a warning. The safety benefits of installing a GPS tracking system cannot be stressed upon enough.
-
Ubuntu - an Alternative for Businesses
July 29, 2010 by publisherThere is no doubt that Microsoft Windows is the most dominant operating system in the world today. As a result of this most people are reluctant to move to another option for various reasons (e.g. familiarity). But there is an alternative that everyone should explore, whether it is a home user or a business, and that is Ubuntu Linux.
Ubuntu is an extremely improved version of Debian. It provides users with a very Windows-like feel and works well with older hardware. The best feature of Ubuntu is that it is free. You don’t have to pay a single cent for it. Upgrades that come out from time to time are also released free and all you have to do is download it. For your work needs, you can download OpenOffice.org which is also free. This suite of applications includes all the familiar apps you would find in the MS Office suite. They look remarkably similar so it is easy for people to adapt to it.
Ubuntu come with a firewall which you can activate to protect yourself from malicious persons on the internet. It does not come with an anti-virus program though. This is because Linux based systems are not threatened by viruses and therefore have no need of programs like that.
So far, all of this represents a saving of over $600 in software related costs. Add to this that there is a whole host of open source software that can be download and used on Ubuntu and you being to see why using this OS makes sense for businesses. Buying one hundred new computers for the office suddenly does not seem so expensive when licensing fees no longer play a role in those decisions.
-
How fleet GPS tracking is useful
July 21, 2010 by publisher
Apart from the cell phone GPS tracking units that are really popular in the market, thanks to this service being offered by several communications services these days, it does not stop with personal use. There are a wide range of commercial applications that are involved in using the global positioning system that the United States military has opened up for public use after using it for many years as a primary part of their navigation systems.
The number of satellites that are used in vehicle tracking GPS or for that matter with any GPS application are 27, where 24 are in constant use while three remaining satellites are in standby mode just in case there is a failure.
Since GPS can track any object (which has a GPS receiver attached to it) this service comes in handy especially in the transport industry where time is of the essence when it comes to delivering packages, goods and so on and so forth. Also known as fleet GPS tracking, several vehicles can be tracked when in motion to see if they are on time with the delivery that has been scheduled.
Not only does this ensure that employees aren’t fooling around and can hold them responsible for failure to complete the task at hand but can also be used to plan routes when the distance that needs to be travelled is a long one.
-
Is Your Software Programming Company Performing Efficiently?
July 20, 2010 by publisherThere is a plethora of companies offering to do your software programming for you, but you must never jump into a deal right away. Your outsourced software programming and development projects must be put in the hands of skilled professionals who can deliver according to expectations. Many a software programming firm asks good money for very poor work done. Avoid getting yourself into this trap by judging the company and studying their work quality and ethics.
Below are some tips: First, if their rates are too good to be true, you have every right to question the quality of work that’s done. In attempts to save on capital, many businesses are flattered by extremely cheap prices, only to find themselves mad with disappointment and frustration at wasted money, time and effort. A software programming company may ask for little money because they make be lacking the skills and credentials to complete your job for you. Other companies may use their low rates as part of their marketing campaign. The truth is, however, that they will only give you whatever you paid for. Scout and check competing prices for variation. Next, look into their commitment.
A bad software programming company will do the job for you and deliver, with no follow-up care after. You will want to choose a company which works in close collaboration with you to make sure the software is developed exactly how you’d like it to be. Bad customer service is a very clear sign you must not at all costs, sign up with a company. When you entrust your software to a company, you trust that they will be able to provide you with constant feedback on progress. As such, you also trust that they will have a support group ready to cater to your needs even after the software project has been completed. If your prospective programming company does not show signs of stable customer support, save yourself from a huge headache and scout for other companies.
-
What You Need to Know about the SuperSpeed USB
July 10, 2010 by publisherThe SuperSpeed USB, otherwise known as the USB 3.0 is the newest upgrade for the Universal Serial Bus which was developed in 1996 by 7 major IT companies which was led by Intel. This device was made to eliminate the hassle of connecting to a computer via a peripheral device. As of 2009, the USB 2.0 version has become the most sellable and important device which has sold about 6 billion units.
But because of the increasing demand for faster file transfer and data communication, people are not contented by a transfer rate of almost 200 mbps, which is why in 2007, Intel developed a prototype of the USB 3.0 and showcased it on one of their forums (Intel Developer Forum). The following year, the SuperSpeed USB Version 1.0, and its complete specifications were finalized. After the finalization, the USB-IF (USB Implementers Forum) has released all the technical documents needed for the players of the IT market to adapt to the specifications of the USB 3.0. Some of the key features of the USB 3.0 include a faster transfer rate if up to 4.8 gigabytes per second, an amplified current draw to devices to be able to house power-hungry peripherals, and an amplified bus power (at maximum).
