20 things we'd change about OpenOffice.org

<P align=center><img src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/Linux%20Format/LXF%20142/LXF142.feature2.integration-200-200.jpg"></P><br /><P>OpenOffice.org is a huge lumbering beast. </P><br /><P><br /><P>Don't get us wrong, we like it in principle and the practice is steadily getting better, but there's still room for improvement.</P><br /><P>Here are 20 things we'd change about it to make it better.</P><br /><P><STRONG>01. Improve the loading speed </STRONG></P><br /><P>This is almost a standing joke, but OpenOffice.org does take a while to load. It isn't a big issue when you're spending a fair amount of time on one document, but the delay is annoying when you just want to open an email attachment or make a quick change. </P><br /><P><STRONG>02. Learn to celebrate its differences </STRONG></P><br /><P>An alternative program doesn't have to look like its competitors. For instance, Firefox is used as an alternative to Internet Explorer even though, or perhaps because, it doesn't look and feel like Microsoft's browser. OpenOffice.org could follow this example and promote itself as a genuine competitor to Word – one that's better because it's proud to be different, instead of following Microsoft's lead so closely. </P><br /><P><STRONG>03. Implement grammar checking </STRONG></P><br /><P>It's inconceivable for a word processor to be released without a spellchecker these days, so why is it that OpenOffice.org is still unable to check for even the most basic of grammatical errors in our text? It's not about getting the software to write for you – a check is really helpful when your brain outruns your fingers. </P><br /><P><STRONG>04. More modular loading </STRONG></P><br /><P>Part of the problem with OpenOffice.org's loading speed is that it tries to load too much. If you load a document for word processing, you probably won't need all of the features provided and you certainly don't want them all immediately. What's more, it's highly unlikely you'll need other office components at the same time, so why waste time and resources loading so much up front? </P><br /><P><STRONG>05. The name</STRONG> </P><br /><P>It may be a little unfair to criticise this now, but the name is rather geeky. Yes, we know the developers would rather have called it Open Office, but that name was already trademarked in a few countries. We also accept that we're stuck with it for now, but a little more effort early on could have resulted in a better moniker (and we don't mean LibreOffice). </P><br /><P><STRONG>06. Give OOo better competition </STRONG></P><br /><P>This may sound odd, but OpenOffice.org really needs some strong competition. Nothing focuses developers on improving their product like another one doing the job better. For instance, KOffice answers so many of the criticisms levelled at OpenOffice.org, but it's just not as good at the core tasks. If it were, it would be a real wake-up call for OpenOffice.org.</P><br /><P><STRONG>07. PDF importing </STRONG></P><br /><P>OpenOffice.org boasts a PDF-importing extension, but all it does is import a PDF page as a single image into Draw. Note to developers: if you're going to claim your program has PDF importing capabilities, please do try to make them more useful. Even simple editing and re-exporting as a PDF would be a big step forward, especially when you need to complete PDF forms. </P><br /><P><STRONG>08. The overall image</STRONG></P><br /><P>What is OpenOffice.org? Is it an office suite for people who are too cheap to buy a 'proper' one from Microsoft? Or is it a powerful set of programs in its own right? It should be seen as the latter, but too many people view it only as a second-rate alternative that's justified by the price alone. This needs to be improved, even though changing people's perceptions isn't easy. </P><br /><P><STRONG>09. Faster loading speeds </STRONG></P><br /><P>Did we mention this already? It seems that one or two users are bothered by OpenOffice.org's lengthy startup times, so maybe someone could have a look? Incidentally, a built-from-source installation on Gentoo gets going noticeably faster than the pre-built binaries from OpenOffice.org, so eking out more speed is possible. </P><br /><P><STRONG>10. Integration </STRONG></P><br /><P>Desktop integration is improving, but an OpenOffice.org window can still look like an interloper on your beautifully homogeneous desktop. We reckon OpenOffice.org is still generally better than the native alternatives on either of the main desktops – it just needs to look more like it belongs. </P><br /><P><STRONG>11. Building from source </STRONG></P><br /><P>Yes, binaries are available, but this is an open source project, so we should be able to compile the source. Yet building OpenOffice.org from source can be a tricky process, one that can progress for a couple of hours and then fail because the wind is blowing in the wrong direction. Sure, it's much faster than it used to be, but the fragility of the build process makes us a little nervous about the end result. </P><br /><P><STRONG>12. Cross-application cut and paste </STRONG></P><br /><P>Why can't we select some cells on Calc and then paste the contents into Writer as text? It's another curious omission from OOo's feature list. Crazy as it may sound, though, we don't always want an OLE object embedded in a letter; sometimes we just want a table of numbers that can be edited after pasting. </P><br /><P><STRONG>13. Keep it simple</STRONG></P><br /><P>It seems that if there are two ways of doing something, OpenOffice.org always goes for the most complex. OK, so the most complex is often also the most flexible, but this is supposed to be productivity software. The fastest, easiest option is often the most productive. At least give the user a choice in these cases, eh? </P><br /><P><STRONG>14. More extensions </STRONG></P><br /><P>One of the strengths of Firefox, another beacon of the open source community, is that there are thousands of extensions available for it. OpenOffice.org comes with just three and less than 150 are available for downloading from the project's website. That's a shame, because a greater set of useful extensions would give OpenOffice.org a real edge over the competition. </P><br /><P><STRONG>15. Improve macro recording </STRONG></P><br /><P align=center><img alt="Macros" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/Linux%20Format/LXF%20142/LXF142.feature2.macros-420-90.jpg" width="420"></P></IMG><br /><P>Computers are supposed to make life easier by automating repetitive tasks, which is what macros help you do. So why is recording and using macros such a fiddly and error-prone process? A Record and a Playback button on the toolbar should be all that's needed for simple macro use, complementing the more complex usage that's currently supported. </P><br /><P><STRONG>16. Fix some bugs </STRONG></P><br /><P>OpenOffice.org's issue tracker (does calling them issues instead of bugs make them seem like less of a problem?) currently has around 14,500 open defect reports. Many of these are small problems, but that's still a lot of bugs – sorry, issues. What's more, there are also 9,500 feature and enhancement requests. </P><br /><P><STRONG>17. Pop-up help </STRONG></P><br /><P>What OpenOffice.org really needs to succeed in the modern office environment is an irritating animated character that pops up from time to time with tangentially helpful advice or annoying questions. If there's one thing we have learned in the 21st century, it's that true productivity isn't possible without such a character. Why else would companies prefer to spend thousands on Microsoft Office instead of OpenOffice.org? </P><br /><P><STRONG>18. Better extension management </STRONG></P><br /><P>Simply making extensions possible, or even available to the user, is not enough. OpenOffice.org needs a decent extension manager where we can browse, search and install extensions from the range available, not just a dialog that asks for an extension file. </P><br /><P><STRONG>19. Not everything </STRONG></P><br /><P>Before you get the idea that this is a heartless tirade against OpenOffice.org, there's a lot we wouldn't change about the suite. Frustrations in bad software are easy to cope with – simply switch to a better program – but when the software is basically good, the annoyances are amplified. Recent versions have been much improved, but there's still a long way to go. </P><br /><P><STRONG>20. Faster loading </STRONG></P><br /><P>We've probably mentioned this before, but it's so easy to lose your train of thought while waiting for the program to load. This change really is a must.<img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/allnews/~4/FjESgiOMQ6g" width="1"> </P><br /><P><a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/techradar/allnews/~3/FjESgiOMQ6g/story01.htm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Article</A></P>

20 things we'd change about OpenOffice.org

OpenOffice.org is a huge lumbering beast. Don't get us wrong, we like it in principle and the practice is steadily getting better, but t...

