Tuesday, February 22, 2011

What Value Does Snuko Hold for Its End Users?

Based in London, Snuko is a security and IT Company that specializes in securing laptops and other mobile devices, as well as securing confidential data that may be susceptible to theft and loss. With the emergence of the Snuko anti-theft software into the market, the company has managed to beat all conventional methods by coming out on top with its new and radical anti-theft device that combines Internet-based technologies with real-time monitoring and online tracking of Internet devices.

With Snuko's anti-theft device, you can now give laptop thieves a hard time both before as well as after they've committed the crime. What's more, if your mobile phone or computer is found by an honest person, he or she can now return it to you in an easy and hassle-free way; helping you get your device and data back.

Every year, nearly 1 out of 10 laptops are lost or stolen in their first 12 month life cycle. Statistics have shown that out of this, nearly 97% are never recovered. From airports to libraries and train stations, the list of places where you could lose your laptop just goes on. The cost of recovering these devices can be enormous. Since computers and mobile phones have become such a big part of our lives today, we tend to feel handicapped without them. And worse still, knowing that your device is in the hands of the wrong person can be absolutely horrifying!

Computers and mobiles are used by everyone across the world. Every household in the world has at least one of these devices, making it all the more important to keep some security measure in the event of loss or theft of the device. Since it is so reasonably priced, the Snuko anti-theft software is truly for everyone!

And although this product has a wide number of uses for the people across the world, it is important to note the various values that it brings to various end-users:

1. Value for Telco's & Internet Service Providers

It helps to increase Customer Loyalty. It helps to increase your overall revenues. It helps to reduce Churn.

2. Value for Insurance Companies

Reduced Insurance Claims. Helps solve problems like home and office burglaries. Better for branding, as it shows your customers that you care for them.

3. Value for Device Manufacturers

It gives you a competitive edge. It helps to increase customer loyalty. It helps to enhance branding. Over time, it will help to increase your overall revenues.

4. Value for Anti-Virus & Security Vendors

Protects against any hardware loss or theft. The product can go along with the existing products that are being sold. Provides your customers with a complete solution. It helps to increase your overall revenue.

And ultimately for the customers, Snuko offers the best security solutions for mobile devices. In the case of loss or theft of a device, this anti-theft device will help you retrieve your hardware as well as your valuable data. Snuko manages to differentiate itself from its competition in terms of both - functionality as well as affordability.

Source: ezinearticles.com

Choosing a Laptop - Things To Consider

Picking a laptop computer can be tricky to get the most for your money with the features you may want and/or need. Therefore, before buying it is best to do some research and think about and write down your "wants" and your "must have's." Hopefully, this article can help provide you with some answers so you can decide if you want a cheap basic laptop or one with top-notch performance.

To begin with, before going out to shop, it is important to decide whether a PC/Windows platform will be better for you or an Apple Macintosh (MAC). Most PC laptops are now equipped with Windows 7. A windows machine will usually be faster, but Macs are known for their more easier to use capabilities.

The Central Processing Unit (CPU) is the most important part of your laptop. The larger the better and it is good to get at least a little larger than what you think you need. The most well-known manufactures are AMD and Intel. You may want a hard drive (HHD) or a Solid State drive (SSD). The SSD has no moving parts and is less likely to be damaged, but is more expensive.

Next, how fast you want your laptop to work and how many things you want to do at one time, such as, for example, listening to music without stops, watching videos, playing games and/or working on a memory consuming task? What determines the processor speed and how many things can be done at one time is the amount of Random Access Memory (RAM). Try to buy a computer with as much RAM as you can afford.

For a PC system, already loaded with Windows 7, you can have as little as 1 GB, if the laptop is going to be used minimally, but it really should have at least 4 gigabytes (GB) of memory for better performance. If you plan to play a lot of games, download a lot of movies, and spend much time on social networks, you may want as much as 8 GB. Having 8 GB will considerably improve the performance of a PC computer laptop over 4 GB.

A Mac should have at least 4 gigabyte of memory and more is better. If costs prohibit a buyer from purchasing a laptop with less memory that may later be desired, make sure the laptop has easy to get to slots so memory can be increased.

The ability to connect to the net and "surf" the web is important to most people. A laptop that has a Fast Ethernet and if you need to connect in remote locations, a built-in modem or a wireless network card (Wi-Fi for example) is needed and most laptops have wireless capabilities. A bluetooth equipped laptop lets you share information with other devices that are Bluetooth equipped like a cell phone. Blu-ray is available for watching high definition videos on some computers.

The size of the screen makes the difference on how easy it is to view data, for instance, or watch movies. 15" screens have been the most popular, but many people are now buying laptops with 17" screen.

A DVD burning optical drive let's you watch DVD movies and burn DVD's. The burner is, also, useful to back up your files, photos and other types of information, so they aren't lost in the event of the dreaded "crash." A burner makes doing those tasks much quicker. You should choose a laptop with at least 2 USB connections as you will need them to connect to any type of devise, like cameras, printers, game devices, external mouse, keyboards and a number of other things. A Firewire is a fast way to connect to an iPod, digital camera, and some phones.

The laptop will have a pointer stick or touch pad. If the laptop is going to be used fairly consistently, it is a wise thing to invest in an inexpensive travel mouse and a keyboard. Your hands, wrists, and arms will thank you.

How long the battery lasts can make the difference in whether or not you can barely use your laptop if not "plugged in." Do you care if you are only going to get 30 minutes of time on a single charge? Probably so, therefore, comparing manufacturers products to try and find a laptop with a battery life of at least 2 hours normally. If more time is needed without being "plugged in," there are laptops with media bays that can be used as extra battery slots or longer life batteries can be bought. The size of the CPU will, also directly impact the batter life on a computer laptop.

When shopping do pick up laptops. How much you want to carry around can be, for some people at least, crucial.

Source: ezinearticles.com

Disruptive Technology and Examples of Disruptive Technologies

In 1997 Mr. Clayton M.Christensen ( A Harvard Business School Professor ) introduces a new term "Disruptive Technology". He also describes that disruptive technology unexpectedly displaces an established technology. He explains later in his best selling book in 1997, "The Innovator's Dilemma" and separate new technology into two major categories: Sustaining and Disruptive.

Sustaining technology: A technology which relies on incremental improvements to an already established technology is called sustaining technology.

On the other hand the technology Because it is new so lacks refinement,often has performance problems,appeals to a limited audience and may not yet have a proven practical application. The most common example of disruptive technology is "Electrical Speech Machine" later called telephone by Alexander Graham Bell.

Professor Mr. Clayton M.Christensen point out in his book that no. of large corporations are like to work with sustaining technologies and they designed their work accordingly. Large Corporations are staying close to their customers, having a mechanism in place to develop existing technologies, so they excel at knowing their market. Marketing opportunities which are created by the low margin disruptive technologies may cause the capitalizing on the potential efficiencies and cost saving by large corporations.

Professor Mr. Clayton M.Christensen in his book "The Innovator's Dilemma" ( the best selling book for the year 1997 ) to illustrate his point about disruptive use the real world examples. He demonstrates how it is not unusual for a big corporation to dismiss all the values of a disruptive, the reason is that it does not reinforce on current company goals.

Source: ezinearticles.com

SQLPro SQL Editor

SqlPro is a simple editor for six popular databases (Access, SQL Server, Oracle, PostgreSQL, MySQL, and SqlLite). It uses a three-pane interface to let you navigate data. To the left, a treeview tracks all the databases you have connected to and their data-bearing objects (passwords are stored in an encrypted configuration file). Above there's a pane for typing SQL; below is a grid for showing results. You can execute a single statement or a script of multiple statements and see what happens in the grid, and the associated log tab tracks messages back from the database. The grid only shows the most recently returned result set; older result sets are simply overwritten.

Amenities here include color-coding of the SQL (though it's a bit nonstandard and somewhat garish), drag-and-drop of objects into the SQL pane to save you from typing their name, retrieval of SQL for things like stored procedures and triggers from the underlying database, and one-click creation of SELECT and INSERT statements. You can save SQL files and print result sets.

While the functionality here is pretty basic, I see a clear niche for this software: it's a handy tool for cross-database use packed into a small space with all of the necessary drivers, and thus ideal for the USB keys that so many of us are carting around these days. The trial version comes in at a mere 1,012K and the full registered setup is only 6,218K (the difference is that the full version bundles the Oracle drivers that it needs; both versions include the drivers for Access, SQL Server, MySQL, and SqlLite). At that size, it's smaller than trying to carry around various command-line tools that could run SQL against the different database types, if you could even find them.

SQLPro SQL editor supports the most important database features, including views, indexes, stored procedures, triggers and functions.

Source: ezinearticles.com

Steps to Restore Computer Sound

Computers can be changeable and unstable so if your computer suddenly stops producing sound, you need to know the reasons for it and address the problem properly. If you have money and time to spend, you could go to a professional computer technician to resolve the problem but you can also do some troubleshooting steps yourself.

