Apple has been lucid about certain information provided to the consumers. They know when the Ipad is expected to hit stores which is April 3^rd, also what kinds of iPads will be available for purchase, which are the WiFi models.  In addition, they know that consumers will be able to pre-order their iPad via online delivery or Apple Store pick up.

 What is uncertain and unknown is how they can broadcast their message in a fun and grasping manner for their target market. Apple is aiming to establish a method to ensure that the significance of the iPad will successfully reflect the originality. Different from the Macbook, iPod and iPhone, this time Apple is launching a new device category to their existing consumers as well as a new market. It is a fact that certain consumers have already established their mindset on what they are expecting from the iPad. but with customers who are still undecided, if Apple does not execute the introduction of their product properly by establishing this new category in the consumers’ minds, the iPad may have a weak position relative to other products established in this category.

 The IPad will enter the market to compete with the new wave of the mini computer, and will hope to introduce a new touch to a relatively new market.  The trick is to find a way to differentiate the IPad to the customer.  Apple is known for its unique touch with its devices, and to achieve the same success as it has with the past, it seems that the marketing efforts should focus on what’s unique and “Apple” about the IPad.

 One way that Apple can deal with this situation is to position the iPad as an electronic media delivery device. Making a point out of the fact that people can connect with books, newspapers, magazines and online media as easily and effortlessly with the iPad.

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Twitter can help create business credibility, market your business and grow your online & offline network. Twitter offers an array of creative options that can enhance the marketing efforts of your business in an efficient manner. First, Twitter can provide a user friendly and effective process of communication between clients and companies so that both parties understand the core values and ethics of each other. Furthermore, it is a rapid approach for sharing high quality content that is essential to consumer needs, as well as the exchange of information about the organization that customers, colleagues and others may be interested to learn about.  You can market your business by publishing your Twitter handle on all direct mailings, email newsletters, blog posts and newsletters through the website and diverse marketing channels. Growing online networks can involve hosting weekly Twitter chats to bring your business community together as well as connecting your Twitter account to LinkedIn and your company website. It may further provide users the opportunity of using the Advanced Search to track down local conversations and also using the Twitter Search to track when potential customers mention a competitor. Additionally, it is a good promotional venue for offering promotions such as coupons to community members for certain business purchases.

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 HP has realized that because of the iPhone, Apple has managed to build more intensive relationships with customers. They have accomplished more than three billion software applications through the store which is directed to the iPhone.  Now, Apple is looking to repeat this with their latest invention which is the iPad, a tablet computer which was recently launched. Researchers at HP are using this as a motivation key for building the reputation of their hand-held products and  have talked about developing software’s and services that will let people print easily from their phones as well as manage and communicate their photos and communications more efficiently with each other through mobile versions of social networks. 

 It is expected that HP is to offer a smart phone in the coming year that will utilize the latest mobile version of Windows. Already, there is a lot of competition in the cell phone industry and it is a good idea that HP has announced to dedicate more of their focus on other products on the side of the Smartphone category.

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There is an expansion of networks, computer storage and servers, and the growth has left companies wanting a new solution to their computing needs. “Data Utilities” will allow companies to discard their data storage infrastructure and hand off all their data storage and maintenance needs to third parties able to efficiently and responsibly manage them.  These data utilities will allow sharing of servers to meet the peak needs of companies without requiring the company to pay for and maintain the server during its times of lower demand.

The concept of data utilities isn’t all that new, and we all use them everyday.  For example, every time you share photos through services such as Facebook, snapfish, Shutterfly, Kodak, or Flicker, you are operating in the cloud and using a data utility.   Similarly, the online software suite from Google Apps allows users to generate and access information and spreadsheets exclusively online.  Users can create, edit, and share all sorts of files from any computer with Internet access.

Basically any kind of storage can be met by a data utility. It is estimated that the internet contains 5 million terabytes of data. That is just an initiating point since constant improvement will only increase storage demands. Data utilities will allow the collaboration of computing power, data storage, software applications, and other IT needs through a global network. It will permit businesses to concentrate on what to offer rather than technical know-how of how to offer the service.