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10 useful things to do with an old laptop

<P align=center><img src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/PC%20Plus/PCP%20300/PCP300.make1.box2image1-200-200.jpg"></P> <br /><P>Before you throw out that old laptop, stop and think of all the things it could be doing for you. </P><br /><P>You could turn it into anything from an electronic recipe book to a cutprice digital picture frame with just a little know-how, some free software and perhaps a little time spent with a screwdriver. </P><br /><P><br /><P>Heck, even if the thing doesn't boot up it could earn you a few pounds by being broken up to sell off the remaining working parts. </P><br /><P><STRONG>1. Show off your photos </STRONG></P><br /><P>Digital picture frames make great interactive ornaments, although their price is beyond many pockets. If you're willing to spend an afternoon ripping the guts out of an old laptop, though, it's entirely possible to build your own at a fraction of the cost. </P><br /><P>First you'll need to do a little remodelling. Laptop screens usually don't bend backwards beyond the horizontal, so the general technique involves carefully detaching the screen and repositioning the laptop's body so that it sits behind. This isn't too complicated because most screens are simply connected to the motherboard via a ribbon cable plugged into a socket. </P><br /><P><EM>PC Format</EM> published a practical <a href="">guide to converting an old laptop into a professional, wall-mounted digital picture frame</A> last year. You can also find guides showing how to convert specific makes and models at <a href="http://repair4laptop.org/notebook_picture_frame.html">Repair4Laptop.org</A>. </P><br /><P><STRONG>2. Donate old hardware </STRONG></P><br /><P><img alt="Freecycle" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Plus/PCP%20300/PCP300.make1.bodyimage1-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG></P><br /><P>FreeCycle is a grassroots movement for passing on unwanted items to those that have a need for them. The aim is to try to keep useful things out of landfill sites and to give these 'pre-loved' items a new home. </P><br /><P>There are nearly 500 FreeCycle groups spread across the UK, with a total of over 1.7 million members – see <a href="http://www.uk.freecycle.org/">www.uk.freecycle.org</A>. </P><br /><P>To pass your old machine on to a new owner using FreeCycle, go to the website and search for a local group. Each one uses a Yahoo Group to organise exchanges, and some carry many hundreds of messages per month. With this amount of traffic, you're sure to find someone who needs your old stuff more than you do. </P><br /><P>Make sure you format the hard disk before passing it on, of course – while keeping old tech alive is a noble pursuit, there's no point potentially giving away your personal information.</P><br /><P><STRONG>3. Donate CPU cycles </STRONG></P><br /><P>Due to a severe lack of funding, many research efforts survive by volunteers downloading client software which then runs whenever their computer isn't being actively used. This is possible thanks to the Berkeley Open Infrastructure for Network Computing (BOINC for short). </P><br /><P>This grew from the original SETI@home project, which listened to the skies for alien transmissions. BOINC allows the developers of similar projects to organise the distribution of work packets for each computer. The idea is that once installed, the client software downloads a packet of data and crunches the numbers. Once complete, it uploads this and downloads another. </P><br /><P>Some distributed computing projects simply couldn't be undertaken in any other way, and a number are truly awesome in their scope. If you're interested, there are plenty of the distributed projects you can choose from, including helping CERN with the hunt for new particles and identifying molecules that may provide greener energy. </P><br /><P>Wikipedia maintains a long list of projects you might like to get involved in – <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_distributed_computing_projects">see here for more info</A>. </P><br /><P><STRONG>4. Create a recipe book </STRONG></P><br /><P>If you're not too bothered about the possibility of getting flour into the keyboard, why not turn your old laptop into an electronic cookbook? There are plenty of free recipe database packages available. <a href="http://www.chickenping.com/">ChickenPing</A> is just one example, although it's more than just a recipe database. </P><br /><P>It also allows you to plan meals and shopping lists, manage the contents of your fridge and generate shopping lists. Once the contents of your fridge are known to ChickenPing, you can even have it generate recipes based on what you have. </P><br /><P>There's nutritional data, a central database so you can share recipes with others, a very handy substitute finder for ingredients you currently lack, and a 'sticky fingers' mode that gives you a hand summary of the ingredients and cooking method. </P><br /><P><STRONG>5. Serve up files</STRONG></P><br /><P>Creating a large network share is a pretty easy way to get your extra machine working for its keep. A domestic fileserver that gives everyone using the network a single place to dump files where they can be efficiently backed up is a very useful thing. </P><br /><P>After carefully clearing out all your old files and emptying the Recycle Bin, you'll need to set up one or more network shares. Assuming your old laptop runs Windows XP, create a folder into which people can dump their files and right-click on it. </P><br /><P>Select 'Sharing and Security' from the context menu and a window pops up. Tick 'Share this folder on the network', enter a name and also tick 'Allow network users to change my files'. On the General tab, make sure that 'Read Only' is deselected and click 'OK'. When you browse the network on your other computer, you should see the new share. </P><br /><P><STRONG>6. Make an alarm clock</STRONG></P><br /><P align=center><img alt="Alarm clock" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Plus/PCP%20300/PCP300.make1.bodyimage3-420-90.jpg" width="420"></P></IMG><br /><P>If you've decided to use your old laptop as a fileserver, it'll be on all day and night, so why not use it as an alarm clock too? To do so, try the Banshee Screamer by <a href="http://www.hanovsolutions.com/">Hanov Solutions</A>. Download the installation package, run it and accept the defaults. </P><br /><P>Clicking the tiny bomb symbol at the top left accesses the menu. You can make the interface larger and set the time from an internet-based time server. </P><br /><P>You can browse an online skin gallery to change the clock's on-screen appearance, but it's best to keep the default skin and set the desktop background to black. If you also set a blank screensaver, you can prevent the bedroom being too light at night. </P><br /><P><STRONG>7. Explore home automation </STRONG></P><br /><P>If your old laptop is in good working order, it could be a great opportunity for you to dabble in the world of home automation. The most well-known home automation system is X-10, which uses your home's mains supply to transmit signals to units plugged into standard sockets. Best of all, it doesn't require a huge amount of computing power to control a whole house, making it ideal for use with an old, underpowered laptop.</P><br /><P>Link all the relevant switches from a master unit connected to a USB port and supplied software enables you to schedule events, such as closing the curtains and switching on lights. You can even hook the whole thing up to the internet – ideal for times when you'll be unexpectedly late home or away on holiday and want to ward off potential burglars by giving the impression that you're in. </P><br /><P>For more information on how to do this, check out these sites: <a href="http://www.domialifestyle.com/">www.domialifestyle.com</A> and <a href="http://www.letsautomate.com/">www.letsautomate.com</A>. </P><br /><P><STRONG>8. Build a media ripper </STRONG></P><br /><P align=center><img alt="EAC" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Plus/PCP%20300/PCP300.make1.bodyimage4-420-90.jpg" width="420"></P></IMG><br /><P>With a little thought, you can make your old laptop into a CD ripping station to store your music collection. Using EAC (Exact Audio Copy), it's as easy as popping the CD in the drive.</P><br /><P>First of all, download <a href="http://www.rarewares.org/mp3-lame-bundle.php">LAME from here</A>. This codec enables EAC to read the raw WAV files found on audio CDs. Next, download and install <a href="http://www.exactaudiocopy.de/en/index.php/resources/download/">EAC from here</A>. When installing, deselect the option to install the Ask toolbar. </P><br /><P>Once installed, EAC runs and a wizard appears. You can accept the defaults. The wizard will then attempt to locate LAME, which can take a while. Accept the rest of the defaults but enter an email address to access the online database of album information. </P><br /><P>The main interface appears. Click 'EAC | EAC Options' and select the Directories tab. Select a directory to rip to and click 'OK'. If this is a network share, you can access it from other machines on your network. </P><br /><P>Put a CD in the drive and accept the option of calibrating. Now click 'Action | Test and Copy Selected Tracks | Compressed' and the rip begins. As for playback, the app you choose is up to you. Windows Media Player is decent, while <a href="http://www.winamp.com/">Winamp</A> is still knocking around too. </P><br /><P><STRONG>9. Make a wireless bridge </STRONG></P><br /><P>Almost all laptops have both a wired and wireless network card, making an old one ideal to act as a bridge between a wired hub and your wireless network. Windows XP has the ability to act as a bridge built in. </P><br /><P>In the Control Panel, click 'Network and Internet Connections | Network Connections'. The general procedure is to click the connection for the wireless card, hold [Ctrl] and click the wired connection. Right-clicking offers the option to bridge the two cards. Microsoft has provided a full network bridging guide, <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/expert/crawford_02april22.mspx">including a troubleshooting section, here</A>. </P><br /><P><STRONG>10. Explore Linux </STRONG></P><br /><P align=center><img alt="Ubuntu" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Plus/PCP%20300/PCP300.make1.bodyimage5-420-90.jpg" width="420"></P></IMG><br /><P>Linux is the ultimate in laptop resurrection tools. With lower system resource overheads than Windows and a galaxy of free software, it's a great way to bring old hardware to life. </P><br /><P>Today, all the major Linux distributions are easy to install, will dual-boot with Windows and have excellent graphical user environments. Thanks to Samba networking, they'll mount your Windows network shares straight out of the box, and a large number of wireless cards are supported. </P><br /><P>One of the most user-friendly Linux distributions is Ubuntu – <a href="http://www.ubuntu.com/desktop/get-ubuntu/download">get it from here</A>. Burn it to a bootable DVD, boot the DVD and then follow the on-screen instructions.</P>