A computer stops producing sound sometimes due to the uninstallation of the drivers to the sound card. What you need to do is to restore them. First, examine if the drivers are missing by opening your computer's Control Panel. You can press Ctrl + Esc to see the start menu and find the Control Panel at the right side. Then, click on System and click Hardware. Under this option, click Device Manager. If you find yellow exclamation marks beside the sound icon, that means that the sound card has to be restored since the drivers have been corrupted. You can take out the CD which came with the computer sound card. Alternatively, you can restore the sound card by downloading drivers from the net.

However, if you see no yellow exclamation marks, you don't have to do the step above. Check if the computer speaker cords are not loose nor unplugged and make sure that the cable is properly attached to the right outlet. You can exchange a few various cords. If this works, your computer sound will be restored.

If the steps above still don't work, you should examine the mute button on the Windows Taskbar and double-click the Windows Volume Control which looks like a speaker. Check if the sound has been muted. If it has, uncheck the box to unmute it. However, if you can't see any sound icon in the Taskbar, your sound card may need restoration. Use the CD which came with the sound card or download the appropriate drivers from the website of your sound card's manufacturer. This would solve the problem.

Also, you can change your speakers if you find that they are defective. Don't forget to keep the volume control up.

Source: ezinearticles.com

Know Tomorrow's Technology Today

With technology advancing so quickly these days, it can become difficult to know how to keep up with all the latest gadgets, gizmos and must-have items that seem to be released every month. So if you're one of these people who'd only just got used to the idea of the iPod, and have been completely confused by the invention of the iPad, here are some top tips that will make you that little bit more familiar with the latest technology.

Do Your Homework

With so many gadgets available on the market right now, it's important to do your research and find out which items are the most popular and which ones are causing the most buzz. A quick look onto a few electrical retailer sites should give you an idea of which gadgets are the most popular, and what they are like to use, so look around, take notes and compare, you'd be surprised at how little time it can take to find out some useful information.

Ask a Friend

Sometimes reading about things you don't fully understand can make them seem more alien, so if you're really struggling to know what's going on in the world of technology, then it's also a good idea to ask a friend or relative that has a better grasp of these things than you do. Sit them down and ask them about anything you want, the chances are that they may be able to explain things to you in a way that you can understand.

Know the Brands

Sometimes knowing which companies make what can be the biggest battle, so make sure if you don't understand the product, that you at least recognise the company name. Apple make iPods amongst other things, Nokia make mobile phones, and Powwownow provides conference calls. Get an understanding friend to help you with this, or even see how much you can learn on your own.

Source: ezinearticles.com

Smart Phones Are Changing the Way We Communicate

I love where the telecom industry is taking the world. I remember years ago, way before cell phones came out. We had to communicate from land line like home phones or pay phones, business phone, oh and remember the beeper era... if `you didn't have a beeper you weren't cool enough. If you wanted to make a phone call and you were on the road you had to use the payphone.

Then there was the cell phone, I remember it like it was yesterday. The first phone was so BIG, it looked like a huge brick! LOL! But it was still cool. My dad got the very first one that came out. It was the most talked about item!

And now here we are...

You got to admit that cell phones have changed the way we communicate. Remember when folks were disconnecting there home phone because they have enough minutes on there cell phone plans to talk. You can't even leave your cell phone at home; it's like leaving your wallet at home.

Now we can browse through the internet on our cell phones, we can lock and unlock our cars or start our engines from our smart phones. We have millions of apps that can help us with our daily lives. Oh, how about this...we can now see the person we are talking to with video chat. Amazing right?!

From a simple idea...to a ridiculous invention!. iPhone, HTC Evo, Android, Droid X, etc...these smart phones are the wave of the future. Think about it, it's just going to get better from here on out.

The iPhone 5 will be released soon, and they are talking about a new technology called Near-Field Communication (NFC) technology. What does this mean for you? Well, imagine leaving your wallet at home and paying for products and services by simply waving your iPhone 5 over a terminal...no checks or no credit cards needed. Is that crazy or what?!

I'm telling you, the smart phone is the wave of the future. I just can't wait what the future has in stored for us.

Source: ezinearticles.com

Difference Between Bluetooth and Wi-Fi

The advance technology and communication methods have made a very remarkable position in our daily life. Imagine a life without your internet working or a day when you cannot transfer the data from your phone. These two are really so much in use in our daily life that its really a mes to work without them. But have you ever wondered that what is the difference between the two technologies? I guess not much of us give a thought to it, so I would like to explain some of the basic differences between Bluetooth and Wi-fi.

Difference between Bluetooth and Wi-Fi

Bluetooth: Bluetooth can be explained as the specification with which we can define or explain how the different devices like the mobile phones, computer or PDAs are connected with a short-range wireless connection. The connections may be of point-to-point or multi-point type providing a maximum range of 10 meters. Moreover for security purpose, Bluetooth is provided with built-in encryption and verification services.

Wi-Fi: On the contrary, Wi-Fi covers wireless local area networks using the specification detailed in 802.11 family. It has found applications in business, agencies, schools and our homes. But when we are talking about such a great use, there are a lot of security risks that come in. If the Wi-Fi is not protected adequately then it can be breached and unauthorized users may gain access to the internet.

Strength and Weakness of Bluetooth technology

The concept of Bluetooth came into existence when all of us were deliberately looking for a replacement of the short-range cable technology. This technique works by connecting a device to its peripheral like for example you can connect a mobile phone with a headset or synchronizing a PDA with a desktop. In short Bluetooth is regarded as you own personal area network (PAN).

It is definitely a great solution for the short range cables and it has been highly useful in short range data transfer but Bluetooth has certain risks. One of the major problem in Bluetooth is that it is possible to connect to a Bluetooth device without the prior knowledge of the other user. In this way one can gain access to the data stored on the other device.

In addition to the above fact, this device can be easily breached with the use of specialized hardware and one can gain access to the transfer channel of the two devices. With this once a connection is developed, it is very easy to spoof the signals from one hardware device to another.

Strength and weakness of Wi-Fi technology

On the contrary, Wi-Fi is more reliable because it is a mature technology as compared to prior one. There has been a lot of improvements in the technology since its inception. The latest release, 802.11i, provides you with the industrial strength encryption and these security features are shipped with the Wi-Fi protected access (WPA) technology.

The advancement in security feature of Wi-Fi has definitely cemented its stand against the Bluetooth technology but it do have some serious issues. Wi-Fi consumes a lot of power and hence its really hard to implement it on the hand-held devices. But these issues have been worked upon and there is certainly a definite amount of success. SO till now it is pretty clear that with its security W-Fi holds an upper hand in the race.

Source: ezinearticles.com

New iPad Apps for Publishing

You can find the one of the best new iPad apps for publishing on the web. However, you need to find out the best applications to get the best out of these publishing tools. Ipad has the best applications in terms of games, media applications, and utilities and publishing tools. It is also the best way to browse the web, watch movies in a car, and read in pitch darkness, and has thousand other uses. In fact, iPad specific applications number close to sixty thousand as of January 2011.

Which Options are Available?

Apart from the current sixty thousand applications, iPad can also run 300,000 iPhone and iPad apps. This means you can try the applications for the next 16 years and still there will be more. You certainly need help to sift through the best publishing iPad applications. This is because you have a lot of design decisions to take. You would have to choose between single-folio or multi-folio viewer app, decide whether the orientation would be vertical, horizontal or both. You also need to know the best apps for dual-orientation apps.

Apple Inc. has revolutionized the IT industry by developing products like iPods and iphones. The recent development is a tablet which works without a keyboard and mouse. However, iPad publishing innovation has left the users confused as to which application to choose and which to leave out. For instance, the users are confused as to whether for multi-issue folios, should the preview folio be included, or they will have to download it. The company which has the publish technology for iPads should also decide in advance the best ways to provide free preview content to the users. The designers should also decide whether vertical swiping should be turned off. They should also choose between smooth scrolling and page-by-page flipping. Actually, it depends on the designer's discretion what he wants to give to his users.

What Should The Companies Do?

There is an increasing demand for iPad application development and therefore the companies who make new iPad apps should hire a developer who has experience and knowledge and who can handle the applications well. He should also be able to handle the application with its complex nature and length. Some of the best developers are from India. The developer you hire for iPad self publishing should develop something which is organized as well as personalized. The applications developed should be innovative and powerful because there is increased competition in the market. Also, this is an ever-changing industry and therefore the application should be something dynamic.

Hire a developer who has complete knowledge of iPad features and applications so that he can easily handle problems and bugs if they arise. For developing the best iPad publisher software, choose a developer who specializes in iPad applications only. An inefficient or inexperienced developer may waste your time, money, effort, and resources. You would certainly not want to be left behind in the race. Outsourcing companies can help you get the right developers. You can change the developer if you do not like his work.

Apart from developers, you could also choose a company that specializes in iPad publishing for magazines. These companies offer new iPad apps and also 24*7 customer support. Choose only the best to get the best.

Source: ezinearticles.com

A Microsoft Access Programmer To The Rescue!

