Microsoft Windows 8:
The first things users will notice is a new login panel. Passwords can be either text or images. It is believed by industry experts that image-based access provides a higher level of security. Once past the login, users are presented with a new start screen. Applications are now display as tiles. Each customizable tile can show what is happening within the application (ie. a video playing) or as a traditional icon.

The new Start screen in Windows 8. Notice the applications presented as tiles.

iPad navigation similarities:
Once launched, users will can choose to use applications in a full screen environment. To navigate to other applications, the current app is “pulled” across the display with a hand gesture. Microsoft uses gestures throughout Windows 8 and are similar to Apple’s iPad with pinching, swiping and tapping. New Mouse and keyboard shortcuts are available to take advantage of the new navigation.

xBox Live:
Microsoft Windows 8 is now capable of playing xBox Live games on your PC or tablet. Tablets will have the added ability to be used as game controllers. Microsoft’s long-awaited app store will be live by the official launch date to make games available on Windows 8 devices.

Internet Explorer update:
As expected, Microsoft has updated Internet Explorer. However, ther are now two versions. The first is accessed via the Start screen. It’s a sleek new version of IE with new navigation. But , if you access the browser from the traditional desktop, you will be using a different browser, one has more similarities with current web browsers. Taking a cue from Apple’s OS X and iOS 5, both browsers support swiping to backward and forward browsing. Also following Apple’s lead, IE will no longer support Flash. One mystery, there is always at least one with Microsoft, the two browsers don’t share tabs. If you have a web page open in one browsed, that page won’t be open in the other browser.

A look at the new version of Internet Explorer coming with Microsoft Windows 9

Windows 8 Application Compatibility:
Microsoft says older applications ‘should” work. They will run in a virtual version of the older OS in a window that is similar to previous version of Windows. Those who run propriety and legacy applications will want to conduct extensive testing before rolling out Windows 8.

Windows 8 System Requirements:

• Processor: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster
• RAM: 1 gigabyte (GB) (32-bit) or 2 GB (64-bit)
• Hard disk space: 16 GB (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit)
• Graphics card: Microsoft DirectX 9 graphics device or higher

Additional requirements to use certain features:

• To use touch, you need a tablet or a monitor that supports multitouch.
• To access the Windows Store and to download and run apps, you need an active Internet connection and a screen resolution of at least 1024 x 768.
• To snap apps, you need a screen resolution of at least 1366 x 768.

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1) Don’t change what isn’t broken: Company managers days are full of priority items. The computer systems work fine for their needs, and they believe their users’ needs as well. There is enough to fix elsewhere in the organization, so the operating system sits low on the priority list.

2) Cost: The cost of updating a new operating system is significant. Companies consider the deployment, system upgrades, troubleshooting and training when calculating the budget. The software itself is just one component of the overall cost, and may be one of the smaller costs.

3) Legacy software: Existing data systems are not compatible with the new operating systems. Updating an existing database or other company-wide tool to work properly with the new operating system is believed to be costly. Also, worries about data-corruption during the migration color the decision-making process.

4) The “Vista Effect”: The legacy of Vista will haunt Microsoft for years to come. When Vista followed Windows XP in the Microsoft operating system product line, it brought many changes in the user interface, network connectivity and data management. By themselves these features would impact a company’s IT systems. However, Vista came with a host of problems including incompatibility with existing software, driver availability and inadequate malware protection. Having encountered these problems in the past, many IT managers are reluctant to upgrade their operating systems, and those that do wait for the first Service Pack (SP1) when all the bugs are believed to be sorted out.

As I will show in the next post, there are a number of reasons companies need to seriously consider their operating system strategy. Not the least of these issues is Microsoft’s plan to stop issuing security patches for Windows XP.

In the comment section below, let us know what operating system are you using and why do you use it?

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• Backup maintenance: Your company (hopefully) has a data backup procedure in place. But backup and disaster recovery should not be a set it and forget it system. Each month your backup technology should be analyzed to make sure backups are occurring at the appropriate times, there is adequate storage space and the software is up to date.
• Security: While your data security system should be monitored daily for malware and unauthorized access, each week make sure the latest virus definitions have been downloaded and working properly. Each month test the network for vulnerabilities. Set your end-user password protection to require new passwords every three months. You may want to consider changing your VPN password every three months too.
• Technology evaluation: As technology managers we hear daily from the users we support about their needs for better laptops, faster network performance, software updates and the like. An annual technology evaluation with end-users goes a long way to hearing beyond the “squeaky wheels”. Anonymous online surveys are a great place to start. These will help identify common needs within the organization. Armed with that data the technology team can meet with various groups to determine the severity of the needs and prioritize implementations.
• Inventory: How do you know all the laptops your company owns are still at the company? Each piece of computer hardware is an asset to the company, not unlike a forklift or delivery van. Twice a year an inventory needs to be taken to account for systems, peripherals and software. If your company is small it’s easy to identify each item with an internal coding system marked inconspicuously on the item with a permanent marker. For larger organizations a barcoding system is essential to speed the process while ensuring accuracy.
• Equipment refresh: Undoubtedly some of your computing equipment is towards the end of it’s useful life. New systems run software faster, new printers use less ink and run quieter. The new flat-panel displays use far-less energy than CRT’s and run cooler, thus lowering air conditioning needs. Once or twice a year an equipment refresh should be scheduled. A refresh doesn’t mean replacing all of your equipment at one. Rather it is a process of removing the least efficient or problematic items on a predetermined schedule. If this is planned properly, the organization will have minimal disruption, spread out expenses and technology that meets the users needs.