10 useful things to do with an old laptop

Before you throw out that old laptop, stop and think of all the things it could be doing for you. You could turn it into anything from an e...

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In Depth: Apple in 2011: 10 things to expect

<img src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//classifications/world%20of%20tech/images/apple-store-coventgarden22-200-200.jpg"> <br /><P>There's every chance Steve Jobs will at some point pull the tech industry equivalent of a rabbit out of a hat in 2011, unleashing an amazing gadget no-one had thought of but that everyone will want (or, if they're a competitor, want to copy). </P><br /><P>However, through existing Apple announcements, the company's previous form and some cunning and incisive guesswork, we can be pretty sure we'll see the following ten things from the Cupertino giant over the coming months.</P><br /><P><STRONG>1. Mac App Store</STRONG></P><br /><P><br /><P>The Mac App Store is likely to be the first of Apple's major products to appear in 2011. Announced during Apple's unveiling of <a href="">Mac OS X 10.7 (Lion)</A>, but also compatible with 10.6 (Snow Leopard), it will bring a streamlined app-purchase, download and update model to the Mac, much like the one for iOS devices. </P><br /><P><img alt="Mac app store" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/software/operating-systems/images/OSX_Lion/2-app-store-420-100.jpg" width="420"></IMG></P><br /><P><STRONG>APPY DAYS: </STRONG><EM>Apple's Mac App Store will simplify application purchase and installation in 2011</EM></P><br /><P><a href="">There will be restrictions</A>, too, but standard Mac installation will still be permitted; therefore, we expect the Mac App Store to be a great system for kick-starting a thriving ecosystem of smaller apps and games on the Mac, with industry giants - initially, at least - sticking with traditional distribution methods.</P><br /><P><STRONG>2. iPad 2</STRONG></P><br /><P>Apple's tight-lipped about what iPad 2 will or won't include, but it's a safe bet it'll incorporate FaceTime, and Jobs's dismissal of the 7-inch form factor of rival tablets suggests iPad 2 will differ from the original little in that regard. Elsewhere, more RAM and storage are likely, and a USB port and a Retina display have been mooted as <a href="">other new features</A>. Whatever we end up with, expect iPad 2 to land a year after the original's debut, <a href="">in April 2011</A>.</P><br /><P><STRONG>3. iOS magazine rack</STRONG></P><br /><P>Rumoured to be <a href="">imminent for months</A>, along with the Rupert Murdoch-backed iPad-only newspaper <a href="">The Daily</A>, iOS 4.3 is said to include functionality that will enable Apple to provide a digital magazine rack, including subscriptions.</P><br /><P><img alt="iOS magazine rack" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mac/images/3-wired-app-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG></P><br /><P><STRONG>RACK IT UP: </STRONG><EM>Apps like Wired could be on borrowed time as an 'iBooks for magazines' system comes to iOS</EM></P><br /><P>This is surely a cert for 2011, complementing iBooks nicely, and enabling publishers to free themselves from relying on apps with in-app purchases or services like Zinio for digital magazine distribution for iOS.</P><br /><P><STRONG>4. iPhone 5</STRONG></P><br /><P>Apple's iPhone release schedule is reassuringly regular, and you can expect the iPhone 5 to appear by early July. Unless Apple's been at the crazy juice, you can guarantee that the antennae will work flawlessly, regardless of how you jam the device into your hands, and you can also expect bumps to speed, storage and performance. </P><br /><P>In terms of functionality, <a href="">a few rumours have surfaced</A>, and Apple's reportedly been experimenting with Near Field Communication, potentially enabling a device to be <a href="">used for making payments</A>. Elsewhere, it's possible US customers will finally be able to escape AT&T, with the iPhone 5 becoming available on Verizon.</P><br /><P><STRONG>5. Mac OS X 10.7</STRONG></P><br /><P>In October, Apple gave everyone a <a href="">sneak peak of Mac OS X 10.7</A>, also known as Lion. The eighth major version of Mac OS X was part of a 'back to the Mac' event, showcasing how iOS devices are now influencing Apple's desktop and laptop products. Lion includes the iOS homescreen-style Launchpad, full-screen apps, auto-save and auto-resume, auto-hiding scrollbars, and more fully utilises multitouch gestures. </P><br /><P><img alt="OS x 10.7" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/software/operating-systems/images/OSX_Lion/3-home-screens-420-100.jpg" width="420"></IMG></P><br /><P><STRONG>iOS INSPIRED: </STRONG><EM>Mac OS X 10.7 takes inspiration from iOS, in order to enhance usability and utilise multitouch</EM></P><br /><P>During his presentation, Steve Jobs noted that these features were just a taste of what the finished software (due 'summer' 2011) will contain; other rumoured features include a resolution-independent and/or unified interface and an upgraded QuickTime X.</P><br /><P><STRONG>6. Increased focus on iOS</STRONG></P><br /><P>With Lion's release, expect Apple to again switch its attention to iOS, perhaps starting to preview aspects of the next major revision to the mobile operating system. It's also fairly likely that a shift will take place in 2011, with Apple very obviously considering iOS the 'default' operating system for Apple products, with Mac OS X repositioned as something more for professionals and anyone else with demanding requirements. Don't be shocked if you hear nothing at all about Mac OS X 10.8 in 2011, but plenty about iOS 4.x and perhaps even iOS 5.</P><br /><P><STRONG>7. Opening up AirPlay</STRONG></P><br /><P>AirPlay is a potentially revolutionary technology for the media obsessed, but it's currently hugely constrained. At present, you can live-stream video and audio <a href="">from an iOS device to an Apple TV</A>, but only from a very limited number of Apple's own apps. Developers have shown this limitation has been imposed by Apple itself, <a href="">for reasons unknown</A>; happily, when responding to a MacRumors reader's query regarding AirPlay video working in Safari and third-party apps, Steve Jobs reportedly said: "Yep, hope to add these features to Airplay in 2011".</P><br /><P><STRONG>8. Improvements to MobileMe</STRONG></P><br /><P>MobileMe hasn't exactly set the world on fire. Many users cite that it's unstable and unreliable, often bettered by free solutions available from Apple's competitors. In iOS 4.2, Apple surprisingly freed <a href="">Find My iPhone</A> from the paid MobileMe (at least for owners of 2010 iOS devices- cynically, anyone with an older device was blocked from creating the required free account), and in response to another MacRumors reader's email about MobileMe products, Steve Jobs reportedly replied: "Yes, it will get a lot better in 2011".</P><br /><P><img alt="Find my iphone" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mac/images/8-find-my-iphone-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG></P><br /><P><STRONG>IT'S HERE: </STRONG><EM>Find My iPhone is now free for 2010 iOS device owners; MobileMe in general might offer more free tools in 2011</EM></P><br /><P>Given that Apple's building a massive data centre, there's hope MobileMe might become an integrated part of its operating systems, becoming the backbone for enabling you access to your content from any Apple device or computer.</P><br /><P><STRONG>9. iTunes streaming</STRONG></P><br /><P>It's the rumour <a href="http://www.techradar.com/news/computing/apple/rumour-apple-to-launch-cloud-based-itunes-in-june-689332">that never dies</A>, but perhaps 2011 will finally be the year Apple augments its existing iTunes Store music purchase options with some kind of streaming service. This could come in the form of Spotify-like streaming, but that would potentially eat into Apple's iTunes Store sales; therefore, we could see an alternative service, such as enabling you to stream your own collection to a device, using the Lala technology Apple acquired, in combination with the in-progress giant data centre.</P><br /><P><STRONG>10. Doomsayers rebuffed</STRONG></P><br /><P>Despite all of these things and, perhaps, the odd surprise or two, doomsayers will continue to predict Apple's imminent death, ignoring the massive profits <a href="">the company's generating</A>, the <a href="">boost in headcount and store outlets</A>, and the innovative products it's producing. </P><br /><P><img alt="Apple store covent garden" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/world%20of%20tech/images/apple-store-coventgarden21-420-100.jpg" width="420"></IMG></P><br /><P><STRONG>STAIRY EYED: </STRONG><EM>Apple's Covent Garden store wowed the public. Expect many more new stores to open in 2011</EM></P><br /><P>Unless Steve Jobs goes crazy and turns Macs into Windows boxes or has the iPhone 5 made out of puppies, this cycle will continue into 2011 and beyond, with Apple offering modest expectations, analysts providing bizarre predictions that bear little relation to what Apple stated, Apple revealing new and huge piles of cash every quarter, Wall Street going berserk at Apple having not revealed a pile of cash 50 times bigger than the moon, hacks saying Apple is doomed for some spurious reason, and Apple stockholders and board members happily watching Apple shares <a href="">continue their upward trajectory</A>.</P>

In Depth: Apple in 2011: 10 things to expect

There's every chance Steve Jobs will at some point pull the tech industry equivalent of a rabbit out of a hat in 2011, unleashing an am...

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5 awesome 3D things to do this weekend and beyond

