Business, Marketing, and New Technology
ladyjana
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Posts by ladyjana
Data Backup Service to check out
May 10th
Recently the hard drive on my laptop decided to give up the ghost. Right in the middle of something interesting, I get a warning notice of imminent failure. Sure enough, it was gone, with no chance to offload any data at all. Fortunately for me, there was little that I did not have backed up elsewhere, and the laptop was still under warranty, so I was able to send it off to the company and have a new one installed gratis.
But the experience did remind me of the value, no, the critical importance of backing up all your data. Had this been my business computer, (and if I had no backup for it) it would have been an unmitigated disaster. My whole business would have been put at risk.
However, with the proper forethought and preparation, needing to recover any application and its data doesn’t have to be tragic. May I suggest that if you have a business, and you need to look into backup services, check out Nexsan’s Disk Backup service. They are experts in backup and recovery storage solutions, and they provide ultra-reliable data protection. They have flexible options for storing / archiving your data, backing up cloud data, or just about any sort of digital media that you use.
The best part is that they have a fully managed backup service. You don’t have to spend time managing it. You can have backups going 24/7; just set it up, and let it take care of itself. It allows you to grow, without having to rip out the old system. And their service is top-notch. Such quality is rare, so if you have not totally protected your data, check them out.
(Now, not later. You’ll be glad you did.)
“To the Cloud!”
May 3rd
“To the Cloud!”
We’ve all heard it. It sounds like a near miracle. You can access information, videos, movies, data, everything, “from the cloud”. Cloud computing is one of the best inventions to date.
Businesses are actively looking into cloud computing, and virtualization. There are so very many benefits from cloud computing. It reduces IT costs, and increases flexibility in the workplace. It also allows for scalability from small to the very large.
However, one main concern for all businesses is security. After all, if your information is “out there” somewhere, how do you know that it is safe? How on earth could it be possible to secure the cloud? What kind of cloud to you need or want- public? Or private? How can you even decide what kind of security you need, or what concerns you need to address? What sort of advantages could there be for cloud-based security?
And if you do have stolen data, who is responsible? What about being EC2PCI compliant? Whoa, lots of questions about cloud security.
One place to begin finding answers is on Trend Cloud Security Blog. There, you will find posts and comments about an extensive variety of topics. You can get answers to questions about the cloud, what it is, how you can use it, etc. There are posts on upcoming events, like the Cloud Security Symposium that just happened on April 26th.
Often there are really useful resources, like the Replay of the Privacy and Security Panel from Cloud Computing Conference at NAB 2012 . The audio of the entire panel discussion is there for you to gleen information from. There is information there about HIPAA issues, or even problems with data loss and Mobile Apps. You can even find info on where to store your cloud encryption keys.
One thing Trend Micro knows about is cloud security, so by going to Trend Micro Cloud Security Blog, you can get all the information that you need to make intelligent decisions about your business virtualization.
Do Yourself a Favor- Sell Your Phone
Apr 22nd
Once again, my kids have upgraded their phones. Thank goodness these days you can keep your old number, or I’d be losing track. Seems like they can’t go 6 months without getting the latest and greatest toy for grownups!
Now, the question, what to do with the old phones? My son gave me one of his old phones about 6 months ago, and I’m still trying to figure out all the things it can do, so I’m not in the running for a brand new one, no, not yet!
All those phones can really pile up in the corners of your house, if you don’t have a plan for getting rid of them. They’re way too good to throw away; besides you don’t want to do that- bad for the environment. There are metals and chemicals in those phones that are really not at all good for dear Mother Earth.
So, what to do? Here’s a great solution, that is good for the house, good for the environment, and good for the wallet- sell the old phone!
But where, and to whom, you say?
Try these people out: sell mobile .
They can give you a really good price, and its a win-win-win for everyone! How’s that for a good idea?
On the Mend
Apr 4th
Guest post from: Winston Stewart
By mid-morning every day I am beyond ready to break free from my leg cast and run a streak around the world. Having a cast on your leg is a lot like being trapped in an animal cage. It takes loads of effort to do my everyday normal activities. I am in week six now and I’m going a little nuts. So in order to try to hang on for a few more weeks without totally losing it, I logged onto www.directstartv.com and switched over our cable system for a satellite one. I am bored beyond belief with reading books which is shocking, I never thought this would happen to me, so I decided to purchase the entire movie package and begin catching up on some blockbusters. Anything to get me out of my own head for a little while seems like a good investment to me. So now my mornings are filled with routine for the kids, then it’s time to prop the leg up and see what movies I can watch before they get home. I am feeling like this change of pace might actually keep me sane for the next two remaining weeks.
Software to Help Manage Your Warehouse
Apr 3rd
For years I was an eye witness to the advent of technology in the factory. Well, not exactly an eye witness, I was married to a computer geek who wrote the software that made the “robots” in the warehouse do their thing. What was happening was that state-of-the-art robotic machines could be given information to go out into the warehouse -unmanned- and find the product or supply needed, and bring it back to wherever it was wanted. My Ex did the software programming to make this happen, so I heard a lot about it. It was the first time I had heard about bar code scanning. (Remember, this was back in the 80′s)
In the course of events, I also learned a lot about how complex it is to run a warehouse, or any kind of business that has to intake, store, and then ship out product or materials to the customer. It can be quite a daunting task. However, the latest innovations in warehouse management software
have helped make this nightmare considerably easier. Now, you can fully customize the software for your needs, right down to your business logo. And you don’t have to pay for extra stuff you don’t need. The software is web-based, so there is no software to install, maintain, or update. You can keep your clients happy with real-time information, and you can add and in-activate customers on the fly right in the warehouse!
