Technology & Productivity Weekly
February 2, 2012
Sponsored By: Information, Inc.
Information Inc.'s handcrafted business intelligence services provide
up-to-the-minute information on critical issues. Decision-makers in more
than 2,000 major corporations, associations and government agencies
worldwide have relied on our comprehensive news services for the past 22
years. To learn how our timely, targeted, custom
services can help you compete in the 21st century, go to: http://www.infoinc.com/s
tatecpa/contact.html
This
Week's Headlines
Ultrabooks: The Next
Big Thing In Notebooks
Do Notebooks Matter in the Age of Tablets &
Smartphones?
Three Tips for Keeping Business Data Safe on Personal Mobile
Devices
Why You Need to Make Mobile Device Management a Priority in
2012
2012 Tablet Spending Spree By SMBs Predicted
Iomega Introduces Desktop NAS for Small Businesses
Why Your Business Can't Ignore Social Networking
12 Ways to Save With Tech in 2012
It's an Intuitive, Integrated, Cloudy, Mobile World
The links at the end of
each abstract are to the publisher, publication, or article.
Some links may require registration or subscription.
Information, Inc. is not affiliated with the referenced
publications.
to the top Ultrabooks:
The Next Big Thing In Notebooks
Information Week (01/24/12); Mathias, Craig
The Ultrabook is slated to become a device
of choice for mobile workers. The Ultrabook's sleek design and battery
life are top selling points for business users, while its processing
speed and RAM position the tool as a high-performing notebook. The need
for optical drives has diminished while the demand for lightweight, enhanced
displays and powerful computing have become critical factors for mobile
workers. Though tablets have increased in popularity, the ability to
run robust applications and use a standard keyboard will remain important
advantages of notebooks. Fast booting time, coupled with a reasonable
price at around $1,000, also position the Ultrabook as a strong competitor
in an iPad market. The Ultrabook will grow as a computing tool of choice
in the coming years, serving as a more solid choice for employees who
need a portable computing tool without the limitations of a tablet.
(http://www.informationweek.com/news/hardware/desktop/2325003
54?cid=nl_IW_smb_2012-01-24_html&elq=4b6d88e5a7f341c39f2f90626c371a32)
to the top Do
Notebooks Matter in the Age of Tablets &
Smartphones?
Small Business Computing (01/18/12); Mah, Paul
Notebooks have seemingly declined as preferred
computing as tablets and smartphones have skyrocketed in the computing
market. Yet the productivity quotient of notebooks is still significantly
strong, with features like a full keyboard and greater computing power
that tablets and smartphones lack. Creating presentations or heavy typing
on tablets is still bothersome with only a touch-screen keyboard, and
these tasks are not ideal on smartphones. Notebooks boast larger displays
that are conducive to working on multiple projects simultaneously, supporting
side-by-side views and switching between screens seamlessly. Software
for notebooks is more flexible than that of tablets or smartphones; for
example, Photoshop is simpler via notebook than alternative devices.
Lastly, notebooks support peripherals and other external devices like
a mouse or removable storage devices, which are important conveniences
for mobile employees.
(http://www.smallbusinesscomputing.com/news/do-notebooks-matt
er-in-the-age-of-tablets-smartphones.html)
to the top Three
Tips for Keeping Business Data Safe on Personal Mobile Devices
Entrepreneur (01/18/12); Fell, Jason
Small businesses should follow three tips
for securing data on mobile devices. First, all employees should observe
simple protocols like password protecting these devices, including regularly
updating their mobile software. Ongoing reminders should be set so that
employees are reminded of the safety policies they should adhere to when
using mobile devices. Next, employees should have access to user-friendly
tools that support mobile security. Creating time for the entire office
to install and update anti-virus protection on mobile devices is a good
method of encouraging everyone widespread adoption of mobile security.
Finally, business-sensitive data should not be stored on mobile devices;
employees should ensure that personally identifiable customer information
is never stored on applications, either.
(http://www.entrepreneur.com/blog/222658)
to the top Why
You Need to Make Mobile Device Management a Priority in 2012
Channel Insider (12/28/11); Pereira, Pedro
According to Channel Insider, mobile devices
will be the single most important technology in 2012. Managed service
providers and remote monitoring and management vendors are expected to
market more mobile device management options to businesses, aligned with
a trend toward consumers purchasing these devices for personal use. Enterasys
reports that nearly 80 percent of IT professionals used personal devices
for business, with a majority of respondents stating concerns about mobile
devices connecting to business networks. Small businesses still have
a reputation of inadequate mobile security, with AVG reporting that less
than one-third of SMBs implement mobile security. The proliferation of
mobile devices will lead to mobile management tools, as well as the introduction
of mobility management service providers. Consequently, SMBs will need
to implement improved mobile device and network usage polices.
(http://www.channelinsider.com/c/a/Commentary/Why-You-Need-to
-Make-Mobile-Device-Management-a-Priority-in-2011-490896/)
to the top 2012
Tablet Spending Spree By SMBs Predicted
NewsFactor Network (12/29/11); Long, Mark
2011 was most notably characterized by
the rise of tablets, with the iPad rising in popularity as a consumer
and business productivity device. According to NPD Group, most enterprises
adopted iPads as their tablet of choice last year, but small businesses
are expected to spend more on the devices this year. More than 70 percent
of SMBs said they will invest in tablets for the coming year, NDC reports.