<P>It's been a long time coming for many of us – 28 years to be precise – but <EM>Tron: Legacy</EM> finally hits cinemas in the UK this week.</P><br /><P>The movie has been shot in 3D from the ground up, so it is a very good showcase of what the technology is capable of.</P><br /><P>Couple this with the fact that you get two Jeff Bridges for the price of one (a bearded and younger version) and what you have is a recipe for three-dimensional success</P><br /><P><EM>Tron: Legacy</EM> may be our number one 3D thing to go and watch this week, but there's also four frankly awesome more things 3D-wise that you can see and do.</P><br /><P>Don't believe us? Then read on…</P><br /><H4>1 Tron: Legacy</H4><br /><P><img alt="Tron legacy" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/images/tron/TRON_Legacylogo-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG></P><br /><P>It may have a first time director and no sign of Tron Man, but <EM>Tron: Legacy</EM> does a decent job of taking up the slack left by the original Tron movie. </P><br /><P>Yes that does mean an almost incomprehensible plot and the most bizarre Michael Sheen performance you will ever see, but the 3D visuals and soaring Daft Punk soundtrack more than make up for one or two niggles.</P><br /><P>For the best experience, head down to an IMAX to see the movie.</P><br /><P><STRONG>Reasons to watch:</STRONG></P><br /><UL><br /><LI>It's got Jeff Bridges in it <br /><LI>The 3D Tron bike face-off is pretty special <br /><LI>Olivia Wilde popping out of the screen is not bad thing</LI></UL><br /><H4>2 Chelsea vs Man Utd</H4><br /><P><img alt="Sky 3d" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/home-entertainment/tv/images/Sky_3D/Sky3d_football-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG></P><br /><P>It's arguably the biggest game of the season so far between two teams who have had mixed bag of fortune of late.</P><br /><P>Man Utd are certainly the favourites to win, given they are top of the league and celebrating the fact they haven't lost this season. Chelsea will be wanting to exorcise the demons, however, and put an end to their worst streak in 10 years.</P><br /><P>Sky is showing the game in 3D, so get yourself to a pub or switch on your shiny new 3DTV to get close to the action.</P><br /><P><EM>When's it on: Sunday 19 December, 3.30pm</EM></P><br /><P><STRONG>Reasons to watch:</STRONG></P><br /><UL><br /><LI>It's the biggest game of the year <br /><LI>3D football is mighty impressive <br /><LI>Watching Drogba firing in the winning goal in 3D will be satisfying (hopefully)</LI></UL><br /><H4>3 Dance, Dance, Dance</H4><br /><P><img alt="Dance, dance, dance" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/home-entertainment/tv/images/Sky_3D/sky_ballet_3d_cam-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG></P><br /><P>So good they had to name it three times, <EM>Dance, Dance, Dance</EM> is a Sky Arts production that's filled with – you've guessed it – dance choreography.</P><br /><P>Arlene Philips is the host and folks from the English National Ballet will be dancing for your 3D entertainment.</P><br /><P>Even if you are not a dance aficionado, the spectacle of seeing it in 3D is more than enough to keep you entertained.</P><br /><P><STRONG>Reasons to watch:</STRONG></P><br /><UL><br /><LI>Ballet in 3D – check out those pirouettes <br /><LI>It's a decent change from watching sport or movies <br /><LI>Sky told 3DRadar it is some of the best footage they have ever filmed</LI></UL><br /><H4>4 The Chronicles Of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader</H4><br /><P><img alt="Voyage of dawn treader" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/images/Voyage-Of-Dawn-Treader1-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG></P><br /><P>A big screen adaptation of CS Lewis' classic book hits cinemas this week, offering up a decent slice of fantasy that will get your kids to stop talking about Christmas for at least two hours.</P><br /><P>Most of the cast from the previous two outings are back and they are joined by animated mouse Reepicheep and cousin Eustace.</P><br /><P>It's the first 3D outing for Narnia, but don't expect it to be the last.</P><br /><P><STRONG>Reasons to watch:</STRONG></P><br /><UL><br /><LI>Aslan is back – and he is in 3D <br /><LI>Director Michael Apted is one of England's finest <br /><LI>The CGI couple with 3D will keep kids captivated</LI></UL><br /><H4>5 Buy a Panasonic 3D TV – get Avatar 3D</H4><br /><P><img alt="avatar" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/world%20of%20tech/images/Avatar_image-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG></P><br /><P>Panasonic dropped the bombshell this week that to get yourself a copy of <EM>Avatar</EM> 3D, then you will have to purchase a Panasonic 3D product.</P><br /><P>The company has the rights to the movie tied up all the way till 2012, so buying one of its products is the only way to get a Blu-ray 3D copy of the movie – unless of course you want to go to eBay and buy one for a few hundred quid. </P><br /><P>Our choice of a Panasonic 3D? It's got to be the TX-P65VT20B.</P><br /><P><STRONG>Reasons to buy:</STRONG></P><br /><UL><br /><LI><EM>Avatar</EM> – it's the best 3D movie around. Still. <br /><LI>3D has meant a resurgence for plasma tellies <br /><LI>No 3D TV, no 3D content – simples</LI></UL>

5 awesome 3D things to do this weekend and beyond

It's been a long time coming for many of us – 28 years to be precise – but Tron: Legacy finally hits cinemas in the UK this week. The m...

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5 awesome 3D things to do this weekend and beyond