Creating a customized database that can serve to fill the needs of a business is something that most people are unable to do alone. Hiring the services of a Microsoft Access programmer businesses that are looking for customized solutions to their database needs are able to create a full suite of fields that can be used to track the orders of an individual client. Merging data that relates to multiple customers or having the ability to generate a standalone report through the software application is helping many businesses to become more productive. When sharing the Microsoft Access program with several departments that each add to the data that is being stored and collected about a client the Microsoft Access programmer can make certain that everyone who needs to retrieve or amend the information about an individual can be accessed and updated for the entire organization to see.

Sharing the resources of the sales, customer service and fulfillment departments with one another through the server the Microsoft Access programmer can enhance the individual components of the database software so that it is customized for the needs of each department. Helping to make the database software suite as manageable as possible, many industries and organizations that rely on the specialized creation of custom fields within their database are able to better service their customers by having all of the pertinent information about their ordering and shipping of products or services at their fingertips. Giving businesses in every sector the ability to effectively service the needs of their individual clients the programming of their database by a professional Microsoft Access programmer is enabling them to become more effective and efficient when it comes to managing their clients.

Source: ezinearticles.com

Tips for Repairing a Computer Disc Drive

A cd/dvd drive is a computer device that is capable of reading data from a disc and writing data unto that disc. There are various types of disc drives which include hard drives, floppy drives and optical disc drives. A computer can have either internal or external drives. Like other computer parts, computer drives can also have problems through continued use. There are many reasons why electronic equipment suddenly develop problems. To lengthen the lifespan of your disc drive and fix its problems, you can do few useful steps. Taking care of your computer and its components properly is the key to using it for a longer period.

You should first inspect the disc you're using. Check if the CD or DVD's data side has visible dirt or scratches. These could be the reason why the drive's laser cannot read the data properly. Clean it carefully using a soft, dry cotton cloth or a microfiber cloth. Also, clean the laser of the drive. The laser cannot operate well if it is blocked by dirt or dust inside. Spray out the drive using a can of compressed air.

Be certain that your computer's cd drive hasn't been unplugged from the computer. You can check inside by opening up the case, if the disc drive is internal. Plug back in the cable that goes from the drive's back to the motherboard of your computer, if it has been unplugged.

On the other hand, if your disc drive is external and plugs to the computer through USB or Firewire, check if the USB or Firewire ports are working. You can test these ports by plugging in other devices. If you find out that the ports don't work anymore, you'll have to go a repair shop so that these ports will be replaced.

Source: ezinearticles.com

Monday, February 21, 2011

The Importance Of Having A Backup Strategy In Place

Most of us unfortunately learn the importance of backing up important files and valuable data the hard way. A lot of us wish that we had made a backup only once our precious photo's or client information is lost forever.

Don't let this happen for you. Make sure that you learn how to do backups of all your important data.

There are many ways that data can be lost, be it by either human error, software malfunction or hard drive failure. Typically, like most disasters, it usually happens at the most inconvenient time. A small business can have huge setbacks if data is lost and lost income can amount to thousands.

Make sure you plan ahead. Hard disks don't last forever no matter how well you look after them, and they can fail due to mechanical faults or even a power surge. Once this happens the recovery of the data is often impossible. There are companies around that specialize in the recovery of data on failed disks, but they generally charge a fortune, and even then there are no guarantees that all the data will be recovered.

Try to schedule a good backup in every week. Saying you are too busy is no excuse. Once you have your backup set up, it will take a few minutes to do. Back up onto a separate drive on your computer, a remote hard drive or a CD or DVD. It is also a good idea to keep a backup off site like at a friends house in case of theft or fire.

Start off by prioritizing the value of your data and decide how frequently it changes. If you have digital photos, music or movie files that don't change you will only need to back those up once. If you are working on files that change on a daily or weekly basis, you will need to back those up more often.

Ultimately deciding what you need to back up is a personal choice. Anything that you cannot replace easily should be at the top of your backup list. Before you get started, make a list of files that you need to backup and this will also help as a reference list in the event that you need to retrieve a backed up file.

Here are some file suggestions to get you started: Your Microsoft Outlook Calendar, Your Internet Explorer bookmarks, your E-Mail address book, bank records or other financial information, photographs, software that you purchased and downloaded from the internet and personal projects.

What are you waiting for, there is no time like the present to get those backups in order?

Source: ezinearticles.com

How Gadgets Impact Your Workload

Most of my time is spent on emailing my friends, using iPads and Blackberries. The bad thing is that the more I get attached to these equipments, they busier I get. These gadgets are so nice in a way that you can do everything you want with ease although at the end of it all, you will be so tired.

As you are working, your major aim is to become prosperous. This dream can be shattered by these electronic tools on which you will put most of your focus. Learn how to control yourself while using them because they might divert your attention from work to having fun.

The only way you can retrieve your focus is by putting on hold all the things that have been taking your minds away. By regaining your focus, you will be able to carry out your activities in a better way without any intervention.

If you are so busy doing something that is not productive then you are wasting your time. Put your emphasis on activities that will benefit you in the long run instead of taking part in useless dealings.

The goals you want to reach for in life should come first on your list before doing any other thing. It's better to term yourself as busy when you are on the right track.

In this world, you have to opt for what works out. If your interests are not profitable, forget about them and pursue for what will benefit you. You are most likely to scoop 80% increase in profits by only putting in 20% of your time and effort.

You might find it hard to let go of something you want just because you have to settle for some other activity which only requires you to put in 20% of your money and time. This plan might sound ridiculous whereby it might be hard for you to let go of the surrounding distractions that take most of your attention.

As a result, what we all want is to become successful hence you shouldn't hesitate but to take up this plan because it will yield tremendous achievements for you.

Source: ezinearticles.com

A Laptop On The Go Must Have A Laptop Case

The best thing about laptops is the ability to carry them around anywhere that you may need them. After all,t he fact that they are portable was kind of a major selling point for them. However, it is not worth carrying one around if you do not have a case to put it in. If you do not have a case for you laptop, then you are just carrying it around in your hands all day, and that can get really annoying really quickly. Here are some things you need to look out for when you are trying to find a case for your laptop.

First of all, you need to be sure that your case is static free. Static electricity is like an electronic serial killer because year after year static electricity is all it takes to ruin a good laptop, or any electronic device for that matter, is a build up of static electricity in the wrong place. You should pick a case that is static resistant. Your best bet would be to choose one that has rubber or plastic incorporated into its design, as these materials repel static electricity.

Speaking of materials, that is another thing you need to keep an eye out for when picking the right case. Year after year people go cheap on buying their cases and decide that any case made of any material will do when that is actually a great way to ensure doom for your laptop. You need to choose a case that is made of a durable material that will lock out liquid and dirt. Otherwise, you might as well not even have a case for your computer. The best material to use for your laptop case is either leather, or a bag coated with a type of urethane. These are your best bets.

You also need to make sure that your case is not too heavy. If your case makes your laptop too cumbersome, then it completely defeats the purpose of carrying around the bag. You need a bag that is lightweight enough for you to be able to carry it around without straining your back or shoulder. These are the foremost things to look for in a laptop case.

While it may not seem like a big deal to be so specific when choosing a laptop case, you should remember that your laptop cost several hundred dollars when you bought it. This is more than enough reason for you to be choosy when finding a laptop bag.

Source: ezinearticles.com

Cloud Infrastructure Savings Within Reach - Amazon CloudMetrics Benefits

Amazon CloudMetrics and CloudWatch services were just released. We have evaluated them and are impressed. The CloudMetrics is a detailed reporting system, able to track useful information and create graphs that can be useful as interpretations of the status of the applications which are hosted in the Cloud. Select hosting providers make use of such cloud technology to analyze average load in servers and to be able to anticipate spikes.

The CloudMetrics provides metrics and alarms intended for cloud hosting and cloud security applications. These services include:

Metrics - CloudWatch can track different kinds of useful and fun data such as Network In and Out, Disk Read and Write, CPU usage, and many more for the service cloud. This gives you the data to interpret in useful ways. These reports are easy to understand for the average cloud computing services available from various cloud providers.

Alarms - Alarms in cloud platform are useful in taking data from metrics solutions and using this information in a way that supports cloud software applications. The alarms and alerts automatically trigger once a pre-determined threshold has been reached.

To give you an example, you may have already established that each time your CPU usage reaches 60%, it causes problems due to maxed out CPU utilization. In this case, you have the option to setup an email alert that tells you when the CPU utilization hits 60%. In case you do not have a configured auto-scaling, then you can get help in predicting when your server would undergo considerable load which allows you to react in a timely fashion.

There might not be any perfect cloud technology. The one issue with Amazon Cloud Watch relates to its storage of data from only the past 2 weeks. It will be difficult to serve as cloud storage for long-term trends without any external help.

To help in solving this, advanced hosting solution makes use of Cacti, which is capable to pull data from the Amazon Cloud Watch and store it for even up to 2 years. We found that Amazon Cloud Watch becomes useful in cloud management and cloud computing especially in determining your cloud application's needs.

In integrated cloud solutions and cloud infrastructure, the CloudWatch maximizes cloud computing effectiveness for your business. It improves cloud efficiency with the use of Amazon resources thus increasing results which lowers cloud computing costs.