Similarly, 20 percent of SMBs say their PC purchases will decline in
2012. NPD noted, "Businesses of all sizes appear to be determined to
capitalize on the tablet phenomenon."
Microsoft's release of Windows 8 for PCs and tablets is slated to change
the way in which businesses purchase devices, though the survey did not
evaluate respondents' attitude about the potential impact of the new OS.
(http://www.newsfactor.com/story.xhtml?story_id=81582&full_sk
ip=1)
to the top Iomega
Introduces Desktop NAS for Small Businesses
Small Business Computing (01/09/12); Olavsrud, Thor
Iomega debuted the StorCenter ix2 Network
Storage, an SMB storage solution. The two-bay desktop NAS device features
several configurations with options of from 1TB to 6TB of storage. The
device will be offered in three models: a diskless chassis; a populated
unit with one drive and different storage options; and a fully populated
unit with two drives for RAID mirroring data protection and other multi-drive
storage capabilities. The StorCenter has been dubbed as an affordable
solution for SMBs, with user-friendly deployment and enterprise-like
capabilities. Features of the StorCenter include video surveillance IP
camera support; user-replaceable hard drives; Iomega Link for iOS devices;
VMware and XenServer certified for virtual desktops; and the capability
for expanding storage capacity via USB drives. The StorCenter is priced
at $200 for the diskless model, including a three-year warranty and limited
technical support.
(http://www.smallbusinesscomputing.com/News/Storage/iomega-in
troduces-desktop-nas-for-small-businesses.html)
to the top Why
Your Business Can't Ignore Social Networking
InformationWeek (01/06/2012); Donston-Miller, Debra
For any businesses desiring a competitive
edge, using social network is a necessity. According to Phil Robinson
of TakeThirdStreet.com, the equivalent of neglecting social media's impact
on a business is similar to neglecting the advent of the Internet years
ago. Robinson says, "A very real and inexorable shift is occurring, and
that change is moving the primary focus of online consumers away from
search and toward networking."
Robinson says consumers are shifting toward connecting selectively with
the brands and businesses they desire, while a desire to provide personal
feedback to businesses. Security and productivity have remained impediments
to businesses adopting social media, yet industry experts say engaging
proactively with clients is key to securing a successful presence. However,
analysts warn firms to be vigilant about hackers and securing company
data, as well as following due compliance.
(http://www.informationweek.com/thebrainyard/news/social_netw
orking_consumer/232301417/why-your-business-cant-ignore-social-networking)
to the top 12
Ways to Save With Tech in 2012
Globe and Mail (CAN) (01/04/12); Greiner, Lynn
Following twelve important technology tips
that can amount to tremendous savings for companies. Mobile technology
is a big expense for firms, so using local phone providers will add up
to significant savings. For firms using national carriers, installing
apps that will track voice and data usage will help keep employees' mobile
usage on an as-needed basis; similarly, using Voice-over-Internet-Protocol
for long distance calls will also save on phone bills. Online faxing
services like MyFax will provide cheaper faxing than maintaining hardware,
offering basic faxing for $10 per month. Software licensing can also
amount to huge bills, so selecting volume licensing plans with multiple
desktops should be considered; an open source software like LibreOffice
is a great solution for documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. Energy-efficient
units should replace older power supplies, with programs like Trade-UPS
offering recycling for outdated units. Saving power in the office should
be a priority, so turning off equipment every day and on weekends is
important for the environment and a firm's bottom line. Cloud computing
is critical to the business of the future, and saves SMBs significantly.
Firms should also consolidate supplies for better priced options, and
follow simple tasks like double-sided printing for saving toner and energy.
(http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/small-busi
ness/digital/biz-categories-technology/12-ways-to-save-with-tech-in-2012/art
icle2290168/?utm_medium=Feeds%3A%20RSS%2FAtom&utm_source=Home&utm_content=22
90168)
to the top It's
an Intuitive, Integrated, Cloudy, Mobile World
E-Commerce News (01/06/12); Hand, John
As firms seek new technologies for the
new year, a combination of strong sales, mobile devices, and cloud computing
is expected to propel successful business. A number of businesses discussed
these technology trends at the Salesforce Cloudforce conference, which
focused on innovative solutions for the future of business. Salesforce
technology has been hailed by businesses of all tiers, with Chatter.com
deemed a top pick for businesses with needs for a private social network.
The power of social media has been used for connecting with potential
clients during off-business hours, while firms have sought Twitter and
Facebook for publicity needs. Technology that is intuitive and integrates
business practices has been hailed as a priority for businesses, while
mobile devices continue to provide significant productivity advantages.
Similarly, a strong sales team was cited as a critical part of building
a business, since time wasted on non-sales lead to wasted resources.
The cloud is expected to continue evolving, as the technology strengthens
customer and internal relationships.
(http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/74120.html)
Sponsored By: Information, Inc.
Information Inc.'s handcrafted business intelligence services provide
up-to-the-minute information on critical issues. Decision-makers in more
than 2,000 major corporations, associations and government agencies
worldwide have relied on our comprehensive news services for the past 22
years. To learn how our timely, targeted, custom
services can help you compete in the 21st century, go to: http://www.infoinc.com/s
tatecpa/contact.html