We’ve come a long way, Baby!
Rather have one of those Neff Kitchens
Mar 17th
I tried to have a luncheon. Didn’t make it. I’d made all the plans, sent out the invites, planned out the menu, and shopped. But, alas, my kitchen had other plans.
As I washed dishes the night before, I just happened to be in bare feet, since Spring has sprung here in the south of the good ol’ USA. Anyway, I felt dampness, then real water on my little tootsies, if you know what I mean. Opening the cabinet, I saw water just streaming out from under the sink.
Well, it had been leaking just a little bit. I knew that. But this was new. This was much more water than I could tolerate. I had someone come over and look at it, and sure enough there was an actual hole in the pipe. I guess since my house is about 60 years old, it had to happen sometime.
The whole kitchen seems to need remodeling anyway. I mean, everything in it is still the original. Now that I think about it, it does look old. Really old. Remodeling is a good idea. I need new cabinets, new sink, new flooring, the works. While searching for a good company to help me out with this, I ran across Neff Kitchens . They know what they’re doing. I’ll be contacting them soon. Well, right after I sop up some of this water.
Abaco Real Estate- Retire to the Bahamas
Mar 5th
Winter days, cloudy days, cold bitter winds, much to uncomfortable to be called breezes- are we tired of this yet? I sure am. I was not made for the cold, not to mention the cloudiness. I am one of those who suffers when there is not enough sunshine around. I get grumpy, if you know what I mean.
Time for some serious dreaming. Where would I rather be? Well, that’s not a hard question- in the Bahamas! Isn’t that everyone’s dream? Seems like it is, but you never really hear about anyone moving there… perhaps they think it’s too expensive, and they would be right- almost.
Right now, the real estate market is favorable to the buyer. There will probably never be a better time to buy that dream house. Just imagine, clear blue waters… warm white sand… soft ocean breezes… smell of shrimp beginning to boil… you don’t even have to blow out a flip-flop (tipping my hat to Jimmy Buffet).
Just look at this picture of Schooner Bay on Abaco Island! Wouldn’t you love to spend hours and hours right there? Look at that crystal water! Wow. And that sand- so perfect. Shoot, even the clouds are perfect.
I’d like to live there. I’m going to go down there and check the place out just as soon as I can. I think I’ll take my next 3 (or 4 ) vacations there, and rent different places on the island, so I can get a feel for the place, then I’ll know exactly where to buy. I’m sure I can find just the perfect piece of Abaco Real Estate .
I might visit Atlantis Resort and play with the dolphins for a while. For sure I’m going to spend a lot of time on the sand, with my feet in the warm water. Hmmmm…… I’m thinking I’ll need to take a few friends along for company. Who’s up for a quick trip south?
Marketing Tricks
Mar 5th
Guest post of the week by Val Flores
Have you ever noticed the little tricks they use to try to get you to buy things? There are so many marketing tricks that prey on our subconscious desires and convince us to buy things we don’t really need. It’s really interesting, if you ask me. I’d love to go into marketing because I’m real interested in psychology and persuasion in general. You’d be surprised to learn the simple little word choices and color choices made, and how they affect us. For example, the words “part of a healthy breakfast.” What they don’t tell you is that healthy breakfast would be healthy enough with or without the poptart they are trying to sell you. Also, every notice the words, “hurry!” and “act now!” Like at expertsatellite, they act like the clock is ticking and there is only a few seconds left to get the deal, pushing you into an impulse buy. Or how about, “tastes like real…” It can trick your mind into thinking they said the product actually contains real fruit, or whatever.
Your Life History in Photos
Feb 28th
Do you have boxes or drawers full of old photos? I do. I always meant to put them into albums, but years of life just got away from me. I do know that about 2004 or 5, the amount suddenly decreased, because at that time, we all got digital cameras, and from then on, they were all on the computer, or online (a really bad place to store your pictures, by the way).
Still, I have literally boxes and boxes of pre-2004 photos that have yet to be sorted, or even looked at again, because they are so unwieldy. I just don’t have the time to go through them, and take them to the nearest photo-service, and scan them in , one by one, not to mention that people behind you in line get pretty upset when you stand there for an hour at a time. Who wants that?
So, I was delighted when I discovered More >
Software for Filling out Insurance Forms
Feb 15th
Ever needed a doctor? Ever wonder why it costs so much? OK, well, I don’t have the answer to that one, but I used to work in a doctor’s office and I know that keeping the office running is a complicated thing. Between appointment assigning, and lab-work taking, and lab-work itself, the doctor’s visits, and transcribing his notes, and getting all the payment from and to the correct place – it is one complicated machine.
One of the most complicated aspects of the office is dealing with insurance. There are hundreds of insurance companies, all with their different rules, not to mention More >