Taking the time to plan out the year is a difficult task for the technology manager. Each day brings new challenges and diversions. However, taking the time now to put in place a technology calendar, will reduce these challenges and create higher end-user satisfaction.

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Mobile devices, such as Apple's iPad, present new challenges for IT managers

Today Apple’s iPads, iPhones and devices based on Google’s Android mobile OS are ubiquitous. More and more people carry with them in their pockets and handbags mobile devices robust enough to handle all but the most demanding tasks. Thousands of apps have been created to update spreadsheets, run database queries, touch up presentations and the list goes on. Additionally, software as a service  (SaaS)is slowly replacing the common practice of installing business software applications on a local desktop or laptop computer. SaaS is accessible primarily through web browsers, but in the case of mobile devices, many of these tools can be accessed from an app installed directly on the mobile device. Not only is the functionality of the device expanded, with SaaS a mobile device now has virtually unlimited storage capacity.

To the technology manager at your company, all these new capabilities bring additional headaches. In the past IT managers were able to “lock-down” employees’ systems to prevent them from adding software. This led to standardization across the business easing the complexity of problems the IT staff would need to address. However, mobile devices change that scenario. Three different users could be using three different project management tools on their tablets, all creating different file formats with unknown compatibility issues.

The emergence of SaaS also means corporate information is sitting on remote servers with unknown security and uptime measures in place. Something as simple as a presentation with sales forecasts could be on a storage device the company has no control over. After years of developing and installing the most robust IT security measures, outside storage of corporate information will give pause to any technology manager.

Corporate technology managers have a big challenge ahead of them, however successful mobile device management will depend on well the IT staff integrates best practices from the past with what is best for the employees’ productivity.

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As larger companies have beefed up their security and risk management procedures, it has been proving more difficult for hackers to infiltrate their systems and networks. In turn, small companies have been slow to adopt security measures protecting their data from outside harm.

A 2010 survey conducted by the National Retail Federation and First Data Corp. of small- and medium-size retailers in the U.S. showed how complacent small businesses are. Survey results indicated 64% of business owners believed their businesses weren’t vulnerable to card data theft and only 49% had assessed their security safeguards. These businesses are easy targets for hackers.

Business owners may see information security as a large expense, but the truth is there are many low-cost solutions that provide the type of security required to thwart attacks. Aside from that, one data breach may cost the business untold revenues, customer loyalty or shut down the business entirely.

Go2Nerds can assess your current system and vulnerabilites, then implement the solution that works best for your company’s needs.

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In an office setting, the most basic setup is a computer’s power supply to be connected directly to a wall outlet. The wall outlet receives power from the utility grid through the building’s electrical system. When there is a sudden loss of power the computer shuts down completely. This is referred to as a hard shutdown. When a hard shutdown occurs, the computer does not have the ability to execute it’s regular shutdown procedure. This includes saving documents, closing databases and ending hardware processes. At risk are open documents, databases and the system hardware such as hard drives and memory. This leaves company information exposed to data corruption risks. Even more critical are company servers in which company data is accessed or stored. A corrupted server can be devastating to a company.

To minimize the risk presented during a power outage many companies install Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS). Essentially a battery, connected to wall outlet, the UPS provides several outlets to connect computing hardware. A UPS will provide enough power to allow the user to execute a proper shutdown procedure. Several manufacturers offer UPS’s that have the ability to safely shutdown the computer without user intervention. This is essential. Power outages can happen at any time, possibly when a user is not using the computer.

According to UPS manufacturer APC, 1% of power outages in the United States last for an hour or longer. This time frame exceeds most UPS’s design. As the duration of the power outage continues, business losses increase. It becomes imperative to have a plan and procedures in place ahead of time to manage long term power outages.

First and foremost, companies need an offsite data protection procedure. In the past this meant storing critical data on tape drives or external hard drives. As technology has improved, and data connection speeds increased, offsite backup has become as easy as signing up for a service that backs up your data remotely through your existing network connection. Backups are automatic and run without user intervention. Backup companies utilize redundant backup servers in multiple locations, plus power generators, allowing them to have virtually no downtime.

A second consideration, is backup power generation. This is very important for companies that rely on daily customer transactions, where each day without the systems impacts the company’s profitability. Power generation is often thought of as expensive and complex, but properly implemented it could pay for itself with a power outage lasting several hours.