<P>If you are lucky enough to be able to get out without the snow hampering your every movie, then you be pleased to hear that there's plenty of 3D treats in store for the weekend and beyond. And the best thing is, you don't have to go searching for them as <a href="http://3dradar.techradar.com/">3DRadar</A> has come to your rescue, comign up with five things to do and see that will make you fall in love with 3D... </P><br /><H4><STRONG>1 Try out some mind expansion</STRONG></H4><br /><P><STRONG><img alt="megamind" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/images/megamind1-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG><BR></STRONG></P><br /><P>Despicable Me may have hogged the limelight when it comes to being the first 3D movie centring on bad guys trying to outwit each other, but <EM>Megamind</EM> goes one better with super-villains and aliens.</P><br /><P>Will Ferrell, Jonah Hill and Brad Pitt lend their voices to this animated movie that <a href="http://www.totalfilm.com/reviews/cinema/megamind">Total Film</A> gave the movie an impressive four stars, who say that the 3D does the movie justice and doesn't look like an afterthought – which means it gets 3DRadar's seal of approval.</P><br /><P><EM>Out in cinemas now</EM></P><br /><P><STRONG>Reasons to watch:</STRONG></P><br /><UL><br /><LI>The IMAX is showing it</LI><br /><LI>Ferrell, Pitt and Ben Stiller get vocal</LI><br /><LI>The director used to work on The Ren & Stimpy Show</LI></UL><br /><H4><STRONG>2 Give your movie watching food for thought</STRONG></H4><br /><P><STRONG><img alt="cloudy" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/home-entertainment/high-definition/images/CloudyChanceMeatballsGrab-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG><BR></STRONG></P><br /><P>Sky 3D is showing this weekend one of the first of the 'new generation' of 3D films to get released in the home, <EM>Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs</EM>.</P><br /><P>The plot is silly: man develops a way to change weather into food, but there's many laughs to be had in the movie, even if most of them do revolve around oversized snacks falling from the sky.</P><br /><P>Sony bet big on this movie to do well and it was bundling <EM>Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs</EM> with some of its 3D TVs as a reference disc earlier in the year.</P><br /><P><EM>Showing on Sky 3D 4 December</EM></P><br /><P><STRONG>Reasons to watch:</STRONG></P><br /><UL><br /><LI>Will keep the kids happy</LI><br /><LI>Makes you respect junk food</LI><br /><LI>Fantastic 3D scenes</LI></UL><br /><H4><STRONG>3 Put some boing boing into your life</STRONG></H4><br /><P><STRONG><img alt="sky 3d" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/home-entertainment/tv/images/sky-3d11-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG><BR></STRONG></P><br /><P>West Brom V Newcastle is being shown in 3D on Sky 3D this weekend and the game should be great to watch.</P><br /><P>Both teams may be new to the Premiership this year, but they have showed the big guys how football should be played. Newcastle is currently ninth in the league and WBA a modest twelfth, but only goal difference separates the teams.</P><br /><P>You can watch the game at home on Sky 3D or at one of the many pubs that show Sky 3D games up and down the country.</P><br /><P>The action will be so close. You'll be able to see what woodland creatures Andy Carroll keeps in his stupidly long hair.</P><br /><P><EM>Showing on Sky 3D Sunday 5 December</EM></P><br /><P><STRONG>Reasons to watch:</STRONG></P><br /><UL><br /><LI>West Brom and Newcastle have hit four and above past opponents this season</LI><br /><LI>Football in 3D needs to be seen to be believed</LI><br /><LI>Whoever wins could end up in a respectable seventh place</LI></UL><br /><H4><STRONG>4 Visit Wonderland</STRONG></H4><br /><P><STRONG><img alt="Alice" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/images/Alice%203D.jpg.jpg" width="420"></IMG><BR></STRONG></P><br /><P>There's not been too many 3D Blu-ray releases to hit the shelves, so when one does get released it's hard not to make a song and dance about its arrival.</P><br /><P><EM>Alice In Wonderland </EM>may not be the best Tim Burton movie ever made, but it has all the thrills and spills you expect from the director who just gets curiouser and curiouser. </P><br /><P>Surprise, surprise long-term collaborators Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter also make an appearance, as does Danny Elfman on the soundtrack.</P><br /><P>The 3D may have been done in post, but there's enough down-the-rabbit-hole shots to make your eyes pop out.</P><br /><P><EM>Out 6 December on 3D Blu-ray</EM></P><br /><P><STRONG>Reasons to watch:</STRONG></P><br /><UL><br /><LI>Depp is great as the Mad Hatter</LI><br /><LI>The actress playing Alice is one of the best of her generation</LI><br /><LI>Burton's twisted visuals bring Lewis Carroll's world to life</LI></UL><br /><H4><STRONG>5 Kit yourself out with pixelated camouflage <BR></STRONG></H4><br /><P><STRONG><img alt="BLACK ops" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/home-entertainment/gaming/games/images/COD-Black-Ops-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG><BR></STRONG></P><br /><P><EM>GT5</EM> may have knocked it from the top spot but <EM>Call of Duty: Black Ops</EM> is still a 3D game that's a joy to play and one you should (heat)seek out this week. The plot is the most coherent of all the Call of Duty franchise and the addition of 3D gives you the accuracy of a sniper's bullet.</P><br /><P>And it's not just the PS3 that's offering the game in 3D, you can also get a 3D version for the PC too.</P><br /><P><EM>Out now</EM></P>

