Have you signed up for Outlook.com account yet?

Microsoft is making another attempt to draw users into their Cloud Solutions by integrating their new email account with their other online services. Of course this is an Ad-based service but the ads are quite unobtrusive as you can see on the image to the right. As you work around the screen you will see that it has been given the Windows 8 start screen look and feel (what was know as Metro Style a few short days ago).

From this menu option that you can get into by clicking on the Outlook object at the top left of the screen you have access to your mail, contacts, calendar and documents that are located out on SkyDrive. With a new account you will be allocated 7gb’s of storage on your associated SkyDrive and of course have free access to web-based versions of  Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote.

All of the web based applications have been updated so they show the ribbon interface but they are still limited as compared to the full desktop versions of Office. However, I can’t but admit that for most of our uses, these versions are more than adequate for day in and day out usage. I downloaded the OneNote app onto my Nexus 7 but it crashes instantly. Must be something to do with either the screen size or the version of Android.

You can pull contacts in from several different sources including Gmail, Outlook desktop, Facebook and Hotmail. You have the ability to connect any ICS based calendar system to your calendar display as well. You can use a modified calendar entry to create ToDo lists for the calendar as well. One complaint that I have is that your ToDo List doesn’t' show up on the Agenda Tab. For the way that I would use it, I would like some tab to consolidate all the date/time oriented entries.

Email is setup using one of two grouping functions.You can view your email from folders that you create. Shown in the image to the right, notice that I have multiple levels of folders in the Test Folder. To create a new folder on the top level, Right mouse click on the Folders menu option. You will be given the option of creating a folder or in creating rules for incoming mail. You can create rules based on who has sent it, the sender’s address, the To and CC lines, the message subject line and whether the message has attachments. Quite a bit of control here. You can move the message to a new location, automatically delete the message, apply a category to the message, remove a category from the message, flag the message or forward it to another user/email.

Right mouse click on any folder and you can create a new subfolder, rename the folder, delete the folder, mark all mail as read, or empty the contents of the folder. Right mouse click on an email message you will first see that a check mark will appear in the box to the left of the message. You then have the ability to Reply, Reply All, Forward, Mark as Read/Unread, Delete, Mark as Junk, View the message source and also set up functions for the sender of the message.

If you want to do something to a group of messages click in the box to the left of the header message line for all the messages that you want to process and you will see at the top of the screen the ability mark the messages as junk, move them to a folder and to categorize the messages using categories that you can setup. The categories are Quick Views that you can see in bottom grouping on the image to the right. This allows you to quickly pull messages from multiple folders that have been categorized for these views.

To create a new message just click on the New hyperlink at the top of the screen. You will be taken to a dialog box that you see below:

As you move through the beta of this product you will see the inconsistencies of the screens. Microsoft is still in the middle of the transition between Hotmail, Live Spaces and this new Outlook.com site. It will be very nice once they have made the final programming ports to provide the same look and feel all the way through. This is a pretty nice start for now.

Sophos (Astaro) UTM H/W refresh program is here!

Upgrading to the new UTM9 version software may not be available if you have older Astaro hardware. See table below:

The previous table provides on overview about ASG/UTM hardware models and revisions supported by UTM 9, where each revision belongs to one of the following categories:
“Not Supported”
 UTM 9 will not install
“Not Recommended but Supported”
 UTM 9 will install
 Warning at install time about possible performance issues
“Fully Supported”
 UTM 9 will install
 No warnings

The program is available beginning July 16th, 2012 and ending March 31st, 2013. Delivery of the replacement units will begin September 12st, 2012. Every ASG appliance is eligible for participation in the program – in advance registration of serial number is required.

There is a one-time discount that will be given directly to you the customer. This depends on the model that your are replacing. See table below for what would be your discount:

Contact us for the proper procedure to follow to take advantage of this discount. 1-800-640-7506.

Cloud meets FedEx?

Ok. I know we don't all have printers strapped to our hips but what the heck?

