Engadget’s summer gear guide 2012: smartphones

June 1, 2012

I am on my smart phone ALL the time! And if you are anything like me, you want to know all the latest apps and all there is to know about the newest and best phones on the market. Gearing up for summertime and keeping in mind that I have to work remotely I must have a fast working phone. Here is Engadget’s summer gear guide to smartphones for 2o12.

Summer Gear Guide 2012: Smartphones

By , Engadget

As you prepare for adventures with friends and fun in the sun, just remember that a great smartphone should be at the top of your gear list. Whether you’re looking for travel tips, a new place to hang or even directions to get there, your smartphone will have you covered. It can help you check-in for flights, rent a car and even get great deals on places to stay. Go ahead and leave your point-and-shoot camera at home, because many of today’s best smartphones excel at photography and allow you to immediately share your memories as they’re captured. If you plan to travel abroad, be sure to spring for an unlocked handset to avoid those nasty roaming fees. Whatever your particular needs, our smartphone selection is geared to make your decision as painless as possible – and more importantly, ensure that you have a fun and rewarding summer. Dive in on the other side of the break.

For the complete list of the summer guide for smartphones Click Here.

Editor’s choice: HTC One X 


How Tablets Are Transforming Business Intelligence

May 15, 2012

I recently have been looking into purchasing a tablet and during my research for different ways tablets can increase business productivity I came across this article from TechCrunch on the various ways to monitor news. I like to keep an eye on the news daily and I am always interested in knowing what’s going on locally and globally. I got some really great ideas on news apps and how to simplify my daily news feeds.

By Mitch Lazar, TechCrunch

Staying on top of your game and understanding the competitive landscape is essential to winning in the modern business world. A huge component to staying ahead of the curve is keeping a close eye on competitors in your market, which entails maintaining a watchful eye on industry news. Some companies turn to expensive news monitoring services to keep track of their respective industry, but in reality there are more viable options. Emerging tablet news and information services like Flipboard, Pulse and others are proving an incredible companion to business and consulting executives in staying current with industry changes occurring around them.

Jeff Cavins, CEO of Fuzebox, recently wrote in Business Insider that the explosive uptake of tablet computers is fueling the growth of what he called the new “iPad economy.” Cavins said: “The iPad is shifting the way businesses function, changing how executives interact and transforming the economics of today’s business operations.”

The iPad economy is a growing reality across the globe, and businesses are turning to enterprise apps to help them succeed. Simple RSS readers are used to condense multiple streams of content from a variety of sources into single channels, granting users access to diverse content all in one place. Some applications have further simplified news aggregation by using innovative search technology that goes beyond the function of RSS readers to deliver richer streams of highly targeted information to business users – a critical asset to businesses large and small.

Better Search and Filtering Offers Essential Time Savings

Gesture Based Information Consumption Increases Efficiency

Bookmarking Makes for Easier Follow Up

Read More from TechCrunch Here

Editor’s note: Mitch Lazar is CEO of Taptu. He Founded CNN and Cartoon Network Mobile. He was a former journalist at CNN and one of the co-founders of CNN.com. Prior to joining Taptu, Mitch headed Yahoo! Mobile Europe.


Small Business Tips: How to Stop Cyber Attacks

April 17, 2012

I am someone who is on the internet most of the day. At my desk or on my phone I am working on something that has me connected to the world-wide web. I recently have been getting an increase of spam mail and even spam text messages, which makes me nervous. So I did a little research on how to protect myself from the dreaded cyber attack, hackers and spammers.

“Since an increasing number of small business owners are using internet for advertising, promoting or for doing some basic activities, they are becoming an easy prey for hackers who are still living at large. Though steps have been taken both at region and country level to contain such cases, there is no apparent signs of immediate relief. Small business organizations just like their big corporate counterparts are very much susceptible to external and internet security threats and if these treats are overlooked, this might have a serious consequences later on. Here we are going to share 5 tips that a small business company can adopt.” Just take a look:

Posted by  at www.Noobpreneur.com This article is one of the excellent contributions from our team of experienced guest authors.

Have a backup ready
You never know when things may go away of your hands and you lose all the data that holds key to success to your business.

Pinpoint the Weakness
Since you are a small business owner, you have to make sure that you have perfect knowledge of most the vulnerable areas of your business.

Get Your Workers Educated About Security
To uplift a culture of security, you need to take some steps proactively.

A Contingency Plan
Though you will certainly despise the idea of being targeted by hacker, this might befall at any point of time.

Security Agreement
It is good to get your employees signed into a security agreement, as they will have a legal obligation to inform you whenever they see something unusual.

Click here for the complete list of  the 5 tips.


21 Counter-Intuitive Break Ideas to Boost your Productivity at Work!

April 3, 2012

I don’t know about you but, I have Spring fever! I find myself wishing I could be outside because the weather is so nice, so on my breaks at work I like to step outside and enjoy the nice breeze and sunshine. Everyone is guilty of working a long day and not stopping for break but, fact is that everyone needs a break and here are some ideas to give your body and mind a little rest and to boost your productivity at work. I especially like number 3 “Step outside for a fresh perspective”.

“Every self-help program talks about the importance of taking a 10-15 minute break to boost your productivity. Breaks give us much needed time to rest our eyes, move around, stretch our stiff muscles, get more blood and oxygen flowing to our brain, to unwind and obtain a fresh outlook on complex work problems.”

By Arina Nikitina Stepcase Lifehack

1. Listen to a guided meditation. There are plenty of 10-15 minute meditations that allow you to trigger your creativity, let go of muscles tension and take your mind of the work at hand.