Source: ezinearticles.com

How Technology Changes Your Life

The 20th century offers a great advancement when it comes to technology and new inventions which took a 360 degree turn amongst people's lives. The technology of today's generation helps people become more productive and gives them the chance to be more creative. Whether in education, business, medicine, communications and education the breakthroughs are really helpful to mankind.

When it comes to the things which brought great convenience to mankind when you talk about technology is media, today news travels faster and people all over the world can gain more knowledge about what is happening in he east even if they are living in the west side of the world. Because of television and internet, people are now more involved and aware of what is going on in the society. Today communication will never be a problem; you can now talk and see your love ones and friends even if they are on the other side of the world.

When you talk about education, the technology gave people the chance to expand their horizons and gain more knowledge through distance learning. Online, there are a lot of schools which offer classes that will let those individuals to gain a degree without attending a formal class. Online English schools and other languages as well are present over the internet if one would like to learn another language. This is a proof that there is no excuse for someone to be ignorant and illiterate these days thanks to the advancement of technology.

Saving lives has also been improved by technology, it is easier for doctors to treat patience using their state of the art medical equipment thus mortality rate over the past years have been decreased. what is before called dreaded and fatal diseases are now easier to diagnose, treat and prevent because of the new technology.

Businessmen are also one of the most blessed people when you talk about the advancement of technology nowadays. The advent of computers and internet connection give them more room to advertise and sell whatever products or services an entity wants to sell. They can also monitor and manage their business with just a touch of a button.

The many benefits that man can get from technology are truly amazing. Many aspects in the life of a person that has been changed because of technology but one must know that this gift should not be abused because it can also be destructive if humans will not use it well.

Source: ezinearticles.com

Slow Computer? Some of the Ways to Fix It, and the One That I Think Is the Best and Cheapest

If your computer is running slow, you may just need to fix the registry in order to get it running the correct way again. This can be achieved in three quick and easy steps:

1. LOOK AND SEE IF THE REGISTRY IS ACTUALLY WHAT IS CAUSING YOUR COMPUTER TO SLOW

This is where an all- in- one computer solution will help you. This type of program looks for all kinds of problems, including viruses, spyware, and outdated drivers.

But if you have determined that the registry is actually the problem, then you need to:

2. BE SURE YOUR REGISTRY FILES ARE BACKED UP

**note: a number of registry cleaning programs will automatically backup your files.

Once you have done this, you will then:

3. FIX YOUR REGISTRY

The most simple step in this process is to do restore of your computer system, but if this is not an option, you could do one of four other things:

1. Perform a reformatting of your computer's hard drive and then install Microsoft Windows once again.

2. Go into the "regedit" part of the run menu to fix the registry.

3. Take your computer to a professional shop to get it fixed (but beware, you may be without it for a couple of weeks, and you will probably have to pay at least $100.

4. Use a program that will clean the registry.

This last option is your best option because it is easy, and does not cost much money. Fixing your registry on your own is very difficult, and it is quite easy to make a mistake.

Source: ezinearticles.com

Tips for Repairing a Computer Disc Drive

A cd/dvd drive is a computer device that is capable of reading data from a disc and writing data unto that disc. There are various types of disc drives which include hard drives, floppy drives and optical disc drives. A computer can have either internal or external drives. Like other computer parts, computer drives can also have problems through continued use. There are many reasons why electronic equipment suddenly develop problems. To lengthen the lifespan of your disc drive and fix its problems, you can do few useful steps. Taking care of your computer and its components properly is the key to using it for a longer period.

You should first inspect the disc you're using. Check if the CD or DVD's data side has visible dirt or scratches. These could be the reason why the drive's laser cannot read the data properly. Clean it carefully using a soft, dry cotton cloth or a microfiber cloth. Also, clean the laser of the drive. The laser cannot operate well if it is blocked by dirt or dust inside. Spray out the drive using a can of compressed air.

Be certain that your computer's cd drive hasn't been unplugged from the computer. You can check inside by opening up the case, if the disc drive is internal. Plug back in the cable that goes from the drive's back to the motherboard of your computer, if it has been unplugged.

On the other hand, if your disc drive is external and plugs to the computer through USB or Firewire, check if the USB or Firewire ports are working. You can test these ports by plugging in other devices. If you find out that the ports don't work anymore, you'll have to go a repair shop so that these ports will be replaced.

Source: ezinearticles.com

SQLPro SQL Editor

SqlPro is a simple editor for six popular databases (Access, SQL Server, Oracle, PostgreSQL, MySQL, and SqlLite). It uses a three-pane interface to let you navigate data. To the left, a treeview tracks all the databases you have connected to and their data-bearing objects (passwords are stored in an encrypted configuration file). Above there's a pane for typing SQL; below is a grid for showing results. You can execute a single statement or a script of multiple statements and see what happens in the grid, and the associated log tab tracks messages back from the database. The grid only shows the most recently returned result set; older result sets are simply overwritten.

Amenities here include color-coding of the SQL (though it's a bit nonstandard and somewhat garish), drag-and-drop of objects into the SQL pane to save you from typing their name, retrieval of SQL for things like stored procedures and triggers from the underlying database, and one-click creation of SELECT and INSERT statements. You can save SQL files and print result sets.

While the functionality here is pretty basic, I see a clear niche for this software: it's a handy tool for cross-database use packed into a small space with all of the necessary drivers, and thus ideal for the USB keys that so many of us are carting around these days. The trial version comes in at a mere 1,012K and the full registered setup is only 6,218K (the difference is that the full version bundles the Oracle drivers that it needs; both versions include the drivers for Access, SQL Server, MySQL, and SqlLite). At that size, it's smaller than trying to carry around various command-line tools that could run SQL against the different database types, if you could even find them.

SQLPro SQL editor supports the most important database features, including views, indexes, stored procedures, triggers and functions.

Source: ezinearticles.com

Simplest Mail Merge Tutorial

Mail Merge is a way to create a document having the same content but different recipients. For example, you often receive generalized letters from your bank, Telephone Company, etc. to let you know about latest offers. Those documents contain same content but the recipients' details are varied. That is a result of Mail Merge.

This article is designed to provide you simplest Mail Merge tutorial. Moreover, the software will give an answer to the questions like "how to Mail Merge," "what is Mail Merge," "Microsoft Word Mail Merge," etc. Let us execute the following steps to process in this tutorial:

Start MS Word 2007. Select the Mailing tab in the Ribbon and click the Start Mail Merge option. Select a document type like Letters, Envelopes, Labels, etc. Now, it is the time to type the data what you want to keep similar for all recipients. After you have typed the information, it is the time to create recipients list. To create recipients list, click the Select Recipients option and select the "Type New List" option. When you select the option, the "New Address List" dialog box will open. Specify the recipients' information like Title, First Name, Last Name, Address, Phone, etc. To add multiple entries, click the "New Entry" button. Repeat the step 6 until you do not add all recipients in the list. Once the list is created, click the Save button to save the list at user-defined location on your computer's hard disk. Now, it is the time to add Greeting Line. Place the mouse cursor where you want to add Greeting line and then click the Greeting Line option and specify the Greeting line. Another way to specify the Greeting line is type it in the document and then click the Insert Merge Field button and select the required field. For example, you can select First Name with the Greeting line like Dear Mr. ABC. After specifying the greeting line, place the cursor at the location where you want to add the recipients other details like address. After placing the cursor, select the Insert Merge Field option and select fields. To specify information in separate line press the ENTER key and then repeat the step 11. Once all required information is added, it is the time to preview the work done. To preview the Mail Merge 2007, click the Preview Results button. While previewing the Mail Merge 2007, if you find any sort of errors, then click the Edit Recipient List option to modify the list. After confirming the correctness, move ahead to take printouts of the documents.

This is how Microsoft Mail Merge works.

Source: ezinearticles.com

Recover Windows Password Making Use of These Simple to Follow Methods

Didn't remember Microsoft windows Admin Pass word? It can be frequently that computer users will usually forget windows supervisor username and password? Just how will we login to Windows system for example Windows 7, vista, XP, 2008, 2003, NT when you forgot administrator security password?

Lots of people may say: I'll ask an administrator to reset the login pass word. When you yourself are administrator so you can't can recall the administrator password, how can you get out of this kind of tough situation without data formatting and re-installing the operating system. Here a few techniques seek to Retrieve Windows 7 Password to find entry to the machine again, no less than by retrieving the accessibility.

1- Trying challenging to recall

The first method of retrieving windows xp password is trying your best to keep in mind the lost password. So require a rest and after a few years, organic meat suddenly found that we have remembered the lost Windows pass word. However I can't think this technique can help many people who failing to remember windows password. Usually there wouldn't be more and more people asking for windows username and password recovery answer online.

2- Restore a duplicated system state or an ERD

Another approach to recovering windows password is hoping to revive a backed up system state or an ERD. But the system restore will erase every one of the recently add users, groups and any applications installed following the date and time with the restore point. Causing all of the changed owner and user account passwords because the last backup was developed.