5 awesome 3D things to do this weekend and beyond

If you are lucky enough to be able to get out without the snow hampering your every movie, then you be pleased to hear that there's plen...

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Five awesome 3D things to do this week

<P>If you fancy adding a 3D sheen to your life this week then look no further – we at <a href="http://3dradar.techradar.com/">3DRadar</A> have come up with five frankly awesome things to do with 3D that'll make the November shivers disappear...</P><br /><H4>1: Tron Legacy 20 minute preview</H4><br /><P><img alt="Tron legacy" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/home-entertainment/images/tron_legacy-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG></P><br /><P>Now this is a bit like joining a secret club, but rumour has it that <a href="http://www.imax.com/">IMAX's up and down the country</A> have started showing a 20-minute preview of <EM>Tron Legacy</EM>.</P><br /><P>We were lucky enough to see this very preview a few months back and it was something special.</P><br /><P>Just seeing a bearded Jeff Bridges in the ENCOM machine once more was enough to render us fanboys speechless, but the addition of 3D plants this version of <EM>Tron</EM> firmly in the 21st Century.</P><br /><P>And if your local IMAX isn't showing it, then you don't have long to wait for the movie - it's out 17 December.</P><br /><P><STRONG>Reasons to watch</STRONG></P><br /><UL><br /><LI>Bridges</LI><br /><LI>Neon</LI><br /><LI>Light Cycle</LI><br /><LI>Daft Punk</LI></UL><br /><H4>2: Fujifilm Real 3D W3 review</H4><br /><P><img alt="FujiFilm w3" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/gadgets/digital-cameras/images/fujifilm_W3_boylarge-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG></P><br /><P>3D in the home usually consists of watching a 3D movie from a big Hollywood studio, or looking up the Sky 3D channel for what's on.</P><br /><P>This is all set to change as Fujifilm has recently announced the arrival of an update to its 3D consumer camera – the Fujifilm Real 3D W3.</P><br /><P><a href="http://www.t3.com/reviews/cameras/digital-cameras/fujifilm-real-3d-w3-review">T3 has just this week reviewed</A> the device and given it an impressive four stars. The review states: "We're really impressed with the Fujifilm Real 3D W3, not only is it more compact so more convenient to carry around, but the addition of the HDMI connector means you can easily share those 3D images and video to any 3D TV."</P><br /><P>It's not cheap at £370 but the fact you can make your own 3D images on it will impress even the most critical of mates.</P><br /><P><STRONG>Reasons to buy</STRONG></P><br /><UL><br /><LI>Shoots 3D and 2D images </LI><br /><LI>It outdoes its predecessor</LI><br /><LI>Easy to use</LI><br /><LI>Also includes video shooting</LI></UL><br /><H4>3: Despicable Me in 3D</H4><br /><P><img alt="Despicable me" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/home-entertainment/images/despicable%20me-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG></P><br /><P>Still going strong in cinemas across the country, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1323594/">Despicable Me</A> is a genuinely funny slab of animation, with the added benefit of being in 3D.</P><br /><P>Starring Steve Carrell, Julie Andrews and Russell Brand, the film focuses on two villains who try to outdo each other's evilness. </P><br /><P>Though some of the jokes veer into tooth-rotting territory, the 3D is impressive and there's enough here for parents to enjoy as well as their little minions.</P><br /><P><STRONG>Reasons to watch</STRONG></P><br /><UL><br /><LI>The Minions</LI><br /><LI>Great voice acting.</LI><br /><LI>The end dance sequence</LI></UL><br /><H4>4: Football and rugby on Sky 3D</H4><br /><P><a href="http://3dradar.techradar.com/3d-tech/hands-sky-3d-review-22-11-2010"><img alt="Sky 3d" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/home-entertainment/tv/images/Sky_3D/Sky3d_football-424-100.jpg" width="420"></IMG></A></P><br /><P><a href="http://3dradar.techradar.com/3d-tech/hands-sky-3d-review-22-11-2010">Sky 3D</A> is showing two great sports matches this weekend (27-28 November). The first is England v South Africa. This heavyweight Rugby Union battle has been shot in 3D and will showcase a rugby rivalry that started as far back as 1906.</P><br /><P>The second is Tottenham v Liverpool. Fresh after a stunning Champions League win, Tottenham will want to retain its form, while Liverpool will be hoping its form can be regained.</P><br /><P>Don't let the thought of Harry Redknapp's jowls in 3D put you off – this is going to be a brilliant game.</P><br /><UL><br /><LI>England v South Africa: Saturday 27 November, 2pm </LI><br /><LI>Tottenham v Liverpool: Sunday 28 November, 3.30pm</LI></UL><br /><P><STRONG>Reasons to watch</STRONG></P><br /><UL><br /><LI>Could be England's third win on the trot</LI><br /><LI>Gareth Bale</LI><br /><LI>Liverpool could overtake Tottenham</LI></UL><br /><H4>5: Gran Turismo 5 3D tournament</H4><br /><P><img alt="Gran turismo 5" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/home-entertainment/gaming/games/playstation/ps3/images/Gran-Turismo-5-PS3-Cover-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG></P><br /><P>It might not have hit mythical status like <EM>Duke Nukem</EM> but <EM>GT5</EM> is the game most people thought would never appear. But now the wait is over: <EM>Gran Turismo 5</EM> is here and it is in 3D.</P><br /><P>To celebrate this fact, get yourself down to a <a href="http://3dradar.techradar.com/3d-tech/sony-3d-gran-turismo-5-tournament-announced-24-11-2010">HMV on Saturday 27 November</A> and take part in what looks likely to be the gaming event of the year.</P><br /><P>The store plays host to a gaming tournament that's set to last 10 days and has been created to see who in the country is the best player of <EM>Gran Turismo 5</EM> in 3D.</P><br /><P>The final of the tournament is 15 December, when the champion will be crowned at HMV's flagship store in Oxford Street.</P>