At the time of great economic concern where cost efficiency is gold, the data utility trend has only hastened.  IT decisions are being made based on economic reasoning as well as a technical viewpoint. Data utilities enable companies to utilize resources on demand and pay for them when needed.

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Companies big and small are under constant pressure to manage and protect critical data in complex environments, both in the data center and across multiple remote locations. Limited resources, complex IT environments and hyper data growth are inevitable no matter what size the business. Integrated Backup and recovery offers unparalleled data protection giving companies the ability manage the hyper growth without the hassle or drain on resources.  Data duplication, remote storage, remote content management, and enhanced data security are just some of the benefits of such system.

StoneHill’s system, Backup & Recovery Server (BRS), provides this solution by providing a backup disk product that sends data offsite to multiple information centers and turns itself into a virtual server in the event of a client hardware problem. It saves time and effort with an “install in minutes” feature as well as reducing back up storage capacity requirements up to 95%.  This recovery platform is incredible since it hacks backup windows up to 90%. The method provides a cost effective data security solution and is executed on an off-site disk backup system for rapid disaster recovery. The BRS system provides tremendous operational benefits since it is cost competitive, fast and secure.

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Image via Wikipedia

Cloud computing is a new technology which essentially utilizes the power of a cluster of servers to power a website by dynamically scaling resources such as processing power, memory and storage among others. Each server in the cluster can be thought of as hosting the website.  If this is ambiguous to comprehend, then think of it as if your website resides on a super high powered server which never breaks down because this super high powered server actually is a combination of several servers working together.

It is a fact that maintaining a huge IT department is costly and a lot of corporations have no idea what networking and computer software involves. Cloud computing introduces strategies in which companies can send their files to people that can manage and handle them more effectively. With this facility, companies will be able to cloud into any kind of IT that they need including hardware, software, web hosting, networking, and etc. As a result, companies can focus on what to offer rather than technical details on how to offer their services. 

Some of Technology’s biggest names are leading the cloud computing system. Google’s internet based word processor and spreadsheet program are fighting to replace the desktop version of Microsoft’s Word and Excel.  But perhaps, even a better way to jump in the present is through the more vague service providers. These businesses provide the physical servers, hosting space, and means to communicate with them. Well-known names include Equinix (EQIX), Rackspace (RAX), and Terremark Worldwide (TMRK).

I believe there will be a vast amount of consolidation in the production over the next decade. The largest tech names will gulp up the less relevant players as a cheap way to gain admittance to the most recent breakthroughs. The new IT attitude of outsourcing will provide companies with more effective support and will further allow them to focus on what they do best, instead of struggling with computer issues and constantly breaking servers and networks.  

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The whole transition from dial up to broadband has brought so much innovation to the internet, and now Google plans to make the delivery process for new applications even more intriguing and deliverable.

There are already concerns with the limitations on Bandwidth as businesses and consumer become more internet dependent.  Internet applications such as video conferencing and telephoning are becoming so popular and accordingly so is the demand for bandwidth . As more businesses adopt internet related practices, traffic jams may take place and could affect the net.  Google’s new super network may address these bandwidth concerns.  As of now, the super network is in an experimental phase as Google looks to see how smaller businesses, consumers and institutions as well as the local government will utilize this high speed access.  While Google promises new enhanced applications to increase the technology system on the net, the super network may also be the answer to the bandwidth troubles that currently face already existing applications.

But Google may also have ulterior motives for its super network.  Google has been a frontier in providing internet services to consumers and stealing away consumer from other carriers.  The new internet based technology, some say, may allow Google the opportunity to take control of internet services in the market as well.  This may be a bit skeptical, but there is no question that a faster-speed super network will displace other carriers, and cause a shift in internet service carriers. 

As the idea is still at its inception, Google has not yet completely figured out how it will deal with information ownership and privacy issues.  Additionally, Google may have to figure out a way to work through the conflicts its new idea may cause with other carriers and providers that form the backbone of internet services and data communication.  Such issues might be determining factors on the success of the super network.
So while the new super highway might provide the promise of new applications, and added support for existing applications, it’s still unclear how Google will address certain issues, and how the new super highway will effect other competitors in the market.  We all know that faster is better, but what will the cost be to the market and consumers is yet to be determined.