3- Try default Supervisor account login

A third means of recovering windows password is trying to login with all the default administrator account. In Or windows 7, there exists built-in Administrator user account a large number of individuals are totally unaware of, and that is auto generated when install and without password guarded. In case you didn't change this Administrator's password, then seek to sign in on your Windows system and reset the lost windows password.

4- Totally reset from another user accounts with admin privileges

Should you have another user account which has administrative privileges, abide by these steps regarding how to recover windows password:

Log onto Windows through the use of webmaster account that features a password which you remember. You might want to start Windows XP in safe mode. Click Start, and then click Run. On view box, type "control userpasswords?, and click OK. Click the user account you forgot the password for, and click Reset Password. Type a fresh password in the modern password and also the Confirm new password boxes, after which it click OK.

5- Using a reset disk

If you were smart and still have launched a password reset disk before, then you can employ this disk to get better the forgotten Windows password, adopt these measures on how to recover windows password:

Click make use of your password reset disk. The Password Reset Wizard starts. The Password Reset Wizard means that you can develop a new password on your user account. Then click Next. Insert newly created password reset disk into drive A, and click Next. Type a different password inside the Type a different password box, after which it look at the password. From the Type a different password hint box, type a hint to remind you of passwords when you your investment new password. Click Next, and then click Finish. The Password Reset Wizard quits, and you also come back to the Windows XP logon screen.

6- Try Third party recovery Software

Windows password recovery software are widely-used to recover/reset/remove your neighborhood user account and administrator passwords and they are known as as "password cracker" as they are sometimes employed to crack the windows password by hackers. Underneath are essentially the most famous password recovery tools including OphCrack, Offline NT Password, ERD Commander.

Source: ezinearticles.com

What Value Does Snuko Hold for Its End Users?

Based in London, Snuko is a security and IT Company that specializes in securing laptops and other mobile devices, as well as securing confidential data that may be susceptible to theft and loss. With the emergence of the Snuko anti-theft software into the market, the company has managed to beat all conventional methods by coming out on top with its new and radical anti-theft device that combines Internet-based technologies with real-time monitoring and online tracking of Internet devices.

With Snuko's anti-theft device, you can now give laptop thieves a hard time both before as well as after they've committed the crime. What's more, if your mobile phone or computer is found by an honest person, he or she can now return it to you in an easy and hassle-free way; helping you get your device and data back.

Every year, nearly 1 out of 10 laptops are lost or stolen in their first 12 month life cycle. Statistics have shown that out of this, nearly 97% are never recovered. From airports to libraries and train stations, the list of places where you could lose your laptop just goes on. The cost of recovering these devices can be enormous. Since computers and mobile phones have become such a big part of our lives today, we tend to feel handicapped without them. And worse still, knowing that your device is in the hands of the wrong person can be absolutely horrifying!

Computers and mobiles are used by everyone across the world. Every household in the world has at least one of these devices, making it all the more important to keep some security measure in the event of loss or theft of the device. Since it is so reasonably priced, the Snuko anti-theft software is truly for everyone!

And although this product has a wide number of uses for the people across the world, it is important to note the various values that it brings to various end-users:

1. Value for Telco's & Internet Service Providers

It helps to increase Customer Loyalty. It helps to increase your overall revenues. It helps to reduce Churn.

2. Value for Insurance Companies

Reduced Insurance Claims. Helps solve problems like home and office burglaries. Better for branding, as it shows your customers that you care for them.

3. Value for Device Manufacturers

It gives you a competitive edge. It helps to increase customer loyalty. It helps to enhance branding. Over time, it will help to increase your overall revenues.

4. Value for Anti-Virus & Security Vendors

Protects against any hardware loss or theft. The product can go along with the existing products that are being sold. Provides your customers with a complete solution. It helps to increase your overall revenue.

And ultimately for the customers, Snuko offers the best security solutions for mobile devices. In the case of loss or theft of a device, this anti-theft device will help you retrieve your hardware as well as your valuable data. Snuko manages to differentiate itself from its competition in terms of both - functionality as well as affordability.

Source: ezinearticles.com

How to Choose the Right IT Support Company

Good, reliable IT support is at the heart of every business. Its most visible role is to deal with problems as they arise, but it can and should be much more than that. A good IT support company should not only be a safety net when problems arise, it should also give added value to your business, helping you to improve systems, streamline operations and increase the overall efficiency of your company. It should be able to help you with everything from network planning, installation and management to server upgrades and migration, as well as disaster recovery solutions. With such a wide ranging influence your IT support team is an integral part of almost anything your company does. Choosing the right support is therefore very important. Here are a few things to remember when you are making this big decision.

1. Know your Needs

Every business is different, so no one IT solution is right for everybody. You need to find an IT company that is flexible and will work with you to meet the specific needs of your business. To make this possible you must first identify what those needs are. This should be your first step, before trying to make a decision about which company to use. It is wise not only to think about what you need right now, but also to consider how your needs are likely to change. What plans do you have for your business over the coming months and years? How will these impact on your IT requirements? See what services are available and decide which are relevant to your business, now and in the future. This sort of background planning will increase the chances of choosing the right support first time and reduce the likelihood that you will need change in the future.

2. Value experience

You need an IT support unit you can depend on, so you should not underestimate the importance of experience. Find out how long the company has been in business and what types of client it services. If possible, talk to some of its customers and find out how good it really is.

3. Training

IT support should be about more than just the technical. As well as managing and maintaining your computer systems, a good support unit will be able to provide training for your staff. Many IT systems fall down at the user stage, as employees do not know how to make the most of them. Investing in knowledge of how to use an IT system is just as important as investing in the system itself. Having the system without the knowledge to use it is a waste of money. Enquire about training and if it is not something the company does, then perhaps you should look elsewhere.

4. Look for flexibility

Your support provider doesn't just need to be right for you now. It needs to be able to grow and adapt as your business changes. Look for evidence that your chosen provider has processes in place to monitor your IT needs? If they actively seek out new requirements it is a good indication that they will be ready to adapt. This will help you find a partner you can work with long term.

5. Don't confuse cost with value

There are many business IT support providers out there, so the market is quite competitive. Be sure to compare the price of a number of options, but remember that the cheapest is not necessarily the best value. You don't want to pay over the odds, but compare the levels of service and make sure that the provider you opt for gives you everything you need.

6. Stay local

Your IT support unit will be your first port of call in case of a system failure and so you need to know that if necessary an engineer can be onsite quickly. It pays therefore to use a provider from your local area. With the wealth of options available that should not be too much of a problem.

Source: ezinearticles.com

How to Make the Most of Your Office Intranet

Choosing the right IT support unit is critical to the success of your business. If you are looking for great IT services Melbourne has many options, so you will have no trouble finding what you need locally. Once you have found the right company for you, one way it can make difference to your business is make sure that you are getting the best out of your intranet.

Intranets are often overlooked, but when used to their full potential they can increase internal efficiency by improving the ease with which information can be shared, allowing instant communication and facilitating virtual conferencing. The effect is to streamline the day-to-day operations of the business, leading to greater productivity and profitability.

Although intranets are often underused it is often not the technology that is lacking but the training. Companies will often spend substantial sums of money implementing sophisticated systems, but without instigating the necessary training to go with it can be a wasted investment. This is where your IT support unit can make a real difference. Here are just some of the technologies available that make up a good intranet and how you can benefit from them.

E-mail

E-mail is a wonderful tool for office communication and it is one of the most widely understood and used. It is simple, easy to master and enables the user to keep an electronic record of discussions and decisions. Sometimes however, this leads to it being overused and the result can be the build-up of huge volumes of unnecessary data. Not every communication needs to be put in writing. Sometimes a phone call is more efficient. Educating your staff about when and when not to use e-mail is often overlooked. Guidelines should be established about when to use e-mail and when to use other means of communication. These guidelines should also cover whether or not personal communication by e-mail is allowed. Your IT support team can help by installing antispam software and by monitoring e-mail usage and filtering out 'non-work' messages.

Instant messaging

Instant messaging is quicker than e-mail and allows for rapid communication in much the same way as a phone call. It is a useful alternative where telephones are not available or making a phone call would be disruptive to those around you.

Bulletin boards

Bulletin boards provide an unobtrusive method of communication of information that employees can then access at any time. They are unsuitable for messages that require an immediate response, as the recipient does not receive a notification of each post. For general office announcements and news designed for a wide circulation within the company they can be ideal.

Scheduling

Intranets are useful tools for scheduling. You can use an intranet to provide a central point where work schedules or details of specific projects can be posted. If every individual takes their information about their own work schedule and those of others from the same place it can eliminate miscommunication and misunderstandings.

Document Management

Document management systems such as Google Docs simplify the collection and sharing of information and ensure that everybody within a team or company has access the to the latest developments within a project.

These are just a few of the technologies you can make use of with a properly functioning intranet. Whether you are researching IT services for the first time or are considering changing your IT Support Melbourne is home to many excellent providers. Choose the one that best suits you and they will be able to help take advantage of these technologies to increase the efficiency of your company's working practices and procedures.