Five awesome 3D things to do this week

If you fancy adding a 3D sheen to your life this week then look no further – we at 3DRadar have come up with five frankly awesome things to...

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3 Important Things to Keep Your Information Secure and Get a Clean Free Credit Report

<br /> <p>With almost everything being powered by technology, it is quite easy for most people to steal personal information, and the number of people being identity theft victims is increasingly growing each and every year. This is due to the fact that there are various "phishing websites" offering various services like an annual credit report, while in reality, they just do this kind of stuff to gather personal information and details and hack someone else's credit account.</p><p>Being an identity theft victim is one of the most frustrating things that a person may have to go through. However, did you know that you can stop and avoid being an identity theft victim by merely obtaining your yearly credit report? Of course, with extra caution and care, you will remain protected and get the chance to take a peek at your financial standing and financial history as well.</p><p>Your annual credit report will indicate all your purchases and all your credit history for the previous year. By making sure that you obtain a free credit report from a trusted and reputable company, you won't be having problems dealing with people trying to steal identities and use it for their selfish acts. Here are some relevant tips that can be helpful in avoiding having your identities stolen:</p><p>? The number one target of these criminals is your social security number and tax identification number. It is best that you always keep this information in tact - do not give out information to people that you don't know or trust at all.</p><p>? Do not open suspicious e-mails, or click links that may seem like a fraud - sometimes, there are these kinds of viruses that will try to pull up some of your personal information.</p><p>? Make sure that whenever you access your online banking statement, clear cookies and passwords, most especially if you are not in a secure connection.</p><p>Unfortunately, there are some people who are being fooled by some scam sites - and that their experiences should serve as a lesson to you. Do not allow the same things to happen to you - choose a company offering a free credit report and make sure that they are authorized by the government.</p><p>A free credit report can greatly benefit you, but by giving out sensitive information to other parties may cause harm. A little common sense would not hurt you a little, and a little research won't cost you at all. Make sure that you dedicate some of your time and research these companies first before you even fully trust them.</p> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /><br /> <p>free-credit-reports.com provides you with <a href="http://www.free-credit-reports.com/" target="_new">credit report</a> for free, and thus ensures that you don't become a victim of <a href="http://www.free-credit-reports.com/" target="_new">identity theft</a>.</p> <br />

3 Important Things to Keep Your Information Secure and Get a Clean Free Credit Report

With almost everything being powered by technology, it is quite easy for most people to steal personal information, and the number of peo...

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Basic Things You'll Miss if You Buy a John's Phone

<P><BR><B class=rtop2><B class=r1></B><B class=r2></B><B class=r3></B><B class=r4></B></B><img alt="Basic Things You'll Miss if You Buy a John's Phone" border="0" height="150" src="http://technologyforum.x10.mx/image//113488matter.jpg" width="200"></P><br /><P>Mobile phones today have become so much more than just tools that let us call other people. This is probably the reason why a Dutch man named John Doe Amsterdam came full-circle with the design of the John's Phone. The concept will make you blast to the past - a phone that can only make and receive phone calls; no text messaging, no ringtones. Due to a pager-like (or beeper, as the Americans call them) single-line monochrome display, it is obvious not to expect features like a camera or mobile Internet, that are termed as "basic" in cell phones these days. Although the concept might make sense for people who just want phone calls (or aren't at all comfortable with technology invented beyond the year 1876), you've got to consider this - there are many a basic things that we're so used to doing on cell phones that you'll sorely miss if you get a John's Phone. Here are the Top 4:<BR><BR>1)  <STRONG>An Alarm Clock</EM></STRONG> - I don't remember seeing anybody using a dedicated alarm clock since half a decade to wake up. So, while you're buying a John's Phone, might as well pick up an alarm clock too.   </P><BR>2) <STRONG>Searching for a contact</STRONG> </EM>- The John's Phone actually has a regular pen-and-paper phone-book slot at the back. So, other than the hundreds of numbers you could store even in an el cheapo phone, there's no quick way to look up a contact as well. Also, you better be good at remembering phone numbers if you're going to buy one; the display won't show the name of your contact when he or she calls. <BR><BR><img align="baseline" border="0" hspace="0" src="http://technologyforum.x10.mx/image//113488johnsphone.jpg"><br /><P></P><BR><BR><br /><P></P><BR>3) <STRONG>Flash-light</EM></STRONG> - Many inexpensive phones come with a handy LED Flashlight option that to me at least has proved useful quite a few times.  <br /><P></P>4) <STRONG>Calendar and Reminders</EM></STRONG> - Even on a Rs. 1,000 phone, you are guaranteed to get these basic things - a calendar with a month-view and a reminder function for events. I believe they come in handy to all of us at some point of time.  <BR>Now, while the target audience of the John's Phone may not care for any of these things, what they ought to know is this - the damn thing sells for Rs. 4,200 (Euro 70). You get a decent phone with music playback, a big screen and web-browsing for that much in India. So, we feel the John's Phone nothing more than a well-executed marketing pitch to make good dough for the company.

Basic Things You'll Miss if You Buy a John's Phone

Mobile phones today have become so much more than just tools that let us call other people. This is probably the reason why a Dutch man name...

