Sometimes, either through being set in our ways, or just overcome with all the gadgets and technology in our lives, we miss the opportunity to see how these things could work together. Sometime getting them running together can improve our lives, or at least make it run a bit smoother.
If you or your business use the any (or all) of the following products/services:
GMail - Google Calendar – Contacts
MS Outlook
iPhone / Blackberry
Media Streaming – 360 – PS3 – media PC
Windows Live Mesh
Offline backup
Then there are ways to integrate and make these work together in tandem.
For my existing clients I now spend more and more time improving how their existing tech is used and showing how free services can be incorporated to their existing IT strategy.
This is as a direct result of the current economic climate, people need to get more out of what they have and free and open source solutions offer viable solutions to previously expensive to solve problems.
If you would like a free consultation regarding your existing tech setup and more information about how open source software, social media (Facebook, Bebo, Twitter) and other cost saving, productivity improving measures please contact Jason on 087 20 30 355 or email.
In order to improve response time Keltik support is now available remotely.
Using the latest remote access software from Citrix, which provides secure end to end SSL 128bit encryption between the client and the support representative, we can now diagnose and solve many of the issues faced by our clients faster than ever before.
Initially only available to contract clients, it is hoped to make the service available to non-contract customers in the near future.
Anyone who knows me, especially those clients that I harange about using Internet Explorer, will know that I have been a fan of Firefox since version 1.0. They will also know that now that Firefox has matured to version 3 and has a bucket load of extensions I not only use it myself, but push it on my clients.
Lately I have also been experimenting with an offshoot of Firefox called Flock which offers all of the safer Firefox browsing with an interface more suited to social browsing, in other words it plugs in all of the Facebook, Flickr and Twitter stuff that is nice to have at your fingertips. The only downside is that it is built on Version 2 of Firefox, to get all of Firefox 3’s goodness in Flock you need to grab the Beta version, which I found slightly unstable on my setup.
So with all of this browser hopping you would wonder why I would even bother downloading Chrome, the new browser from Google. Well the truth is, and I have only just admitted it to myself, is that I am becoming a bit of a Google fanboy (the shame). I route all of my mail though Gmail, I use Google Docs as a backup / file transfer system, I get most of my news through Google Reader and of course like many others I use their search almost excusivley.
After a brief self orientation I am finding Chrome feels faster than both Firefox 3 and Flock. I currently have it open with a dozen tabs and it pops up almost instantly on my Dell M1330. Flicking between the tabs is very fast and the way tabs can be moved around and manipulated is handy. It has crashed on me once whilst I was changing something on the new Facebook site.
All in all I would recommend it for people who like a clean interface, fast no frills browsing and are interested in using it for web apps, which can be set up to run in their own instanced window of chrome (almost like a stand alone app). I think it may take a while for me to be conviced that it will do as my main browser, although a few good extensions and I could see this pushing Flock and Firefox in the same direction I sent Internet Explorer.
Due to the easy nature of working with Wordpress and Joomla, it is now possible to have a basic yet effective website from just €299.
Provided you can supply some content (images and text) for the site and have an idea how you would like the site to look it is relatively easy to create an affordable, effective site that can be managed and updated by anyone with basic computer knowledge (if you are reading this you are probably qualified).
If you would like to know more about getting you, your company or your pet hamster online, call or email for more details.
Cnet TV launched its new site and is packed with video reviews and news. Anyone into tech will appreciate the tongue in cheek way the Cnet crew present their informative programming.
This week saw the launch of Firefox 3, it has been heralded as a big improvement over previous versions, with better rendering speeds and better memory management. All very exciting, but I have been playing around not so much with Firefox, but with an offshoot of it called Flock.
Flock, and bear in mind I am just trying it out by using it to post this for instance, is built on Firefox (the superior password management in Firefox 3 is not in here).
What it offers that marks it out from its older sibling are all the built in hooks to popular sites and services such as Facebook, Flickr, GMail and many blogging platforms including Wordpress which I use.
So for those into Gmail, Yahoo mail, Facebook and all the other (don’t forget Twitter) it provides one place to look at all the social and media data we crave.
For those looking for a neat, economical way to browse the web, collect email and perhaps edit files on the go, the Asus Eeepc is definitely worth looking at.