I was on the road for many years and I probably would have wanted this capability back then when I was so busy documenting procedures and presenting them back to my clients (1978-1983), but the proliferation of printing functions that are available to us at this time are so prevalent I cant imaging the scenario that would require me presenting paper when I can present a digital image that you can carry any where with you on any device that you decide to have it available on.

Has anyone heard of print of PDF? The story this week of Dropbox now connecting to FedEx Office Retail Stores to be able to provide printing functions is really foreign to me as a positive new capability. This is supposedly a self-serve function, that you can send a job to the local FedEx Office and pick it up later in the day.This is not something that jumps in front of me says I need this capability.

SkyDrive has gone Metro or Windows 8 Style…

Microsoft has just revamped the SkyDrive site to give it the same look and fell that Outlook.com received with the new Windows 8 Style interface. The rest of the site which includes Outlook, People, Calendar and SkyDrive are all on the drop menu and all have been converted to the new Windows 8 Style look except for Calendar which still is falling back to the old Windows Live Style. It even comes up with Windows Live and Hotmail (Outlook), Messenger, SkyDrive and MSN in the menu groupings.

You can get to SkyDrive directly by typing in skydrive.com. Microsoft states that the sight now defaults to a tile-based layout and boasts new features like instant search and a contextual toolbar. As the company notes, it's also designed with tablets in mind, in addition to desktop web browser. What's more, Microsoft has also rolled out updated SkyDrive apps for Windows and OS X, which promise faster uploads and other performance improvements, and it says it'll finally have an Android app in "just a few weeks."

See link below for a quick video on the changes. Click here if you want to access the skydrivevideos’s channel on YouTube.

What you need to consider when setting up your home wireless network…

Security

Securing your WI-Fi connections is an important element of securing your personal data. You want your equipment and your data that is stored on that equipment to be protected from outside sources. Consider when you are setting up your network to purchase equipment that is able to use WPA2^tm which provides both security (controlling who connects to your network)  and prvacy (the transmissions cannot be read by others) for communications that move across the network. Remember, the security level or a network is determined by the least capable device. So if you have older wireless equipment consider updating your equipment with devices that are capable of WPA2^tm.

Most Wi-Fi equipment is shipped with security disabled to make in easier to set up or connect to your network, Most new routers/wireless access points will walk you though your initial security setup and you have to force it not to do this to shut it off. It is very simple to set up and always pick the best overall protection that is suggested by the manufacturer. Change your SSID to a different name to differentiate from all the default units that are out there clogging up the airways. Make sure that you change the default administrative credentials as well (login and password). Though they make my job easier coming in to help you as a service person, it also makes it extremely easy for anyone to connect and make changes if you leave them with the defaults. Be sure to document what you did because otherwise you will have to reset everything back to factory defaults to and reset the connections if you forget.

The Wi-Fi Alliance has produced a short video (below), that provides a humorous and informative reasoning for setting up your network securely using WPA2^tm. It is so important to lock things down so be sure that you are providing a secure safe access for your family in your home. (Download White Papers from WI=Fi Alliance)

Location

The performance of a Wi-Fi home network greatly depends on signal strength of the wireless router or wireless access point (base station).

If a given wireless client falls out of range of the base station signal, obviously that network connection will fail or "drop." Clients situated near the edge of the network range will likely experience intermittent dropped connections. But even when a wireless client stays within range consistently, its network performance can still be adversely affected by distance,obstructions, or interference.

To position your wireless equipment for optimal network performance, follow these guidelines:

• First and foremost, don't settle prematurely on a location for the wireless access point or router. Experiment; try placing the device in several different promising locations. While trial-and-error may not be the most scientific way to find a good spot for your equipment, it is often the only practical way to assure the best possible Wi-Fi performance.
• Strive to install the wireless access point or router in a central location. If you have only one wireless client, installing the base station near this client is best. For WLANs with multiple wireless clients, find a good compromise position. Clients too far away from the base station will manage only 10% - 50% the bandwidth of clients nearby to it. You might need to sacrifice the network performance of one client for the good of the others.
• Next, avoid physical obstructions whenever possible. Any barriers along the "line of sight" between client and base station will degrade a Wi-Fi radio signal. Plaster or brick walls tend to have the most negative impact, but really any obstruction including cabinets or furniture will weaken the signal to some degree. Obstructions tend to reside closer to floor level; therefore, some folks prefer to install their wireless access point / router on or near the ceiling.
  Avoid reflective surfaces whenever possible. Some Wi-Fi signals literally bounce off of windows, mirrors, metal file cabinets and stainless steel countertops, lessening both network range and performance.
• Install the wireless access point or router at least 1 m (3 feet) away from other home appliances that send wireless signals in the same frequency range. Such appliances include some microwave ovens, cordless telephones, baby monitors, and home automation equipment like X-10 devices. Any appliance that transmits in the same general range as802.11b or 802.11g (2.4 GHz) can generate interference.
• Likewise, install the unit away from electrical equipment that also generates interference. Avoid electric fans, other motors, and fluorescent lighting.
• If the best location you find is only marginally acceptable, consider adjusting the base station antennas to improve performance. Antennas on wireless access points and routers can usually be rotated or otherwise re-pointed to "fine tune" Wi-Fi signaling. Follow the specific manufacturer's recommendations for best results.

If using these guidelines you still cannot find a suitable location for your wireless gear, there are alternatives. You can, for example, replace and upgrade the base station antenna. You can also install a Wi-Fi repeater (often called a "range extender" or "signal booster.") Finally, in extreme cases, you may need to configure a second base station to extend the range of your WLAN.

eg. My home is one of the worst situations that I could have put myself in to create a strong environment. My first problem is that I live in a multi-level home that has a lot of brick  on its outer walls and cement block surrounding the lover levels. I have a slate floor in the kitchen (this is a problem that I will explain later) and in the summer I need WiFi access in a greater than 150 foot area when I include the outdoor areas that we spend a lot of time in. My home office is in a wonderful little sunroom that sticks out away from the house so because the modem/router is located in this area I am feeding all my network and wireless access starting from this area. I ended up placing a second access point in a location that covers the second level bedrooms, mid-level living room and kitchen. The office unit covers the screened in porch and about half of the pool area outside. It is almost perfect but I could almost use a repeater to fully cover the pool area to bring it completely back into the network with speed and coverage. This took awhile to setup where I am now and you will find that you will want to work things out based on how you plan to use wireless access in your environment.

Let us know if you have any questions, I will be very happy to discuss your needs with your as any or our technicians can.

Lexmark Printer Tip – Lost Printer CD

Want to connect your trusty Lexmark printer to a new computer, but can't find your printer CD? Don't put work on hold while you search every nook and cranny of your office. You can quickly download the most current drivers for your Lexmark printer right from our support site—and speed ahead like the pro you are. Here's how:

1. Go to support.lexmark.com

2. Choose one of the following steps:

a. If you're a visual person, select your product type from the images and then select your printer model.

b. If you want a shortcut, enter your printer model in the product box above the images and then click on the printer model.

3. Click Support & Downloads on the left side of the page.

4. At the bottom, select your operating system and version to see all options for your printer.

You can now download current printer drivers and check out other tools to keep your device running smoothly, like firmware updates.

Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet 2 is official

Unlike Acer Lenovo doesn’t seem to be afraid of the new Microsoft’s Surface Product.

Lenovo has officially announce their upcoming ThinkPad Tablet 2 and has listed pretty muck the same specs that have been rumored earlier. They still haven’t disclosed the price as of yet. The device is a 10-inch slate powered by Windows 8 and an Intel Atom processor. The screen is a 1366x768 IPS display, which should help with color reproduction and viewing angles. It reportedly gets 10 hours of battery life, comes with optional 3G/4G connectivity, and a micro-HDMI video output port. It sports two cameras, 2MP and 8MP. The cellular connection will mainly be HSPA+, however, the tablet will be compatible with AT&T's LTE network as well. More incredible is the thickness: 9.8mm. Inside that slim package, Lenovo has packed NFC connectivity, a fingerprint reader, and a stylus, which can be stored inside the tablet.