All you have to do is put on a headset, close your eyes and enjoy peace and relaxation even in the midst of work chaos.

2. Share your break with a co-worker. Alone, you might not always have the strength to pull yourself away from the computer, but if you have a friend taking breaks with you, it is much easier to stick with your break routine. In addition, it offers a great opportunity to bond with your colleagues and get to know them better.

3. Step outside for a fresh perspective. Leaving a stuffy office and letting yourself enjoy the warmth of the sunlight, the coolness of a breeze and the freshness of the spring air can do miracles to your mind and body. You will come back feeling rejuvenated and ready to approach your work with new energy and a fresh perspective.

4. Close your eyes and take 10 deep breaths. Stand up and walk away from your desk. Find a quiet place, where you can sit down, close your eyes, smile to yourself and take a few deep breaths. Imagine tension, stress and anxiety leaving your body as you breathe out, and peacefulness, positivity and relaxation filling your mind with every breath that you take.

5. Say NO to tension headaches. Slowly roll your neck to the right noticing a slight tension in your neck muscles. Hold this position for a count of 120 (2 minutes), then turn your head to the opposite side and repeat. Enjoy the feeling of warmth and flexibility return to your neck and shoulders.

Read all 21 ideas here.


Could telecommuting work for your start up?

March 6, 2012
Telecommuting  and teleworking have had a quiet start in New Zealand but elsewhere in the world are seeing a rapid increase in popularity, with estimates of around 40% of the American workforce working remotely at least part of the time.
So – what is telecommuting and how does it differ from teleworking?
Both terms refer to employees who work remotely rather than in a specific office at a specific desk each day. In strict terms telecommuters are considered employees who work from home – thus commuting only by phone or internet. Teleworkers, or mobile workers, are employees equipped with the technology that allows them to work anywhere; they may spend some time in a central office, some at home, and some on the road, working from hubs or cafes.
To read more click Here

National Telework Week Begins Monday

March 2, 2012
I am fortunate that I am able to telework on days when I don’t have appointments in the office.  Atlanta traffic can be daunting on most days so home office days begin in a whole different way than office days.
See the benefits below and if you have the opportunity to telework just one day next week, sign the pledge by clicking on the link below.
 Just one note of caution.  Make sure you have the tools needed to telework.  For me that includes my laptop, smartphone, Wi-Fi connection and of course my zBoost SOHO cell phone signal booster.  With these tools I have full access to the rest of the Wi-Ex team throughout the day.  Since 55% of teleworkers report indoor signal problems a zBoost is a necessity for many teleworkers, including me!
Pledge to Telework

Join National Telework Week 2012, the second-annual effort to encourage agencies, organizations, and individuals to pledge to telework on March 5-9, 2012. Sign up now to determine your impact and savings, and telework during the week of March 5-9, 2012.

Why? Telework is a win-win opportunity for agencies, organizations, employees, and the environment. Telework supports:

Join the movement. During Telework Week 2011, nearly 40,000 pledged, saving $2,730,229 on commuting costs, gaining back 148,692 hours into their day, and removing 1,818 tons of pollutants from the air, while refraining from driving 3,764,001 miles.

For more information go to:
http://www.teleworkexchange.com/teleworkweek/


What’s the best free backup program?

February 28, 2012

 

You know you’re supposed to make regular backups, yet you’re just not doing  it. Why?

If it’s because you’re not wild about the idea of spending money on backup  software, here’s good news: you don’t have to. There are plenty of full-featured  backup utilities (for Windows, anyway) that don’t cost a dime.

Indeed, your only out-of-pocket expense should be a USB or network hard  drive–a place to hold your precious data in case your primary drive goes  belly-up.

Read more:
http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-33153_7-57381334-10391733/reader-poll-whats-the-best-free-backup-program/#ixzz1nbw1YCtt


Pledge Now: Telework Week 2012

December 19, 2011

Join Telework Exchange for Telework Week 2012, the second-annual effort to encourage agencies, organizations, and individuals to pledge to telework on March 5-9, 2012. Sign up now to determine your impact and savings, and telework during the week of March 5-9, 2012.

Why? Telework is a win-win opportunity for agencies, organizations, employees, and the environment. Telework supports:

Join the movement. During Telework Week 2011, nearly 40,000 pledged, saving $2,730,229 on commuting costs, gaining back 148,692 hours into their day, and removing 1,818 tons of pollutants from the air, while refraining from driving 3,764,001 miles.

Need help getting started? Attend our free Webcasts – “One Year Later:  The Status of Federal Telework” on December 7th and “From Planning to Preparedness: Build Your Telework Strategy” on January 19th.

To Pledge, visit:  Telework Exchange by Cisco


How the Remote Workforce Is Changing

October 10, 2011

As advances in technology have made it a practical possibility for millions, remote working has increased dramatically over the last decade.

While once working from home was considered a bit of a novelty, we argue that it is now so mainstream it’s more interesting to consider how the remote workforce is changing.

Mashable spoke to human resources professionals and other experts to get some interesting insight on this subject. Have a read below and let us know in the comments how you see the remote workforce changing — now and in the future.


1. It’s Growing


The remote workforce has grown rapidly over the past decade, but the recession has had an impact. In a recent press release, the WorldatWork organization revealed that for the first time since 2003, the number of people who worked remotely for one day per month dropped. The U.S. teleworking population in 2010 was estimated at 26.2 million — nearly 20% of the U.S. adult working population.

However, the percentage of people who remote work more often than once per month increased. WorldatWork says 84% of teleworkers did so one day per week or more in 2010, up from 72% in 2008.

For full article, visit: Mashable.com

 

 

 


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