Aside from these features, the SuperSpeed USB also has new features for its power management and it supports new types of transfers and can also accommodate full-duplex data transmission.Finally, the key feature of the USB 3.0 is its backward compatibility with the USB 2.0 with the use of new connectors and host adapters.
-
Google TV anyone?
July 4, 2010 by publisherIt appears that Google has no qualms about where it will go nor what industries it will conquer. The company has announced that Google TV is coming!
So what will Google TV look like? Well, physically it will come via a set-top box or special TV sets that have the technology built in. If you think that the built in feature will take a long time, think again. Intel, Sony, and Logitech are already working on this aspect and are the official launch partners as well. The OS on the either methodology will, of course, be Android.
The OS will feature a home screen where users can bookmark channels, photo albums, music, etc. The interface will look very Boxee-like and will allow you to run applications and other features. Since Google is opening the source code for Google TV for developers, expect flood of useful (as well as useless) apps to vie for your attention in the near future.
Google TV will also feature the Chrome browser with the very latest flash plugin. Apart from using the browser for the usual needs, you can search for your favorite TV show and this is what the whole Google TV concept is mainly about. The results for your search will display links to the show on Hulu, download links on Amazon, links to the show on FOX’s website and even the TV schedule. When you see it on the schedule, you can set it to be recorded on whatever DVR device you possess through the Google TV interface.
-
Bluetooth 4.0 on the Way
June 30, 2010 by publisherBluetooth was revolutionary when it appeared and it still is a very useful medium to transfer data. Unfortunately, it had a huge power consumption problem. Keeping a Bluetooth device on, especially when a battery is involved, is a no-no. Therefore it has not been used as much as it could have been.
Now, the Bluetooth Special Interest Group has announced that the new and improved Bluetooth 4.0 is ready for release. While it has a few improvements over its predecessor, its most significant improvement is its low power usage when transmitting over short distances. This feature alone could bring Bluetooth into the mass market in ways never seen before.
By the end of the year, you could encounter Bluetooth enable watches, pedometers, smart meters etc., basically anything that runs off of a coin cell battery. That’s right, a coin cell battery; that is how efficient they have made this release. Unlike Wi-Fi, which requires a continuous connection, Bluetooth only needs connect to another device based on the requirement. Hence its low requirement of power.
The technology took its time in coming though. Apple and Nike have been using similar proprietary technology for a while now, to transmit data from Nike shoes to the iPod. Even Vision Max 3D glasses from Monster, uses a low power technology to maintain its connection with the TV. Bluetooth 4.0, however, has the potential to be very big. With over 13,000 member companies in the Bluetooth SIG (Intel, Nokia, etc), you can be sure that we will be awash in a blue flood before long.
-
P2P File Sharing - Is It Really That Bad?
June 23, 2010 by publisherThe first thing you should know is that file sharing and the technology are not illegal. The problem arises when users share what they are not supposed to share.
The technology itself is there to facilitate quick sharing of vital and free to distribute files. This may include research documents, photographs, videos and even music. However, the tag of free to distribute should be on the file that is being shared. The only other way you can share is if you exclusively own the rights to the file; such as a photograph you took of your dog, kitchen, etc.
The P2P architecture was designed to bring down the costs in acquiring servers. Storing all files on s single or multiple file servers is a costly business. Whereas storing them on a multitude of PC’s is cheap and effective. Unfortunately, the abuse of the system is what has given the system itself a bad name. Now, P2P is predominantly associated with Piracy and that has blackened its name forever.
Any form of media that you can think of can be found on file sharing networks worldwide. Movies, music, textbooks, images, etc. can be found easily by even a six year old. Tackling this problem is not easy. Sadly the very nature of the service’s architecture is what makes policing it almost impossible. With the files being scattered all over the world and residing on multiple computers, hunting each one down and bring legal action against a user is never ending work.
-
The Business of Digital Video Productions
June 21, 2010 by publisher
Almost every business knows the importance of marketing, advertising and in general, promoting one’s company aggressively in a way that shows thoughtfulness and being customer-centric. Perhaps print media supports advertising but only in a format that does not necessarily appeal to customers in a way that only television is capable of, by hiring the services of a TV production company.
Right from conceptualizing the idea for the video to writing the script to producing the video is what these companies are good at, and not only do they have an accomplished unit of professionals to take care of every task efficiently and effectively.
Some of the services that are offered by good production companies comprise training and promo videos, testimonial and conference videos, 3D animation and motion graphics that are digital video productions using the latest technology and the years of experience that have gone into making this business one of the most fast-paced and competitive businesses to be in.
To most people in this business what makes working in this environment interesting, is the challenges, tight timelines and creativity involved in bringing out the finished product for almost every industry that requires presentations for whatever purpose.
Another interesting facet of this business is direct response television which requires the production company to understand its clients’ new product and their business model thus understanding their customers, so that in creating the video they will be able to convey the right message that will get their attention while getting them to call your company’s number as well as visiting their website. And this is how advertising with a purpose has created results time and time again.