Source: ezinearticles.com

Utilizing Outsourced Remote DBA Services

In large companies, there is usually a team of database administrators (DBA) on hand to make sure software applications run efficiently. Smaller companies may share the services of database administration resources in their area. In tough economic times, maintaining an in-house DBA can be very expensive. Many companies are looking into outsourcing the duties of a database administrator to improve their competitive edge and to stay abreast of any new advancement in applications systems technology. To accomplish this goal, companies have started to utilize the expertise of remote DBA services.

Most companies' applications are supported by a database that needs to be maintained. To keep applications operating efficiently, a remote DBA must set up, install and support these databases. A DBA is responsible for assuring the company's data is available to the applications and users, and making sure that stored data has backup records of the information on their application systems. They will check to ensure backup files have been saved securely and the files can be easily retrieved in the event of the malfunction of their main computer application systems.

A DBA is responsible for organizing, implementing, maintenance and the troubleshooting of a company's database. A DBA must implement changes to improve the performance and capacity of data on the computer by keeping informed of new upgrades and software that will improve the efficiency of the currently installed files.

One of the major concerns of an IT executive is the company's financial outlook. Obtaining the services of a remote database administration is the most cost effective method to proficiently improve the functions of the application systems with support available 24 hours a day. The services of a remote DBA cost less than hiring an information systems specialist to work within the company. Using a remote database administrator saves money because companies do not need to spend funding on offices, equipment, and monitoring tools for an in-house information systems specialist. Many remote database administrators are senior level employees with years of experience, and an exceptional track record in managing, troubleshooting and solving any problems that occur within a company's computer system.

Employment for database administrators is projected to grow about 30 percent by 2018. Employees in this field work at jobs in insurance companies, financial institutions, telecommunication companies, business management companies, in schools and government organizations. Applicants with a college degree and specialized training and certification should continue to enjoy an optimistic future as a DBA.

Source: ezinearticles.com

Latest news

Morality and Ethics: Technological Challenges

Moral Defined: Relating to, dealing with, or capable of making the distinction between right and wrong in conduct.

Ethics Defined: The study of the general nature of morals and of the specific moral choices to be made by a person; moral philosophy.

I don't find any mention of technology, or any other man made categories or things in these definitions. It would appear to my blue collar brain that ethics and morality weren't connected to anything except the "idea" of what's right or wrong. So to say that technology like the internet for example causes moral issues is fundamentally wrong. The internet doesn't know if it's right or wrong, it's how we choose to use it within our own "ideas" of what's acceptable that raises ethical questions.

From the perspective of history almost any use of a product or technological innovation can be made into a moral issue. A good illustration of this is the button which developed in the late medieval period. On the surface the button seems harmless enough, yet the Old Order Amish felt it was wrong to wear buttons because they were not mentioned in the Bible. Wearing or not wearing buttons became a moral issue for them. It had nothing to do with the button itself.

Take another example of using a monitoring device or software to track people's cell phones. Is it more ethical for the 911 operator to track your exact location when you call vs. a suspicious husband trying to locate his wife? Is it ethical for a single parent to know the exact location of their children and what they are saying and texting on their phones? Is it ethical for the owner of a company to know if his employees are spending time on their phones while they are clocked in for work; or sharing his hard earned secrets with the competition?

I believe you need to tend your own garden and draw your own conclusions, but let's not blame the technology that allows us to accomplish so many things that weren't possible before. Technology doesn't cause any moral or ethical issues, remember they are "our" ideas of what's right or wrong, how we choose to use the tools available to us within that framework will guide our way.

Source: ezinearticles.com

How to Fix Your Slow Computer Very Quickly

Has your computer gotten slower as the years have gone by? If so, there is probably a problem inside of the computer registry. The way to fix this issue is to clean up the registry. But in order to make this happen, you must find low cost software that will fix the problem fast. It will get your computer running the way it used to.

Why does your registry need to be fixed? Because as time goes by, the PC registry gets too clogged up with information, and becomes fragmented as well. You should NOT try to clean or repair your registry on your own, because it is easy to make mistakes that could destroy your computer.

The registry on your computer is a large database containing info which allows the PC to operate the way it is supposed to. Any time that you change something on your computer, a file is sent to the registry. But bad entries get inside of there too, which causes the registry to grow. Eventually, it will reach its boiling point, and your computer will crash. But the registry cleaner will go in and get rid of all the unwanted files.

The best type of registry repair tool comes with a number of features that will keep your computer running the way it is supposed to. It will get rid of embedded keys, file entries, and fonts that have been deleted. In addition, it will check for spyware, and update bad and outdated drivers.

Source: ezinearticles.com

Computers and Computing: Changing Life As People Know It

Not so long ago, life was considered as quite simple. Although doing a lot of things was a bit difficult, people were able to adjust to them. However they were searching of ways on how to improve life for the better. Everything changed after the invention of the computer.

Computers virtually influence a lot of aspects of people's existence. From withdrawing money in the bank, to making purchases, to doing research work and interpreting data, all of these have been altered with the introduction of new technologies that are based on computers. It is difficult to imagine how individuals nowadays can survive without the aid of computers.

The computer industry has transformed itself into a major global player. Every year, computer-related businesses pump in billions of dollars into the American economy. They also provide job opportunities to a lot of individuals both in the United States and in other countries.

The development of things, such as data management and assessment software and other facets of computer technology have inspired a lot of individuals, with the newest ones copying the success of leading companies in the industry. A lot of the big players in the industry started out as small, home-based businesses. They eventually permeated the market, got appreciated by financiers, and grew into the computer industry giants that they are now.

With the developments in personal computing, data management, and assessment software come a lot of security issues. Government and private entities around the world are now concerned about the proliferation of cybercrimes, especially hacking, and the possibility of terrorists sabotaging the world's network of computer systems. This has prompted them to coordinate with each and come up with ways to combat cybercriminals, such as the introduction and implementation of cybercrime laws, and the constant monitoring of computer networks and the Internet.

Things such as the Internet and the development of personal computing and assessment software have radically changed the activities performed by individuals. Computers, all of which are now commonplace in almost every corner of the globe, will continue to evolve and help improve life as people know it. Computers are there to stay, something that everybody recognizes very well.

Source: ezinearticles.com

Why A Company Needs A Remote Database Specialist

In today's dynamic business world, an organization's information database is one of its most valuable assets. Hesitation in the thought of entrusting such an important resource to an outside supplier is understandable. The value of an organization's database system, however, is just why the option of adding remote database administration (DBA) services should be considered. This is the ideal solution to meet the changing needs of the business, as outsourcing ensures the required IT expertise is available when needed. The extensive expertise and level of quality service offered is a worthwhile investment and will cost significantly less than using on site resources. It is important for businesses to get the most for their money, and opting to utilize remote DBA services is one way to accomplish this. The aim is to pay only for the support and services needed.

Remote DBA services provide support at all hours of the day, every day of the year. Unexpected glitches require fast and reliable access and attention. Successful companies cannot function with databases that will not get repaired for extended periods of time. This is the ideal IT solution, as this kind of efficiency is what drives a business' productivity and success, thus having a large impact on the future of the organization itself.

Organizations which depend on information rely on database administration specialists. DBA support services are geared to provide both routine database maintenance and support and do it at a higher level than most in-house resources. It is a cost-effective solution in a time of budget constraints and cutbacks. Many companies cannot afford to hire enough internal DBAs to provide the level of coverage they require. Organizations need access to resources such as high-quality administrators, high-tech monitoring software and reliable round-the-clock support. This kind of support cannot always be obtained in a cost-effective manner with internal IT personnel. Organizations need to hire remote DBA services to give them the tools necessary for IT success.

Database administration specialists maintain and develop excellent and functional systems for organizations for the purposes of storing, analyzing and retrieving data. Some of the typical functions they provide include:

- Oracle database administration
- IBM DB2 database administration
- MySQL database administration
- Multi-DBMS installation, administration and maintenance
- Data conversion between DBMSs
- Data archival for long-term retrieval
- Mainframe operating system maintenance
- Expert consultancy for technical issues
- Design, installation and upgrade of databases
- Computer backup and disaster recovery solutions
- Patching of databases
- Project management
- Remote support and monitoring services

Source: ezinearticles.com

Does Open Source Help Business?

The other day in our business meeting the question was raised 'Would an Open Source online application help us in our long term strategy?' Looking at the facts, implementation of software that you have to develop is going to cost us time and money and if this code base does not become an asset to us in our daily business lives or help to promote our technical expertise in web development and design it would cost us in our the long term planning.

Other issues came to light, would we be willing to maintain this product until some sort of community could assist in the upkeep and how do we go about encouraging others to implement it? (Without a user base you don't have an open source product.) How much energy are we willing to sacrifice? Should we leverage it for monetary gain or just use it to create good will? Is it the right thing to raise awareness with our affiliation? These questions and more put us into turmoil about the subject for some time. In the end we just decided that without trying it we would never know and the worst that could happen is our long term goals would need re-evaluating. So as some wise man once said "Here's your big chance."

To create an Open Source online application it is to be treated like all projects, it needs an executive summary and scope so that it can be managed appropriately, this will allow it to be developed, tested and implemented.