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Some Things to Be Considered Before Changing IT Support

<br /> <p>Maybe you are training a new staff member for your work or are you switching to a new vendor? Do you want to change your IT support staff which could mean threat to your business? Consider asking yourself why do you want to do so? What you need to understand more is the ways to maintain your technical support and technology systems such that it requires less documentation.</p><p>Lots of experience in service at times of technical backup can keep the Internet Technology services running without glitches.</p><p>Take the following factors into consideration before switching to another IT department.</p><p><strong>1) Know in detail what you have.</strong></p><p>Make a list of hardware and software you possess. Or maybe you can convince your IT Support person to help you with the documentation. Make a note of everything, including networking devices, software applications and operating systems.</p><p><strong>2) Ensure you know everyone in your company.</strong></p><p>Make a list of all business relationships including vendors and keep this updated. Making changes to your IT network is like inviting surprises. Keep all important information of vendors like phone numbers, website, data services, email hosting company and any other services managed by the support provider. Keep current service at a place where it is easily accessible and keep them updated. You need to understand each and every service they offer to the company. Information like the response time for a customer service call is useful.</p><p>.<strong> 3) Keep backups.</strong></p><p>Database backups are one of the important factors to be maintained in business. A person should be curious about this and should ask many questions viz. Who keeps our backup? How often are the backups updated? What is the software used for keeping backups? Which hardware is used for it? Who verifies the backup? At what time? Do we include laptop computers in this? When did we last test this?</p><p><strong>4) Maintaining passwords.</strong></p><p>The person knowing all the passwords can leave your company. Hence, you have to know the passwords for each and every software and hardware at the business. You also need to know what the person can access via these passwords. You must also know the place where password records are kept. Change your passwords all over again if you are changing your IT support solution.</p><p><strong>5) Keeping the documents and disks at a safe place.</strong></p><p>Collect all the software and hardware configurations and install disks and place them in a systematic order and keep them at a central area. You will also need the license keys associated with the products along with the price, date and day of purchase for each and every application that is operating on the network. This is very important for network troubleshoots. It is also important to produce the license if an audit by the BSA (Business Software Alliance) is conducted or else it can be a big problem. If they fail to produce the license then the company might end up paying fines along with the replacement costs.</p><p><strong>6) Maintenance must be scheduled.</strong></p><p>One has to regularly maintain the Internet Technology systems just like a person keeping auto tuned system for optimal performance. This prevents big breakdowns and helps in smooth functioning of the system. Important thing like keeping a checklist is a must. Keep a checklist by day, week or month especially during the time of transition.</p><p><strong>7) Have your system inspected by experts.</strong></p><p>Another pair of eyes is absolutely a great idea to inspect the network. If you have a neutral expert from an outside firm or an individual looking after your technology systems then you can ensure that your investments are protected and the expert service provider could detect the problems even before they begin. This could cost well under a hundred bucks but could save big money, recovery efforts, legal expenses or maintenance fees.</p><p><strong>8) Security.</strong></p><p>When we talk about security, we are definitely talking about protection from virus, spam and threats from hackers. But these types of threats are only half of the threat - IT systems are usually hacked from within. Keep a record of all the security products and procedures used so that you are sure about your company's protection.</p><p><strong>9) Where is the key data kept?</strong></p><p>Where are the data of customers, finance, legal documents stored? Who is the person who can access it?</p> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /><br /> <p>Philips Taylor Brown offers IT support in the Nottingham area, tailored to suit the needs of any business. Visit their website now for more information if you are looking for <a href="http://www.phillipstaylorbrown.com" target="_new">IT Support Nottingham</a>.</p> <br />

Some Things to Be Considered Before Changing IT Support

Maybe you are training a new staff member for your work or are you switching to a new vendor? Do you want to change your IT support staff...

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Voice Over Internet Protocol - A Few Things You Need To Know First

<br /> <p>Unless you have had your head in the sand lately you will have heard of VOIP. Everyone seems to be talking about VOIP, but you can be forgiven for probably not knowing much about it. VOIP stands for Voice Over Internet Protocol and if you believe the media hype this new phone service is about to revolutionise the telecommunications market. As with a lot of new technological developments there are a few causes for concerns that you probably will not hear the marketing campaigns talk about.</p><p>What is it?</p><p>Just to give you a bit of background lets take a look at how VOIP works for those of you that are unsure. You will need to have a broadband Internet connection and to then open an account with one of the many new VOIP providers. By having an account with a VOIP provider you will be able to make a telephone call through your computer and its Internet connection. Many VOIP providers will allow you to call another user on their system for free or phone a standard telephone number for a low cost. Without getting too technical, VOIP works by converting your voice into lots of small packets of data. These data packets are then routed through the Internet to your VOIP provider's servers, and then onto the person you are calling. The reason people are raving about this new service is the cost. It is much cheaper than a standard fixed line telephone and you will also get all the same services.</p><p>Is there a downside?</p><p>Now we do not want to put you off setting up a VOIP service, but we think you should know a couple of things before you do. Obviously low cost telephone calls is a very attractive offer, but there are drawbacks to VOIP. One a major issue you need to be aware of is that a VOIP service requires you to have a power supply, as it requires your computer to be on. This means should your electricity be out you will not be able to use your phone. In some circumstances this could just be a minor inconvenience, but in an emergency situation it may be much more serious. In heavy storms and natural disasters electricity power is often lost first. Would you really want to be without a phone?</p><p>Should your PC decide to stop working for whatever reason, you'll be left without a phone. Computers are prone to crashing and should this happen, you will not be able to make any phone calls. A concern of a different issue, is one of security. Because your phone calls will be transported as data via the Internet, you will be opening up the possibility of having your phone system hacked into. A scary thought, especially for business users.</p><p>As we said previously, it is not our intention to put you off VOIP. We actually think it is a great service with so much going for it. It is something that you should look into setting up, and you can find out the most current developments from our website (link below). We just want to give you the full picture though so you can make an informed choice.</p><p>Take a look at VOIP Basics top ten things you need to know.</p><p>VOIP stands for Voice Over Internet Protocol.</p><p>VOIP or Voice Over Internet Protocol is a new way for you to make a telephone call.</p><p>You will need to get yourself a broadband internet connection in order to set up a VOIP service.</p><p>There are more and more companies setting up VOIP services. Skype is probably the most known.</p><p>VOIP works by converting the sound of your voice into tiny packets of data and then transmitting these via the internet.</p><p>Your PC needs to be on in order to use a VOIP service, which could be a drawback should your electricity be off.</p><p>VOIP services provide extremely cheap calls.</p><p>Think about the possible security issues as your internet connection could be hacked.</p><p>Should your PC get a virus this could stop you using the phone if you are on a VOIP service.</p><p>Many VOIP providers will allow you to call another of there users for free anywhere in the world.</p> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /><br /> <p>Seymour Brown writes articles for <a href="http://www.voip-basics.com" rel="nofollow" target="_new">http://www.voip-basics.com</a></p> <br />

Voice Over Internet Protocol - A Few Things You Need To Know First

Unless you have had your head in the sand lately you will have heard of VOIP. Everyone seems to be talking about VOIP, but you can be for...

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