As you can see from the image, it comes in various colours. What you cannot see is suprisingly small and that it comes with different specifications. Admitidley all of these specifications are reletivley low when compared to full blown laptops, but they provide sufficient horsepower to do the things we tend to do most with a computer, browse the web and check email.
With the current trend of making applications available as web services, photo editing, video editing and streaming, the need for a powerful PC is reduced meaning these devices provide useful portable tools for those who do not wish to cart around one of their chunkier brethren.
The Pink and the Lime version are currently available from Keltik directly for just €289 with the following specification:
Processor – Intel Celeron Mobile CPU
Chipset – Intel
Integrated Network
Form Factor – Notebook
Memory (Maximum) – 512MB (512×1)DDR2
Hard Disk – 2GB
Monitor – 7ins (800×480)
Sound Device – Integrated Intel High Definition Audio compliant audio chip
Speakers – Built-in Stereo Speakers (1.5W)
Audio Features – SoundBlaster Pro Compatible
Wireless – IEEE 802.11g
Modem – Intel High Definition Audio Modem Integrated
Operation System – Linux
Card reader – SD/MMC
VGA Port – 1
Headphone/Audio Line Out – 1 x Headphone-out jack
Microphone In Port – 1
RJ-45 Ports – 1 x RJ-45
USB Ports – 3 x USB 2.0
Software Included – Open Office 2.0 Security – BIOS Booting / HDD User Password Protection and security lock Kensington lock hole Trusted Platform Module
Battery – Lithium-Ion (3Cells) 2400mAH
Security Locking Mechanics – Kensington Lock Slot
Dimensions – 22.5 x 16.4 x 2.15-3.5 cm
Jumping straight on the bandwagon (actually a little late) I just thought it would be worth mentioning to my clients and any passing visitors that the new iPhone is well worth looking into. At a fraction of the price of the original iPhone (actual price is dependent on which service plan you take from O2 and they start from just €49) these phones are an excellent tool for providing full email and web capabilities to small and medium businesses. As a long-time PC technician and user, I have been impressed with my iPhone as a genuine productivity tool as well as a must have gadget for the technophile that I am. Real, usable, full web surfing means access to online banking on the go, as well as being able to look up cinema listings whilst on route to said cinema (not whilst driving though – best to have an assistant for this). Mobile email provides a vital link to the office for all workers and is almost as big a paradigm shift for the sole trader as the mobile phone was itself in its day, as it allows you to function on the go without the need to carry a laptop, pay for mobile broadband and most importantly find a convenient spot to boot the laptop, get your connection and check your mail. Checking mail is now as easy as checking your SMS text messages and with the new version including support for push email (your mail is forwarded without you having to “check it”) I could see email replacing SMS. Of course many if not all these features have been available for a while, but what Apple has done is make them very accessible and with the price cuts also very affordable.
Adding to the new site and trying to keep the BS out of the pages. Straight forward services, straight forward pricing and a no nonsense approach to communicating with the client, keeping the tech speak to a minimum.
As of today I will be using the Wordpress Content Management System for the business website. I have been using it for a while on my personal blog at www.jasonoleary.org and find it a lot more streamlined and simpler to update (when the opportunity arises to update).
This also marks a shift away from promoting Keltik as a corporate entity and concentrating instead on the core business, which is based on my interaction with clients, advising them on and maintaining their business’ networks and web properties.
Needless to say PCs needing repair, virus removal, etc. are always coming and going, if your computer needs attention please contact me by either telephone or email.
As a long-time PC technician and user, I have been impressed with my iPhone as a genuine productivity tool as well as a must have gadget for the technophile that I am. Real, usable, full web surfing means access to online banking on the go, as well as being able to look up cinema listings whilst on route to said cinema (not whilst driving though – best to have an assistant for this). Mobile email provides a vital link to the office for all workers and is almost as big a paradigm shift for the sole trader as the mobile phone was itself in its day, as it allows you to function on the go without the need to carry a laptop, pay for mobile broadband and most importantly find a convenient spot to boot the laptop, get your connection and check your mail. Checking mail is now as easy as checking your SMS text messages and with the new version including support for push email (your mail is forwarded without you having to “check it”) I could see email replacing SMS. Of course many if not all these features have been available for a while, but what Apple has done is make them very accessible and with the price cuts also very affordable.