In part, the business decided that the following boundaries were to be achieved

1. Develop an internal tool that the business could use on a day to day basis.

2. Create a small frame work around it so that we can add to the development process quickly if needed.

3. Once development had started the need for promoting the application would arise (hence the post).

4. The application was only to do one thing and do it well.

5. Once most of the bugs were out GPL the application and ask some groups for bug testing.

6. The first development had to be completed in 8 months.

7. Promote our web development in affiliation with other products ie: CMS plugins.

8. It has to use Object Orientated PHP, CSS, JavaScript and MySql to achieve the product.

You start to get the idea: plan, plan, plan. We are now currently developing our product and over the next few months we will be discussing what we have found to be issues and try and answer the question 'Does Open Source Help Business?'

Source: ezinearticles.com

Ethernet Protocol Basics

During the 90s of last century many protocols existed in various networks and architectures. Engineers had developed diverse types of protocols; each for a specific data communication usage such as data transfer, voice, TV broadcast, data centers, and so on. Among which you can find Token Ring, FDDI, ATM and more.

However, due to the simplicity and to the low cost of Ethernet components, it has prevailed eventually, and is now the most widely used protocol in Local Area Networks (LAN). Faster Ethernet protocol were defined that can fit many of the above mentioned applications and network.

Actually Ethernet is a family of protocols, each of a different speed and all of them are based of packet transfer, as defined by the IEEE 802.3 standard group. Today there are Ethernet protocols and components that span from 10Mbit/sec (10 millions bits per second), to 100Mbit/sec (a.k.a. Fast Ethernet), 1Gbit/sec (1 billion bits per second), 10Gbit/sec, 40Gbit/sec and lately also 100Gbit/sec.

Ethernet is a physical layer protocol (layer1 and 2 of the 7 layers of the OSI model). It defines the way an Ethernet frame (packet) is transferred on the cable/fiber, and how the Ethernet switches along the way can direct the frame to its destination.

Ethernet can run on twisted pair copper cables and on fiber cables. The copper cables usually can transfer Ethernet packet up to 100 meters, and are used mainly in inner building networks. Fiber cables can reach tens of kilometers and are used to interconnect between far campuses and cities.

Being a physical layer protocol, Ethernet is a carrier of data for higher layer protocols such as IP (Internet protocol). Actually, most of the cases in which people discuss IP protocol, it is assumed they discuss Ethernet protocol as the carrier. The IP protocol enables to communicate between two logically separated networks. I.e. Ethernet enables direct communication within a logical network, called VLAN (Virtual Lan), while you must use IP protocol to perform proper routing of Ethernet packet between the VLANs.

Most of the electronics devices we use, such as personal computers and laptops, communicate by sending each other Ethernet packets. They are notated as Ethernet stations. Each such station has a unique address (a globally unique number comprises of 48 bits). This is called a MAC address. Each station has a network interface card (NIC) which is aware of this number and would not let an Ethernet packet with another MAC address to enter the station itself. Also, this MAC address is added to any packet transmitted from this NIC. Eventually, any packet carries the unique source address along its way.

The main component in an Ethernet network is the Ethernet switch (For clarity we discuss here Switched Ethernet, and ignore an older Shared Ethernet scheme, which is almost obsolete). A switch is connected to the stations either by a copper cable or a fiber cable, and can connect to various speed stations. Since all the stations, regardless of the speed itself use the same packet format, the switch enables all stations, regardless of their speed to interconnect.

As defined by the IEEE 802.3 group, the Ethernet switch is designed to detect the Ethernet packet origin (Ethernet Source Address) and the packet destination (Ethernet Destination Address). The destination and the source addresses are the first parameters in an Ethernet packet, and are read by the switch. A table of addresses within the switch constantly learns and keeps records of the addresses that are included in the packets entering the switch over the time, and organizes the address table such that each address is related to the port from which certain source address entered the switch. This table is served to direct each incoming packet to its relevant output port, so that the packet should reach its destination eventually.

The detection of the addresses, learning the addresses, and the decision where to switch the packet to, are all done by hardware means, as fast as possible. This is why Ethernet can reach 100Gbits/second.

The IEEE 802.3 definition of Ethernet includes, of course, some more notions such as Full-Duplex, Flow Control, Cut-Through, Store-and-Forward, MAC, Broadcast and Unicast packets, Auto-negotiation, Spanning Tree (STP), and more. We will discuss these topics in further articles.

Source: ezinearticles.com

Checking Your Email Never Has to Be the Same Again With These New Functions

There's been quite a lot written recently about how the whole concept of e-mail has a foot in the grave already. Facebook's announcement recently about its own e-mail system is only added a little fuel to the fire. E-mail certainly is changing; to have to check your e-mail with an inbox with thousands of pieces of e-mail and to have to sort through everything, is clearly a nonviable system to have around for long. While e-mail isn't going anywhere soon, the format that it uses today may soon be a thing of the past. In a world where apps have been bringing convenience in every area where we interact with technology, programmers are bring the magic of apps to bear on the problems we have with our e-mail.

There are apps being planned now that help you something about the hundreds of notifications that you get from Facebook, Twitter or any other social networking site. It's not that what you get from these services is spam; you do value what they send you. But it does need to take a backseat to real e-mail from real people that you need to actually respond to. While it would be a good idea to set up a filter to put these away in a folder, the idea that all of these could be hidden from you completely doesn't sit well with many people. Is there a way to have two inboxes - one for the e-mails that you get from real people, and one for all the notifications from the social networking websites that you belong to? The apps that are planned now have a way of plugging into your inbox and displaying all the notifications as a sidebar right next to the inbox. You get a live and running list of notifications from all the social networking websites, while you can easily take a look at your inbox and really attend to business that needs your attention.

There are apps being planned or already on the market that try to turn your inbox into a kind of interface or an app platform to run other services through. TweetyMail for instance turns your e-mail account into an interface for your Twitter account. Hashable lets you post connections to Twitter, and let's see keep track of your popularity through Ccs and BCcs. Ever check your e-mail and put off replying to something important for later? FollowUp Cc allows you to set it up to remind you when you need to reply to something.

People don't often think of it as such, but your e-mail happens to be a text editor that's always on your phone and always with you. There's even a blogging service, Posterous, that allows you to post your blogs from your e-mail account. Before long, your e-mail account is going to be where you edit your spreadsheets, make your PowerPoint files and do everything you need to work on-the-fly. Now there's something people never thought possible with their e-mail accounts: turning them into office suites.

To check your e-mail never can be the same again before long. It's surprising how overlooked the possibilities in the inbox are. Before long, your e-mail account could be a whole platform.

Source: ezinearticles.com

Can A Network DVD Server Benefit Your Company?

In the modern world, ensuring that your employees have access to important information at all times is vital. There are many ways that you can do this, but one of the most common is to develop a DVD library. This might consist of operational procedures and training information, or it might be access to any other business-specific information. However, ensuring that your employees have that access is vital. While a DVD library might be the most common solution, it does not mean that it is the best option. Using a network DVD server is a better solution.

Eliminate Problems with DVD Libraries

Quite a few problems can arise with a standard library situation. While it does give your company a central place to store those disks, numerous headaches can make this a problematic situation. First, your employees will be removing disks from the library regularly. This gives rise to the problem of the disks not being returned. Even well meaning employees can forget to return a disk, which means that others cannot access the information on it. In addition, those disks can be lost or damaged by accident. Using a network DVD server allows you to overcome these hurdles quite easily.

A Central Location

Another benefit to using a disk serving solution is the fact that you will be able to put all of your disks in a central location, but not have to worry about the traditional problems that arise with disk libraries. For instance, with the right serving solution, you can store all of your disks. You can also configure the system with up to 12 different drives, so that you can provide your employees with instant access to the information they need directly over your computer network. Using a DVD server streamlines the entire process, while ensuring that the information your employees need is available when they need it.

Eliminate Wait Times

When your employees need access to information, they need it now. However, the situation is rarely so simple. Often, employees will have to wait until a disk is returned by another user. This creates headaches and lost time, as well as increasing costs with no return. Using a network DVD server, you can ensure that your employees have access to the information required, when they need it. With these solutions, there is no more waiting their turn.

Source: ezinearticles.com

The Power of Cloud Computing

If a business wants to survive, it must be able to adapt. We can say that flexibility is the name of the game. If you can't meet the changes happening in the marketplace, then you are putting yourself at a loss. Being able to work anywhere, at any time, is now a must for most businesses. Many operations may require workers to be in different locations, and it can be costly to arrange for transportation. This may call for the use of cloud computing. Cloud computing service providers are effective means to improve a company's business operations. This also allows the firm to tap into brilliant employees whose locations may be difficult. It can also free businesses to concentrate more into improving their business.

Australia has a lot of business potentials. It has a good pool of talented people who can get any job done. Of course, there's the location issue. A lot of people reside in places that are difficult to travel to. Or, they may live somewhere else. There's also the fact that a lot of firms need software applications for their work but may not have the budget or the facility to accommodate one. Also, not all companies would need to use the applications all the time. This opens up a market of people who needs applications on a case by case basis. It should also enable people to have access to their work anywhere they are. It's just fortunate the cloud computing services are available to address that growing need. It breaks barriers and allows many companies to work with the best available, regardless of distance or location.