There are many different options and no two companies have similar needs. The experts at Go2Nerds can help you navigate and properly implement the data protection strategy that meets your companies requirements.

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The Bionic comes with a Dual-core 1GHz processor. This chipset is usually found in tablets, so this Droid possesses serious processing power. Since Verizon is marketing the Bionic as a business ready phone, with Citrix Receiver and ZumoCast included, the processing power should satisfy the demanding power user

Motorola ships the Bionic with 16GB internal memory and a pre-installed 16GB internal microsSD. Pricing for microSD continues to fall, so increasing the Bionic’s storage will be an inexpensive upgrade. The Bionic comes with a 4.3-inch  960×540 Gorilla Glass quarter high definition (qHD) display and 2 cameras. The rear-camera is 8MP with auto-focus and an LED flash. The rear facing camera also captures video in 1080p, a great feature as the Bionic has 1080p video output via HDMI. The Bionic’s front camera for video chat is limited to VGA.

With a new contract, Verizon has priced the Bionic at $299. The pricing puts the phone at the top end of the Droid market, thus limiting it’s appeal to the casual smartphone user. However, Droid users who are looking for strong performance and top-of-line features should seriously consider the Verizon Droid Bionic 4G LTE

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Content:
Content has proven to be one of the iPad’s strengths. Out of the gate it had access to the iTunes Store and all of it’s available movies, television shows, music, books and podcasts. But Amazon is in a unique position. They too have a large and diverse selection of similar content, although no podcasts for now. It should be noted that the free Kindle for iPad app currently offers Amazon’s Kindle book selection only. It would seem counterintuitive for Amazon to add their instant video service through the app, but that remains to be seen. The iPad also includes the ability to stream content via Airplay to the AppleTV, thus allowing any video viewed on the device (Netflix, Youtube, Vimeo and more) to be viewed on your television. With Amazon you can view your content on Amazon Instant Video compatible TVs, but you are limited to Amazon’s content, no third party content. It should also be noted that the iPad continues without support for Flash-based websites, while Amazon’s built-in “Silk” web browser will be flash-compatible.

Display:
The Kindle Fire has a 7.5 inch wide multi-touch color screen that Amazon claims is 20 times stiffer and 30 times harder than plastic. The iPad 2 multi-touch display is nearly 2 inches wider, yet it is difficult to say how strong it is compared to the Kindle Fire. Having seen several cracked iPad screens due to dropping, it is safe to say either device should live in a case when not in use.

 Construction:
The iPad 2 is constructed to Apple’s usually high standards and will likely stand the test of time. The sturdy aluminum case and tight seams are not only pleasing to the eye, but give the iPad a robust feel during use. At the Fire’s lower price point, Amazon’s tablet may be built to less stringent standards.

Connectivity: 
Both the iPad 2 and the Kindle Fire come with built-in WiFi. But all the iPads include Bluetooth, while the Fire lacks this feature. Also, the Kindle is not available with 3G, while the iPad can be purchased with 3G built-in. For some users this may not be a big issue, as either tablet can connect to publicly available wifi and wireless data devices such as the Novatel MiFi.

Pricing and configurations:
The Amazon Kindle Fire will be available in an 8gb configuration only when it launches. It seems likely that Amazon will have the Fire available with more memory in the future. Amazon has set pricing at $199 for the 8gb Kindle Fire. The iPad is available in 6 different versions: 16gb, 32gb and 64gb, with WiFi+3G or WiFi only versions of each memory configuration. Pricing of the iPad is significantly higher starting at $499 for the 16gb WiFi-only model to the 64gb WiFi+3G model priced at $829.

Much remains to be seen if the Kindle Fire can knock the iPad from it’s throne as the top-dog tablet, however with it’s comprehensive features and attractive pricing, it should be a popular device.

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Before we get our hands on a 4s it is helpful to compare the three iPhone features. A full review will come after the October 14th shipdate.

Bottom line: if you currently have an iPhone 3S, the 4S is certainly worth the upgrade. Owners of the iPhone 4 may want to wait for a future model (perhaps iPhone 5) as the differences will be negligible to most. If you are not yet an iPhone user, the free iPhone 3GS is compelling, but we feel the $99 to upgrade to the iPhone 4 is worth it. The real downside to the new iPhone 4 pricing is lack of 16gb and 32gb models. With photos, music and apps 8gb gets filled fast.

Please let us know what you think in the comments below.

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Bill Gates once said he had a vision of “a computer on every desk and in every home”. Steve Jobs made it possible to put a computer in every briefcase, handbag and pocket. From his infamous 1979 tour of Xerox Palo Alto Research Center (PARC), where he witnessed technology that would change how we connect with our computing devices, to recent years with the iPhone and iPad, Jobs saw the future with products and ideas not conceived at Apple. What he did do, was make them accessible, simple and cutting edge. Jobs’ ability to think different has forever changed the world.

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