Windows 8 is going to be tightly integrated with Microsoft’s Cloud products and this may be a big draw for a lot of people to go this direction instead of Android and Apple especially in business environments. I would much rather have Windows running on my tablet because it would be linked more tightly with the way that I use a computer and would like a tablet to work as well. The big question is going to be price. We are still waiting to find out what Microsoft is doing and I am sure a lot of the PC Manufacturers are waiting as well.

The ThinkPad 2 Tablet will integrate tightly with Microsoft Exchange, SharePoint, Lync, Outlook, Active Directory and other corporate business applications, and it also offers a pen stylus, said Lenovo VP Dilip Bhatia. “Ladies and gentleman, this is the tablet the industry has been waiting for,” said Bhatia during an announcement Aug. 8 in New York.

“It’s designed for professionals and it’s designed life,” said Bhatia, speaking at a Lenovo event honoring the ThinkPad’s 20th anniversary. Among his key points:

• First, it will provide a “great mobile experience” — weighing less than 600 grams, 10 hours of battery life, with 3G and 4G wireless capabilities.
• A full-size USB port, HDMI capabilities
• Multi-user login for doctors, sales reps and lawyers
• A real pen stylus allows students to write formulas and real graphs
• It will be available in October when Windows 8 is available

Engadget also had a hands on video as well:

Belkin’s WeMo iPhone-based home automation

So you have been thinking about home automation but you want to do it for reasonable prices. Where should you look? Belkin is releasing soon a couple of devices that can be controlled both wirelessly and through motion detection. It can also be programmed to respond to a free service call IFTTT (IF This Then That). These are fairly simple on/off power control devices but they have the ability to be accessed using WiFi and your iPhone.

These switches connect to your home WiFi network and communicates via a free WeMo iOS app, so you can control any appliance or fixture that can plug into a regular outlet right from your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch. For example, you can use it to remotely turn on and off a light or heater, or schedule your coffee maker to turn on at a certain time in the morning. WeMo even comes with seamless support for the automated web service IFTTT, where you can set up "recipes" such as receiving a text message when an appliance turns on or off.

The WeMo Switch will cost you $49, or you can go for the Switch + Motion bundle for $99 where you get a motion-activated Switch that can trigger devices with a simple walk-by. Both are available now on Belkin's website.

Update on the Nexus 7

I have had a little more time with the Nexus 7 and I have found a few quarks that have caused me a little frustration when I compare the same functions on my iOS devices.

Bluetooth Audio Streaming

The first has to do with Bluetooth streaming audio and Audible. I love to listen to my Audible audio books when I am driving in my car but there is some kind of lockup that occurs when I turn off the car and the book is still running. I have to totally power off the Nexus 7 and reset it to get the book to run on the device. This happens every time. My iPhone and iPad both don’t have a problem with this and keep going on their merry way. Once the Nexus has lost that Bluetooth connection it is frustratingly hard to get it back up and running.

Space Limitations

I also found myself loading up several books and podcasts and it didn’t take long for me to run out of space on the 16GB version. So I need to keep my eye on space limitations. However, most everything else seems to running fine. When I was running out of space the tablet began to run very slow and was timing out between functions. As soon as I backed off of the number of books and podcasts that I was running everything came back up to speed just fine.

EReader

I find reading books on this tablet just as nice as most other tablets. The one thing that the Kindle has over the Nexus are the physical buttons to page forward and back on both sides of the screen. This makes it much easier to flip pages. It seems to be more of two handed gesture on the Nexus to flip pages.You can single tap on the edge of the screen to flip a page but you have to tap on right to flip forward and the left to flip back. I haven’t found anything in setting as of yet to change this.

Exchange Email

I have noticed that my Exchange email access is very slow. On my iOS devices they normally beat Outlook to receiving an email response from the Exchange server, which really surprises me. The email does get there but is extremely slow.