Cloud computing is a form of service where servers provide software and data processing power to clients. These services can be accesses through any computer, as long as a stable internet connection is established between the server and the client. While connected, the client can file, process, save, and even edit the information contained in the server. Given the global nature of most businesses, it's a must for many business owners. They can travel around the world, oversee the operations of their branches, and still be current with the demands of the business. Such is the power of cloud computing. What may seem impossible to do before has become a commonplace practice of many firms. It's not just that. More and more companies see the advantages of using cloud computing solutions for the work at hand.

This is made even more obvious with outsourcing. There are many people in Australia who can work with companies. More often than not, they don't even need to be physically present in the office. Just give them the work that needs to be done, and they'll do it. Software applications need not be downloaded into the employee's computer. Just have them log in to the company's central server, do their work using the applications available there, save it, and there, it's done. Software designers, web content writers, virtual assistants, all these people don't need to be the office at all. As long as they have software applications that will unify their work, progress is possible. In fact, some companies now offer cloud computing services to their clients.

Cloud computing solutions carry a lot of implications in the business. It can be the answer many firms are looking for. Also, there's the fact that talent that is not locally available can be sourced somewhere else. Cloud computing service providers are there to lend a hand. They can help your business remain profitable. Who knows, cloud computing might be the answer that you need.

Source: ezinearticles.com

Shut Down Error - What Causes A PC To Shut Down By Itself

When you experience a shut down error, and your computer keeps shutting down randomly, there are a variety of possible causes for this type of problem. The best way to fix this shutdown error is to fix the problems which are causing your computer to shut down by itself. There is as a matter of fact a simple way to fix this problem once and for all. One possible factor which can cause the computers random shut down error is just that the machine is overheating. Modern high powered computers will produce considerable heat which is removed by fans in the interior of the machine. When the computer continues to overheat, even with the fans running, it can shut down by itself. This may be very annoying of course, but it prevents further overheating and damage to the machine.

Dust which accumulates inside the computer casing can be a reason for poor cooling. This problem can be tackled by opening the computer casing, and blowing the dust out of the computer with compressed air. You must of course unplug the computer before opening the casing. An ordinary room fan, positioned to blow air on the computer, can be a big help in keeping it cool also. If you find that a laptop overheats you could be accidentally blocking some of the fan vents under the machine while it is on your lap.

Another cause of a shutdown error, and the most likely one, is a problem which is unfortunately common in all Windows PCs. Windows can shut down your computer randomly if the computer registry becomes overloaded with data, and results in the operating system being unable to access files it requires to operate the system. The computer registry is a huge database which contains many files and settings that are required by the operating system. Any damage to the registry may result in Windows shutting down your computer randomly.

The computer registry is in fact a very common cause of problems such as a shut down error, slow running computer or freezing and crashing at random times. Registry problems are a likely reason for a computer to shut down by itself. The recommended method for fixing this problem is to find and download a registry cleaner on the internet. A registry repair tool will most often offer to give you a free registry scan, to determine whether or not there are problems in your registry. You then can decide whether you wish to have your registry edited and repaired by the registry repair tool.

Source: ezinearticles.com

Ethernet Protocol Basics

During the 90s of last century many protocols existed in various networks and architectures. Engineers had developed diverse types of protocols; each for a specific data communication usage such as data transfer, voice, TV broadcast, data centers, and so on. Among which you can find Token Ring, FDDI, ATM and more.

However, due to the simplicity and to the low cost of Ethernet components, it has prevailed eventually, and is now the most widely used protocol in Local Area Networks (LAN). Faster Ethernet protocol were defined that can fit many of the above mentioned applications and network.

Actually Ethernet is a family of protocols, each of a different speed and all of them are based of packet transfer, as defined by the IEEE 802.3 standard group. Today there are Ethernet protocols and components that span from 10Mbit/sec (10 millions bits per second), to 100Mbit/sec (a.k.a. Fast Ethernet), 1Gbit/sec (1 billion bits per second), 10Gbit/sec, 40Gbit/sec and lately also 100Gbit/sec.

Ethernet is a physical layer protocol (layer1 and 2 of the 7 layers of the OSI model). It defines the way an Ethernet frame (packet) is transferred on the cable/fiber, and how the Ethernet switches along the way can direct the frame to its destination.

Ethernet can run on twisted pair copper cables and on fiber cables. The copper cables usually can transfer Ethernet packet up to 100 meters, and are used mainly in inner building networks. Fiber cables can reach tens of kilometers and are used to interconnect between far campuses and cities.

Being a physical layer protocol, Ethernet is a carrier of data for higher layer protocols such as IP (Internet protocol). Actually, most of the cases in which people discuss IP protocol, it is assumed they discuss Ethernet protocol as the carrier. The IP protocol enables to communicate between two logically separated networks. I.e. Ethernet enables direct communication within a logical network, called VLAN (Virtual Lan), while you must use IP protocol to perform proper routing of Ethernet packet between the VLANs.

Most of the electronics devices we use, such as personal computers and laptops, communicate by sending each other Ethernet packets. They are notated as Ethernet stations. Each such station has a unique address (a globally unique number comprises of 48 bits). This is called a MAC address. Each station has a network interface card (NIC) which is aware of this number and would not let an Ethernet packet with another MAC address to enter the station itself. Also, this MAC address is added to any packet transmitted from this NIC. Eventually, any packet carries the unique source address along its way.

The main component in an Ethernet network is the Ethernet switch (For clarity we discuss here Switched Ethernet, and ignore an older Shared Ethernet scheme, which is almost obsolete). A switch is connected to the stations either by a copper cable or a fiber cable, and can connect to various speed stations. Since all the stations, regardless of the speed itself use the same packet format, the switch enables all stations, regardless of their speed to interconnect.

As defined by the IEEE 802.3 group, the Ethernet switch is designed to detect the Ethernet packet origin (Ethernet Source Address) and the packet destination (Ethernet Destination Address). The destination and the source addresses are the first parameters in an Ethernet packet, and are read by the switch. A table of addresses within the switch constantly learns and keeps records of the addresses that are included in the packets entering the switch over the time, and organizes the address table such that each address is related to the port from which certain source address entered the switch. This table is served to direct each incoming packet to its relevant output port, so that the packet should reach its destination eventually.

The detection of the addresses, learning the addresses, and the decision where to switch the packet to, are all done by hardware means, as fast as possible. This is why Ethernet can reach 100Gbits/second.

The IEEE 802.3 definition of Ethernet includes, of course, some more notions such as Full-Duplex, Flow Control, Cut-Through, Store-and-Forward, MAC, Broadcast and Unicast packets, Auto-negotiation, Spanning Tree (STP), and more. We will discuss these topics in further articles.

Source: ezinearticles.com

What Value Does Snuko Hold for Its End Users?

Based in London, Snuko is a security and IT Company that specializes in securing laptops and other mobile devices, as well as securing confidential data that may be susceptible to theft and loss. With the emergence of the Snuko anti-theft software into the market, the company has managed to beat all conventional methods by coming out on top with its new and radical anti-theft device that combines Internet-based technologies with real-time monitoring and online tracking of Internet devices.

With Snuko's anti-theft device, you can now give laptop thieves a hard time both before as well as after they've committed the crime. What's more, if your mobile phone or computer is found by an honest person, he or she can now return it to you in an easy and hassle-free way; helping you get your device and data back.

Every year, nearly 1 out of 10 laptops are lost or stolen in their first 12 month life cycle. Statistics have shown that out of this, nearly 97% are never recovered. From airports to libraries and train stations, the list of places where you could lose your laptop just goes on. The cost of recovering these devices can be enormous. Since computers and mobile phones have become such a big part of our lives today, we tend to feel handicapped without them. And worse still, knowing that your device is in the hands of the wrong person can be absolutely horrifying!

Computers and mobiles are used by everyone across the world. Every household in the world has at least one of these devices, making it all the more important to keep some security measure in the event of loss or theft of the device. Since it is so reasonably priced, the Snuko anti-theft software is truly for everyone!

And although this product has a wide number of uses for the people across the world, it is important to note the various values that it brings to various end-users:

1. Value for Telco's & Internet Service Providers

It helps to increase Customer Loyalty. It helps to increase your overall revenues. It helps to reduce Churn.

2. Value for Insurance Companies

Reduced Insurance Claims. Helps solve problems like home and office burglaries. Better for branding, as it shows your customers that you care for them.

3. Value for Device Manufacturers

It gives you a competitive edge. It helps to increase customer loyalty. It helps to enhance branding. Over time, it will help to increase your overall revenues.

4. Value for Anti-Virus & Security Vendors

Protects against any hardware loss or theft. The product can go along with the existing products that are being sold. Provides your customers with a complete solution. It helps to increase your overall revenue.

And ultimately for the customers, Snuko offers the best security solutions for mobile devices. In the case of loss or theft of a device, this anti-theft device will help you retrieve your hardware as well as your valuable data. Snuko manages to differentiate itself from its competition in terms of both - functionality as well as affordability.

Source: ezinearticles.com