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StoneHill Tech’s Green IT Strategies:

Go Virtual

• Virtualization dramatically improves the efficiency and availability of  applications in your organization, reduces energy cost and improves operations by managing information traffic and workflow.
• By condensing all files and applications to one server, your business will best utilize your hardware and software resources.

Improve airflow: Improving airflow is easy and inexpensive. To immediately improve efficiency, ensure that:

• Cables, etc., are positioned so they do not restrict airflowMissing ceiling tiles are replaced so no cold air is misdirected.
• Hot air does not ecirculate, by flowing over the tops of racks or around the rows.
• Migrating racks to hot aisles/cold aisles is a continual process.
• CRAC units are positioned for maximum efficiency.
• Servers are designed with front-to-rear airflow.
• The return (hot) air plenum accommodates required airflow

Dispose of  eWaste

It is probably no surprise that in our current age of technology and computer dependency eWaste (electronics waste) is the fastest growing form of toxic waste in the world.  However, since society has begun to realize this there have been companies sprouting up all over that will actually come to your business and collect all your eWaste for free. We use an awesome local company; Go Green eWaste Recyclers.

The web design industry picked up the term and many professionals are still biased about how it works. In companies employees and teams look for prominent positions to place their contents, assuming that the content below the fold will be missed. I am not 100% influenced by the “above the fold” concept. There could be no clear fold line since monitors vary in sizes, tool bars use space and browsers may not necessarily be full screen.

However, there may be certain design squeezes that can make sure that viewers notice detailed areas.  A perfect example is Google. They managed to increase Google Earth downloads because they altered the “Download” button upward by 100 pixels.  It is a proven fact that Google likes to show the world their speed and accuracy, but now they have designed a way for other companies to follow their lead.  Google has once again astonished us with their technical expertise coming up with an application called “Google Browser Tool” that will show website owners how the layout and design of their website influences user exposure.

The company created “Browser Size,” a new tool from Google Labs that indicates how many people see certain areas on your webpage. The illustration is calculated from browser height and width information gathered at Google.com.  A given point in the browser, the tool will tell you what percentage of users can see it. For example, if an important button is in the 80% region it means that 20% of users have to scroll in order to see it. If you’re a web designer, Browser Size can be utilized to minimize scrolling and to highlight the essential parts of the page that are always important to your viewers. This is a good tool to make websites better and making the web improved for everyone.

Links:

Google Labs Browser Size tool

Google Blog announcement  – Browser Size: a tool to see how others view your website.

The new tool aims to help website owners figure out how the layout and design of their website should be made in order to attract more followers. Isn’t that great? The tool may not be perfect, but it appears that it’s worth a try, and offers an easy to see way of figuring out if your content is seen by your users the way you intend it to be.

WRONG!!!! This anti-virus “software” was the virus. However, I didn’t think anything of it until I was suddenly locked out of the sites I frequent, such as my school, my Gmail, my bank, etc. I may not be Miss Techie, but I do know enough to recognize that this wasn’t normal. So, in casual conversation with Zach, who is a Mr. Techie,  regarding the  strange behavior of my computer, before I was even half way done he said, “You have a virus”. Those dreaded words rang in my ears as I began to see the dollars falling from my wallet. Luckily, I work for the best IT company on earth and Zach was able to remove the virus within one day and install legitimate firewalls and virus protections.

Ironically, that same evening I was watching the nightly news where they were featuring a story on “New Organized Crime Rings”…HACKERS. Apparently, technology is not only transforming the way we do business, it has transformed theft as well. The newest trend amongst thieves is to send out   these nasty little parasites, disguised as helpful software, that infect your computer allowing the hacker to track your key strokes, thus gaining access to all of your personal passwords and information. A local OC business man was recently taken for $1,000,000 due to this type of scam. OUCH!

Two days ago, I was out sick and received an email from Zach saying three clients in the past week had been hit with the same thing and decided that YOU need to be aware of what is out there!!!! He sent me this really informative article:   Take a look, it could save you a lot of time, money & heart ache!

Beware fake anti-virus programs